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Keep your car running forever
Improvements in technology and build quality mean cars are 'living' longer and longer.
With proper care and feeding, virtually any car can be kept running as long as the owner wants to keep it.
Here are 10 guidelines to keeping your car alive well into six-figure territory:
1. Buy a good car to begin with. Do not overlook domestic vehicles. Their quality is excellent and they are often less expensive to repair. European cars are generally the most expensive to fix, but all have their pros and cons. If you are shopping around, talk to owners of similar cars about their experiences.
2. Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. If your car has a maintenance minder, use that as a guideline for service, but be sure to double-check your owner's manual as some items need to be replaced based on time rather than mileage. Don't forget the timing belt. Most cars need to have the timing belt replaced every 75,000 to 100,000 kilometres. It's not cheap, but it's far less expensive than the damage it causes if it breaks.
3. Keep a repair fund. Cars do break, and there's nothing like a $1500 repair bill to scare an old-car owner into the new-car showroom. Remember, your car would have to generate repair bills of around $5000 per year for at least four years in a row to even approach the cost of a new car. In place of your payment, try putting $100 or $200 per month into an interest-bearing car-repair account. That way an unexpected repair or major maintenance won't disrupt your normal cash flow.
4. Do your homework. Many cars have known problems that tend to pop up under certain circumstances or after enough mileage/time. Most makes and models have websites and forums devoted to them; they can be a gold mine of information. Knowing your car is prone to a given problem isn't necessarily cause to get rid of it; it just allows you to be prepared.
5. Be aware. Be on the lookout for new noises, strange smells or anything that just doesn't feel right. If something seems amiss, talk to your mechanic or dealership. Don't let them tell you “that's normal”. If you've been driving your car long enough, you know best what 'normal' is.
6. Ask a friend to drive. Every two or three months, ask a friend to take you for a drive in your own car. Some problems appear or increase so gradually that you may not even notice them, but they'll stick out like a sore thumb to someone less familiar. And by riding along in the passenger's seat, you may spot something you missed while preoccupied with driving.
7. Fix everything as soon as it breaks. If you're going to keep your car as long as possible, you have to want to keep it as long as possible. Don't ignore seemingly unimportant problems like broken trim bits, torn upholstery, or electrical glitches. Little annoyances tend to add up and can begin to erode your love affair with your old car.
8. Use quality replacement parts. Whether or not to use genuine manufacturer parts is open to debate, but don't just opt for the least expensive parts you can find. Discuss options with your mechanic or parts store. If a non-wearing part is damaged, consider buying a used replacement - you'll get manufacturer quality at a more affordable price.
9. Keep it clean. Paint does more than make your car look good; it protects the materials underneath. Wash your car regularly. When water no longer beads on the paint, wax it.
10. Drive gently. There's no need to baby your car; in fact, a little foot-to-the-floor acceleration every once in a while is a good thing, but driving like a wannabe Michael Schumacher in his Formula 1 Ferrari isn't good for your car (or your nerves). 
Off-road titles return to Waikerie
Waikerie Off Road Enduro Club members are preparing for a bigger and better event this month.
The club will host the second round of the off-road State Championship and round three of the Mickey Thompson Tyres SAORRA Multi Club series from July 18-20.
An added bonus for the club is that Lochert Transport has come on board as the major sponsor of the state round.
The July 18, 19, 20 timeslot is a week earlier than normal and will precede the Australian Championships being held at Millicent, and follow the Mildura event.
Club promotions officer Naomi Ridley said it will be a big weekend in the town, with extra crews attracted for the state round in the newly named classes: Pro Class, Pro-Lite, Super 1650, Sportsman, Extreme 2WD and Performance 2 WD.
Among them will be former Waikerie drivers Chris and Matt Western, who are bringing nine of their Off Road Rush vehicles from NSW, Victoria and Queensland, where their business runs high speed adrenalin rush rides for customers.
“They've already booked out all of the cabins at the caravan park,” Ms Ridley said.
This year the enduro is set to attract approximately 100 entries, about 30 more than last year when it was deemed to be an outstanding success.
“This is really a community event, in respect that many organisations chip in and help,” Ms Ridley said.
“Apex, St. John, CFS units from Blanchetown and Waikerie and many of the former members of the club help out during the racing.”
Ms Ridley said a new attraction this year will be the scrutinising of cars on the Waikerie oval on Friday night (July 18). People will be welcome to inspect the buggies and chat with the crews.
She said catering will be offered by a local organisation as a fundraising event.
The small club, with all members acting as the committee, has taken on the huge task of running a state round this year and is thankful for the ongoing support.
Club president James Copeland is hopeful of having his new buggy on the track for this major event, and with the return of vice president Scott Modistach in his racing suit, there promises to be fast and furious rivalry among the local drivers.
