Your questions answered: Should I buy an old-school V8 or just play it safe?

Practicalities are kicking in with our carsales mailbox.

This week we’ve got someone wondering about getting their car serviced before heading off on the Big Trip. Another is wondering where all the new car bargains have gone.

One car-lover wants to finally get his V8 fix while another is looking to slash fuel bills on a new family SUV.

All of which suggests more people are taking more of an interest in how much their cars are costing them, which is understandable given the increases to the cost of living.

Should I buy a V8?

Answer: You’re right in that the V8 choices are drying up, at least if you’re looking for new ones. Even the mighty Mercedes-AMG C 63 now has only four cylinders!

But the used car market is a treasure trove of options, the most logical of which come from Ford and Holden.

The last of the Ford V8s were the best of the breed with the supercharged V8 loaded with grunt. The chassis didn’t have quite as much talent, but it was certainly an exciting machine.

But we reckon the better option is the last of the Holden Commodore V8s. The VF Series II models picked up the 6.2-litre LS3 V8, which has long been a great engine. Engineers ensured it sounded terrific and there was no shortage of grunt. The VFII also had a decent smattering of standard equipment and a chassis that could easily harness all that V8 goodness.

So go hard and enjoy a V8 while you still want to!

As for whether people will still want V8s in a few years, we can’t see the enthusiast appeal falling off a cliff. Sure, people are gravitating towards more fuel-efficient alternatives and EVs, but we reckon there will always be enough people who love the lure of a V8 to keep the flame alive for many years yet.

Why are new cars suddenly so expensive?

Answer: You’re right, prices have certainly jumped in the past few years. The $20,000 small car is now more like $30K, and the $30,000 mid-size SUV has also crept up about $10K.

There are a few reasons, the most obvious of which is inflation. Manufacturers of most goods are having to pay more for raw materials and the demand for consumer items means shipping costs have surged. It doesn’t help that there’s a labour shortage.

But there are other factors at play.

Many car-makers have effectively discontinued their entry-level models, forcing people to the better-specified version that happens to be more expensive. Their argument is that very few people buy a stripped-out base car, which is unfortunately true with some models and brands.

Another factor is profitability. For a couple of years now, many car-makers have been in the very fortunate position of having a lot more buyers than they have vehicles to sell.

So there has been no need to discount, because in some cases people are fighting (financially) to get hold of what limited stock is available (another reason used car values have gone bonkers). Car-makers and dealers love making more off the vehicles they’re selling and it seems many are keen to maintain those profits.

Competition will eventually ensure that harder edge to the new-car market at least partially returns. There are various new brands ready to launch in Australia and the easiest way to get on the radar of buyers is by undercutting the established players.

Those price rises from the established brands have allowed more space for newcomers to play. So let the games begin…

Why is it so hard to buy an EV?

Answer: You’re right, there’s no shortage of demand for EVs currently. It seems many people are realising that an EV can work for them, something that’s likely to accelerate following the recent passing through parliament of the Electric Car Discount Bill.

You’re also right in that getting hold of one can be a challenge, especially if you’re looking at the more affordable ($75,000 and under) end of the market.

Blame it partly on Australian regulations. We have no emissions regulations here, so car-makers don’t have to worry about selling thirsty vehicles. Conversely, those same cars sold in Europe can attract big penalties. Cars with zero tailpipe emissions (such as EVs) also garner credits in Europe.

So a car-maker can often make more money by selling an EV in Europe than it can in Australia.

That is likely to change, with the government promising some form of CO2 emissions regulations in 2023.

Car-makers are also starting to get more supply. Kia and Hyundai say they will get more of their EV6 and IONIQ 5 EVs to Australia in 2023. And Tesla now has some cars available for immediate delivery, something that hasn’t been available all year.

Volvo and Polestar are also planning on bringing many more EVs to Australia next year while BYD says it will be delivering thousands of cars per month.

Short story is the supply-demand mismatch should ease slightly in 2023.

Should I buy a Mitsubishi ASX?

