OCTOBER MARCH 2021 RECORD RETURNS TO MEMBERS
$ 7 1M VALUE RETURN ED TO MEMB ERS FO R F Y21
SAVE IN THE PURPLE DAY SPECIALS See more on page 2 & 9!
GREAT MEMBER RETURNS Strong results signal strong automotive industry
EXPLAINING COMPLICATED CONCEPTS TO CUSTOMERS
WELL WISHES FOR RUSSELL BECKER Capricorn bids farewell to our NSW/ACT Director
ONE DAY ONLY! Friday, 22 October 2021 Starts 9am (NZST)
Save on selected Capricorn Rewards. Limited availability - get in while stocks last!
Spend your points at cap.coop/rewards *Special offer valid from 9am (NZST) Friday 22 October 2021, for one day only and while supplies last. Participation in the Capricorn Rewards Program is subject to the Capricorn Rewards Terms and Conditions available at capricorn.coop/tc.
CONTENTS OCTOBER 2021
David Fraser Group CEO
CEO’s message
6 Capricorn Risk Services
What happens when you make a claim?
If you’re finding it hard to attract and keep good, skilled employees, you’re not alone. Capricorn’s State of the Nation Report 2021 found 53% of Members are very or extremely concerned about the skills shortage, with 43% naming it a top five challenge affecting their business. The problem is particularly acute for panel and paint, tyre and suspension, and larger and franchise workshops. The harsh reality facing the automotive industry in 2021 is that qualified technicians are in short supply and, unless we urgently work to tackle the problem now, the situation is only going to get worse. Our industry faces stiff competition for talent. How do we attract good people when, to take an example, the mining and resources industry (which is also experiencing a skills shortage and is moving into a boom phase) can offer six-figure salaries that workshops can never match?
7 Great Returns for Members
10Well Wishes for Russell Becker
Capricorn bids farewell to our NSW/ACT Director
12 2021 BMW M8 Wednesday October 21st. 16 Future Ride ONE DAY ONLY! 18 Another Doohan's 9am (WST) 12pm (EST) star on the rise
In fact, there’s a lot we can do—both at an individual business level and an industry level. Our biggest opportunity is to encourage a new generation of talent, as this is our pipeline of future technicians, business owners, partners, and industry leaders.
But first, we’ll need a change of attitude. State of the Nation found less than half of us believe young people will find the automotive industry an attractive place to make a career. We must reframe both our thinking and our messaging around this, because automotive is a fantastic industry with lots of incredible opportunities and a really exciting future. It’s time to start talking up careers in auto and stop talking them down.
DriveLife Online
The Urbanaut
On four wheels
But that’s the sizzle; what about the sausage? How do we make the careers we’re selling more attractive? We can start by creating workplaces with strong and positive cultures—the kind of places young people want to work these days. Places where employees are encouraged and rewarded, and provided with incentives, opportunities and career pathways. We can tackle pay rates, too. State of the Nation found an increase in wages and salaries in 2021 compared to 2020, but the average wage is still just $32/hr. The opportunity here is to review charge-out rates for labour. Ensuring that we are charging what our skills and experience are worth means we can pay our staff more. Maybe not triple-figure salaries, but more. If you were ever considering bringing on an apprentice, now’s the time to do it. Not just because there’s a lot of support available from governments and training associations, but because our industry desperately needs them. We need new apprentices. Without them, this skills shortage will roll on and on and on, into the future, with no end in sight. Yours in cooperation,
David Fraser Group CEO
20 Member Ride 22 TaTBiz Article 24 Trade Volume
Explaining complicated concepts to customers
Rebate for Capricorn Members It can pay to be a Capricorn Member!
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 3
NEWS
Capricorn Members are invited to Capricorn’s Annual General Meeting Capricorn is a Member-owned organisation and Member representation helps ensure Members’ interests are safeguarded. The Capricorn Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an important enabler of Member representation and allows Members to influence the direction of Capricorn. All eligible Capricorn Members are invited to the Capricorn AGM. This year, the meeting will be hosted as a hybrid event allowing Members to vote and attend online throughout Australia and New Zealand. If lockdown conditions permit, we would also welcome Members to attend at our West Perth offices. A key function of the AGM is the consideration of the items of business for Member voting. Members are asked to consider five items of business: •
Reviewing the financial statements, the Director’s report and the auditor’s report for the financial year ended 30 June 2021.
•
Ratifying the reappointment of Mr Bruce Rathie as an independent Director for a term commencing 12 October 2021 and ending on 12 October 2024.
•
Increasing the total aggregate Director remuneration pool to allow Capricorn to increase director remuneration in the future.
•
Altering the constitution to allow for virtual Annual General Meetings.
•
Approving a selective share buyback resolution (explained in the Annual General Meeting Information Statement).
More information for each item of business is provided in the notice of AGM sent via email to eligible Members in early October.
How to vote in the Capricorn AGM Voting in the Annual General Meeting can take place before and during the meeting. To facilitate voting prior to the meeting, during the first week of October, all eligible Members were sent an email providing a direct link to the Capricorn Vote Now platform. Members can also sign in via the Shareholder Portal in early October to access the Vote Now platform. Eligible Members can also vote whilst attending the AGM. If attending online, they can vote through the Vote Now platform. Voting will also take place in person at our West Perth offices.
How to attend the Capricorn AGM Eligible Capricorn Members can attend online via the Vote Now platform. To access the Vote Now platform easily, Members will receive a unique email with a link to the platform. Alternatively, they can access the link via the Capricorn Shareholder Portal. Subject to public health advice, Western Australian Members can attend in person at 28 Troode Street, West Perth WA 6005.
Friday, 29 October 2021 8am AWST / 11am AEDT / 1pm NZDT How to join: Members can join via unique email link or through the Capricorn Shareholder Portal
4 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
ezi-parts
Win a
smoko shout
Use CAP ezi-parts in September, October or November for your chance to enter the draw!* CAP ezi-parts is free and exclusive for New Zealand Members Save time finding the best deal. Login to Capricorn and submit your CAP ezi-parts request. Our Preferred Supplier network will then respond with prices and delivery times.
0800 401 444 | info@capricorn.coop capricorn.coop Promotion runs from September 2021 to November 2021 with three Smoko Shouts to be won each month. Smoko Shout includes morning tea with food and drinks provided.*Eligible Members receive 1 x entry per purchase made on the Capricorn Members Trade Account, using CAP ezi-parts. Winners are selected from a random draw of eligible Members. Contact your Area Manager for more information.The financial value is at the discretion of Capricorn Area Manager.
