Articles by Ewan Kennedy

They said it wouldn't last; that the VW New Beetle, launched in 1998, would be a flash in the automotive pan. Pundits predicted the revived Beetle would drag in a few lovers of the old air-cooled VW from the 1960s and ‘70s then quietly fade away.Twelve years, yes 12, it was finally discontinued to be replaced by this new New Beetle, although this time around Volkswagen has ditched the ‘New’ and it’s simply the Beetle, presumably flagging the fact that the model will be in the lineup indefinitely.VALUEIt’s priced from $29,990 and gets a large speedo in front of the driver in a separate binnacle. It’s easy to read at a slightest glance and revives memories of the old air-cooled cars.The new Beetle feature we like most of all is the painted dashboard and door tops, harking back to the mid years of the 1900s when this was the norm. The new Fiat 500 has the same interior idea and it’s worked brilliantly on that car for many years.DESIGN(Warning! politically incorrect remarks ahead!) While there’s no doubting the intention of the stylists to retain the shape that has been familiar since 1936, this new Beetle is less feminine than before. Whereas girls (of all ages) were the biggest buyers of the new Beetle, the 2013 version has plenty of masculinity in its beetle-like shape.Indeed, the head of the design team, Frank J Bruese who flew to Australia for the launch of his new baby, explained that there were elements of the American hotrod culture in the lines of the car. If you squint sideways and use a bit of imagination this may well be the case.The most telling feature of all is the large aero spoiler that sits at the bottom edge of the rear windscreen. I like it, then again I liked the shape of what was to become the New Beetle from the first time I saw it in concept form at various international motor shows during the mid ‘90s. Just as I loved the style of the three beetles I owned over seven years during the heyday of the original.The biggest and best changes in this third generation Volkswagen Beetle are in the interior. There’s no longer the feeling you’re sitting in the back of the car and peering over a vast expanse of dashtop through a small windscreen. While the driving position is still less than conventional that may well be a good thing because the semi-upright windscreen gives you better visibility than in many modern hatches and sedans.TECHNOLOGYAt this stage the only powerplant in the front of the Beetle is the familiar Volkswagen 1.4-litre Twincharger. This engine uses a supercharger and turbocharger to provide strong torque through a big slab of the rev range. With 240 Nm of torque all the way from 1500 to 450 revs we found the engine strong and willing at all times in day-to-day driving.DRIVINGYou wouldn't say the Beetle has the characteristic engine note of the old models, but there’s a modern note that does provide a bit of personality. The double-clutch automated manual gearbox (DSG in VW terms) we tested proved better than average for its type, with no fussiness at very low speeds.Hopefully the engineers have finally come to grips with this otherwise excellent type of automatic. Ride comfort is good on most surfaces and the slightly firm suspension provides the sort of handling that keen drivers will love. A sports coupe it’s not, but the 2013 Beetle will be given the nod by all but full-on revheads.Revheads will need to hold off for turbocharged all-wheel-drive models that surely can’t be too far down the track. Build quality is good, this VW Beetle is built in Mexico but it’s obvious the German head office is keeping a close eye on the output from that large plant that has been screwing together Volkswagens for many years now.VERDICTThere’s no doubting that the car is lower, heavier in the rear, more aggressive in the window cutouts and has a stronger stance on the road.

The Toyota’s Camry and Aurion are built in Melbourne and have many changes from the original Japanese design to suit them to our local driving conditions and Australian drivers’ tastes.

