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 22 - 28, 2016
> available online - www.nemedia.com.au
Sporty
Mazda MX-5
ROAD TEST By PETER ANDERSON the automatic 2.0-litre GT. Our car was as basic as it gets, a white, 1.5-litre manual. For your tick under thirty-two grand you get 16-inch alloys, cruise control, a six speaker stereo with Bluetooth and USB, LED headlights, leather gear knob and steering wheel, electric windows and keyless entry and start. The only available options are Soul Red metallic paint (one of six colours) for an entirely reasonable $250 and MZD Connect (touchscreen with satellite navigation) for $1000.
Mazda’s unveiling got the internet talking. To say it was a polarising design is a fairly spectacular understatement. The social media chatter was mostly around the front end, with armchair experts complaining Mazda hadn’t left enough room for a number plate. Yeah, well, they’re wrong. While you don’t have to like the design, it’s lithe, muscular and everything an MX-5 stands for. It looks light and it is light, crouched low to the ground and looks good roof up or down. Even in the white of our test car it’s a looker. Inside is so, so much better than the NC. The insult-to-injury of that car was its much
higher cost but with a cheap-feeling interior. The ND’s is still heavy on the plastic, but not so much of the snappy, scratchy kind. The seats are small and just enough, the support coming from the door and transmission tunnel. The small seats mean people of all sizes and shapes (within reason) can fit easily in an MX-5. The dashboard is a model of clarity, with a large central dial flanked by two smaller dials. In the greatest sports car tradition, the big dial is the tachometer, with the speedo to the right and a small, low-fi LCD panel to the left with all the warnings and levels.
Continued page 3 n21d11337-V56/3016
MAZDA’S evergreen MX-5 has weathered not one but two pretty impressive financial meltdowns – the huge Asian financial disaster in the nineties and the global crisis that is still causing drama. Cars like the MX-5 are usually the first to go during tough times, but has motored on to its much-anticipated fourth generation. What’s even rarer is a carmaker leaving alone a winning formula like the MX-5’s and cutting the price at the same time. It must be quite something… The ND series MX-5 comes in two trim levels with a choice of two engines and manual or automatic transmission. The ranges starts at $31,990 for the 1.5 litre manual Roadster and climbs to $41,550 to
MAZDA: Joy comes wrapped in small, reasonably priced packages.
Brand New Mazda CX-9 Make it yours
Paul Davenport 0408 057 837 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531 Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677 Noel Gilbert 0438 597 200 DĂƌŬ WƌĞŶƟĐĞ Ϭϰϯϳ Ϯϳϲ ϰϭϮ
Book a test drive today! NOW IN STOCK!
(03) 5721 5677 10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta www.onemilemotors.com.au LMCT1060
2
July 22 - 28 | 2016
Subaru Forester tS special edition By EWAN KENNEDY SUBARU was one of the earliest Japanese carmakers to tackle the Australian market, with imports dating back to 1973. It did moderately well in the sales race in its initial years - then took off at breakneck speed with the introduction of the highperformance WRX in 1994. The WRX’s stunning combination of turbocharged power and the road grip offered by all-wheel-drive grabbed the imagination of keen Aussie drivers and it’s no surprise that other hot models followed, including some based on the Subaru Forester SUV. We initially drove a Forester tS on a closed road circuit near Mount Fuji in Japan late last year, now we have spent an excellent week behind the wheel of a tS in our home area in south east Queensland. Some 22 changes are made to the standard Forester XT Premium as it moves along the assembly line. It’s then transported to the STI (Subaru Technica International) high-performance division where a further 28 items are installed. We are told that technically the tS isn’t an STI model and will bow to Subaru on that, however, it looks pretty close to our eyes. Despite the use of a chequered flag on the tS badge, this Forester is aimed more at the grand touring (GT) market rather than those looking for a track day machine. Though knowing Subaru lovers we would not be surprised to see some make their way trackside.
„ FORESTER tS SPECIAL EDITION: It sits lower and rides on STI Enkei 19-inch alloys.