TM
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE A CLAIM? By its very nature, making a claim on your insurance or mutual protection is a stressful time. It means something has gone wrong — whether it’s an accident, a theft or a major disaster like a fire or flood.
immediately to make sure you and your family are safe, then someone from our claims team will call you back the next business day to lodge your claim.”
So, when you pick up the phone to call Capricorn Risk Services to tell them what has happened, you want the comfort of knowing the claims process will be straightforward and the person on the other end of the phone will be knowledgeable and helpful.
Next, you’ll receive a call from a claims officer, who will reconfirm all the details with you, answer any questions you have and make sure you understand exactly what you need to do next and what will happen.
But do you know what the claims process actually looks like? Lots of people don’t, but if you’re making a claim it can be helpful to know what to expect.
Exactly what happens next depends on the type of claim you’re making but, in short, your claim will be assessed to confirm the circumstances of the claim. • We may appoint an assessor to review your claim • We may appoint a builder to quote on repair • We may ask you to provide further evidence (like photographs or receipts) • We may ask you to get quotes to repair the damage.
We asked our Claims and Administration Team Leader, Anthea Jacobs, to talk us through it.
Call Capricorn Risk Services to lodge a claim If you call between 11am and 10pm NZDT on a weekday, you’ll get straight through to one of our claims team. “Someone in the claims team will lodge the claim with you over the phone, putting all the details into our claims system,” Anthea said. “They’ll explain to you what claims documentation you need to provide and talk you through the next steps.” After the call you’ll be sent a lodgement email for your claim. The email will include a claim number and confirmation of the instructions on what to do next.
What if I call outside normal hours? Outside of normal business hours, you’ll go through to an after-hours service provider who will either take a message or refer you through to one of our on-call team members. “For example, if it’s an emergency, like you’ve had a fire at your property and you need action straightaway, that gets referred to the person on the after-hours phone,” Anthea said. “Any urgent action required is organised
Confirmation with a claims officer
Assessing and processing
“The type of claim and its complexity determines what actions need to happen next. This could range from getting assessments and reports to investigators or specialists” Anthea said. “In most circumstances it is straight forward. However, at times there may be some toing and froing in terms of reports to confirm the cause of damage, and to confirm that it can be accepted within the terms and conditions of the product disclosure statement (PDS).” Anthea said throughout this time, Capricorn Risk Services keeps Members fully informed of progress.
Approval, repair and replacement Once the claim has been approved we will provide a repair authority and generally you will be able to go ahead and repair or replace the items damaged or stolen or carry out the work that needs to be done to get you back up and running like you were before unless you
are otherwise instructed.
Send in your invoices for payment Once the repairs or replacements are complete, the repairer will generally send the appropriate invoices through to the claims team, who will arrange for them to be paid or for you to be reimbursed for them.
The mutual advantage While making a claim is never a fun process, it can at least be an easy and efficient one. Anthea said, that's where the mutual protection available through Capricorn Risk Services being discretionary is a real advantage for Members. “While we are bound by the terms and conditions of the PDS, our mutual protection gives us the ability to make discretionary decisions, to help you in your time of need,” she said. “This can often very much help Members get back on their feet. “For example, if a Member has had a large fire, maybe they’ve had a total loss, they may need a cash injection to get on top of things while the claim is progressing. We can consider releasing a payment to the Member just to help them cover any costs to help them continue running their business, or maybe to relocate to another property so they can start their business again. “For us it’s really about trying to think outside the box and work out what can we do to help a Member get back to the position they should be, and to keep things running for them until the claim is settled. “We have that ability to put Members first and we do. That sets us apart from a normal insurance company.”
To request a quote for mutual protection, call 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).
STRONG RESULTS SIGNAL STRONG AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AND GREAT RETURNS FOR MEMBERS After a difficult year full of lockdowns, Capricorn’s financial results demonstrate the determination and resilience of the Australian and New Zealand automotive industry. When the 2021 financial year began, it was still under the initial uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last 12 months we’ve ridden the highs and lows together, supporting each other through the tough times and celebrating the wins. Interestingly, the pandemic has created some real bright spots for the automotive aftermarket industry. With people taking their holidays at home and using their cars to commute, a lot of you are busier than ever between lockdowns. You’ve become key workers providing important services, providing the same fantastic customer service, and helping to keep cars safe on the road. The strength of your determination and resilience and your faith in our industry are demonstrated in our end of year results. Capricorn is a Member-owned organisation so our results are your results, and we cannot be more proud to announce them. Member purchases from Preferred Suppliers reached AUD$2.59 billion this financial year, up 18.4% on 2020’s results — and, indeed, it was a record year. Capricorn’s overall profit after tax was AUD$37.6 million. These strong results have allowed us to declare a 7% fully franked Dividend to shareholders (representing a 10% return inclusive of tax benefits) as well as a AUD$15.0 million Trade Volume Rebate issued to Members in Bonus Points in proportion to their trade account purchases made throughout the financial year. This will help provide a welcome boost to Members across Australia and New Zealand.
We’re very proud that in such an interrupted and challenging year, Capricorn can still return record value to Members. The above distributions are in addition to the AUD$38.5 million in Capricorn Rewards points that were earned throughout the 2021 financial year bringing total Member returns to AUD$71 million for the 2021 financial year being our highest level of returns in Capricorn history. (Find out more on page 24). In calculating the value of our returns to Members, Capricorn considers both direct and indirect monetary benefits generated for Members. We call this our “Member Value Return”, or MVR. In 2021 Capricorn returned AUD$92.0 million in pre-tax value to Members, which equates to an after-tax MVR of 28%. That means for every dollar invested by Members they receive a 28% return. Keep an eye on your inbox for a summary of all financial benefits you have received in your Capricorn Wealth Certificate. This certificate outlines the Rewards Points, Dividends, Trade Volume Rebate, and Mutual Protection Loyalty Rebates (if eligible) you have received over the past 12 months as well as the current value of your Shareholding. Once you have seen all the hard-earned points on your Wealth Certificate, login to capricorn.coop/rewards to check your points balance and discover all the fantastic products available through Capricorn Rewards**.
The past performance of Capricorn is no indication of future returns. Shares are issued by Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313/NZBN 9429038593185). No offer of shares is made in this article or publication. An offer of shares will only made in, or accompanied by, Capricorn’s Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus which is available on request or may be viewed at www.capricorn. coop under “Corporate Documents.” Before making any decision to apply for shares you should consider the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus. Any application for shares must be made on the application form in or accompanying the Prospectus. ** Participation in the Capricorn Rewards is subject to the Capricorn Rewards Terms and Conditions which can be found at www.capricorn.coop/terms-conditions. CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 7
TM
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 • Cambridge Automotive 250,000 Preferred Supplier Bonus Rewards Points • Bruce Dunn 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.
