AUGUST MARCH 2021 CAPRICORN
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
WINNER ANNOUNCED
SEE PG 12
Stars
FUTURE RIDE M A S E R ATI MC2 0
2021 Capricorn State Of The Nation
Find out what Members said and how your business compares. CAPRICORN MUTUAL GIVES BACK New Member payment that's exclusively Mutual
MEMBER RIDE Italian beauty sets hearts racing
FIND THE PERFECT GIFT Capricorn Rewards
IT’S 9,000 PLUS AUTO REPAIRERS... ...who have each other’s backs
Join us!
Capricorn Members can access mutual protection that unlike profit driven insurance, is owned by and run for, the same auto repairers who are part of it.
See how you’re better off with mutual protection through Capricorn Risk Services. 0800 555 303 | info@capricornrisk.com | capricorn.coop/risk Products sold through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd include discretionary risk protection and general insurance products. Discretionary risk protection is issued out of Australia by Capricorn Mutual Ltd. Before deciding to acquire discretionary risk protection you should consider the Product Disclosure Statement to see if it is appropriate for you. This can be obtained from Capricorn Risk Services via capricornrisk.com. General insurance products are issued by a range of insurers and are available through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd as a member broker of PSC Connect NZ Limited. Capricorn Risk Services is a registered financial services provider (390466) and a corporate Authorised Representative (No. 460893) of Capricorn Mutual Ltd (AFSL 230038).
TM
CONTENTS AUGUST 2021
4 Mitre 10
Find the hardware you need in Ignition's Hardware Hunt!
5 Find the Perfect Gift
Capricorn Rewards
7 Capricorn Risk
Could cybercriminals cost you a fortune?
10 Capricorn
Mutual Gives Back
New Member payment that's exclusively Mutual
14
12 Capricorn Rising Stars
Meet the 2021 Apprentice of the Year Winner!
16 One of the
World's Big Three's
The Indy 500, made it back onto the track during America’s Memorial Day weekend in May 2021.
18 State of the Nation 2021
Find out what 2,000 plus Members said about the industry and how you compare.
20 DriveLife
2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross VRX Sequels Sell.
24 7 Tips
For running a financially efficient workshop
20
28 Selling your Diagnostic Time
Diagnostics can be a lucrative revenue stream.
CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 3
MITRE 10 David Fraser Group CEO
CEO’s message
Capricorn’s second annual State of the Nation Report is out this month and the news, considering the pandemic of the past year, is generally positive. More than 2,000 Members took part in this year’s survey and overall the results show workshop profits are up. Many industries have not been so lucky but the response to coronavirus has created a few tailwinds for the automotive sector. People have clung to their cars like lifeboats – for everything from commuting to family getaways. More vehicles on the road, more often, means more vehicles needing repairs, and that means more business for Members. But not everyone has ridden out the pandemic profitably. State of the Nation found there are still plenty of places Members are leaving cash on the table or taking unnecessary risks. Identifying opportunities to help Members create more profitable and sustainable businesses is exactly why Capricorn embarked on this landmark State of the Nation project in the first place. We wanted to look under the bonnet of our industry, see what was working and what wasn’t, diagnose the problems, and provide a range of actionable solutions. This year’s report identifies some major areas of focus. The shortage of qualified technicians is a major problem, not enough Members have a healthy work-life balance and too few of us are ready for the big technological changes coming down the pipeline. In short, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
HARDWARE HUNT All Members can find their hardware from Capricorn Preferred Supplier, Mitre 10. But find 8 hardware items in this month’s Ignition and you could win...
5,000 Bonus Points! Email all items found to ignition@capricorn.coop before 25th August to be in the running!
But it was also great to see big improvements in many of the areas we identified in last year’s report – with more Members charging for diagnostics, tracking efficiency, marking up parts more profitably and getting their retirement and succession plans in order.
Hardware items exclude those found in any other Member photos. The winner will be selected by a lucky hat draw of correct entries.
State of the Nation 2021 is a fascinating read. It’s full of great insights and useful advice to help every Member create a more profitable business. I hope you get as much out of it as I did.
Shop for hardware all year round with your Mitre 10 Capricorn card.
Yours in cooperation,
David Fraser Group CEO
For more info, speak to your Area Manager. 4 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
New products now available! Using your Capricorn trade account is good for your business, but now the points you earn on purchases can improve the personal health of you and your staff!
FIND T HE PERFE CT GIFT
Check out some of the latest range of fitness gadgets and sporting goods that you can claim with your Capricorn Rewards Points.*
Nebula Capsule Portable Projector
Pit Barrel
Devonport The Dessert Platter
Dyson HP04 Pure Hot + Cool Purifier
Capix 2019 Mens Level Snowboard Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless with 24-200mm Single Lens Kit
Set your Rewards goal Setting a Rewards goal is an easy way to track the value of the points you earn each month. Simply click the “target” icon on any item in the My Rewards catalogue and you will receive notifications when you have enough points. Please note you can only set one Rewards goal. This can be changed at any time by clicking on a different “target” icon. If you want to monitor multiple items, you can instead click the “heart” icon to add it to your Wishlist. *Products subject to availability.
CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 5
GOLD RUSH WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Parts Connection Preferred Supplier Bonus Points Promotion Capricorn Preferred Supplier, Parts Connection, continues to give back to Members with their generous prize pool of Capricorn Preferred Supplier Bonus Points worth $30,000. Members who purchased from any Parts Connection supplier received a lucky gold nugget card which put them in the running. The list of lucky winners this month include; 100,000 Preferred Supplier Bonus Rewards Points • Holgate Panelbeaters • Steve Nuich Panelbeaters • Warkworth Collision Repairs • HM Motors A big thank you to all Members who participated in the campaign! The promotion runs until 30 November, so there is still plenty of opportunity to win.
Before you check anything else...
An exclusive Member benefit. Capricorn Service Data gives you instant access to the most comprehensive range of online service information for over 34,000 vehicles.
Login to capricorn.coop/servicedata
TM
Could cybercriminals cost you a fortune? Did you know that any piece of electronic equipment connected to the internet can be vulnerable to a cyberattack that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars? Everything from your phone to your office computer to the scan tools out on your workshop floor is a potential entry point into your business for a cybercriminal. Every year cyberattacks cost the Australian economy $29 billion; and the average cost of a data breach to a company is $2.13 million. In New Zealand, cyberattacks in the 2019-20 Financial Year cost victims NZ$108 million. It’s easy to imagine that big businesses are the usual targets of these kinds of attacks, but most of the tens of millions of cyberattacks in Australia and New Zealand every year are on small and medium-sized businesses. Why? Because smaller businesses don’t have the kinds of sophisticated IT security systems of bigger companies. Put simply, smaller businesses are easier to hack — and gaining entry to your entire computer system can be as easy as tricking you into clicking on a link in an email. Once they’re in, the criminals can lock your computers, demand ransoms, drain your bank accounts and steal personal information. Cybercriminals often ask for smaller amounts of money, in the order of $3000, to relinquish control of your IT system. Usually, they ask to be paid in Bitcoin so the transaction is not traceable.
