The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Somewhere to discuss things that don't fit into other categories.

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crazyturbo76
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

eddy wrote:My brother has a camry hybrid that has those stupid fog lights on and I told him to turn them off but he said there is not a switch and they come on automatically.

I have tried to find out if there is a switch but to no avail, does anyone here know if there is one or if they can be turned off on the menu.
Those might be what are called daytime running lamps. Under EU and UN law new vehicles must be fitted with these lights, which turn on automatically when the engine starts and don't turn off until the vehicle is powered down, to improve visibility of vehicles during the day.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by eddy »

I found this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFn-wWfGbrQ that talks about the daytime running lights being up higher where they would more visible and less likely to be real bright and shining into oncoming peoples eyes but thanks for the feedback anyway.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by drpeps »

eddy wrote:My brother has a camry hybrid that has those stupid fog lights on and I told him to turn them off but he said there is not a switch and they come on automatically.

I have tried to find out if there is a switch but to no avail, does anyone here know if there is one or if they can be turned off on the menu.
If that is the case, then you would be in strife with the boys/girls in blue, as it is unlawful to drive with foglights on in WA when it is not foggy. And when you do have your foglights on, you aren't allowed to have them on at the same time as your headlights.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

There should be another switch on the indicator/headlight stalk, it is another ring on the stalk, I had a friend with a Prius with the that setup, so the Camry should be the same or similar,or consult the Owners Manual.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by MO-busfan »

A 2nd generation Lincoln Town Car limo, SW132 at Pitt Street, Sydney CBD.
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Lincoln Town Car limo, SW132
Lincoln Town Car limo, SW132
Public Transport Spotters Australia http://www.facebook.com/groups/341399882614204/
Cameras used: Canon EOS 650D / Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD, Canon PowerShot S120
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

ANCAP has slammed the Great Wall V200 ute, it scored three stars in the latest crash tests.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/cras ... 0kxxr.html

I saw one at the Pick A Part wreckers and they don't smash up very well.

Whoever buys these utes are crazy, sure they are cheaper than Ranger or Hilux, but at least they offer decent protection.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by eddy »

scott
Thanks for the Camry tip I must get around to checking that out.

Regarding the great wall ute my brother has about 6 and they are hopelessly gutless but I would still feel safer in one of them than on a motorbike. :lol:
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

Pricing and specs for the new FG X Falcon due to hit the roads in December

http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/posti ... 28&t=69541

Interesting to note the XR6 is cheaper than the base model Falcon.

The XT tag has been dropped from the base model Falcon and the mid spec G6 is no longer available, like what Holden did with the Berlina when the VF came out.

I saw an ad in our local paper flogging FG MKII XR6's for about $10,000 off, these are pre-registered undriven demos, so must of just been registered and parked in the yard waiting for a buyer.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

scott wrote:Pricing and specs for the new FG X Falcon due to hit the roads in December

http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/posti ... 28&t=69541

Interesting to note the XR6 is cheaper than the base model Falcon.

The XT tag has been dropped from the base model Falcon and the mid spec G6 is no longer available, like what Holden did with the Berlina when the VF came out.

I saw an ad in our local paper flogging FG MKII XR6's for about $10,000 off, these are pre-registered undriven demos, so must of just been registered and parked in the yard waiting for a buyer.
The XT tag is still on the base model Falcon, but yup the base G6 is gone, just G6E and G6E Turbo. No mention of the supposed new XR8 that is supposed to come out with the FG X either.

Quite surprisingly the G6E Turbo's pricing has been slashed by $10,000 from the outgoing FG-Ford must either have no use for the Falcon once the Mondeo fully replaces it in the food chain in 2016 or just wants to get rid of it now that they've pulled the plug on its car plants for 2016.

The Audi S1 is also available now, but I would never pay $49,900 for a simple hatchback. But then again, of course it does have all that trendy S-line treatment Audi gives its cars, and it is quite a feisty little hatch in its class too.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

Mercedes GP has won both titles in Formula One this year-Lewis Hamilton got the Drivers' title while the long streak of wins by the team easily got them the Constructors' title. Marussia F1's not making a comeback next year and Caterham F1 nearly went bust, while Sebastian Vettel's going to Ferrari next year. And... Honda's coming back to F1 as a supplier for McLaren.

Anyhoo, here's some other motoring stuff happening here:
-Ambrose's back in the V8 Supercar saddle (with Ford of course), and will race for Dick Johnson Racing next year
-New Triton ute is coming next year, but it is just going to be a reskin of the current model
-And, the Chrysler 300 is being updated next year, with a beefy 6.4 litre HEMI to boot (the 6.2 L supercharged V8 is reserved for Dodge usage).
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

New Mustang specs for next year have been announced: both four and six cylinders are coming here, with 223 kW and 303 kW respectively to boot.
(http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/20 ... iled-30436)
And if that doesn't strike your fancy, the FG X XR8 should be out soon. :D
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

Flicking through the CarsGuide supplement in the newspaper over the past several months, I notice many Holden Cruze owners have been writing in about the automatic transmissions in their cars dying, and Holden have replaced them on the quiet. Some owners have been quoted $8,000 for a replacement, but a Holden dealer wrote in and said the replacement units can be bought for $4,000. Thankfully in all the instances reported to Cars Guide, Holden agreed to cover the costs on warranty expired units.

I remember Mitsubishi having similar issues in the earlier Magna's and they swiftly replaced the units and heavily subsidised the cost, they replaced 7,500 transmissions in the TM-TN Magnas.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

Read today's CarsGuide in the Telegraph, and it seems the smaller cars made in Japan aren't getting real hefty discounts on prices now the free trade agreement with Japan is coming into force.