SUPPLIER PROFILE KEITH ANDREWS
8 YEARS PREFERRED SUPPLIER
Keith Andrews is New Zealand’s largest commercial vehicle dealer, backed by nearly three decades of expertise.
As a proud supplier to Capricorn, Keith Andrews offers competitive pricing across their range of genuine and aftermarket parts. Call their expert team today for specialist advice and rapid parts support.
Launched in Whangarei in 1991 as a dedicated FUSO dealership, Keith Andrews has since expanded to sites in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington. Keith Andrews provides sales, parts and service for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and FUSO commercial vehicles.
Website: keithandrews.co.nz
The business now employs more than 200 staff. The company’s ethos centres on the principle that great people make great businesses, and Keith Andrews is proud to have a team of passionate individuals who share a common approach to delivering excellent customer service. Keith Andrews proudly represents the Daimler family of worldclass brands. This includes: • Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and FUSO truck and bus sales, parts and service • Mercedes-Benz van and ute sales, parts and service • Mercedes-Benz passenger car parts and service, in Whangarei only • Detroit Diesel and Alliance parts for heavy vehicles.
8 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
FRIDAY 22 OCT OBER
Purple Day is back! One day only.
Be quick to snap up the savings Friday, 22 October. We’ve got even more electronics, workshop products and household goods for you to claim with your Capricorn Rewards points. Save on selected items including* Garmin Drive 51 LM GPS Navigator
Apple HomePod mini
Russell Hobbs Lunar Kettle
Apple TV 4K - 64GB (2021)
JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Nutri Ninja Pro Nutritional Extractor
*T&Cs apply. Products subject to availability.
Purple Day commences Friday, 22 October 2021, 9am (NZST)
capricorn.coop/rewards
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 9
Well wishes for Capricorn Member Director Russell Becker A famous little bear once said, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard", which is how we feel saying goodbye to our Member Director, Russell Becker, this month. Russell Becker finishes his tenure as the NSW/ACT Member Director in October 2021 after serving on the Capricorn Board of Directors for a maximum term of 16 years. Russell has been a Capricorn Member since 1991 and was elected to the Board in 2005. Between 2015 and 2019 he also served as Chairman of the Board. During his tenure as a Director, Russell has helped Capricorn to grow membership from 9,000 to over 23,000 in 2021 and has seen annual Member purchases of AU$500 million grow to over AU$2 billion. Under his leadership of the Board, Capricorn has launched new products and services such as Capricorn Service Data, the New Zealand Capricorn Mobil Fuel Card, and the Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year competition. 2019 also saw the first year Capricorn paid a Trade Volume Rebate of $5 million back to Members based on Trade Account spend. Passionate about the next horizon of the automotive industry, Russell recently contributed to Capricorn’s State of the Nation 2021 report. In the article he encouraged Capricorn Members to think about training an apprentice for the benefit of the industry. “The industry is a pretty good place. Of course, there are lots of challenges, especially with changes to technology, but I think overall the data tells us the industry is really healthy.” Russell said. Ru s s e l l h a s a l s o b e e n a m e m b e r o f Ca p r i co r n ’ s Remuneration and Nomination Committee and a Director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd and spent time on the Audit and Risk Committee.
1 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
Russell will continue to run his successful mechanical repair workshop in Dural and contribute to a number of charity and sporting organisation boards including Special Olympics, junior soccer, and motor sport. From all of us at Capricorn, especially the Capricorn Board, we thank Russell for his commitment and service and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. As another famous saying goes, ‘goodbye for now, but not forever.’
Every year Capricorn holds elections for a Member-elected Director in one of our zones. If your zone is not available for election this year, it will be available in the coming years. Your participation in your zone’s Director Elections helps ensure Capricorn remains a vibrant and healthy cooperative
Before you check anything else...
START YOUR 30 DAY TRIAL UPGRADE. Only $9.95 to unlock full Autodata diagnostics
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DRIVELIFE
2021 BMW M8
Competition Carbon Core Edition Written by DriveLife online
Last month, I spent two weeks and 2,000km behind the wheel of the BMW M440i. It is a great car, and left me wondering if 285kW of power from that delicious twin-scroll turbo 6-cylinder was enough for New Zealand roads. Was there really a need for a car like the $350,000 M8 Competition, with its two twin-scroll turbos and a 4.4-litre V8 engine? THE RANGE You get to pick from either a 2-door version of the M8 - called the M8 Competition Coupe, or a 4-door version, the M8 Competition Gran Coupe. The wheelbase of the four-door car is 200mm longer than the coupe to give more rear legroom (spoiler alert: it needs it). Both run two twin-scroll turbos attached to a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, putting out 460kW of power and 750Nm of torque. Each has BMW’s all-wheel-drive system that they call xDrive. Performance is listed at 3.2 seconds to 100km/h, and fuel consumption is 10.4L/100Km. Standard equipment on both is high, as you’d expect it to be. This includes an M Sport exhaust system, an M carbon engine cover, 20" M light-alloy wheels with performance tyres, an M Sport Differential, M Steptronic Sport transmission, tyre pressure indicator, alarm system, automatic boot opener, keyless entry and
start, soft close doors, BMW Display Key, M Carbon roof, floor mats in velour, active seat ventilation in the front seats, electric lumbar support, carbon fibre interior trim, M seat belts, Heat Comfort package, front (includes seat heating, steering wheel heating and heated armrests), High-Beam Assist, Driving Assistant Professional, BMW Laserlights, Parking Assistant Plus, Teleservices (including ConnectedDrive Services, Connected Package Professional, Drive Recorder). There’s also wireless phone charging, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, BMW Night Vision with person recognition, a DAB tuner, Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, M Sport Seats, M Rear Spoiler, BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line, M Competition Package, M Driver's Package, BMW Individual fullleather 'Merino' upholstery, a heads-up display (HUD), an Alcantara headliner, automatic wipers, automatic headlights, BMW Gesture Control, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, 1 12.3” high-resolution
1 2 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
central display, dual-zone AC, and electric front seats. You can option carbon fibre ceramic brakes with matte gold callipers and M logo if you wish at $16,500. The M Carbon Exterior Package at $7,500 includes the front apron (air intake inserts, front left and right), mirror caps, the rear spoiler, and the rear diffuser. Our test car was fitted with this package, bringing the as-tested price to $350,400.
