Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

It's the best place to spend some time, tinkering with your car or bike, and unlike chocolate eggs, it won't make you fat or give you pimples. Repco trade sales manager Malcolm Dunning accepted our challenge to put together the ultimate in tools for a man cave. Prices range from an affordable $19.99 cleaning gift pack to $1208 for a portable fridge, with a total price of $5538.97. It all starts with a big tool kit on rollers, of course, filled with spanners, sockets, screwdrivers and more. Getting your fingernails dirty is fun, but scarred knuckles from the wrong tools is not, says Dunning. He says quality is the most important ingredient to avoid injury from inferior tools. Dunning chose their 126-piece Repco tool kit with six-drawer chest and seven-drawer trolley. Any home mechanic needs a creeper so they can crawl under the car . They cost as little as $61.99 for the Mechpro which also folds up into a seat. Getting under your car can be cramped, so Dunning suggests getting a floor jack and a couple of stands, but make sure they are rated to hold the weight of your car. You'll also need some good lighting under the car and in the engine bay. LEDs are the brightest and whitest lights to get.  He says air compressors are becoming popular to operate the many time-saving air tools available these days such as degreasing guns and spray painters. Another popular tool for today's car restorers is a MIG welder, he says. "They are popular for people doing panel work on their car or for things around the home," he says. Dunning says a 900amp jump pack is also handy to restart old batteries. To clean your dream garage, Dunning suggests a wet/dry vacuum cleaner and high-pressure hose. The Mechpro high-pressure cleaner is rated at 1600psi. You'll also want to clean your car with a battery powered polishing kit. And when it's time for a coldie, "I keep an Engel 240/12 volt fridge in the garage," says Dunning. "You don't have to go into the house in your overalls and leave greasy fingerprints on the fridge door." CAR CAVE Repco 126 Pce AF/Metric 1/2inch and 1/4inch Drive Apprentice Tool Kit in 6 Draw Tool Chest $989 Repco 7 Draw Tool Trolley $699 Mechpro 40 Ltr Twin Piston Belt Drive Air Compressor $449 Mechpro 3/8inch Air Ratchet and 1/2inch Dr Impact gun Combo Kit $161 Wall Mount Compressed Air Hose Reel $132 Pro Lift 1400kg Floor Jack and Car Stand Combo Pack $69.00 Repco 7 Stage 8 amp Battery Charger $149 Repco 126 Pce Apprentice Tool Kit $989 already above? Mechpro 900 AMP Battery jump pack $89.99 Mechpro 3 Door Wall Cabinet $179 Mechpro 150AMP Mig Welder $415 Mechpro Variable Shade Welding Helmet $124 Mechpro 36inch Floor Creeper / Seat $61.99 Repco Hi Intensity Rechargeable LED Inspection Light $143 Repco 95LED Under Bonnet Rechargeable Work Light $152 Mechpro 1600 psi 5.3ltr per min water flow 240 volt Pressure Washer $162 Supervac Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner $207 Repco Eclipse Car Cleaning Gift Pack $19.99 Mothers Polish and battery powered buffing kit $129 Engel Fridge $1208 Total = $5538.97 (Prices correct at time of publishing)

A British parliamentary report has recommended that elderly drivers caught speeding or breaking traffic laws should be sent on specia training courses to make sure they are still safe behind the wheel. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety report said that while only 15 per cent of over-70s held a driving licence in 1975, the figure for 2010 was nearly 60 per cent. While figures show that the elderly are safer than younger drivers, the reductions in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads in recent years have fallen far more slowly among older drivers.

