CIRCULATING IN WANGARATTA, BENALLA, MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MT BEAUTY, BEECHWORTH, YACKANDANDAH, RUTHERGLEN, CHILTERN AND DISTRICTS
NORTH EAST
March 20, 2015
available online - wangarattachronicle.com.au
PRINTED FORTNIGHTLY — VOLUME 469
All-rounder Mazda3 diesel Storypage3
The ‘soft’ Ferrari … apparently.
California dreaming W
hat better way to celebrate the first anniversary of the announcement of the California T than to spend a sunny weekend in one? We couldn’t think of a better way either, so settled for just that. It gave us the chance to see what Maranello has done to address the complaints about the first car while also previewing what’s in store for the future - forced induction V8s are going to be a big part of the coming models, the 488 GTB in particular. Yes, well. There’s no getting away with it, this is a small apartment’s worth of car, with the ability to upgrade to a two-bedroom apartment if you cut loose in the options. It’s obvious that anyone with this kind of money to spend isn’t super-bothered by the dangers of personalisation, so getting upset about option prices is as useful or relevant as telling someone under twenty to have a Bex and a good lie down. The basic price is $409,888. This buys you that prancing horse badge, dual-zone climate-control, beautiful leather interior, remote locking, cruise control, auto-
By PETER ANDERSON folding heated rear vision mirrors, 19-inch alloy wheels, 6.5-inch screen with DAB radio, sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors, auto wipers and headlights and you even get a car cover thrown in. There was a huge range of options added to the test car, bringing the total to $549,387. Highlights were the stunning California Rosso paint ($20,500), Ferrari shields on the bodywork ($3000), magneride suspension ($8970), carbon fibre steering wheel with LEDs ($12,500) and Apple CarPlay ($6790). The new California is a far more Ferrarilooking car than the first attempt. Front and rear look like they belong together and there’s a more tapered posterior. The interior has had an update too, with a new screen and various bits and pieces. Our test car had a number of optional carbon fibre trim pieces including the central bridge that houses three control buttons (launch, auto mode and reverse), custom stitching and alcantara trim. While the interior color may not have been
to everyone’s taste – or the carbon fibre pieces – the quality is unmatched. The twenty-inch wheels ($10,050) also gave the car an even lower-looking stance. The California loves big wheels. There’s no ANCAP rating, but the California has four airbags, ABS, traction and stability control. Our California T had Apple’s CarPlay fitted. If you’re in possession of one of Cupertino’s finest, plug in via the dedicated USB hidden in the console and ensure your phone is unlocked. The onboard screen displays the apps that are compatible with the systems, such as Google Maps and Spotify. The car will read your texts to you and allow you to reply with Siri. It makes finding your music much more like the phone, too, with a simple touch interface to find what you’re looking for. Naturally, there’s Bluetooth and standard USB for other devices, with good call quality even with the hardtop stowed. The V8 is now twin-turbo powered. This is obviously big news for a lot of
reasons - it’s the first Ferrari road car since the F40 to have forced induction and is a preview of what’s to come for the 488 GTB. The 3855 cc V8 gets a flat-plane crank and three piece exhaust to help combat the sound-deadening of two turbos. Power and torque are up to 412 kW (up 46 kW) and a quite staggering 755 Nm torque. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is familiar to Ferraristi and has had the requisite upgrades for the extra mumbo. Ferrari claims 10.5 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, but with our right foot, we saw much closer to 15 L/100km, which is still incredible going, really. What sets the California apart from the 458 and F12 (except price, obviously), is the way you can just puddle about without raising your or your passengers’ heart rates. In comfort mode, the damping smooths out all but the deepest potholes and manholes and expansion joints are pleasantly muffled. The steering, which is always light, cuts down on the chatter and can leave you wondering what all the fuss is about.
Continued page 2
NORTH EAST
2
March 20, 2015
CLASSIFIEDS
Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!
SOLD
California dreaming
COLEMAN camper, 2 double beds, gas stove, 3 way fridge, canvas awning, vgc, $2850. Ph 0447 622 367. FORD BA RTV, steel tray, 2003, T-bar auto, 147,000 km, (WFV768), $6500 ono. Phone after 7pm (03) 5753 5234, 0427 797 384.
1995 VS Commodore 2005 Suzuki APV sedan, 1 owner female. 5-door van, Reg 12- Reg serviced, mech 2015 (TTM226), excellent, reg Sept 5-speed manual, (NKP714), immaculate 117,000km. $4500 ono. condition, genuine sale Ph 0409 791 482, (03) $3500 with RWC. Ph 5729 7613. 5727 9281.
