How much does it
cost to run your car?The answer
is a lot more than you actually think. For example, the Kia
Rio is the cheapest car to run in Australia says the
automobile authority in Victoria (RACV) and they estimate that
this small car costs around 3,000 baht (AUD 100) per week.
The RACV’s annual Driving Your Dollars
survey analyses the running costs of the top selling cars in
all market segments for private ownership. It factors in
insurance, maintenance, registration, interest payments and
depreciation costs as well as the cost of fuel, based on a
five year ownership period and 15,000 km a year.
While the Kia Rio took out the “light
car” category, Toyota scored the most category wins. In the
big cars, the 3 litre Toyota Camry took the honours at 5,000
baht per week, while in the medium cars, the Camry 2.4L won at
4,800 baht per week. The small car winner was the Toyota
Corolla at just under 4,000 baht.
The survey looks at all the items we prefer
to ignore, such as insurance, maintenance, depreciation and
interest. These are all hefty items. For example, a 2.4 litre
Camry in this country will set you back around 600 baht per
week, just for insurance.
The most expensive vehicle to run in the
RACV survey was also from the Toyota stable, the Landcruiser
GXL six-cylinder turbo diesel 4.2L manual at over 8,000 baht
per week. “The difference between the cheapest vehicle to
run, the Kia Rio, and the most expensive, the Toyota
Landcruiser GXL six-cylinder turbo diesel 4.2L manual, is
about AUD 180 per week,” RACV vehicles chief engineer
Michael Case said. “In other words, you could run three Kia
Rios for every Landcruiser.”
Needless to say, Kia were more than happy
with the result, with Kia Australia managing director Ric Hull
saying the company had been working hard to match the
value-for-money purchase price of Kia products with the lowest
possible ownership costs. “We have taken a sharp pencil to
all the costs on which we can have an effect and these results
show that our efforts have borne fruit,” he said.
With the keen competition between Toyota
and Honda in this country, it would be interesting to see some
(honest) comparison figures here too.
|
Auto trivia
Quiz
Last week I wrote that 917’s were
legendary vehicles, with some engines producing more than
1,500 BHP and performance figures such as 0-100 kph in 2.1
seconds, 0-160 kays in 3.9 seconds and 0-340 kays in 13
seconds in 1972. Some early 917’s were designated as 917
PA. The question was what did the letters PA stand for?
This was simple - they stood for
Porsche Audi.
So to this week. Take a look at this
photo. It was taken in 1959. The driver is Tony Brooks.
What is the make of the car? Clue - the company is still
producing road going vehicles today.
For the Automania FREE beer this week,
be the first correct answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
|
Mazda MX-5 SE
I have always liked the Mazda MX-5 series.
I had one as my personal drive car for two years in Australia,
and it never let me down in the 100,000 kays I racked up in
that time. The only downside was a lack of grunt as the
chassis/roadholding was just superb. I modified mine by
lowering it slightly with beefier springs, free-flow exhaust
and inlet systems, larger diameter wider wheels and low
profile tyres. Since then, Mazda have done all this
themselves, and now the version with the huffer and puffer has
been released Down-under, and our man on the spot, John
Weinthal has just finished a week of going Zoom-Zoom with the
little red stormer. John describes the car as a serious
contender for the enthusiast’s dollar. Here are the words
from Weinthal.
Mazda
MX-5 SE
“Mazda’s seemingly everlasting MX-5 two
seat convertible now has the option of an engine with the
power enthusiast’s have always craved.
“The MX-5 SE develops 121kW. That’s a
30 per cent boost thanks to intercooled turbocharging and
substantial engine and other modifications to match its new
urge. This 1122kg hotrod has the same power as the 1420kg Alfa
Romeo Spider reviewed last week. It is 1kW less than the AUD
83,000 supercharged Mercedes SLK Kompressor which is more than
200 kg heavier than the AUD 47,500 Mazda. This is a serious
competitor for the intelligent enthusiast’s dollar.
“That assumes that the Mazda is a good
car in itself - a more than satisfying drive, well built,
reliable and, above all, good enough to weld a smile to your
dial. It should also be practical and equipped with enough
gear to lift it above the status of a car solely for
masochists and Mazdaphiles.
“A rain-free week in the Mazda showed
that it meets all those criteria and then some. It was sheer
joy. It has none of the quirks and compromises that make some
of its ilk suitable, at best, as a second car. It even has
heritage. It is little brother to the famed Mazda rotaries and
is a product of the only Japanese company ever to win the Le
Mans 24 hour race.
“The MX-5 is strictly a two seater, but
its two occupants have room to spare and can carry luggage for
more than just a dirty weekend. The hood is the simplest and
fastest to raise or lower should rain threaten or when
security demands. It has none of the extra weight or
power-sapping complication of a power hood. One simply undoes
two clips and flips it back. To raise it the operation is
reversed, rapidly and effort-free from the driver’s seat.
The hood even has a heated glass window.
“There
are power windows and mirrors plus remote central locking but
air-conditioning is a AUD 1950 option. Black leather seats add
AUD 1000, however the standard black cloth with red inserts
look more than sporty enough and are every bit as supportive.
The MX-5 SE has two air bags, ABS anti-lock brakes, an engine
immobiliser and excellent halogen headlamps.
“The standard MX-5 develops 107kW and
costs AUD 40,530 with a six-speed manual gearbox or AUD 42,000
for the marginally less powerful automatic model. There is no
auto option for the MX-5 SE.
“Apart from the turbo and associated
mechanical upgrading which includes a limited slip
differential, the Mx-5 SE has a six stacker CD player, body
kit with front fog lights and other trim niceties.
“But this is all detail - stuff you can
learn from the brochure or in the showroom. The delight of any
MX-5 is in the driving. Smiles are inevitable from congested
shopping centre car parks to byways, freeways and your
favourite twisty hill country. The super brisk turbo-charged
SE surely enhances the experience. The chassis is brilliant.
It is never fazed by the extra Zing - or, as Mazda would have
it, Zoom.
“My ONLY query concerns the terrific
looking 17 inch five spoke wheels and 40 profile tyres. No
doubt they contribute to the excellent handling and
ultra-responsive steering but they also give a much firmer
ride than the standard MX-5’s 45 profile 16 inchers. I have
no comfort problem with the firmer ride, but I suspect the car
might over a period. There is some body jarring which, with an
open car particularly, may well lead to premature rattles and
general loosening up.
“Fuel consumption is largely up to the
driver as always, but even more so with a turbocharged car.
Thump it unnecessarily and you will not go as far on your 48
litre tank of premium unleaded. Driven for sensible fun this
MX-5 SE will go up to 30 per cent further and still delight.
“It makes you wonder why you would pay
more for mid-range two-seater fun.”
(In Thailand, you will pay around 2 million baht for a
normally aspirated version, which is half the price of an SLK
Kompressor Benz, so you are still doing well. If you judge
your car on carrying capacity and load per baht, then do not
buy an MX-5. If you judge your car on fun for baht, you will
not find better. Dr. Iain.)