Rearview cameras are becoming more prevalent in new cars, but despite that, Kidsafe NSW executive director Christine Erskine says one child a week is backed over by a vehicle and one a month dies in reversing accidents. "But we don't, at this stage, say that rearview cameras should be mandated but certainly investigated," she says. "We don't want them at this stage as we don't want parents and drivers to think that it will solve the problem. It's not the be all and end all." Erskine says rearview cameras are useful, but are only part a "suite of measures" that need to be introduced to protect children such as physical barriers in home driveways. Her comments follow an investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make rearview cameras compulsory in all new vehicles by 2014 after reports that more than 50 American children are hurt every week in "backovers" and two of those children die. While 17,000 Australians of all ages are injured each year in reversing accidents, most victims are toddlers. The accidents usually occur in a home driveway, typically involving an SUV driven by a parent, according to the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS).  Erskine says a Victorian Coroner's report found families of backover victims believed they had put in enough barriers and thought their children were safe. "It's not a case of parents being slack, but children being inventive about how to get past barriers," she says. NRMA Insurance research boss Robert McDonald says rearview cameras are now standard in 45 per cent of vehicles. He says their 2011 Reversing Visibility Index found 14 per cent of 243 cars tested scored a full five-star rating up from eight per cent on 2010, reflecting the number of manufacturers featuring reversing cameras as an option or standard across a range of vehicles. "Australia has a much higher penetration of rearview cameras than the US and Europe where they are usually only provided as a high-end addition or only in SUVs," he says."Even base-model Commodore and Falcon have them available and Mitsubishi has them almost across the board. "Once people are aware of these extra features and demand them, the manufacturers tend to put them in if they see a benefit in sales. McDonald rejects a move to make the feature mandatory in all vehicles and says legislation restricted to rearview cameras could prevent better technologies becoming available.  "I worry about design by legislation which can be technology restrictive," he says. "We've already seen advanced technology from BMW with a birdseye view of the car. "I'd like to see continued awareness rather than forcing them to be put in. In five years they may be standard anyway." McDonald says there is a "common misconception" that SUVs have the worst rear visibility, leading to calls to ban them in urban areas. "We started the rear visibility survey to see if SUVs had a blind spot and the results show it's extremely variable," he says. "It seems some sedans are worse than SUVs. "We found VZ Commodore - with its high boot and low seating position - was the worst car we tested at the time which was then one of the highest-selling cars on the market." While reversing cameras can cost up to $200 when factory fitted, aftermarket cameras can cost less than $100 and are becoming more popular. Chris Ryan, boss of Strike Group Australia which imports reversing cameras and other car safety products, says sales of the cameras are up 378 per cent. "I think there is generally growing awareness of the benefits and convenience of reversing cameras," he says. "We also see a really big spike in the volume of sales when there is a high-profile incident, for example when rugby star Brendan Cannon tragically reversed over his 16-month-old son. "What people don't realise is this happens on a weekly basis on average in Australia and it's a terrible and preventable problem." CLEARVIEW (NRMA Insurance Reversing Visibility Index 2011) 5 STAR VEHICLES BMW X1 (OEM camera 2010 BMW X3 (OEM camera) 2011 BMW X5 (OEM camera) 2007 Ford Territory (OEM camera) 2011 Holden Captiva7 (OEM camera) 2011 Holden Commodore wagon (OEM camera) 2010 Honda Legend (OEM camera) 2006 Hyundai Accent (Sedan) (OEM camera) 2011 Hyundai i40 (OEM camera) 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee (OEM camera) 2011 Kia Optima (OEM camera) 2011 Kia Sorento (OEM camera) 2009 Kia Soul (OEM camera) 2009 Lexus CT200h (OEM camera) 2011 Lexus GS (OEM camera) 2008 Lexus IS250 (OEM camera) 2005 Lexus IS F (OEM sensors and camera) 2008 Lexus LS460 (OEM camera) 2007 Lexus LX570 (OEM camera) 2008 Mazda BT-50 dual cab (OEM camera) 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon (OEM camera) 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan (OEM camera) 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS (OEM camera) 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe (OEM camera) 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan (OEM camera) 2009 Mitsubishi ASX (OEM camera) 2010 Subaru Liberty sedan (OEM camera) 2009 Subaru Liberty Exiga (OEM camera) 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser (OEM camera) 2011 Toyota Kluger (OEM camera) 2007 Toyota Prado 3-door wagon (OEM camera) 2009 Volkswagen Touareg (OEM camera) 2011 Volvo S60 (OEM camera) 2010 Volvo V60 (OEM camera) 2011 0 STAR VEHICLES Vehicle-Body Type-Year Audi A3 convertible 2008 Audi A5 convertible 2009 Audi A5 coupe 2008 Audi S4 Sedan 2009 Chery J11 2011 Ford Falcon sedan 2008 Holden Commodore sedan 2010 Holden Cruze sedan 2011 Holden Epica 2007 Honda Accord 2008 Honda Accord Euro 2008 Honda Civic sedan 2006 Hyundai Accent hatch 2011 Hyundai i30 hatch 2007 Hyundai ix35 2010 Kia Cerato sedan 2009 Kia Cerato hatch 2010 Kia Cerato Koup 2009 Kia Optima 2011 Mazda 3 sedan 2009 Mazda 6 hatch 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer hatch 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer sedan 2007 Proton Persona 2008 Subaru Impreza sedan 2008 Subaru Liberty sedan 2009 Subaru Liberty Exiga 2010 Suzuki Kizashi 2010 Toyota Corolla sedan 2007 Toyota Prado 5-door wagon 2009 Toyota Rav4 2006

