Articles by Neil Dowling

The 1978 Land Rover Series III once owned by the Queen (THE Queen) is being kicked out of its sovereign garage and into the hands of commoners. UK auctioneers Historics at Brooklands has been tasked with finding a buyer for the Land Rover, which has been extensively modified to suit the monarch.It was commissioned for the Queen and modified in April 1979 by REME Central Workshops in Donnington to include a traffic light system allowing the Queen to signal the driver to stop, slow or start. Other features include double rear doors and a rear retractable step which remain in full working order and set this Land Rover aside from the other 440,000 Series III models built between 1971 and 1985.It has been driven only 1892 miles (about 3027km) since new. Historics estimate the Landie will go for the equivalent of $23,000-$28,000. But you have to go to the UK to get it. The auctioneer says “it's highly unlikely one like this will ever come to auction again”.It will be auctioned on the afternoon of Saturday November 24. Further details on www.historics.co.uk 

It's being hatched in Europe to a busy baby-car market but it's too early to tell if Opel's new car will develop enough to make it here.The Opel Adam - a twist on the company originator's name, Adam Opel - is the first new nameplate from Opel since the Insignia of 2008. Opel Australia says the Adam - a three-door car the length of aHyundai Getz - isn't confirmed for sale in Australia. But the company says "it's something we will watch''."The complexity and number of options on this little car makes it a tough sell for Australia, with long delivery times and so on,'' says Opel Australia marketing boss Michelle Lang. "It is a great product though and if there is any way we can see an appetite for it here, I'll be pushing for it.'' The car was this week unveiled in the UK and shows that Opel sister company Vauxhall has adopted a fun attitude to marketing Adam.It hits the UK in three trim levels - Jam (for fashionable and colourful), Glam (elegant and sophisticated) and Slam (sporty). The fashion-led philosophy allows customisation of up to one-million different combinations. Vauxhall claims this gives the Adam the ability to be personalised in more ways than any other mass-produced car.It has 12 body colours including Purple Fiction and James Blonde, with three contrasting roof colours - I'll be Black, White my Fire and Men in Brown. Then there are three option packs - Two-tone Black or White Pack; flamboyant Twisted Pack; and bold Extreme Pack - and three external decal packages called Splat, Fly and Stripes.Even the ceiling headliners come in three versions - Sky (clouds), Fly (autumn leaves) and Go (chequered flag) - and there are 18 interchangeable decor panels on the dashboard and doors, two of which are backlit by LEDs which Vauxhall claims is an industry first. It has Opel's new IntelliLink infotainment system that connects a smartphone to the car and is the first system compatible with both Android and Apple iOS. It is the first Vauxhall to include new-generation Advanced Park-Assist that identifies appropriate parking spaces and steers the car into place. The UK will get the choice initially of three four-cylinder petrol engine specs - 52kW/115Nm 1.2-litre, 65kW/130Nm 1.4-litre and a higher-performance 75kW/130Nm 1.4 - but a three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol of about 1-litre will follow. There are no diesels and no automatic transmissions in Adam's satchel.The car would match up against the Volkswagen Up - and its Skoda Citigo clone - and Hyundai i20, Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Micra, so needing a sub $14,000 price tag. 

