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| Toyota LandCruiser 1990-2011 |
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Toyota's LandCruiser is a genuine 4WD, not just a people mover dressed up to look tough, but which is nothing more than a car underneath that supposedly rugged body. Highly capable off-road, the big LandCruiser is a longtime favourite with those on the land, in the mines or wanting a hard-working tow vehicle.
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| MINI 2002-2011 |
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The new Mini, now owned by BMW, has been a huge success since its launch in Australia in March 2002. Partly because it’s a competent vehicle, but principally due to the fact that geniuses in the marketing have positioned it as a fashion item, not simply a car.
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| Kia Rio 2000-2011 |
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Kia Rio is a small South Korean car that’s doing moderately well on the Australian car market. It tends to be swamped in the sales race by its stablemate the Hyundai Getz. That situation may change as the most recent models haven’t a lot of style, both inside and out, and this should grab the attention of new-car buyers.
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| Toyota Tarago 1990-2011 |
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Toyota Tarago is a popular people mover that has sold in Australia in large numbers since the 1980s. Early versions were virtually vans with extra seats and side windows, but from 1990 Tarago was a pure people mover with all that means in the way of comfort and safety.
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| Mitsubishi Challenger 1998-2010 |
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Mitsubishi Challenger is a less sophisticated vehicle than the popular Mitsubishi Pajero. This makes it cheaper and, in the opinion of some 4WD enthusiasts, more enjoyable to operate. Like the Pajero, the Challenger is a genuine 4WD, not a soft-roader.
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| BMW 1 Series 2005-2011 |
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The biggest selling feature of the BMW 1 Series is its use of rear-wheel drive, with all that means in beautiful chassis balance. The dynamics developed by the smallest Bimmer are sure to make keen drivers smile.
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| Citroen C5 2001-2011 |
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The Citroen C5 delighted Australian enthusiasts of the iconic French marque when it was launched here late in 2002. Because after too many year of following mainstream thinking the company returned to doing things in its own, very different, ways. Long famed for taking its own automotive path, Citroen had become conservative after major financial problems, but by the early 2000s it was ready to move on again.
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| Chrysler Crossfire 2003-2009 |
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Chrysler Crossfire's styling is simply stunning. The designers have excelled themselves by using a large grille, front-guard ‘gills’ and a long ribbed bonnet to grab attention. Then there’s the short cabin with a distinctive down-curved rear.
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| Mitsubishi Magna & 380 1991-2008 |
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Mitsubishi Magna, Verada and 380 are medium large cars competing in the family car market in Australia. These Mitsubishis have a well-deserved reputation for being smooth, quiet and refined and those who can look outside the Commodore/Falcon square just love them.
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| Ford Mondeo 1995-2010 |
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European Mondeos replaced Japanese Telstars in the Ford Australia stable in 1994. Sales were slow and Mondeo imports were discontinued in 2002. An all-new, larger Mondeo was deemed by Ford Australian to be more suited to local conditions so the nameplate was revived in October 2007.
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| Ford Territory 2004-2010 Used Car Review |
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The announcement that Ford’s Territory is undergoing a major revamp in mid 2011 has created a lot of interest in secondhand examples of the long running Ford SUV. So let’s review what’s on offer in Territorys built over the last six years.
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| Toyota MR2 1987-2006 |
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Though best known for sensible cars, Toyota has produced quite a few sports models. The most interesting is a purebred mid-engined roadster with two seats named MR2, sometimes nicknamed Mister 2. Toyota MR2 was an excellent choice for those hankering after a Ferrari but with a rather more limited budget.
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| Used Car Review - Chrysler Sebring 2007-2010 |
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Now for something different in the midsize car range. The Sebring from Chrysler in American doesn’t look like the typical Asian or European sedan or convertible. At the same time it’s not as radical in its shape as others in the standout Chrysler range.
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| Nissan Micra 2007-2010 Used Car Review |
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Nissan Micra was sold in Australia during the mid 1990s without much success, chiefly because it was very expensive. Nissan Australia learned from that mistake and when Micra was revived in December 2007 it was offered at a stunning low price of just $14,990.