Other than the standout black grille and deep STI spoiler body changes are relatively subtle. It may surprise some that there’s no bonnet scoop, but Subaru Australia explains that this isn’t a hotrod wagon. The suspension has been lowered by 15 mm to improve looks and enhance handling, obviously off-road ability suffers. A new design STI Enkei 19-inch alloys have 245/45 19 Bridgestone tyres. It’s interesting to see that Subaru has gone trendy in using a lower-case initial for the model name. The tS sort of stands for ‘tough Speedy’. The interior features black leather and
suede trim seats with red stitched accents. The front seats have STI embroidered badges. The leather trimmed steering wheel also has an STI logo. Unlike the Forester XT Premium on which it is based the tS doesn’t have a sunroof. Forester tS Special Edition is powered by a warmed-up turbo-petrol 2.0-litre boxer engine producing 177 kW at 5600 rpm. Torque is 350 Nm. All Australian Forester tS Special Editions use Subaru’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) with manual overrides. No six-speed manual transmissions will be imported, though there has to be the possibility of some grey imports being
sneaked in somewhere down the track. Given Subaru Australia’s longterm emphasis on safety it comes as no surprise that the Forester XT range has been given a five-star rating by ANCAP. Our on-road driving of the Forester tS was done on one of our favourite road programs in the hinterland behind the Gold Coast. With bumps, cracked surfaces and broken edges it’s similar to many country roads in the coastal regions of Australia. Despite everything the roads threw at the tS it breezed through the tests. Forester tS has handling that’s competent for a tuned SUV, though you wouldn’t call it a sports wagon. It has precise turn-in and good feedback through the steering wheel. Brembo brakes, four-pot front and twopot rear have immense stopping power. See our previous comments about the possibility of some keen Forester tS owners taking their machines onto track days. The 45 per cent profile looks good and doesn’t destroy ride comfort the way lower-profile tyres can do. As a result comfort is pretty good. The front seats support well, the rear seat has plenty of legroom and four adults can all ride in stretch out comfort. There’s space in the rear for three kids up to their early-teen years. Three colours are imported, WR Blue, White and Black. Ours was a black one and we suspect the WR Blues have already been snapped up on pre-orders. Only 300 Forester tS Special Editions were allocated to Australia and they are running out fast.
NEED TYRES? TUFF TYRES IS NOW OPEN
CARS 4WDS TRUCKS AGRICULTURE TRACTORS EARTHMOVERS ALL TYRES ‡ :KHHO $OLJQPHQWV RQ DOO 9HKLFOHV XS WR 7RQQH 1HHG QHZ ZKHHOV DFFHVVRULHV" ,I \RX KDYH D UHTXHVW ZH ZLOO JHW WKHP LQ WE STOCK $1' 025(
ALL FLEET VEHICLES WELCOME
BATTERY TESTING AVAILABLE. WE SUPPLY CENTURY BATTERIES AND WE FIT THEM FOR FREE. LOWEST PRICES IN WANGARATTA.
Avian Park Recreation Reserve
1HZPDQ 6WUHHW :$1*$5$77$ WXII#WXIIZDQJ FRP WXIIW\UHVZDQJDUDWWD FRP
E/31D52827/3016
t
Road
n Stree
s St
Newma
t Road
Greta
Vincen
Cozen
Ro
Hay A ve
ad
ne To
3
July 22 - 28 | 2016
Sporty Mazda MX-5 From page 1
SUZUKI VITARA: It has a stylish Euro-style aerodynamic body.
Suzuki adds turbo-diesel to its Vitari range By MURRAY HUBBARD
At a Glance
the harshness found in some other DSG gearboxes and seems well suited to these smaller turbo-charged engines. SUZUKI has added a turbo-charged diesel Sitting on the speed limit of 110 km/h the engine to its stable of Vitara SUVs – an 1.6-litre turbo diesel did not even raise a engine that delivers more than twice the sweat at under 2000 rpm. torque of the entry-level Vitara - and sips At the same time it returned 5.9 litres per distillate at a miserly 4.9 litres per 100 km. 100 km. It’s an impressive addition as we found out 1.6 litre RT-S petrol 2WD 5 It’s not so much how miserly the Fiaton the Queensland launch of the vehicle speed manual: $21,990 sourced engine is, but how quiet it is at between Cairns and Cooktown via the 1.6 litre RT-S petrol 2WD 6 speed and under hard acceleration. Daintree Forest in Far North Queensland. speed auto: $23,990 Most punters would not pick it as an oil Suzuki pioneered what we now know as 1.4 litre S Turbo GLX petrol burner. compact SUVs – well before the segment 2WD 6 speed auto: $28,990 A couple of times we asked the passing was defined – way back in 1988 with the first 1.4 litre S Turbo GLX petrol question of the Vitara diesel and in no time Vitara. AWD 6 speed auto: $32,990 we were out, past and back into the left lane At a time when Japanese heavyweights, 1.6 litre Turbo GLX diesel AWD at a terminal speed we cannot mention here. Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser, Suzuki engineers have really sorted this were still lumbering around on leaf springs 6 speed auto: $35,990 little wagon out. the three-door Vitara offered coil springs The refinement of ride, lack of any NVH all-round, power steering, a five speed (Noise Vibration Harshness) at speed, transmission, 4WD on demand and a dualThis makes it more responsive to driver smooth delivery of acceleration and braking range transfer case. input. Vitara was an instant hit and still The setting for Snow defaults to AWD and as well as cornering is impressive. In off road work down the Bloomfield Track commands a die-hard legion of fans. assists grip and stability on slippery surfaces. Vitara absorbed all the corrugations thrown The new diesel variant, known as the The Lock setting targets mud and sand at it and delivered a comfortable ride. Vitara GLX Turbo diesel, joins the entry-level driving and shifts torque from any wheel We expected some rear end jitters, but the 1.6-litre CL petrol 2WD Vitara released in losing grip to those that have traction. August 2015 as well as Suzuki’s first turboVitara has come a long way on the outside vehicle kept the line well needing little driver input. charged petrol engine in the 1.4-litre S Turbo too, no longer just a square box but a For most of the gravel roads we put the GLX petrol 2WD and AWD launched in stylish European-looking aerodynamic body Vitara in AWD lock mode by engaging the March this year. style that should attract buyers from other mud/snow dial and then locking it in. The diesel stands as the hero car with brands. The difference between 2WD and AWD an impressive array of features including One could be forgiven for thinking the was significant with the SUV’s stability over dual panoramic sunroof, Android phone Vitara is part of the Land Rover family – in corrugations improving with all four wheels connectivity, integrated Sat/Nav and four particular the Evoque. under engine load. drive modes to suit the conditions: highThe shoulder line extends from the Vitara’s interior is fairly uninspiring, but it speed black top, snow, sand and mud. headlights through to the taillights while the is functional and can be jazzed up with the All Vitara models now have five doors. doors feature an upsweep that climbs over use of coloured highlights around the central What they no longer boast is a transfer box the rear wheel arch. dash-mounted aircon vents and analogue – the Grand Vitara being the 4WD headline This is complimented by a diving roof line act for Suzuki. accentuated by the vehicle’s two-tone paint clock. These can be themed in with seat Suzuki plans to phase out the Vitara CL job. highlights, for instance in red, and makes models in the coming months. The grille also sits high adding to the a significant improvement in the interior’s Vitara AWD models have Suzuki’s AllGrip European flavour. visual appeal. technology which offers the driver four This launch provided three AWD models: We found the front seats reasonably selections depending on road conditions. the standard 1.6 litre petrol CL, the recently comfortable and the driving position pretty Coupled with 185mm of ground clearance released S Turbo 1.4 litre GLX and the new good. and a short wheelbase Vitara is a capable turbo diesel. We would have liked a central driver and off-roader. Basically all Vitara models run the same front passenger armrest. Leave it in auto mode and the transmission interior and exterior with minor changes to Also, leg room is pretty tight for rear-seat defaults to 2WD but if it detects any wheel denote which model. passengers, depending on how far back the spin or loss of traction it switches seamlessly Also, they have the same six-speed dual front pews are set. to AWD. clutch auto transmissions. This is common to all compact SUVs. The Sport mode is designed for So, the real differences are under the All in all this is a real option for buyers tarmac driving on twisty roads with the bonnet. – Vitara is a must to test drive if you’re computer refining the acceleration and Suzuki has done well with the choice of shopping in the compact SUV segment torque characteristics in the low and transmission. including Mitsubishi’s ASX and Mazda’s CX3. mid-range rev range. It’s a smooth piece of kit with none of
NOTE: THESE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE GOVERNMENT OR DEALER DELIVERY CHARGES. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER FOR DRIVEAWAY PRICES.
