Articles by Graham Smith

The Audi A3 brought more choice in prestige small cars when it arrived here in 1997. BMW's 3-Series Compact was on the market, and the A3 added another choice.At first there was only a three-door hatch on offer but that was replaced by a five-door hatch in 1999, which certainly added to the appeal of the small Audi.Audi offered a choice of three engines in the front-wheel drive A3 hatch. The entry engine was a 1.6-litre, 12-valve single overhead camshaft fuel-injected four-cylinder unit that put out 74kW at 5600 revs and 145Nm at 3800 revs for brisk performance.There was a fuel-injected 16-valve double overhead camshaft 1.8-litre engine, which delivered 92kW at 6000 revs and 173Nm at 4100 revs and boosted performance to be the pick of the bunch. For zip, Audi offered a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine that pumped out 110kW at 5700 revs and 210Nm at 4600 revs.A3 buyers had the choice of a four-speed auto transmission or a sporty five-speed manual. All that rode on a nimble front-wheel drive chassis with power steering, four-wheel anti-skid disc brakes and alloy wheels. As would be expected given its prestige tag, the A3 came with plenty of fruit, from central locking, immobilisers, power windows, tinted glass and four-speaker sound.After the 1999 update, the five-door hatch came with airconditioning, CD player, power windows, remote central locking, leather steering wheel and a tilt adjustable column. The turbo had sports suspension and seats, steering wheel and shift knob and cloth trim.While Audi quality has improved markedly in recent years there was a time when it wasn't up to the standard BMW and Benz set, so inspect early A3s carefully. Look for collision damage on the body, particularly doors or hatches that don't open or close properly. Paint-over spray and mismatching colours can also give away crash repairs.Audi engines are known to guzzle the oil, which isn't a problem if owners dip the engines regularly. Many owners who bought Audis simply didn't bother to check the oil between services and only discovered their engine's thirst for oil when they developed the death rattles.Early A3s came with dual front airbags and later A3s also had side airbags for front-seat occupants, that provided decent secondary crash protection. Anti-skid brakes and decent handling were also provided with the intention of assisting drivers in having a better chance of avoiding crashes altogether.Paul Skaraiev was looking to downsize from his Holden Berlina V8 when he bought his 2000 Audi A3 Turbo in 2001, but he still wanted a prestige model. The A3 had done 56,000km when he bought it; it has now done 105,000km without any significant problem. Skaraiev says he loves its looks and performance, reckons the 7.9l/100km fuel consumption is great and is happy with reliability. But he isn't so enamoured of the cost of servicing and parts.

There's more to producing a convertible than chopping the roof off a sedan or coupe. The steel roof forms a vital part of a car's structure, giving it strength and rigidity, and that strength has to be replaced somehow once the roof is removed. Dash or scuttle shake is often a sign of a lack of strength in a soft top, and a measure of the amount of development that's gone into the body.A car that exhibits scuttle shake, evidenced when the dash area shakes or vibrates, can be a most annoying vehicle to drive. The Astra convertible is pretty good in that respect. The body is quite tight and shows no real evidence of scuttle shake, even with quite a few kilometres under its belt.Another challenge convertible designers always face is how to make the end result look good with the top raised. The Astra also fares well in this respect.The Astra sedan and coupe were good-looking cars to start with so the basics were there, and designer Bertone did a good job in slicing the roof off and producing a new roof so that it looks good with the roof up or down.The Astra's top goes up or down at the touch of a switch, or remotely by the key, and disappears under a hatch at the back. It not only works well, it is triple insulated and has an electrically-heated glass rear window so it feels much like a sedan or coupe once the roof is raised. Like all convertibles, the Astra rag top sits atop the Astra range but also comes fully equipped to ease the price pain: leather sports seats, airconditioning, cruise, trip computer, power windows and mirrors and a CD player with steering wheel controls.The engine is a 2.2-litre double overhead cam 16-valve four-cylinder producing 108kW at 5800 revs and 203Nm at 4000 revs. From 2003 there was a choice of a 2.0-litre turbo, which gave 147kW at 5600 revs and 250Nm at 1950 revs. Standard transmission is a five-speed manual with the option of a four-speed auto.With any convertible its important to listen for body rattles that might show that it's loosening with age, or more seriously, that it's suffered a crash. Make sure the roof goes up and down with no jerking or misalignment. Check that it operates with the button in the car and remotely with the key.Closely inspect the roof inside and out for damage such as tears or folds that will need repairs down the road. Body damage can also affect the smooth function of the roof, so look for ill-fitting boot lids and doors, etc.Mechanically, the Astra convertible is pretty much the same as any Astra.The 2.2-litre engine has a chain for the camshaft drive so it doesn't have to be replaced like the belt on the regular Astra.The turbo engine does have a belt, so be aware it needs to be replaced regularly. Brake wear can also be a headache on Astras, as it is on all European cars. Be prepared to replace disc rotors and brake pads quite regularly - about every 60,000km on average.The Astra convertible is well-equipped when it comes to the crunch. It has front airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger and front side airbags as well, with reinforced A-pillars and padded roll bars behind the rear seats for protection in the event of a rollover. Dynamically, it has anti-skid brakes, traction control and electronic stability control - the first time such a system was used on a Holden.

