Motor Torque with David Berthon
David Berthon is our new automobilist enthusiast who will be road testing a different car each month keeping us up-to-date with the newest models , plus covering other motoring and car industry items of interest . David has been around radio for 41 years , starting with 2CH in 1981 and then moving to 2GB in 1994 where he started his Motor Torque segments which run every Saturday at 8:55am and 9.50am , and Sunday at 9:10am and 10:40am . You can catch his podcasts on omny . fm / shows / motor-torque .
KIA ’ S LATEST CARNIVAL PEOPLE-MOVER REALLY LIFTS THE BAR
The words people mover may conjure up thoughts of a large box with little or no sophistication . Far from it , the latest 3.5-litre V6 8-speed automatic Carnival eight-seat Platinum edition , a surprise package at $ 69,890 drive-away , with five-star ANCAP crash safety rating .
Only disappointment on this petrol model is its thirst for fuel and I could only manage a best economy of l3L / 100km , a downside given the current high petrol prices , but it does use regular unleaded . The Carnival is large yes , but it doesn ’ t feel so on road due to sharp dynamics . Seat versatility is its key – so many seat options that turns it from people carrier to cargo carrier very easily .
The Platinum edition is the burger with the lot with a host of power features like a hands-free power tailgate and power sliding rear side doors – great for kid safety . Quite frankly , such are the improvements in this latest model that it behaves on road the equal of many premium luxury SUVs and features no less than four drive modes . Great family transport on a long trip with climate control air-conditioning to all three rows , a multitude of cup and bottle holders and USB ports plus a large , cooled glove box . With Kia ’ s 7-year / unlimited kilometre warranty little wonder it ’ s the top-selling people mover on the market .
WELCOME EXCISE RELIEF AT THE PETROL PUMP BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RISING COSTS OF TOLLS ?
The recent halving of the petrol excise was welcome news in easing financial pressure on motorists . And so far , it appears the 22.1 cent saving has been passed on by petrol retailers across the board . However , come April 1 and Sydney ’ s toll roads copped another quarterly increase and its time the state government did something to ease toll pressure .
Tolls are currently indexed to rise each
The latest 3.5-litre V6 8-speed automatic Carnival eight-seat Platinum edition
quarter by at least one per cent .
A typical trip in a car from Windsor Road , Baulkham Hills via the M2 to the Lane Cove Tunnel now costs $ 8.56 , the Lane Cove Tunnel another $ 3.56 , the Harbour Bridge $ 4.00 in peak hour – the total trip to the city $ 16.12 cents .
The return trip in afternoon peak $ 12.12 cents – total daily return trip $ 28.24 , over five days $ 141.20 – best described as Highway Robbery . Sydney motorists bled dry by a state government that already rorts mobile speed cameras in the name of revenue .
Toll roads operator Transurban is not held to account either for road maintenance – the Hills M2 Motorway described by Peter Brock at its opening in 2007 as the finest piece of road he ’ d driven on is now a patchwork quilt of cracked surface with delamination in many places . Worth $ 8.56 , you ’ ve got to be kidding .
est 1985
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 144 // MAY 2022 35