So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[jakeseven7]

My local Toyota dealer is also looking pretty empty.

So I ended up selling my grey German and was RABIDLY snapped up by a dealer. Got an amazing price and have actually made quite a lot of money out of my novated lease now (purely by chance of course, thanks covid).

Everyone is right who commented previously, there are very little cars available (or cars people want) in dealers at the moment.

Now back down to 1 car household but as working from home until at least March won’t be rushing a new car purchase at all.

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks Maca. It’s a couple of hundred more but the Fiat just looks nicer so I think we’ll lock it in

 

[kookaburra75]

Hey Maca, does this have a fixed bed at the back? We’re off to Tassie next year and choice for hire is Fiat like this, with fixed rear bed, or the standard MB or VW with dining area at back that you convert to bed. I’m going you know about these things so my question is which would you recommend for a two week hire?

With the Mercedes Sprinter you have to make up dining area into a bed, meaning you only get the thickness of the cushion as a mattress. However, the Fiat is slightly wider, and has a permanent double bed in the back with an 8" inner spring mattress as hereunder. The majority of cooking and eating is done outside the van, and I like the idea of walking from the driver's seat several paces and falling into bed.

Thanks Maca. It’s a couple of hundred more but the Fiat just looks nicer so I think we’ll lock it in

That's good to know too. MrsK and I are planning to be in Tassie late March, and we've booked a Fiat from Cruisin (Sandpiper). As it's MrsK's first motorhome journey I had to pick one with a toilet and shower in the van.

 

[bPeteb]

That's good to know too. MrsK and I are planning to be in Tassie late March, and we've booked a Fiat from Cruisin (Sandpiper). As it's MrsK's first motorhome journey I had to pick one with a toilet and shower in the van.

Yes, that was my criteria! The Sandpiper is only offered by Cruisin’. Everyone else has the MB and VW vans that also have a shower and loo, just with different layout. We’re there at the same time it sounds like - 11 days leaving Easter Monday. We already have lunch at Fat Pig Farm booked.

 

[Maca44]

That's good to know too. MrsK and I are planning to be in Tassie late March, and we've booked a Fiat from Cruisin (Sandpiper). As it's MrsK's first motorhome journey I had to pick one with a toilet and shower in the van.

The toilets are great for number one's" and extremely convenient during the night etc, but it is very easy to visit say a MacDonalds, surfclub (not in TAS though) for number two's. They say they don't smell even if you visit a pump out every couple of days, but I haven't given it a chance to find out

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Has anyone had experience of not being notified by Volkswagen (/other manufacturers) of outstanding recalls on their vehicles? Unfortunately had to get my car towed in to the service centre a few weeks ago after the car went dead. Only found at later that there was an active recall on the vehicle announced in April. I had received no communication about it...

 

[Buzzard]

Driving related so I'll post it here.
Excluding Adelaide, is there anywhere else in Australia that has a traffic report called Roads, Radars and Burst Water Mains?

 

[Quickstatus]

Only found at later that there was an active recall on the vehicle announced in April

They should have contacted you. Check the contact details they have on you
Was it the 7 speed gearbox leak recall. I recall it only affected 2012-2014 vehicles.

 

[Quickstatus]

The supply of new is certainly very restricted. I was at the local JLR dealer the other day, and they’re virtually out of stock, and have no idea when any of their orders might appear.

The second car market has exploded due to new supply
Ive been offered $75K for my 2013 Toyota Landcruiser 200 series 105,000Km

I declined it because I would have to buy a new one at max price.
Attractive though for those who want to sell and not buy in the current environment.

 

[JohnM]

My elder son has just put a holding deposit on a new Landcruiser 200 Series Sahara. Shipment is due in February and dealer has a single allocation of his preferred colour & trim. Dealer claims it will be the last 200 Series shipment before the 300 Series arrives, apparently with a new 6 cylinder donk. It seems like the V8 is being consigned to history, but that's what he wants.

Anyone out there got any info on the LC300 series?

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyone out there got any info on the LC300 series?

It will not have a V8, but a V6 that is supposed to be more powerful. That is not hard to do as Toyota traditionally have sold engines that are under tuned which is an attraction to many and adds to the notion of reliability. The LC70 essentially has the same V8 but single turbo (and about half the power of the same engine in the 200 series) and is basic as basic can get though this year it got electric windows and bluetooth but it has a very strong following.