The Jazz presented small cars in a new way. It wasn't a downsized sedan or sedan-based hatch as had been the normal way of designing a small car.It was about the efficient use of interior space. It had ample room for five adults with the seats in their normal positions, but the seats could be flipped or folded flat to allow a wide range of objects to be carried. It was a big car in a small package.The performance was sporty with a choice of 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre single overhead camshaft four-cylinder engines. The smaller engine put out 61kW at 5700 revs and 119Nm at 2800 revs and returned 5.6L/100km. The larger VTEC engine boasted 81kW at 6000 revs and 143Nm at 4800 revs for more zip and returned 6.0L/100km.Both engines came with the choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic, the CVT trans hooked up to the larger engine offered a seven-speed sequential shift function.The suspension was a combination of MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear with stabiliser bars at both ends, while the brakes were a blend of disc front and drum rear with anti-skid protection, and the steering was electric-power assisted. Honda offered the Jazz in three models; the GLi, VTi and VTi-S. The GLi opened the range and came nicely equipped with cloth trim, power windows and mirrors, central locking, tilt-adjustable steering column, a full array of instruments, and a CD player.The VTi came with all of that plus air-conditioning, and sports cloth trim, while the sporty VTi-S came with front and rear spoilers, front fog lamps and alloy wheels.The Jazz is a city car and often driven by people living in inner-city areas, which exposes them to more of the bump and grind of gridlock than cars living in the outer suburban areas. They can often be left parked in the street, under trees and light poles, and subject to the things that fall out of the sky.So look for body bumps and scrapes, and stains on the paint work. Look for a car that has been well-maintained on a regular basis, and not just cleaned up for sale.Cars left exposed to the elements need more washing, waxing and polishing than those parked under cover.Look at the wheels for evidence of being scraped on or bumped into kerbs. If you find damaged rims, have the suspension inspected for damage. It is relatively easy to damage a drive line or steering joint by accidentally hitting a kerb. Listen for odd clicking noises when turning that might indicate a damaged joint.Check for a service record indicating regular oil changes, and lift the oil-filler cap and take a look for sludge as a result of missed oil services. On average a Jazz should have done around 60,000km if it was a 2002 model, less if a later delivery.All models boasted airbags for the driver and front passenger for reasonable protection in a crash from the front, while anti-skid brakes help you to get out of trouble when confronted with a crash situation.The chassis dynamics aren't brilliant, and steering is accurate without being responsive, but the chassis is quite well balanced, but with a slight bias towards understeer.

MODEL WATCHThe E36 3 Series arrived in 1991. It was a logical evolution of the successful E30, with fresh new styling that pushed the Munich marque's sporting heritage further.Much of this sporting image was built on the success of the E30 M3 in the European Touring Car Championship, and to some extent on our own race tracks.It gave BMW a clear point of distinction from its arch rival, Mercedes-Benz, giving it a more youthful appeal.Though young people couldn't afford one, they were taking notice of the race triumphs BMW was racking up, so it wasn't surprising when they began buying them as their second-hand value dropped to within their reach.The 318 was the baby model, the most modest in the 3 Series range and therefore the one that first came within budget reach.With its 85kW, 1.8-litre, fuel-injected four-cylinder engine, mostly linked to a four-speed auto transmission rather than then optional five-speed manual, its performance was nothing to write home about.There's no denying it -- the modest numbers resulted in modest performance, with the 0-100km/h sprint requiring 11.3 seconds and the 400-metre dash taking a fairly leisurely 17.9s. Fuel consumption, however, was well under nine litre/100km on average.While it might not have burned up the road, the 318 still had the typical BMW feel. Its power steering was nicely weighted, so it felt connected to the road.The 318 featured independent suspension front and rear and was nicely balanced, but when pushed it would understeer, which disappointed some media pundits who were looking for more lively handling.Brakes were discs all round with ABS for added safety in an emergency. While the 318 was quite well equipped, it lacked a few of the things you might expect of a car in the prestige market segment.It had comfortable seats in an attractive trim, with the option of leather. The steering wheel fell comfortably to hand, and was covered in leather, but there was no adjustment of the rake, which you might expect of a car with its sticker price. Likewise it lacked cruise control, and the sound system was a radio-cassette unit, but it had airconditioning and dual airbags.IN THE SHOPThe 3-Series is generally robust and reliable, but it's now entering the last phase of its useful life with odometer readings climbing into the 200,000 km area.Providing it is serviced, it can still be a good buy, but it's best to avoid cars that haven't got a good and verifiable service record.Engines, transmissions and drive lines are all reliable and give little trouble in the long term if looked after. Like all Euros, brake wear is an issue, so be prepared to replace not only pads on a regular basis but disc rotors as well. Tyre wear tends to be high so be prepared to replace them every 60,000km or so.CRUNCH TIMEA well-balanced chassis delivers agile and responsive handling, which, coupled with four-wheel disc brakes and ABS, deliver good primary safety. Dual front airbags provide protection for front-seat passengers.

