Your questions answered: Do I wait for the car I want, or buy what I can get?

Getting a new car in 2022 can boil down to the shortest waiting list and perhaps settling for the car you need rather than the one you’re lusting after.

There are delays everywhere but some brands, including Mazda and Subaru, have better availability as the brands’ high popularity in Australia gives them a ‘leg up’ when it comes to allocations from their parent companies.

It’s not a hard and fast rule, but in the case of the brands above it’s translating into more pull at head office and eventually more cars for deliveries Down Under.

Question:

Answer: What’s that old song, “If you can’t be with the one you love… love the one you’re with”? More and more people are compromising to get a new car, although you might find you come to enjoy the CR-V enough to cancel the order for the RAV.

Question:

Answer: The Mazda3 is the better car and larger, safer and more sophisticated than your old Mazda2. Mazda may also have a shorter delivery time than Kia. The Mazda2 is considerably smaller, older in design and less sophisticated.

Question:

Answer: If you’re doing a lot of driving for work, the sporty feel of the Benz could become tiring. The Volvo is an older design but more practical and would be my choice.

Question:

Answer: With the prospect of kids, it’s best to get something new as it will be much, much safer than staying with the ancient Fiesta. The Venue is excellent but has a big waiting list. The new HR-V is getting up in price (and only four seats!) and the MG is cheap for a reason. If you can wait, then test drive the Venue and Kia Stonic and pick the one you prefer. If you need to move quickly, then Mazda has shorter waiting lists and the CX-3 or CX-30 will both work for you although at higher cost.

Question: I’m 65, single, and looking to get a new car or good low-mileage second-hander. Over the years I have had Holdens, Volvos and BMW and I do some country miles as well as driving in the city. I’m looking to spend $25,000-$35,000 and any advice would be appreciated. – Laird G

Answer: To give you some of the prestige you’ve had in the past, with a solid feel in country conditions, a Subaru will be a good choice. There is also a shorter waiting list than some other affordable brands. The compact Subaru XV should work for your budget as a near-new car or the larger Forester as a higher mileage second-hand purchase.

Question: I have an August 2015-delivered Mercedes-Benz C 250 AMG Line. Because of my work being predominantly overseas, between 2016 to 2021 it’s only done 30,000km. Mercedes has noted my tyre wear, which I can see, and wants to replace all four original Continental tyres at a total cost of nearly $2000. As the original tyres have quite a harsh ride, is there a more comfortable, economical alternative. – Brian D

Answer: Choosing the AMG Line package means you have gone for a sportier tyre, which brings better grip and a bolder look on big alloys, with a downside of higher wear and less compliance. Go to a multi-brand tyre outlet for some impartial advice and a choice of rubber with prices which should be cheaper.

Question: We have a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC AMG 43 and from week two we noticed that the tyres were crabbing whenever we turned the car sharply. We took it back and they told us that it was an issue and that they would help us out when we needed new tyres. We need new tyres at 14,000km and have been back to the dealer and they do not want to help. They tell us it is not a defect but a characteristic of the car. Eventually they offered if we got a quote they would better it. They have now offered to better it by $140. Have you ever come across this problem? Do you have any suggestions what we can do as Mercedes Benz won’t accept that it is a defect? – Peter and Diane C

Answer: We have tried a number of times to get Mercedes-Benz Australia to admit there is a problem, after investigating with an independent suspension engineer. Benz says it is a characteristic of some of its cars but makes no admission of a fault. You can get a less-sporty tyre fitted, which will reduce the impact of the crabbing sound, but it cannot be eliminated.

Question:

Answer: Forget the BMW – it’s not in the same league as the others… The XC40 is a multiple award winner. The Genesis is slightly larger, and sportier, but resale values are still to be established. We’d grab the Volvo…

Question: After having a Toyota HiLux company vehicle for the past 20 years, I need to purchase a vehicle. I have been looking at 2013 Holden Commodore VF wagons, as sometimes I will be towing a lightly-loaded tandem trailer. Just wondering if you have an idea of something economical and reliable in the price range up to $15,000. And how many km is too many? – John W

Answer: Taking the last point first, you should aim as close as possible to 100,000km and stay under 160,000km even for a rock-solid Commodore. Remember that even the V6 Holden will be thirsty so costly to run with high petrol prices, so perhaps also look at something more economical. The Mazda6 wagon is a favourite of ours.

Question:

Answer: The i-stop system is hard-wired into the car to improve economy and should have zero effect on the battery as it does not use the electrical starter motor. But batteries generally have a shorter life in modern cars because of the increased electrical loading. To save some money, go to a battery specialist for a factory-specification replacement.

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