SEPTEMBER MARCH 2021
Capricorn Exclusive
Convention is back, relax at beautiful Hayman Island! FIREPROOF PROTECTION Helps Member rise from the ashes!
HOW READY ARE YOU? Electric Vehicles
WORKSHOP & OFFICE SUPPLIES With Capricorn Rewards
N O I T N E V d n N a l s I n a m CO y a H e v i s u l c x e n r o c i r p Ca
R E B M E T P E S 3 1 G IN H LAUNC
22 5 JUNE - 10 JUNE 20
CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2021
5 Workshop &
Office Suppliers With Capricorn Rewards
6 Goldrush Winners Latest winners in the Parts Connection Gold Rush announced
7 Fire Protection 8 Electric Vehicles 10 Autonomous Helping Aaron rise from the ashes
How ready are you?
16
Mobility-as-a-Service Autonomous cars will be here in two years
12 Future Ride 14 Member Ride
Strap yourself in for Nissan’s wearable car
A quiet, smooth drive in a battery electric LandCruiser
16 Supercars
Championship 2021 calendar reshuffle
18 A Fine Set of Fins 1960 Cadilac De Vile
20 DriveLife
Check out the 2021 Subaru Outback X
24 TaTBiz Article How to handle complicated jobs
20 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 3
David Fraser Group CEO
CEO’s message
Recently I wrote here about how, as business leaders, we must all learn to balance and prioritise our time, and to be open to reinventing our business models as necessary. The idea was that we can all take small steps to help ourselves rise to the challenges ahead of us. I also pointed out that, as an industry, we have the ability to see the challenges laid out on the road ahead of us. We have time to react to these challenges, I said, but we must act now. Capricorn’s recently released State of the Nation Report 2021 clearly marks out precisely what those challenges are. As the largest ever survey of Capricorn Members (2,075 took part), and a landmark report for our industry, State of the Nation and its findings should be taken seriously. Although it paints a generally very positive picture of the industry today, those of us with one eye on the horizon must pay attention to the report’s warnings. I’ll tackle the most urgent of these warnings over the coming months, but the first big alarm bell I wanted to address was the need to take EVs more seriously. Whether we like it or not, EVs are coming. They might not be driving up onto the workshop apron very often right now, but the major vehicle manufacturers are focused almost exclusively on the development of EV technology and, globally, governments are adopting policies likely to entrench EVs as the future of automotive. Even in Australia, where government policy isn’t yet pushing for electric alternatives, Bloomberg predicts 18% of new cars will be EVs by 2030 and 64% by 2040. Yet 27% of Members told State of the Nation they’re not interested in servicing EVs, and just 17% said their workshop would soon be ready to service electric vehicles. Are we failing to rise to the challenge ahead of us? Have we buried our heads in the sand?
Did you know that 53% of Members are very or extremely concerned about a skills shortage? However only 28% of Members are very or extremely concerned about parts shortages (and 33% are moderately concerned).
This isn’t an argument about EVs being good or bad. It’s all about ensuring successful businesses remain profitable in the long-term. If we don’t start preparing for EVs now — if we don’t train our people and tool up appropriately — we risk being left behind. Those who don’t adapt will be fishing in an ever-shrinking pool, servicing older and older combustion engine vehicles, until one day, they go out of business. Those who show leadership now, and adapt their business model, will be the winners of tomorrow. Yours in cooperation,
David Fraser Group CEO
4 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
Find out more in Capricorn’s State of the Nation report. Available at Capricorn.coop/SoN or via the QR code.
Workshop Upgrades
WORK SHOP & OFFI CE SUPPL IES
There are plenty of new workshop and office products available to claim with your Capricorn Rewards points. Whether you’re looking for a coffee machine to get your team firing, new office equipment or maybe a BBQ for your Friday arvo fry-up, you can find it and more at capricorn.coop/rewards.
Louisiana Hot Cold Smoke Cabinet
Karcher MV6 Multi - Purpose Wet and Dry Vacuum
Orbitsound ONE
Weber Family Q3100
Canon Pixma Endurance G7060 4-in-1 Home Office Printer
Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine
Products subject to availability.
capricorn.coop/rewards CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 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 • AJ Auto Electric • Auto Super Shoppe Forrest Hill • Corunna Auto Services • Orewa Panelbeaters • Ellerslie Automotive & Tyres • Western Mechanical Repairs • Auto Super Shoppe Hamilton Central • Otaua Motors • Jim Russ Panelbeaters 250,000 Preferred Supplier Bonus Rewards Points • Manurewa Automotive Centre 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.
Did you know that despite the global pandemic, Members remain overwhelmingly positive about the automotive industry? One in four Members are not at all concerned about the future impacts of COVID-19 and just one in 10 said the impacts of COVID-19 were a challenge to running a business. Find out more in Capricorn’s State of the Nation report. Available at Capricorn.coop/SoN or via the QR code.
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FIRE PROTECTION HELPS AARON RISE FROM THE ASHES Around midday on 1 February this year, during Perth’s COVID-19 lockdown, a bushfire started in the hills 45 kilometres north-east of the city. Fuelled by strong winds and 38C temperatures, the fire quickly tore through the heavily forested semi-rural communities. During the course of the afternoon, fire crews and water bombers fought an ever-growing and fast-moving fire front. One of the worst impacted was the community of Gidgegannup, where 80% of properties in the Tilden Park estate were lost. For Capricorn Member Aaron Ward, owner of AEW Mechanical and Electrical, the fire still seemed a distant threat. Although his workshop is based on his parents’ property in Gidgegannup, the fire was many kilometres away, on the opposite side of the district. His parents were away in Queensland at the time and on the day of the fire Aaron wasn’t actually at the workshop; he was working for a customer down on the flats in Guildford, about 35 minutes away. “I’d looked on the radar and the fire wasn’t anywhere close to me,” Aaron said. “We weren’t even in the amber (warning) area. “Then I got a call from Emily, my Capricorn Risk Account Manager. She’s obviously quite good at what she does because she’d been looking to see if any Members were likely to be affected by the fire and was keeping an eye on it. She said the fire was moving pretty quickly; it had doubled in size in the last half-hour. She said I might want to get out there.” By the time Aaron got to the house, the daylight “looked like dusk”. The fire was still 5 km away but there was ash falling from the sky and the glare of flames on the horizon. Aaron grabbed his dog and a couple of laptops and fled to safety.