PRICING • •
BMW M8 Competition Coupé $332,900 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé $326,900
You can read more about the M8 Competition on BMW New Zealand’s website.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS I knew this would be the same M8 Competition that I drove at Hampton Downs in April, and so was prepared for its greyness, namely Donington Grey. Such a shame this car is finished in such a flat colour, however the design of this car really shows itself off in the flesh. Forget the photos, this is a car you need to see. And yes, even in grey it looks superb. There’s a real air of both performance and style here, especially when you get to the rear three-quarter view with those hugely blistered rear guards. The car feels stretched out, but BMW has pulled it off with some nice proportions all around. Up front there’s a grille that’s (thankfully) not over the top, and some carbon fibre extras like the front apron that is part of the optional M Carbon Exterior Package. I only wish it was in a different colour, especially since there’s such a huge range available. Okay, one more for the wish list: how cool would this car look if it was pillarless?
THE INTERIOR I was won over after opening the door – frameless. Was there ever a bad-looking car with frameless doors? I think not. And then, there it was; red leather. That’s my kryptonite, and I was sold instantly. Not just the red leather either; there’s some stunning diamond pleating in the seats, and the red leather door panels finished me off. There are illuminated ‘M8’ badges in the top of the front seats, and the magpie in me likes these very much. This was going to be a great week. Another surprise are the seats; there’s cushion length adjust for you taller people, but it’s manual with a lever under the seat. I’ve driven cars under $150K where this adjustment is electric, so at $350K, I thought this would be standard. One thing I was happy not to see was the glass finish
on the volume knob, iDrive knob and gear shifter, as we saw in the X5 M50d as part of the Glass Craft Elements. I did not like this at all, the shifter felt awkward and in a car like this, that would be out of place. So thank you, BMW, for not optioning this for New Zealand cars. Up top, there’s grey suede used on the headlining and pillars. It’s a dark grey, but it’s better and a little lighter than black and feels fantastic to the touch. There’s no sunroof in this car, and since headroom is at a bit of a premium, it's likely a good idea not to have one. Rear seat passengers suffer the most here; if your passengers don’t have legs, they’ll be fine. Otherwise, it’s barely a 2+2. I am not tall by any means, and yet even for me the passenger behind me will need to have surgery before getting in. Headroom in the rear is very tight too, so while I’m expecting this car to be an awesome Grand Tourer, I wouldn’t suggest taking three friends on a long trip. Average height rear-seat adult passengers will have their heads touching the roof. Checking out the boot – it’s huge. At 420 litres, there’s a heap of usable space in there. Plenty of room for a couple of passengers with long legs who can’t fit in the back seat. There’s no spare wheel, instead there’s a tyre pump.
THE DRIVE At last, time to drive away. Memories of the M5 came flooding back; that same twinturbo V8 burble. Subdued, but suggesting some potency at the same time. A slightly – and I’m talking ever so slightly – harder press of the gas pedal away from the dealership and I hear the rear wheels spinning already. Yes, it is all-wheel drive, but over my time with the car I’d experience this time and again; just push that right pedal a bit harder than is needed, and those rear wheels will let go. It’s no drama though, and settles down very quickly, even in the wet.
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.
This car is fitted with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, and true to BMW, it’s not a dualclutch transmission (DCT) so changes were smooth, as was low speed driving. DCT fanatics will say that a DCT gearbox will change much more quickly than a straight torque-converter automatic transmission like the M8 has, but honestly, it’s almost impossible to tell. Even in its default settings, quick acceleration will see quick gear changes; Switch the car into M1 or M2 mode and those changes are lightning quick. New for this year’s M8 is the Drive Logic button on the shifter; you can choose from three settings, and this will alter the frequency of gear changes. Stick it on 3, and the ‘box will change down sooner, and hold the gears longer before changing up. You can also set this for each of the M1 or M2 drive modes, so (for example) if you stick it in M2 mode, the Drive Logic setting would likely be on 3. For that reason, for me it seems a bit pointless to stick the rocker switch for this on the gear lever. If you are tootling around in Road mode, you probably aren’t going to be playing with the Drive Logic setting – you’d just stick the car in M1 or M2 if you wanted to. One tap of the M1 buttons kicks the mode off, but you still need to tap it again to confirm, since this disables traction control and depending on how you have it set up, can put the car into rear-wheel drive mode. Perfect for drifting? Yes. One tap of the M2 button is all it takes to engage M2 mode. BMW have taken away their normal drive modes of Eco, Dynamic, Sport + etc, so instead there’s an ‘m.mode’ button on the centre console that allows you to pick from Road, Sport, or Track. These are separate from the M1 and M2 buttons. You can also configure these modes how you want. Sport mode will also change the dash to a much sportier look, with everything in your face for brisk driving. On the driving side of things, in the Sport settings drivers can select to send a higher proportion of drive to the rear wheels.
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 1 3
PROS Still on that commute, if it gets dark then Night Vision is standard in the M8 Competition. You turn it on by a switch on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, next to the main light switch. I’m not sure how usable it is – it would have been better to have it in the driver’s display, rather than the centre display – but it is effective, showing up other cars and pedestrians that you might not see. At night-time, those laser headlights that are standard on this car will fill the road ahead with light, up to 500 metres aware. Self-levelling of course, and directional. But it’s the quality of light that impresses; they are truly excellent.
And hallelujah! BMW has listened to us, and now when you switch the car into M1 or M2 mode, you get a rev counter in the heads-up display (HUD). With such smooth engines, it’s vital to know right now what revs the engine is doing, and the HUD is the best place to show the driver that info. I aimed to take the car to Masterton later in the week, so until then it was using the M8 as a Daily Driver. How did it fare? On the whole, pretty good. With that much torque, anything is easy. Want to pass someone on the motorway? Effortless. At 100km/h, the engine is a quiet, tamed beast, making very little noise – even with the loud exhaust button on. In fact, every time you start the M8 Competition, it reverts to having the loud exhaust button turned on. On the negative side of things, ride quality is not great even when it’s set to Comfort. On Wellington’s streets, the M8 Competition is, well, very firm. It doesn’t bounce, but it’s not very forgiving either. Sport mode makes this more pronounced of course. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but you can sure feel every bump in the road. Tyre noise is pronounced on coarse chip seal, but otherwise more than acceptable. If you daily commute in the M8, you might get a chance to listen to the Bower & Wilkins Diamond sound system, if you ever get sick of the exhaust note. Aside from the engine and everything else in this car, the audio system is excellent. There are a few sound profiles to choose from; Studio, Concert, Stage, Cinema, or Lounge. The sound quality is stunning – I heard instruments in songs that I’ve never heard before, with crystal-clear higher frequencies, and a what felt like a very high-frequency range. I couldn’t find out what that number was, but man, it’s good.
