Articles by Ewan Kennedy

The prestige segment of the small car market is tiny, accounting for only about eight per cent of small-car sales in Australia.The MD of Mercedes Cars in Australia, Horst von Sanden, has spotted this lucrative niche in the market and is about to launch the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class right into the heart of that sales arena. Mercedes-Benz Australia has used the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney to give the public their first look at the new A-Class – and to dangle low prices in front of them.Priced from just $35,600, the Mercedes A180 Blue Efficiency doesn’t cost a lot more than top-line models such as the Mazda3, which is Australia’s top selling car; the all-new Toyota Corolla; the soon-to-be launched Nissan Pulsar; and fellow German Volkswagen Golf 7, another car that’s headed downunder shortly, and many others in a very crowded market segment.None of the aforementioned have the prestige of the three-pointed star and Horst von Sanden feels many buyers will stretch their budgets an extra few thousand dollars to gain the image that Mercedes provides. Mercedes hasn’t made the mistake of leaving out equipment to reach this low starting price, the A180 comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, a quality audio system, active parking assist and a reversing camera. Safety is looked after by active collision assist and there are now fewer than nine airbags.This Mercedes will sell on style as well as price. Its bold front has more than a passing resemblance to the high-performance SLS Gullwing and the raised lines on the doors swoop up boldly to create a styling statement. The A-Class is almost an iPhone on wheels in the way it lets you communicate and/or entertain its occupants.Power for the new A-Class comes from a 1.6-litre petrol engine in two stages of tune, a sporty 2.0-litre petrol, and 1.8-litre diesel. All are thoroughly modern units with the latest in emission and fuel consumption minimisation features. We have yet to drive the new A-Class in Australia, but in July this year we did test it in Slovenia during the international launch program. It has a nicely balanced feel and almost has the dynamics of a rear-wheel-drive car. Throttle control is easy and the steering feedback through the electro-mechanical system is excellent. Comfort and interior ambiance are good and give the feel of a car a size larger than it is.Though the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been launched in a blaze of publicity at the Sydney motor show it won’t go onto Australian roads until March 2013 when the first shipment arrives. However, you can order yours at your local dealer now. May we suggest you move quickly if you’re even slightly interested because global demand for this small Mercedes is high, which could result in ever expanding waiting lists.The complete 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class range is:A 180 BE 1.6-litre petrol five-door hatch: $35,600 (automatic)A 200 BE 1.6-litre petrol five-door hatch: $40,900 (automatic)A 200 CDI BE 1.8-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $40,900 (automatic)A 250 Sport 2.0-litre petrol five-door hatch: $49,900 (automatic) 

Several generations down the track to the cars that were once built in Australia, the new Mirage comes Down Under in January 2013.Mirage is being previewed at the Australian International Motor Show. It’s only a small car but we love the look of it and Mirage seems sure to appeal to those looking for a cheeky car that works efficiently.Using a cleverly styled body that minimises the space taken up by the engine and gearbox, this 3.7-metre long Mitsubishi provides good seating for four adults, with room for three children across the rear seat.The upmarket Mirage LS comes with features usually found in larger cars; automatic lights, rain-sensing wipers, a keyless operating system and climate-control air-conditioning. Externally the LS has 15-inch alloy wheels, front foglamps, a roof spoiler. The door sash blackouts add street presence.Mirage is powered by a three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine that produces up to 57 kW of power. Maximum torque of 100 Nm is at a relatively high 4000 rpm, but looking at the torque graph it seems the engine should perform neatly at revs from about 2000 upwards. The Mirage’s engine is mated to either a five-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission.Mirage is equipped with a range of safety systems, including ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Active Stability Control. Should you still manage to crash after all that, there are six airbags. Child seat installations are by three tether anchors, two Iso-Fix child seats can be used.Though we have been allowed to look the new little Mitsubishi over inside and out, at this time we haven’t been able to drive it. We anticipate doing so early in 2013 and will publish our findings immediately afterwards. Prices will be announced closer to the on-sale date. 