“If it wasn’t for Emily giving us a call, to be honest, we could also have been caught in the flames if we left it any later,” Aaron said. The scale of the fire’s destruction was devastating but, fortunately, Aaron had tools and equipment protection with Capricorn Risk Services. “Realistically, I should have probably covered myself a little bit more,” he said. “But just the fact that I was insured for all my tooling and equipment was a big saviour.” Aaron recommends Members double-check their policies to ensure they have adequate coverage — and particularly recommends checking that damage to customers’ vehicles is covered. Fortunately for Aaron, he is able to do mobile work until he can rebuild his business. The Gidgegannup fire burned almost 11,000 hectares over seven days, destroying 86 homes. Early insurance claim estimates suggest the fire cost $40 million. Aaron received close to $50,000 thanks to his coverage with CRS. If you aren’t a CRS Member, contact CRS to ask about our protection products. Capricorn Mutual Members this year are receiving a Member Loyalty Rebate. In July 2021, $6 million will be shared amongst eligible Members.* Whilst a rebate is not guaranteed in any given year, it is another way in which Capricorn Mutual (a subsidiary of Capricorn Risk Services) demonstrates its commitment to its Members. *If you are a Capricorn Mutual Member, visit capricorn.coop/risk for more information on your eligibility.
The house was lost to the fire. His workshop was heavily warped and the heat had completely destroyed his tools. Several customer vehicles were damaged.
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 SEPTEMBER 2021 7
HOW READY ARE YOU FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES? If a hybrid or an electric vehicle (EV) pulled into your workshop today, would you be able to service it? Unless you’re particularly well prepared, the answer is probably not. And for many workshop owners, why would you be prepared? There are hardly any EVs on the road. According to data published in by the Ministry of Transport there are currently 29,854 EVs registered in New Zealand. We know from Capricorn’s State of the Nation Report 2021, that nine out of 10 Members are not seeing any EVs in their workshops at all.
We asked Jonathan Sampson, Sales and Product Director at automotive educational company Autodata Training, what workshop owners need to do to be ready for EVs. Here are his top tips.
FACE UP TO THE REALITY OF EVS
AVERAGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES SERVICED PER MONTH 3% 3% 7%
3+
But all that is set to change: EVs are coming — and any workshop that wants to keep its doors open in the long term is going to need to get ready. The good news is, right now — before EVs are the norm — is the ideal time to prepare.
17% 28%
17% 25%
14%
15%
State of the Nation asked Members how prepared they are for EVs. Just 17% said they were, or soon would be, ready to service EVs; 27% said they weren’t interested in servicing them at all.
2 1 None
87%
20%
21%
38%
39%
Total full electric & hybrids
Fully electric
Hybrid
8 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
“I think the most common line we get from people in the industry is ‘it’s not coming, mate, and if it does, it’ll finish me off; I’ll just pack up anyway’,” Jonathan said. “But denying EVs are coming is not a formula for longterm success. “It’s not our government that has brought this in, the vehicle manufacturers are out there inventing this new technology because it makes sense for them.
“EVs are coming — and it’s not actually that scary.” According to Bloomberg data, 18 per cent of new cars in Australia should be EVs by 2030 and 64 per cent by 2040.
USE THIS TIME TO GET YOUR TECHNICIANS TRAINED While you might not be seeing any or many EVs now, when they do start rolling in the door you’ll need to be prepared. While there’s much on an EV that will look familiar, it’s a completely different beast to an internal combustion engine — and the electricity it uses is high-voltage, so you want to ensure your technicians know what they’re doing. “Your team should participate in absolutely any training that’s available,” Jonathan said. “They should read any articles they can get hold of, whether that’s in journals from Capricorn or some of the stuff that’s online. “There are many more options in 2021 to upskill yourself than there were 30 years ago when fuel injection came in. It’s about having the appetite and the nous to actually go out there and educate yourself.” Training for EVs now means you won’t be turning them away as they become more common on the road.
KEEP ABREAST OF WHAT’S HAPPENING Similarly, Jonathan said it is important to keep across developments in EVs because customers will be reading about them and will expect their mechanics to be aware of what is happening. “If nothing else, customers are going to start walking in and saying, ‘I read an article the other day that said Ford’s not making any more petrol cars after 2025.’ And if we laugh at that or don’t even know how to respond to that, or that it’s even happening, the customer is going to go away and not come back,” he said.
START INVESTING IN THE RIGHT TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Serving an EV, like servicing any other vehicle that comes into the workshop, means having the right tools to do the job. Jonathan said there is a range of tools workshops will need to invest in.
"ELECTRIC CARS ARE COMING - AND IT'S NOT ACTUALLY THAT SCARY!" “The simplest one is a $1000 ratchet set that’s fully insulated,” he said. “So, it looks like normal ratchets and an extension, but it’s got plastic on it. “There are also some different screwdrivers and pliers and tools like that. Then there’s things like linesman’s gloves, like they use for electricity lines, because when you’re repairing EVs you should wear 1000-volt rubber gloves. “For $3000 or $4000 you can get a range of tools that mean, for example, you can depower and do some work on a Toyota Camry or a Prius. You’re not buying $15,000 scan tools.”
INVEST IN CONFIDENCE Jonathan said it is important that technicians feel confident working with EVs. That means having the right training, understanding the vehicles, feeling comfortable that they understand how to work with electricity, and having the right tools at their fingertips to do the job correctly and safely. “A good place to start is to brush up on your electrical knowledge and skills,” Jonathan said. “You don’t really want to go from no electrical knowledge straight into high voltage on an EV. You really want to get the basics right first.”
