When purchasing a new car, the first question that comes to mind is often: “new or used?”. It is one of the toughest decisions to make.  Some suggestions from friends or family can just make things harder. However, your decision to buy a used or brand new unit boils down to your budget and preference.

Before you head to the nearest car dealer, let this guide help you make a sound decision. Below are the advantages of new and used cars:

Advantages of used cars

Cheaper – compared to new cars, used cars are relatively cheaper. Often, you can get better value out of this deal.

More choices – the market is literally flooded with different makes and models. This makes it easier to find the right vehicle for your needs. Although, some features may be missing from a certain used model. However, the money you can save from the purchase can help you add those missing features.

No depreciation – since it is a used unit, its market value has already depreciated. Once you drive it out of the dealer’s lot, its value is not going to decrease as fast as a new car.

Lower insurance rates – insurance rates are affected by a vehicle’s age. In this case, since it is a used unit, the rates are lower compared to insuring brand new ones. Just remember to do your research before accepting any insurance offers.

Used cars may not be as appealing as new cars, however, there are hundreds of well-maintained pre-owned units in the market. These units are thoroughly checked and certified road-worthy. Some dealers also offer extended warranties for used cars.

Advantages of brand-new cars

Unique – your car must suit your lifestyle and new cars can be made to order. Dealers can help you find the right accessories, exterior add-ons and body colours to suit your preferences. Interior leather covers, dashboard accessories and the car’s body colour helps make a brand new car uniquely designed for a customer.

Manufacturer’s warranty – one of the advantages of buying a new car is its warranty. It is easy to purchase warranties for used cars. However, you may need to pay an extra premium for it. Brand new cars already come with a manufacturer’s warranty – for free!

Best options and features – new units usually come packed with tech features like touchscreen multimedia consoles, GPS navigation interfaces or driver-assist technology. The best in car tech are usually featured on brand new models.

Lower maintenance expenses – vehicle manufacturers usually cover routine maintenance items for the first 10,000 kilometres. New batteries, an exhaust system, brakes and tires are not needed in the first three years of ownership.

Some people prefer brand new cars because it gives them a sense of pride. Owning one means selecting a unit, which reflects their personality. In addition, it also gives them peace of mind while driving their new purchase. These advantages can help you decide on what to purchase on your next visit at the dealership.

If you are in the market for a new Subaru in Brisbane, come visit Bartons. They have a variety of new and used cars on sale. For enquiries, you may call them on these numbers: Wynnum – (07) 3087 7333 and Capalaba – (07) 3198 1188.

Cars are their owner’s responsibility. They are not just there for their driving pleasure – cars also need attention. To keep it in pristine condition, your car needs regular servicing. Once it rolls off the production line and its mileage is running, scheduling it for routine maintenance is a necessity.

It is important to understand why your car needs servicing. Below details some of the car servicing process and how it can benefit your vehicle.

Car servicing basics

Servicing a car usually depends on its make and model. Some only require small amounts of work while others need a major overhaul. Since modern cars depend on complicated servicing procedures, it is best to bring them to a dealership as they have trained mechanics who can do it for you.

Below are some aspects of the car which are checked while it is in for a routine service:

Oil

Since this is a car’s lifeblood, it usually needs to be drained and changed every 16,000 kilometres. Any oil residue is flushed to avoid possible contamination. Fresh oil is poured into the engine to ensure clean and clear emissions. The oil filter is also replaced to complete the servicing process.

Replenish fluids

Fluids for the car’s brakes, power steering, radiator and even the windscreen wiper bottle are also checked. Mechanics ensure these are topped up or replenished. Windscreen wipers are also inspected during this process.

Headlights

The dashboard’s indicator lights, brake lights and headlights are routinely checked for problems. If there are problems, the parts are repaired or replaced.

Tyres

Tyre treads also need to be checked. Mechanics will inspect its depth to measure tread wear. Possible tears on the sidewalls are also checked to prevent air from leaking. As for the tyre’s pressure, check the car manual for the recommended pressure.

Brake and suspension

The brake and suspension system are vital parts of a car. Brakes help stop the vehicle while the suspension system helps control its steering, road handling and braking. Brakes need to be inspected to avoid early wear. Once it wears down to the “metal-to-metal” point, the brakes need to be replaced. As for the suspension system, its moving parts and tension on the shock absorbers will also be checked. This ensures a smooth and safe ride for everyone in the vehicle.

Advantages of servicing a car

Car owners want their value for money. A well-maintained car increases its reliability and decreases maintenance costs. Basic maintenance such as changing the oil, replacing the fluids and inspecting the tyre’s treads can help increase a car’s value. Even old cars in mint condition will fetch higher on the market.

Servicing your car regularly can benefit you in the future. Small problems can be fixed to avoid expensive overhauls later on. When you take care of your car, it will take care of you while you drive.

If you are looking for a Mitsubishi Service Centre in Brisbane, try visiting Bartons. They have experienced mechanics who can help you with your car troubles. Call them on (07) 3087 7333 (Wynnum) or (07) 3843 8130 (Capalaba) today.

Am I wasting my money on Premium Fuel?

There is some high octane hype going around, which has led to the belief that premium fuel is better for your car than unleaded. Although the word ‘premium’ suggests something superior, it could also be a waste of money for some. The following looks at the importance using the right fuel for your car.