As the advertising campaign said way back then, the lazy guy in the pricing department hasn’t been doing a lot. Though imports of the new Nissan Pulsar will begin in February next year, we won’t see the complete range until midway through the year. Indeed, further models may still be released after that. Nissan is remaining tight lipped on details of them. As previously, Pulsar will be sold in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback bodies. Both are larger than in previous Pulsar generations, with a strong emphasis on interior space. We haven’t had a chance to drive them yet, but our seating tests of cars specially imported prior to the Sydney motor show showed them to have good legroom, headroom and width in the rear seat. Two adults could sit there in comfort for extended trips. Just as importantly from the point of view of family car buyers is the huge 510-litre boot in the sedan. The range will consist of Pulsar ST, ST-L and Ti. A high-performance model will revive the famed Pulsar SSS name and add a bit of life to what can be a fairly dull market segment when it comes to sporty driving. Equipment levels are high, with even the lowest cost model getting alloy wheels; Bluetooth, MP3 and iPod connectivity; and a six-speaker audio system. Topline Pulsar Ti gets satellite navigation, dual zone air conditioning (the others have single zone air) and a remote key.  The engine in the standard Pulsar range will be a 1.8-litre unit producing up to 102 kW of power and 174 Nm of torque. The hot SSS engine is a turbocharged 1.6-litre with a handy 140 kW and 240 Nm. Manual six-speed and continuously variable automatic transmissions are offered. Aiming to hit the sales floor with a big bang, Nissan is making a pre-sale offer on the 2013 Pulsar sedan. With a 10 per cent deposit and a comparison rate of 7.5 per cent per annum, customers who order an all-new Pulsar sedan ST manual now can pay as little as $299 per month with a guaranteed future value. A $1000 ‘Nissan voucher’ scheme is offered to those buying a car outright. Full details of these offers are available from your local Nissan dealer. Specification levels and prices for the first group of 2013 Nissan Pulsar models are: ST: $19,990 (manual), $22,249 (CVT automatic) ST-L: $23,650 (manual), $25,900 (CVT automatic) Ti: $28,990 (CVT automatic)  

Four-door coupes make a lot of sense in today’s world. As the baby boomers get older and their limbs get stiffer they want the convenience of a four-door sedan, but love the idea of driving a sleek, stylish two-door coupe.Mercedes-Benz began the four-door coupe trend with its CLS in the early years of the 21st century. Volkswagen’s Passat CC was the first of the affordable cars in the class. In an interesting move the German giant has decided not to call the all-new model a Passat, but simply a ‘CC’. Giving it a market niche all to itself within the extensive VW range.VALUEThe CC range consists of two models in Australia. The 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel delivers 125kW/350Nm via the front wheels and is priced from $54,990 while the petrol all-wheel drive 3.6-litre V6 starts from $64,990.In a cheeky move Volkswagen is aiming the CC at the upper crust German marques, albeit at the lower specced versions of standard sedans, not the coupes. The local importer says it would just love to steal buyers from the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.TECHNOLOGYVolkswagen CC comes with the choice of two engines – a 3.6-litre V6 FSI petrol putting out 220 kW of power and a 2.0-litre TDI common-rail turbo-diesel delivering 125 kW. Both engines produce 350 Nm of torque, the petrol between 2400 and 5300 rpm, the diesel from a low 1750 revs.This V6 FSI powertrain can accelerate the big coupe to 100 km/h from rest in just 5.6 seconds, the sort of acceleration that required a gas guzzling V8 engine only half a generation back.On test we found the VW CC using only eight to ten litres per hundred kilometres around town. Getting petrol consumption below seven litres per hundred when touring was simple with a bit of attention to economy driving.Both engines sit beside a six-speed DSG double-clutch automatic that has a semi-manual mode using either the gear lever or steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.DESIGNNew generation Volkswagen CC follows the latest VW design theme at the front with its ultra-neat nose having a slim horizontal shape in the grille and head and foglights. These blend well with the lowset bonnet.Viewed from the side the CC has sleek lines that pull the shape into a low profile admired by all who commented on the car during our recent week’s review.The large VW badge in the bootlid acts as the boot handle and also houses the rear-view camera. Thus keeping up the uncluttered look that’s such a feature of the rest of the CC.Despite the low, sleek exterior, cabin headroom has not been compromised. There’s 955 mm (949 mm with panoramic