There’s even a couple of drink holders, as well as a lockable storage bin in the rear bulkhead. The glove box does what it says on the tin and no more. The boot swallows a very modest 130 litres, but will take a decent-sized suitcase. The trade-off is a lack of spare tyre. Four airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, brake assist, fixed rollover protection and pretensioned seatbelts. The MX-5 recently scored the maximum five ANCAP safety stars in ANCAP testing. It’s a pretty basic offering in the entry level Roadster, with a six-speaker stereo paired with a head unit lifted straight from the bargain basement Mazda2. It’s fine and is usable and if it’s good enough for an almost half-a-million dollar Lamborghini Huracan to have six speakers, then it’s probably okay here. It’s easy to use and pair with your phone but you’re fairly restricted on how you can use the phone and, if following the rules to the letter, you have to pull over to change the music you’re playing if you’re on your own. Mazda’s SkyActiv 1.5-litre four-cylinder - familiar to Mazda2 owners - does duty under the bonnet, producing 96 kW and 150 Nm with the aid of direct-injection. With the six-speed manual, Mazda claims 6.1L/100km, which is surprisingly not far off the mark, our test car’s 7.1L/100km achieved despite giving it a right good thrashing. We’ve made a bit of a point of directing your attention to the parts bin raiding to keep both weight and cost down. When you consider the final NC series MX-5 was a hefty $50,000-plus and does basically the same job as this one, the reduction in cost without losing a single ounce of fun is remarkable. Mazda’s cars are increasingly good fun to drive, but the MX-5 is the one to beat. With rear wheel drive and a limited slip differential to keep things interesting, the revvier 1.5 (you get a higher redline over the 2.0-litre) is a car you really have to push along. Nothing is a chore in the roadster – the gearshift is slick and precise, the softer of the two suspension tunes means a good ride and a livelier real-world experience. There’s even detectable body roll as you chuck the car into corners. The great thing about the car is that you can be brutal, bashing up and down the gearbox, harsh steering and braking inputs and you won’t get into trouble. Go the other way, and learn to flow and you will have just as much fun. While it’s never going to be a hooligan car – expect its turbocharged Fiat sister car, the Fiat 128 Spyder to be a lairier beast, especially when the chippers and tuners get on it/ruin it – its startlingly good balance is most on show here in the entry level. In everyday life – limited luggage space notwithstanding – it’s easy to drive with its hatchback-based engine and transmission keeping it all light and easy. SUMMING UP 4/5 The fourth-generation MX-5 roadster is a back to basics marvel, finally taking on the tin-top Toyota 86 price-wise while delivering the roof down, purist thrills for which it’s famous. With a better interior, much better price and that light nimble chassis, the entry-level car is a cracker. It’s soft, light and has all the power it needs and not a watt more. LIKES: Simple, cheap, sweet. DISLIKES: Hardly any storage, smartphone integration embarrassed by cheaper cars.
4
July 22 - 28 | 2016
CLASSIFIEDS HOLDEN Berlina 2005, (UPF325), always serviced, drives well, good condition, 338,000km, $4000. Ph 0428 572 571.
HOLDEN VZ Commodore 6 litre 6 speed gear box plus VE HSV gear shifter, gear knob and boot, $1000 ono. Ph 0412 247 690. ICE PR UCED D RE
2001 Jayco Hawk, 25th Anniversary model, Queen size bed one end and double the other, table folds down for extra bed, 3-way fridge, 4 gas burner stove top with grill and oven underneath. Full annexe in excellent condition. Great family van. $12,200 negotiable. Wa n g a r a t t a . P h 0411 250 510.
ECONOMICAL & STYLISH. 2004 Peugeot 206 XR with 80,000km on the clock, 3 doors 5 seat Hatch, black exterior, blue interior, 5 speed manual, 2 x airbags. Full service history, comes with 12 months registration June 2017 (WMX305) and D 5RDGZRUWK\ &HUWL¿cate. This has been our second car and is a brilliant little car, It will be a shame to see it go as it offers huge value due to its low kilometres and low price of $4999. Inspections welcome. Ph 0457 902 966.
SOLD
COROLLA (choice of two). Only ONE IRU VDOH ,GHDO ¿UVW FDU 1985, 200,000kms, (UJT764), $1500 or 1995, 245,000kms, (UKP874), $2500. Both in good or fair condition, mechanically sound, good tyres. Ph 0434 237 976.
Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!
GREAT WALL X200 Wagon 4WD TDI 2012 model 2 litre turbo diesel, 34,000km,automatic, nudge bar, towbar, rev camera, UHF radio, cruise, electric windows, RWC supplied, (ZGK 979), $12,500. Ph 0466 015 222.
FREE - Onsite caravan with built-on annexe at Everton caravan park to be removed with or without industrial air 2011 Audi A4 2.0T conditioner. For enpetrol sedan, auto, white quiries phone 0438 438 in colour, (VAJ070), 256. 106,000km, excellent condition, $18,000. Ph 0434 893 030.
SOLD
SOLD
1985 Mazda E1800. Grand old warrior, but still plenty left! 5 speed manual. Dual Fuel LPG 6l/100km, 428,614kms, goes well. Needs petrol pump. Front and rear seats. Bull bar and tow bar. Reg till Sept 2016. (UVP767). No RWC. $500 ono. Ph 0400 993 Caprice, 833. (Doesn’t include HOLDEN 2006 model, 6.4ltr dog!) V8, 175,000kms, (UNA269), excellent CLASSIFIEDS condition, $18,000. Ph 5723 0101 5722 1105.