It will have the same towing capability.
Size I don't know but cars often grow in dimensions when new models come out.

The real ? mark is the transmission. The current transmission does not do justice to the V8.
Aisin the world biggest powertrain manufacturer (which Toyota has a share) has a 10 speed but currently not in a high torque version.
It will sell like hot cakes If the LC300 has a high torque 8 or 10 speed mated to a V6.

Im going to hold on the my non DPF V8 because it is actually the last of the real Saharas. The current crop has a DPF

Please @JohnM , can you let me know what price your son has negotiated for the Sahara. Private msg if you like. Im keen to know
My dealer said low $120k

 

[CaptainCurtis]

They should have contacted you. Check the contact details they have on you
Was it the 7 speed gearbox leak recall. I recall it only affected 2012-2014 vehicles.

That's the one... an infamous 2012 golf. Contact details haven't changed since purchase, so no explanation really.

Picked up a Mazda 3 G25 Astina over the weekend, absolutely loving it.

 

[Quickstatus]

That's the one... an infamous 2012 golf

I managed to avoid a Stealer scam. I was told in my 2017 Golf 7DSG that the mechatronics was leaking gear box oil at the wiring entry point. Its a known weakspot to an otherwise sealed box.

However I took it to a independent VW DSG service guy who told me the DSG was overfilled with DSG oil. The procedure for filling DSG oil after replacement is strict and requires the gearbox to be at a certain temperature. It was in excess of 500ml over or 12.5%
Saved me a mechatronics replacement circa $3500.

 

[JohnM]

Please @JohnM , can you let me know what price your son has negotiated for the Sahara. Private msg if you like. Im keen to know
My dealer said low $120k

He’s out bush until late this week. Will pass on your info and follow up on what he sorted with the dealer (in Kalgoorlie).

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyone got their eye on the upcoming i30N?

 

[Quickstatus]

That's the one... an infamous 2012 golf.

Thinking out loud. Maybe yours was not affected and they are using that excuse for an overfilled gearbox? Was the gearbox/DSG serviced in the previous service?
Mine was and the leak was picked up at the next service.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Thinking out loud. Maybe yours was not affected and they are using that excuse for an overfilled gearbox? Was the gearbox/DSG serviced in the previous service?
Mine was and the leak was picked up at the next service.

Honestly I would be surprised, just about anything is possible with VW given their track record.

The new car is bringing me incredible joy, so trying to focus my energy on that rather than the negative. Although the negative is that I still need to find a way to sell the Golf...

 

[Quickstatus]

sell the Golf...

Used car market is remarkably strong at the moment, though I suspect the high prices are more or less at the 2 yr old range

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Used car market is remarkably strong at the moment, though I suspect the high prices are more or less at the 2 yr old range

I think you're right. The car is old in years but young in mileage, having only done 70,000km in 8 or so years.

Need to sell it and move on I feel. Take the loss and enjoy the new car.

 

[JohnM]

It will not have a V8, but a V6 that is supposed to be more powerful. That is not hard to do as Toyota traditionally have sold engines that are under tuned which is an attraction to many and adds to the notion of reliability. The LC70 essentially has the same V8 but single turbo (and about half the power of the same engine in the 200 series) and is basic as basic can get though this year it got electric windows and bluetooth but it has a very strong following.

It will have the same towing capability.
Size I don't know but cars often grow in dimensions when new models come out.

The real ? mark is the transmission. The current transmission does not do justice to the V8.
Aisin the world biggest powertrain manufacturer (which Toyota has a share) has a 10 speed but currently not in a high torque version.
It will sell like hot cakes If the LC300 has a high torque 8 or 10 speed mated to a V6.

Im going to hold on the my non DPF V8 because it is actually the last of the real Saharas. The current crop has a DPF

Please @JohnM , can you let me know what price your son has negotiated for the Sahara. Private msg if you like. Im keen to know
My dealer said low $120k

I've flicked your post to my son and I'm having lunch with him on Tuesday so we'll discuss it then.

I notice the price listed in the current issue of two magazines varies slightly:

Wheels: $124,396; 4X4 Australia $123,590. Obviously don't include ORCs.