glass roof) in the front and 922 mm in the rear seats. It comes as no surprise that we found ourselves closer to the roof in the CC than in a conventional four-door sedan, but at no time did we feel cramped. Friends in the back seat for a mid-range trip made similar comments about their seating positions.Those in the rear compartment greatly appreciated being able to get in and out through normal doors, instead of having to crawl past folded front seats as is the norm in a two-door coupe. They added that you have to be aware of the lower than average door opening, particularly when getting into the CC.Soft-touch cabin surroundings and leather trimmed seats continue the feel of the exterior quality of the Volkswagen CC. We really loved the optional ambient lighting system that provides a relaxing lounge-like atmosphere at night.The boot is relatively shallow if you compare it with a four-door sedan of the same size, but that’s to be expected. Cleverly, the boot can be opened by making a kicking movement under the rear of the car making life much simpler when both hands are carrying stuff. You need to have the key in your pocket or bag so that the CC senses you’re authorised to open the bootlid in this manner.SAFETYStandard safety features include Driver Fatigue Detection; Side Assist that warns of vehicles in blind spots if you haven’t set the mirrors correctly; Lane Assist that prevents unintended wandering between lanes by intervening in steering; and City Emergency Brake function.DRIVINGOur test car was the petrol, which not only has the extra smoothness provided by a V6 engine and petrol injection, but also VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system. The latter provides added traction on slippery surfaces or when pulling sharply out of a side street into a small gap in heavy traffic.Just the thing for helping us make time during the school holiday period on the Gold Coast where we are plagued by dithery drivers slowing us locals up. Apologies to all you folks from down south who do the right thing...On road handling and comfort are good, with a nice compromise seeing the CC riding well on all but the roughest of sealed surfaces. Even when it did hit near-Outback roads and Australia’s notorious coarse-chip surfaces it wasn’t overly upset.Handling is neutral at normal driving speeds and remains so even when we started to push our test CC hard on our favourite stretches of hilly roads. Go really hard in a sporting manner and you can feel the heavy front engine location pushing it into marginal understeer. But a lot of that is cancelled by the all-wheel-drive system.VERDICTVolkswagen CC’s not really aimed at full-on sporty coupe drivers, but will certainly please those who look at cars as mere providers of transportation.

The Holden Cruze from 2002 until 2006 shouldn't be confused with the Cruze introduced in 2009. The two are such completely different vehicles that it’s hard to imagine why Holden should have reused the same name for the current model as the older one.The Holden Cruze being examined in this week’s Used Car Checkout was built by Suzuki in Japan. However a great deal of the design was Australian. Even more fascinatingly much of the body shape was penned by the same team that designed the third generation Monaro.Cruze began its life as a chunky little concept SUV based on the Suzuki Ignis. The interior styling of the Cruze is as adventurous and appealing as the exterior, with Tonka Toy style controls highlighted by bright alloy-style inserts. Under the skin is virtually all Suzuki, though the final suspension turning and component selection also involved some Australian input.The latter resulted in greater ground clearance and a wider track to suit it to Australian conditions, both on road and off. Handling is surprisingly good for an SUV of this type and the Cruze can hold on pretty well, both on sealed and unsealed roads.But always keep in mind that it’s a 4WD not a car. It has a higher centre of gravity and so there is a greater likelihood of it rolling over in extreme conditions, than do hatchbacks in similar price groups. Seating in the Holden Cruze is fine for four adults. Three children can be carried in the back seat if the one in the centre is on the smallish side. Having said that, most owners regard the Cruze as a two-seater. Boot space is compromised to make room for passengers. One big suitcase just about fills it so you will soon get used to folding down the 50/50 backrest if you have a lot to carry. This little Holden fun car is powered by a 1.5-litre engine. There's not a huge amount of torque and the grunt is developed higher in the rev range than is ideal for a 4WD.So the Cruze will struggle at times in harsh climbs. In fact, even hill climbing on sealed roads with a load on board may tax it at times. The five-speed manual is better than the four-speed automatic, though the latter isn't as bad as you might expect given that Cruze doesn’t