Your questions answered: Is my Toyota LandCruiser a target for thieves?

Latest vehicle theft data showed the most stolen vehicle in 2020 continued to be the Holden VE Commodore followed by the previous-generation Toyota HiLux and the current Ford PX Ranger.

But anecdotal evidence shows thefts of Toyota’s 200 Series LandCruiser are also on the rise, thanks not only to the sheer volume of them that hit the road over the last decade, but the outrageous prices they’re fetching in the booming used vehicle market.

That’s why this is the top question in this week’s Q&A column.

Question: Have you heard of four-wheel drive vehicles, particularly the Toyota LandCruiser, being stolen more than other vehicles? I was recently filling my LandCruiser when a policeman told me to take special care of it from thieves and that stunned me. – Ern W

Answer: LandCruisers are always popular with thieves, but not as popular as the V8 Holden Commodores that are stolen by some criminals for their speedy needs and by others for spare parts.

Don’t panic. Just make sure you always lock your car when you walk away at the servo or shops (it’s an offence not to), check your anti-theft devices are in good working order and have insurance at ‘agreed value’ level because LandCruisers are super popular at the moment.

Question: I am interested in an electric car but I want one that is able to be plugged straight into an ordinary 10-amp, 240-volt home outlet. I realise the time to charge would be long but that’s not an issue for me. Work is 3.3 to 4.1 kilometres one-way from home depending on the route taken. – John M

Answer: Virtually every EV sold today will charge, at a very slow rate, from a normal household powerpoint and come with a charging cable. There is a significant number of new EVs due in Australia between now and the end of the 2021, including the all-electric version of the Mazda MX-30 and the Kia e-Niro.

We have the new Nissan LEAF e+ on long-term test at the moment and it's a capable day-to-day EV, while the cheapest EV now on sale is the MG ZS EV at $43,990 drive-away.

Question: Why have all the new cars got clear indicator lenses when years ago they were orange? They were easy to see but now the clear ones are very hard to see, especially in bright sunlight, as the orange globes they now use are rather weak and don't light up very bright.

I've had and seen quite a few near-misses as I can't see the indicators in the sunlight. Not very good for safety, just wondering if some accidents are to blame on these clear lenses? – Nancy E

Answer: The regulations are about the colour of the indicator, not the way it’s achieved, and there are legal requirements on brightness. The change has come partly for styling reasons, but also because a cracked clear lens will not affect the turn signal. And don’t forget that many older cars have badly faded yellow lenses that are hard to see too.

Question: I have the opportunity to purchase a 2005 CLK 350 soft-top Mercedes. It is a one-owner car with 85,000km and it is in absolute mint condition, with the owner asking $15,000 for the car. I would like your opinion on the car before I decide. – Christine J

Answer: It should be a nice car and the 350 is the best engine. OK, it’s not a youngster, but 85,000km is not high mileage for a Benz and you can easily compare it with similar cars listed on carsales.

Question: We are expecting our third child under three in September and need a bigger car to fit car seats across the back. We have decided we want a seven-seater, for the boot size mainly, and are looking at second-hand models. 

I like the look and size of the Toyota Kluger, however, my wife leans towards the Kia Sorento. Toyotas appear to have a long history of good cars that last a long time – from my uneducated standpoint Kia are yet to be proven. – Kevin O

Answer: Toyota has a great reputation, but you pay too much just to get a 'T' badge on the front and Kia is now well proven and a great alternative. The Sorento, which we named 2020 carsales Car of the Year, is just as dependable in my experience and will be better value. Chalk one up to the wife.

Question: My daily driver is a 1993 Ford Fairmont and I’m a motoring enthusiast. I believe there's a device that you can have fitted to older cars to minimise battery drain. Could you please give me the name of the product? – Bede M

Answer: You can fit a cheap battery isolator that allows you to easily disconnect the battery when the car is not being used, and I happily use and recommend CTEK battery care products, which are supplied with new Ferrari cars and Ducati motorcycles. There are many models, depending on your budget and need.

Question: I would like to know your thoughts on the re-manufacturing process carried out on the RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the Ford F-150. Would it be more prudent to wait for Ford to bring out a right-hand drive F-150? – George G

Answer: There is no plan for a factory RHD F-150. The official local conversions on the RAM and Silverado are both done by Walkinshaw Automotive in Melbourne and, unlike some others, are top-class efforts.

These trucks are not cheap but they are fit for purpose. The Silverado is more expensive but, until the new DT-series RAM 1500 arrives from RAM Trucks Australia, it’s more modern and likely the benchmark.

Question:  I have my own small business in pet services, walking dogs etc, and I require a car that is either a hatchback, station wagon or light SUV to enable me to transport dogs in the back.

I currently own a Holden Cruze and am looking to trade this in for around $5000. I have been looking at the older Mazda3 and the Subaru Forester or Outback. – Kaitlyn H

Answer: With dogs, it has to be the Forester. The Outback is better and bigger, but the Forester will give you better value, more space than the Mazda3 and a nice low-loading high-jump for the pooches.

Question: We are looking for a new or demo Mazda CX-5 for my wife. What is the sweet spot in the range please? – Mal

Answer: That depends entirely on your budget, but go for maximum safety equipment and avoid big alloy wheels with low-profile tyres that will be noisy and create a harsh ride. Our suggestion is the Mazda CX-5 GT, which has turbo but not as expensive as the Akera.

Question: I have a 2020 Ford Focus but I cannot listen to AM stations because it is full of static. I have it on DAB, which is crystal clear but keeps dropping out.

I told the dealer about the static but they said it can't be fixed because the aerial is a fin. When I took it in for its first service they
said they fixed the radio problem but what they did was change it to FM. – Elaine H

Answer: All radio reception depends on where you are. FM is brilliant in the city and relies on line of sight from the broadcast aerial. AM is now patchy in most places but has the best range, and DAB digital is the best quality if you have good reception, its downfall is the signal broadcast distance.

There will be very little that Ford can do but, if your car is equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the best solution could be to get the App for your favourite station and stream it through the car’s infotainment system.

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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