Toyota Problems

It's part of the interior design and the dealer will not change it. If you're really unhappy, get an automotive painter to hit it with something non-reflective.

A rear-wheel drive model would sell for $10,000-$13,000 depending on condition, a four-wheel drive model would sell for $13,000 and $16,000, again depending on condition. With170,000 km on the odometer, yours would likely be at the high end of that range, if it were in tip-top shape.

Comparing utes and SUVs is tough. I get complaints from Grand Cherokee owners, the HiLux is being replaced soon and the Outlander is nothing special. The Colorado SUV is probably best for you but drive a Hyundai Santa Fe before you commit.

Don't get too carried away with the VIN number, as the build date is always stamped on the firewall on a special plate and cannot be altered or disguised.

From your shortlist, the Mazda3 is the best and gets The Tick from me.

I bought a Toyota HiLux last year which I love, and it would be in your budget, but a Falcon would also be good. Avoid anything too old, also high-mileage, or with go-faster modifications.

With that budget you'll be buying second-hand in that class, and that makes the Hyundai i30 the best choice with plenty of warranty still to run. We do not recommend the Golf after the factory warranty. A turbodiesel gets better economy but you need to drive 30,000 kilometres a year for the total cost to beat a petrol car.

You won't buy anything new for that sort of money; a used 2007 Landcruiser would still soak up all of your budget. Perhaps go for something like a used Ford F250; that would have all the towing capacity you need.

The Mazda2 gets The Tick and is best on your list, but don't ignore the Honda Jazz which had a higher score in Car of the Year judging.

There is no such thing as a use-by date but my personal cut-off is 160,000km. Lots of cars run happily for much longer, and I have a friend with an immaculate old Honda Accord close to 800,000km. Before running into big expenses it seems like the right time to be moving to something younger.