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| Subaru Forester 1997-2010 |
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Subaru Forester is based on the popular Impreza, but uses a full station wagon body. It’s a light-duty off-road 4WD, indeed driven well it has medium-duty capabilities when used in the right terrain. That’s because it has semi-rugged construction, and even has a dual-range transfer case in some variants. Forester has a useful ground clearance of 200 mm. That's only about 10 mm down on the figure that’s usually accepted as satisfactory on a ‘real’ 4WD.
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| Audi A3 1997-2010 |
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Until recently, the smallest Audi sold in Australia was the A3. The recent introduction of the pretty little Audi A1 hatch has led to an upsurge of interest in the significantly larger A3. There’s no denying the prestige you get when owing an upmarket German car compared with something like a VW Golf (which shares many out of sight components with the A3) or a Mazda3 or Toyota Corolla.
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| Suzuki Swift 2005 – 2010 |
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It’s hard to believe that Suzuki stopped imports of its little Swift in 2000. Swift had been a huge hit in the 1980s and ‘90s and the new model was greatly welcomed when it arrived here in February 2005. An all-new Swift is coming in early 2011 and this will ignite further interest in the 2005 - 2010 series cars.
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| Hyundai Tiburon 2002 – 2009 |
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Hyundai has been active in the sports coupe market in Australia for some time, but didn’t have a great deal of success until it introduced the Tiburon coupe to Australia in March 2002. Even then sales were hampered by its somewhat odd styling and its relatively high price. Prices were cut dramatically when Hyundai realised its mistake and sales lifted to a reasonable level.
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| BMW 1 Series 2004 - 2009 |
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The 1 Series is the smallest BMW built to date. It has proven a big success in Australia, one of the major reasons being that it comes with the longtime BMW feature of rear-wheel drive for maximum chassis balance. It is guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of all keen drivers.
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| Ford Fiesta 2004-2009 |
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Ford Fiesta is built by the European branch of Ford, so has the sort of dynamic handling and solid body feel that keen drivers love. And if that's not enough, the Fiesta’s styling in the latest model, introduced to Australia in December 2008, is almost futuristic in its looks.
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| Nissan Maxima 1995-2009 |
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Nissan Maxima has enjoyed sales success in Australia over many years. Success in a class in which others have struggled, that's because buyers show a preference for locally built cars in the big-six-cylinder market. Maxima is fully imported from Japan and can carry four large adults and a child with ease, five adults if they don’t mind doing some space sharing.
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| BMW X5 2002-2009 |
BMW's X5 has proven to be a huge success in Australia, primarily because it's more of a sporty people mover than an SUV. Indeed, BMW prefers to call it an SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) rather than an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle). Though you can use an X5 as an off-road explorer if the conditions aren’t overly rough, most owners never take them off sealed surfaces.
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| Mazda MX-6 1987-1997 |
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Mazda has a long history of sports cars, genuine sports cars, not just coupes. The Japanese company famously reinvented the convertible in 1989 when everyone else considered the open-top car had been killed off by safety regulations.
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| Jaguar XJ, 1994-2009 |
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The upcoming all-new XJ Jaguar is already starting to create added interest in the about to be superseded series. As the new model takes an altogether different direction in styling to the current model some die-hard Jag lovers are already talking about snapping up the last of the traditional leather-and-wood-cabin models.
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| Honda Accord 1998-2009 |
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Honda’s Accord has gained a lot of respect amongst new and used-car buyers in its 30-plus years on the Australian market. A quality Japanese car that's quite pleasant to drive, particularly in the latest Accord ‘Euro’ format, it sits high in the image stakes for cars from the Asian region.
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| Volkswagen Passat 1995-2009 |
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Volkswagen's Passat has been around in Australia since 1974 although it wasn't until the late 1990s that local buyers started to take the model seriously. Partly because VW was still thought of as the Beetle car company, but also due to the fact that it wasn’t marketed particularly well. Passat is a solidly built car ...