Choosing the right RON

If you’re an owner of one of Barton’s Hyundai or Mitsubishi vehicles, the fuel you should use for your car could be different than what you would use for a Holden or Subaru. You may have noticed a number somewhere between 91 and 100 at the end of the petrol products. This number relates to the Research Octane Number or RON. As the RON gets higher, so does the petrol’s price.

Octane in petrol is not an indication of energy or power. Rather, it’s the fuel’s resistance to ignite under high pressure. The timing of this ignition should be perfect. If pre-ignition occurs, it could affect the engine’s maximum power and the shock of the fuel detonating could damage the engine. Therefore higher octane fuels with a higher RON will have better resistance to pre-ignition.

What does your car manual say?

Your car manufacturer will specify what fuel you should be using in your car. Unleaded (ULP) is the most common type of fuel and is specified for most Japanese cars, including Subaru and Mitsubishi. Not all cars are optimised to take advantage of the high octane in premium fuel so there is no real benefit in spending the extra dollars. In saying that, cars optimised for unleaded can be filled with premium fuel without causing damage but don’t expect it to increase your car’s performance.

If the minimum RON for your car is specified as higher than RON 91, always fill with premium unleaded or match the minimum RON suggested by your car manufacturer. In some handbooks for new cars, it may say you have a choice between unleaded or premium petrol but indicate premium fuel is best for maximum performance.

Does Premium fuel clean your car?

Some premium unleaded petrol brands claim to have engine cleaning additives which help your engine to use fuel more economically, therefore saving you money. However, this isn’t the case for all so it is important to do little research.  You’ll find some companies, like Shell, offer a regular unleaded fuel that helps to clean your engine, so you don’t need to spend extra dollars buying premium fuel for that reason alone.

Choosing the right fuel for your car can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you’re still unsure of what fuel is right for your car, get in touch with one of Barton’s car experts today.

It has been an extremely busy couple months in the parts department. Like most teams in the dealership our facilities are being updated with the renovations. However ours is now 90% complete and we have moved in. Our purpose built brand new warehouse in Green Street at Bartons Wynnum is a fantastic environment for our customers and staff allowing us to offer them the best experience possible.

This new warehouse is nearly double the size of our previous home and means we have been able to consolidate all of our stock in one place and streamline our operation to better efficiencies so as to improve service to all of our customers.

We are currently fitting out a new dedicated showroom for all of our caps, shirts, umbrellas, model cars, etc. With four manufacturers and two race teams (Bartons, Hyundai, Holden, Holden Racing Team, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Red Bull Racing Australia) our range when completed later this month will be quite expansive.

During this period we have also welcomed a new parts branch to the department at Capalaba which brings with it a really exciting new manufacturer in Subaru. Subaru represents a fantastic premium brand with very strong customer loyalty and support that we are really keen to get into.

We have also added a new face in Tim Pahn to our sales team and taken the opportunity to reshuffle the team so as to be able to better service customers, with Michael Watson now taking over the day to day responsibilities at Capalaba.

Our focus now is to best utilise the new space, our new staff and our new manufacturers to continually offer the best service and great genuine parts and accessories at the best value for money in Redlands and the bayside.

Diesel seems to be the new buzzword in the automotive industry. Whether it is people

extolling the virtues of the fuel consumption, driveability or the longevity of the motor,

diesel is something being discussed as a strong alternative for petrol.

What a lot of people do not consider though is the cost vs reward for diesel vehicles, and

whether they are suitable for the type of driving that each individual customer does. There

are a number of different factors that should be considered when deciding which fuel is

going to be more suitable for you.

• Annual kilometres travelled

• Servicing intervals

• Style of driving

• Resale value

• Purchase price

• How long you will keep the car

• Fuel price

Here are two examples;

Dodie, our Hyundai sales manager drives to and from work every day, averaging about 12

kilometres each way. She is in stop start traffic for the majority of her commute and never

really gets up to speeds above 70km/h. She only uses her vehicle for driving to and from

work. With this being the general use of the vehicle for Dodie, she is not going to see the

benefits of owning a diesel vehicle. The higher cost of purchase initially and higher fuel

cost and service costs will not be recouped over the time that she owns the vehicle by the

savings in fuel consumption that she sees, due to the low kilometres.

Jocelyn, Dodie’s mother, works for BlueCare, so is constantly on the road racking up

kilometres as she travels from her home every morning to various different clients. A

majority of this is highway driving, where some of the major benefits of a diesel motor

are realised. She typically owns her cars for up to 5 years. After 3 years in her current car,

she already has 67000 kilometres on the clock. For Jocelyn, the savings in fuel over the

kilometres she drives, with the type of driving she does will outweigh the extra cost in

purchasing the vehicle, along with slight dearer fuel and servicing costs. Jocelyn will also

benefit from higher resale value at the end of her 5 years ownership due to less concerns

about reliability of diesel motors with higher kilometres.

These are two fairly common examples which illustrate the different circumstances that

will determine which is a better way to go for you – diesel or petrol? Why don’t you come

on down to Barton’s and speak to one of our friendly consultants to see what is going to be

more suitable for you?