If you don’t have IT security in place, we highly recommend you speak to a specialist as soon as possible to set up your first line of defence in place. You may as well make it as hard as possible for criminals to get into your system. The other step we encourage every Member to take is purchasing cyber insurance. If you do fall victim to a cyberattack it is important to act fast, and having cyber insurance allows you to do just that. Depending on your policy, cyber insurance may cover: • • • • • •
Loss of revenue from interrupted business Hiring negotiators and paying a ransom Recovering and replacing records or data Liability and third-party loss Defence of legal claims Preventing further attacks.
Having cyber insurance gives you access to IT specialists who can access your IT system, stop any more damage, and attempt to undo the damage done by the criminals. The policies aren’t expensive, and they won’t prevent an attack from happening, but they can make all the difference in keeping the costs involved in the clean-up under control. It’s a worthwhile investment. To find out more about cyber insurance, contact your Risk Account Manager today.
Contact Capricorn Risk Services 0800 555 303 I info@capricornrisk.com I capricorn.coop/risk Products sold through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd (NZBN 9429041139813) include discretionary risk protection and general insurance products. Discretionary risk protection is issued out of Australia by Capricorn Mutual Ltd. Before deciding to acquire discretionary risk protection you should consider the Product Disclosure Statement to see if it is appropriate for you. This can be obtained from Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd by phoning 0800 555 303 via email info@capricornrisk.com or by visiting website capricornrisk.com. General insurance products are issued by a range of insurers and are available through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd as a member broker of PSC Connect NZ Limited. Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd is a registered financial services provider (390446) and a corporate Authorised Representative (No. 460893) of Capricorn Mutual Ltd (AFSL 230038). CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 7
PREFERRED SUPPLIER PROFILES NEW ZEALAND
9
YEARS PREFERRED SUPPLIER
NXP nxp.nz
Founded over 70 years ago, NXP is a proud Kiwi-owned, business products sourcing and distribution company with 220 staff. They supply a large portfolio of Government and corporate customers, ranging from large B2B organisations through to SMEs, schools and retail customers. NXP operates a nationwide supply network with distribution centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Rogue spending is costly. NXP focuses on driving down Members’ direct product costs by leveraging buying power and consolidating their needs to just one easy to manage supplier. Whether it’s copy paper, coffee, heavy duty cleaner or hand sanitiser, they’ve got everything Members need in one place. Their extensive range includes: • Office Stationery • Warehouse & Packaging • Heavy Duty Cleaners • PPE • Bathroom & Kitchen Suppliers • Safety & Workwear NXP has a track record of providing next-day deliveries to 98% of NZ with an ordering cut-off time as late as 5 pm. Even better, delivery is free when your order is over $50. Capricorn Members are valued customers at NXP. Not only does NXP have a local customer care team to assist with any day-to-day enquiries, but also Members have a dedicated Account Manager who will work to anticipate their needs, challenge historical process and inspire change that promotes success. Their goal is simple: to help you find savings and make sure you get the right products, fast.
NEW ZEALAND
1
YEAR PREFERRED SUPPLIER
Steel & Tube steelandtube.co.nz
From the floor under your feet to the roof over your head, and the nuts and bolts in between – Steel & Tube has been here, building New Zealand from the ground up since 1953. They are a proud New Zealand company — locally owned by everyday New Zealanders — and staffed with passionate Kiwis who really care for this country and all we stand for. Steel & Tube’s people are their greatest strength — the steel backbone of our company. They’re passionate, innovative, capable and proud of what they do. Steel & Tube offers a wide range of steel and allied products, including stainless steel, reinforcing mesh, roofing, chain and rigging, fasteners (through Fortress Fasteners) and industrial consumables. Steel & Tube is available nationwide, with branches from Whangarei to Invercargill.
o o T d o o G t o n t no to e r to Sha
If you have a story or a ride that could be published in Ignition, email it to ignition@capricorn.coop Ensure you include Member Ride in the subject line. CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 9
$6M PAYDAY AS CAPRICORN MUTUAL SHARES PROFITS WITH MEMBERS
1 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
A loyalty windfall of $6 million will be shared among eligible Capricorn Mutual (CML) Members. Capricorn Mutual Management Chief Executive Officer Jim Glossat said the Member Loyalty Rebate came after several years of exceptional financial performance, i n c l u d i n g a v e r y s t ro n g 2 0 2 1 Financial Year. It’s the first time in the Mutual’s history it has declared a rebate. Jim said CML was in a strong financial position, with more than $130m in assets, and in a good position to provide a rebate to eligible Members in the form of rewards points. “As a Member-based organisation, CML prices its protections to make only a modest profit — just enough to cover its regulatory requirements,” he said. “However, in addition to our regular claims, we must also price for catastrophe events such as bushfire, hail and flood and we never know when they are going to happen. “In some years we experience more events than others and we need to ensure that there are always enough funds in the business when those events do happen. “But CML’s policy is to return excess funds to Members whenever it is safe and responsible to do so.”
This is the first time the CML board has announced a Member Loyalty Rebate, which will be paid out to eligible Members in the form of bonus rewards points. To be eligible for a rebate, you must have been a Member with CML for at least three continuous years (as at 30 June 2021). The rebate calculation has been designed to reward Members who have stayed with CML and the longer you have been a Member, the bigger the rebate you are eligible to receive. The bonus rewards points will be credited to the Capricorn Trade Account of eligible Members in July. Letters will be sent to eligible Members in the coming weeks outlining their entitlement which is based on their tenure and 2021 financial year spend with CML. Jim said the rebate was another good example of the difference choosing to protect your business through a mutual makes. He said CML’s constitution meant Members would reap the benefits when the Mutual performed well, demonstrating the CML commitment to Capricorn Members. “We’re delighted to be able to return this benefit to Members,” Jim said. “It shows, once again, that we really are stronger together.”