FORD ute 2008, RWC, 1 year rego (ZOU075), low 135,000km, full electrics, extra large tray with ladder rack. Regularly serviced, alloys. $10,800 ono. Ph 0449 088 044 anytime.
1997 Mitsubishi Lancer auto, 211,392km, reg. exp. Aug. No RWC (UYW207). Good clean car. $2000. Ph (03) 5727 3581.
VS Statesman sedan, bought new Wang. Lady owner driver last 16 years, 220,000km, stored last 3 yrs. Started monthly, all service books. This 6 cyl auto car can only be described as in excellent condition. Unreg (VX227). $4000. Ph 5721 6231.
9 6 Ya m a h a 6 0 0 Thundercat, 11mth rego, (1M6LJ), 16,000km, new rear tyre, fork seals and windscreen, good condition, $3500. Ph 0429 219 093.
Daewoo Lanos 2000, auto, silver, new tyres, reg to November 2015 QNU-130, one owner, serviced regularly, very reliable, only 140,000 country k's by elderly driver. $2990.
2006 Jayco Eagle, Queen bed, double EHG EHG À\V DZQLQJ IXOO DQQH[H IULGJH PLFURZDYH H[FHOOHQW FRQGLWLRQ RU QHDUHVW RIIHU 3K
Ph 5824 2457
JEEP Cherokee 1996 XJ. Local car from new, 244,000km, new screen, radiator, water pump, exhaust, front end bushes, a/c, p/steer, auto, runs very well. Unreg (ZMY511). $2000. Ph 5721 6231.
3.6MT (12ft) tinny, rego 25/1/2016, trailer rego T88786, both in good condition, comes with oars, anchor and 2 PFD’s, $1200. Ph (03) 5729 3500.
ROADSTAR Daintree semi off road 2008, 20'6" dual axle, 2 spare wheels, 2 gas bottles, 3x 90 litre water tanks, 2 deep cycle batteries, solar panel, queen bed, 170 litre fridge/freezer, r/c air con., TV/DVD/ RAD., separate shower, toilet, stove, oven, full cover, $45,000. Ph 0488 731 158.
2005 Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed, (TOF565), diesel, auto., 317,000km, immaculate condition, nudge bar, driving lights, tow bar, dual battery system, reg. till July 2015, full service history, roadworthy condition. $13,990. Ph 0447 723 694.
SOLD
1991 Mazda Astina Hatch. Good condition, auto, no RWC or rego but would require little for RWC. Vin no. JMOBG10P200100284. $750 ono. Ph 0409 550 324.
REGAL caravan, single axle, elec brakes, island beds, microwave, 3 way fridge, battery pack, full anQH[H DQG ÀRRU H[WUDV RQR 3K
2008 Toyota Corolla Ascent, hatchback, 5 door, auto, silver, RWC, cruise control, well looked after, Rego (WNU760), $12,000. Ph 0438 627 010.
Credit Card &Eftpos facilities Why not charge your advertisement to Mastercard or Visa?
5723 0101
„ From page 1 Ferrari’s seven-speed dual-clutch is incredibly smooth through the shifts and all that’s left to remind you of the prancing horse (apart from all the logos in the cabin), is a blare from the exhaust. The big differences really are behind the wheel in the T - the old car felt soft (for a Ferrari) in the front end and the naturally-aspirated V8, while a bellowing monster, wasn’t quite right for the character of the car. It felt compromised and a bit heavy. Ferrari has knocked those problems clean off. Switch the three-stage Manettino to Sport or ESC off, and the California wakes up. The steering subtly firms up, the gearbox readies for action and all the assorted electronics are ready for war. Send the throttle towards the firewall and while there’s a brief moment of, “Where’s the...�, interrupted by an eruption of torque accompanied by a magnificent turbo inhalation. The flat blare from the exhaust becomes a roar and with barely a wriggle you’re on your way to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, terrifyingly close to the 458’s figure. The shift from first to second is accompanied by a colossal whip crack and you’re tearing through the revs again to the 7500 cutout. Another pull on the right paddle and well past Australian speed limits anywhere but the Northern Territory and you’re on your way to a glorious if inconvenient removal of your right
to drive and, if you keep going into fourth, your general liberty. As the first corner comes at you at speeds you probably wouldn’t have been able to contemplate in the old car, you turn the wheel in the desired direction. There’s an initial hesitation – you have to remind yourself to turn the wheel a little further in the Cali – and the front end starts to bite. Progressive and with a firm pedal, the big perforated alloy plate under your foot is nearly as good a party trick as the accelerator. Stamp on the pedal and you feel like the rear end is lifting from the road as the huge calipers grasp the 390 mm front and 360 mm rear discs. It’s tremendous fun to stamp on the brakes and bring the car to a halt from 100 km/h in just 34 metres. The 245 front tyres and 285 rears ensure it will do it time and again. In this job, you have to remember that driving a Ferrari for a weekend is not the same as owning one. Overcoming the mystique of the badge isn’t easy, especially when you realise just how much better the T is over the old car. Notions of value-for-money are pointless, so addressing them doesn’t do the car justice, so let’s view it in context. The California T is the Ferrari that you could live with. It causes a bit of a stir but not so much it will make you paranoid. It’s comfortable, can fit shorter humans in the back with a bit of shuffling and is delightfully, deliriously, fun to drive.