Its latest car finance deal guarantees the resale value of the car when the loan term ends. Called Toyota Access, it is claimed to be an affordable and flexible way to buy a new car.It works as a standard loan with Toyota Finance but the zinger is the zero - that's 0 - per cent finance rate on the Australian-built models: Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion. The comparative interest rate on other Toyota models is only 1.9 per cent.At the end of the three year loan term, and after paying a set monthly repayment, there is a “guaranteed future value”. This amount is similar to a balloon payment on any lease. The difference is that Toyota guarantees - before the customer enters the contract - to buy the car back at that price.In the attached example, the Toyota Camry Altise costs $28,998 including on-road costs in NSW. This price may change dependent on price differences and the state where the car is registered. The guaranteed buy-back is $11,824 in this example - dependent on the car's condition and distance travelled.This compares with the 48 per cent industry residual value of the Altise after three years which is estimated at $13,920 - a figure that may apply if the customer chooses to sell the car privately. That indicates that the car may sell for more than what Toyota wants back, so the difference may end up in the customer's pocket.But a few extra dollars at the end of the deal may not be the only attraction. It's also flexible. The customer can switch out of the car at the end of the term into another Toyota-financed car and if - as the example here - the old car is worth more than the guaranteed future value (GFV). Or the car can be handed back to the Toyota dealer - probably without incurring a cost - or the customer can pay the GFV and own the car outright. In this case, the car could be sold privately and they could then pocket the difference.Along the way, the car is covered by Toyota's capped-price service program so the customer has a predictable thread of costs for the ownership of the vehicle. Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor says Toyota Access is available on all new Toyota vehicles. “It guarantees that the resale value of the Toyota will never be less than the final payment, totally removing any risk of being out of pocket,” he says.The monthly repayments are fixed and dependent on the vehicle chosen and its driveaway price. “Customers may be able to upgrade their choice of vehicle, or add extras like accessories and even purchase a brand-new model more often,'' Mr Callachor says.“One of the great concerns highlighted by our customer surveys is that, at the end of the finance term, the amount owing might be more than the value of the car. With Toyota Access, we have set out to eradicate that concern.” He says the program appeals to owners who want the flexibility to update their Toyota to suit their changing circumstances.If, for example, a customer wants a bigger Toyota as their family grows, they can update more easily,” he says. “For most people, family planning and financial planning go hand in glove. Until now car finance hasn't necessarily been part of that consideration. Now it can be.''EXAMPLEToyota Access on a Camry Altise:Drive-away Price - $28,990 (NSW example and price may be slightly different for other states)Amount Borrowed - $28,998 (there is a $7.50 “security registration fee”)Comparison Rate - 0%Loan Term - 36 monthsMinimum Guaranteed Future Value - $11,824 (conditions regarding distance travelled and vehicle condition will apply)Monthly Finance Repayment - $491

Crushing car sales in Europe are no barrier to Maserati, which this year opens a new $1.5 billion factory and shoots its three new models straight at the heart of Porsche.  To Maserati Australia boss Glen Sealey, the new Quattroporte - announced this week - and the mid-size Ghibli and SUV Levante, represent a new dimension for the 98-year old car maker.  "Everything, everything, about the new Quattroporte is new," he says. "We are forecasting up to 1500 sales a year in Australia by 2015/16 - that's enormous growth but it still leaves us as an exclusive marque.'' Maserati in Australia sold 140 cars last year. Mr Sealey says the new Quattroporte - here in September 2013 - moves more upmarket, while the mid-size Ghibli is expected in Australia early 2014 and then, in 2015, the Levante SUV. "If you look at Porsche's line-up, then that's a good example of how Maserati is going to market its models,'' he says. The Quattroporte will come first with a high-performance V8 engine that in price and performance would compete around the level of the Porsche Panamera and Panamera Turbo. "Like the Panamera, we will have a V6 petrol and a diesel.'' He says that while rumours of the Ghibli being a car to take on the BMW 5-Series, the new Maserati is more upmarket. "It will be a performance saloon.There will not be a Ghibli model like the (entry-level) BMW 520i. All will be upmarket models," he says. The Ghibli will be powered by a V6 petrol and a diesel and, like the new Quattroporte, drive the rear wheels through a Maserati-spec ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Maserati has no V6 or diesel on its shelves but Mr Sealey insists these engines will be made by the company - and not sourced from elsewhere - by he time the models are ready for production. "Maserati will not have an outside engine in its cars - it doesn't expect it and the customers certainly don't expect it. So that means Maserati is making its V6 petrol and a diesel.'' Pricing for the new Quattroporte is expected to be similar to the existing model. The Quattroporte - which is bigger than the current model and sits on a new platform - and the Ghibli will be built in Maserati's new factory that was previously owned by Bertone. The factory cost $1.5 billion to buy and refit. "What other company in Europe is doing that?'' asks Mr Sealey. "That's an indication of the confidence that Maserati has in its future.'' Maserati in Italy goes further. Its CEO, Harald Webster, says it is claiming it is standing "at the edge of an unparalleled strategic and industrial growth that will see our presence in the world rise to 50,000 units a year by 2015.''  