CONGRATULATIONS
BEN BROWN
BEN BROWN - CWR MOTORSPORT CAPRICORN RISING STAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
CAPRICORN
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Stars
The Capricorn Rising Stars trophy is heading to New Zealand. Hailing from Rangiora, North Canterbury, apprentice Ben Brown has demonstrated outstanding problem-solving capacity, commitment to excellence and a genuine love for automotive, to be named the 2021 Capricorn Rising Stars, Apprentice of the Year. Capricorn Rising Stars is an initiative to help Capricorn Members recognise, reward and retain their high-performing apprentices. These are apprentices who show initiative in the workshop, eagerness to learn and commitment to the auto industry. By recognising the contribution of automotive apprentices and the bright careers they have ahead of them, Capricorn hopes to help its Members continue to attract the best talent and keep more qualified auto repairers working in the industry. CWR Motorsport's Mel Ward described Ben as the perfect fit for their workshop. “We took on Ben our apprentice in August 2020. To say the least, it is the best thing we have done. Ben has a fantastic work ethic, he is polite, and great with the customers. He has an extensive knowledge base and can relate the issues with people’s cars to them in language suited to each individual. He is passionate about not only his mechanic side of the job, but also has a lot of ideas and vision to help us to grow our business. He has proved to be invaluable, and we wouldn't be where we are today without him.” These sentiments were echoed by Ben who attributed much of his success to the support received by his employers at CWR Motorsport. “Chris Ward is well known in the motorsport field, and equally regarded as an honest, professional, and remarkably skilful automotive engineer. This has afforded me learning opportunities I didn’t know existed, developing skills I had only dreamt of, working amidst the motorsport sector.
“I firmly believe it’s all about perspective and attitude. I have an appetite for knowledge and a passion to be the best at what I do. I also have a strong desire to help people and give back. I treat every job as an opportunity to develop my skillset and knowledge. By doing this I hope to become the best technician possible.” As the 2021 Capricorn Rising Star, Ben will receive $5,000 from Castrol. The CWR Motorsport team will also benefit from a 12 month Repco Autopedia subscription and enrolment in the Workshop Whisperer’s Service Advisor Pro online program. The standard of nominees in 2021 was extremely high. More than 600 deserving apprentices were nominated this year from industry sectors including panel and paint, auto electrical, commercial/heavy diesel, tyre/wheel and general mechanical workshops located across Australia and New Zealand. Capricorn congratulates Ben and all the Capricorn Rising Star nominees. With so many Member workshops preparing the next generation of industry leaders, there is no doubt that the future is in safe hands. Thanks also goes to Capricorn Preferred Suppliers and program sponsors Castrol, Repco and The Workshop Whisperer for their continued support. Look out for Capricorn Rising Stars to return in 2022 as we seek to recognise, reward and retain more outstanding apprentices.
FUTURE RIDE
LIGHTNING FAST AND FEATHER LIGHT:
MEET MASERATI’S MC20
1 4 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
Whatever your “if I ever win Lotto” plans are, put them on hold until you’ve read this – because you may need to reconsider. Maserati has just released its first supercar in a generation, the MC20. It’s a thing of beauty and it’s the first vehicle to come with a new threelitre twin-turbocharged V6 Nettuno engine. Nettuno was conceived, developed, designed and built entirely by Maserati, and uses a pre-chamber combustion technology derived from Formula 1 powertrains. It has a top speed of over 326 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.88 seconds – which would be quite a memorable trip to Countdown. Weighing less than 1500 kg, with rear-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission, peak torque is 730 Nm at 3000 to 5500 rpm. Maserati hasn’t just been working on the mechanics for this new generation of vehicle. The entire chassis of the MC20 is carbon fibre and composites (hence the light weight) which has also given them real freedom with shapes they’ve been able to create in the body (most notably, the butterfly doors). So, it’s lightning fast, feather light and “built to stun”, as Maserati points out. But the MC20 isn’t just a toy for the track. This is an everyday supercar, designed for “excellent driveability, comfort and safety” on the road, with “an interior where efficiency combines with luxury”.
It has an elegant but still sporty design. It’s also surprisingly minimalist inside. The interior is black and has dark upholstery, with just two 10-inch screens and no superfluous ornamentation. “It only carries the driving mode selector, two buttons for the gears, the power window controls and the infotainment volume control, and a smartphone pad with wireless charger,” Maserati said. “All the other controls are on the steering wheel, with the ignition button on the left and the launch control on the right.” Wait, driving mode selector? Yes, the MC20 has five driving modes to choose from: Default GT for ease of use and comfort for everyday driving; Wet, for maximum control on damp surfaces; Sport, for high-traction conditions, such as a racetrack; Corsa, the “fun” setting, with less active traction and stability controls; and off mode, which speaks for itself. It’s worth noting Maserati is releasing a combustion engine vehicle at a time when most manufacturers are focused on electric. Well, an electric model is on the way next year. Maserati says it will have a range of about 386 km and a top speed of more than 305 km/h. It has been designed so an electric drive train can slot right into the existing chassis and body without any alteration. That’s thinking ahead. This is the kind of car that dreams are made of. But at a time when combustion engines are on the way out and we’re on a steep trajectory towards electric, it is also a car that has been designed with the future in mind. Speaking of future planning… we’re off to buy a lottery ticket.
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2020 1 5
ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIG THREE RETURNS IN 2021
By Paul Marinelli
The 105th running of one of the world’s greatest motor races, the Indy 500, made it back onto the track during America’s Memorial Day weekend in May 2021. This is one of the triumvirate of motor racing events that every racing driver dreams of winning, joined by the majestic Monaco Formula One Grand Prix and the epic Le Mans 24 Hour race. Only one driver, Briton Graham Hill (father of 1996 Formula One World Champion Damon Hill) managed to win all three during his outstanding career. He won the Indy 500 in 1966, the 1 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
Le Mans 24 Hour in 1972 and the Monaco Grand Prix five times — in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 and 1969. In addition to this, Graham Hill also became a double Formula One World Champion, taking the top honours in both 1962 and 1968. Legendary American racer AJ Foyt has won two of the big three, with four Indy 500 victories and one Le Mans win, as has
This year’s popular four-time winner, Brazilian Helio Castroneves, earned $1,828,305 for his 2021 Indy 500 victory, an outstanding achievement as a wildcard entrant with a part-time IndyCar team. The extremely talented 2021 Indy 500 runner-up, Alex Palou from Barcelona, Spain, walked away with $649,305 for his effort, which took the battle for the win all the way to the final laps of the race. One of our Trans-Tasman representatives in the big race, triple Supercars Champion Scott McLaughlin was running within the top ten for most of his debut Indy 500. A drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane saw him relegated to 20th by the chequered flag, which still earned him the top rookie (first Indy 500) honours. Don’t feel too sorry for him though; he took home $151,305 for his efforts. Six-time IndyCar Champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon (NZ) finished in 17th place after a badly timed Safety Car period relegated him to the rear of the field. Dixon still took home a cool $316,305 . 2010 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year and Former Nissan Supercars driver Simona De Silvestro returned to the Indy 500 this year, her race coming to an abrupt end in the pits after making it to the top 20. She earned $100,305 for her effort. De Silvestro is one of nine females to have competed in this world famous motor race. Janet Guthrie was the first in 1977; she was followed by Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, Danica Patrick, Milka Duno, Ana Beatriz, Katherine Legge and Pippa Mann. The Indy 500 is not for the faint-hearted, with this year’s race being the fastest ever, reaching average lap speeds of 306.8 kph (190.6 mph). Scott Dixon was the top qualifier, reaching a top speed of 372.8 kph (231.6 mph) during his pole position setting lap. A total of 30 cars finished the gruelling 200 lap race, establishing another new record.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso, with two Monaco GP victories and two Le Mans 24 Hour wins. They are joined by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya and New Zealand ace Bruce McLaren, who each have also won two of world motor racing’s big three. The Indy 500 attracts close to 300,000 spectators to the incredibly fast 2.5 mile (4 km) oval superspeedway affectionately known to motorsport fans as The Brickyard. This nickname is derived from the original surface construction of crushed stone and tar that dates all the way back to 1909. A small portion of the old brickwork remains intact across the legendary circuit’s startfinish line as a memento of this epic event’s long history. In its earlier years the Indy 500 awarded huge prize money to the top 12 finishing drivers. These days every driver who competes is awarded prize money, attracting an oversubscribed field that forces everyone to qualify during the month before the race in order to make it to the starting grid. CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 1 7
Over 2,000 Capricorn Members told us what they really think about the automotive industry.