At last, a sunny Friday and time to head to the Wairarapa for the day, mainly to take photos but any excuse to get this car out into its natural habitat. Heading over the Remutakas, the M8 Competition shows that while it may be a large, heavy beast at over 2,000Kgs, it can hustle in the corners. Body roll is almost non-existent, and grip is, as expected, phenomenal with AWD and those massive tyres – 275/35 front, and rears at 285/35. You can still break that grip with a prod of the gas pedal, but get that corner just right and the M8 will fair fly around it with little drama. Hills? With 750Nm of torque in a twodoor coupe, hills disappear and you can barely feel them. This engine is like a diesel locomotive, it pulls like nothing else. It can sprint too, with 100km/h coming up in 3.2 seconds, 200km/h in 10.6 and the quarter-mile in 10.7.
• • • • • • • • • •
Performance Handling Braking Engine/exhaust noise Quality of finish Design Transmission Headlights HUD Audio system
CONS • • • •
Ride is very firm Some expected equipment missing Complicated Drive Mode settings Rear space
Steering feel is good, but not great. Even in M1 or M2 mode with steering set to Sport, there’s some feedback coming from the front wheels, but it’s not fantastic. With this much weight up front and those wide front tyres, that was to be expected. But it’s enough to allow you to push the car along at a fair pace through the bends. Slipping the gear shifter to the side to slip into manual mode, and time to use the paddles for gear changes. This is where the M8 Competition shines, as it howls around the corners, with snap-crackle-pops coming from the exhaust on the overrun. My God, this engine sounds fantastic, holding it at around 6,500rpm in second means you are rewarded with an awesome 625hp soundtrack. Coming down the other side of the hill, time to test out the brakes. As mentioned, these are enormous 398mm front discs with 6-pot callipers, and 381mm rear discs. There is excellent brake feel from these, and you can really feather them well to make the most of them and get smooth, clean braking down into the bends. Fade? Zero, as you’d expect. On the tighter corners, the car does show the weight it has behind it, but it’s all so controllable, and for over 2000kg – fun. We can’t leave how the car goes on a twisty road without mentioning the seats. They are supremely comfortable on the Daily Drive, but spirited driving is where they excel. You can crank up the bolsters to really hold you in, using the button on the side of the seat. I’ve got to say, even on the widest setting, they are still pretty tight. On a windy road, they come into their own, keeping you locked in place. So good. But keep in mind that if you are wide of girth, they might be a struggle. A c c o r d i n g t o B M W, t h e M 8 Competition should sip fuel at the rate
DRIVELIFE
2021 BMW M8
of 10.7litres/100Km. That seems pretty optimistic, and in our driving of the car over 800Kkm, it managed to do 13.0L/100Km. For a large twin-turbo V8, that’s very reasonable.
JOHN’S POINT OF VIEW When Fred was away in Auckland for another press launch, I saw a window and nabbed the M8, so that I could drive it for the last few days. It wasn’t all bad, I left him with the new Tiguan R-Line I was reviewing, which seemed like a fair swap to me. Well the BMW M8 certainly makes a statement, when you see it and hear it. It looks sharp and is one of those ‘moving fast while still’ in cars. Once starting it you and everyone around you knows there is a beast under the hood. And did this car fly, it's one really quick car, pulling the horizon towards you at an incredible rate. The sound inside the car is nice too, not as loud as my own tastes would like, but in keeping with the luxury spec of the car. Standing back from the M8 and wiping down my glossed-over eyes I had to really think about this car. Fred has covered what it's like to drive, it's a monster, but there are other aspects of this car to really consider. Its price tag is huge, which pushes it way up into the next tier of luxury car brands like Bentley and Aston Martin. Was the M8 trying to be a performance car or the ultimate in luxury grand tourers? This is a problem for the M8; BMW are not used to being at this level, which was apparent after spending a few days behind the wheel. The centre console had some nice haptic buttons, which were not carried
on to the dash where it jumped back to normal BMW buttons. The controls were confusing when compared to other M vehicles, with the M1 and M2 on the wheel, both customizable, but the M button on the centre console was different again, with more settings or just a change of the dash. It needed to be simplified. The seats are narrow and small and I personally did not find them very comfy. Every time I got in the car, the heated or cooling seats would start, one time they were both on, never keeping the settings I had before. Even though it was a smart AC system, I felt it never got it right. I also found that the radio muted every time I lifted my hand to use the indicator, due to the Harry Potter gestures system they have. There were far too many settings, buttons and it felt more confusing to drive than natural. All of these little things become issues for me when you consider you're paying $350K for it. I really enjoyed my time in the M8, but I felt it had some of the same issues as my Audi RS6. It's trying to be the Swiss army knife that has all of the options on it, which for the first few seconds is cool, and awesome. But then when you use it for specific things, it feels a bit cumbersome and unnatural. The M8 was trying to be everything: sports car, every-day car and luxury grand tourer. It did some of these things well but it missed the mark on a lot of things too. This price bracket has an expectation to live up to, and with only a short time behind the wheel I was not as impressed with the M8 as I thought I should be.
ECONOMY
7
INTERIOR
9
PERFORMANCE
9
SAFETY
9
STYLING
9
VALUE
6
and goes like a rocket. But it’s not perfect, even at $350,000. Rear headroom and legroom are, putting it nicely, at a premium. There are some things that you’d expect at the price point, that it doesn’t have. Then there is that price; you could buy the M5 with the same drivetrain for $100K less. Sure, it takes 0.1 of a second longer to get to 100km/h, but in the scheme of things, does that matter? You also get four doors and a lot more room for passengers. But the M5 isn’t a coupe and while the M5 looks good, in the flesh the M8 really won me over with its design. While living in New Zealand is generally awesome, some things aren’t so awesome. We don’t have the roads to allow anywhere near the designed use of the M8 Competition without losing your license and having the car impounded. This car could cruise on the autobahn at 250km/h all day long. In New Zealand? Not so much. So, is it too powerful for this country? When we reviewed the M440i with 285kW, I felt that was just right, and expected the M8 to be a waste of time. But I was wrong, so wrong. This car is addictive and brilliant, I want one after all. But not in grey.
THE VERDICT The 2021 BMW M8 Competition is a stunner. It looks amazing, sounds amazing,
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. CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 1 5
FUTURE RIDE
Something about this maxi smells like a Mini When does a Mini stop being a Mini?
Leonard Lord would be pleased to see the Urbanaut is also incredibly fuel efficient, having eschewed the internal combustion engine entirely, in favour of an electric drive system, thus ensuring emission-free mobility.
Anyone who owned a late 70s model Leyland Mini Clubman might argue Minis stopped being Minis when they had improved the engine design to the point where you could safely drive through a puddle without either: 1. conking out in the middle of it, or 2. having a rubber washing up glove taped over the distributor in order to avoid conking out in the middle of it.