One decade ago, you'd sweat to make $21,840 to buy a five-door Corolla without airconditioning and just one airbag. Today, the equivalent Corolla is $19,990 with airconditoning, seven airbags, electronic stability control, a six-speaker audio, cruise control and  Bluetooth.The price has gone down, the feature - and safety - list is so good it's in prestige-car territory, and the Australian average weekly wage has jumped 32 per cent. Oh, and interest rates - as defined by the Reserve Bank's official cash rate, are now 3.25 per cent compared with 5.0 per cent a decade ago. With so much cheap money, cheap cars and bigger wages, it's no wonder car sales are so strong. What are you waiting for?VALUECheap as chips. The Corolla has always been affordable but it's getting even more desirable. The latest hatch - a sedan may come late next year - is a pearler. The top-line Levin ZR tested here has an automatic transmission ($2000), a panoramic sunroof ($1500) and metallic paint ($425) as options to its $28,490 tag.It has a heap of goodies including LED daytime running lamps, 17-inch alloys, dual-zone auto climate-control aircon, electric lumbar support for the driver, heated front seats, leather upholstery, button start, sat-nav and a reverse camera. Capped-price service and guaranteed resale value are big bonuses.That's very good value but it has very good rivals - even the outgoing Volkswagen Golf is $31,990 for an auto with similar specs - and wins because of its bulletproof durability and concrete resale value. But you don't have to reach to the top shelf for Corolla value. Look also at the Levin SX auto for $25,990.DESIGNThis is an evolution of Toyota's cautious styling strides but it has broad buyer appeal. There's some Yaris in there and a bit of Prius. Overall, the hatch looks contemporary and certainly ages rivals such as the Nissan Pulsar which hasn't even been launched yet.Good room inside for four adults (though the rear seat is hard and unsupportive), an upmarket dash with stitched leather and soft plastics, good switchgear and simple placement and a biggish boot win friends. But a narrow rear window makes for poor rear visibility (thankfully there's a rear camera in the Levin), the A-pillars are wide and the bonnet droops into the unknown. But it's still a nice bit of gear.TECHNOLOGYThe Corolla is as simple as it was 10 years ago and the biggest techno change over the previous model is the continuously-variable transmission (CVT) that succeeds a conventional four-speed automatic. CVTs can be hot or cold but Toyota has got it right. The two Levin models also get paddle shifters. The car's basic platform remains but the new bodyshell is more rigid and there's now tweaked electric steering and suspension. The 1.8-litre engine continues but has more power (up 3kW to 103kW) at an extra 400rpm at 6400rpm compared with the old model. It has the same torque (173Nm) that conversely arrives 400rpm lower at 4000rpm. Fuel economy is down with the CVT version claiming 6.6-litres/100km. The previous auto got 7.4 litres/100km.SAFETYThe new toy has seven airbags, a five-star crash rating, all the necessary electronic aids, hill-start assist and an emergency brake signal which automatically flashes the hazard warning lamps during hard braking to alert following motorists. The Levin ZR also gets a space-saver spare, auto-levelling high-intensity headlights that see around corners, and a reverse camera.DRIVINGThis is such an accommodating car that everyone will feel at home in the cabin. Same on the road. The driving experience is unthreatening and without any surprises. The engine sounds the same as in the past 10 years and the performance is also the same - a bit lacklustre but completely predictable.There's more perkiness from the engine, however, thanks to the CVT that offers a multitude of ratios, plus seven preset gears available by operating the steering wheel paddles. There's a bit of the inherent CVT elastic-band character that feels like a slipping clutch but compared to many CVT-equipped rivals, this is a good one.The claim of an extra 3kW at 6400rpm must be an in-house Toyota joke as the only owner who will visit those high revs will be either insane or has bought the wrong car. That aside, the hatch is a more confident car through the corners than ever before.It also feels more comfortable and quieter, though the noise levels deteriorate on coarse bitumen as tyre roar intrudes.  