NZ
22%
12%
25%
10%
23%
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
9%
WA
9%
28%
17%
31%
15%
Region
VIC/TAS
Let’s start with a breakdown of how our industry looks, according to the survey findings.
SA/NT
It’s filled with data, graphs, charts, information and advice, to not only show you how your business measures up, but to help you meet challenges and identify opportunities to grow.
QLD
More than 2,000 Members across Australia and New Zealand responded to our 2021 survey, ensuring this second State of the Nation report provides an incredibly useful snapshot of the industry, across all workshop types, throughout both countries.
NSW/ACT
If you’ve ever wondered how your turnover compares to workshops of a similar size, or whether other businesses are struggling with the same challenges you are, Capricorn’s State of the Nation 2021 report is your opportunity to find out.
0%
Age
Sample characteristics by region & age.
Find out what they said and how your business compares.
55-64
65+
The average respondent was male, aged 49 and speaks English as the primary language at home. Three quarters of respondents were Australian and a quarter were from New Zealand. Of those who responded, 88% ran independent workshops, 72% ran mechanical workshops and 70% were the sole decision makers in their businesses.
1 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
Business Type Mechanical workshop Panel and Paint Auto electrical Commercial Truck Tyre and Suspension Other
72%
7%
6% 5% 4% 6%
Total 2021
How big are these workshops? Across Australia and New Zealand, the average number of employees is 4.5 and the average number of hoists is 3.2 – up from 2.9 in 2020. Australian workshops see an average of 30.8 vehicles a week, eclipsed by New Zealand (where mandatory warrant inspections may boost the numbers) on 41.8 vehicles per week.
Average number of vehicles seen per week by number of hoists AU
1-2
3-4
51
41
41
32
25
19
NZ
5+
Average age of cars serviced
2016 or newer 2011-2015 2006-2010 2001-2005
15%
17%
23%
26%
Models older than year 2000
20%
Total
Capricorn's State of the Nation 2021 report is now live on CapHub. Download the full report by visiting capricorn.coop/caphub Stay tuned on CapHub for a range of bite-sized business tips and workshop hacks based on the findings of the State of the Nation 2021 report. CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 1 9
DRIVELIFE
2021 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS VRX Sequels Sell Written by DriveLife online
When I heard that Mitsubishi was reviving the Eclipse name, I got excited. Although it never reached our shores, the Mitsubishi Eclipse was a performance coupe, and a hero car in 2 Fast 2 Furious. It was perfect for the role too, using the same engine as found in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. So upon discovering that the Eclipse model name had wound-up being emblazoned on the back of a Crossover, the exact opposite of a performance coupe, I was to put it mildly - rather annoyed. But the target market of the Eclipse Cross today isn’t likely to know that the name was first used on a performance coupe from the 90’s. I suppose it’s also an easier job for Mitsubishi’s marketing team and for the intellectual property lawyers to reuse an existing name. Besides, other car companies have committed equally as bad, if not greater offences lately. Ford’s Mustang EV SUV springs to mind. It’s the world we live in, and Crossovers are the big sellers. By this logic, I guess they are a performance car, if you define your life by balance sheets and cash flow statements. The Eclipse Cross should theoretically be good for shareholder performance. Anyway, so what does an Eclipse Cross get you? Mitsubishi would argue that it’s 2 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
a versatile family crossover, taking you to the “edge of adventure” – Mitsi’s words, not mine. Mitsubishi dangled some keys in front of us, and we nabbed them. Fred and I both drove the Eclipse Cross. We’ll both give our opinion on whether the Eclipse Cross is a competent performer.
THE RANGE The Eclipse Cross range is offered with two trim levels, the base-spec XLS and the topspec VRX, configured with either 2WD or 4WD. This means there’s four total Eclipse Cross models to choose from. These are priced below; 2WD XLS - $35,990 VRX - $41,990 4WD XLS - $37,990 VRX - $43,990
Even in the base XLS specification, the Cross offers a decent array of features including 18’’ alloys, 8" infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6-speaker audio, cloth seats, Push Button Start/Stop, Keyless Entry, Rain Sensing wipers, power-folding mirrors, LED taillights and daytime running lights, auto high-beams, automatic climate control and cruise control. There’s also plenty of safety tech onboard, including; 7 airbags, Blind Spot Warning, Forward Collision Mitigation, Hill Start Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. All of this allows the Eclipse Cross to gain a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Upgrade to th e VRX spec, and you’ll gain heated front and rear seats, electric front seats, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, an autodimming rear-view mirror, Dual-Zone Climate Control, a heads-up display, Multi Around View Monitor (side and top-down cameras) and a tandem sunroof.
