CIRCULATING IN WANGARATTA, BENALLA, MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MT BEAUTY, BEECHWORTH, YACKANDANDAH, RUTHERGLEN, CHILTERN AND DISTRICTS
NORTH EAST
July 25, 2014
available online - wangarattachronicle.com.au
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Mazda 323: 20 years on Storypage3
SMOOTH RIDE: The Mercedes-Benz GLA is an exciting new option for Ausralians in the small-medium SUV class.
Mercedes Benz GLA, a new SUV option T
he Mercedes-Benz GLA is the German giant’s first entry into the smallmedium SUV class in Australia. It’s already doing well in the sales race as buyers look for the prestige of the three-pointed star in a practical easy to drive machine. Mercedes GLA sits midway between an SUV and a station wagon in its shape. The bold frontal style is very A-Class, with which it shares underbody components, and there’s a real emphasis on the aforementioned three-pointed star. There are strong swage lines in the sides. The taillights share a strong family line with the latest Merc E-Class range. We aren’t sure the bumpy bits along the door sills are to our taste, but there’s no denying they are something out of the ordinary, which is important in this day and age.
By EWAN KENNEDY The big rear diffuser gives the GLA a purposeful appearance, as do the roof racks. Though the body is completely different, the interior is obviously borrowed from the Mercedes A-Class hatch. The centre screen looks like a bit of an afterthought but is easy to see and use with a minimum of driver inattention. Due to long waiting lists in Europe the only model coming to Australia at this stage is the $47,900 turbo-diesel GLA 200 CDI, naturally it’s the subject of our review. The $57,900 turbo-petrol GLA 250 4Matic is due within a few weeks. Australians are the biggest buyers of AMG models in the world on a per capita basis, so the local Mercedes guys are doing their
corporate best to hurry the GLA 45 AMG onto the ships heading downunder. It is to be priced at $79,900 and it’s no surprise that deposits are being paid as I write. The turbo-diesel has a capacity of 2.1 litres (Mercedes uses different mathematical rounding up than we do, and calls it a 2.2-litre). It produces 100 kW of power, and 300 Nm of torque between 1400 and 3000 revs. It comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission and drives only through the front wheels. The standard turbo-petrol displaces 2.0 litres and puts out 155 kW and 350 Nm. It too has a seven-speed auto, but has allwheel-drive. The upcoming AMG turbo-petrol is a highly modified 2.0-litre unit that produces 265 kilowatts and 450 Newton metres.
It drives all four wheels through the highperformance AMG seven-speed Speedshift double-clutch auto. Naturally the emphasis from the AWD setup is better on-road grip rather an off-road work. The Mercedes-Benz GLA range has no fewer than nine airbags, including units providing knee protection for both front seat occupants. It’s a given that it breezed through crash testing to gain five stars. Access is easy as the seats are at just the right height for most people. The rear seats have good legroom even with the fronts well back, and there is space for three teenagers in the rear, but only just. Boot space is good and the area is well shaped and easy to load.
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NORTH EAST
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July 25, 2014
CLASSIFIEDS JAYCO Heritage, 2004, twin axle, roll out awning, toilet/shower/ washing machine, hot water, air cond, battery equipped, sealed road only, fully garaged, 1 owner, suit new buyer, 8 mths reg (Q31131), $30,500 ono. Ph 5721 3460.
TOYOTA Aurion Sportivo 2007, Silver Metallic, (UXH426), automatic, RWC, full service history. 140,000km, 6 stack CD, excellent car in great condition. $12,750 neg Ph 5721 2258 or 0400 058 682.
ALUMINIUM 3.2m Savage KingďŹ sher boat, 6HP Mercury outboard motor and trailer, boat rego NL602, serial number 7968, motor serial number 9494426. Trailer not registered. $1100. Ph 0400 214 202. FG XT 2009, sedan, factory gas, 65,500km, very economical, reliable, drives like new, no reg or RWC, v i n # 6 F PA A A JGSW9C68950, $11,000 ono. Ph 0424 580 025. MAZDA 121 sedan, 1995 manual, one ow n e r, C D p l a y e r, 193,000kms, Nov reg, (UZF147). Phone 0408 529 551. $2800 inc RWC. 1997 Toyota Corolla Seca sedan, in good condition tyres and motor, (OIB853), as is $1000 ono. Ph 5766 2965.
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FALCON AU 2 ute. 227,000km, auto, carry rack and tonneau cover. (SRC045). $4200 with RWC. Ph 0422 125 055.
FORD Laser 2001 XLi 4 door, auto, 176, 200km, v. good cond, RWC, (WJK497), $3100 ono. Ph 0466 569 756.
Mercedes Benz GLA, an SUV option
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2008 Holden Rodeo, 4 door dual cab, auto, 58,000ks, (WOD578), 12 mths reg, RWC, towbar, excellent condition, regretful sale $17,500. Ph Grahame 0412 569 414.
28 Foot Timber Cruiser. Displacement hull, 24hp MD11 Volvo Penta engine. Berthed at a marina in Western Port Bay. Equipped galley, twin berth, ready to ÂżVK RU FUXLVH 0XVW VHOO $12,500. Phone Luke (03) 5723 0115.
2010 Holden Commodore Omega VE series 2011 YAMAHA 2, 93,898km, dual fuel, condiYZ450F, fuel injected, immaculate new chain sprockets tion, $13,500, RWC, and tyre, very clean (YAQ681). Phone Max original bike. $5750 Batey 0419 547308. ono. Ph 0429 862 808.