The all-new Nissan Patrol petrol V8 has finally gone on sale in Australia after an extended wait; the holdup being chiefly due to the lack of Patrols with steering wheels on the correct side for us folks downunder.New Patrol has been criticised for only being offered with a V8 petrol engine, whereas diesels have been available for decades in older Patrols. Nissan Australia has countered this by keeping the old Patrol on the market to sell alongside the new one.The Patrol Y61 comes with a diesel engine. The Patrol ST-L and Ti both offer eight seats while the top of the line Ti-L is a seven-seater aimed at comfort for all aboard.The new Patrol Y62 series is powered by a 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine and is aimed unashamedly at the upper luxury SUV market. It is a high-tech unit featuring direct injection and Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) as found in the Nissan 370Z sportscar’s engine. The big engine produces up to 298 kW of power. Around 90 per cent of the 560 Nm of torque is there from 2500 rpm so there’s no shortage of grunt. Nissan has measured fuel consumption at 14.5 litres per 100 km using 95RON unleaded. Hardly a giant in the economy stakes, but not too bad considering the performance and the sheer size of the Patrol.The new Patrol has a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and uses Nissan's All Mode 4X4 system. In Auto mode there’s torque split between the front and rear wheels on a 50/50 variable basis depending on road surfaces. The switch then activates 4WD high and then 4WD low.Drivers have four terrain options: Sand, Snow, Rock and On-road at the touch of a button. All models have hill descent control and rear differential locks, also selected with the push of a button.The Nissan Patrol V8 range starts with the ST-L at $82,000 (rrp) $90,500 (driveaway), moves onto the Ti at $92,850 (rrp) $101,680 (driveaway), and tops out with the Ti-L at $113,900 (rrp),$123,780 (driveaway).Inside, the new Nissan Patrol is pure automotive luxury, with wood grain finishes and an upmarket dash layout. Nissan has used high quality finishes and the inside feel is one of comfort and space.There’s Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, a large format DVD player, 2Gb music storage, iPod connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, smart key, trip computer and eight-way power assist to the driver’s seat.The Patrol Ti has Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) which uses hydraulic cylinders to reduce body roll; leather upholstery, four-way electric adjustment for the passenger seat, automatic headlights, automatic wipers and a sunroof.The top of the range Patrol Ti-L gets memory function for the driver's seat, steering wheel and door mirrors; centre console cool box; satellite navigation; Bose audio with 13 speakers; dual, but independent, seven-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests; surround-view monitor; intelligent cruise control; xenon projector headlamps with auto levelling; power operated tailgate; and tyre pressure monitoring.Active and passive safety equipment includes six airbags, with the side curtain airbag covering all three rows of seats; front and rear parking sensors and rear view camera.We were able to carry out significant testing both on-road and off-road in the new Nissan Patrol V8 Y62 model at Brisbane's Mount Cotton Driver Training Centre a few weeks back.During our initial drives we took the big Patrol V8 onto steep, rutted bush tracks as well as on road on a typical bitumen highway, even onto a skid pan to test braking, body roll, acceleration and handling.Patrol has plenty of wheel travel to overcome washouts, all the while having the rear diff lock as a backup. Even over the rough terrain the body absorbs a lot of the rocking and rolling making for a comfortable passenger experience.On road we drove Patrols with Hydraulic Body Motion Control, and without. We found the standard 4WD cornered fairly flat and little seemed to change with the HBMC.Can the new Nissan Patrol tackle the luxury SUVs from Toyota, Land Rover and Range Rover? Only time will tell, but the interesting combination of the old and new Patrol models should manage to carve out a significant slice of the sales tree.

The Hyundai Excel was a huge seller in Australia in the mid-to-late 1990s.