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY OF STATE OF THE NATION 2021.
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CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 9
AUTONOMOUS MOBILITYAS-A-SERVICE As we continue to deal with the global pandemic, according to UK-based market research organisation IDTechEx there have been some unexpected advances in global trends “Autonomous cars will be here in two years” has been a standard sentence from the industry for the past five years or so. Now there is good reason to expect autonomous ride-hailing services to hit our roads within three years. So, what has happened in the last year in the world of autonomy to give this confidence boost? Well, a few things, actually. Breaking the previous year down into the most significant advancements: COVID-19 has kickstarted the next phase of autonomous testing, technology maturity continues to more than double year on year, sensor prices are coming down and performance is increasing, and there are genuine autonomous services available, just in very limited conditions.
The impact of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a devastating impact on the world over the past year or so. However, opportunity can often be found in the face of adversity, and this was the case for autonomy. At the beginning of the pandemic, the companies that had been testing autonomous services with safety/backup drivers behind the wheel (Waymo, Cruise, Baidu, Pony, etc.) were forced to cease testing. There was concern about the social contact between the riders and about the safety drivers being a factor in spreading the pandemic. Here is where the opportunity was presented: it seemed that the safest way to continue testing was without the safety driver behind the wheel. In July 2020, AutoX became the first Mobility-asa-Service (MaaS) company to gain a driverless testing licence, a world-first that allowed them to operate driverless vehicles in California. The new licence type allowed them to operate a fully autonomous service in San Jose, limited to roads with a posted speed limit of 45 mph or less. Following that, another six companies have been granted similar licences in California and others have gained licences for parts of China. COVID-19 may have been the catalyst needed to transition from safety-driver-based testing to fully autonomous testing. This is not to say that the industry was not ready for the transition, but
1 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
the pandemic definitely put pressure on the governing bodies to progress to the next step.
Technology maturity MaaS operators have been testing their autonomous solutions in California since 2015, and since then they have been publishing reports about the performance of their systems. The most important outcome from this data is the miles per disengagement metric, which describes the average distance an autonomous vehicle can travel without human intervention. Analysis of this data shows exponential growth in the miles per disengagement, with the figure more than doubling each year. By extrapolating this growth, it is predicted that within three years autonomous vehicles will be performing more safely than the average American driver. Although there are still obstacles to overcome, such as testing in more urbanised areas and the establishment of cost-effective sensor suites, Waymo and Cruise have recently gained permission to test in the urban centres of San Francisco.
Sensor advancements and price reductions Apple driving down prices of LiDAR While Apple is perpetually generating hype when it comes to autonomy, it has inadvertently had an enormous impact when it comes to sensors. In November 2020, Apple announced its new model line-up and new features, one of which was the implementation of LiDAR on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro. Apple is using the ranging features of LiDAR to improve distancing for autofocus and improve augmented reality features. However, the knock-on effect of this mass-market adoption of LiDAR is the price reduction of key components applicable to automotive LiDAR. Velodyne has said their Velarray H800 LiDAR unit will have a price tag of less than $500, a massive reduction compared to the approximately $10,000 price tag of only a couple of years ago. LiDAR is a vital sensor for autonomous vehicles. It provides image quality sufficient for object classification, like a camera, while also bringing the night-time performance and ranging abilities of a radar. This is particularly crucial for night-time operation, where a camera struggles with poor light and radar cannot provide enough image quality. There are now sensor suites for autonomous vehicles with seven LiDAR units ; therefore, being able to source LiDARs at a reasonable price is vital for the mass production of MaaS-ready vehicles.
Imaging radars coming to market Another sensor advancement to get excited about is the emergence of imaging radars. Current radars have 12 virtual channels, similar to pixels in a camera, which allow them to detect an object and return its distance and speed. When fused with information from a camera, this is incredibly powerful as the system can detect an object (another car, for example), classify it using the wealth of data from the camera, then attach an accurate speed and distance using the radar. However, when the camera is not functioning well (for example, at night, in direct light, in heavy fog), then the only information the system has is an object at x distance moving at y miles per hour. This is clearly not sufficient to operate autonomously as the object detected could be an innocuous bridge to drive under or a stationary vehicle. This is where imaging radars come in. Imaging radars have approximately 200 virtual channels, which allow them to make the distinctions described above. Furthermore, others are planning to bring a radar to the market with 2,000 virtual channels, with one supplier, who is currently in the start-up phase, already agreeing to supply 400,000 units to the sector. These advancements in the cost and performance of sensors certainly provide a little more confidence in the growing performance of autonomous vehicles.
So, are we there yet? It appears that we are. Today you can pay for a driverless autonomous vehicle to pick you up and take you to your destination in a fully autonomous service. The service is provided by Baidu, and your destination must be one of eight stops around the Shougang Park area of Beijing. While this is a limited example with only 10 vehicles in operation, it is happening, and it is only a small progression from other autonomous services that are not yet commercial. AutoX, for example, recently celebrated 100 continuous days of driverless testing in the city of Shenzhen, China. There are also eight companies testing driverless MaaS in California and neighbouring states, with many offering fully autonomous services in limited areas. The next steps are likely to be the commercialisation of the current testing sites. Then a progressive rollout from suburbs to cities, then from cities to more cities, much in the same way as Uber was expanded city by city at the start of the last decade. Some of the MaaS providers are saying 2023 will see the start of this rollout and, according to current analysis, this doesn’t seem a million miles away.