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| Jaguar XK 1996-2004 |
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This is a big British sports car that's a real pleasure to drive. Modestly priced for what it is, the Jaguar XK is long, sleek and powerful. It’s more a two-door grand tourer than a full-on sports machine. Handling is good, without being outstanding in its road grip.
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| Mitsubishi 380 2005-2008 |
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The Mitsubishi 380 was the last of a long line of cars locally designed and built by the Japanese giant in Australia. Instead of sticking with the market segment it knew best, that of the medium-large family car, Mitsubishi made the mistake of trying to tackle Holden and Ford head-on in the family-car market.
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| Honda MDX - 2003-2007 |
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Honda's MDX is a large crossover aimed at the American market rather than the Japanese one. Given that our drivers often have the same tastes as our cousins on the other side of the Pacific, it also fits neatly into our local scene.
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| Ford Falcon 1997-2008 |
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The introduction of the new FG series Falcon in May 2008 lifted awareness of the car, though it hasn’t done as much as Ford Australia had hoped for in the way of sales. Not many FGs are on the used-car market as yet, but it's timely for us to look at its immediate predecessors. Starting with the radically styled AU Falcons, introduced in September 1998 and leading up to the last of the BF series in April 2008.
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| Mercedes-Benz E-Class 1997 - 2006 |
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Mercedes’ E-Class once had a reputation for being on the staid side, but that changed with the radical new shape introduced in August 1997. Hindsight tells us this new style was to be carried across to the rest of the range, almost to the extent that today the 1997 model looks comparatively conservative. Isn’t if fascinating how things change…
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| Alfa Romeo 147 2001-2008 |
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Styling has always been a major component of Alfa Romeo’s success and the Alfa 147 is a classic example of how well it can be done. Indeed, so good is the styling that it disguises the fact that the 147 is a practical five-door family hatchback, it really looks more like a sports machine than one aimed at everyday transport.
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| Audi A3 & S3 1997 - 2006 |
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The smallest Audi sold in Australia, the A3 is a prestigious German machine that has since been joined by competitors such as the BMW Compact and Mercedes-Benz Coupe. Unlike them the Audi is aimed at practicality rather than full-on style, though doesn’t do too badly in the fashion stakes.
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| Audi TT 1999-2005 |
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Few cars in modern times have created a greater stir than that caused by the radical looking Audi TT. Launched in Europe in 1998, it reached Australia in May 1999 and sold well from day one. Even when you drive an Audi TT today, almost seven years after its introduction, it’s surprising how much attention it creates. Not everyone likes the shape, but those who do are in a pretty big majority.
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| Mazda3 2004-2007 |
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The announcement of the all-new Mazda3, coming to Australia in the second half of 2009, has led to an upsurge in interest in the existing model. Which comes as no surprise because the ‘3 is one of the big players on the Australian market, taking number one spot in January 2009, and helping Mazda to become the number thee player in this country. The Japanese marque is a full importer, yet managed to outsell Mitsubishi when the latter was still building cars in this country.
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| Mazda 323 1994-2003 |
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Popular with used-car buyers since its release way back in 1979, the Mazda 323 has a reputation for clever design and high build quality. Those older models have generally died of old age by now, but cars from about 1994 onwards are worth considering. These newer models are larger than in early ones and can be used as family cars by those with pre-teen children.
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| Lexus LS Series 1990-2008 |
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Almost 20 years ago a new upmarket automotive marque arrived in Australia. Lexus is a division of the giant Toyota corporation but that company decided to go for a new name in an attempt to lift Lexus away from the crowd. Despite dire warnings from the cynics who said the concept would never work, the first Lexus on offer, the big LS400 saloon, sold well almost from day one.
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| Nissan Patrol 1996-2008 |
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Patrol is a genuine off-road vehicle, the real thing, not simply a toy. In the eyes of the real four-wheel drivers it stands head and shoulders above most so-called 4WDs that are really nothing more than people movers with a macho stance. Patrols are particularly popular in country areas; on the farm, outside the vet’s surgery, or on work sites be they in the city or country.
