News

Low profile tyres have been increasing in popularity – from both the aesthetic and performance perspectives.

There are some common benefits of changing from standard profile tyres to low profiles – including improved dry handling, cornering ability and increased steering response.

Low profile tyres have a shorter sidewall – or a lower aspect ratio than normal tyres. Low profiles also have larger tread blocks, a stiffer and wider apex – and they can be made from specialised compounds. Tyres with a 50 aspect or less are considered to be low profiles.

Low profile tyres require a large amount of engineering – tuning a specific car for a particular tyre, tuning that type of tyre. Things that can be tuned or engineered include the chemistry of the rubber, the belt height, the tread depths.

Today, there are many vehicles that come with two or three tyre sizes available across the different models within the range. Tyres will change the ride comfort of your car. The tyres, the suspension and the seat cushion are all elements that contribute towards your ride comfort. When the tyre profile goes down, it impacts or changes your ride’s comfort – low profile tyre rides are harder.

Whether you are choosing to opt for low profile tyres on a new car or fit them after purchase, there are pros and cons. Low profile tyres increase the contact area between the tyre and the road – which assists in braking and handling.

Low profile tyres also have many cons – including being expensive, easy to damage and they can be noisy.

A recent study by CarRentals.com found that the steering wheel is the dirtiest part of a car’s interior – perhaps up to four times as many colony forming units of bacteria than an average public toilet. And while public toilets are regularly cleaned, it’s an interesting dilemma.

What is more interesting is that many motorists – one in three – only clean the inside of their car once a year (with a further 12% never cleaning their car).

From eating in your car to touching not so clean surfaces before getting in and driving away, your steering wheel can take the brunt of hosting bacteria in your car.

Other germ-ridden areas of the inside of a car include your boot, the driver footwell, seatbelt button and handbrake.

From invisible or micro bacteria to more visible dirt and grime, it might be a good idea to give your car a good clean, regularly.

So, what can you do between washes to keep the inside of your car germ-free? A good tip is sanitizing the things you touch or cleaning your hands before getting into your car and touching your steering wheel, changing your air conditioning filter regularly, cleaning your car keys and vacuuming your upholstery.

And while many of us eat in our cars – perhaps that is another habit to stop.

Are you guilty of going long periods without cleaning the inside of your car?

Have you ever received a speeding ticket and wondered how the average speed camera works? Sure – it can be frustrating to receive a ticket with most modern cars capable of easily creeping above the speed limit without one noticing.
Average speed cameras have been introduced to counter the driver who slows down for a fixed camera and speed up once out of range.
So how do they work? Linked average speed cameras work by measuring the amount of time it takes to travel between two points – and then calculates the average speed. If your average speed is higher than the posted speed limit, then you will be fined.
The set distance between the linked average speed cameras, according to the authorities, is the minimum ‘practicable’ distance to ensure there isn’t an overestimation of speed – with the stretch of road being assessed by a land surveyor.
In Australia, the type of camera type is called a SPECS camera, or Speed Checks Services. SPECS cameras are always set up as a pair – both cameras are capable of recognising the vehicles’ number plate, through the use of ANPR (Automatic Numberplate Recognition) as well as capturing an image of the vehicle.
Have you ever received an infringement in your letterbox?

Fuel additives – are they worth the money or are they just another scam without the evidence to support the claims?

Before we get started, it’s good to remember that car manufacturers don’t support – or even recommend – using any fuel additives. They suggest that you rather stick with their manufacturer’s service schedules and keeping your car in good running order.

Fuel additives can claim to do everything from boosting the octane rating of your fuel, cleaning your engine to even removing water from the fuel. While following the manufacturer’s instructions should not lead to any damage to your fuel system and engine – we do recommend not making your own fuel additive cocktails! Tipping half a dozen bottles of additives into a tank of fuel will seriously compromise the chemical structure – and will more likely cause damage.

While many may admit that additives do in fact work – how well they work will still depend on the problem you face. For instance, newer models probably don’t require any additive cleaners – you probably won’t see any improvements as these are designed for older higher mileage cars.

Certain additives, such as the ones designed for diesel engines driven in colder climates, can be a necessity to some. Diesel can actually gel in very cold climates – making the use of these types of additives necessary to properly maintain your vehicle.

Others however, have had every test fail – these include the fuel additives that claim to boost performance or octane ratings.

Keeping your child safe in your car is a priority for most parents – here are a few ways that you can keep your child safer.

Car Seats

With so many child car seats on the market, it can be overwhelming and frustrating to pick one from over 200 types. From forward facing, rear facing and booster seats, ChildCarSeats.com.au lets you easily and quickly compare your options. All children must be safely fastened in a car seat suitable for their age and size. Car seats should also be properly fitted, and it is advised to carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when fitting any car seat.