Ford's SUV plans had one difference to most other companies, and it was a bold one at that – they decided to build a two-wheel drive version as well as the traditional four-wheel drive wagon.They recognised that many SUV buyers really just wanted a high-riding, roomy station wagon for the perceived benefits of being able to see the road better, and they weren't interested in going off the black top.Apart from the drive train, the Territory didn't have much in common with the Falcon. It was fundamentally a new car from the ground up.It rolled on a longer wheelbase than the Falcon, but was shorter in length and much taller. Its shape was neat and clean, its lines uncluttered and purposeful. Overall, it fitted the new genre perfectly.Inside, it was roomy with comfortable seating for five in standard form, but up to seven adults with the optional third row, and plenty of space for everything a family needs to take with them when venturing out in the big, wide world.Mechanically, the Territory was very similar to the BA Falcon. It came with the same 182kW, 4.0-litre, double-overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine for power, the same four-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift, and the choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.While it rode higher than the Falcon, the suspension was similar – the Territory boasting independent front suspension with the Falcon's control blade independent rear.Brakes were disc front and rear with anti-skid electronics, traction control and grade control for off-road safety.Few will have been driven off-road, certainly the two-wheel-drive cars will have stuck to the black top, but it's worth checking underneath four-wheel drives for any damage that might have been sustained by driving off-road. When CarsGuide tested one shortly after its release, the fuel tank guard was damaged from grounding in a rut on a bush track, and a section of the rear bumper was dislodged when caught on the road while attempting a steep climb.There's plenty of choice on the market so it's well worth being selective. Be sure to look for damage to trim and interior fittings caused by kids bored during long journeys.Being favoured for family transport, also keep an eye peeled for dings and dents from shopping centre parking.Some owners are concerned about the fuel consumption and looking to convert to dual-fuel. Ford doesn't currently offer a dual-fuel system, but there are after-market systems available to convert the Territory to dual-fuel to save on running costs. The concern with high-riding cars is that the higher centre of gravity means sloppier handling, but the Territory rides and handles quite well with no obvious problems attributable to the higher ride.Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-skid and electronic brake force distribution, power steering and independent suspension combine for an impressive primary safety package for crash avoidance.All models feature dual front airbags. But with side-curtain airbags, the TS and Ghia offer superior secondary crash protection.