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| Mitsubishi Magna & Verada 1991 – 2005 |
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Mitsubishi Magna and Verada are Australia designed and built. Most later models have six-cylinder engines, but they actually began their lives with four-cylinder powerplants. These cars have a well-deserved reputation for being smooth, quiet and refined and are worth considering if you don’t need a full-sized family car. However, in their latter years they were almost as large as the Commodore and Falcon.
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| Kia Carnival And Grand Carnival 1999-2008 |
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Kia Carnival is a Korean people mover that offers a lot of seats for not much money. Carnival was launched in Australia in September 1999 and as soon as its price became common knowledge among cash-strapped young families it immediately took off in the sales race. It has since frequently sat at number one spot in the people mover category.
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| Honda Jazz 2002-2008 |
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The launch of an all-new Jazz midway through 2008 has further sparked interest in this jazzy small car from Honda. Not that it needed much prodding in the sales race because buyer interest in cars of this type is at an all time high due to uncertain fuel prices and increasing awareness of C02 emissions from vehicles.
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| Mazda Tribute 2001-2008 |
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To some, Mazda’s conservatively styled Tribute SUV is starting to look out-of-date in a world increasingly full of sleek crossovers. It was launched in Australia early in 2001 and enjoyed sales success right from the start so there's plenty on the used-car market at any one time.
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| Holden Astra 1996-2008 |
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Astra has always been an important model for Holden, and has become even more so in recent years due to the swing towards smaller cars. Not that Astra is all that small in its latest format. The current model is a small-medium machine
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| Mitsubishi Challenger 1998-2007 |
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When introduced to Australia in 1998, the Mitsubishi Challenger was virtually a Mitsubishi Triton utility with a station wagon body. It was developed as a lower-cost option to the bigger Mitsubishi Pajero and shared some features with it. As it was developed over the years it moved upwards from those humble ute beginnings and became a model in its own right.
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| Toyota Tarago 1990-2008 |
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One of the most popular people movers in Australia, Tarago has shown what can be done when you design a people mover from the ground up. The original model was virtually a van with seats and windows, then Toyota's designers did some serious lateral thinking and from 1990 onwards Tarago is a purpose-built vehicle aimed purely at moving people.
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| Holden Commodore 1997 – 2007 |
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Though Holden is struggling on the overall sales scene in Australia its big Commodore is a star in the company’s firmament – continuing to lead the annual sales table. That’s simply because the Commodore is very well suited to Australian driving conditions, as well as having the driving characteristics that Aussies just love. Commodore has a thoroughly deserved reputation for being able to stand up to the harsh extremes of bush roads.
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| Hyundai Getz 2002-2007 |
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A big mover in the sales race in Australia, Hyundai's Getz falls into the super mini class and can transport a family with ease if the kids haven’t yet reached the hulking teenager stage. Though well priced these days, it was a bit of a slow starter when first introduced to Australia in September 2002 because it was relatively expensive. Buyers simply weren’t prepared to pay a Euro-style price for a South Korean car.
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| Alfa Romeo 156 1999-2006 |
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Alfa Romeos come from Italy, a country famed for making sports machines. So it comes as no surprise that the Alfa 156, which is supposedly a mid-sized family car, comes with all the styling flair, and sporty handling and steering that Italian drivers demand. Steering that communicates everything to the driver with plenty of detail from which they can make their next decision further enhances lovely handling and gives a huge amount of road grip.
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| Daihatsu Terios 1997-2005 |
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Australians love their 4WDs, going for everything from the big truck-based tough models to the smaller vehicles aimed at the beach. But some are just considered too small, Daihatsu’s tiny Terios was never a huge seller but did steady business from the time it went on sale here in 1997. A cute little machine, it has a fun shape that appeals to those who like something out of the ordinary.