Same problem with the Mazda3. Everything about the Corolla is better than before, but only marginally, and sadly none of this comes as a huge surprise.VERDICTIt's better than before and no one's going to complain. But as an excitement machine, you may have to buy something else.Toyota Corolla Levin ZRPrice: $30,490Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 58%Service interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 1.8-litre 4-cyl petrol, 100kW/175NmTransmission: CVT auto; front driveThirst: 6.6L/100km; 91RON; 152g/km CO2Dimension: 4.3m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H)Weight: 1310kgSpare: Space-saver

Canny motorists are facing a shopping bonanza as car makers start slashing prices to make way for new models. But it's not only outgoing models going cheap - look out for end-of-year sales as well.Any time a carmaker trumpets a new model, these shoppers are there ready to make a financial killing by buying up the old model. Look for sales at particular times of the year. June is traditionally a strong month for squeezing extra savings out of a dealer though, with a buoyant car market and fierce competition, anytime towards the end of any month can deliver a bonus.End of year sales are popular. Dealers always want to sell but the months of November and December provide a chance to discount cars built in the current year. Fighting this are car buyers who want a car built in the new year to preserve resale value. Here's some deals but be prepared for more as the calendar year draws to a close.HOLDENDeep Purple is no longer a rock band - it's Holden's new colour that is available on a range of cut-price “Z-Series” Commodore sedans, utes and wagons. The new colour is the same as Holden's iconic show car, the Efijy. Different models in the Z-Series line-up get different equipment levels but, as an example, the base Omega automatic is $41,990 but the Z-Series edition costs $39,990.The bonus is that the Z includes a heap of extras within that price, including leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear camera and sensors, leather steering wheel and chrome door frames. The SV6 ute adds 19-inch alloys, carpet mats and leather seats for $38,490, down $1000 on the plane-Jane SV6.The discounts on the VE Holden Commodore range precede the launch early next year of the VF Commodore models. Holden is also running out the Barina five-door manual hatch at $16,490, a saving of $500.TOYOTAYou'll have to do some legwork here. The new Corolla is on sale and some dealers still have stocks of the old model. Officially, there's no discount on the outgoing model though some dealers - predominantly NSW and Victoria - have extra stock and have advertised a $18,990 price, $1000 off the list price. Note that the cheapest 2013 Corolla is also $19,990. Toyota WA says customers should discuss pricing direct with their dealer.It's not only the Corolla that may offer savings. The RAV4 gets updated early next year and though there's no official price, dealers will consider offers. On top of that, Toyota has zero per cent finance on Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion until the end of the year.HYUNDAIThere's a lot of previous-model stock available from Hyundai and buyers can make big savings if they're not chasing the latest car. These include old-stock i30 hatchbacks with $2000 off the normal price and previous Santa Fe SUVs for up to $3000 off.But there are also current models. The big one is the $13,990 drive-away price on the i20 three door which saves $2500. A similar discount is on the five-door i20. The i40 wagon is now from $29,990 driveaway, a saving of about $3000, and the sedan model with automatic transmission is also from $29,990, saving about $2500.Hyundai's popular baby SUV, the ix35, is now from $27,990 driveaway for the Active version, a saving of $1120, while other ix35 variants have been reduced by $500.MITSUBISHIThe new Outlander SUV arrives November 18 so Mitsubishi is sweeping out current stock. The "Enhancement Pack" model is an LS version with leather seats, heated front seats and an electric-adjust driver's seat. It has Bluetooth, 18-inch alloys with a full-size alloy spare, six airbags for the front-wheel drive version (up from two) and a cabin styling pack with bright trim to the door handles, console panel and