Q: We always value your advice Paul so I’m asking you please to give your opinion on the use of ‘dirty fuel’ in our cars. One is a GLC petrol Mercedes and the other a 10-year-old diesel Nissan Patrol. Would it be protective to use an injector cleaner when we fill up? Or can you suggest anything to mitigate any future damage please?
Maureen Harris
A: What is being described as ‘dirty fuel’ is not dirty in the sense of being contaminated, it’s about the sulphur content. It’s being poorly communicated to motorists. Until 2025, Australian fuel had some of the highest sulphur content in the world, which had to be reduced when the Federal Government mandated new stricter emissions standards for all new vehicles. Lower sulphur content was needed because the latest low-emission systems can be poisoned by a high sulphur content. The fuel being released to prevent panic buying and rationing is from older stocks, so with the higher sulphur content. It’s not ‘dirty’ in the way most people would think. And for older cars like yours, there is nothing to fear and no need for injector cleaners or any other additive.
Q: I drive a 2021 Corolla Hybrid sedan and use 98 unleaded petrol. Is there a significant benefit in using 98 instead of 95? Please advise.
Stan Thomas
A: Use the fuel recommended by Toyota Australia. They have done the design, testing and development to know what’s best for their vehicles. If you have any doubt, the correct fuel octane is on the sticker inside the fuel-filler door on the side of the car. If your Corolla does not need 98 unleaded then you’re wasting money.
Q: I’m looking for some advice on my brand-new Suzuki Swift that I purchase in December,2024. After the first service the car broke down on the highway and, since it was 9pm and I’m 72, I was frightened. It turns out that when they serviced the car they didn’t tighten something to do with the oil filter and so it ran out oil and it blew the engine. They said that they would replace the engine at no charge and gave me a car off the lot to drive. I heard nothing for two weeks so I rang the dealership and was told they also had to replace the starter motor. It would be another three to four weeks. I am scared to take the car back because I can’t trust car is going to be safe to drive and the people that are going to fix my car are the people broke my beautiful car. I did ring Suzuki Australia but they said it’s not a warranty issue and I had to contact the dealership. I feel I’m being walked all over because I’m a 72-year-old woman. I really think they need to look at replacing the car. The love and the joy of having a new car has been taken away from me because of their neglect.
Glenda McGuinness
A: Yours is the first case I’ve ever heard of an engine failure in a Suzuki and I don’t think for a microsecond that there is going to be any repeat. Give the car a chance, and try to rediscover the joy, because moving to something else will cost a big bag of money. Definitely change dealerships for future service work and I suggest you write to the Dealer Principal and – politely but firmly – suggest some sort of compensation for their mistake. Perhaps free servicing?
Q: I’m a mature-aged female who needs to replace my 2011 Subaru Liberty wagon, bought second-hand several years ago, due to mounting issues with it. My mechanic has suggested a smaller car such as Toyota Yaris or Corolla, or Mazda3, for reliability and cost-effective service and repair. My son has suggested Kia or Hyundai. Driving is mostly urban with less than a dozen long-distance trips yearly. I can only afford used car pricing up to $20,000.
Jen Baker
A: You will pay extra for anything with a Toyota or Mazda badge, so best to go to Kia. It’s the same vehicles as Hyundai, so solid and reliable, but less expensive.
Q: I am in the market for a new vehicle with $150,000 as my top budget. I am looking at the Land Rover Defender D350 and Toyota LandCruiser GXL. But should I throw into the mix the Range Rover Sport, although probably above my budget, and the Land Rover Discovery at the price point I am looking at?
If you have any other suggestions at this price point, I would appreciate you recommending to me.
Cathy Rowe
A: Best to drive the Range Rover as a benchmark for your two real contenders, the Defender and LandCruiser. For me, the Defender is more ‘special’ and better around town, with the Toyota winning if you’re doing towing or long-distance trips.
Q: We are stuck between the two cars and hope you can help. They are a Honda ZR-V 2023 hybrid at $42,000 with 16,000 kilometres or a Lexus UX 2023 Luxury at $47,000 with 33,000. Your thoughts?
James Giann
A: At least you have two good choices. The Honda is under-rated as it is a classy design, a good size for city and suburban work. The car you’re considering is considerably ‘younger’ and would be my pick.
Q: My daughter wants to replace her 8-year-old Kia Sorento diesel with a smaller SUV. Her friends are encouraging her to buy a BYD but I’ve always trusted established brands with a history of reliability, strong service and spare parts plus proven depreciation figures. I don’t know anything about the BYD range but I do know there’s some really good things for about $60,000 from Kia, Hyundai, Skoda and even Volvo. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Geoff McDonald
A: BYD is coming up fast in Australia but, based on recent test driving, they are not a rival for the South Koreans yet, and a Volvo XC40 is definitely worth a test drive at that price point. The biggest question market is resale value, since BYD is so new to Australia, and there is no answer yet. My thoughts would be to test drive the BYD and Volvo, but likely buy a Hyundai.
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