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| Ford Fiesta 2004 – 2007 |
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The recent launch of the all-new Ford Fiesta has seen an upsurge of interest in it as a used car. Which comes as no surprise because in the four years it has been on the Australian market it has carved out a neat little niche for itself.
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| Holden Suburban 1998 – 2001 |
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Sadly for Holden the Suburban falls into the unfortunate category of “It seemed like a good idea at the time”. Market research told Holden there was a pent up demand for a very large 4WD that doubled as a people mover. So the Holden (nee Chevrolet) Suburban was imported from February 1998.
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| Mazda2 2002-2007 |
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The all-new Mazda2 was launched in December 2002 as a replacement for the successful Mazda 121. Though it still had compact dimensions, the new car was noticeably larger and more refined than the old. That original model was superseded by a virtually all-new Mazda2 in September 2007, the latter is still somewhat rare on the used-car market but its introduction has triggered interest in the older models.
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| Hyundai Accent 2000-2007 |
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Accent is a small-to-medium South Korean car aimed at the no-nonsense buyer. The person not particularly into image, style or prestige, but who is simply looking for sensible transport. Something that is reliable and trouble free for years on end. Introduced to Australia in June 2000, the Accent was the successor to the very popular Hyundai Excel.
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| Ford Explorer 1996-2008 |
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Ford Explorer is a large American 4WD from the old school. A huge seller in its home market it did moderately well in the sales race in Australia, until the arrival of the Ford Territory in 2004. The local design was much more to the tastes of the Australia buyers, particularly in the way it handled and rode.
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| Suzuki Swift 2005 – 2008 |
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Suzuki's Swift made a welcome return to Australia in February 2005 after an absence of too many years. It had been a huge hit in the 1980s and ‘90s, even being sold by Holden at one stage with ‘Barina’ badges, and was sadly missed when it left our shores in 1999. But now it’s back, and is bigger and better than ever, being well-built, exciting to look at and a real pleasure to drive.
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| Holden Cruze 2002-2006 |
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Though Holden's Cruze is built in Japan, by Suzuki, quite a bit of what you see is Australian in design not Japanese. Its styling comes from the same team that designed the third generation Monaro and began its life as a concept car based on the Suzuki Ignis.
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| Chrysler PT Cruiser 2000-2008 |
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Chrysler's PT Cruiser is a fascinating retro machine that makes a real statement on the road. Yet at the same time, it’s a very practical family car with plenty of interior space. There's seating for five, and if the three in the back are smaller than average adults they will be quite comfortable. Three kids back there is a breeze.
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| Volkswagen Polo 1996-2008 |
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The Polo is the smallest Volkswagen sold in Australia, it had a slow start in its early days in Australia after first going on sale here in October 1996. That was partly due to its being relatively expensive when compared to Asian cars, though its rather bland styling at the time did it no favours.
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| Ford Mondeo 1995- 2000 |
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Ford Mondeos are European sourced mid-sized cars that are enjoyable to drive and in which to ride. In their initial format, they didn’t succeed on the Australian market and so were quietly slipped off the import list in 2002. The revival of the model late in 2007 has sparked interest in these older cars.
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| MINI 2002-2008 |
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The new MINI has been a success in most markets around the world, and that despite the doomsayers who said it would be a passing fad when it was launched here in 2002. There are two reasons for this, firstly the MINI (spelled in capital letters to differentiate it from the original Mini of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s) can arguably be called a direct descendent of the old car.
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| Peugeot 307, 2001-2008 |
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The Peugeot 307 nominally replaced the Peugeot 306 in December 2001, but is actually about half a size larger than the 306. It can almost be termed a family car in Australian terms, particularly in this era of downsizing to cut fuel costs. The French certainly see it as a family transport. The front seats are large, well-shaped and comfortable.
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| Toyota Corolla 1994-2008 |
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Corolla has a well-earned reputation for reliability and life gained in forty years on the Australian market. It has been a big seller in this country, managing number one spot on several occasions over the last couple of years due to rising fuel prices. So there are always plenty of Corollas on the used-car market.