have a lot of weight to haul. On the beach the lightweight Holden Cruze is in its element, skimming over sand that the big 4WDs sink into.Cruze isn't too bad in the bush, or even on rock shelves. Good clearance angles front and rear and a compact body can take you a long way in rough off-road conditions. But don’t drive it too hard as the relatively light construction means it can be broken more readily than purpose-built 4WD vehicles. There's good under bonnet and under car space so a good amateur mechanic can do a lot of their own routine servicing. Safety related items should be left to the professionals and we highly recommend you have a repair manual at your elbow before lifting those spanners for the first time. It almost goes without saying that there are Holden dealers all over Australia. However, not all carry spare parts for the Cruze, that’s because 4WDs aren't as common in the bush as in the suburbs (silly, isn’t it!).Holden operates an efficient parts delivery network and you’re not likely to be waiting for more than a couple of working days before parts arrive at your dealer in the remote outback. Parts prices and servicing costs are reasonable, though not always as low as for locally-made Holdens. Insurance generally sits towards the bottom end of the scale, though, for some reason, there's a fair bit of difference at times between one company and another. So shop around rather than opting for the first insurer suggested by the sales person. Just make sure you are comparing like with like before coming up with your decision. Holden Cruze didn’t enjoy the success anticipated for it, partly because most buyers in the 4WD class were looking for medium to large vehicles during that period. The final shipment arrived here in June 2006, but some may not have been sold new for several months afterwards. Be wary of any advertised as 2007 models – it's the build-plate date that counts, not the year of first registration.Salt water can cause serious rust, rust that can cause the body to be written off in a short time if repairs aren't carried out promptly. If you suspect a Holden Cruze has been beach cruising check for signs of white salt, underneath as well as on the visible parts of the body. Lift the floor mats and have a good look at the floor for signs of dampness and/or rust. Check over the complete body inside and out as well as underneath and be suspicious of any damage caused by off-road use. In particular look for dents at the lower corners of the bumper, in the door sills and underneath the engine and transmission. Make sure that the engine starts easily, runs relatively smoothly, and that the transmission works quietly and shifts gears with no fuss. Tyres with severe wear, particularly if that wear is uneven, can also indicate a harsh off-road driving. If a Holden Cruze pulls to one side or locks one of the wheels under heavy braking, it could mean expensive problems in the braking system. Go for a professional inspection if there’s the slightest doubt about the condition because repairs to small off-roaders can cost more than those for hatches in the same price bracket.Small off-road vehicles are sometimes treated as toys by kids who haven’t yet learned the lessons of mechanical sympathy... 

These cars are operating in one of the toughest of all market segments and buyers are being wooed from all directions. Ford has revised the specifications of the entry level model, the Focus Ambiente sedan by introducing the choice of a manual gearbox. The manual option was previously offered only on the hatchback. Ambiente is now on sale with a recommended driveaway price of just $19,990. An excellent price for a fully imported Euro styled car that sits a fair way up in the image stakes. Ford Australia is also offering driveaway pricing, at $27,490, on the Focus Sport and Focus Trend manual for $22,890. To further increase value, the Ford Sync system is now standard across the entire Focus range. Sync synchronises hands-free, voice-activated in-car connectivity, this consists of USB and Bluetooth connectivity including music streaming; access to contacts stored in a connected phone via voice commands. It also lets you access music from a connected USB or iPod device via voice commands, as well as by way of steering wheel controls. You can view music and call information on Ford Sync’s in-dash display. The multifunction trip computer used by the Sync system also give economy-minded drivers information by way of the Ford EcoMode system. Passive safety features on the Focus include ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Torque Vectoring Control and Hill Launch Assist. Secondary safety is provided by driver and passenger front and side thorax airbags, and side curtain airbags that aid front and rear passengers. Focus Ambiente is powered by a Duratec 1.6-litre petrol engine with 92 kW of power and 159 Nm of torque. Performance is good without being exactly exciting and