The original Mini was also very light on mod cons. It didn’t have a radio, barely had a dashboard, and didn’t have seatbelts, all to save weight. There’s no going without the mod cons in the Urbanaut but, being autonomous, it barely needs a dashboard… so it turns into a daybed, in case you want a nap.
Classic car lovers might argue Minis stopped being Minis when the sleek new versions came along in 1999, with BMW’s very successful relaunch.
Others might argue Minis stop being Minis the minute they started to look more like maxis. And the latest Mini design released by BMW does, indeed, look more like a maxi-taxi than the low-slung character car — synonymous with the swinging 60s, The Italian Job and Mr Bean — that we all know and love. But this exciting new concept, the Urbanaut, is still very much a Mini — and not just because BMW has slapped the logo on it. We’ll get back to that in minute. First, what is the Urbanaut? The Urbanaut is Mini’s vision for what near-future electric autonomous people carrier vehicles might look like. That vision includes an interior that looks more like a living room, a front window that opens up to become something akin to an automotive verandah, and “a carefully honed approach to fragrance and sound”. This is, if that “WTH moment” didn’t give it away, a concept car. And like so many concept cars, it’s very big on big ideas and very small on practical details. But what we do know confirms the Urbanaut actually adheres to many of the original design requirements of the original Mini. When British Motor Corporation boss Leonard Lord commissioned the design of the first Mini in the mid 1950s, it was in the midst of a fuel shortage. He wanted a fuelefficient miniature car that maximised interior space while being no more than 10 feet long, four feet wide and four feet high (3 m x 1.2 m x 1.2 m). Six feet of those 10 feet (so 1.8 m) was to be given over to the passengers, not leaving much space for an engine (but enough to fit a small, fourspeed transverse engine). In the end, the first Mini released in 1959 was slightly taller (1.4 m) and wider (1.42 m), but it was still incredibly compact. The Urbanaut is 4.46 m long and BMW says it offers “maximum space on the smallest possible footprint” — true to the Mini concept. “Its height allows it to provide an interior space that can be used in many different ways and offers a whole new ease of movement inside the car,” BMW says.
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True to the original Mini, the Urbanaut has minimised the number of components and unnecessary materials in the design. It actually features a high proportion of recycled materials, and most of the components of the car can, in turn, be reused or recycled. By now you’re probably wondering what the deal was with the fragrance thing. This is how Annabell Coffinet, Fragrance Designer at the BMW Group, explains it: “We wanted to link the Mini brand identity with a fragrance signature for the first time. “This waft of something intangible, refreshing and unexpected brings emotion to how the brand’s message is communicated, a kind of international signature with a high recognisability factor. It will be discreet and revealed as part of a welcome scenario.” No, we’re not convinced either. But if a fragrance change becomes the equivalent of an ‘oil and filter change’ in the future, Capricorn will be right alongside you with reliable Preferred Suppliers. There’s one last way the Urbanaut is every inch a Mini. It has been designed so you want to spend as much time in it as possible. In fact, BMW insists it has created “an urban space for people when it’s standing still, significantly increasing the amount of time they will want to use the vehicle or just hang out in it.” Anyone who has owned a Mini, especially a classic Mini, will tell you they find any excuse to spend time in their Mini. They’re never just a car: they’re a lifestyle. The fact is, Minis don’t stop being Minis just because they aren’t as small as the classic car. Minis, including the Urbanaut, are Minis because they adhere to the original concept — an energy efficient, technically advanced, compact-as-possible, family car with an innovative spirit that maximises interior space for the smallest possible footprint. Minis have a certain spirit. The Urbanaut has that spirit in spades (and a fragrance, too).
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 1 7
by Paul Marinelli
ANOTHER DOOHAN IS HEADING TO One of Australia’s most courageous and talented sporting heroes is five time World MotoGP Champion Mick Doohan. His tenacity despite enduring a number of horrific injuries during his stellar motorcycle racing career made him the ultimate motorsport hero to millions of fans around the world. Now another Doohan’s star is shining on the international motor racing stage. This is Mick’s 18-year-old son, Jack, who has scored his first pole position and won three races in this season’s highly competitive Formula 3 World Championship. The first question that comes to mind when we think of this second-generation Doohan is why isn’t he racing motorcycles, just like his dad did? It did start on two wheels for young Jack, blasting around his home circuit on dirt bikes in Queensland. After Jack broke his leg in an accident at just five years of age, Mick and Jack’s mother, Selena, thought it best that if Jack wanted to pursue a racing career, it should be on four wheels. Image source: jackdoohan.com 1 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
This made sense given the experiences that both of Jack’s parents endured throughout Mick’s MotoGP career. While for his mother, any non-motorised sport would have been far preferred, if it was going to be motor racing for Jack, from that point on it would be on four wheels or not at all. So at just 8 years of age, Jack started his karting career in 2011, winning his Cadet title on debut. He then progressed to the Australian Karting Championship in 2015, at 11 years of age, winning both the 2015 and the 2016 national titles. In 2017 he raced to third in the CIK European Karting Championship, proving without doubt that Jack Doohan was the real deal on an international stage. There is no doubt that Mick’s tuition, guidance and international contacts were major assets to Jack during his junior years. Jack has highlighted that his father’s major influence has been in mental preparation, encouraging Jack to always perform at his best and to block out all of the factors that are outside of his control — especially his competitors.
THE VERY TOP - ON FOUR WHEELS Jack’s karting success was enough for the talent spotters at Red Bull to sign the young Australian up to their Junior Driver Development Program, the start of a path that has taken several talented young drivers all the way to Formula One.
World Formula 3 Championship. A best result of eleventh for the season was a bitter pill to swallow for the 17-year-old, after having achieved so much success to that point.
The time to move to racing cars came at the age of just 14, competing in the 2018 British Formula 4 Championship, scoring three victories and finishing fifth in the title fight on debut. That season also saw the young Australian compete in selected rounds of both the Italian and German Formula 4 Championships, further extending his experience racing with highly competitive European young guns.
A team change for 2021 in the World Formula 3 Championship, competing alongside David Schumacher (nephew of seventime F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher) and Clement Novak, saw Jack blast to second in the opening race, taking his first win not long afterwards in France. He then scored his first F3 pole position (fastest qualifier) in wet and dangerous conditions at Spa in Belgium, following it up with two race victories, held again in atrocious weather conditions.
In 2019 Jack Doohan competed in the Asian Formula 3 Championship, taking an outstanding five race wins and earning the championship runner-up honours, doubling up on this effort with another second-place finish in the Asian F3 Winter Series.
There is no doubt that we are looking at a future potential Aussie Formula One star in the making with Jack Doohan. At just 18 years of age, his talent and determination mirror that of his father, who had a whole country and racing fans all over the world spellbound during the mid to late ’90s.