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| Nissan X-Trail 2001-2008 |
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Nissan's X-Trail 4WD has long been one of the front runners in the new-car sales race in what is one of the hardest fought of all Australian market segments. On sale here since October 2001, it has enjoyed success since day one. A major reason for this success is that the X-Trail isn’t a soft-roader, with lots of looks but not a lot of traction, as is common in this class.
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| Subaru Impreza 1993-2008 |
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Impreza is a fully imported Japanese car from a company that makes its own way in the automotive field. Not for Subaru are variations on everyone else’s designs, it prefers to make its own decisions on how cars should be engineered. The result are features such as unusual body styles, boxer engines and all-wheel drive (AWD).
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| Toyota Avalon 2000-2006 |
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Toyota's Avalon looks to be picking up some credence in the used-car field, because it’s able to piggy back on the success of the Toyota Aurion that replaced it in 2006. Avalon wasn’t a success in its own right, chiefly because of its styling. It was based on an early-1990s design for an American Toyota, Avalon’s body was already old before it was launched in Australia in July 2000.
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| Kia Sportage 1996-2008 |
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A longtime popular 4WD for those looking for a competent off-roader at an affordable price. Kia’s Sportage has been in Australia since 1996. Most models use the traditional ladder-frame design, but from August 2007 the South Korean maker introduced an all-new model with a monocoque body. Though, not just a monocoque because there's a fair bit of additional strengthening under the floor.
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| Mitsubishi 3000GT 1992-1998 |
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Big pure-bred Japanese sports cars are a rarity on the world automotive scene. While potential buyers of most other vehicle types are happy to consider Japanese products, those going for full-on sports machines show a strong slant for products from Europe. So cars like the Mitsubishi 3000GT have not been a huge success on the new-car market in countries like Australia. Meaning they can be well-priced on the used scene.
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| Holden Vectra 1997-2006 |
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Though Vectra was a medium car when it was introduced to Australia in 1997, it grew into a much larger machine with its next iteration. Indeed, from March 2003 it became almost Commodore in size. Which hindsight says was probably a mistake, because the larger Vectra series didn’t sell well and was discontinued at the end of 2006.
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| Peugeot 206 1999-2007 |
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The small-medium Peugeot 206 signalled a new era for the French marque in Australia when it was launched here in September 1999. It was the beginning of a strong comeback, principally because it was favourably priced and lifted the public image of Peugeot away from that of being a somewhat upmarket, perhaps even unapproachable, brand.
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| Volkswagen Golf 1998-2008 |
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Volkswagen has undergone a huge resurgence in Australia in the last few years. The mainstay of this comeback has been the Golf, a solid and sensible car in a very German manner. There aren't a lot of older Golfs on the used-car scene, but they are worth searching for, because many still have a fair amount of life left in them, particularly if they have been well cared for.
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| Mitsubishi Colt 2004-2008 |
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The Mitsubishi Colt is a Japanese designed car which was built in Australia for many years during the 1980s and into the early ‘90s. It had an excellent reputation for being tough and long lasting and many Australian owners were delighted with the low running costs. Though the latter day Colts being reviewed here had virtually nothing in common mechanically and in their bodies with the originals, they maintain the tradition of being well made and rugged.
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| Alfa Romeo GTV, Spider 1998 - 2004 Used Car Review |
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The sporting Alfa Romeo GTV coupe and the Spider convertible are great fun to drive, with good balance and neutral steering despite the use of front-wheel drive. But if you hammer them to the limit do they start to understeer, and do so to an extent that makes them unpleasant in some conditions.
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| Mazda6 2002-2008 |
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Mazda6 is a mid-sized Japanese car that was introduced to Australia in August 2002. A replacement for the long-running Mazda 626, it was significantly different from its predecessor, hence the new name. The 626 had proven popular with used-car buyers in this country for many years, and the ‘6 has continued that tradition.
