Your questions answered: Should I wait for the Toyota Tundra pick-up?

This week’s carsales mailbox is a mix of Toyotas, Subarus and cars that are fun to drive.

There’s also some questions on electric vehicles, but in a rare week among the fast-flowing electrons it’s good ol’ petrol winning out.

That said, we’ve got one reader keen to know if today’s EV technology will be fast outdated.

Someone else wants an EV that’s not an SUV – and it can’t be a Tesla… The answer is trickier than you may think.

Question:

Answer: You’re right, it is difficult to imagine Toyota not going ahead with a larger-scale Tundra conversion program for Australia. That’s pretty much the way the company is thinking about it as well.

Keep in mind Toyota is a very conservative company that puts build quality and reliability at the heart of the brand. Anything that tarnishes that could have a huge impact on the reputation of the brand.

Because the right-hand drive conversions are being done by an external company with factory approval – the first time Toyota has ever done that – the brand wants to make sure everything goes perfectly. So there are many engineering checks to be done with those first 300 cars.

But really, think of it as more of jumping through the (many) hoops and ticking the appropriate boxes. Also expect the Tundra to arrive in dealerships, although admittedly not until 2025.

As for alternatives, obviously there’s the Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500. But within weeks Ford will also start rolling out its F-150 into dealerships. Plenty of action in the full-size ute market!

Question:

I’ve heard Toby Hagon on ABC speak of the head gasket needing to be replaced on Subarus and am wondering if there is a km range for this requirement. I’m a proactive car owner rather than reactive and would prefer to address this potential issue early rather than wait for the dreaded occurrence of the gasket causing major issues with my vehicle.

As my husband and I will be retiring in October 2024, I am hoping to keep the Subaru until then and with it preferably in “healthy” running order. I welcome any advice you may provide on whether: A. I should proceed with replacing the head gasket in the very near future, or B. Wait until I begin to identify any signs/warnings… if there are any, as to the gasket is on its way out. – Kate

Answer: Head gaskets can easily last the life of the vehicle, so there’s no point replacing it for no reason. You only replace them if they fail. Many Subarus will do many hundreds of thousands of trouble-free kilometres. So it’s something to keep an eye on but not something to replace for the sake of it.

Early indicators a head gasket may be leaking include a smoky exhaust (although there can be other reasons for that too). And if you or your mechanic notice a milkiness to the radiator water/fluid, that’s another sign the head gasket may be leaking. But, again, don’t go touching it until (if) it breaks.

That’s especially true with a Subaru because it requires the removal of the entire engine to access the two heads. In short, it’s a very expensive exercise to the remove the engine.

Question:

Answer: Check your contract, which is likely to say that any future price rises will be applied to your order. If that’s the case, then short story is that unfortunately it’s likely they can do that.

Toyota was offering a price guarantee for orders placed prior to mid-May 2022 (even then, though, there were exceptions) but after that any regular price rises could be applied to existing orders. It’s likely the contract you signed will stipulate that.

As for an equivalent alternative, check out the Nissan QASHQAI e-POWER that’s hitting dealerships soon. In the X-TRAIL, the e-POWER system works really well, so we’re hoping that flows through to the QASHQAI. However, whereas the Corolla Cross Hybrid is available as an all-wheel drive, the QASHQAI e-POWER is front-drive only. Check out our international review of the QASHQAI.

Or you could consider an EV? The BYD Atto 3 is worth a look, as is the MG4.

Question: We are a retired couple who live in Melbourne but do a lot of country driving visiting family. We want to buy a new car to be safer, to be easier to get in and out of, and to be quiet and comfortable on our long trips. We’re upgrading from a Mitsubishi Lancer wagon. We like the Subaru Outback but are concerned it’s a bit big for our city driving and especially parking. So we are looking at the Forester.

The questions we have are: One. Can you comment on the wind, road, and engine noise level at highway speed for conversation and listening to the radio? Our test drives were suburban streets and a few kilometres on the freeway, which seemed OK. Two. We would choose the Premium model which comes with 55-profile tyres. Are the tyres and rims more subject to damage with the lower profile? Three. Should we use a broker to buy for us? Four. What can we negotiate with a dealer these days to get a better price or extras? Five. Is it a good car to keep long term – say 15 years? – Gordon and Margaret

Answer: We’ve always found the Subaru Outback to be fine for city driving. But if you’re worried about the size, then the Forester is shorter by about 23cm, so it’ll certainly be closer in size to your Lancer.

As for comfort levels of the Forester, they’re great, even on the open road. It’s quiet and refined and makes for easy long-distance touring.

Regarding tyres, the lower the profile you go you’re generally more susceptible to damage from gutters or potholes. But we wouldn’t be worried about a 55-profile tyre on a Forester. They’ll cope with some punishment, within reason of course.

Question: We’re starting to look at EVs but I’m worried that if I buy one now the technology will be outdated very quickly. Should we wait a few years to ensure we’re more up to date? We are worried that we may end up buying something that will quickly depreciate. – Dave and Jane

Answer: There’s no question there will be better EVs on the market in a few years. The same goes with petrol and diesel models currently on sale. The difference, though, is that EV tech is in its infancy whereas engineers have had more than a century to eke the best out of an internal combustion engine. So, theoretically, there’s more headroom for EVs to push into.

That said, there are still some fantastic EVs available today, many of which are a better bet than their ICE alternatives. We can’t imagine a used Porsche Taycan, Kia EV6 or Tesla Model Y suddenly going out of fashion because there’s something glitzier on the new-car market.

So provided you’ve got home charging (even a standard power point is fine) then we reckon you should pull the EV trigger.

Other than Tesla, what is a good electric car that is not an SUV?

Question:

Answer: There’s loads happening on the EV front. Even now there are some options. Check out the Cupra Born, for example. It’s a similar size to your A3 but will accelerate better than your Audi.

You’ve already looked at the Polestar 2, which is a great option. It’s an even better option now, too, having just shifted from front- to rear-wheel drive in its base form – as well as picking up more power along the way – and it makes it a much better drive. If you can live with the external dimensions, it’s a terrific option.

Question:

Answer: The Volkswagen T-Roc R is a great way to get some pace and excitement in a compact SUV. Also check out the Volvo XC40, which is another great fun SUV with some feisty engine options. Not sure if Volvo is too showy for your wife, but hopefully it just sneaks under the radar because the car is a terrific option.

The Cupra Formentor is also one you should have a look at. As you may know, Cupra is part of the Volkswagen Group, so the mechanicals are familiar. It’s a great fun-to-drive alternative in that SUV space.

If you’re open to an EV, then look at the Cupra Born while you’re in the showroom.

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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