The realities of how important the team is to a driver’s success hit hard in 2020, in the cut and thrust world of the
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 1 9
ALL SMILES FOR CRAIG’S NISSAN GT-R Imagine for a moment you’re a high-schooler returning to class after the long summer break, only to discover your secret crush has blossomed over the holidays, is now supremely hot, and everyone wants to go out with them. That’s basically what happened to lifelong fans of the Nissan GT-R in 2017.
Unfortunately, by that time, most of the earlier models were a bit “rough around the edges”. Craig’s thoughts naturally turned to the 2017 model, or one of the subsequent updates, “as they have a new interior and body updates”. His search took him to Brisbane to see a GT-R in mint condition that’d only had one owner.
Nissan had gone away and given the GT-R a face lift, an interior overhaul and a power upgrade — with a 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged, 24 valve, V6 engine and six-speed dual clutch transmission that delivered 419 kW at 6800 rpm and 632 Nm between 3300 and 5800 rpm and a top speed of 315 km/h.
“Over a pint and lunch, the deal was done,” Craig said. “The owner dropped me back at the airport in his other car, a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ with 500 kms on the clock.” (That’s a brag, Craig, but we’re totally going to let you get away with it.)
Suddenly the GT-R fans found their favourite set of wheels was really, really sexy. Among the GT-R’s long-time fans was Capricorn Member Craig Hendry, owner of H&H Automotive in Bunbury, Western Australia. “Since the R35 was released in 2009, I was always determined to get one,” he said. “After several years of hard work with some property developments, we were able to start looking.”
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For many Australians the Nissan GT-R really burst onto the scene in the early ’90s, when an R32 cleaned the floor with absolutely every other team in the Touring Car Championships. The R32 was nicknamed “Godzilla”, because it was a monster from Japan, and for many the nickname has stuck (including, perhaps erroneously, to later models). But the GT-R is not beloved so much for its performance on the track but for its potential in the workshop. The aftermarket for the GT-R is enormous.
MEMBER RIDE Is there a GT-R out there without modifications? They’re not just powerful and easy to handle; they’re an expression of the people who own them — and as unique as the personalities of their owners. Back to Craig’s ’17 model GT-R. What are his plans for it? “At this stage, the car is still standard,” he said. “It has had a paint correction, ceramic coating and clear paint protection film applied to the front end. “It will see some ECU tuning soon and a new set of Forged Volk racing wheels are on back order in 20x10 and 20x12.” Craig said the GT-R would mostly be used as a street car (he has a Nissan Silva circuit car) and probably only be driven “a handful of times per month”.
Vehicle Details Model/Year Country of origin Engine size/type Horsepower Torque Transmission Diff 0-100km/h Quarter-mile time
Nissan GT-R 2017 Japan Hand built 38 V6 Twin Turbo 419 KW 565 hp 633 NM Dual clutch transaxle, carbon driveshafts 1.5 Way Mechanical 2.8 seconds 11.1
“It is an absolute weapon that makes me smile,” he said. “Isn’t that what it’s all about?” That’s a pretty understandable crush.
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 2 1
Explaining complicated concepts to customers - by Geoff Mutton
One of the by-products of modern vehicle technology is that it makes it very difficult for workshops to explain, and therefore justify, why an expensive repair needs to be done to a customer’s car. Consider yourself blessed if all of your customers just throw their keys at you and say ‘do whatever it takes’. But when it comes to big spending, most customers will want to be walked through every item on the list. Regardless of the type of customer, remember this: customers may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. It is widely accepted that customers who are better educated about what needs repairing or replacing on their car will feel more satisfied about spending money than those who feel they may have been sold something they didn’t really need. It is imperative that large, complicated and expensive repairs be explained clearly to customers. They need to understand why they are handing over their hard-earned money. This is no easy task, because many repair issues are complex and way over the heads of the average customer. Workshops must have processes in place to manage customer communication in such a way that the workshop’s reputation is upheld and the customer remains loyal.
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"DON’T GET BOGGED DOWN TRYING TO EXPLAIN HOW A PART WORKS" Here are some tips for your process: Build trust Trust is the key reason why customers bring their car to your workshop. Trust is not instant, and it takes time and dedication. • smile and greet customers politely • use their name in conversations • make sure the workshop and office are neat and tidy • follow through with what you promise • prioritise repair lists with your customer • present customers with options. Take your time and read your customer’s body language You may have a long queue of cars that need finishing, but that is irrelevant to your customer. When explaining complicated concepts, give your customers your full attention and explain things slowly. Rushing explanations through will frustrate customers; what you are saying might be basic stuff to you, but totally foreign to them. Read their body language. If you are honest with them, they will let you know by body language or verbally that they understand what you are saying, or if they need more information. Perhaps they just want to pay and be on their way. Don’t get too technical Don’t get bogged down trying to explain how a part works. You will lose 99.9 per cent of them instantly. Rather, focus on the basic role the part plays in the vehicle’s operation. For example, ‘The diesel particulate filter is an exhaust device that traps nasty pollutants like soot and ash before the exhaust pipe lets them out into the atmosphere’. Explain the risks and costs of not repairing or replacing Understanding that a component is damaged might not be enough reason for your customer to get it repaired or replaced. To make their decision, customers need to know what the related risks and costs might be if they don’t get the work done. Risks and costs can be explained like this:
Be aware that different customers will have different reasons for getting something repaired or replaced. For example, a mother with a newborn would hopefully put a higher priority on safety, whereas a delivery driver would put a higher priority on reliability. Show the damaged parts Where possible, show the damaged parts from their car. Seeing the actual damaged part closes the case for most customers. If showing parts is not physically possible, take photos or videos of damage – this is now easy to do on any smartphone. Use educational material Where appropriate, external literature, videos or animations can be called on to help explain complicated concepts. These can be emailed or messaged to customers, allowing them to watch in their own time or before you call them up to discuss the issue. These materials won’t necessarily do the complete job for you, but they give the customer a better understanding of the issue, allowing you to focus more on the actual repair options. Where possible present options Once customers are satisfied that an item needs attention, they will start thinking of possible options – can they carry on for a while before getting the work done; can a second-hand part be used; can an aftermarket new part be used, or must it be a genuine part? Customers very much appreciate being presented with options as it makes them feel in control of the situation. Taking the time to run through their options will enhance your reputation and customer loyalty. As car technology becomes even more complex, this trend is likely to continue and become more commonplace. Taking the time to educate customers and using all available resources and technologies to explain complicated concepts will be a very worthwhile investment for your business.