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
On the Road
TRADES & SERVICES DIRECTORY PTY LTD
WANG’S ONLY 5 STAR CARWASH
REBUILT TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS
the best
185 Tone Road (Hume Hwy), Wangaratta
WANGARATTA
5722 2111
CARWASH
Licensed Roadworthy Inspection Centre PH: (03)
5721 5687
2 Newman St, Wangaratta A division of Exhaust & Offroad Services
n39D00136/0112
Temperature Controlled Baked Enamel Process
D/39d00022/14-10
Approved By all Insurance Companies ‡ 6SUD\ 3DLQWLQJ ‡ 4XDOLW\ :RUNPDQVKLS ‡ $// ,QVXUDQFH :RUN ‡ 0DMRU & 0LQRU 5HSDLUV
express CAR CLEAN
valet service
22 - 24 Handley Street, Wangaratta, Ph: 57221522 j/06d05870/31-11
N25d03590-v10/1614
HARRISON & SOLIMO PANELS
NORTH EAST
3
March 20, 2015
Mazda3 diesel is an excellent all-rounder By PETER ANDERSON
T
he Mazda3 keeps pounding away on the sales charts, regularly duking it out with the i30 and Corolla and frequently coming out on top. With last year’s brand spanking new third generation 3 came a bit of a reshuffle. Gone is the fast but ill-mannered MPS3 and up to the top of the range goes the diesel, now known as the XD, topping even the warmish SP25. The Mazda3 range starts way down at around $22,000 plus on roads, right up to the $42,190 Astina-only XD. Based on the SP25 spec, the XD is fully-loaded with active cruise control, dual-zone climate-control, sunroof, powered driver’s seat, heads-up display, auto-wipers, auto bi-xenon headlights, electric windows all round, keyless entry and start, leather trim, auto-dimming rear view mirror, nine-speaker stereo, sat-nav and LED rear lights. The XD comes with the Mazda3’s otherwise optional safety and sunroof package comprising blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and smart city brake support. There’s just one optional extra on the XD, and that is the absurdly good value (and very pretty) Soul Red metallic paint for $200. Mazda’s Kodo design language seems to work on any size. Pioneered first in concept form and then in the svelte 6, Kodo now stretches from the 2 all the way through the passenger range. The big five point grille is framed by a colored trim that pokes back into the lights. The bodywork flows along the side of the car from the upper corners of the grille, forming an interesting-looking channel that is not only eye-catching but aerodynamically sound. The XD has a few red flashes to let the car-spotters know you’re in the quicker one, along with a handsome set of 18-inch alloys that are in perfect proportion. Inside is largely unchanged from the top-end SP25 but there is a very tasty pair of front seats that not only look good in leather and Alcantara but are uncommonly comfortable.
No Mazda3 MPS? Doesn’t matter, the XD is quick and has tidy manners. The goodies don’t stop with the gadgets. The XD comes standard with six airbags, traction and stability control, ABS, brake force distribution, brake assist, forward obstruction monitoring and brake support, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert, the latter to stop you backing out into people as they hoon their machines through carparks. The Mazda3 recently scored 5 ANCAP stars. Branded MZD-Connect, the stereo/ sat-nav works very well, has USB and Bluetooth, with the only letdown being the low-res maps. The system allows connectivity with apps like Pandora and Stitcher stored on your phone. The standard Bose-branded speakers on the XD are a bit of a treat, with good deep bass. It’s all controlled via a cross between Audi’s MMI and BMW’s iDrive from the centre console. When you’re stationary, the screen becomes touch-capable.
