When buying a car, you need to consider many things, but did you know that the advertised car prices don’t always display the full cost you will need to pay? Dealers will include GST and luxury car tax if applicable, but they will often omit the on-road costs.
On-road costs include stamp duty, registration, compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance and dealer delivery charges.
State governments charge stamp duty, rates vary by jurisdiction, and some offer reduced fuel-efficient or even hybrid vehicles.
The car's value determines stamp duty – mid-tier models will have higher stamp duty than the entry-level model. But did you know that if you add options to your new vehicles, such as a body kit or up-sized wheels, you’ll pay more?
Registration is payable to your state’s motor authority. Your registration means that your car will be road legal for the first year thereafter. You will need to renew it yourself.
CTP is a requirement for all registered vehicles and covers the cost of personal injury or death wrought on third-party parties should your vehicle be deemed to be at fault in an accident. Separate insurance is needed if you want coverage for yourself or your car’s damage.
These delivery charges cover costs that the dealership incurs to get your car ready to be driven off the lot. These could include removing all protective tape on the car, filling out paperwork, giving the car a wash and a scrub and attaching the car’s number plates.
A major stumbling block in the electric vehicle purchase decision is range – will you be able to travel to more than just your office and back home?
Chargefox has just announced its plans to build a nationwide charging network – each rapid charge station will be able to deliver a range of 400 kilometres in just 15 minutes.
Chargefox is an Australian start-up committed to sustainable mobility. Their initial rollout includes 21 locations across Australia for the network and first stations. The locations planned included Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane; with the first stations located in Euroa and Barnawartha North in Victoria.
Funding has come from a combination of sources – such as from The Australian Mobility Clubs (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC,RAA, RACT), Wilson Transformers and the founder of Carsales, Greg Roebuck.
Excitingly, these ultra-rapid charging stations will be accessible to all EVs. The chargers will have a power output of at least 150kW and up to 350kW. This makes these chargers faster than any charger currently available in Australia.
Owning an electric vehicle is becoming more accessible with the commitment of investors – perhaps it is time to consider switching to an EV?
Fuel economy is always important when purchasing a new car. Manufacturers are required to test fuel economy in line with a mandated procedure (detailed under the Australian Design Rule (ADR)).
The full testing procedure for light vehicles is conducted over a continuous 20 minutes and is split into urban and extra-urban cycle. The urban cycle testing makes up about 67% of the test, while the extra-urban cycle makes up the remaining 33%.
The urban cycle consists of a lower average speed – designed to replicate city driving with a constant element of stop/start driving at an average speed of 19km/h with considerable idle periods.
While the extra-urban cycle consists of a higher average speed of 63km/h with a peak speed of 120km/h.
Here are some interesting facts about the tests run
- All of the vehicles that are tested need to have 0 kilometres on the odometer.
- A number of readers are taken to determine fuel consumption. The density of the fuel used, the emission of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are added together in a calculation to determine the fuel consumption.
- The tyre pressure, engine oil viscosity and all other consumables need to be at the recommended manufacturer levels.
- The lights and signalling devices are switched off or are in the normal operating state.
- Testing is conducted between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius ambient temperature.
Next time you buy a car and wonder if the fuel consumption is actually the truth, now you know how they get to that number! Just remember that your driving won’t be the same as test conditions, braking late and accelerating hard will increase consumption.
With Mercedes-Benz confirming the pricing and specs for the new A250 4Matic, we are excited for its availability in November.
The A250 offers 165kW power and 350Nm torque. Power which is put to all four wheels through its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The new A250 will hit 100km/h in 6.2 seconds and has a claimed combined fuel consumption of 6.6L/100km.
Mercedes-Benz has again delivered on style – the A250, like the A200, features 18-inch alloy wheels, a dual-screen MBUX infotainment system and LED headlights with high-beam assist. Other extras like keyless start and wireless phone charging are included as standard with these models.
Safety is, as the norm with Mercedes-Benz, an area where the A250 excels. Featuring nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and a rear-view camera.
Pricing hasn’t been fully released for the 2019 A class models, with the A180 pricing to be announced before the end of the year. But Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the A250 4Matic with these features is only available for a limited time.
The pricing for the A200 was confirmed as $47200 before on-road costs, while the A250 4Matic will be priced at $49500.
Even a little bit of rain can change the experience of driving, here are a few tips to stay safe while driving in the rain
Slow down and keep your distance
Your speed should ideally be half of that during dry-weather speeds. Wet roads also need a longer stopping distance – so don’t rush! Harsh breaking will likely cause you to lose control. In wet weather you need to allow about four seconds between you and the car in front of you.
