ASK THE EXPERT With Paul Gover
If you have a motoring question, ask Paul by emailing [email protected]
Q: Six months ago my husband was saying we needed to trade in our 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander. He was the mechanical brains of the partnership, well and truly.
It has been a fabulous car for us, but the mileage has crept up on it. We lived in the country and travel lots in the car.
Sadly, four months ago he unexpectedly passed away. But he never got to tell me what car we/I should get.
I have now moved back to the city (yikes) and need to work out what car to get. I will still do driving trips, but mostly in the city/suburbs now.
Any thoughts please? Is a hybrid worthwhile?
Veronica Van Greunsven
A: Most likely he was thinking about downsizing, as the Sante Fe is a big bus. It’s great for family travel, less good for trips to the shop. Staying with Hyundai, you should test drive a Kona. It’s a step down in size, but not a city tiddler like the Venue. Also perhaps consider a Subaru Forester, which is more like a jacked-up station wagon than a big SUV. A hybrid will definitely be worthwhile, for economy and also future-proofing on resale value.
Q: I have a 2-year-old Hyundai Kona and absolutely love it.
After I have driven it, if I happen to go back to the garage a few minutes later it has turned on the air-conditioning fan. It was not on when I parked the car.
I’ve mentioned it twice on servicing and I was told it’s normal. Can you please confirm that?
Anne Kilpatrick
A: Is it the aircon fan? Many cars have electric cooling fans which come on once the car is parked and heat dissapates through the engine bay and radiator. That would be my diagnosis, and it’s totally normal.
Q: I’m in the market for a Mercedes C43 AMG coupe from 2016-2018.
Thoughts on them as a performance car?
Obviously it will need to have full service history, but they seem to be around $35-50,000 depending on where you get it from and kilometres. That seems to be a fair bit of car for the money.
Any general thoughts on the car or anything I should be on the lookout for,particularly if the C43 has over 100,000kms?
John M
A: Everyone was drawn to the big-banger C63 with the V8 engine, which is why the ‘lesser’ C43 is such a bargain. It’s a very good car and has a nice performance balance, without giant bills for fuel and rear tyres. Always demand a full service history and, with a car like this in particular, I would recommend a pre-purchase inspection – never rely on a roadworthy – from a company like www.carinspect.com.au
Q: Hubbie and I purchased a new Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire early last year and soon after inherited our uncle’s Subaru Outback touring wagon that he purchased in December 2024.
I tend to drive the Subaru because it feels a little more sporty but my hubby likes the Mitsubishi. In saying this, the Outlander spends most of its time garaged as hubby works local to home.
If we were going to sell, which one do you recommend?
Trish Dickinson
A: This is going to be a personal choice, so someone will win, and the other will lose. In a small way. The Outback would be my keeper, every time.
Why? Subaru has a better brand reputation, it’s a ‘car’ and not a four-wheel drive, and should be lighter on fuel and nicer to drive.
Q: My wife is looking at the Jaecoo J7 standard model, I think it’s referred to as the Core
I have found out they sit under the Chery banner, so are they a good product or not?
She only drives around the local shops and picks up the grand kids from school etc
Craig Brown
A: Jaecoo sold precisely 2706 of the J7 last year. So, do you really want to be a guinea pig? From my experience, Chery is not close to the quality standards of some other Chinese brands – GWM and BYD.
Q: I have a Hyundai i30 Elite 2013.
I have read that people with that year and model are having to get their engine replaced due to a fault.
While I haven’t had any major issues, I’m wondering if I should refrain from country drives of more than 160 kilometres, just in case the engine fails. Do they fail suddenly or are there advanced warning signs? I’ve always had it serviced on time, at the dealership. I’ve had it since new and it’s done 158,000 kms.
Jon Ballard
A: So you’re not going driving because of something that ‘might’ happen? You should contact your nearest Hyundai dealer, also Hyundai HQ in Sydney, and ask if your vehicle is on the list of VIN numbers with a known fault. But you’re likely to be worrying about nothing.
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