our tests show it can get fuel consumption in the six to seven litres per hundred kilometres range on the open road, and seldom used more than nine litres around town even in heavy traffic. Further assisting the low price of buying a Ford Focus is the MyFord capped price service plan where Ford will publish the maximum price you will pay for its standard services at a participating authorised Ford dealer. As an example, the maximum amount the owner of a new Focus 1.6-litre petrol would pay at a participating dealer for the first 15,000 km service is just $320. The new prices of the Ford Focus range, with the previous prices in brackets: Ambiente 1.6-litre manual five-door hatch: $20,290 ($21,990) Ambiente 1.6-litre automatic five-door hatch: $22,590 ($24,290) Trend 2.0-litre manual five-door hatch: $22,290 ($24,490) Trend 2.0-litre automatic five-door hatch: $24,950 ($26,790) Trend 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $28,090 ($30,500) Sport 2.0-litre manual five-door hatch: $25,890 ($27,890) Sport 2.0-litre automatic five-door hatch: $28,190 ($30,190) Sport 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $31,690 ($33,690) Titanium 2.0-litre automatic five-door hatch: $32,990 ($33,840) Titanium 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $36,490 ($37,340) Ambiente 1.6-litre manual four-door sedan: $20,290 (n/a) Ambiente 1.6-litre automatic four-door sedan: $22,590 ($24,290) Trend 2.0-litre automatic four-door sedan: $24,950 ($26,790) Trend 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan: $28,090 ($30,500) Titanium 2.0-litre automatic four-door sedan: $32,990 ($33,840)  

A new Volkswagen Golf is a major event in the world’s automotive industry. One that’s closely analysed by competitors from every manufacturer on the planet.With over 29 million sales to date, the Golf has been a huge success. Indeed if you also factor in the number of people who have bought a second-hand Golf over the last 38 years, ownership is now well in excess of 100 million.We, and over 1500 journalists from 98 countries, were invited along to the launch of the all-new Golf. Held progressively over at five-week period in Sardinia, Italy, the event consisted of extensive technical presentations and extended test drives over some challenging countryside.TECHNOLOGYPower comes from new-design turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines. The former have a capacity of 1.2 or 1.4 litres; the latter with displacements of either 1.6 or 2.0 litres. Only the larger petrol and diesel units were available for us to test at the media preview.All engines are designed keep their weight to a minimum, with as much 40 kilograms having been removed compared to the previous generation.Officially measured fuel savings of between 14 and 23 per cent are an impressive part of the new-gen Volkswagen. Fascinatingly the 1.4-litre petrol engine only runs on two of its four cylinders under light running conditions. Other than a tell-tale message on the dashboard we were never able to pick whether the Golf was running on four cylinders or two.Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered in most models. Full specs for engines and transmissions in Australia are to be finalised before it goes on sale in March 2013.DESIGNStyling has never been of major importance to Golf buyers as they are generally quite conservative people. They don’t want to own a car that will look like an old fashion fad before the time comes to trade it in. So the all-new Golf Mark 7 retains styling cues to its predecessors, but comes with some sharp new lines on its sides to match the latest trends.The frontal appearance is very much to the current VW theme, with a neat grille that ties in with modestly shaped headlights. Taken on its own it could be seen as any one of a number of Volkswagen models. Though those who have been studying the shape of the new cut-price Volkswagen up! small car will spot some of the cheeky looks of that car in the lower grille area.Volkswagen Golf Mk7 naturally has the distinctively kinked C-pillar that has been a feature of the car since its introduction in 1974. We recently road tested Golf models 1 through 7 at a classic car event at Volkswagen’s headquarter in Wolfsburg, Germany and noted the way the cars have evolved over the years. While they had grown in size, they retained familiar looks and similar feel from generation to generation.Though the car itself is slightly larger than the Golf 6 the overall weight is up to 100 kg less than before. This assists in performance, reduced fuel useage and lower CO2 emissions.It’s likely that only five-door Golfs will be imported as three-door models have been slow sellers in previous generations.As well as the advantage of relaxed travelling the very quiet Golf engine hides the fact that it has a stop-start function so drivers who aren’t interested in cutting pollution are less likely to switch of this clean-air function.External noises