The MX5's chassis always seemed as though it could handle more grunt and the engine appeared capable of being fitted with a turbocharger, so it seemed inevitable it would eventually be turbocharged.But Mazda had no plans to turbocharge its sweet little roadster and it was left to Mazda Australia and its veteran motorsport manager, Allan Horsley, to see the project through to realityThe Mazda MX5 has been one of the great motoring success stories of the last 20 years. It was the car that made owning and driving open-top cars acceptable again after many years in which they were shunned. It was the car that made motoring fun again.If there was a criticism of the MX5 it was that it lacked power. Not everyone believed it should have more grunt. The original 1.6-litre engine was plenty for most owners, but those with a motorsport bent wanted more power to exploit the roadster's competent chassis.Mazda responded by increasing the size of the engine to 1.8 litres and it was then refined with sequential valve timing. But some owners wanted more. That came early in 2002 when Mazda delivered the first of 100 SP models developed and built in Australia.The heart of the SP was its turbocharged engine. Mazda took the MX5's 1.8-litre double-overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine and added a turbocharger to boost power by 44kW and torque by 108Nm.Boost pressure was set at a conservative 7.5-8.0 psi (0.54 bar) in the interests of engine durability, but peak output still surged to 157kW at 6800 revs and 289Nm at 4600 revs.It was enough to have the little two-seater racing to 100km/h in six seconds, impressive given the standard car required 8.5 seconds for the same journey.Other features of the SP included anti-skid brakes, 16-inch alloys, remote central locking, power windows, CD player, and dual airbags.There were also some extra touches such as a polished alloy fuel filler cap, gearshift knob, door scuff plates, air vent surrounds, and special SP badges.The main thing to look for when inspecting a Mazda MX5 SP is evidence of competition. Hard driving isn't necessarily harmful if the car has been well serviced, but if it hasn't been serviced, competition can be detrimental to a car's health.Look for holes that have been drilled in the body work for things such as a roll bar, fire extinguisher, and other equipment under the bonnet. It is best to reject a car that has clearly had a hard life, but don't be so concerned about one that has been used for the occasional club event.It is highly likely most SPs will have been owned by members of the MX5 club, so talk to members about them to ascertain their history before handing over your cash.Lift the oil filler cap and take a look inside the valve covers for sludge, which might suggest a lack of servicing. Turbo engines need more regular oil changes.Safety in the MX5 is all about handling and braking. Its agile chassis and responsive steering, along with powerful anti-skid disc brakes, are a potent recipe when it comes to avoiding collisions. Add dual front airbags for that moment a collision becomes unavoidable and you have a strong safety story.

You don't have to go back too far to find the time when Mazda was on its knees and there was speculation about its ability to survive.  However, with newfound zoom in a completely renewed model range, Mazda is enjoying the best of times and its future appears rock solid. The mid-sized Mazda 6 is one of the new models that has given the company renewed credibility in the market. It has pulled buyers through showroom doors in search of one of the best-looking sedans on the market.MODEL WATCHWith surging fuel prices and the slump in popularity of the traditional big sedans, the mid-sized car class has enjoyed a resurgence in recent times. In Mazda's case it's the 6, and it has worked a treat, attracting buyers who can't afford a BMW. The 6 is a good-looking car with lithe sporting lines and a stance that suggests it has plenty of sporting potential out on the open road.Underneath, it sports double-wishbone front suspension with a multi-link independent rear set-up which gives the 6 sporting handling with impressive response, although the ride can be considered hard and a little harsh in a normal four-door.  The 2.3-litre four-cylinder double-overhead camshaft 16-valve engine is a gem. It loves to be revved and it responds with a throaty burst of encouragement.Mazda offered an extensive range of models with sedan, hatch and wagon body styles in Limited, Classic, Luxury and Sports variants. All were well-equipped, from the entry-level Limited sedan right through to the zippy Sports hatch.The Limited came with power windows and mirrors, full instrumentation, remote central locking, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, immobiliser, airconditioning, cloth trim and CD sound with four speakers.  Add alloy wheels, trip computer, auto air, velour trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, and a CD stacker with six-speaker sound and you had a Classic.Tick the Luxury box and you also got a sunroof, leather trim, power driver's seat, and Bose premium sound with seven speakers.  The Luxury Sports hatch got all of that plus front fog lamps and fold-flat rear seat.IN THE SHOPWhen buying a nearly new car you should approach it much like you would if you were buying new. The oldest Mazda 6 is now only four years old so you're looking at a car that is really in the prime of its life, barely run in. If it appears neglected walk on; there are plenty more out there to choose from.Mechanically there is little to go on so far, the majority of complaints about the Mazda6 relate to brake wear which, while high, is no higher than any other modern car. You have to get used to machining discs by 30,000km and replacing them at 50,000-60,000km. Check for a service record, which will become important when you come to sell later on. When test-driving, make sure the engine runs smoothly and pulls without hesitation, the gears change smoothly without any jerking or hesitation and there are no vibrations as the speed increases. Also make sure there is no noise that can't be explained.CRUNCH TIMEAn agile chassis with responsive steering, powerful four-wheel disc brakes with anti-skid control and a zesty engine give the 6 driver every chance of avoiding a collision.Dual front airbags with seat belt pre-tensioners provide a good level of crash protection in the Limited and Classic models, while the Luxury and Sports models also have side and curtain airbags.MAZDA6 2002-2004Agile, responsive handlingMazdas new-found zoom, zoomGreat engine growlSweet-revving engineSporty stylingRATING78/100 Great-looking sports sedan with zip, responsive handling and good re-sale potential.

