ON FRONT PAG E N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A , A L P S A N D H I G H CO U N T RY
JULY 10, 2015
> available online - www.nemedia.com.au
INSIGNIA VXR: The lines of this hot new Holden are bold and purposeful.
Holden’s hot new Insignia VXR
By EWAN KENNEDY
in Queenstown, New Zealand
to be placed on the list. The Insignia is designed and built by Opel in Germany, but with a lot of Australian engineering input. And, believe it or not, its engine is built in Holden’s Melbourne plant. As the VXR is the high-performance version of the range, it is powered by a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 producing 239 kW of power and 435 Nm of torque. That sort of torque could overwhelm the front wheels of the VXR unless it was backed
off at times, so a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system has been developed. So confident is Holden in the AWD that it chose to fly Australian journalists to the snowfields of southern New Zealand to let us sample the hot Insignia on snow and ice. The Southern Hemisphere proving grounds (colloquially known as the snow farm) is recognised as being one of the world’s best and is used by many global car makers, including the big name Europeans. Snow and ice certainly didn’t faze the VXR, though you do need to treat the conditions with care as cornering limits are significantly lower and breaking distances
frighteningly longer at times. Note that the cars were on winter tyres during these sessions of our testing, these were changed to summer tyres when we drove on roads below the current snow line. Heated Recaro sports seats were very much appreciated in our below zero testing. They provide good side support without being overly aggressive, similarly entry to and exit from the seats won’t trouble many. Power runs through a six-speed automatic transmission to 20-inch wheels that fill out the guards nicely and certainly play their part in the bold overall look. Continued page 3
RED DOT SALE
10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta
RED DOT SALE
SAVE 1000’s!
Paul Davenport 0408 057 837 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531 Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677 Noel Gilbert 0438 597 200
SAVE $1000’s!
$
Ends July 31st
ONE MILE
MOTORS ABN 44 048 105 609 LMCT 1060
(03) 5721 5677 www.onemilemotors.com.au
Ends July 31st c21d11337/2715
Holden VXR is one of the most important models for the company in its inexorable move away from building cars in Australia to being a full time importer. GM Holden, as it prefers to be known these days also wants to be seen in a more upmarket light. Very much a sports sedan, Holden says Insignia VXR will compete directly with the likes of Subaru Liberty and Volkswagen Passat CC. We were surprised that Audi’s quattro models weren’t mentioned, given the aforementioned desired upmarket move and we do feel that Audi does deserve
July 10 - 16 | 2015
CLASSIFIEDS
SOLD
We’ll make your car go faster
$
Two weeks advertising with photo only
1994 Toyota Hilux dual cab ute, 193,000km, 12 mths reg, p/s, air con, Warn winch (9000lb), ARB bullbar & towbar, driving lights, snorkel, UH & AM CB radios, CD player, canopy, roof racks and side steps, turbo and turbo timer, 123ltr long range tank, 2" lift kit, diff breathers, front and rear diff locks, 4.5 diff ratio, 32x11.5x15 tyres on 8" Sunraysia rims, Tough Dog steering dampener, RWC (OJS521). Good clean 4WD, you will not be disappointed. $12,500 ono. Ph 0412 247 690.
SOLD
*
Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!
29
Over two weeks your advertisment will appear in one edition of the fortnightly Motor Guide and five editions of the Wangaratta Chronicle. Together these papers are read by over 90,000 people. *Cond apply. Private advertisers only, min 20 words, extra words 50¢ each, impact heading $2 per word. No refunds given if item is sold before advert expires. 2 weeks = 5 Wangaratta Chronicle & 1 North East Motor Guide, covering all NE Victoria.
Classifieds 5723 0101
TOYOTA Camry 1995, 5 speed manual, cruise control, 205,000km. RW C , v e r y g o o d condition, Reg til Dec (NNN937) $3000. Ph 0400 525 779.
2011 Holden Commodore SV6 VE Series II (Phantom Black). Auto, sedan, great condition, 10 months rego, (ZSJ158), $19,985. Ph 0408 003 651.