Ms Ridley said with drivers like Lindsay Foster, last year's multi-club series champion, Matt Ridley, Toby Francombe, Mick Surfield, Scott Schiller, Brad Gallard, Robbie Gwynne, David Schultz, Dave White and the return en-masse of the Sea Lake drivers, the Waikerie event is set to attract significant interest from Riverland motor-sport enthusiasts.
On track to reducing SA road trauma
The State Government has released a new Road Safety Action Plan, which reinforces its ongoing commitment to reduce road trauma in South Australia.
Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo says the South Australian Road Safety Action Plan 2008-2010 is based on national research and analysis of road crash data.
It was developed in conjunction with the Road Safety Advisory Council, which is chaired by Sir Eric Neal.
The expertise of the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, the Road Safety Advisory Council, SA Police, the Health and Education Departments and the Motor Accident Commission were also enlisted.
These organisations will liaise and work with Local Government, the Centre for Automotive Safety Research, key Government Departments and the RAA to implement actions over the next three years.
Initiatives introduced by the Rann Government to combat the road toll, include:
- Roadside random drug testing.
- Full-time mobile random breath-testing and immediate loss of licence for high-level drink driving and speeding offenders.
- Tougher provisions for hoon drivers.
- New seatbelt laws that mean drivers are responsible for ensuring that all occupants are properly restrained.
- The closing of loopholes that allowed drivers to avoid licence sanctions or conditions.
- Enhancements to the Graduated Licensing Scheme for novice drivers.
- A reduction in the urban default speed limit to 50 km/h.
Mrs Zollo says other important achievements include doubling the investment in the State Black Spot Program and Shoulder Sealing Program and introducing the Level Crossing Safety Upgrade Program.
“Since 2003 South Australia has recorded an average of 11 fatalities per month,” Mrs Zollo said.
“Over the past 12 months this has decreased to around nine fatalities per month - however, to achieve our Strategic Plan target of less than 90 fatalities and 1000 serious injuries by the end of 2010, fatalities need to reduce to no more than eight fatalities per month.
“The action plan uses the Safer System approach - an approach adopted by all jurisdictions to improve road safety acrodd Australia.
“The action plan highlights priorities for the rest of the decade...”
Copies of the South Australian Road Safety Action Plan 2008-2010 are available at the website (dtei.sa.gov.au).
Super X sneak peek
Even before the all new Australasian Supercross Championship, Super X, hits Adelaide in October, Wayville Showground will take centre stage in the Supercross world when an all new race format is revealed to members of the media for the first time on Wednesday.
The Super Sprint race format, a world first for the sport, will be exposed by South Australian supercross outfit Team Seven Fly Yamaha, which will have its riders Tom Jones, Kirk Gibbs and Shaun Williamson pitted against each other in a demonstration of the race which is designed to reward those who possess speed and agility.
The friendly exhibition race between the team-mates will coincide with the launch of ticket sales for the second round of Super X, which will take place at Wayville Showground on Saturday, October 15, 2008.
World Supercross Champion, Chad Reed will return to Adelaide for the first time since 2000 to race.
Which vehicle is cheapest to run?
Although fuel prices are soaring to unprecedented heights, depreciation has been labelled as the killer cost of owning and operating a vehicle during the past 12 months.
RAA's 2008 Vehicle Operating Costs survey found that depreciation constitutes nearly half of the total cost of owning a car.
RAA technical manager Mark Borlace said that although fuel prices are at record levels, the booming new-car market is placing intense pressure on used cars and accelerating the rate of depreciation in the process.
“The survey takes into account a range of other costs; including registration, licensing, loan interest costs, insurance, tyres and servicing,” Mr Borlace said.
“After examining 60 top selling vehicles available on the Australian market, the cheapest car to run and own was the Hyundai Getz, for the second year running, at $122.67 per week,” he said.
“It is well recognised that larger cars are overall more expensive to own and topping the scales at a whopping $398.64 per week, the Toyota LandCruiser GXL diesel proved no exception.”
This year's survey also compared people movers with med -ium SUVs, as they are often in the same sales race for families requiring more than five seats.
“The Kia Carnival proved cheapest at $234.17, while the iconic 4cyl Toyota Tarago nearly took out the most expensive tag at $284.89 - only $3 cheaper than the 4WD Kluger,” Mr Borlace said.
Environmentally-conscious cars remain unrewarded, with a Toyota Hybrid Prius costing nearly $50 more a week to run than a Corolla and $5 more than a Camry.
Although fuel cost for the diesels were generally cheaper than their petrol counterpart, the study found that on average it cost 4.7 per cent more to run a diesel version of the same model. This was typically due to the diesel option not being available on cheaper base models, rather than higher fuel costs.
RAA calculations are conducted during a five-year ownership period and are based on average operating conditions for the private motorist, including travelling an average 15,000 kilometres a year.
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