FUTURE RIDE
STRAP YOURSELF IN FOR NISSAN’S WEARABLE CAR
1 2 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
If this is the future: Strap. Us. In. Nissan has released a futurist concept called the GT-R X 2050, which marks a revolutionary change in the way we think about road travel. It’s more like a suit with wheels than anything we might call a car. It’s 66 cm tall, less than three metres long, and about a metre and a half wide. The driver lies down on their stomach with their limbs stretched out towards each tyre (like an X, hence the X in the name). A special helmet projects the front vision camera and the driver manoeuvres the vehicle directly using brain power. This isn’t a car you simply drive; this is a car you wear. It’s more of an exoskeleton than a vehicle, more an electric-powered road suit than an actual car. Sure, it looks a little like someone crossed a gocart with a Roomba vacuum cleaner (and you better hope there are no speed humps in the future) but we are 100% here for this design. After all, this is the kind of future we’ve been promised by science fiction movies for years. OK, so obviously the GT-R X 2050 is fullon fantasy right now. The 2050 in the name suggests this technology is the best part of three decades away. It was designed by South Korean-born student JB Choi, as a final-year project for art college. He was doing an internship at Nissan Design America in California at the time he created it and Nissan, knowing a cool thing when they’ve nurtured it, decided to build a full-size model.
While this concept is obviously very futuristic, there are some nods in the design to the GT-R we know. There’s the slab-like side profile, the signature four circular tail-lights, red feature stripes, and a front end clearly inspired by Nissan’s V Motion grille. We also suspect, given the one-piece wheel-tyre units allow the vehicle to turn 360 degrees, they’re probably even more fun to drift than the GT-Rs we know today. There are obvious shortcomings. It’s a oneoccupant car, so you’re not exactly doing the school run in it. There doesn’t seem to be room for so much as a bag of groceries. You’re driving on your belly and you have to wear a special drive suit and helmet. Many of us might be concerned about brain-powered control, given the concentration levels required to drive a longer distance. Not to mention the eggcracking potential of a head-first design. But look, none of that is the point. This is some “blue sky” thinking; a total reimagining of what transportation could be in the future. And it comes at precisely the time our industry needs to be open to invention, exploring innovation, and embracing exciting ideas. This is just such an idea. It’s a concept. What the reality of road transportation in 2050 looks like, we don’t yet know. But given some of the ideas incorporated into this design (like brain-tovehicle controls) are already being developed by Nissan, perhaps the GT-R X 2050 isn’t such a fantasy after all? Whatever the future looks like, at least Nissan is suggesting it might be bucketloads of fun.
CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 1 3
MEMBER RIDE
A Quiet, Smooth Drive
in a Battery Electric LandCruiser. This Australian workhorse has been transformed by removing the diesel drive train and replacing it with a fully battery electric drive train. The vehicle is the brainchild of Dave Mitchell, founder and owner of High Performance Diesel (HPD), who set up a new company called ZERO Automotive to design and build zero-emission Toyota Series 79 LandCruisers. “The vehicle is called a ZED70, for Zero Emissions Drive,” Dave said, “and it has a number of promising applications that may cause people and businesses to prefer it over its diesel equivalent. These include environments where air quality is a concern such as underground or in the wilderness like National Parks or the Antarctic, where noise is a concern such as safari parks, or where robustness and maintenance cost reduction are required such as mining. You may prefer it because it is doing the right thing environmentally for future generations.” The original prototype build took Dave a year as there were a significant number of technical and design issues to resolve and parts to procure and fabricate for the first time, coupled with running HPD. The ZED70 was launched in Adelaide at the end of 2019.
Soon after, ZERO Automotive responded to a tender from OZ Minerals for an electric light vehicle and was successful in their submission against nine other bidders. The outcome was that Dave had to develop a new vehicle which was dubbed the ZED70 Ti to reflect the Lithium Titanate Oxide batteries that were used in it. “The two different battery chemistries used in the vehicles provide the ZED70 and ZED70 Ti with different performance characteristics for different operating conditions,” Dave said. “The ZED70 gives greater range on a charge so is preferred for jobs where longer range is required, while the ZED70 Ti provides longer total life and can be used in multiple chassis where they are subject to arduous environmental conditions such as underground mining,” Dave explained. Whichever one you prefer, you can rest easy in the knowledge that they are designed and built in Australia.
Did you know that since 2020, New Zealand Members have doubled their training investment for themselves to eight hours a month, and 14 hours for their staff? However, Australian workshops are more than twice as likely as New Zealand Members to be using software to measure efficiency.
Find out more in Capricorn’s State of the Nation report. Available at Capricorn.coop/SoN or via the QR code.
Hard work has its rewards.
Got your eye on a new Weber BBQ? Now you can get it, or something better, with Capricorn Rewards.
Spend your points at capricorn.coop/rewards
Participation in the Capricorn Rewards Program is subject to the Capricorn Rewards Terms and Conditions available at capricorn.coop/tc.
SUPERCARS RESHUFFLE 2021 CALENDAR
1 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
By Paul Marinelli
Just as it did in 2020, the pandemic has continued to wreak havoc on the Supercars Championship calendar given the year’s several and varied national State and Territory lockdowns, border closures and area-specific restrictions. Even the Holy Grail of Australian Motorsport, the Repco Bathurst 1000, won’t take place in its traditional first or second weekend of October date this year and sadly our New Zealand mates won’t be seeing the Supercars across the ditch for a second year in a row. This is a particularly bitter pill to swallow for Kiwi motor racing fans as their pride of the nation, Red Bull Commodore driver Shane Van Gisbergen, heads for his first championship title in what has and continues to be a season of domination for the supremely talented 32-year-old driver. Joining New Zealand in losing a local Supercar event in 2021 is Western Australia, as ongoing restrictions have forced the Perth Supernight event to be postponed to next season. Perth’s Wanneroo Raceway has been the scene of many epic Supercar battles over the decades and fans both inside and outside of our westernmost state will no doubt miss it greatly. Making the best of this situation, Supercars Australia organisers along with their teams will be attempting to see out a full season of modified events and the news is good for Australian motor racing fans. Following the mid-season break, which allowed full coverage of the Tokyo Olympic Games to be completed on the Seven Network, the Supercars returned to action on the exciting and technically challenging Winton Raceway in rural Victoria on October 2 and 3. The Supercar teams and drivers will then take over the date vacated by the cancellation of the Australian MotoGP at Victoria’s Phillip Island over the weekend of October 23 and 24. This highspeed seaside racing circuit hasn’t seen Supercar action since 2019.