...so I find it hard to come to grips with the attitude of many pedestrians towards drivers still searching for somewhere to leave their pride and joy. This was really brought to light at the weekend when the weather was beautifully sunny at the beachside suburb I live in. Huge traffic jams built up at pedestrian crossings where those on foot insisted on their right of way at every opportunity. They dribbled across the road one or two at a time, often with a gap between them that was almost, but not quite, big enough for a car to get through. If those on foot had backed off for no more than a few seconds and bunched up a bit, they would have helped keep the traffic flowing -- eventually making life simpler for themselves once they finally got back into their own cars and headed for home. Of course there’s the danger of miscommunication that could cause drivers to assume that pedestrians were waiting for them and drive over the crossing and hitting someone who didn’t realise what was happening. But I’m sure that we are all sensible human beings and could make something work. I’m impressed with the fact that Tullamarine airport uses traffic controllers on pedestrian crossings to give cars and those on foot an equal go at getting to their destination. These guys and gals work only during the peak periods and do so with a friendly smile and cheerful good morning to those on foot. If mobile phones are a menace when used by drivers they are even worse in the hands of some pedestrians. So engrossed are they that they don’t even look up, let alone right, left and right again before stepping in front of traffic. Heaven help these people if they’re ever in an Asian country where drivers refuse to stop at crossings. I’ve even seen young ladies stopping on crossings to sort out what looked to be particularly difficult piece of text composition. Selfish, dangerous and just plain stupid... Then there was the young mother with the huge stroller – you know the type, all big wheels, knobbly off-road tyres and endless gadget bags – the stroller that is, not the mother! She had managed to manoeuvre the monster stroller off the kerb at a corner and got offended because I didn't instantly prop my car to make way for her as I turned into ‘her’ street. There wasn't a pedestrian crossing in sight so I felt sorry for her; no doubt she was in a hurry and was probably being hassled by baby, lack of sleep, multiple appointments and heaven knows what else. But, if she had used a bit of common sense and crossed a little up from the corner it would have been easier and safer for all of us. Of course pedestrians have rights on the roads and they are at more risk than anyone else so deserve special consideration. All I am asking is that they think before launching themselves across the road and, if possible, work in conjunction with drivers to make life more pleasant for everyone.  

We use the word ‘competitive’ advisedly, Australians are showing a strong preference for small passenger vehicles rather than the large family sixes they used to love with a passion.VALUEThe Mazda3 has been at the top of the sales tree for the last two years, but is getting on in years and Toyota wouldn't mind a tilt at the crown. Nissan Australia is also in the race with it’s all-new Pulsar. Toyota and Nissan have both priced their entry level models at $19,990.When the big three car makers start to get really serious about maximising sales buyers are the real winners. These cars are all very well priced, but you may still be able to squeeze another few dollars out of the transaction.TECHNOLOGYNew Toyota Corolla is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that’s based on the one used in the outgoing model. It has significant changes to improve power and torque characteristic and reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.Transmission choices are a six-speed manual and a continuously variable automatic on all models. The CVT can act as a pseudo manual by choosing one of seven preset ratios should the driver feel they need to hold a particular ratio at any time.DESIGNCorollas have long had a reputation for being sensible, logical buys that are on the boring side – until now. Toyota’s new chief, Akio Toyoda, a direct descendant of the man who set up the company, didn’t like the ‘boring but sensible’ tag being given to his company’s products, so he suggested to designers and engineers that more character might be nice.When the big boss says he would like something it makes sense to listen and respond. From a styling point of view the 11th generation Corolla is right up to date, with a clean front where the lights and grille blend neatly and in the side view which has a real Euro look.At this stage the Corolla is being sold only as a five-door hatchback, sedans won’t be seen till fairly late in 2013; for competitive reasons Toyota Australia won’t reveal the date. In the meantime the existing old model Corolla sedans will remain on sale.SAFETYAll models come with a solid range of primary and secondary safety equipment, with stability control, ABS brakes with assistance, seven airbags and lap-sash safety belts on all five seats.DRIVINGOn the road we were impressed by the characteristics of the continuously variable transmission. Some find the ‘slipping-clutch’ sound of the original CVTs irritating. The new Toyota unit is more gradual in the way the engine revs rise when you need power quickly. The result is an efficient engine / transmission