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This episode is an attempt to answer a series of questions from Gary Sheppard, about modifying a 4WD vehicle including wagons and utes. He's waiting for his Mitsubishi Triton to arrive and meanwhile, he's watching far too much 4X4 modification porn which is all over YouTube. Here's how you sharpen your mind to deal with that influx of advertising, influence and pressure to spend your money... AUTO...

Responding to comments in my recent "Cracked!" report on poor installation of a towbar on a Ford Ranger and the consequences of hitching up a trailer. This is the full-fat university class on bolts and washers, and putting them together on a car. AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) https://bit.ly/3pA9nYi 12% off code: AEJC (exclusive of sale periods) Help support my independent reporti...

What happens when an incompetent dealership service department and appalling customer service combine on a Ford Ranger's towbar after three years of ownership? You get a consumer left high and dry by Ford Australia, the dealer and unable to tow a trailer for their business. Here's what happened... AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) https://bit.ly/3pA9nYi 12% off code: AEJC (exclusive...

AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) https://bit.ly/3pA9nYi 12% off code: AEJC (exclusive of sale periods)   Help support my independent reporting, securely, via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=54778969   Save thousands on any new car (Australia-only): https://autoexpert.com.au/contact   AutoExpert discount roadside assistance package: https://247roadservices.com....

AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) https://bit.ly/3pA9nYi 12% off code: AEJC (exclusive of sale periods)   Help support my independent reporting, securely, via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=54778969   Save thousands on any new car (Australia-only): https://autoexpert.com.au/contact   AutoExpert discount roadside assistance package: https://247roadservices.com....

This report is aimed at you if you are towing a heavy trailer (boat, caravan, etc., or you're contemplating getting started doing that. AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) https://bit.ly/3pA9nYi 12% off code: AEJC (exclusive of sale periods) Help support my independent reporting, securely, via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=54778969 Save thousands on any new car (Australia-onl...

Using 4H to increase stability and traction. What are the consequences if you get this wrong? Specifically, a viewer asked if it's OK to use 4H on wet main roads, or unsealed roads. Essentially, I don't think it is, because it will increase driveline wear, and in extreme situations it might break something expensive, and also leave you stranded. AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) http...

Ford Everest Basecamp has a problem: Ford cannot get the roof rack load right. The manual says '100kg' but the vehicle is fitted with a Rhino Rack and Sunseeker Awning, and Rhino says you need to reduce the payload by 33% if you go off road. Pro Tip: On Rhino-world, 'off-road' means 'unsealed'. So, if you drive on a dirt road, you can only carry 37 kilos of stuff  - once you crunch the number...

Today's 'unplugged' video is an attempt to get to the bottom of the best 4X4 dual cab ute for towing and families.  I'm answering this question:  "Hi mate, loved reading though all your articles. I'm currently looking to get out of my VW Transporter and into a ute. Work has changed and more towing looks to be in my future, as for the need for more than two seats with extra people on the...

How do you tell a story about cars that don’t exist, and may never? And what do you expect if you just put down a deposit on one? Here are the top five lessons I’ve learned from working through the biggest new car market inversion I’ve ever witnessed. Buying a car today is just not the same beast it was two years ago, when the dynamics were flipped, and oversupply flooded the market, making it a b...

Isuzu Ute is intelligence testing its customers by seeing if you will pay full price for their mid-spec LS-U MU-X 4WD 'SUV', based on the D-Max ute. If you buy one, you fail the test. This is how the cake of corporate fiasco gets baked. It's either unprincipled or incompetent conduct. I am struggling to identify a more forgivable explanation. I detailed the price ramp-up in my previous report (and...

The all-new Hyundai Staria could be the best people mover in the market (according to Hyundai), so take that, Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey.  In this livestream with Q&A, I'll deep-dive into the product and give you exclusive access to a leaked, confidential dealer bulletin that's not meant to be in the public domain. Plus, I take your questions on Staria and everything else. AutoExpert...

Toyota has just confirmed pricing and basic specs on two new flagship Landcruiser 300 models - the Landcruiser Sahara ZX & GR Sport.  But if you had any plans to drive them away with any substantial change left over from about $150k, you'll probably be disappointed. AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT (These are awesome.) https://bit.ly/3pA9nYi 12% off code: AEJC (exclusive of sale periods) Help s...