National child restraint laws

These guidelines are provided by the Centre for Road Safety

·      Children up to the age of six months must be secured in an approved rearward facing restraint

·      Children aged from six months old but under four years old must be secured in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness

·      Children under four years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats

·      Children aged from four years old but under seven years old must be secured in a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat

·      Children aged from four years old but under seven years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in an approved child restraint or booster seat

·      Children aged from seven years old but under 16 years old who are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat

·      Children in booster seats must be restrained by a suitable lap and sash type approved seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened, or by a suitable approved child safety harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.

Never leave your baby or child alone in the car

Cars can get very hot, very quickly – even on cool or overcast days.

If you haven’t already seen check out part 1 here.

April

Toyota Prius – the refreshed Prius showcases a more streamlined, sleek and stylish look.  

SsangYong Musso LWB – a stretched ute with a longer wheelbase offering a claimed biggest load space on the market

May

Toyota RAV4 – The 2019 revamp offers a bold new look and powertrain changes.

Volkswagen Touareg – Designed to handle trailer weights of up to 3.5 tonnes, the third generation Touareg SUV brings more luxury to the market.

So how do you know which car is best for you?

With so many options releasing in just the first half of the year, the choices seem to be endless. How do you choose just one that will best suit your day to day needs – and cater to all of your wants.

There are many categories to choose from – including mirco, light (under $25k and over $25k), small (Under $40k and over $40k), medium (under $60k and over $60k), large (under $70k and over $70k), upper large (under $100k and over 100k), people movers, sports cars, small SUVs, medium SUVs, large SUVs – and finally upper large SUVs.

First off, you need to decide on the car body style that will best suit you – how many people are you going to be carrying on a regular basis? Will you need to carry child seats or have a bigger luggage capacity?

Your next consideration is the engine size and type – from petrol, diesel to electric or hybrid, manual to automatic. How far will you be driving each year? Will you need to take it off road or out of the city?

 Not sure which car will suit your needs? Call us and we will help you find the perfect car for you!

2019 is set to bring a lot of excitement for new model reveals. With 2018 having come in short of a new record for new-car sales numbers, 2019 is said to have the 60-odd automotive brands in Australia holding their breath that their latest models will bring excitement and inspiration amongst local buyers.

Here are a few new models that we can expect to see in the first half of the year.

January

Alfa Romeo Stelvio – the Italian brand’s first crossover competes in the increasingly popular and competitive luxury medium SUV segment. Priced from $78,900 plus on-road costs.

Kia Cerato hatch – sticking by its value pricing plan for the latest edition, the Cerato hatch continues to be a good option for budget-conscious buyers.

Mitsubishi Triton – The 2019 Triton brings more than a few tweaks. This versatile ute aims to lure aspirational buyers as well as the value-shoppers in 2019.

February

BMW i3 120Ah – offering a higher-density battery and a few visual tweaks, the BMW i3 120Ah may just be the electric car for you.

BMW X5 xDrive40i – the fourth generation of the best-selling luxury SUV in Australia.

Citroen C3 Aircross – a small French-made SUV offering a solid ride and a good option for those seeking a smaller and compact SUV.

March

BMW 3 Series – codenamed G20, this seventh generation 3 Series is set to deliver in a big way. 

BMW X7 – the upgrade to their seven-seat SUV flagship, the X7 will be offered in four different trim grades.

With so many different types of car batteries, it can get confusing as to which one your car needs.

Lead-Acid battery

Lead-acid batteries consist of lead-plate electrodes in a sulfuric acid electrolyte fluid. Lead-Acid batteries power the car’s initial crank cycle – and are the most affordable battery on the market. These batteries are heavy and relatively delicate – the amount of charge is also affected if they are powering too many auxiliary systems.

Absorbent Glass Mat

Absorbent Glass Matt or AGM batteries are similar to lead-acid batteries, however, the electrolyte is absorbed into a porous glass mat inside the battery. AGM batteries are suited to being discharged and are more robust than lead-acid batteries. They are more expensive than lead-acid batteries and more vulnerable to heat. 

Gel Lead-Acid

Gel Lead-Acid or Gel Batteries mix the electrolyte with a gelling agent. They are more resistant to damage and can be cycled more often.  

Enhanced Flooded Battery

Enhanced Flooded Batteries or EFBs are a modern version of the regular wet lead-acid batteries. They are capable of supporting the demands of stop-start systems and are a more affordable alternative to Absorbent Glass Mat or Gel batteries.  

Deep cycle batteries

Deep Cycle batteries can be any of the above types of batteries but they are specialised for a long-term discharge – rather than a burst of sudden power like a starter motor. Deep cycle batteries are used in dual-battery setups, and are suited for powering auxiliary systems over longer periods of time of between 5 to 20 hours.