SOLD
4.1M Polycraft open boat, side console, 4 0 p M e r c u r y, o i l injected engine, bimini, boatcover, Dunbier trailer, 4 times Eildon, 1 Nillacootie, Reg (PG644), $12,000 ono. Ph 0439 031 198.
HONDA VTR250 2006, 48,000km, comes with ventura rack, windshield, rego till August (FC363), serviced every 5000km, $2400 ono. Ph 0424 580 025.
2004 Subaru Outback, 6 cylinder, automatic, excellent condition, leather trim, 6 stacker C D p l a y e r, RW C , (WPR406), $7300 ono. Ph 0427 579 810.
AAA coffee van Toyota Hiace, (1FJ1WG), fully equipped with Cummins generator, refurbished coffee machine and grinder, and all other necessary equipment, including training, $29,000. Ph 0478 162 069.
FORD Focus Trend 2011, 21,500km, one older lady owner, immaculate condition, rego December 2016 (YTY155), RWC, $13,800 ono. Ph 0438 2000 Hyundai Lantra 329 213, 0409 950 S p o r t s w a g o n G L S , 907. (QGR439) June 2017, 2 litre, 5 speed manual, 274,000km, air condition, cruise control, central locking, power windows, towbar, serviced every 5000km, good condition, $1500. Ph 5721 3441. VU Commodore Ute, S pack (UVB 799), 2003 Toyota Hilux, dual moulded bull bar, built- cab, diesel, 3ltr, 2WD, in Travel Pilot GPS, dual fuel, stretched body, automatic transmission, low kms, (IBW5HW), mag wheels, $5000. Ph $7500. Ph 0439 766 0417 951 131. 211.
Vehicle Advertisers Guidelines 2005 BA MKII Ford Falcon Ute, (UZY325), colour maroon, auto with Sports Shift, 163,000km, nudge bar, sports bar and tarp, excellent condition, $7500 ono, RWC. Ph 5727 6090.
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
1994 Toyota Hilux, dual cab, 2WD, 6 months rego (CD46DQ), in good order, manual, extractors, aircon, power steering, $4400. Ph 0439 766 211. TOYOTA Starlet Life, 5 door hatchback, 121,000kms, rego Feb 2017, auto, air cond., cruise control, just serviced, RWC, rego (OQE944), looks good, drives good. $4500 ono. Ph 0418 579 368.
Credit Card &Eftpos facilities Why not charge your advertisement to Mastercard or Visa?
5723 0101
t IPNF t PGmDF t TIPQ GSPOU t DBS
Advertise Here!
For all your tinting requirements...
SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS
BCT TINTING (A division of)
BJ&A AUTOGLASS
5723 0100
c37D05363/2216
*protection from sunfading *99.9% uv protection *glare reduction *privacy *safety/security *lifetime warranty *keep cooler - block up to 60% of solar energy P: (03) 57219 922 181 Tone Rd, Wangaratta
(Next to Harrison & Solimo)
HARRISON & SOLIMO PANELS PTY LTD
Approved By all Insurance Companies ‡ 6SUD\ 3DLQWLQJ ‡ 4XDOLW\ :RUNPDQVKLS ‡ $// ,QVXUDQFH :RUN ‡ 0DMRU 0LQRU 5HSDLUV
5721 3486
k/25d10661/2116
135 Vincent Road, Wangaratta
5722 2111
A/C Licence Number AU01845
185 Tone Road (Hume Hwy), Wangaratta
WANG’S ONLY 5 STAR CARWASH
PH: (03) 5722 1520 ACTION SMASH REPAIRS
‡ DOO IOHHW SULYDWH ZRUN ZHOFRPH ‡ GURS LQ IRU D )5(( TXRWH DQ\WLPH QR DSSRLQWPHQW UHTXLUHG
66 NEWMAN STREET, WANGARATTA VIC 3677 v/25d03590-v13/2316
V/25D10673-v2/2316
‡ SUHFLVLRQ SDQHO EHDWLQJ VSUD\ SDLQWLQJ ‡ DOO LQVXUDQFH FRPSDQLHV SUHIHUUHG UHSDLUHU ‡ LQVXUDQFH FODLPV ORGJHPHQW DVVLVW
FORMERLY
the best
CARWASH
Licensed Roadworthy Inspection Centre PH: (03)
5721 5687
2 Newman St, Wangaratta A division of Exhaust & Offroad Services
v06d11889/2216
ACCIDENT REPAIR SPECIALIST
v/21d11987/2216
7ANGARATTA
REBUILT TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS
express CAR CLEAN
valet service
22 - 24 Handley Street, Wangaratta, Ph: 57221522 v/06d11887/23-16