Category: Used Car Review

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AUDI A4 2002 – 2013

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2008 Audi A4

For years Audi struggled to gain equal footing with BMW and Mercedes in Australia, but that has all changed and sales have been climbing at double-digit rates for several years now. Though the Audi range is extensive and growing even larger all the time the A4, with its smaller brother the A3 at its side, has generally been in the vanguard of the charge. The Audi A4, sold as a midsize sedan, Avant station wagon and two-door cabriolet. Its styling was on the dull side in early years but leapt… Read more

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ALFA ROMEO 166 1999-2009

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1999 Alfa Romeo 166

Alfa Romeo 166 is a luxury sedan, but being Italian it also has a sporting feel, something that’s not common in this upmarket field that’s usually occupied by conservative machines. For the keen driver that’s great news. Drive the Alfa Romeo 166 moderately and if doesn’t feel all that special. You have to get the engine well up in the rev band and put some decent load on the suspension and steering to get the 166 working properly. Only those who love to drive hard and fast should apply for… Read more

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MAZDA2 2002 – 2013

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2010 Mazda2

The launch of an all-new Mazda2 in a few months makes this a good time to check out older models of this quality small car from Japan. Introduced to Australia in December 2002 the Mazda2 DY Series was a replacement for the Mazda 121, the latter a car that chopped and changed in its shape over the years, but generally enjoyed sales success downunder. Smoothness and comfort in the Mazda2 are as good as in many cars that are a full size up. Meaning it can be used as a… Read more

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TOYOTA CAMRY, AURION 1999 – 2014

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2012 Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry four-cylinder and Toyota Aurion six-cylinder are currently being built by Toyota in Melbourne, though they will be imported from 2017 onwards. The existing models have many changes from the original Japanese design to suit them to Australian driving conditions and our drivers’ tastes. Thus they have slightly firmer suspensions and the engines are tuned to give them plenty of grunt off the line. Sadly, this will change after Toyota pulls out of local manufacturing. These Toyota non-identical twins are aimed at the family car market. Though slightly smaller… Read more

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TOYOTA TARAGO 1990 – 2013

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2006 Toyota Tarago

Toyota Tarago has been sold in Australia in large numbers since the 1980s. Early versions were nothing more than delivery vans with extra seats, side windows and a bit of added trim. From 1990, Tarago was a pure people mover with all that means in the way of comfort and safety. These are the models being surveyed here. The Tarago is spacious, with a virtually flat floor throughout. Moving about inside isn’t all that easy due to the relatively low roof however, Tarago is hardly alone in this. Seating is… Read more

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HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2000-2013

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2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe is a popular Korean vehicle that has had several stages in its life. It began as a light-duty 4WD, not simply an SUV, but reflected buyer needs by recently moving into station wagon territory, though still with some unsealed-road capability. There’s good legroom in the rear of the older models, but some of that is due to limiting the legroom in the front seats. The Santa Fe from May 2006 was larger than its ancestors and a third-row seat option was offered as an option. Try before… Read more

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MAZDA 323 1994-2003

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2002 Mazda 323

Mazda3 has been at the top of the sales races in Australia many times in the last few years. Today we take a look at how honourable ancestor, the Mazda 323, fares in the used-car market. The 323 was offered with a full range of bodies: four-door sedan, four-door hardtops, five-door hatch and station wagon. While the station wagon was withdrawn in 1989, the five-door hatchback from 1998 was almost wagon-like in its styling and practicality. Many owners say these later hatchbacks made a perfectly acceptable family car. The sedan… Read more

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VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE 2000 – 2013

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2010 Volkswagen New Beetle BlackOrange

During the 1960s and into the ‘70s the original VW Beetle was a major player in the Australian market. It was built here for most of that time and was often in the top three in the sales race; beaten only by Holden and Falcon. It grew increasingly out of date and was eventually replaced by the Volkswagen Golf. When the New Beetle arrived in Australia in 2000 many past VW owners looked at it with loving eyes and fond memories. Some bought New Beetles for themselves, though more often… Read more

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DAIHATSU TERIOS 1997-2005

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2001 Daihatsu Terios Aero

  Daihatsu’s tiny Terios was never a huge seller in Australia, possibly because was considered too small for its tough-guy market segment, but did steady business from the time it went on sale here in 1997 until its withdrawal in 2005. Daihatsu is one of the world leaders in small-vehicle design and has long had a reputation for making tough, genuine 4WDs. These little beasties have a fun shape that appeals to those who like to stand out from the crowd. While not a ‘real’ 4WD in the true sense,… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS 1997 – 2013

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2001 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

  Two distinctively different Mercedes-Benz A-Class models have been sold. The first generation, launched in 1997, was a radically new design aimed very much at being used in extremely crowded European cities. The second generation, introduced in May 2005 was slightly toned down in appearance, but still followed the same theme as the original. Mercedes-Benz A-Class was temporarily discontinued in Australia midway through 2010 as the B-Class (a sort of stretched A-Class) was stealing many sales from it. The third generation A-Class, sold downunder from the start of 2013, is… Read more