Hot hatches
A dealer swapped expensive tyres for cheap ones before I picked up the car
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By David Morley · 23 Apr 2025
I recently purchased a 2022 Renault Megane Trophy from a dealer as a demo/used car that had 9000km on it. When I inspected the car it had the original Bridgestone Potenza tyres fitted front and back.
When I returned to pick up the car a few days later the dealer had replaced the front tyres with a cheap set of Chinese made tyres that have many bad reviews on line. When I questioned the dealer they claimed that they were trying to look after me and that they replace any tyres that don’t have a minimum of 3mm of tread left.
My question is are they able to do this ? I would have happily paid the difference between the cheap set and a good quality brand if they had of mentioned it to me. It’s soured my experience with this dealer or is this common place these days?
What happened to cool cars? I'd rather drive a Toyota than a Ferrari as modern supercars become too quick for their own good | Opinion
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By Stephen Ottley · 23 Mar 2025
If we offered you a free Ferrari or free Toyota which would you take?
Australia's best small cars
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By Stephen Ottley · 19 Mar 2025
In 2011 there was a seismic shift in the Australian car market - the Holden Commodore was dethroned as this country’s favourite car by the Mazda3.
Toyota's new pocket-rocket takes shape: 2026 Toyota Starlet GR revealed in fresh renders as rumours of rally-based performance car will join Celica and MR2 in sports car rebirth: Report
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By Dom Tripolone · 28 Feb 2025
Toyota is going on a massive performance car offensive. The Japanese giant is rumoured to be bringing back the Celica and the MR2, but now it is believed the Starlet will be reborn as a rally-bred GR pocket-rocket.
Fresh hot hatch showdown shapes up: New Peugeot boss mulls return of electric 205 GTi as potential sporty EV to rival Alpine A290 and Abarth 500e
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By John Law · 17 Feb 2025
If there’s one thing French carmakers do well, it’s front-drive hot hatches. The Peugeot 205 GTi and Renault 5 GT were cars for the car-loving people, and the two brands would go on to duke it out for front-wheel drive driving supremacy for nearly 40 years.
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Two new electric hot hatches bound for Australia to rival Cupra Born, Abarth 500e and MG4 XPower: Pricing revealed for 2025 Mini Cooper Electric JCW and Aceman Electric JCW
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By Samuel Irvine · 18 Dec 2024
Mini has announced pricing for its fully-electric John Cooper Works (JCW) Cooper and Aceman. Set for a local release in the first quarter of 2025, pricing for the JCW Cooper will commence at $63,990, while the JCW Aceman will start at $65,990, both before on-road costs.
Epic $200,000, 375kW, all-paw hot hatch coming to put the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota GR Corolla and Mercedes-AMG A45 on notice: 2026 Renault 5 Turbo 3E concept car is heading to production
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By John Law · 16 Dec 2024
Renault revealed an epic, all-paw concept car at the 2022 Paris Motor Show that's visually related to the new 5 hatchback.
More than 16,000 cars hit with urgent recall notice: Owners of Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, Honda ZR-V and Honda Civic Type R urged to visit dealer
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By John Law · 08 Nov 2024
A wide-reaching recall has been issued by Honda Australia concerning 16,001 vehicles sold between 2021 and 2024.
Back to hot hatch basics: 2025 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works petrol models released as chic alternative to Cupra Leon, Hyundai i30 N and Volkswagen Golf GTI
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By John Law · 23 Oct 2024
Following the first ever electric John Cooper Works models, Mini has revealed combustion counterparts in hatch and convertible guise.
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Hyundai i30 N 2025: Nurburgring track test
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By Tim Nicholson · 23 Sep 2024
The Hyundai i30 N is one of Australia's most popular hot hatches for good reason. It represents exceptional value for money, and it's part of a dying breed - genuinely capable petrol-powered performance hatchbacks. But how does it handle one of the world's most famed and gruelling racetracks? Read on to find out.