Ryan comes from a mechanical background and writes about what actually matters in a pre-purchase inspection — the warning signs, the common faults by make and model, and what's worth walking away from.
Working out how to price a used car isn’t a lookup. Datium Insights recorded used prices falling 1.1 per cent in the week to 18 May 2026, while the Toyota Corolla rose 4.40 per cent in the same week. Price your car, not the average. How do I find out what my car is actually […]
The buyer who won’t inspect the car is the one to worry about. Shopping scams drew more than 6,300 reports of financial loss in the first half of 2025, more than any other scam type in Scamwatch data. Car selling scams run on three patterns. What do car selling scams against sellers look like? They […]
Imported HiAce servicing isn’t harder than servicing a local van. It’s just that nobody hands you the numbers. Australian-delivered HiAces came with three engines, Japanese ones came with more, and the fluid specs don’t carry across. Start with the engine code. Which engine is actually in your imported HiAce? Most imported H200 HiAces run one […]
HiAce model codes are easier to read than they look and less reliable than sellers imply. A 2022 comparison by Japanese exporter EVERYCAR.jp shows KDH201 and KDH206 as the same 3,000cc van with different drivetrains. The prefix is solid. The digits are where buyers get caught. What does a HiAce model code actually tell you? […]
The HiAce automatic vs manual question isn’t really about preference. AutoExpert’s figures put the manual long-wheelbase HiAce at 1900kg braked towing and the automatic at 1500kg, a 400kg gap. If your camper sits anywhere near that line, the decision has already been made for you. If it doesn’t, the rest of this comes down to […]
HiAce DPF problems are manageable if you give the diesel regular uninterrupted running. Toyota’s DPF driver guidance says driving regeneration needs 20 to 30 minutes at around 60km/h. If your week is mostly short suburban trips, the filter may never finish the job. Why does town driving cause HiAce DPF problems? Photo: Toyota Australia Town […]
How do the two routes source cars? What will each route really cost? Which route gives you better condition information? Who controls the car and final price? What happens after you buy the car? Which route should you choose? How do the two routes source cars? Photo: JDM Kuruma (Pexels License) The JDM export dealer […]
The HiAce vs Delica vs Estima argument gets settled by two numbers. Australian reviewer AutoExpert puts the HiAce LWB automatic’s payload at 1,060kg, while Auto-Data.net leaves the Delica L400 4WD with about 455kg. Everything else follows from what you plan to load. What’s in this guide: What are you actually choosing between? Which one gives […]
What does the overall auction grade tell you? What do the interior and exterior grades mean? How do you read the body diagram symbols? Which marks show normal wear? Which auction sheet marks are red flags? How should you use the sheet before bidding? A Japanese auction sheet becomes useful once you separate its condition […]
In this guide Which HiAce engines are you choosing between? How far will each engine go between fills? Can you get petrol and diesel across the outback? How much can a HiAce tow, and does the engine change it? What should you check before buying a 4WD HiAce? So which HiAce engine should you buy? […]
A five-star safety rating on a Chinese car doesn’t always apply to the one in front of you. ANCAP ties its ratings to build dates, and the MG ZS only earned its fifth star for cars built from 4 December 2025, according to ANCAP. Four things are worth checking. Does that five-star ANCAP rating apply […]
A JDM HiAce import can look cheaper than a new one. The rules usually settle it first: a private buyer generally needs a van at least 25 years old, according to Japan Convoy. Price, safety, servicing and resale all follow from that one line. What do the import rules actually allow? How much does each […]
How much range does an EV lose in the heat? Less than you expect, and far less than cold weather takes. An electric car in summer gives up single-digit percentages on a warm day, and the loss only becomes obvious once the outside temperature pushes past the mid-30s. US analytics firm Recurrent, drawing on data […]
On this page Does a hybrid really cost less to own than a petrol car? What do five years of hybrid and petrol ownership actually cost? Why does the hybrid premium come back in some cars and not others? Do hybrids actually use less fuel in real driving? What about servicing, tyres and registration? So […]
The battery is the reason most people hesitate over a used EV, and it’s the one part of the car you can’t inspect by looking at it. The good news is that a reading exists, it takes about five minutes to get, and it costs less than a set of tyres. The harder part is […]