Vehicle Advertisers Guidelines LANDROVER TD5 Discovery 2. 2000 model. Runs well, 12 months rego, RWC, new tyres. (RQC732). $5800. Ph 0431 794 686.
Vendors of motor cars advertised for sale must include in their advertisement ‡ &DVK SULFH RI PRWRU FDU ‡ ,I FDU LV UHJLVWHUHG UHJLVWUDWLRQ QXPEHU ‡ ,I XQUHJLVWHUHG WKH HQJLQH QXPEHU ‡ 'HDOHUV UHTXLUH /0&7
HOLDEN Apollo SLX 1996, auto, air con, air bag, 125,000 k's, mech A1, RWC, reg (NWD877). $2950. Ph 0419 514 200.
FORD Fairlane 1989 NA model, white, 167,000 genuine kilometres, excellent condition, 12 months registration. (DUZ603). Full service history. $3500. Ph 5721 7808.
12FT HAINES HUNTER V nose punt with 9.9hp Evinrude o/b PRWRU ,QFO ÂżVKÂżQGHU URG KROGHUV ELQLPL VZLYHO VHDWV EDWWHU\ IXHO WDQN DOO VDIHW\ JHDU &XUUHQWO\ UHJLVWHUHG ERDW %* DQG WUDLOHU 8 3K
SAVAGE Osprey 550, pro sports 2003 model, reg (HP964) 90hp, Mercury Salt Water, oil injected, stainless steel prop, walk through screen and bow, 70lt XQGHU ÀRRU IXHO WDQN WUROO motor bracket, canopy ZLWK VLGH DQG IURQW FOHDUV travel cover, marine radio, radio-CD player, WZLQ EDWWHULHV DOO VDIHW\ gear, drive on tandem trailer reg (P93121) excel cond, $25,000. Ph 0412 839 012.
VY Commodore, auto, good condition, $2800 12 foot flat bottom ono. (1ERB148). Ph punt, registered, 9.9hp Johnson motor, runs 0418 350 462. well, on trailer, $1100 ono. Ph 0413 826 216. FORD Futura 2003, auto, 207,000 kms, (YNQ691), $3000. Ph 5762 5751.
YAMAHA WR200 '95 model, great little bike. Starts easy, runs well. $1500. Ph 0499 666 889.
2008 Holden Astra 60th Anniversary AH auto hatch, 4 cyl, 1.8L, 108,000kms. A great drive, economical and safe. (WUN581) $7500. Ph 0408 207 821.
MERCEDES Benz ML320, 2000, auto, sat nav, sunroof, midnight blue, (ZGB457), $4500 ono or will swap for ute. Ph 0429 812 317.
Keep your car in A1 condition with these local automotive experts! WINDOW TINTING
AUTO ELECTRICAL
BLACK CAT TINTING
DAVID BATTIN AUTO ELECTRICAL
181 Tone Rd, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5721 9922
50 Newman St, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5721 7611
PANEL REPAIRS
RADIATORS
ACTION SMASH REPAIRS
WANGARATTA RADIATOR SERVICES
22 Newman St, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5722 1520
135 Vincent Rd, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5721 3486
v/25d03590-v11/27-15
On the Road
TRADES & SERVICES DIRECTORY PTY LTD
WANG’S ONLY 5 STAR CARWASH
REBUILT TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS
the best
Temperature Controlled Baked Enamel Process
185 Tone Road (Hume Hwy), Wangaratta
WANGARATTA
5722 2111
D/39d00022/14-10
Approved By all Insurance Companies ‡ 6SUD\ 3DLQWLQJ ‡ 4XDOLW\ :RUNPDQVKLS ‡ $// ,QVXUDQFH :RUN ‡ 0DMRU & 0LQRU 5HSDLUV
CARWASH
Licensed Roadworthy Inspection Centre PH: (03)
5721 5687
2 Newman St, Wangaratta A division of Exhaust & Offroad Services
express CAR CLEAN j/25d03590-v9/14-14
HARRISON & SOLIMO PANELS
n39D00136/0112
2
valet service
22 - 24 Handley Street, Wangaratta, Ph: 57221522 j/06d05870/31-11
THIS WEEK’S
3
July 10 - 16 | 2015
SPECIALS!