combination that should please the revheads just as much as those who care for the environment.Revheads will just love the way the engine is automatically blipped during manual down changes through the preset ratios on the CVT. However, the above comments on the CVT are based on our test drives of the Corollas at the press launch late in 2012. Toyota Australia is very wary of adverse reports on this type of automatic transmission, so gave us a manual for our extended test.We found the manual to be light and easy in its actions. It mates well with the engine, which is happy to pull at low revs if throttle pressures are minimised to save fuel. However, the car wasn’t as economical as we anticipated, typically using nine to eleven litres per hundred kilometres in heavy-duty driving around town. This came down to about seven to eight litres on easy paced country trips.Handling of the new Corolla is excellent, all the more so when you remember it’s a family hatchback with no pretensions to sportiness. Australian engineers were involved in the earliest stage of development to ensure our local drivers got what they wanted.Turning in is neat and the car responds promptly to driver inputs. The Corolla can be steered on the throttle if you want to really push it hard. The electrically assisted power steering is nicely weighted and gives good feedback.Comfort on poor roads, not necessarily unsealed ones, isn’t as good as on previous Corollas due to the sporting revisions to the car’s character. Keen drivers will be happy with the comfort / handling compromise, but if you demand comfort ahead of all else it might be worth checking it out on some rough roads during your own road testing.VERDICTToyota’s Corolla has been a favourite in Australia for almost five decades, even being built in this country for quite a few years. We see no reason why our love affair with this car shouldn't be every bit as strong as in the previous 10 generations. Can it oust Mazda3 and fight off Pulsar to pick up the top spot? Time will tell…

It seems that the iconic German brand Mercedes-Benz can do no wrong when it comes to maintaining its excellent public image.Once seen only as a maker of large, expensive, very upmarket saloons, Mercedes first of all moved to midsize sedans with a vehicle now called the C-Class. Despite dire predictions the brand image remained as high as ever. The move into the 4WD and SUV field with the M-Class (made in the USA of all places) was less controversial, again the public was willing to accept the change in Mercedes’ thinking without blinking.Then came the biggest movement of all, Mercedes-Benz introduced a small city car called the A-Class. Not only did it have front-wheel drive, but also a price tag that wasn’t much higher than that of topline models from marques like VW, Mazda and Honda. Was this a scandal? Did traditional buyers of large, expensive, very upmarket Mercedes saloons desert the company? Nope, the brand continued on its profit-making, buyer-gathering course.As it moved its centre of gravity down into the relatively affordable field, Mercedes-Benz also moved from pure upmarket luxury to sporting performance, with the AMG division scoring big marks in sales. Indeed, Australia is number one in AMG global sales on a per capita basis.So when Mercedes-Benz Australia discovered that close to 50 per cent of pre-orders for its all-new A-Class were for the A250 Sport, which had design involvement from AMG, it decided to put on a special media event for A250 Sport a couple of weeks ahead of the launch of the rest of the A-Class models.DRIVINGWith a smile on our faces a small group of motoring journos has just stepped out of the little Merc hotshots. With up to 165kW of power and 350Nm of torque from the four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and the ability to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds was it any wonder?Throttle response is better than average for a turbo engine and once it is on song the engine not only sounds great but also provides virtually instant acceleration. Handling is superb for a front drive car and it’s possible to get a fair bit of throttle control in the A250 when you push it hard. There’s some torque steer and even axle tramp if you’re brutal in your driving, but that’s all part of the fun in a car like this.VALUEWith a recommended price of $49,990 the Mercedes A250 Sport doesn’t cost a lot more than the high-performance variants of cars from Ford, Renault, Subaru and Volkswagen. Mercedes-Benz A250 Sport is due to go on sale in early March at the same time as the rest of the all-new A-Class range.DESIGNObviously if you’re driving a performance car with Sport on its badges you will want to tell the world about it. So the A250 has a grille with a fascinating design that has an almost surreal look in the way it circles the Mercedes three-pointed star. There’s a body kit to set off the 18-inch AMG alloy wheels and lowered suspension.There are numerous touches of racing red, with details in the front splitter, rear diffuser and brake callipers, as well as inside the car in areas such as the surrounds of the ventilation outlets. The latter sit in a dash made sportier by pseudo carbon fibre. Dark privacy glass in the rear area give a luxury touch, the design of the sports seats and the leather trimmed steering wheel works nicely.Frankly, though we could do without the giant panoramic sunroof; not only does it add weight high up in the body, it also