Category: On The Street

New vehicle fuel economy and CO2 Emissions in Australia are still on the decline, and have been since around 1994 a new FCAI study reveals. In 2006, average CO2 levels per vehicle were recorded at 230.3 grams per kilometre while in 2007 were recorded at 226.1 grams, setting a good example for the rest of the world.

Average fuel consumption also took a dive with the target goal being set at 6.8-litres per 100 kilometres by 2010. These figures are quite an improvement and when compared to other countries such as Europe which have remained vastly unchanged, are setting the way for a greener outlook in future.

Category: Motorsport

Queenslanders had better keep the May 31/June 1 weekend free this year for the Shannons Sports and Muscle Car Showdown is taking over Queensland Raceway and feature some of the toughest cars ever seen in Australia as they compete in a series of races, speed trials, timed sprints, demonstrations and parades.

Allan Moffats Trans-Am Mustang will be there on the day as well as Norm Beechey’s 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship winning GTS 350 Monaro. Not just for old school muscle, there will also be Richards new525HP Porsche GT2 and Australia’s only V10 Carrera GT Supercar.

60 Australian and American V8 Muscle cars will be taking part in the events over the weekend while 30 exotics will also be mixing it in amongst the old school muscle.

Entry on the day will cost spectators $20 for adults, or $30 for a two-day pass with kids under 12 getting in free.

Category: Weird and Wacky

Every now and again you look at all the money you have spent over a period of time and wondered what else you could have done with it. Take me for example, all the cash I flushed down the drain (well, toilet in this case) on booze for the weekend pretty much could have netted be a small country by now. What about scratchies? Those stupid, bright coloured black holes in which you only ever seem to win $2. Great consolation for somebody that has just spent their weekly allotted food budget on these bloody things. Oh well, looks like dog food for me for the next week. My heart felt apologies go out to little fluffy for the next week who has to make to with water and the occasional cockroach.

I guess these folk have spent that much on scratchies they figured they could have bought themselves one of those new fancy Hummer H3’s. Or better still, they could just build themselves one with the loosing tickets! Problem solved! Well, sort of. Sucks to be them when it rains or comes that time that they roll through a vehicle inspection station.

Category: On The Street

It's always good to know what's happening on the other side of the fence, so here is what's hitting the Australian market in May. The all-new FG Falcon is Ford’s big shot at knocking the VE Commodore off the top perch as Australia’s number one Family Car.

Ford are marketing the new models as a world class offering, one that they are confident will boost Ford sales back into the green.

"The all-new FG Falcon range delivers sensational value to customers seeking a truly world-class large car to meet their needs and match their lifestyle," Ford Australia President Bill Osborne said.

"With the entry-level XT increasing in price by just $500 compared to its predecessor and the exciting new G6E Turbo setting a new sports luxury benchmark for less than $55,000, customers are sure to appreciate the world-class quality and value offered by the latest Falcon range.

"Excitement levels surrounding the all-new model have exceeded all expectations, with thousands of visitors to the Ford stand at the recent Melbourne International Motor Show sparking queues just have a look inside and sit behind the wheel of the next generation Falcon.

• XT from $36,490
• G6 from $39,990
• G6E at $46,990
• G6E Turbo at $54,990
• XR6 from $39,990
• XR6 Turbo from $45,490
• XR8 from $45,490
• FG Falcon Ute from $27,795
• FG Falcon XR6 Turbo Ute from $39,490
• FG Falcon Wagon from $37,720

Ford's pricing will remain competitive, bit will the FG have what it takes to put up the big fight Ford is hoping for? Only the test of time will tell and if people are willing to hand over their hard earned for somthing that looks quite similar to the last model. Below is an overall comparison between the FG Falcon and VE Commodore.

Category: On The Street

The Australian Automobile Association has confirmed that Tuesdays is the cheapest day to buy fuel. Dubbed as ‘Cheap Tuesdays’, AAA Executive Director Mike Harris said that buying your fuel on Tuesdays will save motorists as a whole over $200 million a year.

“We have been looking at the price cycles in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide and can see that the average retail price is typically lower on Tuesday in each of these mainland capital cities, compared to any other day of the week,” Mr Harris said.

Petrol prices are over 70% more likely to be cheaper on a Tuesday, with Wednesday coming in a distant second place at only 24%. Compared with 2% for Thursday and Sunday, 1% for both Friday and Saturday and 21% for Monday, it’s easy to see that Tuesday is the clear winner when trying to find the cheapest petrol.

More research has shown that 88% of motorists known that petrol is cheaper on certain days, with 71% aware that Tuesday was the cheapest.

Category: On The Street

It was through a haze of cheers and tears that the Mitsubishi Motors manufacturing plant has closed the doors for the last time, saying goodbye to around 500 employees at its Adelaide assembly plant.

Ending a 28-year history as a local vehicle manufacturer, Mitsubishi had placed high faith in its 380 sedan only to come up empty as it failed to meet sales expectations. The last 380 sedan made yesterday and will be auctioned off to charity allowing the assembly staff to say their final farewell to the 44 year old manufacturing plant.

The factory was originally opened by Chrysler in 1964, and was then later taken over my Mitsubishi in 1980 in which over 1.1 million vehicles have rolled out of its doors since.

The south Australian Government has already shown interest in purchasing the site, although nothing formal has yet been put in place.