Category: Used Car Review

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SKODA OCTAVIA 2007 – 2015

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2011 Skoda Octavia wagon

Skoda Octavia was introduced to Australia in November 2007 as a major component in the return of the Czech marque in Australia after an absence of 25 years. The Octavia has been described as a VW Jetta/Golf with a different body. However, there’s a lot more to it than that. While VW does control Skoda these days it has allowed the Czech company a large degree of design freedom in the body, though the mechanical components are principally all VW. The Czechs like to have room to move in their… Read more

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HOLDEN STATESMAN AND CAPRICE 1997 – 2015

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2004 Holden Caprice

Holden Statesman and Caprice are stretched versions of the standard Holden Commodore sedan. The extra length adds considerably more legroom in the rear seat and stretch out comfort is the main reason people buy them. Statesman is the lower-cost model, Caprice the upmarket one. Though not as refined as the large, upmarket European cars in ride or handling, these big Australians are better suited to local road conditions than the Germans and Brits. In particular, they can cope with hundreds of thousands of kilometres of pounding along corrugated dirt roads… Read more

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NISSAN MAXIMA 2000 – 2014

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2011 Nissan Maxima

For some unknown reason the Nissan Maxima is too often overlooked in the family car market, both by buyers of used and new cars. It deserves a place on your shopping list because it’s about the same size as the Toyota Aurion and isn’t a lot smaller than Commodore and Falcon. All three of these competitors are built in Australia and even the Toyota has a lot of Aussie engineering in its makeup. Perhaps that’s one reason Maxima does fare as well as it should. Handling is softer and less… Read more

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AUDI TT 1999 – 2015

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2007 Audi TT Roadster

The recent introduction of the third generation Audi TT coupe and the eminent arrival of the open-top roadster has created quite a stir of publicity about the seriously stylish sportscar. To the extent that quite a few trade-ins are already appearing in the used-car yards. So here are some hints, tips and historical info to help you get yourself into a terrific TT. We won’t go into the all-new Audi TT MY15 here for obvious reasons, look out for it in our future used-car pieces. Audi TT is great fun… Read more

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LEXUS ES 1992 – 2014

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1992 Lexus ES300

The Lexus ES300 offers value in a prestige Japanese car built to a high standard. However it achieves lower cost because in its earlier models it was a Toyota Camry/Vienta with a different style of body and some mechanical upgrades. There are sufficient body similarities between the Lexus and Toyota for them to share a family resemblance. Which is not surprising because using the same ‘skeleton’ makes it all but impossible to hide the fact. The ES was criticised by some motoring journalists due to this family resemblance, which is… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1998 – 2014

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2000 Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo is one of the smallest cars from the German giant vehicle maker. Until 2010 it was a slow seller in Australia, possibly because it was rather plain Jane in its shape. The all-new 2010 Polo had more style and it was finally seen as a serious contender in the small car market in Australia. Sales increased markedly and quite a few of these are now on the used-car market. The Polo has a solid feel that’s not usually felt in Asian competitors in this class. Owners love them… Read more

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HOLDEN CAPTIVA 2006 – 2014

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Holden Captiva is a medium-large SUV that is imported from a General Motors factory in South Korea. It has a lot of Australian input in its body styling and mechanical components. Interestingly, the Captiva is offered in two different body styles, with the Maxx having a sporty look and five seats. The others are built as five or seven-seaters. The third row seats are larger than those in many of Captiva’s competitors but are still better suited to children than adults. It can carry adults in moderate comfort, though ideally… Read more

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FIAT 500 2007-2014

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2013 Fiat 500C by Gucci

The original Fiat 500, often called the Cinquecento (500 in Italian) was a tiny car that was a large hit when introduced in 1957 so it remained on the market for close to 20 years. Following the success of the modern Mini, now controlled by BMW, it came as no surprise that the bosses at Fiat decided to have a go at a similar concept. Resulting in the launch of a retro-look, but all-new, Fiat 500 in 2007, exactly fifty years after the original. Styling to match the earlier 500s… Read more

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TOYOTA MR2 1987-2006

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1988 Toyota MR2 coupe

The introduction of the hugely successful Toyota 86 in 2012 has revived the long history of sporting models from the Japanese giant. Amongst these is the purebred Mid-engined Runabout 2-seater named the Toyota MR2. When launched in 1987 the MR2 was promoted as an excellent choice for those hankering after a mid-engined, two-seat Ferrari but with a rather more limited budget. True sportscars and all Formula racing cars have a mid-mounted engine to provide the best possible handling balance and traction. However, there are some drawbacks in the handling department…. Read more

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JEEP WRANGLER 1996 – 2014

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2001 Jeep Wrangler with WW II Willys Jeep

Todays Jeep Wrangler can trace its ancestry directly back to the famed World War II Jeep, “the car that won a war”. Obviously there have been improvements and refinements over the years, but these have been done with an eye on the heritage. Wrangler is a real off-road vehicle, a vanishing commodity in these days of people movers dressed up with big wheels and macho bodies. Just pull off the Jeep’s soft-top, be prepared to get down and dirty, and you can tackle rocky bush areas and have the time… Read more