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Why you should have your car inspected before the warranty runs out!

If you have a car that has a warranty that is about to expire, you should really have a good thorough inspection done by an independent shop. Even if you aren’t having any problems there may be minor things that could turn into major issues after the warranty runs out.

Having someone who specializes in one particular make such as we do with Subaru is even just that much better. We can look at things we know to be common with the vehicle, and report back with our findings. This is especially helpful if there are any campaigns that we are aware of.

A campaign is somewhat similar to a recall except the driver isn’t ever made aware of it in many situations. If a car manufacturer wants to cut their warranty expense and provide good service they will provide the technicians with information to help speed up the process of diagnosing and repairing a problem. Sometimes the process involves updated parts that you can get for free if you know how the system works. A good independent shop like All Wheel Drive Auto stays up to date on common issues with your car.

This gives the driver an opportunity to go back to the dealer armed with factual information as to items that need attention before the warranty is up. The service department at the dealer is not going to call you and schedule an appointment for an inspection and offer to fix it all under warranty before it is too late. You must take the first step yourself.

Chances are your car cost you a lot of money and you may still be making payments on it. The only way you can get as much value as you can, is to be proactive with your car. This means not waiting until something happens before addressing it.

When you buy a new home, often times the builder schedules a time to walk through the house and take care of items that have come up such as cracked sheet rock due to settling. Why should you approach your car any differently? With as much as you spent you deserve full value out of your hard earned money.

At All Wheel Drive Auto we pride ourselves in offering the best relevant information about your Subaru, as well as quality fixed right the first time repairs and service.

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Look at the spy-shots of the long awaited Cadillac CTS estate, code-named GMX 206.

GM has revealed production of the Cadillac CTS Wagon is to begin in Spring 2009.

The Cadillac CTS Wagon will attempt to fill the gap in Cadillac’s lineup which will be left by the SRX when it is discontinued in the first half of 2009.

Despite the front and rear disguise it is clear the forthcoming CTS will share many features with the SRX but differences such as the stretched air vents above the front wheel arches and the spacious interior and lower profile give good indicators of the direction Cadillac are looking to move in.

The Drive team has just taken the new Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo and Falcon XR8 from Melbourne to Brisbane via Bathurst and Sydney as part of our giant 14,000km mega test. The two fastest Ford Falcons - not counting the upcoming FPV versions of the Falcon - were driven back to back with the rival Holden Commodore SS or, more specifically, the slightly better equipped Commodore SS-V.

After more than 2000 kilometres in each car - including some quiet laps around Bathurst’s famous Mount Panorama track - we’ve now got a great understanding of these Aussie muscle cars.

We’re also clear on one thing - the Falcon XR6 Turbo is a winner when it comes to performance, driveability and more.

Our independent performance testing showed the Falcon XR6 Turbo to be quicker than its two V8-powered rivals, the Holden Commodore SS-V and the Ford Falcon XR8 (yes, in some ways the XR8 is a rival to the identically priced XR6 Turbo).

More impressive than the outright performance figures is the way the XR6 Turbo goes about its business in everyday driving, right down to its well balanced driving dynamics and competent cornering ability. The immense 533Nm of torque from the 4.0-litre six-cylinder turbo is so accessible, while working beautifully with the six-speed automatic to our test vehicle. It also sounds great and - as a complete bonus - uses less fuel than the V8s (according to the official fuel figures the XR6 Turbo is around 20 per cent more effecient that its V8 rivals).

The disappointment of the bunch is the Falcon XR8. Sure, it claims 290kW of power, but it doesn’t quite feel like it, something verified with our independent performance testing.

The Holden Commodore SS-V is quicker, and feels it in regular driving.

The scary thing is that Ford engineers claim there is plenty left in the six-cylinder turbo engine when it comes to performance. The imminent arrival of a V6 engine for the Falcon in 2010 means we’re unlikely to see what the Falcon’s turbo is ultimately capable of, but even in its current guise it’s a brilliant thing.

Despite its age, the Falcon’s six-cylinder turbo is a world class engine.

Toby Hagon

Jamie Whincup takes the first leg of the V8 Supercar series.

Ford drivers turned on each other at the Clipsal 500 yesterday, but Jamie Whincup steered his Falcon clear of the carnage to win the prestigious V8 season-opener in Adelaide.