If you don’t agree to have us carry out this service or repair: • safety – you will be putting the safety of yourself and your family at risk • reliability – the vehicle’s reliability will be impacted and placed in doubt • future cost – it could trigger more damage that will cost more money in the long run.
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 2 3
Trade Volume Rebate for Capricorn Members It can pay to be a Capricorn Member. This year we’re excited to return AUD$15 Million to Members by way of a Trade Volume Rebate.
At Capricorn, we like to think we have the best Members. Through strength and struggle, you demonstrate great resilience, enthusiasm and dedication to the automotive industry. And in perfect demonstration, after another challenging year, we are proud to announce Member purchases from Preferred Suppliers reached AUD$2.59 billion, up 18.43% on 2020’s results – and indeed another record year.
have displayed over the previous 12 months and an injection we can make to Member businesses for their future sustainability. Trade Volume Rebates are awarded as Capricorn Bonus Points and are in proportion to trade account spend. So the more purchases you put on your Capricorn Trade Account, the more you get back from Capricorn and the larger your Trade Volume Rebate.
Because Capricorn is a Member-owned cooperative organisation, our financial results are your results too. They reflect your grit and tenacity, as well as the grit and tenacity of the entire Australian and New Zealand automotive industry. That’s AUD$2.59 billion reinvested in the Capricorn ecosystem, making the Australian and New Zealand automotive industry a stronger, more sustainable place.
It’s another way it pays to be a Capricorn Member.
Due to such a successful year, we are excited to be able to provide a Trade Volume Rebate to all Capricorn M e m b e r s . I n S e p te m b e r y o u w i l l receive a share of AUD$15 million being returned to Members by way of Capricorn Bonus Points.
You will find your Trade Volume Rebate on your September Member statement as part of your Capricorn Bonus Points balance and included as part of your Capricorn Wealth Certificate. Keep an eye on your inbox to receive your Wealth Certificate, that also includes a summary of other financial benefits you have recently received.
The Trade Volume Rebate is a big thank you for the support Capricorn Members 24 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
Every day, in hundreds of ways, we’re striving to support you and your business and show that we really are stronger together. We’re proud to be an organisation that has no ongoing membership fees and instead returns our accumulated value to the people at the heart of our business, our Members.
Easy ways to get more back The Capricorn cooperative model is simple. The more Members spend through their trade accounts, the more they get back. So how can you increase the amount you purchase through Capricorn without increasing your overall business expenses? It's as easy as looking in your Capricorn Purple Pages for more than your parts purchases. You can also purchase products and services essential to running a business on your trade account. From stationery and office supplies to safety and PPE, and even your electricity and internet, you can find a range of Preferred Suppliers offering everything a business needs in the Workshop Equipment and Business Essentials section of your Purple Pages. Look for the green and orange tabs next time you pick up your Purple Pages.
Over 2,000 Capricorn Members told us what they really think about the automotive industry. Find out what they said and how your business compares.
State Of The Nation
Available now at
capricorn.coop/SoN
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. Mechanical & Tyre Service. 79 Woods Street DONALD VIC 3480 Established business of 29+ years. Prominent position in centre of town, covering large rural area. Plenty of area for growth. WIWO. Building not included. Building Leased Owner Retiring. $145,000 plus stock Phone 03 54971 202 Auto Electrical Business For Sale Armidale Northern NSW Long lease or option to purchase strata premises. Currently two auto electricians very busy. Massive potential. $120k + stock. Owner retiring but available for handover. Phone Richard 0427 751 703 Jaguar/Landrover Wrecking Business for sale, in Outer Eastern Melbourne. Established for 40 years. New and Used parts. All equipment inc Hoists, Forklift, Ford Ute, Shelving/Racking, Tools, Office Computers. $75,000 plus stock Ph: 0427270542 Mechanical Workshop, Woodford Qld Fully equip family business servicing the community since 1995. Well established customer base, large 4 bay shed (long lease available) 3 hoists, office, amenities and wash bay. Enquiries 0408767366 or dawnevandriver@hotmail.com
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.
Auto Electrical business in Northern Victoria. Well established business with large customer base. Includes service vehicle, tools, air conditioning equipment. Freehold available. $190,000 plus SAV. Contact Lee 03 5452 1813. Mechanical, Radiator Repair and Parts Supply Business For Sale Gold Coast. Long established, RACQ Approved, Strong Client Base, High Turnover with great potential to expand. Currently managed, also fantastic opportunity for owner operator. Call Alex 0459 424 777 Diesel Fuel Injection Clearance Sale Bosch, Hartridge test benches & tools. CAV, Bosch Zexel, GM Cat spare parts; nozzles, glow plugs filters, service kits, recon fuel pumps & injectors. Engine parts. John 0411 245 131 Business for sale Clermont Motors Central QLD. Includes commercial and 4wd parts, truck and trailer parts, tyres, windscreens, batteries. Customer base consists of mining, farming, grazing, transport and retail clients Growth potential within the region. 1400m purpose built workshop which includes pits, hoists, 3 offices, warehouse, retail display area Email: reception@clermontmotors.com.au
Mechanical Workshop, Alexandra Victoria. Well established business of 10 years with exceptional turnover and profits. WIWO. Rent or freehold options available. All reasonable offers considered. Contact 0409514502 Mechanical Workshop, Yatala Region, QLD 3 Bay fully equipped workshop. Established 1995 with very loyal customer base & various fleet customers. Excellent reputation. New 5 year lease. Phone Alan Minshull 0407 002 148 Mechanical workshop for sale, Port Stephens area NSW. Servicing, repairs, pink/blue slips and more. 5 hoists, well equipped, loyal customer base, long lease. Great location in high-growth town. Email shaznjeff@bigpond.com 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 Mechanical Workshop for sale, Outer Eastern Melbourne. Specialized in German Cars, Family Business for 30 years, Owner retiring, Huge potential to expand, Long lease available, Call: Klaus 0466527707
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. 2 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021
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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 Tim Warren Auto 2nd Prize - 2,000 points OnSite Auto Electrical
Email your answers to ignition@capricorn.coop before the 25th of October. 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 15 words hidden in the jumble. They could be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or backwards. See if you can find them all!
TURBO
REPAIR
CLAIMS
RETAIN
URBANAUT
ECOSYSTEM
COLLISION
EXPO
CHAMPIONSHIP
BONUS
CULTURE
TRADING
DIRECTOR
ENVIRONMENT
MANUFACTURED
CAPRICORN IGNITION OCTOBER 2021 2 7
N O I T N E V N O C Hayman Island e v i s u l c x e n r o c i r Cap
22 5 JUNE - 10 JUNE 20
TION N E V N O /C P O O .C N R RICO BOOK NOW AT CAP