Australia’s Great Race and one of the world’s most famous Touring Car endurance races, the Repco Bathurst 1000, will now take place over the first weekend of November. All the many thousands of Bathurst BBQs across Australia and New Zealand will need to be moved to Sunday, November 7 for six and a half hours of incredible motorsport across the majestic Mount Panorama circuit. Sydney Motorsport Park will be able to showcase the venue’s outstanding new lighting system when the penultimate round of the Supercars Championship, the Beaurepaires Sydney Supersprint, takes place from November 19 to 21. The grand finale for the season will be held on the unforgiving Surfers Paradise Street Circuit from December 3 to 5. The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is sure to be an exciting event to end this second disrupted season, with the circuit’s ruthless concrete walls allowing absolutely zero margin for error across what will be a very busy racing weekend. Some of these events will also feature the world’s fastest one-make motor racing series, the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship, along with a number of other support categories including the Super 2 and Super 3 Championships, showcasing the young guns seeking to become the Supercar stars of the future. According to Supercars Australia CEO Sean Seamer, “These are challenging times for all sporting codes, which is why we have had to remain flexible with our calendar arrangements and make significant changes where required. Our goal is to make sure that we deliver some amazing racing over the rest of the 2021 championship.” Hopefully, the remaining calendar of events for the Repco 2021 Supercars Championship remains intact, but of course all events remain subject to change based on State and Federal restrictions as they continue to be updated. Capricorn Travel can assist you with all travel arrangements to place you trackside at any of these events, using your Capricorn Reward points to take a well-deserved high-octane break.
Did you know that Member workshops receive 34 vehicles a week on average? That’s up 4% on 2020.
Australian workshops average 31 vehicles and NZ workshops 42. Find out more in Capricorn’s State of the Nation report. Available at Capricorn.coop/SoN or via the QR code.
CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 1 7
A FINE SET OF FINS Is there anyone who doesn’t love a car with tailfins? They’re very much of a time and place but, more than 60 years after the peak of their popularity, a shiny pair of fins still stops people in their tracks. They may have fallen out of favour with car manufacturers, but punters still love them. One of those punters is Capricorn Area Manager for New South Wales, Nick Casu — and we’ve bent the definition of “Member Ride” this month to show you his fantastic 1960 Cadillac de Ville. It was Cadillac who first introduced tailfins, and the Cadillac de Ville is probably the most famous and recognisable finned car produced during that golden era of American automotive manufacturing. “I have loved the 1959 and 1960 Cadillacs since I was little, due to the big fins and the size of these cars,” Nick said. Not content to admire these beautiful machines from afar, Nick began the search for a Cadillac for a restoration project. “I did two trips to Queensland and one to Victoria,” he said. “I did two car inspections over the internet for cars located in the USA. I finally found this one in Newcastle (NSW) and I’ve now had this car for 10 years.” It has the original 390 big-block engine and a Jetaway automatic transmission.
1 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
Nick has been busy getting the de Ville just the way he wants it and giving it the mechanical and aesthetic attention it deserves. He’s rebuilt the drive train and reconditioned the engine, transmission and diff. All the chrome and stainless steel has been rechromed and polished. He’s added three-layer pearl orange paint and a cream leather interior and 22-inch deep dish wheels (alongside a front 6 pot caliper disc conversion). A read disc conversion and adding air conditioning are still on the project’s to-do list. The results of Nick’s hard work are clear to see. It’s a stunning car. And while Nick mostly uses it for family drives and takes it to the occasional car show, it’s no surprise the de Ville has been in demand for family events — playing a key role in Nick’s son’s christening and his cousin’s wedding. What’s in store for the car in the future? Fittingly, given Nick’s obsession with this finned car began as a small boy, he’s promised the de Ville to his own young son. “So, hopefully it will stay in the family for a while to come,” Nick said. The love of cars with tailfins is clearly here to stay for another generation.
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CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 1 9
DRIVELIFE
2021 SUBARU OUTBACK X More of everything Written by DriveLife online
The Subaru Outback is one of those vehicles which has developed a local icon status within New Zealand. Sure, it’s not as ubiquitous as a Toyota Hilux, or a Ford Ranger for that matter, but the Outback has always identified with a Kiwi’s adventurous spirit. For this reason, the Outback has always been an appealing vehicle, offering practicality, comfort, ruggedness, and 4WD capability. It did the crossover thing, before crossovers even started pretending to.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It’s not surprising that the Subaru Outback has a bit of a legacy – no, not the Subaru Legacy – but one forged on its own merits. Those who own an Outback tend to love them, and in the past, I completely understood why.
It would make sense if they were, because this Outback looks massive!
This model marks the seventh generation of Outback, which Subaru has dubbed the G.O.O.A.T – the Greatest Outback of All Time. Let’s put that theory to the test.
THE RANGE The Subaru Outback is offered with three different models in its line-up. • • •
Outback - $49,000 Outback X - $54,990 Outback Touring - $57,490
When Subaru calls this Outback the G.O.O.A.T, or the Greatest Outback Of All Time, how literal are they being? Is Subaru referring to size?
Even though this is a wagon, Subaru calls the Outback a “Large SUV” on their website. This probably goes against the grain for those that know the Outback as a wagon, but I am starting to see SUV proportions with the new model. Although the Outback has grown for the seventh generation, it isn’t actually much larger than its predecessor. The size perception is mainly due to the beltline of this Outback, making it look huge. Also, my historic perception of the size of the Outback comes into play here. Compare this model with the ubiquitous third generation Outback, which is commonly seen all over New Zealand, and
2 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
the perceived size difference will seem substantial, despite that it’s mainly the width which is the difference between them. So yes, it looks big. But otherwise, it’s all rather pleasing to look at. I especially like the Outback X’s green badging and accents; they’re pretty cool. The LED front and rear lights look sharp too. Our black press vehicle hides much of the body detail, but if you manage to spot a lighter-coloured one (particularly an Outback Touring), the Outback is demonstrably a handsome machine.