According to a report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association, the road toll in the United States is back to the levels of 60 years ago. In 2010, 32,885 died on US roads which is the lowest since the 1950s. By comparison, 1292 people died on Australian roads last year which is the lowest since 1946 and about a third of the deaths recorded at the peak in 1970. The report cited safer cars as one of the reasons behind the lower American road toll, but said that it could be lowered further with the right driver attitudes. The GHSA found driver behaviour was hampering a decrease in the road toll and advocates laws against aggressive driving after finding only two US states have increased fines for speeding since 2005, and one of those - Wyoming - applies those fines only to drivers of commercial vehicles.

The Dorsoduro 1200 arrives in June with ABS and Aprilia traction control (ATC) but the price will remain at $17,990. Prices have yet to be determined for the Dorsoduro 750 and Shivas Sport with ABS. Andy Pecora, of Aprilia importers John Sample Automotive, says the Dorsoduro has been repositioned from a "weekend warrior" to a "fun commuter". "We didn't get too much response when it was marketed as a weekend warrior hyper motard, but it picked up interest when we repositioned our marketing as a fun commuter," he says. "It's a bike that is the best of both worlds. "It's a tall bike with good visibility for commuting, but also such a fun bike to ride on the weekend. The 96kW engine features three engine mapping modes for sport, touring and rain. Level 1 or "sport" is suited for experienced riders with all the power of the 1200cc V-twin engine at your disposal. Level 2 or "touring" limits power for better control in all terrain conditions. Level 3 or "rain" limits power even more for tackling challenging conditions, such as slippery roads where grip is poor. Pecora says the touring function of the bike will be further aided by the arrival of a new range of soft luggage accessories including panniers, tank bag, top case and side panel packs. The new Dorsoduro 1200 also comes with a significant weight reduction of 3kg and a new range of colours. Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 Price: $17,990 Warranty: 2 years Service: 10,000km Enigine: V90 120cc 96kW/115Nm, traction control Transmission: 6-speed, wet hydraulic clutch Suspension: 43mm Sachs upside-down fully adjustable forks; Sachs hydraulic fully adjustable rear shock Brakes: 320/240mm discs, Brembo callipers, ABS Tyres: 120/70 ZR 17; 180/55 ZR 17 Dimensions: 2248mm (L), 925mm (W), 1205mm (H), 870mm (Seat), 1528mm (WB) Tank: 15 litres

Brisbane company EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles has opened a dealership in Bend, Oregon, and company executive Lance Gillies expects to sell 10 to 15 of their adventure motorhomes based on Fuso 4X4 Canter trucks.  "Long term the numbers can be healthy," he says. "There are over eight million RVs - that does not include caravans or truck campers only motor homes - registered in the US so we have been told. "We have built a USA-specific EarthCruiser, with much attention paid to the freezing climate of North American winters.  "As we have the only real 4x4 motor home on the market we have our work cut out to convince the US market it is a good idea. But that's ok; we are very confident."  Gillies says the rugged all-terrain EarthCruiser is not for everyone. "This is a serious expedition vehicle that can take people to places that no other RV can, places they've only seen in magazines," he says.  "Part of our challenge will be to really educate extreme travellers about the vehicle's amazing capabilities. "Once the real adventure seekers understand how comfortably they can travel to locations they never had access to before, the excitement should spread quickly."  Gillies also points out that the go-anywhere vehicles also have all the comforts of home inside, including a sink, fridge, shower, cooking area, a double bed and a dining table that can be transformed into a third bed. "Even our most extreme travellers still want to enjoy some of the comforts and safety of home," he says. "After all, there's nothing wrong with a hot shower, cold drink, and comfortable bed wherever you may choose to stop for the night."  The company has sold more than 20 EarthCruisers to adventurers in Australia, Spain, England, Egypt and the US. The EarthCruiser has a composite fibreglass body with a 600mm pop-up roof and is mounted on the 4x4 Canter chassis. The regular wheelbase model can fit into a 20-foot shipping container for globetrotting duties. EarthCruiser modifies the suspension with longer semi-elliptical leaf springs and heavy duty double-acting shock absorbers, while it is shod with chunky 36-inch Michelin XZL traction tyres. The heating, cooking and water heating systems are powered by diesel, as well as electricity generated by solar panels. The EarthCruiser range includes short and long-wheelbase Expedition models with a pop-up roof, short and long-wheelbase utes, a dual-cab ute and two new Outback models. The new full-size 4x4 and automatic 4x2 Outback are being built in Portland, Oregon. EARTHCRUISER RANGE SWB EXP: $215,000 LWB EXP: $230,000 SWB Ute $85,000 LWB Ute $87,000 Dual Cab Ute $95,000 Outback 4x2 $160,000 Outback 4x4 $190,000