are almost completely shut out thanks to a stiff body design and numerous sound dampening features.Boot space is useful at 380 litres with the cover in place and all seats in use, and up to 1270 litres with the rear seat backrests down. Cleverly, the luggage cover stores neatly under the boot floor when not required, so you don’t have to try and find space for it amongst the luggage or even have to stuff it onto the back seat.The windscreen pillars are reasonably slim and don’t overly hamper the view outside.SAFETYActive safety features normally only found in larger, much more expensive cars include Lane Assist that actively steers the car back into the correct lane or away from the edge of the road (providing there are clear line markings at the road’s edge); City Emergency Braking at speeds up to 30 km/h; crash anticipation and preparation; and adaptive cruise control.In some ways the safety feature of all are seats designed to provide the correct driving position from the point of view of ergonomics.DRIVINGThe biggest impression made by the all-new Volkswagen Golf is of sophistication. It is as smooth and quiet as a car a couple of sizes larger. The Golf’s engine is almost electric-motor quiet at idle and little noise intrudes into the cabin, even when it’s accelerated hard.Handling is neat and precise and the car is easy to point and willing to change direction. Comfort is good and even on some of the very rough Italian roads we punted it over it was never knocked off track.VERDICTThe latest Volkswagen Golf is an extremely impressive car in many ways. In particular the level of performance offered by relatively small engines and the highly refined feel inside the cabin.

The small-medium Peugeot 206 was a great car in its day and appealed to those looking for something out of the ordinary. Many were sold to Australians who enjoy driving, not to mention those who love all things French. It rode and handled like a quality car and its dynamics were well ahead of those of the typical Asian cars of the time.Despite the excellent handling, ride comfort remained good, even on rough Australian roads. Though it’s mainly aimed at suburban running, Peugeot 206 can easily be used as a long distance cruiser thanks to its compliant suspension and the usual concentration on relaxing travel by French suspension engineers.The styling of the baby Peugeot broke new ground, with big bold curves and sweeping angles. In particular look at the asymmetrical shape of the body and at the bold lines of the C-pillars. So successful was the shape of the little car that the designers eventually carried the styling theme to the rest of the Peugeot range.In its home country the Peugeot 206 is used by many as a family car so has excellent space efficiency. There's reasonable accommodation for four people and a fair amount of luggage. The 206's interior has been designed to provide a variety of passenger/luggage combinations by folding different seats as required.Most 206s are sold as hatchbacks with either three or five doors, but there's a fascinating open-top model that’s gained a lot of admirers in Australia. Tagged the Peugeot 206CC, with the CC standing for Convertible-Coupe, it has a solid metal roof that can turn it into a convertible at the push of a button. This car was in the vanguard of what has become a popular type in Australia and still draws attention today.There's also a full on sports model in the 206 GTi and its even stronger brother the GTi180. These not only have plenty of engine grunt, but also sports seats, 15-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and ABS brakes. The GTi variants cost a fair bit more than the standard models but offer decent value for money for the driving enthusiast.Engines in the Peugeot 206 begin with a 1.4-litre unit, only sold from March 2002 and used in the lower cost variants. The 1.4 has better performance than you might expect in a car of this size, but try it for yourself, preferably with a reasonable number of people on board before settling for its lower price. Far more common is a 1.6-litre engine installed in cars from the original 1999 imports onwards.A 2.0-litre unit, which is a very large powerplant for a car of this size and light weight, is sold in the sports GTi. That model comes in several formats; most have 100kW or 102kW power outputs but the GTi180 punches out a very healthy 134kW, or 180 horsepower hence the car’s title.Though the engine capacity in the 180 horsepower unit remains at the same 2.0 litres as on the standard 206 GTi, the 180 has variable valve timing, a twin exhaust system and quite a few detailed changes to increase efficiency. The result is a zero to 100 km/h time of a pretty respectable seven seconds.The 2.0-litre engine is also offered in some versions of the 206CC convertible, but only in its lower-powered format. The added weight of the adaptable roof also takes the edge of the car’s performance. But, hey look at that