Opinion Piece
Cars
that nag
By EWAN KENNEDY
ewan@marquenews.com.au
Mazda BT-50 XTR
2012 3.2L turbo diesel, 6 speed manual, 4x4, locally owned, excellent condition, ARB colour coded canopy, all terrain tyres, steel bullbar, cruise control, alloy side steps, voice controlled Bluetooth phone kit, plus much more, HURRY IN AS THESE DO NOT LAST LONG! (1ER5ZN)
$
41,990
DRIVEAWAY
COMFY: Neat and compact inside the Insignia VXR.
Ford Falcon FG XR6 Auto Sedan
One local owner. Sold and serviced by us since new. Nitro blue with matching trim. Trim-Taut-Terrific and only ....... (XOR400)
$
19,990
DRIVEAWAY
Commodore VE
Series II Equipe Sportswagon One local owner. Limited edition with factory leather, climate air, alloys etc. Immaculate condition thru out & would suit new car buyer. (1AI4AH)
$
21,990
DRIVEAWAY
STABLE: The new Holden handles well in all conditions.
Holden’s hot new Insignia VXR
Ford Territory Ghia AWD Auto Station Wagon
Locally owned and in superb condition thru out. 6 speed auto TOP OF THE RANGE model. Great value in this lovely family wagon. (UZP039)
$
13,990
DRIVEAWAY
Ford Ranger XL TDCI Dual Cab Utility
Outstanding low Km ute. 3 litre turbo diesel 4x2 HiRider with T-Bar auto, ARB canopy, HD tow pack, side steps, aircond., power steering etc. Don’t miss this beauty! (1DI8XA) DRIVEAWAY
$
22,990
*See instore for conditions. Pictures are for comparison only.
n06D11125/2815
62-66 PARFITT ROAD WANGARATTA LMCT 7036
(03) 5721 4428 www.ovensford.com.au
From page 1 An important design feature is the GM FlexRide suspension that can be set to day-to-day driving in Touring mode; Sport for when you want to get serious on the road but retain an element of electronic backup; and VXR mode which is probably best left for track work because the car lets you make most of your own decisions. FlexRide is comprehensive; it modifies not only the damper settings, but also AWD control, steering, throttle and automatic transmission. The results are most impressive. On normal roads away from the Snow Farm we selected the Touring setup and found the Insignia still had plenty of road grip, a smoother ride than expected for a full-on sports sedan and, generally, minimal tyre noise. The bugbear of tyre roar on coarse-chip surfaces was present, though we have heard worse on other sporty European sedans.
Australian suspension engineers are brilliant at minimising tyre noise on these surfaces, particularly in Commodores. They explained to us that the compromise is some loss in ride comfort. It will be interesting to see how these compromises work out when Holden is no longer building cars just for Australians in 2017. Insignia recently had a significant facelift; while it still has basically the same body we tested on Opel-badged imports that were sold in Australia for a short time, the shape has been nicely modernised and in VXR format has a bold and purposeful look. Inside, the dash area is now largely electronic, with two 8-inch screens, one for most, but not all, the major instruments, the other for the satellite navigation and infotainment systems. The latter uses the latest generation of GM’s latest MyLink system. The long list of standard
features includes leather trim, dual-zone air conditioning, radar cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, lanedeparture warning and onetouch starting. Holden tells us Insignia VXR is only one of 24 different models scheduled for launch downunder in the next five years. However, it refused to comment on whether other models in the Insignia range will be coming here. Insignia was launched in 2009, and immediately took out the European Car of the Year award, but despite several upgrades is getting on in years. So may we speculate Holden will hold off on selling the full Insignia range until an all-new model is released, probably late in 2016? In the meantime those who love HSVs and other hot Holdens should certainly put the Insignia VXR high on their shopping list. With a recommended price of $51,990 it certainly provides a lot of car for a modest outlay in this class.