INTERIOR If you’ve experienced any previous generation Outback, you’ll appreciate that the interiors are often well equipped, but geared towards being utilitarian over luxurious. This new Outback nearly flips that notion on its head — so significantly that it might present a culture shock for some.
Stepping inside the new model, you can immediately tell that Subaru has aimed for a more luxurious experience for the occupants. My first encounter left me genuinely astounded. The material choices, the abundant use of leather across several surfaces, the contrasting green stitching, the styling and geometry of the cabin: it’s all highly impressive. The attention to design and detail is a major step up from Subaru, which if I’m being blunt, hasn’t always been the brand’s strong suit. After you’ve finished marvelling at the interior, you’ll soon begin to appreciate the amount of space inside the cabin. I am not exactly a short bloke, but the amount of free real estate in the headroom department made me feel on the short side. The same courtesy is extended to the rear, where passengers will find ample headroom and leg room. This brings us to seating, which from my experience, is an area that Subaru consistently gets right. The front seats are excellent; they’re plush and supportive. There’s plenty of configurability in both the driver’s and passenger’s seats to set yourself up optimally. The only criticism I would make is that the seat base is slightly on the shorter side, meaning that you may be a tad short on under-thigh support. All four seats are heated in the X model, which is a nice plus. The seats and parts of the interior of the Outback X are wrapped in a water-resistant, two-tone leather (grey/ black), which should suit those into water sports. Being a wagon, the Outback has a massive boot. There’s plenty of little utilities back there too, including a number of tether points, plus some door handle style seat releases, making it super easy to put the rear seats down. The space in this wagon is easily on par, if
not better, than many similarly priced large SUVs. A common thought amongst buyers, and an obvious advantage of SUVs, is that higher ground clearance makes ingress and egress easier for those with stiffer joints. Although a wagon, the Outback offers high ground clearance and thus a level entry point. Climbing inside is therefore easy as! With all the discussion directed to space, seats and materials, we should move to perhaps the most noteworthy change to the Outback’s interior, and that’s the new 11inch infotainment system. The screen has a portrait orientation, which is a similar layout to modern Volvos. The screen is segregated into three zones. Those familiar with Subaru’s technology will recognise the Subaru’s Starlink interface (only scaled up a bit) occupying most of the centre of the screen. Up top is the X-mode display, which is usually separated to another screen in other Subaru models, like the Impreza and XV (LINKS). Down the bottom, there’s soft controls for the climate control and front heated seats. I love the concept of what Subaru is doing with the infotainment system. Unfortunately, it seems the system left the factory in need of an update. Subaru’s user interface (UI) is friendly enough and resolution is good, but the system is a bit clunky and sometimes will noticeably lag between touching the screen and the system executing the command. There are also other parts of the UI which aren’t so well thought out. For example, on the lower screen with the climate controls, Subaru has needlessly made a simple onestep process of turning on heated seats into a frustrating two-step process. The soft button for the front heated seats control is combined with the climate temperature, meaning when you press the button for the heated seats, another entire menu for both functions pops up, requiring another interaction to turn the seats on.
It’s even more absurd when you realise the integration of the climate temperature is totally unnecessary, as you can adjust the temperature using the physical controls on the screen bezel. It’s far simpler turning on the rear heated seats, which use a physical button. Yet, it’s not all bad. A redeeming quality of the infotainment centre is all the exterior cameras connected to it. The camera displays have decent resolution and refresh rates. The infotainment system is connected to a six-speaker audio system which, unfortunately, is another weak point of the Outback’s interior. I have mentioned in other reviews that the number of speakers in a car does not matter if they’re incorrectly set up. Six speakers with good amplification should be enough to perform in a satisfactory manner. For our test vehicle, the Outback X, I found the audio quality to be quite poor. The speakers sound tinny, with no real depth to the soundscape. The speakers fail to capture the lows well, and the highs are mediocre. Furthermore, the focal point of the sound seems to be well in front of the driver and passenger, even with the system on its most balanced settings. For a vehicle that will inevitably be used for cross-country touring, a good sound system is a must, and therefore this feels like an oversight from Subaru. It is worthwhile noting that the Outback Touring appears to remediate this issue, offering an upgraded Harman Kardon system. However, it would be appreciated if Subaru could fix this for the commoner folk in base and mid spec vehicles. Overall, the interior of the Outback is a proper step forward for range and for Subaru. It’s well designed, and exceptionally spacious and comfortable. However, there are some clear oversights on the technology front, which could benefit from improvement.
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 anyC A P R I C O R N I G N I T I O N S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 2 1 material in this article.
PROS rpm hang. Subaru says that more than 80% of the structural parts have been improved. The result? You get a (mostly) well-behaved CVT, which is exactly what you should want.
• • • • • •
I am somewhat sceptical of a CVT being used on an Outback. A CVT just doesn’t seem rugged enough, nor the most durable choice, for a vehicle which is off-road capable. Nonetheless, there are plenty of videos on YouTube of the Outback being bush-bashed and holding up perfectly well.
THE DRIVE As part of the Outback’s adventurous image, it’s an unspoken requirement that it needs to be able to cover miles comfortably, especially across New Zealand’s varying road surfaces. It also needs to be adept on twistier roads, have the guts for a passing lane, and occasionally have the ability to competently tow. This means there’s somewhat of a heavy expectation upon the Outback. So how does she go? Starting with the engine, powering the Outback range is a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder Boxer engine producing 138 kW of power and 245 Nm of torque. This is paired with Subaru’s lineartronic CVT transmission, which drives all-four wheels via Subaru’s symmetrical AWD.
Speaking of off-road, you may have already noticed the Outback ground clearance — the whole 213 mm of it. This means it has proper usable ground clearance, and it isn’t simply masquerading as an off-roader like the majority of the SUV market. That ground clearance does offer decent elevation for outward visibility, but not quite as much as you’d get from the SUV competition. On the subject of visibility, the Outback has great side and rearward visibility, devoid of any major blind spots. Above all, the real attribute to write home about is the ride quality. The Outback’s ride quality is truly superb, akin to a couch on wheels. The Outback glides over bumps, making easy work of managing New Zealand’s varied road surfaces. Although I had mentioned the engine can be noisy, the cabin is nice and quiet at cruising speeds. The Outback is great for chewing through open road miles.