Switch on your headlights
Besides regularly checking that your headlights are working, during rainy spells headlights should be switched on. Visibility may be affected due to storm clouds, turn on your headlights to help others see you.
Allow more travel time
Rain generally brings more accidents on the road, and people also tend to drive slower – everything may just take a bit longer than you are used to. In order to avoid rushing to your destination, we advise adding a bit more travel time to your trip.
Avoid aquaplaning
Aquaplaning can happen in a split second – and not a lot of water is actually needed between you and the road. Driving slower and maintaining your tyres are a few ways you can avoid aquaplaning, but what should you do if you suddenly find yourself losing control? First it’s important to not panic. Secondly, gently take your foot off the accelerator and continue holding the steering wheel in the right direction. Never slam on brakes as this will cause your tyres to lock.
The 2019 Nissan Leaf will be available in May or June next year. The much improved and revised version of this electric hatchback may just wow you.
While the pricing hasn’t been released, many are whispering that it might be very popular – the 2019 Nissan Leaf has positioned itself as the smartest and most affordable option of your shopping list. If you are keen to get your hands on an electric car, but the Tesla or BMW i3 are just a little too far beyond what you can do, then the Nissan Leaf may just be the ticket.
If you are worried about how charge your electric car – you can opt for solar power by building enough storage into your home system and managing your electricity use on the grid. The solutions are there. The Nissan Leaf 40kWh variant offers a 270km, and making it a reliable option for most commuters. The leaf will recharge overnight – and fast charge can be used as well.
The Nissan Leaf weighs 1500kg, about 200-300kg heavier than a petrol-powered hatch in the same segment. This electric hatchback offers a 110kW motor with 0-100km/h in eight seconds.
Other features will include a heated steering wheel, heated front/rear seats and featuring leather-accented trim. The Nissan Leaf will also debut Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for Nissan in Australia.
The 2019 Nissan Leaf is set to make mass-market electrification a reality and we are excited to see how it shakes up the market.
Interested in getting your hands on one? Contact Carbiz today!
Let’s be honest – a flat battery can happen at the most inconvenient time – but it shouldn’t ruin your day! Even with our newer cars, knowing how to jump-start your car is good to have in your back pocket.
Do you know what a jump start is?
Jump-starting refers to supplementing the remaining charge in your battery with the charge from another power source – such as a car. The car with the flat battery is temporarily connected to a car with a fully charged battery via jumper cables – also known as jumper leads.
It’s important to first determine if your battery is actually flat – turn on the ignition to start – listen for the usual cranking sound from your car’s starter motor. If your car does nothing at all (aside from a clicking noise), there’s a fair chance you have a flat battery!
We’ve put together an easy guide to help you safely jump start your car.
Step 1
Before opening the bonnet or battery compartment, make sure your transmission is set to park or neutral. At the same time make sure your park brake is firmly set. Remember to turn the ignition off before opening the bonnet and locating your battery.
The positive terminal has a plus symbol (+) and/or red coloured marking – negative is identified with a minus symbol (-) and/or black marking. The same markings can be seen on your jumper cables.
Step 2
With another running car (perhaps a good Samaritan or friend) parked closely enough for the jumper cable to reach, it’s time to make the connections. Firstly, detangle your cables, clamp the positive terminal to the positive terminal of the flat battery to the running car and then do the same for the negative.
Be sure to check your car manual for your cars specifications – some cars require a different step such as connecting the negative cable to the engine block or another earthing point of the disabled car.
Step 3
Once the connection is made, its best to wait a couple of minutes to ensure the flat battery has enough charge. After a short time, disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order to starting.
It’s important that after you’ve gotten your car running, to not switch it off for at least 30 minutes – enough to charge your battery properly.
It’s as simple as that! But did you know you could have roadside assistance to help you with breakdowns? Contact Carbiz today to find out how.
Electric vehicles or EVs are becoming more and more popular in Australia, and for good reason. Along with the electric highway, Australia has made advancements in EVs – making them a reality for many. Here are some things to consider when choosing your new EV.
Range
o What is your average daily range each day? If you are driving over 200km everyday, then consider an electric vehicle with a higher range. Range anxiety is something you can overcome by purchasing the right vehicle for you.
At home charging requirements
o You will need to charge your EV at home. Do you have an undercover parking spot with a charging point? Will you be able to mount a dedicated EV charger near or in your garage or parking spot?
Public charging options
o Are there available public charging options close to where you live or work? What standards do they use and will these suit the car you are looking at purchasing? Some models only support single-phase charge ports which facilitate slower charging.
Software/hardware/firmware upgrades
o A benefit to some EVs is the ease at which their firmware and software can be upgraded. Tesla Models, for instance, can be upgraded over-the-air on a regular basis – this is done to improve the driving experience through new settings and bug fixes.