It also comes with a range of new layouts, a new fibreglass nose which provides the motorhome with improved aerodynamics and more storage space. The 2012 Conquest's exterior also includes colour coordinated trunk doors, double glazed Dometic windows and new graphics on the motorhome's side.  It is available in four sizes (6m, 7m, 7.3m, 7.5m)  with prices from $96,000 plus on-road costs. Jayco manager Bruce Astbury says there has been "a slight increase" in the price compared with last year's model.  "The slight price increase is a result of the added/upgraded specifications made to the Conquest," he says. It comes with the slide-out gas bottles, slide-out generator and double external power point for al fresco dining.  Inside, the Conquest has received a makeover with a larger shower room, larger fridge and larger aluminium bed frame. On the safety side it now features a rear-view mirror-mounted reversing camera for negotiating tight camp sites.  Updates have been made to the decor, such as new Baldacci cupboard door handles and the addition of internal cab blinds in lieu of a cab surround curtain. Astbury says the updates to the 2012 Conquest range is evidence of Jayco's commitment to innovation.  "Even though the 2011 Conquest range was hugely popular; we didn't want to rest on our laurels,' he says. "We are always looking to push the boundaries.

Canadian quad bike and all-terrain vehicle manufacturer BRP is going head to head on the track with its biggest rival, American giant Polaris.  The two companies are taking part in a side-by-side category in the Australian Rally Championship. BRP Australia boss Gregoire DuPont says the race series will highlight the capabilities of its Can-Am Commander side-by-side ATV and draw attention to the new range of quad bikes and ATVs.  The company recently hosted a media day where motoring journalists were invited to sample the full line-up of nine off-road vehicles. VALUE Prices for the range start at $3669 for the Can-Am Mini DS90 and rise to $26,758 for the 1000cc Commander Limited which is the luxury version of the side-by-side competition vehicle. The eight quad bikes include youth models, racers and farm quads with prices similar to Polaris, but more than the Japanese models, although they come with more technology. There are also four 1000cc side-by-side vehicles and one 800cc model.  They feature three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties which are more typical for cars and SUVs than off-road recreational vehicles. Service intervals are a generous 100 hours. TECHNOLOGY The second generation or "G2 platform" for Outlander and Commander have been substantially redesigned with new front and rear suspension, larger brakes, beefier bumpers, more powerful lights, deadlock wheels, progressive-locking AWD and 25 per cent larger fuel tanks in some models. Biggest change is in the new suspension system which features anti-dive, improved ride for all-day farm use and increased rear squat for better traction. The torsional trailing arm rear suspension is not fixed like some competitors so the rear wheels move up and down rather than in an arc for better articulation without pushing the rider from side to side over off-set bumps. They also feature a range of more powerful 800cc and 1000cc Rotax engines with improved fuel injection for better throttle control. DESIGN Can-Am quads and ATVs have an aggressive, almost military look. You can even get a camouflage paintjob that looks like a US Army Jeep. They are water resistant and have almost indestructible plastics.  A handy feature in some models are the racks with a quick-release LinQ system. There is also a handy waterproof rear storage compartment which can be accessed even when the luggage rack is in place. SAFETY Roll-over protection is supplied in the sid-by-side Commander models which can be optioned up with windscreens, roof and even a stereo system. They also have a seat-belt warning light on the instrument panel and a handy seat-belt type of catch for the side safety nets. Brakes are strong with large ventilated discs and twin-piston calipers. DRIVING BRP chose a farm in the Brisbane hinterland with a creek and steep hills to demonstrate their range against some of their competitors. The most obvious difference is in the steering in the Can-Am quads and ATVs. They turn tightly with little understeer and reduced kickback.  Commander models also allow you to vary the sensitivity of the steering from minimum to medium and maximum assistance.  The course included creek crossings, muddy embankments, steep slopes, log jumps and offset whoops.  One enthusiastic scribe rolled a quad bike by turning too sharply while sideways on a hill. The rider quickly re-mounted and the bike seemed unscathed in the incident. BRP's suspension coped well with all the obstacles and left this rider feeling in control and relaxed at the end of the day.  In particular, the offset whoops can be taken at much higher speed than the opposition models which threw the rider around from side to side. Throttle response is smooth, not touchy, which is handy for negotiating tricky situations. However, it also provided a burst of acceleration when need to lift the front wheel over logs and other obstacles. CAN AM RANGE ATV Outlander 1000/800R XT Outlander 800R X mr Outlander 650/500/400 Outlander MAX Renegade DS 450 X mx DS 250 Youth SIDE-BY-SIDE Commander 1000 Commander 800R Commander 1000 XT Commander 1000 X Commander 1000 Limited