TOYOTA Hiace LWB van, 2005, 97,000km, 5 spd man, dual fuel, queen size bed, storage, TV/DVD, 3 lights, 12 and 240V sockets in cabin, ideal tradie or weekender vehicle, 12 mths reg (YUU692). $20,000 neg. Ph 0431 555 054.
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„ From page 1 The GLA 200 turbodiesel was noisier than expected in an upmarket vehicle when cold, though it did become noticeably quieter once up to normal operating temperature. The standard Eco setting makes the engine reluctant to get the GLA moving and we found ourselves going for the Sport button almost as soon as we began driving. And, no, we weren’t driving this the way a revhead would, simply using the sort of acceleration most owners would opt for. Torque is good and turbo lag is seldom a hassle. Once the engine is on song there’s strong pull through all the normal rev range. Even using Sport mode the fuel consumption was impressively low. Typically the GLA diesel used six to seven litres per hundred kilometres on the open road and motorways, and eight to
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ten litres around town. The Merc SUV’s suspension is wellbalanced and the steering gives good feedback. It’s no sports car, indeed not even a sports SUV but will do everything most want while keeping them very safe. Comfort is good and the extra suspension travel when compared with the Mercedes A-Class means the GLA is possibly even better than the hatch. Road noise is well isolated and coarse-chip surfaces didn’t intrude as much as in many small to medium European cars. The Mercedes-Benz GLA offers an excellent combination of prestige, practicality and price. The latter puts it into the top end of the affordable class so it’s no surprise that initial sales have been so strong. If you’re halfway interested it might be worthwhile making enquiries at your local dealer sooner rather than later.
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HARRISON & SOLIMO PANELS
NORTH EAST
July 25, 2014
3
Mazda 323: two decades on USED CARS
How much ?
By EWAN KENNEDY
M
azda3 has been at the top of the sales races in Australia many times in the last few years. Today we take a look at how honorable ancestor, the Mazda 323, fares in the used-car market. The 323 was offered with a full range of bodies: four-door sedan, four-door hardtops, fivedoor hatch and station wagon. While the station wagon was withdrawn in 1989, the fivedoor hatchback from 1998 was almost wagon-like in its styling and practicality. Many owners say these later hatchbacks made a perfectly acceptable family car. The sedan from 1994 until 1996 continued to use the old body, first released in 1989, not the sleeker shape of the hardtops and hatchbacks. The Mazda 323 is simple to drive and handles reasonably well for its class and age. It has good ride comfort on most roads, however, rough and ready bush roads can throw the older models about as they have short-travel suspension. Marketing was interesting at times. While the 323 was sold as a regular car for its class several attempts were made to push it up into the luxury segment. Between 1994 and 1998 it even came with the option of a V6 engine. That expensive Mazda 323 wasn’t a success and the company crept quietly back into its usual market area. Still you have to have a go… and the Mazda 323 V6 is something interesting in a used car scene that’s totally dominated by four-cylinder cars. The lovely little V6 1.8-litre unit gave the 323 an exceptionally refined feel. However, it doesn’t always have as much performance as the 1.8-litre four-cylinder, being set
Expect to spend from $1500 to $3000 for a 1994 Mazda 323 sedan; $3000 to $5000 for a 1998 Astina hardtop; and $4000 to $7000 for a 2003 Astina SP20;
Car buying tip The first thing we check on any car inspection is the left-front wheel. Damage there caused by the wheel crunching the kerb is often a sign of poor driving. If there’s damage there the rest of the car may also have suffered. 2001 MAZDA 323 SP20
2002 MAZDA 323 up in the European fashion with a strong emphasis on the top end of the rev range. Four-cylinder units have capacities of 1.6 and 1.8 litres, the 1.6 being by far the most common. Gearbox options are fivespeed manual and either three or four-speed automatic transmission. The three-speed auto was only used on the lower cost models and only until 1996, when it was replaced by a fourspeed. Mazda’s 323 is reasonably
easy to work on, with a simple underbonnet layout. As is often the way with Japanese cars it’s best to remove the complete engine/ transmission assembly when doing anything more than the more basic of repair work. Good amateur mechanics can do smaller jobs, but as always we recommend anything concerning safety should only be done by professionals. Because of the latter day sales success, the Mazda dealer network is widespread and there are dealers in most country
1994 MAZDA 323 ASTINA towns of any size. Spare parts are generally readily available, though some less-common bits for the oldest models are starting to become scarce. Insurance premiums are moderate and we don’t know of any of the major insurers that differentiate between the four and six-cylinder engines. Ford’s Laser shared many components with the Mazda 323, though not the six-cylinder engine, offering a further source for spare parts.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR Sun-damaged paint, at its worst on the horizontal surfaces, can be the result of a car that has spent much of its life in the open air. The interior trim is finished to a high standard and generally stands up well. However, pay particular attention to the condition of the dashpad if the car is getting on in years. Rust is unusual in the Mazda 323s of this era, though it was a major problem in older ones, particularly those with rear-
wheel drive. To be on the safe side check the lower areas of the car’s body, around the front and rear windscreens and the fuel filler cap. Check the engine’s cam-drive belt has been replaced according to the servicing schedule. Failure to do so can cause expensive engine damage. Be cautious of engines that blow smoke from the exhaust, especially under hard acceleration. Let it idle for about a minute before carrying out this test. Manual gearboxes should be light and simple in their operation. Any reluctance to go into a lower gear should be treated as a likely problem. Be wary of an automatic transmission that is either reluctant to change, too eager to change, or which is harsh when it does change gears. Drive the car with the steering on full lock in one direction then the other and listen for clicking sounds from the front-axle universal joints.
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