The Eclipse Cross range has one powertrain offering. This is a turbocharged 1.5-litre MIVEC 4-cylinder petrol engine, producing 112kW of power and 252Nm of torque. The engine is paired to an 8-speed CVT automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The Eclipse Cross is offered in 7 different colours; White, Black, Silver, Grey, Brown, Blue and Red. It’s obvious what colour our test vehicle is, isn’t it? Mitsubishi aptly calls it Cardrona. Clever! For more information on the Eclipse Cross, check out Mitsubishi NZ’s website.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS Mitsubishi appears to have invested a decent amount of effort into making the Eclipse Cross stand-out. Up front, there’s Mitsubishi’s angular grille flanked with sharp LED headlights and separate recessed lamps. The doors are heavily sculpted, and there’s sharp body lines connecting to the rear tailgate which has undergone a redesign, with long LED tail lights linking up to the roofline. I’m grateful that Mitsubishi deleted that stupid rear light from the prior generation, which partitioned the rear window view. Although it’s less distinctive than before, it’s much tidier and doesn’t impede the view when you look out the rear. Although it’s all heavily stylised , none of it is unpleasant. I reckon it all works rather well. The paint quality was also good too. Thumbs-up from me, Mitsubishi.
THE INTERIOR You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Eclipse Cross was a few years old when first stepping inside the cabin. In an era where
everything is seemingly moving towards touch controls and integrated screens, Mitsubishi keeps it suitably analogue. In other words, there’s plenty of buttons inside the Eclipse Cross. That might sound like a bad thing, but it’s actually the complete opposite. There are several vehicles which spring to mind that have been quick to adopt screens in place of physical controls. Trouble is, many of them are clunky and difficult to interact with on the fly. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t have this problem; it’s a familiar format, and you know it’ll work. Even though there are plenty of buttons, the overall interior layout is relatively tidy. Many of the materials inside the cabin are hard plastics, with a few contrasting colours to keep it visually interesting. There’s some gloss black plastic on the centre console, door handle surrounds and steering wheel. It’s important to note that gloss black plastics in any car are generally easily scratched. Our test car was already showing some light scratches on it. Despite this, gloss black is much better than faux carbon-fibre wrap, which Mitsubishi has used to wrap the window controls and behind the infotainment screen. Mitsubishi is one of the worst offenders for faux carbon wrap in their new cars. As you can probably tell, I’m not a fan. So the Eclipse isn’t a luxury car on the inside, but would you expect that for the price? Besides, the plastics aren’t low quality and it means it’s relatively child-proof. Tacked onto the dash is an 8’’ infotainment screen, adding an extra inch from that on the old vehicle. The new unit also ditches the old trackpad, going to a full touch interface. The system alone does the basics well. It doesn’t have the flashiest UI, nor does it offer the crispest resolution. However, it is highly responsive to touch and doesn’t
The contents of and any opinions contained in this article do not reflect the opinions of Capricorn Society Ltd and Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material in this article.
noticeably lag between menus. Our test vehicle is also gifted with a series of cameras, which gives you all the nifty sideviews and top-down views of the vehicle via the infotainment. Mitsubishi calls this Multi-Around View Monitor. It’s a pity the resolution of the cameras isn’t particularly good, but nevertheless, it’s impressive to see these offered at the price point. Adding to the list of trick features is the heads-up display, which surprise-surprise, has a button to operate. The Cross uses an older design, where the heads-up display is projected onto a piece of plastic which rises up from the dash, instead of projecting directly onto the windshield. Because the display is limited to that small piece of glass, I couldn’t position it where I wanted it, even after adjusting it. I ended up driving with it off most of the time. Perhaps the most annoying feature inside the cabin was with the instrument cluster, specifically with the trip computer. It doesn’t read out average fuel economy, instead only showing per-trip fuel economy. It suggests that Mitsubishi might be trying to hide it – more on this later. Up the front, both front seats are heated and electric. Score! It’s usually only the driver’s seat that’s powered in this price range. Once you’re done playing, you can begin to appreciate how much you can sink into these seats. They’re as friendly as an old sofa, and the centre armrest is well padded too. These seats are probably one of my favorite parts of the Eclipse Cross’ cabin. Yet if I were to be picky, I’d request the ability to adjust the lumbar support. Moving to the back, the rear passenger seats are heated and there’s also an abundance of leg-room too. Great! So, the Eclipse Cross will comfortably accommodate four adults? Only just.
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THE DRIVE Powering the Eclipse Cross is a turbocharged 1.5-litre MIVEC 4-cylinder petrol engine, producing 112kW of power and 252Nm of torque. The on-paper figures put the Cross roughly middle of the road compared with competitors, but the torque figure is reasonably strong. So how does it actually feel when driving? The short story is that there’s enough performance to keep drivers satisfied. It’s neither sluggish, nor is it athletic.
Allow me to explain; the bases of the rear seats are notably higher relative to seating position in the front. When I sat back there (I’m 5’11 for reference), the headroom wasn’t that generous relative to the available leg-room. So why the higher seats? Well, it does make it easier getting a car-seat in for those with a stiff back. Also, those seated back there will appreciate the higher seating position and the view out of the vehicle. The short story, the Eclipse Cross would serve a young or family with teenagers well, but I am more reluctant to endorse it for anything beyond that. Aside from that, the rear of the cabin is a much nicer place to spend time relative to some other crossovers in this price range. Another bonus in the rear is the tandem sunroof, which makes the cabin slightly airier. It’s worth noting that only the front sunroof opens, the rear one is simply to let light in. Funnily enough, the sunroof impedes on rear headroom by 12mm – I don’t think you’ll notice either. The new body design also accommodates a larger boot space compared with the outgoing model. Historically, this was a minor sore point for the Cross. It offered marginally more room than the smaller crossover class, but was considerably outgunned compared to modestly larger crossovers. This model corrects that, putting space up to 405L, which is nearly 100L more than a Subaru XV. Overall, the interior of the Eclipse Cross is good from my perspective. Its design and technology are arguably a little dated, but it’s utilitarian with its approach. Despite this, it still offers a respectable equipment list for the price. My advice to Mitsubishi is keep the seats, ditch the fake carbon-fibre.