reduces rear seat headroom to the extent that some adults may not be comfortable back there. Which is a pity because the rear legroom is quite generous for a car of this size. Conversely, the high waistline makes it difficult for young kids to see out of the back seats.VERDICTIf the Mercedes A250 Sport sounds great, just wait till the A45 AMG arrives later in the year. With all-wheel drive and a predicted power output on the high side of 200 kW it should be really special. Expect a price tag of around $80,000.Mercedes-Benz A-Class A250Price: from $49,990Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: N/AService interval: 12 months/25,000kmCrash rating: 5-star (EuroNCAP)Safety: 9 airbags, ABS with hill hold, TC, ESP, Pre-Safe, Attention Assist, Collision Prevention AssistEngine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl, 155kW/350NmTransmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto, FWDDimensions: 4.29m (L), 1.78m (W), 1.43m (H)Weight: 1445kgSpare: Inflation kitThirst: 6.6L/100km, 152g/km CO2

If you've ever travelled in the UK anytime in the past 20 years (or just watched police shows from that country) you will have noticed dozens, if not hundreds of vans with LDV badges.Purpose built by Leyland and DAF, hence the title LDV standing for Leyland DAF Vehicles, the vans had a reputation amongst users as honest, though not particularly interesting vehicles.LDV got into serious financial strife in the early years of the 21st century and in 2005 the rights to build LDVs were sold to Chinese giant SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation). SAIC is the largest vehicle manufacturer in China and has formed partnerships with Volkswagen and General Motors.In 2012 companies in the SAIC group produced a staggering 4.5 million vehicles – by way of comparison that’s over four times the number of new vehicles sold in Australia last year. Now LDV vans are being imported to Australia from a Chinese factory.The vans we are getting here are based on the 2005 European design, but have had quite a few updates in the meantime, particularly in the safety and exhaust emission fields.In these early days in Australia the LDV is offered in a relatively limited number of models. A short wheelbase (3100 mm) with a standard roof height and a long wheelbase (3850 mm) with either a mid-level roof or a high roof.Future imports will include everything from cab-chassis to which various bodies can be attached, to people movers. Pricing is important to buyer perception of Chinese vehicles at this early stage of their establishment in this country.On the face of it the LDVs look to be about two to three thousand dollars under their competitors, but the LDV’s importers calculate that they are about 20 to 25 per cent cheaper when you take the high level of standard features into consideration.Over and above what you would expect in a vehicle in this class, the LDV van comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels, foglights, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, and reversing sensors. Interestingly, a senior member of the Chinese embassy in Australia, Qui De Ya, attended the media launch of the LDV. Amongst other matters he stressed the importance of social responsibility to the Chinese people. The Australian importer, WMC announced that in line with this it has donated an LDV van to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the charity that helps brighten the lives of seriously ill Aussie children.The load area on every model imported to Australia is accessed through sliding doors on both side and full-height barn doors. The latter open to a maximum of 180 degrees, making it possible to get a forklift right up to the rear.However, they don’t open 270 degrees to make reversing into a really tight area possible. The latter is probably less important in Australia than in cramped cities in Europe and Asia, but would nevertheless be useful at times.Two standard Australian specification pallets can be carried in tandem in the big load area. The width between the wheelarches is 1380 mm and the arches are pleasingly small in the volume they occupy.Build quality is generally good, though the interior isn’t to the same standard as commercials built in other countries. One of the LDVs we tested had a door that needed a hefty slam before it would close, the others were fine.Power for the LDV vans comes from a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine designed by the Italian VM Motori company and built in China. It produces up to 100 kW of power and 330 Nm of torque.During the 300+ kilometre drive program organised by WMC, the Australian importer of LDVs, we found the engine to be strong and willing in its actions. It wasn’t as happy to pull at low revs as we anticipated in a commercial vehicle, but once it got up to 1500 revs it gets on song and is happy to hold high gears on fairly steep hills.At this stage only a five-speed manual gearbox is being fitted, automatic transmissions are under development and are likely to be on offer by the time the LDV moves to people mover status. The manual gearbox is light and easy in its actions, not something that’s simple to engineer in a vehicle with a transverse engine and front wheel drive so the engineers deserve a real compliment on this.LDV vans have more styling flair than is the norm in this market segment and although it’s not the quietest engine around it has a truck like sound that’s certainly not out of place.