Volkswagen senior executives claim the new 2023 Amarok will be 100 per cent a Volkswagen, despite being co-developed by Ford, being built by Ford in a Ford factory, despite rolling on the Ford Ranger platform, and also (most probably) running the Ford Ranger powertrains... So, apart from those pesky details - the 2023 Amarok is definitely not a hastily-re-badged Ranger. AUTOEXPERT OLIGHT DISCOUNT...

The next Mitsubishi Triton (called the L200 in other markets) will look like a Triton, but it will be a Nissan Navara under the skin.  The Navarafication of Triton is a disaster for Mitsubishi (and Triton aficionados - of which I am one) and in fact the Tritonification of Navara is a far superior concept with nothing but upside for Navara (not to mention Triton) - but never underestimate the...

If you are waiting at red lights with your foot on the clutch, poised to take off, with first gear selected, you are almost certainly shortening the life of your clutch - and maybe also blowing your engine. Two reasons for this. One is really good, and the other is even better. (Warning - this report contains actual physics, and basic metallurgy...) Help support my independent reporting, securely,...

It's 91 RON petrol versus your engine - and the questionable ‘advice’ you might get from the dude in your service department. (Advice: probably the wrong word for something with such a distinctive smell.) Help support my independent reporting, securely, via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=54778969 Save thousands on any new car (Australia-only): https://autoexpert.com.au/contact AutoExpert...

SPECULATION: Kia looks almost certain to kill the Stinger at the end of 2022 - this has not been confirmed officially, but plenty of corroborating evidence exists to support the 'balance of probability' conclusion that the death of the Stinger will occur significantly earlier than the 2024 end date generally accepted as the long-term end of the Stinger's lifecycle. So, if you've always wanted one,...

As Sydney enters another month of lockdown, let's talk about what that means for the battery in your car. Here's exactly what you can do to avoid the dead battery pandemic. Help support my independent reporting, securely, via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=54778969   Save thousands on any new car (Australia-only): https://autoexpert.com.au/contact   AutoExpert discount roadside...

Hyundai will deploy 30 EXCIENT fuel cell trucks in California, by 2023, ahead of the Tesla Semi, which is invariably delayed. This is a clean air pilot programme supported by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission. Deployment of Hyundai EXCIENT fuel cell trucks in California comes off the back of the initial deployment of 46 EXCIENT trucks deployed in Switzerland,...

Isuzu is roughly three days out from launching the MY22 MU-X, but prices seem certain to rise by an incredible $9000. In this report, we'll discuss that, plus the key competitors, the relative merits of seven seat SUVs like this, which are derived from the utes in the same stables, and a major mistake I see SUV buyers make when they formulate a shortlist (and how you can avoid making it). Help sup...

It is 2696km by road from Adelaide to Perth in Australia (via the Nullabor Plain). That's if you go the 'quick' way. It's up to 190km between fuel stops,  in some very remote country. Here, in this Q&A report, one loyal viewer asks me if it's a good idea to carry spare fuel for the trip. Pro tip: it's really not, but there are some other important factors that you should consider if you w...

Ute manufacturers tell you that towing 3500kg is possible - desirable, even. But in reality, towing 3500kg with your ute is a dangerous joke, and many people who attempt this are driving illegally. It's also fundamentally stupid from a safety perspective - so there's that. In this report, I lay out the beer garden physics of heavy towing stupidity - in response to a question from you. Help support...

Toyota’s 'other' PR agency - the Federal Chamber of Automotive industries - recently teamed up, ineffectively, with the Australian Border, to curtail a mostly imaginary fake auto parts pandemic. A counterfeit car parts crime spree. And it’s not exactly working, which I recently proved, with a scientific test. Spyderco 'Effective' black tactical folding knife: https://amzn.to/3ilW4I9 Spyderco 'Effi...

Honda Australia is the proverbial cockroach that has lost its head, wandering around aimlessly bumping into things. If you're looking to buy a Honda in the next two years, I strongly urge against it. The brand has officially crushed the consumer's ability to negotiate a better deal. Here's what that means for you... Help support my independent reporting, securely, via Patreon: https://www.patreon....