rear door trim.Prices start at $28,990 drive away for the LS front-wheel drive model with five-speed manual transmission. The normal price is $29,340 plus on-road costs so the saving is about $4500. But for buyers who want the new model, register on Mitsubishi's website and there's the chance to win a $1000 Westfield shopping voucher and 15 per cent off accessories for the new Outlander. If that's not tempting, Mitsubishi also has 0.9 per cent finance until the end of this month.SUBARUThe 2012 run out has just started for Subaru which has chopped up to $5000 off three models. It replaces its Liberty and Outback in early 2013 as a mid-life makeover that includes upgrades to trim specifications. There is an all-new Forester also due about February. So the deals are now on the table.The Outback 2.5i manual is usually $37,490 plus on-road costs (say, $5000) but is being rolled out the showroom door for $35,990 including all on-road costs. The same axe has lobbed on the Forester X which is now $32,990 drive-away including leather-faced seats, alloy wheels and fog lights.The normal retail price is $30,990 without the extras and without on-road costs. Subaru is selling the Liberty 2.5i sedan manual for $31,990 drive away with leather seats, electric driver's seat and reverse camera. The car normally sells for $32,990 plus on-road costs.FORDKuga Trend $35,490 drive away (normally $38,990 plus on-road costs) and the upmarket Titanium is now $41,490 drive away, previously $44,990 plus all on the road charges. The Kuga is to be replaced with a new model in early 2013.Focus Ambiente hatch now $19,990 drive away (normally $20,290 plus costs). The Mondeo Zetec hatch is $33,990 with all costs (usually $37,740 plus on-road fees) and Falcon's XR6 Turbo is down from $46,235 plus costs, to $43,490 drive away.KIAThere's a new Sorento SUV so the outgoing model has a $2000 gift voucher attached to its normal retail price.VOLKSWAGENIs running out stocks of the current Golf VI to make way for the Golf VII due early next year. Volkswagen Australia has set the price of the current Golf 77TSI manual at $20,990 including metallic paint and all drive-away costs. This is a saving of about $5000.The Golf Wagon 90TSI with DSG auto, metallic paint and all drive-away costs is now $29,990, saving about $3500. Note that for small-car wagon buyers, Volkswagen has not confirmed a wagon version of the new Golf. If you want this shape, this could be your last chance.VOLVOThe Swede is clearing out its 2012 stock by adding value rather than chopping the price tag. The S60 and V60 entry-level models now come with the upmarket Teknik pack valued at about $4500. But if you specify the Teknik model, Volvo will automatically give you the R-Design pack (valued at $3000) for free.The same deal applies to the XC60 SUV. There's also a deal on S60 or V60 from the dealer's existing stock. Volvo will include free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km.

Love them or despise them, the birth of all SUVs have their DNA in Subaru's Forester. It is the originator of the street-smart wagon that put on high heels and minced into the bush, creating a dual-use machine that Australians embraced like cold beer. In fact, Australians probably lit the fire that raged into the

Subaru says it will debut the next-generation Forester to the public on November 13. The SUV goes on sale in Australia in February, but Carsguide will have the first drive report in a few weeks. The new wagon has a new transmission, updated engine and changes to its high-performance turbocharged version. The Forester, launched in Australia in 1997 but an evolution of the first mass-production SUV of the 1970s, is Subaru's best-selling model in Australia. More than 169,000 Foresters have been sold in Australia to date. Subaru Australia's managing director, Nick Senior, says the next Forester is a crucial vehicle for Australia. “This fourth generation Forester is the most significant we will have launched since the original back in 1997,'' he says. “There is more change - substantial technical change -- and innovation, than ever before. But above all, new Forester is an SUV that won't be confined to the suburbs. “It's a vehicle that could have been designed specifically for the Australian lifestyle - it's all-road, all-conditions, all-seasons and this new one will go further than any previous Forester.”  