Cars are becoming increasingly nagging and at times driving me to distraction. I've certainly no problem with them sounding a warning when I’ve forgotten to turn off the headlights, left the keys in the ignition or made a similar mistake. Indeed, I appreciate the car’s concern for my well being and freely admit I’m silly enough to need warnings from time to time. But why can’t the car give a gentle warning, say two or three dings of a bell or beeps of a buzzer, then shut up? After all, my hands may be busy with something else so can’t take instant action the moment my misdeed has been noisily pointed out. Some cars in the early days of warning buzzers only sounded the alarm once, and did so in a friendly manner. Almost like a good manservant giving a quiet cough to call the master’s attention to a minor indiscretion. BMWs were particularly praiseworthy when it came to the etiquette of subtle driver warning. The Japanese started the rot years ago when they installed warnings that sounded as though they would go on forever. Probably until the battery went flat about the middle of the next week, but I was never game enough to put that to the test. The worst of all are the new generation of safety belt reminders. I've just stepped out of several vehicles that have the most raucous, irritating sound I've ever heard. This isn’t a polite admonition, this is full-on nagging of the fingernailson-blackboards kind. And it gets louder the longer you ignore it. Please note that I would not dream of driving a car without a safety belt. I've been using them for almost 50 years now, first doing so back in the distant days when unbelievers felt safety belts were dangerous and you were better to be thrown clear of a car in a crash (I’m not making this up). Trust me, I never, ever, drive without them. However, there are times when I shuttle a car in or out of a garage or move it around at a photographic location and the constant nagging from the car almost has me putting on the safety belt just to retain my sanity. I know that there are slack people who believe they will never need a safety belt, thinking they are superb drivers with lightning fast reflexes. But why do I have to be incessantly nagged to wear the belt just because some fools refuse to do so? As a side issue; I don’t have a problem with idiots who refuse to wear safety belts. With a bit of luck they will be removed from the gene pool by a car crash before they have a chance to reproduce. A harsh attitude? Perhaps, but I’m sure Charles Darwin would approve.
ADVERTISEMENT
YOUR CARAVAN DESTINATION
> Your One Stop Caravan Shop Wangaratta Caravans, a long established family operated business of over 32 years standing, is continuing to grow and thrive within the Wangaratta business community. They specialise in the Kokoda range of caravans which are proudly manufactured in Victoria, and pride themselves on being Australia’s largest Kokoda dealer, and now also stock Kingdom Caravans. Their Kokoda range is designed to suit all stages of family life, from the family friendly bunk range to the grey nomad range with full kitchen, queen bed and ensuite. The range consists of on road, semi off road and full off road to suit all driving conditions. Wangaratta Caravans also offer a wide range of quality used caravans including wind up campers, pop-tops and full caravans. Let the team help you arrange insurance cover for your caravan in their role as
NOckW ing! Sto
agents for CIL insurance, or ask about their varied finance options. They are an authorised repairer for most insurance companies including CIL, RACV, GIO, APIA, ALLIANZ, YOUI, AAMI, QBE, SUNCORP, CUG, NRMA to name a few, and also do large or small general repairs to all types of caravans. Wangaratta Caravans employ quality tradespeople and are certified installer for ALKO ESC. Wangaratta Caravans is the one stop shop for caravans situated in North East Victoria, but also attend caravan shows in NSW and have valued customers Australia wide. Their hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 12noon Saturday with inspections available by appointment. Their new location on Parfitt Road boasts a larger accessories shop, with new stock arriving daily, and a larger workshop, now with seven bays and two full time repairers/mechanics.
NEW
Wor ks
hop
56-58 PARFITT ROAD WANGARATTA VIC 3677 PHONE: (03) 5721 8796 FAX: (03) 5721 5270
Email: info@wangcaravans.com.au
wangcaravans.com.au j/25d10195/28-15