Answer: The Mitsubishi ASX is cheap for a reason – and much of it comes down to its age. It first went on sale in 2010 and the car that’s still in dealerships today is the same basic car underneath.

Sure, it’s had some facelifts to freshen the look and add more features – there have been four updates in total, which is highly unusual – but the bones are certainly showing their age and the engine is nothing special.

As a result, it’s not particularly sharp to drive and has an old-school feel in the cabin. At least it should be reliable!

If you can stretch your budget another grand or two you’ll be into a Mazda CX-3, which doesn’t have as much rear seat space but has a cabin that’s ageing more gracefully. Another little step up will get you into a Toyota Yaris Cross, which has more space and the option of a hybrid drivetrain.

Both will be nicer to live with than an ASX.

Do I need to get my car serviced before the Big Trip?

Question: We’re about to head away on holidays and have decided to drive because airfares were too expensive. My car is not due for a service but I wanted to get it checked over before we try to tackle 2500km of holiday mayhem. However, the dealership could not look at my car before we take off. Am I taking a risk? – Dearne S

Answer: Getting a car checked over before a big trip is certainly worthwhile, although if it’s not due for a check-up then we wouldn’t be too concerned. The major mechanical components should be fine provided they’re within their service requirements.

But there are a few things you can do yourself, the most important of which is to check the tyre pressures. Make sure they’re inflated to what the tyre placard recommends. And keep in mind many cars – especially utes and SUVs – will recommend slightly higher pressures on the rear if you’ve got the car heavily laden, which you’re likely to do once you load everything (and everyone) aboard.

You could also fill the windscreen washer bottle to make sure you have plenty of water to clean off the bugs.

If you’re worried that something specific might need checking or you want the peace of mind of a qualified mechanic checking it over then consider a local mechanic. You don’t have to get the car serviced at the dealership (or brand) you bought it from.

Should I be worried about the short warranty on a Tesla?

Answer: Tesla quality certainly has been a talking point over the years. The fit and finish, in particular, has been well off where it should have been in the past. The newer cars we’ve tested are a lot better, although it’s not difficult to find niggling issues.

As for the warranty, that’s only part of the consumer protection with a new car. Australian Consumer Law (ACL) is a lot more powerful and can override the warranty. So if you have a major failure on an expensive component, there’s every chance the power of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will ultimately have it repaired or replaced under ACL.

However, the power of a longer warranty is usually that you don’t have to have the argument. If the car came with that guarantee and something has failed, then the dealer/manufacturer should repair it with little question.

If a car is out of warranty they may try to push back by claiming the car is out of warranty. The hoops you’ve then got to jump through – first with your state/territory’s fair trading department and then, sometimes, the ACCC – will often wear people down.

So, yes, a shorter warranty is not ideal.

That said, the most expensive component of a Tesla – its battery – gets a separate eight-year warranty with at least 160,000km of coverage.

Is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid the best hybrid SUV?

Answer: The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is by far the pick of the mid-size SUVs if you’re looking to slash your fuel bills.

As you say, there are rumours the Hyundai Tucson could get a hybrid in Australia, although our money suggests it won’t happen in 2024. The Tucson’s mechanical twin, the Kia Sportage, is another possibility, although again it’s unlikely to meet your tight timeframe.

Another option is the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER. It’s coming in the next few months and brings some decent fuel savings, although on paper they’re not as good as the RAV4’s. The e-POWER system works differently because the petrol engine never drives the wheels; it’s there purely as a generator for the two electric motors (one for the front wheels, one for the rears).

All of which is guiding you towards the RAV4. The challenge with the RAV4 is getting hold of one. Toyota pretty much owns that market and has implemented multiple price rises, none of which has got rid of the queues of people wanting to buy one.

But if you can snaffle one you’ll get a decent SUV that doesn’t use much fuel.

Another left-fielder to stick on your radar: Have you considered an EV? If you’re a salaried employee who can salary sacrifice a car there could be benefits to taking out a lease that makes it more affordable than buying a RAV4 Hybrid.

It all comes down to the EV fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption that recently passed through parliament. Speak to your accountant and/or a leasing company to see if it can work for you.

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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