The brand has been picked up by one of Australia's most aggressive vehicle distributors. Ateco Automotive, which distributes Citroen, Great Wall, Chery and Lotus - and under an associate firm, Ferrari and Maserati - promises new prices, new models and a change to the diesel-only philosophy. It took over Ssangyong's national distributorship from Sime Darby this week ahead of handing Citroen to Sime Darby in January. Ateco also took control of Foton light to medium truck range in Australia. The truck range - but not the Foton ute models - was relinquished by Transpacific Western Star. Ateco is now setting up dealers for the trucks and is planning to expand into the heavy-duty truck market. Ssangyong has driven a tough road in Australia despite budget pricing and claims of value for money. In the year to September, it has sold only 32 vehicles - the same number as Lamborghini and one-third of the sales of Maserati. Ateco spokesman Daniel Cotterill says new models are planned. “We have made adjustments to the range including overturning the former importer's diesel-only policy,” he says. “So we expect the first of the Ateco-spec vehicles to get here in early 2013 and they will include diesel, petrol and petrol automatic SUVs.” Mr Cotterill says prices of the 2013 range will be competitive though “there's still currency fluctuations to deal with”. “We have about 300 vehicles being handed over to us this week by Sime Darby and there are others in stock - and I don't have this figure yet - at the 28 national dealerships,” he says. “The existing vehicles will be sold at very competitive prices.” He says the best example is the Korando SPR which is $29,990, down from $38,775. “We have ambitious growth targets,” he says of Ssangyong. “We have a simple approach - give people what they want; get the right dealer network; and sell the vehicles at the right price.” Ateco plans to boost Ssangyong dealerships to 60 within 12 months. It now has 28 dealerships and seven parts and service outlets. Next year Ateco plans to sell an updated Rexton, Koranda and Stavic people mover - the latter now claimed to be restyled after years of taunts about its convoluted design. Mr Cotterill says under the ownership of Indian conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra, Ssangyong has a strong future with excellent financial underpinnings and access to further capital. “Mahindra is investing in Ssangyong,” he says. “For us, that means up-to-date vehicles and continuity of supply.” Though owned by the Indian company, Ssangyong continues to make its vehicles in South Korea. Ateco's control of Foton trucks allows access to China's biggest commercial vehicle manufacturer. Foton has joint-venture arrangements with companies including Daimler AG. It makes Daimler Mercedes-Benz medium and heavy trucks under the Auman name - he badge that will be used by Ateco in Australia. Auman trucks use China-made Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty engines that are rated at Euro-5 emissions. The Foton utes will continue to be sold through Queensland company FAA Automotive Australia.  

More than 8000 Nissan X-Trails and 2700 Nissan Dualis and Dualis 2+ models are being reeled in to fix, respectively, potential fire risk from a loose engine-bay insulation and possible steering breakage.Nissan Australia says no incidents have been reported by Australian owners. "In the case of the Dualis, it's only an inspection of the steering wheel boss,'' says Nissan Australia spokesman Peter Fadeyev. "Of the 48,000 Dualis (also called Qashqai) recalls around the world, only 600 had to be repaired, so in terms of the numbers, it's relatively minor. But it's still important,'' he says.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions (ACCC) published an official recall notice stating that the 2712 J10 Nissan Dualis models built between February 27, 2012 and May 16, 2012, "are at risk of losing their steering as a result of having the steering wheel boss - which connects to the steering column - separate from the steering column because of not having the appropriate strength.''Mr Fadeyev says owners are being contacted to arrange inspection of the steering wheel boss. "The batch number on the casting will be inspected to confirm if replacement is required,'' he says.The X-Trail recall, also spelled out by the ACCC, involves potential warping of the engine bay's firewall insulator in 8136 T31 X-Trails built between December 21, 2006 and April 27, 2012. The insulator could warp and come into contact with the engine's turbocharger and potentially lead to a fire. It affects only the diesel version of the X-Trail."This recall means all the affected vehicles will need a modification,'' Mr Fadeyev says. "It will mean having a bracket fixed to the firewall to hold the insulation in place and prevent it from warping and touching the turbocharger.''Nissan Australia says X-Trail owners are being contacted and Dualis owners are recommended to contact their nearest Nissan dealer to arrange an inspection of the steering wheel boss, where a batch number located on the casting will confirm if replacement is required.