| Media item | |
| | Roadside Assist | Adelaide Advertiser,
Adelaide
by Iain Curry
| 29 Sep 2023 | | General News - Page 59 - 496 words - ID 1940531525 - Photo: Yes - Type: News Item - Size: 224.00cm2 | |
INSURANCE POLICY Electric vehicle discussions centre on lower running costs and cheaper servicing but what about insurance? Most EVs have advanced accident avoidance technology, plus no cooling system, complex engine and gearbox to repair after an accident, so I'd hope insurance would be lower? Can you offer clarity?
Graeme Daniels, Balwyn North The experts at the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) suggest to the contrary. "Motorists regularly report to VACC that EV insurance is more expensive than for internal combustion engines," a spokesman said. "EVs are usually more expensive to buy and replace than an equivalent combustion car, and as EVs are fairly new, insurers don't yet have reliable, historical records regarding repair costs, so they hedge. There's also the issue of less technicians qualified to repair EVs." It's a crude guide, but I looked at the cost of insuring myself as the driver on a $57,400 Tesla Model 3 and $57,200 Audi A3 40 TFSI.
On comparethemarket.com.au, the cheapest comprehensive Tesla premium was $1585, while the Audi was $1048.
TOURIST TRAP As with P plates, there should be a "T" plate displayed when you're a tourist in a place.
That way other drivers would understand why you're hesitant and have no clue what lane to be in.
Valda Clissold, Murrumbeena Even with your revolutionary "T" plate, I doubt locals would have any sympathy. They'll just be more focused with their abuse. Better sign posting and parking may be a better solution.
SWITCHING SIDES Re: you advising Chris Saxby that life's too short and to get a fun car, I traded in my 10 year-old SS Commodore for a V8 Ford Mustang GT. It makes friends wherever it goes. The SS rumbled, but the Mustang growls. Enjoy, my friend.
Suzanne Sale, email Lovely letter. Will EV owners ever write with such passion about their cars, I wonder?
DATE WITH DESTINY I bought a new Toyota Camry in 2015. It's only travelled 24,000km, but when visiting a tyre shop for puncture repair, I was told he wouldn't repair it as the tyres were too old.
Another tyre shop said the same, and the Toyota dealer said I must replace my eightyear old tyres as they're too old. Why do they have a use-by date? I've had cars for 55 years and never heard of this.
Graeme Slattery, email Tyres degrade with time as well as use, in the same way as other perishables such as engine oil. The consensus is that 10 years is the absolute limit for a car tyre's life as its rubber compounds breaks down. For those who don't know their tyres' age, look on the sidewall.
After "DOT" you'll find four numbers in a row, such as 3519. The first two designate the week, and the next two the year of manufacture. For the sake of $600 for a new set, you'll notice an easier, safer driving experience.
SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS TO CARS@NEWS.COM.AU OR PO BOX 2808, GPO SYDNEY 2001
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