Fire victim joins Hyundai class action in fight for consumer rights
The fire was swift and silent. Anne-Maree Johnston still can’t believe how close she came to losing everything when her Hyundai caught fire in her garage without warning.
Apply the brakes: Top car rental traps to avoid
Are you planning to travel interstate over the summer holidays? There’s a good chance you might also want to get car rental, at least for a few days.
And while there are plenty of great deals to be had, there are some car rental traps you should know about before handing over your deposit. Otherwise, that deal that seemed too good to be true most certainly will be.
Removing road blocks to customer care
Saul Frank knows when he’s being given the run-around with customer care. And he would never do the same to his customers.
“I’ve been in business a long time and it’s just not the way you treat people,” he says.
Buying a car? Take the driver’s seat at the dealership
You've decided you want a new or near-new car. How exciting. So exciting, in fact, that it’s easy to get carried away and spend more than you intended. Especially when the smooth-talking salespeople at the car dealership know all the right things to say to help you do just that.
Don’t be tempted by all the extras they promise to throw in for a “great deal”. For most of us, a car is the second biggest investment we’ll make (after our house). It’s money you should be spending wisely. Chances are you don’t need those extras. Even if the dealer says they will take your driving experience to the next level.
Car servicing: Go the extra mile with the right mechanic
Cars are a big investment and, like any other valuable item, you want to take care of them to ensure they go the distance.
When it comes to car maintenance, there are a few schools of thought. Some people swear by regular service appointments, while others prefer to only service their car when something goes wrong.
Toyota paint peel proves power in numbers
When paint started peeling off his Toyota Corolla in great chunks, Chris McInerney thought maybe he had done something wrong.
But a little digging showed that he was far from alone. A problem with primer paint on several makes and models had even resulted in Toyota Canada extending warranties by up to 14 years.
Road danger: Hyundai owners warn of car failures while driving
Mandie Cowley was driving with her daughter on a busy regional highway in Victoria when her Hyundai started losing power.
“The only place I could pull over was on a bend and there was a lot of trucks. I was absolutely petrified that a truck was going to come up behind me and hit the car,” she said.
Michael Steele’s son, still a P-plater, was driving his Dad’s car at a similar high speed on a country highway in Queensland when it made a grinding sound.
"And it just came to a halt, nothing was working. He was very lucky to get it to the side of the road,” Michael said.
Nina Persin’s partner was driving at 100kmh on the Pacific Motorway, in south-east Queensland, roads still slippery from the floods, when his engine seized up.
“There was no warning light, nothing,” she said. “When the engine seized, the brakes stopped working, as did the steering wheel. My partner had huge difficulties steering the car away from the right-hand lane, avoiding the trucks on the road, towards the left lane.
“I don’t even want to imagine what could have happened."
The right direction: How to get the best car loan
We love our cars. In fact, the number of registered vehicles in 2021 was almost as many as the country’s total population. But it's no secret that buying a car is a costly exercise.
In fact, the cost of a new car has risen by an average of 7.4 percent in the past year, according to the latest figures.
Add car insurance, registration and general running costs, and it's easy to see why many people opt for a loan when buying a new set of wheels. But with so many lenders in the market, how do you find the best car loan for your needs?
Second best: Are used cars still worth your money?
If you've been shopping for a secondhand car recently, you've likely noticed they're still not cheap, especially if you want to avoid ending up with a lemon.
The pandemic caused production delays and a shortage of new cars, driving up demand for the next-best option. While prices for used cars have come down somewhat, they are still higher than pre-Covid levels.
According to the Moody’s Analytics' price index, the average used car now costs 20 percent less than its peak in May 2022 but is still 40 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Sure thing: Are new car warranties a safe bet?
For many of us, cars are our second most expensive investment after our home. So it's only right to want some peace of mind when it comes to buying one.
Enter: the car warranty. In Australia, most new cars come with a manufacturer's warranty. That warranty covers you for a set period of time, usually three years. But in recent times, we've seen an increase in the number of brands offering longer warranties. Up to 10 years in some cases. It's a persuasive marketing tool.