That same car retailed at almost $40,000 when it was new.Now, my dealer mate added his profit to the price before he retailed it out of his yard at $20,500, but even then it was still just a tick over half the original sticker price.The BA Futura used here is just an example of the bargains out there in near-new cars, particularly the Falcons, Commodores, Magnas and Camrys.The BA Falcon was a make-or-break car for Ford. After the disastrous AU the BA had plenty of ground to make up if the company was going to be viable going into the future.Thankfully for all of us it turned out to be a pretty decent car, far and away better than its disappointing predecessor.Ford pumped lots of new features into the BA, far more than it really would have, had it been a normal upgrade.The 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine was given a major overhaul with double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder with infinitely variable valve timing. In base form the Barra engine put out 182kW at 5000 revs and 380Nm at 3250 revs, more than sufficient to give the BA plenty of zip. There was the choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed auto, the latter having sports shift.The suspension was also revamped, particularly the rear suspension.The overhaul continued inside as well with an all-new layout focused around a central control console. Standard features in the base XT included airconditioning, CD sound, power driver's seat, power front windows, trip computer, cloth trim, dual front airbags, anti-skid brakes, 60/40 split-fold rear seat.In addition to that, the Futura had cruise control, power rear windows, 16-inch (40.64cm) alloy wheels, rear centre armrest, cup holders, grab handles and courtesy lamps.Make the next step up to the Fairmont and you also drove away with dual-zone airconditioning, velour trim, six-stack CD, woodgrain dash, leather-trimmed steering wheel, side airbags, and traction control.The last step, sporty XRs aside, was to the Fairmont Ghia which had the added features of a six-way driver's seat with memory for settings, adjustable pedals, 17-inch (43.1cm) alloys and fog lamps.With just 30,000km or so under its wheels there should be little that's gone wrong with the Falcon. To date there is none of the head gasket, radiator, power steering problems that were a regular occurrence on the AU. And rental car agencies say they're having a better run out of the BA Falcon than they are with the equivalent Commodore or Magna. In reliability terms they are rating it as high as the Camry.Mechanics working on roadside assistance are reporting an annoying BA problem.It seems they simply stop and can't be started again without being towed to a Ford dealer where the electronics can be checked.With decent handling from independent suspension front and rear and anti-skid brakes the Falcon delivers quite good primary safety.On the secondary level it has dual front airbags, and on the Fairmont, side airbags.There are lots of compelling reasons for buying used large cars, but saving money is the best one. At auction, BA Falcon XTs are being knocked down for as little as $14,500 on average. At retail prices, the same car will sell for $3000 more. The Futura sedan retails for about $18,500 and the equivalent wagons will cost about $18,500 and $19,500.

It's often the original model that becomes the much-admired classic in later life, and that's certainly the case with the first Falcon GT Ford, launched in 1967.  The XR Falcon GT can lay claim to a number of firsts. It was the first Aussie muscle car and the first V8 to conquer the Bathurst mountain.MODEL WATCHThe GT was one of the smartest marketing moves ever seen in Australia. Ford was building a high-speed pursuit car for the police when some smart marketing men thought it would make a great high-speed road car and, perhaps more importantly, a potent race car for events like Bathurst.Using the police pursuit specification as a base, a GT spec was developed. The GT was based on the XR Falcon sedan, the first to offer a V8 engine, and was enhanced with some special go-fast gear and dress-up equipment so it looked the part.All apart from a handful of special build cars were painted GT Gold with black GT stripes down each sill and across the boot lid, while the grille was also blacked-out for added effect. GT badges adorned the grille, boot lid and the C-pillars.It wasn't over-the-top to the point of being garish, it looked just about perfect.Inside, there was a Mustang-style woodrim steering wheel, extra dials with the speedo going all the way to 140mph (225km/h), and there was a Hurst shifter jutting out of the centre console. The engine would be a more powerful version of the standard 4.7-litre pushrod V8. The compression ratio was boosted, it had a sports camshaft, four-barrel Holley carburettor, special intake manifold and exhaust system. All that added up to 225hp (168kW) at 4800 revs while torque was 305lb ft (413Nm) at 3200 revs, enough to power it to 100km/h in a little more than 10 seconds and, at 195km/h, it was the fastest car ever produced in Australia at the time.The V8 was linked to a four-speed manual gearbox with the final drive delivered to the rear wheels via limited-slip diff.Underneath the glittering gold panels, the suspension had been stiffened with heavier springs, bigger shock absorbers and a larger front anti-roll bar. The steering ratio had been reduced, disc brakes were fitted to the front, and the wheels were wider and fitted with radial tyres.IN THE SHOPThe XR GT is almost 40 years old and will have many of the problems that affect all old cars. Rust can be a particular problem, and their high performance meant that many have been crashed, some a number of times. That means a thorough inspection is needed to determine the condition of the body.The good news is that it's not too difficult to find replacement body parts as they're the same as those on regular XR Falcons.Finding second-hand body parts in good condition, however, requires patience and persistence. Mechanically there is nothing daunting about the GT. The 4.7-litre V8 is a simple and durable unit and there are plenty of parts available to rebuild them.Same goes for the gearbox, rear axle, suspension, steering and brakes. The difficulty with the GT is replacing those special GT parts that might be missing.CRUNCH TIMEThere's not much to talk about on the safety front. Airbags were a thing of the future in 1967, even seat belts were optional, although the GT did come with lap-sash belts up front.FORD FALCON GT 1967Not recommended for daily drivingRumbling V8 performanceAuthenticity is a mustRust and crash damageMust be complete with all special GT featuresGreat looksRATING12/20 A head-turner that's fun to drive and appreciating in value.