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| Jaguar XJ 1996-2007 |
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The XJ Jaguar is grand touring sporting saloon from Great Britain. These are wonderful cars to ride in, with the sort of traditional leather-and-wood cabin finish of which only the British have a true understanding. The interior really is like a high-speed English gentlemen’s club on wheels.
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| Porsche Boxster 1997-2007 |
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In a logical world the Porsche Boxster would have superseded the Porsche 911 about 10 years ago. That’s because it has a more sensible mechanical layout, with the engine sitting within the wheelbase rather than behind the back wheels as is the case in the 911. The Boxster's mid-engined layout gives excellent chassis balance, highest cornering speeds and great driver control.
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| Alfa Romeo 164 1989 - 1992 |
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The Alfa Romeo 164 is an Italian sports sedan with attractive looks, an excellent engine and superb suspension. Those who bought one a few years ago will be smiling. Alfa didn't operate in Australia through most of the 1990s and resale values naturally suffered.
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| Toyota Echo 1999-2005 |
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Though it’s usually thought of as a Japanese Toyota, the Echo is a European-styled car aimed very much at that tough market, one where economy, spaciousness and reliability are demanded by customers. Toyota Echo was a success in Australia almost from the first time it hit the market in October 1999.
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| Volvo S60 2001-2007 |
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Volvo’s S60 is a medium-large sedan that sells well in Australia. It has much more interesting styling than many of the Volvos that preceded it in recent decades so led to the revival of the Swedish marque in Australia. The best news of all is that it even has a touch of sportiness in its makeup. Indeed, there are a couple of full-on sports variants.
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| Volvo S40, V40, V50 1997-2007 |
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These mid-sized vehicles from Sweden are solidly built, reliable and pleasant to drive, particularly in the latest series. Best of all in the minds of many buyers, they make an interesting alternative to the all-too-common German brands in this European field.
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| Proton M21 1998-2000 |
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Proton is closely allied with British sportscar maker Lotus so it comes as no surprise that the sporting models in the Proton range have had more success in Australia than the standard variants. The Proton M21 coupe is a classic example of how well the Malaysian car maker does in this field.
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| Chrysler Neon 1996-2002 |
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Chrysler Neon is an American small-medium car with a distinctive oval-headlight treatment and a stubby bonnet by courtesy of a cab-forward design. It wasn’t really a success in this country but is a tough little machine and a good one at the right price can provide economical motoring.
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| Saab 9-5 1997-2007 |
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Saabs appeals to individual thinkers, those who want the prestige offered by a European car but who want to keep clear of the mainstream models from the big German marques. The Saab 9-5 is a medium-large Swedish sedan with good performance and plenty of refinement.
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| Renault Clio 2001-2007 |
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Renault's Clio is a supermini that is large enough to be used as a family car if the children are in their pre-teen years. Having said that, in Australia Clios tend to be used more as a premium alternative to Asian cars, generally being driven by singles, or used by families as a second car for the daily runaround trips.
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| Porsche 911 1990-2007 |
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Porsche 911 is more than simply a sports car. An icon in the automotive world, the 911 sits somewhere on the list of dream cars of just about every keen driver. Not to forget the status it holds amongst those who really aren't into driving but who want to be seen in a Porsche to enjoy its pose value. This German car is a pure sports machine at a relatively affordable price, this Porsche is hot property on the used-car market in Australia and good ones retain excellent resale value.
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| BMW 3 Series 1991-2006 |
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BMW's 3 Series is a small-medium German car that’s been a long time favourite with Australian buyers, both on the new and used-car scenes. These are real drivers’ cars, even in the lower cost models with the smaller engines. Rear-wheel drive gives the keen driver throttle control that’s lovely to play with once you have some training in getting the best from the car.
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| Citroen Xsara 1997-2005 |
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Citroen is finally making its way back into the Australian market. And the Xsara is one of the cars that led the way for the French marque. One reason for Xsara’s success is that it is less ‘different’ in its style and mechanical makeup and therefore appeals to those who want something that’s a little, but not a lot, out of the ordinary.