Ford’s leading contenders Craig Lowndes, James Courtney and Mark Winterbottom were involved in a dramatic crash that rubbed all three out of the race on lap 56 of 78.

Courtney blamed Lowndes, while Lowndes refrained from criticising anyone.

Winterbottom was frustrated with driving standards, and believed he was taken out by Whincup in Saturday’s opener.

Courtney and Lowndes were battling for second place when Lowndes moved past on the outside only for Courtney to make slight contact, forcing the pair to spin into the wall going into the next turn.

The Falcon of Winterbottom was also taken out as a consequence.

“We could have easily have avoided it had (Lowndes) given me some room but he cut me off and we ended up on the wall,” Courtney said.

Lowndes said he expected the incident to be investigated.

“I’m sure they’ll have a look at it. We think we’re in the right but James probably thinks the same.”

Whincup eventually beat home the Holdens of Lee Holdsworth and Cameron McConville, who capitalised on Ford’s mistakes to finish a respective second and third.

Reigning Holden champion Garth Tander struggled again, following up his 23rd on Saturday with 19th before unleashing at Courtney.

“The way Courtney was going I wasn’t surprised to see him in a huge shunt at the end.

“He was out of control all race,” Tander said.

“I clipped Steven Johnson and while I was waiting for him to gather it up, Courtney pushed his way through and ripped the front off my car.

“Somebody obviously forgot to tell him it was 78 laps, not seven or eight.”

McConville was emotional on the podium, saying the result was a huge relief after a couple of difficult years.

“How the hell did that happen? How did I get second in the queue,” McConville said.

The highly successful event attracted a record crowd of 291,400 over the four days but it was overshadowed by a high speed crash in the second-tier Fujitsu series.

Ashley Cooper, 27, remains on life support in Royal Adelaide hospital last night after he slammed into a concrete barrier on the driver’s side of the vehicle travelling at about 200km/h on Saturday.

The father of two from Ulladulla on the NSW south coast was left with severe head trauma, brain swelling and serious internal injuries.

There was also a heavy crash in the V8 Ute series yesterday, with three divers admitted to Royal Adelaide hospital.

Twenty-three-year-old Matt Kingsley remained in intensive care in a stable condition, while Colin Corkery, 23, and Craig Dontas, 28, were released after being examined.

- The Australian

New Ford Australia chief Bill Osborne says he would have made the FG diesel variant had he been at the helm earlier.

Osborne, who took over two months ago, confirms a diesel engine, almost certainly a reworked version of the PSA group’s unit used by Peugeot, Jaguar and Land Rover, will be dropped into Falcons and Territorys in 2010.

He says development of the FG Falcon is too far advanced to initiate any diesel program to be ready for the May 1 launch.

“I think the team made the right decision to delay introduction (of diesel) so we can get our calibration process right,” he says.

“Generally speaking, we like to have two full summers and winters to do calibration work and that allows us to launch a quality powertrain with excellent calibration. In the end if you rush stuff to market you risk quality.”

Osborne, as with most in the industry, has concerns about the family-car segment — in free-fall and under pressure chiefly from small cars and SUVs.

“In all honesty I’m not that worried about the product but I’m a little worried about the segment,” he says. “Our goal is to have the FG Falcon ready to revitalise the segment and then bring in more fuel-efficient powertrains.” Ford is hoping to find export markets for the Falcon but the new offering first needs to be a fashionable car again on home soil before those export plans are swung into action.

However, Osborne believes the new car is good enough to take on the world. Serious discussions about the export potential of the Falcon have been simmering since Osborne took on his new role as Ford Australia president two months ago.

With the Commodore now being sold in the US after its huge acceptance in the Middle Eastern markets from the late 1990s, among other regions such as South America, Osborne says the new Falcon is good enough to hold its own anywhere.

“I strongly believe that it is a car for all markets,” says Osborne, who was formerly based in Canada. “I came to Australia without any preconceptions about Falcon whatsoever. The minute I drove the FG my first reaction was that we should be selling it around the world.”

Ford’s head of global product development visited Australia this week, with Osborne outlining specific details about Falcon’s export potential.

“We should be trying to promote this vehicle in China and I think it would be the perfect vehicle platform for making luxury brands in the US,” he says. “Those are the discussions that I am trying to engage in now.”

- The Daily Telegraph

By Robert Farago
May 3, 2008 - 1,018 Views

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