The Japanese company will introduce their sat nav as an option this year in the Kizashi, SX4 and Grand Vitara.  It will be available in all models except the entry level SX4. Adam Le Fevre, boss of Queensland importers Suzuki Auto Company, says the system is suitable for Australia and New Zealand and will be here a couple of months after production begins in July.  "It's not been a vocal problem that we haven't had sat nav," he says. "It's been more an expectation by the industry that it is needed, not an expectation in the market."  Le Fevre says the Suzuki sat nav will not be expensive and will not be packaged with an array of other features that will make it more expensive as some other companies have done. The sat nav system will feature a 6.1-inch touch screen display, Bluetooth capability with audio streaming, voice recognition, an AM/FM radio, and downloadable updates and content. It will also connect with iPod, iPhone, USB, SD and auxiliary players. The Kizashi and Grand Vitara models will feature a built-in reversing camera. Le Fevre says the sat nav system will be one of several updates throughout the year which kicked off this month with the launch of the new Swift Sport. That will be followed by facelifts for the Jimny mid-year, and Grand Vitara and SX4 in the third quarter. But the biggest news for Suzuki this year is the coming two-wheel-drive version of the Grand Vitara. "I'm not sure whether we will sell more or we will lose sales from four-wheel drive," says Le Fevre. "It will target metropolitan young families who might have a four-wheel drive now but have never been off-road yet still want a weekend getaway. "About 90 per cent of all SUV owners never get them off the road."  He says the 2WD version will not dilute the strong off-road credibility of the Grand Vitara nameplate. It will be available only in five-door petrol with similar spec levels to the current Grand Vitara line-up. "The whole idea is that it will be a cheaper version - about $2000 to $3500 cheaper," Le Fevre says. "The car will appeal to a lot more people than it has in the past." While towing capacity is expected to be reduced, Le Fevre says it should retain a higher capacity than other 2WD models.

The voluntary recall has been issued for the Santa Fe diesels over the risk of a fuel leak and possible fire. Hyundai Australia issued the voluntary recall on 9000 Santa Fe 2.2-litre R diesels built between September 1, 2009 and December 13, 2011.The defect involves a lack of clearance between the engine cover assembly and fuel return hose which could cause wear in the hose, leading to a fuel leak and the risk of fire. However, company spokesman Ben Hershman says not every vehicle will be affected. "There have been no incidences of any problems caused by this issue in Australia to date," he says. "Owners should present the car to their dealer who will inspect all hoses and replace any if there are signs of wear," he says."They may also install a small clip to the return fuel hose to act as an additional protection barrier removing the possibility of interference." Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by letter. Meanwhile, Toyota has issued a voluntary safety recall of 22 RAV4 vehicles over a possible steering problem. The recall involves a defect in a prototype instrument panel reinforcement or steering column support bracket which may have been installed in some RAV4 vehicles.A welded section in the bracket could separate, causing noise. In the worst case, steering operation may be affected. There have been no reported incidents in Australia. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by telephone and mail. Any authorised Toyota dealer will replace the unit with a new one at no charge to the owner.