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The Cross’ stronger torque figures means it’s reasonably punchy in the mid-range, particularly when exiting corners. The downside is that there’s not much keeping you going beyond that. In our review of the previous generation Eclipse Cross, we’d remarked that the same powerplant felt a bit more spirited, despite the performance specs being the same as on the old car. I can speculate many reasons for the difference between this model and the predecessor - perhaps better competition, or the fact this model is a 4WD - but the Cross’ performance doesn’t feel quite as strong relative to how it had previously presented itself. Similar can be said for the CVT transmission. Mitsubishi has programmed an 8-speed stepped mode to make it feel like a conventional automatic. Around town it’s a fairly pleasant experience, but
"I CAN’T SEE ANY ECLIPSE OWNER BEING UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR." with a heavy foot, it does still introduce some CVT flaring. Overall, the CVT is neither the best nor the worst I’ve encountered. Again, it does the job in a satisfactory manner. Aside from relatively middle of the road performance, the powertrain refinement is good, with the Cross delivering low levels of NVH. Mitsubishi has dialed in plenty of comfort into the Cross, instead of attempting a sportier set-up. In my opinion, this is exactly what you want from a crossover. The Cross’ ride quality will impress, even across New Zealand’s varying road surfaces. My only complaint is that it can feel rather jolty going over bigger bumps, but otherwise everything is well managed. The steering is light but not flimsy, plus cabin noise is also kept impressively low. The tradeoff of the comfort focus is that the Cross does pitch and roll slightly in quicker corners, but no worse than anything else in the vehicle class. Besides, nobody who’s sane is going to be testing the limits of the Cross, yet alone any medium crossover on a regular basis. Speaking of sanity, all of the modern safety technology which is packed into many modern vehicles can sometimes test it. However, the driving assistance technology in the Eclipse Cross is largely hassle free. A big-ticket item of upgrading to the VRX is adaptive cruise control. It’s largely free of fuss, and works down to a halt. In my opinion, any vehicle with adaptive cruise which works to a halt is worth the upgrade, assuming you needn’t sell any vital organs to gain the luxury. The Eclipse Cross also does not feature any sort of lane centering assistance either. Although other vehicles in this segment are starting to gain this tech, seldom do they ever work flawlessly. If anything, I was rather happy the Mitsubishi didn’t have this on-board. However, your opinion might vary.
DRIVELIFE
2021 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS VRX
Some of the more annoying technology isn’t directly related to driving assistance, and was referenced earlier in the article. Specifically, the HUD is an older design, projecting onto a separate piece of plastic as opposed to the windshield, meaning its adjustability is limited. The trip computer also makes it difficult to find the average fuel economy. Once we did eventually find it via the infotainment screen, we had an average fuel economy result of 8.5L/100kms for the time Fred and I had the Eclipse Cross. We both spend a decent amount of time on motorways. Expect to run into the 9-litre range for around town driving.
too didn’t feel too much different. It’s still quite smooth, quiet, and comfortable. It drives well, and I couldn’t see any owner not liking the car immensely. It’s no rocket, but it doesn’t look outlandish, and it’s not expensive. For a lot of buyers that’s two of the big boxes ticked off straight away. I can’t see any Eclipse owner being unhappy with the car. It’s a rock-solid allrounder that works well as a commuter.
THE COMPETITION
Finally, you need to press a button at the end of the indicator stalk to activate the auto beams. The beams default to off when you start the car too, meaning you need to activate them every time you start the car. It defeats the purpose in my opinion.
The crossover SUV market has become so saturated, that each one encroaches closely on the model next to it. The below list contains a number of SUV competitors, which fit between the medium to large crossover segment. The Eclipse Cross closest competitors on this list are the Subaru XV, the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.
FRED'S VIEW
CONCLUSION
II drove the first-gen of the Eclipse back in 2018. It was a good, small-medium SUV. That little turbo 1.5 motor impressed me and overall, it was a very good car. For 2021, I jumped into the new gen Eclipse after Alistair had driven it.
In an era where vehicles are transitioning to becoming rolling smartphones, it is easy to overlook the basics. Mitsubishi has invested in the basics with the Cross, proving itself to be practical and easygoing experience during our test.
It was all very déjà vu. Sure, it looks more modern and ‘Mitsubishi’ now but the interior feels mostly the same. The drive
Overall, the Eclipse Cross offers decent performance, ride quality and plenty of cabin space, let down only by dated
The contents of and any opinions contained in this article do not reflect the opinions of Capricorn Society Ltd and Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material in this article.
ECONOMY
7
INTERIOR
7
PERFORMANCE
7
SAFETY
7
STYLING
7
VALUE
8
technology. The interior is also an older format, geared towards being utilitarian over luxurious, but the standard equipment list is generous for the price. Also, while the VRX comes at a 6-grand premium to the base XLS spec, that extra cash is a worthwhile spend in my opinion. The Eclipse Cross is a competent crossover, yet there are many good competitors in this segment. For the car alone, I would struggle to say this is the best crossover you can buy, even though it is good. However, Mitsubishi’s have a good reputation for reliability , plus they offer Mitsubishi’s Diamond Advantage warranty, which is one of the most generous warranties in the market. I imagine that anyone who does commit to the Cross will be highly satisfied with the ownership experience. It’s a good car, and it’s unlikely to let you down. For these reasons, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is indeed a competent performer.
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7
TIPS FOR RUNNING A FINANCIALLY EFFICIENT WORKSHOP
When Capricorn’s State of the Nation asked Members about the biggest challenges they face in business, 21% said they struggled with efficiency. So, we asked some of our team of automotive industry experts for their hacks for running an efficient business. We particularly wanted advice to help Members run more financially efficient workshops, because 28% of Members told us financial concerns were among their biggest challenges. Here’s what they said. Start measuring your efficiency Workshop Whisperer Rachael Evans said when a workshop owner recognises they don’t have an efficient business, the number one thing they’re usually not doing is measuring efficiency. “That’s where there’s this separation between blue-collar and white-collar thinking,” she said. “There’s a distinct lack of recognition in the aftermarket of the fact that our workshops are essentially factories, and in those factories the product we’re producing is units of labour. “If we were a Toyota factory or a CocaCola bottling plant, the metrics that would come out of that factory in a day would be how many units were manufactured, what time they were manufactured in, and what waste there was. But often workshop owners don’t know even if they have the ability to track that in their software. “So, the way to start to turn that around is actually to pay attention to the things that you should be paying attention to. At any one time, I should be able to ask a business owner, what’s your shop’s proficiency today? What was it yesterday? What was it last month? And what are you tracking out for the quarter? They should be looking at those numbers so often that they don’t need to go and look at a report. They know where they’re at.”
