Your questions answered: Will any old Ford be collectible in future?

Consumers can’t help but notice that high-performance utes and sedans built in Australia are fetching stratospheric prices.

But those prices apply to cars that offer something different or exclusive, whether it’s a turbo six or a V8 under the bonnet, relative rarity as the last of the line, or some sort of race-winning heritage.

Some very ordinary cars from the 1970s and ‘80s are beginning to pick up in price, but that’s because they’re over 30 years old as much as any other reason.

The ravages of time, rust and many peanuts pranging cars mean that the XD and XE Ford Falcons of yore are now rare for the first time ever. And that makes them worth some money at last.

But what of a model that’s more recent?

Question: I have a 2009 Ford Falcon G6E with factory gas. I’m thinking it will increase in value in the future, so wondering if I should keep it for 10 or 15 years. Or should I sell it? If I sell, what should I buy from Ford as it’s been a pleasure driving the Falcon? – Peter

Answer: It’s not a collector car, with LPG fading fast in Australia. Depending on your budget, a Ford Mustang is the obvious choice from a Ford showroom but the Puma is a compact crossover that’s nicely sporty to drive.

Question:

Answer: You should be looking at a newer model of used Subaru Forester, which has now grown to a similar size as your old Outback with everything you will want and need. Head to a Subaru dealership to get a valuation on your car and the potential changeover price. If you’re not happy with that, selling privately is an option.

Question: I want to buy a car for my daily round-trip commute of 160km. I already own a Toyota Kluger and it’s a thirsty car, so I want to reduce my fuel cost. Can you please advise on which big car, a seven-seater the size of the Kluger, will give better mileage. I am not fussy about the brand or fuel type. – Pax G

Answer: If you’re driving that far a hybrid will probably not work, as they are better suited to short-haul suburban work, so perhaps consider a diesel. In the full-size seven-seat SUV class, the Kia Sorento is best, but if you only need a 5+2 body style then head to a Skoda showroom for the Kodiaq. If you do the sums through you can compare official economy figures for all of your contenders.

Question: I’m thinking of investing in a Porsche Boxster from around the year 2000. My budget is $15,000-$25,000 and I’m looking for a fun sports car that I can drive once a month, then keep in a lock-up garage. I’m hoping to see an increase on the investment in 10-15 years. – Di P

Answer: That’s a big gamble with no proven profit. And that budget is tight, even for a Porsche Boxster. Why not just get a much newer Mazda MX-5 and enjoy yourself?

Question:

Answer: Hybrids work for plenty of people in suburban driving – and I know one friend who has cut her monthly fuel bill from $95 to less than $30 because she mostly drives short hops close to home. There is no firm arrival date for the Corolla Cross but it is sure to be a sell-out as Toyota’s hybrid sales grow every month. Given the wait time for vehicles like the RAV4 Hybrid, probably best to get in early.

Question:

Answer: The Hyundai Santa Fe is effectively the twin of the Kia Sorento, so if you can get an earlier delivery date it’s the obvious winner. The Isuzu MU-X has been recently renewed and sits second but is still based on a one-tonne ute like the Everest. Also consider the Skoda Kodiaq and the latest Toyota Kluger.

Question:  My daughter is choosing between three cars for herself and children, aged five and three. They have a Mitsubishi Outlander as the current family car. She is considering a 2021 Toyota RAV4 GXL, a Ford Escape Vignale and a used Volvo XC60 diesel. Your thoughts? – Graeme M

Answer: The Volvo XC60 is a great car but diesel is on the way out and probably not good for day-to-day suburban work. There will be a huge waiting list for the Toyota RAV4, which puts the Ford Escape at the top of her list. The Ford is good but she should definitely test drive the XC60 (perhaps consider a petrol instead) before making a commitment.

Question: I have just purchased a 2014 Range Rover Sport and the dealer promised to update the maps on the navigation system. We found out a week after we picked up the car that this wasn’t done as it didn’t have Peninsula Link in Victoria on it. The car went back to them for a warranty item and to get the GPS updated but they are now saying that they couldn’t do this as the software is no longer available. I find this hard to believe as you are talking about thousands of vehicles. – Peter S

Answer: Your problem is not unusual as car company systems always lag on updates, as it takes around two years to produce fresh mapping, and frequently change their operating systems. Bad news but best to get an add-on device from someone like Garmin and also check to see if your system is compatible with the excellent Waze App.

Question: We have a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander AWD with the 2.2 diesel that has travelled 111,000km. Recently I heard what I thought was some kind of subtle winding/grinding in the front-end shortly after it had been serviced and the dealership said the splines in the transfer case and diff were failing and could cost upwards of $10,000. I was given a 1800 number to call and explain my case in the hope of having it recognised as a known fault and covered under some kind of warranty deal. I understand completely that it’s an eight-year-old car and bits and pieces will inevitably wear and need replacing, but I don’t think this is one of those kind of times. The car has always been regularly serviced by Hyundai, it’s never been off-road, it’s never towed anything and having only travelled what I would’ve thought was a fraction of its expected life. I obviously can’t just sell it and give this problem to the next person, so I have no choice but to fix it. The question is: who pays? – Grant M

Answer: With a full factory service history you have a good case for a ‘loyalty contribution’ from Hyundai Australia. It is usually a minimum of 50 per cent contribution for the parts. Push with the dealership but also go directly to customer service at Hyundai Australia in Sydney. And if that doesn’t work please get back in touch.

Question:

Answer: It’s a hard decision with many factors. Your car as a going concern is probably worth $10,000-$12,000, so spending $6000 to have it back on the road is a substantial commitment. On the other hand, if it is not running, it’s next to worthless. To replace the car with a newer Lexus GS 450h you’ll need to spend $35,000 or more. If you are fond of the car and it works well for you in terms of the overall package, and your repairer is confident that the replacement parts will have it up and running, then the outlay may be justified. Like any older car, there will be other things that go wrong but Lexus has a great reputation for reliability and, with the new parts, you’re likely to get a decent extended period of service from the car.

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