The performance from the engine and gearbox duo is satisfactory, but I wouldn’t call it ample. There’s plenty for the dayto-day, and enough juice for a passing lane. However, drivers will notice a lack of immediacy, stemming mainly from sparse low-mid range torque carrying a relatively heavy body. Peppy, the Outback isn’t. But it’s not slow either. More frustratingly, the engine sounds a bit exasperated when pushed for the power, but this is a trait of the Boxer engine and of the Subaru range. I’ve generally noticed there’s enough power available, but the accompanying sound is disproportionate to what is being delivered. The CVT transmission also scores a satisfactory mark. It’s considerably better than older Subaru units, and has been continually improved to increase robustness and reduce CVT flaring or high 2 2 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
Ride Comfort SUV practicality Well-finished interior Standard equipment levels Comfortable seating everywhere Actual off-road capability
CONS • • • • • •
Laggy infotainment Meh speakers Irritating Driver Attention Monitoring system Jerky stop/start Annoying indicator stalk Eyesight still beeps too much
Because of the comfort bias, the Outback does roll a bit through corners, but Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive helps the Outback retain a reassuring footing on the road, meaning it does not ever feel out of control if you are moving quickly. The all-wheel drive system is prone to some understeer, but you’d be a lunatic to fly through every corner in a vehicle this large. Subaru does blunt the steering, meaning every input needs to be a bit more deliberate, but it gives it a nice sturdy feel when cruising at higher speeds. The Outback is equipped with Subaru’s latest Eyesight technology (Eyesight 4), which controls the adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. Subaru calls the system “Eyesight” because it utilises a series of cameras (eyes) mounted up near the rear-view mirror. The older tech (Eyesight 3) generally worked well, but it had some rougher edges. Eyesight 4 has ironed out the kinks, meaning many of the assistance systems are better adjusted and less prone to false positives. The adaptive cruise control in the Outback operates smoothly, and functions down to a halt. However, Subaru hasn’t corrected my main gripe with Eyesight, which is all the unnecessary beeps the system produces. For example, the adaptive cruise will beep every time it locks onto another vehicle. No other manufacturer I’ve encountered does this, and it can’t be turned off either. Annoying. So far, the Outback has delivered a great driving experience. The ride quality is exceptional, and the slightly weaker points, being the engine and transmission, are still competent performers.
DRIVELIFE
2021 SUBARU OUTBACK X
Unfortunately, this part of the review is where I begin to discuss some major annoyances with the Outback — many of them technology related. Like many modern cars, Subaru has fitted a start/ stop cycle to the engine to shut it down when idling in traffic. Many vehicles have this today, so what’s the problem? Well, the sequence is harsh and slow to initiate. Unlike Volkswagen group products, where their cars are far too eager to cut out on you, Subaru has the opposite problem. However, this isn’t a problem specific to the Outback, as I’ve come across it before in other vehicles of the Subaru range. My next frustration is with the Driver Attention Monitoring system, which is one of those features that sounds far better on paper than it actually is in practice. It’s designed to alert the driver when their attention strays from the road. In reality, it just becomes a system that reminds you when you’re scratching your face. It also triggers quite liberally and with the similar beep sound as the other safety systems. We mentioned before that Subaru’s Eyesight already beeps unnecessarily, so all the Driver Attention Monitoring system does is contribute more indifferentiable beeps for the driver to focus on. I can imagine the alert would get ignored most of the time, which makes you question why they spent money developing it in the first place. Last, and the worst point of all, is the indicator stalk. That’s a weird complaint – what’s the issue? Subaru has gone the way of BMW in the 2000s, where they redesigned the function of the indicator
stalk. Essentially, rather than ‘fixing’ into place when you turn it on, it will return to its resting position before you’ve rounded the corner. This makes cancelling the indicator a pain, and you’ll usually bump it too far and it’ll start signalling the other side! Also, no other Subaru within the range has this indicator! So why on earth would you change such a universal standard that people are familiar with across virtually all other manufacturers? It’s genuinely such a pain. Modern BMWs no longer have this indicator set up, showing they had learned their lesson. Furthermore, you’re unlikely to get used to it unless this is your only vehicle. Honestly Subaru, this is such a big mistake.
CONCLUSION The title of this review is “more of everything”. This manifests itself in good and bad ways. Subaru has absolutely gone to town on this Outback, introducing many new features, functions and luxuries which will blow away any contemporary Outback owner. It’s super capable and equally as practical, has heaps of equipment and is utterly comfortable. It really challenges the necessity for an SUV. Yet in the process of this overhaul, Subaru has introduced some problems and, for me, some of them are truly aggravating. These issues mainly relate to the infotainment UI, the Driver Attention Monitor system, and that annoying indicator stalk.
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
8
PERFORMANCE
7
SAFETY
8
STYLING
7
VALUE
8
Although, the most frustrating part is that older Outbacks are the complete opposite. When Top Gear was presented by three well-known lads, they unanimously agreed that the Outback was one of two vehicles in existence that would never annoy you. I suspect they wouldn’t extend the same courtesy to this Outback, allegedly the greatest of all time. To wind back on the criticism, I should answer the overarching question, and that’s whether the new Outback is any good? My answer is Yes. It’s excellent from a driver’s point of view. It’s so capable and so comfortable that if I were the sort that hits the road for the holiday period, I’d buy this in a heartbeat. Yet, there’s a handful of features in this Outback which are crying out for improvement. If Subaru fixed these, you’ll have an Outback that’s nearly unbeatable. Overall, Subaru has somehow managed to make the best and yet the most annoying Outback to date. More of everything, I suppose.
CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 2 3
Handling complicated jobs - by Jeff Smit
Fixing an ailing car was once a relatively straightforward, almost simplistic job, compared to what the average workshop faces today. The role of today’s technicians is very high-tech and extremely complex. In the space of about 30 years, job descriptions have changed dramatically, both for those just starting out on the tools, and people like me who have been forced to adapt or disappear. From my position as a trainer, I still see workshops wrestling with complicated jobs. Some know how to cope with this new and complex world, but many are still struggling. In the tips that follow, don’t expect to find any practical technical solutions, but you will note that state of mind plays a big role in the management of complicated jobs. In a way, workshops have had to undergo a big culture change. Workshop staff need to adopt a different mindset about the work that they are being asked to do. They must accept that more complicated jobs will be on their doorstep on a more regular basis. Once that fact of life is accepted, they can move to the next step – identifying complicated jobs early, adapting work procedures in order to protect the business and its reputation , and establishing a communication path with vehicle owners to ensure that both parties are on the same page and understand the diagnostic and repair process. This in itself is not as easy as it sounds. It has taken me many years to gain the confidence to look a customer in the eye and inform them that their vehicle’s problems are most likely not going to be an easy or cheap fix. Another thing workshop owners and their technicians need to accept is that nobody can know everything. It is not possible for any technician to have experienced every potential problem on every make and model of vehicle. It is most likely that there will be a technician somewhere
24 CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021
who will know more about the issues affecting your customer’s vehicle than anyone in your workshop. Once this reality is accepted, you can understand why I regularly describe general aftermarket workshops as general practitioners – GPs. So following the medical analogy, this means that workshop GPs will sometimes need to consult a specialist for guidance with a particular problem. And like the medico GP, some of your customers may need to be referred directly to a specialist. In auto parlance, that’s called subletting a job, and that’s something all workshops should be doing more often. Aftermarket workshops exist because they solve problems, but not every job has a simple fix. It is not necessary (nor is it good for business) for workshops faced with a complicated job to accept defeat on any complex repair issue. Do that often enough, and it won’t be long before your customers take their problems elsewhere. What follows are 10 tips on how to handle complicated jobs in a way that will protect your reputation and enhance your standing in the eyes of your customers. 1. Make connections, not enemies Don’t allow a complicated job to stifle strategic thinking and professional job management. Find a way to connect with fellow technicians and build camaraderie. There are many networks and groups to join and share, TaT being one of them. If you are part of a bigger team, the chances of a challenging job getting the better of you are far fewer than if you try to cope on your own. 2. Try something new Don’t get stuck in a rut. Just because a job has always been done your way, doesn’t mean it will always be the right way. These are different vehicles, remember. Don’t stubbornly reject that there might be a new way of approaching your complex job. Charting a new way of doing something will stimulate your brain, causing a surge and release of endorphins, leading to a feeling of satisfaction. 3. Leave work at work When you knock off at the end of a harrowing day with a complex job, leave the job in the workshop. Don’t take it home with you. This is hard to do if you take your job seriously, but leaving problems at the workshop is more important than you think. Even the biggest of thinkers benefit from a good night’s sleep, and you won’t sleep unless you go home with a clear mind. 4. Check your attitude A positive mental attitude plays a bigger part in the workshop dynamic than most would believe. Your frame of mind can lead to frustration if you let it. Thinking outside the square is often where the answers are found. A positive mindset delivers positive results while a negative mindset delivers – you guessed it – negative results.
5. Keep showing up Don’t play truant on a difficult job. Shirking your responsibilities and withdrawing will only make the situation worse. Start a complicated job by finding out what works, note that down and keep going. Each time you rule out what the problem isn’t, you are one step closer to finding out what the cause is. 6. Shift your perspective When you feel poorly and frustrated about a job and you can’t see a way out, change your perspective. Until you change your perspective, the misery will only expand. Put yourself in another person’s shoes and look at the situation from a different point of view. Perhaps you are interpreting things in one way, whereas there could be many more interpretations. Give yourself time to think of what they might be. 7. Don’t suffer in silence Be open and honest with yourself and your team, or network, about the difficulty you’re having. Share your challenges with other technicians and you might be surprised at the response. Sharing is a two-way street, remember, so you must make yourself available to help others. Everyone has information they can share. 8. Seek opportunities Try thinking about what the job can do for you, rather than what you can do for the job. There may well be opportunities for your team to learn about something new or to learn a new skill. There could be members of your own staff or people in your wider network who you can connect with for mentorship. Industry networks can expose you to a bigger picture, and seeing a bigger picture is often a pathway to opportunities. 9. Take control Complicated jobs can be stressful, but you can maintain control by the way you respond to it. Complicated jobs will nearly always demand a difficult conversation with the owner of the vehicle. But remind yourself that the problem is not yours – it is the vehicle owner’s problem. You are the technician trying to resolve the issue, so don’t take ownership of the problem. 10. Review and assess It’s important to take a step back and review everything leading up to the current situation in an objective manner. It helps to write down everything from the start. This will enable you to revisit any part of the job later, with accuracy. These notes can also be very handy when dealing with your network – much more useful than a verbal report on the steps you have taken and the results you have uncovered. These notes can also form part of the final invoice, justifying the labour costs and presenting a professional picture to your customer, detailing the great effort your workshop has expended to fix the problem.
CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 2 5
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 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
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.
Fully Equipped Mechanical Workshop For Sale Established 30+ years. Specialising in Italian cars. Thomastown location. Strong customer base. Long lease available. Phone Sandra 0417392998
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
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
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
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
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. 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
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.
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LAST MONTH'S ANSWERS LAST MONTH'S WINNERS 1st Prize - 4,000 points Mirror Finish Panelworx 2nd Prize - 2,000 points Boyds Garage
Email your answers to ignition@capricorn.coop before the 25th of September. 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!
FUEL
LEADERSHIP
PRINTER
TRAIN
TAILFIN
CHALLENGE
MEDIA
LANDMARK
CALENDAR
PREPARE
ELECTION
COMBUSTION
MOBILITY
SUPPLIES
ELECTRIC
CAPRICORN IGNITION SEPTEMBER 2021 2 7
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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.
