Your questions answered: How long does a car last?

Delays in new-car deliveries and great demand for vehicles in general have led to increases in the price of popular second-hand models.

Indeed, in the case of some discontinued performance models and specialist SUVs, the increase has been such that some are worth more in 2022 than they were when new, as far back as 2020.

We are even hearing about dealers offering incentive payments to consumers to give up their places in delivery queues for the most popular new cars.

All of this is putting additional challenges in the way of new and used car shoppers. There are great cars out there to buy but, more than ever, it pays to do your research and go into the car buying process well informed.

So, when is a used car too long in the tooth and are there still times to let the heart rule the head?

Question:

Answer: You should definitely shop with less than 200,000, and closer to 100,000, but also consider the calendar age of the vehicle and the relative lack of safety equipment in older utes when used as a family car. The Navara is fine and has always been a value pick – it’s is a good choice but there will be aspects of the Ranger you’ll miss.

Question: I’m looking for a car for my daughter who is turning 18. Second-hand is fine, new if possible but not a necessity. Preferably low-$30,000s price range but we will go up to $40,000 if required. Obviously safety is priority. I’m a badge tragic but I value your opinion greatly. – Vincent B

Answer: If badge is important, then go for a Mazda3. Supply is far better than many brands, because Australia is one of the brand’s biggest markets outside of Japan – and this counts when it comes to securing the supply of new cars. A Mazda3 is also a good choice as a used car. Disregarding the brand, there is arguably better value in the Hyundai i30 and Kia Cerato. We’d happily recommend all three.

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Answer: The 240Z was always something extra-special, from day one. In contrast, who would have thought the Australian-made Capri would have been collectible, when it had rubbish quality from new and was completely overshadowed by the Mazda MX-5? If you like the 300ZX as a car, that’s great, but as all the financial advertisements emphasise: “Past performance is no guarantee of future results”. Our Editor-in-Chief uses the ‘buying a car as an investment’ line all the time and we see right through him! Fact of the matter is the car world is in turmoil at the moment on many fronts including electrification – future values of all but a few ‘gold-plated’ collector cars are very hard to predict.

Question:

Answer: Someone will want your Commodore if it’s not a complete ‘beater’. Equally, they’ll probably be happy to purchase it without a roadworthy. Advertise it as such and pocket the $1200.

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Answer: These are truly extraordinary times, but it’s a sellers’ market and we’re hearing lots of complaints about dealers who tell people what they want to hear. As for advertising, when Toyota pushes the LandCruiser, sales of all its models go up – it’s a paradigm that’s been the same for more than 20 years. Your frustration is obvious and you are not alone.

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Answer: Unleaded is definitely best for you, but Kia and Hyundai are pushing diesels because of the global backlog. It’s worth considering if there is a big drop in the waiting time, but talk to Customer Service at Kia Australia and do not rely on the dealership. Potentially also look at downgrading from the flagship model, as it requires the most computer chips and that’s also a prime cause for delays.

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Answer: Electric vehicles promise massive torque, even for towing, but there is no short-term EV replacement for the dual-cab pick-ups that dominate sales in Australia. Fact is diesel vehicles are losing popularity in many parts of the world but those parts of the world are not those that are large markets for the dual-cab utes Aussies love. That’s a long way of saying, there’ll be plenty of diesel choice in the pick-up market for some time to come. Interestingly, however, the growth in full-size American pick-ups is strong even though the majority of those sold there are petrol.

Question: My daughter (20) is getting her driver’s licence, so I want to know what car would suit her best. Either a Kia Picanto or MG3? – Cathy R

Answer: The Picanto rates well ahead of the MG3. While there is an obvious value appeal in the MG3, it’s an old car that has little other than price tag to recommend it. Better to look at Suzuki Swift and carsales Best First Car for 2021, the Kia Rio. If an SUV is her choice the Hyundai Venue is a consideration.

Question:

Answer: The ‘hybrid’ diesel CX-60 is very much a mild hybrid, not a plug-in, and its 48-volt system provides the ability for the engine to shut down when coasting but does not provide electric-only operation. There will be a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid CX-60 which should come to Australia, although perhaps not initially. PHEVs have much smaller batteries than full battery-electric vehicles and we’re not aware of any bi-directional PHEVs that exist currently or have been proposed.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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