lovely open air feeling, isn’t that more important?Most models in the Peugeot 206 range have a five-speed manual transmission as standard, with an optional four-speed automatic for those who drive in traffic a lot. From the March 2004 model update the automatic came with tiptronic-type manual overrides. Peugeot 206 GTi comes only with the manual gearbox.After a long and successful run in Australia, the 206 was replaced by the Peugeot 207 in a gradual changeover that began early in 2007 and continued model for model for most of the year. In turn, the Peugeot 208 arrived in Australia in mid 2012.Peugeot is long established in Australia, so there's a strong dealer network. The company is represented in some country areas, not just in the major metropolitan zones. Servicing costs and spare parts prices are generally reasonable and we seldom hear of any real problems with parts availability.Insurance costs tend to sit midway up the charts of most companies. The hot 206 GTi models attract higher premiums than the standard ones, but generally not to an outrageous extent.Make sure to arrange a full inspection of any French car you’re considering as, sadly, they don’t have the build quality of Japanese machines.Check that the roof mechanism on a 206CC works smoothly and that there are no unexpected noises during its operation. During the test drive be sure there are no wind noises from the roof when it’s closed.Look for severe tyre wear on a GTi and also for a lot of dust buildup on the wheels. Check for the dust behind the wheels as a smart seller will have cleaned the obviously visible areas at the front.Engines are generally smooth so be suspicious of one that’s on the rocky side, particularly when first started from cold.Check the complete interior, paying special attention to the condition of the seats as they don’t always stand up to the rigours of harsh treatment by Aussie kids.No matter how sure you are of your ability at checking cars it still makes a mountain of sense to call in a professional for the final examination. 

We have recently spent time in the UK, Germany, France and Italy and everywhere we go car lovers are talking about the return of Toyota to the sports car business. They are also bemoaning the ever growing waiting lists for the 86.Toyota Australia won’t quote waiting times, but anecdotally potential owners are staring at up to six months before they have one sitting in their driveway on standby for the delights of an early Sunday morning drive on stretches of interesting roads.VALUEStarting at an amazingly low $29,990 for the manual Toyota 86 GT, the price rises to $35,490 for the GTS manual. Automatic adds $2500 to both grades. Despite its low price the Toyota 86 is not short-changed on equipment to keep the costs down. The GT has 16-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, cruise control, air-conditioning, a pretty good sound system and a multi-information display.The top line Toyota 86 GTS gains 17-inch alloy wheels, auto levelling HID headlamps, a 6.1-inch display screen for satellite navigation with live traffic updates, dual zone climate control air-con, fabric front seats with leather accents and red stitching, and aluminium pedals. On the practical side the Toyota 86 has Toyota’s capped price servicing plan, with up to four scheduled services at just $170 each.DESIGNToyota tells us the styling of the 86 was inspired by the 1965 Toyota 2000GT with its classic side-window shape, long bonnet and rear fender line. The shape is sporty and neat and likely to remain as timeless as those of its honourable ancestor. The front bucket seats provide good lateral support when cornering and do so without being overly aggressive in the shape of the side bolsters. As a 2+2 the Toyota 86 has no illusions about carrying rear seat passengers.The 86s we tested were early Australia imports and had a spare wheel and tyre. This steals quite a bit of the depth from the boot. Later imports have a tyre sealant and inflation kit in place of the spare. This makes a lot more sense for almost all drivers. Those who intend to travel way outback can still buy a spare wheel if that makes them feel more secure. With the backs folded flat there is space in the boot to carry two golf bags – this being a high priority for any car on the Japanese market.TECHNOLOGYThe automatic transmission has been retuned for use behind the sporting 2.0-litre 200-horsepower (147 kW) engine, with fast shifts that are generally as demanded by the driver’s throttle movements. A very-high compression ratio of 12.5:1 gives the naturally aspirated engine excellent performance across the entire rev range.It doesn’t have the sort of push in the back acceleration you get in something like a Subaru WRX, rather it has satisfying acceleration – more in the manner of a Mazda MX-5. So the 86 demands the driver has to work to get the best from it. It comes as no surprise that the engine demands 98 octane petrol. The