Is a hybrid worth it for older drivers buying their last car?

Ask the Expert with Paul Gover

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Q: I am a 79-year-old woman who is very confused about buying a new car and don’t have anyone to advise me. I have a Mercedes-Benz B180 bought in 2012 which has given me good service, with the exception of recently having an expensive repair for the computer in the transmission. I have only driven 92,000 kilometres and the car is well looked after, with regular servicing, new brakes and two new tyres. I may only have another 5-10 years of driving left and was thinking that maybe, after all this time, I should sell or trade my car and buy what will probably be my last car. I like driving a car the size of the B-Class, although it does not have all the bells and whistles. I have been looking at the Honda HR-V and ZR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-30, all hybrid. But I am not sure if paying extra for the hybrid is worth it, and I’m very confused about which way to go. I don’t carry passengers very often, apart from three grandchildren during school holidays. What would you advise, hybrid or petrol? I want a car that has some bells and whistles but is not a big family car.

Lesley Richardson

A: A hybrid will definitely future-proof you, with reduced fuel costs, and any new car in 2026 will be vastly safer and more enjoyable than your elderly Benz. The Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross are the two best choices, so take back-to-back test drives to pick your favourite. Honda dealers cannot negotiate because of the way the brand sells cars in Australia, and Toyota has more demand than cars at the moment. So be patient and go for what you want. As for the B-Class, it would be best to see if there is someone in your family and friends circle who will pay you a fair price for a low-kilometre car that’s only been driven by an elderly lady.

Q: Some years ago you provided me with some good advice to purchase a 996-series Porsche 911. The best car advice ever. I still have it and enjoy every drive. A friend of mine purchased a Hyundai Tiburon new and she is looking to replace it. She is in her 70s, very fit, needs room for golf clubs and a buggy, and easy access for her border collie to jump in. Her budget is around $35,000 and she is happy to go with a car up to two years old, preferably something a bit sporty. What would you recommend?

Ian McNab

A: There is no easy answer for someone jumping out of a two-door coupe that went out of production in the distant past, particularly with her practical requirements for space. My best advice is a Skoda Octavia RS, a genuinely sporty liftback or station wagon, with the wagon being my pick, that would give her plenty of stress-free and enjoyable driving.

Q: I am wondering if you can help with a situation I have with my 86-year-old father. He owns a 2014 Lexus ES 300h. We are trying to get updates for his maps. He lives in Kilmore and relies on his maps to get around. With all the new estates and roads in Melbourne’s north, he keeps getting lost. He has contacted Lexus but they say they can’t help. For what I consider a luxury car, I can’t believe that something cannot be worked out.

Rochelle Gough

A: Bad news, sadly, as there is virtually no chance of getting an upgrade to such an old system. Carmakers have largely moved away from relying on onboard satnavs, as they cost too much to update and the technology has changed vastly since 2014. My best suggestion is to use a phone with a navigation app called Waze. I use it and it’s great. He could use a suitable phone mount, or investigate whether an aftermarket Apple CarPlay or Android Auto system can be fitted to his Lexus.

Q: I’m driving a 2017 Kia Cerato. When I use the GPS, which is connected via my Motorola mobile phone, I have noticed that the Kia speedo reads 8km/h less than the GPS speed. Obviously, if I use the speedo speed, I’ll never get a speeding ticket, but is this usual? Should I mention it when the car gets serviced again? I’ve heard that speedometers can be 3-4km/h out either way. Now that the car is out of warranty, I use a local mechanic. Should I draw this problem to his attention?

Patrick Muldoon

A: Australian regulations allow a speedometer to read higher than the actual speed, within prescribed limits, but not lower. Almost no cars are 100 per cent accurate. Many cars can read as much as 8km/h high at 110km/h, but this has only become obvious since the arrival of GPS speedometer readings. If your Kia’s speedometer is reading lower than the GPS speed, rather than higher, it’s worth having your mechanic check it. First, though, make sure you’re comparing both readings at a steady speed with a reliable GPS signal.

Q: I have an Isuzu MU-X that is only 10 months old and the windscreen washers have failed to squirt water. The car had its 15,000-kilometre service and the dealer has advised that they have unblocked one washer jet, but the other requires a complete wiper arm replacement at a cost of $440. The argument is that wiper arms are not covered under warranty as the blocked jet is not a manufacturing defect. I have asked for both a warranty claim and a goodwill claim but have been refused. Is a blocked jet that cannot be unblocked a manufacturing fault, or do I have to pay for a new wiper arm?

David C Wilmot

A: You could escalate the matter to Isuzu headquarters in Brisbane and may get a goodwill contribution. Warranty exclusions can apply to wear and tear items, typically including brakes and tyres. It’s likely the dealer has refused the claim because it believes the blockage was caused by something outside the design of the system. However, a blocked washer jet is not automatically excluded from warranty or your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Ask the dealer to explain the cause of the blockage and why it believes the repair is not covered.

Q: I have a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The engine light is on and I took it to my mechanic for a scan, but he can’t access the computer with his new $15,000 scanner. I asked another mechanic I know and they both told me I need to take it to Jeep. Do I have any other options, and do you know if there is any way to trick the computer into telling me the fault code?

Steve Newing

A: Bite the bullet, pay the analysis fee and get to a Jeep dealer, or a suitably equipped independent Jeep specialist. You should never try to trick a fault code. Find out what is actually wrong from someone with the right diagnostic equipment and experience with the car.

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