Invest in a good management tool Good management tools aren’t just for tracking your efficiency; they’re the way to unlock that efficiency. Jeff Smit, Technical Editor at The Automotive Technician, urges Members to invest in good workshop management tools. These tools should include: • Finance and invoicing • Rosters and time sheets • Work scheduling and technician management • Inventory management • A customer booking portal • A customer database and customer relationship management • Reporting and business intelligence. Learn how to read your financial statements Financial statements and financial management tools can be confusing and difficult to understand. As a business owner, you need to overcome that challenge if you want to become more efficient. Rachael recommends talking to your accountant and getting coached through how to read financial statements and reports. It’s a skill you’ll never regret learning. Look at your financial statements regularly Further to the above, Rachael said it’s vital to look at your financial statements regularly (and not just at the end of the month or at tax time). Looking at your statements helps you understand your cash flow, helps you plan, and allows you to identify problems and inefficiencies early. Only take on debt for assets that make profits
attached to them. You shouldn’t be putting your jet ski through the business! Putting purchases through the business that aren’t going to contribute to your business profits puts unnecessary stress on the business. Friction-free access to technical information We know from State of the Nation that a quarter of Members struggle to get the technical information and diagnostics they require — leaving technicians Googling for answers or calling dealerships for advice. Not having easy access to the technical information your technicians need to do their jobs is a massive opportunity for inefficiency. It can waste a lot of time. (And it’s completely unnecessary — Members can access Capricorn Service Data as a benefit of their membership. It gives you instant access to a comprehensive range of online service information covering thousands of vehicles, including manufacturers’ service schedules, service illustrations, repair times and an estimate calculator.) Check your progress against clear goals and benchmarks The most efficient workshop owners are clear about their goals for their business. They know how much money they need to make and how many customers and products need to come in and out the door each day to reach that threshold. It’s also important to have benchmark metrics for your gross profit, net profit, effective labour rate and daily car count, to measure your progress against. You should be able to see, at a glance, how you’re tracking in any particular week, Rachael said. Going above or being below those benchmarks may have a detrimental impact on your efficiency.
Efficient workshops do not accrue debts that don’t have an appreciable asset
To read more about the challenges and opportunities facing automotive workshop owners across Australia and New Zealand, download your free copy of State of the Nation. 24 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
DEVESH’S ITALIAN BEAUTY SETS HEARTS RACING Capricorn Member Devesh Mishra is a lover of all things Italian: food, wine, fashion – and, of course, cars. And when it comes to indulging this passion, Devesh certainly doesn’t seem to do things by halves. This month’s Member Ride is Devesh’s 2018 Ferrari 488 Challenge car, built especially to take part in Ferrari’s famous one-make series of races that has been delighting motorsport fans since 1992. It’s beautiful. But it’s not just for looking at. This is a real race car. In fact, it’s the only Ferrari Challenge car in Australia that has competed in an official round of the Asia Pacific Ferrari Challenge series. At that race, at Albert Park in 2019, it was driven by Irish driver Hector Lester. The car has a 3.9 litre turbo V8 engine with maximum power of 670 hp and maximum torque of 760 Nm for a power-to-weight ratio of 2 kg/hp. It is managed for Devesh by Zagame Autosport, which is responsible for the storage, transport and preparation of the car between events, and who provides on-track support and driver coaching at monthly track days.
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Devesh’s 488 is in factory standard condition but for one modification: it has a Vbox video and data logging system which allows the Zagame Autosport racing team (led by driver coach Rod Wilson) to later review the footage and data collected from the car during each session. This information is then used to develop the driver’s skill level and lap times. Devesh owns Cornell Diesel Systems – a group of three diesel mechanic workshops in Sunshine in Victoria, Wetherill Park in New South Wales, and Lega Lega in Fiji. He also owns diesel products distributor, CFI Australia. His plans for the car include participating in future track day events, continuing the driver development work and, ultimately, taking part in the Ferrari Challenge series.
MEMBER RIDE
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Selling your diagnostic time - by Geoff Mutton The modern car is supposedly more reliable and requires less maintenance than its predecessors. Whether that is true or not is debatable. What isn’t up for debate is that customers have latched on to this and are becoming more and more comfortable about extending their vehicle’s service cycles. The result of this rather ill-advised mentality will be that work patterns in aftermarket workshops will change, with an increasing proportion of jobs being bigger than average, and more complicated diagnostically. It follows that not only will workshops need the expertise to diagnose and repair complicated jobs, but they also will need to be able to sell their diagnostic time to the customer. 2 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021
"Diagnostics can be a lucrative revenue stream" The key to selling diagnostic time is to adopt a process that can be clearly understood and followed by front office staff as well as the technicians working on the job. It is imperative that everyone in the workshop is on the same page.
clear on the time commitment. They also need to understand that they don’t have to solve the problem in the first hour. However, they need to be able to report back to the customer with a course of action.
Below are some tips as to what to consider when deciding whether to charge for diagnostic time and how to determine an appropriate charge for your business.
Once the problem is identified, the customer can be issued a quote for the repair. Even if the customer chooses not to go ahead with the repair, the workshop has at least been compensated for the time spent diagnosing the problem.
Handling an initial enquiry
If a loyal customer pulls into your driveway with a problem and asks for a quick diagnosis and you say you won’t look at it until they open their wallet, you may never see them again. Conversely, if you jump in headfirst with no financial commitment from the customer, it is more than likely a lot of time is going to be wasted – at your expense. Here’s the compromise – question your customer about the problem for a few minutes and then spend five minutes to confirm the problem. This will win the customer’s confidence and will put you in a good position to sell a diagnostic inspection. If the customer is not willing to pay for a diagnostic inspection, don’t waste one more minute on the car. If you need to explain your position to a doubting customer, ask if they have to pay to have their GP diagnose a mystery illness.
Clarify your diagnostic inspection price and inclusions
Electricians and plumbers don’t make house calls and solve problems for free, so there is no reason automotive technicians should feel obliged to hand out a free diagnosis. Doing so may devalue your time and affect your workshop’s profitability. First, you may wish to consider underlying costs when determining your price for a diagnostic inspection. Some considerations may be testing, scan tools, data, research, reports and time allocated. Once the inclusions and the price are clear, the diagnostic inspection can be confidently sold to the customer. Take the time to explain the difference between this diagnostic inspection and ultimately fixing the problem. The last thing you want is the customer walking away with different expectations.
Gaining further financial commitment
Some problems can be more complex than others, so if the initial diagnostic inspection doesn’t lead to a resolution, a further financial commitment from the customer may be appropriate before any more time is spent. Charging for diagnostic inspections, even where the customer decides not to go ahead with the repairs, shouldn’t be a problem if you have gained the financial commitment from the customer at each step throughout the process.
Servicing and diagnostics
Very often, a customer will mention a specific problem when their vehicle comes in for a routine service. Diagnosing a particular problem is not part of the service. Time should not be spent on the problem during the service, when the workshop has not received a financial commitment to do so. This just erodes any service profitability. To avoid this happening, stick to the diagnostic process. Tell the customer that a portion of time will be spent on this new problem during the service, and if the problem can’t be quickly solved, they will have to be sold a diagnostic inspection, quite apart from the service commitment. If the customer won’t commit to a diagnostic inspection, just finish the routine service and do nothing more. Diagnostics can be a lucrative revenue stream. An hour of a technician’s time on diagnostic work should be valued just as any other general service work is. If time is getting lost in diagnostics, it may be time to review your diagnostic process.
They need to understand that one hour will be needed to perform a series of tests to better understand what the problem is and to determine what further action will be required.