It was ridiculed as an ugly duckling when new, but low running costs and few mechanical woes make the Suzuki Baleno an attractive used-car buy.MODEL WATCHSuzuki needed to do something special to make the Baleno stand out in a market segment crowded with proven performers such as the Toyota Corolla, Ford Laser, Nissan Pulsar and Mazda 323. It didn't.The Baleno wasn't a bad car by any means, it was simply that it was lost in its own mediocrity when it needed to be much better than the opposition just to get noticed.Its styling didn't help, no matter whether it was the three-door hatch, four-door sedan or wagon. Its looks were bland and boring, the lines soft and soppy, the curves rounded without clear definition.The Baleno's main engine was a sickly 1.6-litre single overhead camshaft four-cylinder unit that produced 73kW at 6000rpm along with 127Nm at 3000rpm. For those wanting more, there was a 1.8-litre double-overhead camshaft engine in the meant-to-be sporty GTX, which made a more inspiring 89kW at 6200rpm and 152Nm at 3400rpm.The transmission choices were a five-speed manual and four-speed auto, both were competent and got the job done without fuss.  Ride comfort was acceptable over most types of road, the handling was well balanced and reasonably assured if not inspiring.Inside the Baleno was well equipped.The base model GA had power steering, cloth trim, four-speaker sound and a split-fold rear seat. The GS had sports seats, height adjustment for the driver's seat and colour-matched bumpers. The GLX also had remote central locking. At the top of the range sat the GTX with alloy wheels, rear spoiler, sports seats, velour trim, central locking, power mirrors and windows and six-speaker sound.The main criticism of the Baleno was its lack of refinement compared to its rivals. Interior noise, from engine and wind, was high.  A 1999 facelift brought an updated front bumper, headlights, grille and bonnet.IN THE SHOPGenerally Suzukis fare well in terms of reliability, which says heaps for the design and development that has gone into them. The Baleno is no different. Owners report minor problems only. The engines and gearboxes stand up well if maintained properly.Look for a service record that shows regular oil and oil-filter changes, and a cam timing belt change around 90,000 km.  Tyres and brakes appear to last well.  Brake pads need changing at 60,000-70,000km while the norm for tyres appears to be from 60,000 to 80,000.CRUNCH TIMEThe Baleno is average in crash protection in the annual survey of used car crashes. While the GTX had dual front airbags the rest of the range missed out.OWNERS' VIEWSDavid Hicks bought his 1999 Baleno sedan cheap at auction with 45,000km on the odo and says it's the best car he's owned. It's light on fuel, light to drive and change gears and quiet inside due to the dash mat he's bought.David Borton is pleased with the 1999 Suzuki Baleno he bought new. He wanted a car that would be cheap to run for a couple of years and he opted for the Baleno, after his experience with a Suzuki Vitara. Six years and 99,000km later he still has it. He's stuck with it because of the low running costs.  Fuel consumption is between 7.5 and 8.0litre/100 km. One problem has been a leak from the top of the windscreen and a few dash rattles.RATING12/20 Worth considering if you want a car with low running costs, but looks are mundane.SUZUKI BALENO 1995-2001* Commendable reliability* Good tyre and brake life* Good fuel consumption* High interior noise level* Mundane looks* Average resale value