engine delivers a sporty note that’s pleasing to the ear and as it rises up past 6000 rpm it reminds us of our favourite Italian four-cylinder powerplants in its willingness to rev.SAFETYThis sporting machine is right up to date in the latest thinking in primary and secondary safety devices. It has a five-mode stability control system, traction control, anti-locking brakes. If you still do have a crash in an 86 it will do its best to protect you with no fewer than seven airbags, a big complement for what’s virtually a two-seater car.DRIVINGWe have just finished a week in an example of each car – a GTS with a manual gearbox and an automatic GT. It will come as no surprise that our preference is for the six-speed manual, after all we make no secret of the fact that driving is a major passion in our life. Having said that, we could live with an 86 six-speed auto if we were stuck with heavy-duty community traffic on a daily basis.We just love the throttle blips on down changes when the automatic is used in its semi-manual mode. The automatic isn’t quite as smooth as if it were tuned for an everyday Toyota as you can feel hard changes at times. But we feel this is more than acceptable given the nature of this hot little beast.Handling is exceptional, making it a true drivers’ car and explaining the long waiting lists worldwide. The flat-four engine sits low and satisfyingly rearwards in the front of the car and drives the rear wheels (of course!). Steering inputs are fast and progressive and there’s plenty of positive feedback through the wheel.Toyota 86 sticks to the road with all the determination and verve of a true sports machine and like all the best in this class it seems to read the mind of the driver. Most to the time the noise from the tyres is subdued, but some harsh surfaces, particularly concrete and coarse-chip, set up quite a racket at times. We suggest you check this for yourself if roads like that are part of your regular commute.VERDICTToyota’s little 86 sports coupe is taking the world by storm.

The limited edition HSV 25th Anniversary car will be launched at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney on October 18 and be available in HSV dealerships from that day. But we suggest you contact your favourite dealer as soon as possible as stocks are limited to 125 cars and they are likely to disappear quickly. The HSV 25th Anniversary GTS has a recommended retail price of $84,990, plus on-road costs. This is just $2000 more than the standard GTS. HSV tells us the value of the special equipment is about $7500 of added extras (including the added extra LCT they attract). Should you want the convenience of a six-speed automatic transmission add another $2000 to the rrp. It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the infamous falling out between the late great Peter Brock and Holden stunned the Australian muscle car scene. One positive result of that public affairs disaster was the setting up of Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) to replace Brock’s Holden Dealer Team (HDT). As part of its ongoing celebration of an impressively successful 25 years in business HSV is releasing the limited edition GTS. The HSV 25th Anniversary GTS features a number of styling, performance and technology upgrades. These include all-new, lightweight, 20-inch forged-alloy wheels finished in Satin Graphite. These forged wheels give a weight saving of 22 kilograms over the standard GTS wheels. The weight saving is, of course, in the most important area of all, because reducing unsprung weight improves on the limit handling as well as making for a better ride. What HSV calls its “Vector” bonnet scoops and side vents also get the distinctive Satin Graphite that makes the new forged alloys stand out. HSV has added six-piston brakes with a huge 50 per cent increase in pad area. While many drivers will never experience the better brake on the road, those who take the hot Holden HSV GTS to track days will certainly appreciate the benefits in lowered lap times. Interior additions for the special HSV include seat embroidery, exterior badging, sill plates and an EDI start-up screen. It’s hard to imagine that any drivers of HSVs don’t adjust their door mirrors correctly, but just in case, HSV has added General Motors’ Side Blind Zone Alert to the 25th Anniversary GTS. This is a genuine limited edition car and only 125 units will be built for sale in Australia, Each with a build plate that’s individually numbered. HSV’s 25th Anniversary GTS will be available in a range of stand out paint colours: Heron, Sting, Phantom and Hazard. HSV’s general manager - sales, Darren Bowler is justifiably proud of his hot new GTS special edition, telling us that, “Twenty-five years is an important milestone in the HSV journey. We believe this 25th anniversary GTS truly embodies all that HSV stands for – race-bred performance, design and technology at a price that represents outstanding value.”