Also on the XD is a little bonus - a head-up display. Before you get too excited, this isn’t a particularly good one. A little blade of glass rises from atop the instrument pod, with a bright bluegreen LCD projection of speed and lane departure/city braking info. The problem is it’s too bright at night but, with the speed readout, it’s very handy because of the odd dashboard layout. A big plus is that it doesn’t become invisible if you’re wearing polarising sunglasses.
The housing and light reflect off the windscreen, which seems a wasted opportunity. The D in XD means diesel, in this case Mazda’s 2.2 litre turbo-diesel. It’s good for 129 kW (which is a cracking start) and a mind-bending 420 Nm of torque. Mazda claims a combined cycle of 5.2 litres per 100km, with the aid of stop-start and brake regeneration. This is probably a bit of a dream as we saw 9.2 litres in mixed driving. All that torque and a six-speed automatic transmission helps send
the 3 on from standstill to 100 km/h in about 7.5 seconds, which is a guess because Mazda won’t give an official figure. The engine is excellent - plenty of power and torque and the transmission is smooth and responsive. It’s got a wide power band for a diesel. Acceleration - particularly in the gears - is properly fast. It’s a bit diesel-rattly, but there are worse-sounding diesels out there. All it needs is a better chassis to go around it. That seems like a mean way to kick off what is a largely positive driving experience, but it’s not all bad news. The ride is firm, but comfortable, the steering responsive and light and you can take on all-comers once you’re rolling. It really does push you back in your seat when you put your foot down. The only problem is, being a 3, the front-end grip just isn’t what it needs to be for really getting stuck in to the corners or burning out of tight ones. It will be left behind by the not-thatmuch-more expensive Golf GTI, despite having a big torque advantage. If you’re willing to be a bit more judicious with the throttle and deal with the inevitable wheelspin of the inside front and be smooth, you can have some fun, but you need to back away from the limit. All that twist needs a good electronic diff (like the Golf’s) or a proper-but-heavy limited slip diff. Going fast is not what this, or any current Mazda3, is about. It’s never going to take on a Golf GTI in the handling stakes but we’d be raving if it could. The XD is an excellent all-rounder - frugal and comfortable in the city, brilliant on the open road. You won’t avoid twisty bits because it’s still a good chunk of fun, it’s just not a hot hatch. Our biggest issue is that at $42,190, it’s on the pricey side, which is a shame because it’s the best Mazda3 by a country mile. Perhaps if Mazda could strip out the safety and sunroof pack, lose the HUD and knock a few grand off the price, it might become a cult hit...
Mazda 3
70 per week $
7 year loan term FINANCE TO APPROVED PURCHASERS ONLY. Particulars are for information only and does not guarantee loans or constitute a loan application. Monthly payments are based on a secured commercial loan Purchase price $23,990 over 84 months @ 6.00% with 20% deposit (to approved purchasers). Fees and charges apply. Annual percentage rate may vary. Please consult One Mile Motors on (03) 5721 5677 during normal business hours. “WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example given. Different amounts & terms will result in different comparison rates and may influence the cost of the loan.” LMCT 1060
ONE MILE
MOTORS ABN 44 048 105 609 LMCT 1060
10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta Paul Davenport 0408 057 837 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531 Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677
(03) 5721 5677 www.onemilemotors.com.au n21d10832-v14/1215
COME & SEE BLUEY @ 69 TONE ROAD, your local authorised
OFFER ENDS 12/04/2015 *ASK INSTORE FOR MORE DETAILS
We have a great range of 4x4 accessories, stocking top brand on and off road tyres including Goodyear and Dunlop. Ask in instore for more details!
BUY 4 TYRES PAY FOR 3
GET 4 GOODYEAR TYRES FOR THE PRICE OF 3 Fitting extra
On sale Tuesday 10th March – Saturday 18th April 2015. ASK IN STORE FOR DETAILS! *CONDITIONS APPLY.
T: 03 5721 4307
69 Tone Road, Wangaratta
M: 0409 845 718
bluey@goodyearautocarewangaratta.com.au
F: 03 5721 5642
www.goodyearautocare.com.au
c31d23418/3814
Expert Advice
j/31d23951/10-15