Performing the diagnostic inspection
There is no point spending two hours on a diagnostic inspection when the customer has financially committed to only one hour. Staff need to be very
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CAPRICORN CLASSIFIEDS Classifieds Advertising Guidelines Do you have a business for sale, have equipment that you need to get rid of, or are you just looking for a part that you haven’t been able to find? If the answer is yes, then you should advertise in the Capricorn Classifieds; it’s FREE to do so. See below for details. • The Capricorn Classifieds are for Capricorn Members only to advertise. Payment is to be organised between advertiser and purchaser. • Parts or equipment that relate to your business only may be advertised. • Businesses for sale may be advertised. • Cars for sale cannot be advertised. • Classifieds are on a first come, first served basis. Depending on the number received, your classified may
not appear immediately. • No positions vacant. • No pictures to be submitted. • By submitting the Online Capricorn Classifieds Ad Form, you acknowledge that the price of any goods or services shown is inclusive of GST.
Mechanical Workshop, Melbourne VIC Established in 1962 with current owner for 12yrs, located in Bayside, mechanical service & sales, very prominent loc. Owner retiring. Ph: 0411 460 460
Mechanical Workshop for sale, Outer Eastern Melbourne. Specialized in German Cars, Family Business for 30 years, Owner retiring, Huge potential too expand, Long lease available, Call: Klaus 0466527707
Mechanical Workshop, Caboolture Qld Fully equipped 2 post hoist workshop Includes Stock and Equipment. RACQ Approved and Bosch Approved. WIWO $70,000 Shed not included. Shed Leased Phone 07 5408 6004 to Discuss
Panel Repair Shop - Palmerston North Well-equipped panel repair shop. Established over 55yrs. Owner retiring. Chassis machine, measuring system & hoist etc. Loyal customer base. Close to town centre. Ph Terry 0274844758
Auto Electrical Workshop, Orbost VIC Established 40yrs. Strong local customer base including government, farming, and construction. 3 bays, hoist & pit. Long lease available. Would suit sea/tree changers. $75K + SAV Ph 0407 543 290
Complete Auto Care Bundaberg Established 2008 RWC AIS 9169 All mechanical including air conditioning Plant and equipment approx. $165,000 included in sale price $295,000. Turnover approx. $720,000. OWNERS RETIRING. Phone 07 4152 2460.
Mechanical Workshop for sale Brisbane Qld Service and repairs. Fully equipped workshop with 2 working hoists. POS Systems in place. Room for growth. Owner moving to Sunny Coast. $85k Enquiries 0402 834 129 Automotive Workshop Eastern Suburbs Melbourne Established business of 35+ years. Mechanical servicing and repairs. Prominent location close to major shopping centre. 4 Hoists & equipment Expression of interest Call Russell 0417339617
Conditioning Business for sale Same owner for 36 years Large client base Suit motivated tradesman Great earner Realistic sale price and reasonable rent on the Gold Coast QLD call Kim 0447612106 2012 Wheel alignment machine, program current to 2020, All equipment in cabinet, head, monitor, computer, printer. Good condition. Works great. Calibration stand included. $5000. Phone (07) 54625424
Mansfield Motor Panel Repairs for sale Victoria Want a lifestyle change, mountains, lake & snow original buisness in thriving town, 90% insurance no competition, excellent profits, freehold available or lease. 5 Early Street, Mansfield VIC 3722. 03 5775 2156 Mechanical Workshop, Port Macquarie Great opportunity to take successful business to the next level. One of town’s longest serving and best located workshops – four hoists, extremely well equipped, call Maca for more info. 0414 850 365. Autoparts business for sale Northern Beaches. Well established family run business of over 40 years. Owner retiring. Strong client base with loyal customers for on going business. Great potential for expansion. Call Joe 0411782745 Autosense Car Centre. Geraldton WA. Fully established, highly profitable, superb clientele, perfect coastal lifestyle, 2 hoists, brilliant workshop location, proven long term figures but growth potential huge if wanted. Email autosense@m2data.com.au
How to Advertise in the Capricorn Classifieds
1. Send an email to ignition@capricorn.coop with the following details: your Member number, business name, contact details and details of your advert (no more than 30 words). 2. Capricorn must receive your classified advert by the 16th of the month preceding the publication month. If we have not received your classified advert by this date it will be published in the following month depending on the number of adverts received. 3. Check out your advert and fellow Members’ classifieds in the next edition of Ignition.
Email: ignition@capricorn.coop
Publisher's General Disclaimer All information, material and content contained in this edition of Ignition is provided or sourced by Capricorn Society Limited (“Capricorn”) for general information only and is not intended to be advice or comment on any particular matter or subject. Before acting on any information, you should consider the relevance of it to your own circumstances and, if necessary, take professional advice. Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material (including, without limitation, any third-party supplier advertisement in respect of which Capricorn merely acts as a conduit) included in this edition of Ignition. To the fullest extent permitted by law Capricorn, its officers, employees, agents and representatives disclaim any and all liability to you or any other person for any loss or damage whatsoever connected with: (i) reliance on material in Ignition; or (ii) inaccuracy, error or omission in material in Ignition. Capricorn, Stronger With Capricorn, Ignition, Capricorn Travel, Capricorn Mutual and the boomerangs device are trademarks or registered trademarks of Capricorn. If you have any news or information that you think would be of interest to your fellow Members, please send the information to Capricorn via email ignition@capricorn.coop.
Capricorn Society Limited ACN 008 347 313 Postal Address: Locked Bag 3003, West Perth WA 6872 Registered Office New Zealand: PO Box 91567 Victoria Street West Auckland 1142 Phone 0800 401 444
N R O C I R P CA
Spot the Difference Find them all and win! 1st Prize: 4,000 points 2nd Prize: 2,000 points
LAST MONTH'S ANSWERS LAST MONTH'S WINNERS 1st Prize - 4,000 points Robbie's Mechanical Services 2nd Prize - 2,000 points Porirua Motors
Email your answers to ignition@capricorn.coop before the 25th of August. Winners will be selected by a lucky hat draw of correct entries. Please ensure you include your Member number and email address when submitting your entry.
WORD Hunter
Find the 16 words hidden in the jumble. They could be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or backwards. See if you can find them all!
TASMAN
CYBERCRIMINAL
SELLING
SUSTAINABLE
RETURNS
CHANGES
NATION
COMMUTING
RISING
REPORT
PROFITS
SUCCESSION
REVENUE
GOALS
TOYOTA
WORKSHOP
CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2021 3 1
We know you’re worth more. And we’ve got the data to prove it.
Download Capricorn’s State of the Nation Report - A report on the industry, by the industry, for your workshop. Available now at capricorn.coop/caphub TM