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| Renault Megane 2001-2006 |
Renault's Megane is a medium-sized French car that’s very much part of the mainstream car lineup in Europe, but which has only been on the Australian market for a relatively short time. While the model’s local history may be short it’s a fascinating one and there are already enough cars on the used scene to make it well worth considering.
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| Saab 9-3 1998-2005 |
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From Sweden, these machines are aimed at the individuals amongst us. Chiefly at those who can afford the BMWs and Mercedes, but who want something out of the ordinary. Though it has to be said Saabs are closer to mainstream today than in their earlier days.
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| Jeep Grand Cherokee 1996-2005 |
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Grand Cherokee is a large American 4WD from the marque that has become an icon in the off-road world. Despite the similarity in names, it’s not a version of the Jeep Cherokee, but another, bigger, more luxurious model in its own right. However, there is some sharing of mechanical parts between the Grand and non-Grand Cherokees.
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| Proton Wira, Persona & Satria 1995-2005 |
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Proton Wira, Persona and Satria are some of the original Proton imports to Australia from the ambitious Malaysian car maker. Despite their varied titles, all three are virtually the same car. They are strongly based on old Mitsubishi Lancer models, Proton having been assisted by the Japanese giant in its early days in the vehicle making business.
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| Citroen C5 2001–2005 |
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A medium-large French machine, the Citroen C5 replaced the slightly-smaller Xantia in Australia in June 2001. A much more imaginative car in styling and general feel than the Xantia, the C5 delighted Citroen enthusiasts with its return to the roots of the marque famed for doing things differently.
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| SsangYong & Daewoo Musso 1996-2005 |
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Musso has a complex history in Australia. It has spent most of its life as a medium-large 4WD wagon from Korea, but since 2004 has been sold as a dual-cab utility. The latter are still scarce on the used-car scene so we won’t cover them in any detail in this week’s review.
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| BMW 7 Series 1994-2005 |
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The BMW 7 Series is a large, prestigious German car that’s aimed at travelling vast distances while pampering its passengers with a smooth ride and near silent interior. It’s at its very best on motorways, though slightly out of place in Australia where our speed limits are set at low levels not always suited to these big, powerful machines.
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| Jeep Cherokee 1994-2004 |
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Jeep has iconic status in the world of 4WD users, especially among the serious drivers who want to challenge themselves and their vehicles in the really rough stuff. Though it’s the Jeep Wrangler, rather than the Cherokee, which is the off-road runner, the Cherokee has a fair bit of Jeep heritage and ability built into it.
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| Mercedes-Benz M-Class 1998–2004 |
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Mercedes’ first passenger SUV, the M-Class 4WD was an early starter in a class that’s now become highly competitive. A stylish vehicle even today, seven years after its launch, it is as much a luxury wagon as a 4WD. Unlike some later additions to this vehicle type, the M-Class is reasonably serious about its off-road ability. To
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| Audi A4 1995 - 2004 Used Car Review |
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The Audi A4 is the biggest seller here and has done moderately well during the close to ten years it has been on our market. A mid-size sedan or wagon, it generally uses front-wheel drive for greater space efficiency.
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| Alfa Romeo 166 1999 - 2002 |
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When Alfa Romeo set out to make a big luxury sedan, the designers, accustomed to building small sporting machines, simply couldn't help themselves. Rather than the normal, somewhat staid, big sedan, they came up with an Alfa with a full-on sporting feel that's not exactly common in this upmarket field.
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| Alfa Romeo 33 1984 - 1992 Used Car Review |
The Alfa Romeo 33 is great fun to drive, with an immensely willing engine, steering that feels as though it anticipates the driver’s every wish, excellent brakes and a general zest for life that displays its Italian heritage to perfection.
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| Audi 80 & 90 1988-1995 Used Car Review |
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The Audi 80 and 90 are fully imported small to mid-size German cars. In the European market they are regarded as being on par with BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the prestige stake. But in Australia they are still somewhat of a forgotten car.
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