-The Toyota Corolla is only losing $500-750 of its current RRP; the hatch is made in Japan, as well as the Yaris, while the sedan is built in Thai country. The Land Cruiser Kakadu, costing in excess of ninety thousand quid, gets a price slash of around seven grand on the other hand. Kluger (US made) and Hilux (Thai made) aren't getting discounts either.
-All Subarus are built in Japan, so some savings will be made there.
-Most Hondas are made in Thailand-Jazz sourcing switched from Honda's Suzuka plant to Thailand years ago when the FTA with said country began.
-South Korean made cars are also now under a new FTA, but Holden, Kia and Hyundai aren't making any price slashes while their competitors are.

Yestie's Telegraph also said Ford sales are at their lowest since 1966. Seems customers tend to like the cheaper Japanese/Korean brands more these days...
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

Ford only have themselves to blame, crap dealers and marketing, that $200 dollar test drive promotion, where if you test drove a Ford, then bought a competitive product, Ford will send you $200 was stupid.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

For some reason, once I get my licence, I want to own one of those Japanese Kei cars. I'd love to import one of those sporty models (I.e. Suzuki Alto Works, Autozam AZ-1, Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ etc.), but with the new Free trade agreement I think those plans might go to waste...
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by mubd »

How is the FTA going to affect your little plan? I love those Japanese Kei cars as well.
Eastgardens to Kingsford is a 1-2 section fare.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

mubd wrote:How is the FTA going to affect your little plan? I love those Japanese Kei cars as well.
Apparently it's gunna cost an extra 10 grand just to grey import from Japan under the FTA. Apparently Australia doesn't class those grey imported Nissan Cubes and Elgrands as safe.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by Daniel »

Good luck getting an imported kei car registered here!
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by mubd »

I've heard it's as easy as getting a blue slip?
Eastgardens to Kingsford is a 1-2 section fare.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by eddy »

Saw on fifth gear a Mercedes coup V6 with aluminium body with fantastic economy as it was 200kg lighter than if it was steel.

The question in my mind is what will cars be made of in the future Aluminium as in the Tesla, Carbon fibre like in Europe, steel frame with lighter material added or continue with all steel.

I think the advantage of Aluminium is the ability to recycle and maybe we need to rebuild our aluminium production?
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

Had a drive of a friend's newly acquired 2013 VF SV6 last night (ex Avis rental)

Bloody marvellous- interior is like an aeroplane cockpit and love all the gadgets. Going to test it out tomorrow on their kids' basketball shuttles. Love the electric handbrake and their 10 year old hates reading, but he read the VF manual from cover to cover.

Anyway back to news, Holden have come up with a new version of the Sandman, in ute and wagon formats.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/hold ... m9090.html

An orange rear cargo area mat and orange sheepskin seat covers, Yuk!!!!!
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by eddy »

Granddaughter broke the front on her Proton when going over a dip and many cars hit the gutter when parking.

It seems too low on most cars for parking nose to kerb but I accept there may be reasons for that such as better cooling, better roadholding and to prevent people going over things that may do more expensive damage.

Wonder if perhaps a couple of strong extensions with rubber caps just in front of the front spoiler would be possible?
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by Newcastle Flyer »

A pink Cadiallic!
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https://flic.kr/p/sVH3aL
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Australia Day 26th Jan, the most important day in Australia as is 19 April, Cook's discovery of eastern Australia
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by scott »

Toyota's new Hilux has been unveiled, to go on sale in October.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/61568/ ... om-october

Holden have recalled the Cruze again, this time for the handbrake, models affected are built from 2009-2011
http://www.news.com.au/finance/business ... 7363057779

180,000 Toyota vehicles have been recalled due to the dodgy Takata airbags.
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Re: The Motoring Thread- for the motoring enthusiasts here

Post by crazyturbo76 »

scott wrote: 180,000 Toyota vehicles have been recalled due to the dodgy Takata airbags.
Nissan, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Chrysler, Ford and GM cars are also affected, as they use Takata-sourced airbags too. And Takata also said that the replacement propellant for the airbags is in short supply for the time being, so looks like more people are going to use public transport while their cars are in the shop!

Some other news:
-Mazda's new ND series MX-5 is going to match 1992 pricing when it comes out here, so that the new roadster can match the price of the best-selling Toyota 86: $31,990 plus on-road when it comes out in August, about 15 grand less than the outgoing NC.
(http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/20 ... cing-32876)

-Ford Australia, unfortunately, has posted a $191 million loss this year. Seems right, given the fact that Ford has STUFFED UP with half their plans for after they stop making cars here. But, $167.2 million of that loss is going towards redundancies and other costs associated with closing its Victorian plants in October 2016, and they have managed to save $2 million on operating losses.
(http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/fo ... loss-32872)

-Electric cars still aren't selling well here. Mitsubishi's stopped taking regular orders for the i-MIEV, Holden won't sell the next-gen Volt, and the manufacturers basically are switching to plug-in hybrids. My source of blame: Abbott and his cronies' reluctance to fund the infrastructure and incentives needed for electric cars to sell well-maybe if they taxed Rinehart and Palmer more, they could find the money to fund these things. (I'll blab on about these three individuals in another thread.)
(http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/el ... alia-32848)

-And the tax man is making Uber drivers pay GST, Paul Hogan-style. Seems Canberra still hates the idea of Uber stealing IMMIGRANT taxi drivers' jobs.
(http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/at ... WBUPUacySo)
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