Style was the number one talking point during time with the big Audi S7 four-door coupe. We were able to display it at two totally different venues, and it came as no surprise when the bold shape of the hot version of the Audi A7 passed the look-at-me tests with flying colours.High school formals are major social occasions these days, no more so in our home base on the Gold Coast where showing your ownership of the latest and greatest is vitally important to many people. The brand new Audi S7, chauffeured by my partner Julie transported her nephew in fine style. The arrival pageant when the about-to-be adults turn up in a variety of vehicles opens the evenings’ festivities.Students roll up in a variety of automotive works of art, including loud hotrods, beautifully restored classic cars and rich dads’ upmarket German machines saloons. Julie’s car, the just launched Audi S7 coupe, appeared near the top of the list of star automotive attractions as it stood under the lights in its shimmering pale blue paint work.VALUEAudi’s not budging with the S7’s earlier price tag so you’ll still pay $179,900 for the privilege of owning this good-looker. Along with an array of other standard features, the S7 comes with USB/Auxiliary audio inputs, satnav, Bluetooth and steering wheel mounted controls.TECHNOLOGYAudi is using an all-new version of its efficient twin-turbo V8 engine to power the S7. The V8 drives through a seven-speed double-clutch automatic transmission. Again we found the double-clutch automatic transmission wasn’t happy at very slow traffic speeds when the Sport setting was selected, but performed beautifully in the normal setting. If you’re out for an enthusiastic drive make sure to juggle between the two settings when you reach town.DESIGNThe first time around we only had the Audi for that single evening, but have just been able to spend a week in it for further evaluation (at least that’s my excuse!). Again we found it to be a real star in the styling stakes. We took it for an evening cruise down south into NSW and stopped at one of our favourite cafes that’s a pleasant pleasant place to end the day. The number of people who stopped and looked over the Audi coupe would have made its designers extremely pleased.The bold grille, big wheels and added details in the luxurious cabin leave no doubt this is the high-performance version of Audi’s largest sports coupe.DRIVINGThe big Audi coupe is not just about show, though, there’s plenty going on under that shapely bonnet that also deservers discussion. Though the high speeds for which Audis are designed are not possible in Australia, buyers downunder will appreciate the extra urge from the tuned V8 engine and the sporting feel given by dynamic suspension and steering settings.The S7’s scintillating performance is backed up by an engine note that’s great to listen to and on more than one occasion we found ourselves slowing down and dropping the transmission down a few gears so we could enjoy the push-in-the-back acceleration and the quality of engine sound.The chassis dynamics are offered in several stages by courtesy of a sophisticated electronic air suspension system so the driver can opt – by way of the MMI (Multi Media Interface) infotainment system – for the ideal setup for their personal mood and the condition of the road.The sleek big four-door sports coupe has plenty of engine power and an abundance of road grip. Ride comfort is generally good, but on rough and ready Australian backroads, particularly on coarse-chip surfaces, it can be on the noisy side. Keen drivers are hardly likely to complain, but if the passengers start to comment on these matters may we suggest you consult the owner’s handbook on the various suspension settings on offer?VERDICTThe new high-performance Audi S7 coupe is an excellent addition to the Audi A7 range and seems sure to attract the attention of those looking for the S7’s clever blend of sporty and elegant motoring.Audi S7Price: from $179,900Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCrash rating: n/aEngine: 4.0-litre 8-cyl, 309kW/550NmTransmission: 7-speed auto, AWDDimensions: 4980mm (L), 1911mm (W), 1408m (H)Weight: 1945kgThirst: 9.6L/100km, 225g/km CO2

