Wheels inbox: Letters to the Editor, February 2023

February 2023: Wheels magazine has always had a passionate audience, with a thriving letters section. Here's the latest from our readers. And while we're talking about the mag, have you subscribed?

Braking Bad

I read the letter from Stuart Kennedy – ‘World’s Worst’ (Wheels, Dec ’22) – claiming that a drive from Melbourne to Sydney convinced him that Australians were the world’s worst drivers.

Sorry, matey, but I beg to differ. You try New Zealand roads, but register as an organ donor first. This is the land of the long white shroud, and we measure trips in killer metres. Understandably, an appalling road toll speaks for itself.
I’m a New Zealander, but lived 50 years in Melbourne. I motored up and down the Hume Highway many times. But here I am, back home, amid crazed road warriors. I think Mad Max and Mad Maxine moved here to breed.

To obey the speed limit here is to attract the world’s worst tailgaters. They’re like blowflies on a bullock’s backside. Any speed limit will be ignored, overtaking is just a sport for thrill seekers. Wet roads? No problem. Braking bad? Great name for a road safety campaign, but water off a Kiwi’s back.

Dean Donoghue, Papamoa Beach, NZ

Editor Andy

Interesting points, Dean. On the plus side, the safety benefits of hearing a Kiwi driver’s bridge-ported triple rotor from a kilometre out has to be worth something, right?

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Footage from State Highway 3 between Hamilton and Te Awamutu. Maybe.

Dusted in NZ

Re the feature on Renault-badged Dacias for Australia (Wheels, Dec ’22). It would have been great if writer John Carey had mentioned Renault’s seemingly aborted attempt to sell the Duster here in NZ.

It’s gone from the company’s website but they pushed it in 2022 to a confused public who couldn’t see why something being promoted as premium was in fact budget.

I can’t help but feel it would have been better as a Dacia with a good marketing campaign promoting its simplicity and affordability. Renault badging and the marketing message just confused people.

Tim Monck-Mason, email

Editor Andy

The Renault Duster SUV still takes a lot of getting used to.

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No stopping ICE

Electric vehicles are our future, apparently, and saving our planet is a pretty big incentive to go green.

From a motoring enthusiast’s perspective, however, I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of the positives to this ‘tectonic shift’ in our motoring culture. While fuel companies aren’t on my Christmas card list, a visit to a petrol station only takes five minutes or so compared with an hour or so to DC charge an EV.

So, what else is there? Finally, it’s come to me, at least in terms of a long road trip. An EV forces me to slow down and enjoy the journey instead of expecting to arrive at my destination on time. I currently do Brisbane to Sydney in one day with two drivers and one midway fuel stop. Not so in an EV that would require multiple, slow, stops.

Now, where will I lay my head for the night and find those beautiful roses to stop and smell along the way? “Sorry boss, I’ve gone EV, and here’s the bill for the overnight accommodation. But I do have a lovely bunch of roses for you.”

Perry Hembury, Upper Mt Gravatt, Qld

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Lighten up

I’m reading the December issue, and totally agree with Editor Andy’s view in his column – nearly all cars are way too heavy now.

I drive a Mazda MX-5 ND, and previously owned a Lotus Elise SC – both great examples of lightweight cars. I blame too much technology, and manufacturers’ belief that buyers want all the latest gadgets and equipment; the Dacia news story in the same issue tells me that many others agree with me.

NCAP and ANCAP’s ever increasing ‘safety’ standards are also to blame; I’m sure that as Dacia’s Denis Le Vot says, many owners just turn off the excessive number of ‘safety’ features, if they can!

Ash Price, Mt Pleasant, WA

Editor Andy

It’s complex, but I believe a shift to electrification will eventually see a refocus on weight loss strategies.

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Keying the car

We recently lost a proximity car key. Being a Mercedes, I did not expect the replacement to be cheap, but was still ill-prepared for the $1450-$1650 quoted by three different M-B dealers.

All claimed the exorbitant price was no different to other premium brands. I decided to explore further, finding they were at least partly right, with Audi wanting a whopping $1800 for an A4’s key. But then arch rival BMW quoted just half that for a recent model of theirs.

A few other quotes showed that M-B and Audi are indeed in another league when it comes to key replacement cost. Ford, for instance, was a stand-out delight quoting just $450 for a 2022 Everest.

Since Mercedes ensured that non-OEM alternatives are impossible, I guess they are free to make hay while their monopoly shines. No thanks M-B (and Audi), my next car will probably be a Ford or BMW.

Elardus Mare, Manning, Perth

Editor Andy

There’s little justification for a car key costing more than an iPhone.

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Our question to you: Will the BMW M3 Touring prove a sales success here?

Pro

We’ve waited so long for this car that there has to be some pent-up demand. Audi has never had any great issue shifting RS4 Avants and the BMW looks a way better car. Can’t think of anything cooler.

Alex Scott, Vic

Con

BMW Australia never even bothered importing the M340i xDrive wagon, so I think they know that the market for this one is tiny. I reckon bringing the M3 Touring here is just for halo effect.

Bryan Martin, SA

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