The Ford Fairlane and LTD are luxurious long-wheelbase versions of the Falcon that provide stretch out legroom in the back. They offer excellent value for money for those wanting to transport four adults, or perhaps two adults and a pair of hulking teenagers.They are better suited to four occupants than five because the centre-rear seat’s foot-space is compromised by the transmission tunnel. As all the extra wheelbase has gone into the rear passenger area the boot space is about the same as that of the Falcon. The boot is large, but on the shallow side.Once upon a time Fairlane and LTD had completely different external styling to the Falcon so people didn’t realise where they came from. This lifted them in the prestige stakes and made them big sellers for many years.However, from the launch of the BA models in July 2003, the elongated Fords looked almost identical to Falcons. Potential buyers hated this and many switched to long-wheelbase Holdens instead. Buyers stayed away in droves and the big Aussie Fords tumbled from their position as kings of the market and were discontinued at the end of 2007.Quite a few were in stock as new cars well into 2008 and may be passed off as 2008 models, this isn’t accurate as it’s the year of build that dictates a car’s age, not the date of first registration. Ride comfort is excellent and the big Fords come into their own on rough and ready Aussie country roads.These Aussie machines can show the big name European cars how to soak up harsh road surfaces with a minimum of fuss. Though they are very large cars the limo-like Fords are reasonably easy to drive. They can be out of place on inner city streets and in tight carparks so try that sort of area as part of your personal road test.Sixes and V8 engines are offered in both models with the V8 being the more common in the LTD and the six in the Fairlane. The six-cylinder powerplant is often the better choice unless you are a revhead as it has been significantly upgraded over the years and doesn’t lag all that far behind the V8. Expect a six-cylinder Fairlane or LTD to use about 10 to 15 percent less petrol in the six than a V8.Many drivers just love the lazy, easy-going travel only a V8 provides. The big V8 engine scores in its heavy towing ability, though the six isn't as far behind as you might expect. Engine capacity on the six-cylinder is 4.0 litres, with the engine being revised many times over the years. The V8 had a capacity of 5.0 litres until the launch of the BA series in 2003, when an all-new design went up to 5.4 litres.The newer engine is far superior to its predecessor, in performance, economy and emission levels. A four-speed automatic transmission was used in Fairlanes and LTDs until the BF facelift of 2005 introduced a six-speed unit. The latter is a far better design and combines good off-the-line acceleration with a lazy, mile-eating high-ratio sixth gear.Fuel consumption is markedly lower with the six-speed unit on country trips and on motorways. Many LTDs began their lives as government, fleet or hire cars and will have generally led an easy life in their early years, having been serviced by the book and cared for by professional drivers who took pride in driving them.On the other hand quite a few Fairlanes will have been taxis in their earlier years so may have done a lot of work. The big Fords are relatively easy for an amateur mechanic to work on, though some of the luxury extras are complex so will require a professional operator. Spare parts are very reasonable in price and there are dealers in virtually all areas of Australia, no matter how remote.Insurance costs are low, very low if you compare the local Ford long-wheelbase limos with the upmarket stretched variants from the German marques. We have seen some Fairlanes dressed up to look like LTDs, particularly in the older models, and carrying LTD price tags. If you are in doubt get in touch with your Ford dealer and quote the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) for a confirmation.WHAT TO LOOK FOREarlier Fairlanes and LTDs weren't as well-built as they should have been. Check for parts that don't fit correctly, or rattle and squeak on bumpy roads. Later cars are better, but can still have had a hard life. Don’t forget to check the rear seat area as carefully as you do the front. These cars generally get a fair bit of use back there. All the more so if a Fairlane or LTD has been a taxi at one stage in its career.Check the body for signs of rust, these days this is only likely to be present if previous crash damage repair hasn’t been done correctly. Engines should start within a couple of seconds even when cold and should have a smooth idle straight away.Look for smoke from the exhaust, this will be at its most obvious when the accelerator is floored quickly, and feel for any hesitation under acceleration. Make sure the automatic transmission isn't hesitant about going into gear from Park or Neutral and doesn't make unnecessary changes.Listen for a whine from the differential at moderate urban speeds and when cruising at about 100 km/h to 120 km/h on the open road. It’s usually most obvious when you lift gently on and off the throttle a few timesCAR BUYING TIPBig cars are dirt cheap these days due to their high fuel consumption, but often the low purchase will more than compensate for the extra fuel you need to buy.