http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/cars/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/medicar-the-only-thing-keeping-our-auto-relics-alive/ Reports of the big Australian-built car’s death are – as Twain quipped – an exaggeration, or at least grossly premature. But there’s no denying the patient has gone from just looking a bit poorly to possibly needing palliative care. The little Mazda3 trounced the 5-year top seller Holden Commodore in 2011, after the big boy slid about 12 per cent in sales. And the Ford Falcon fared worse with a 36 per cent slump. Between them, they hold 81 per cent of the large car segment, with the Aussie-built Toyota Aurion owning 12 per cent – but also diving 24 per cent in sales last year. The large car segment overall was down 21 per cent in 2011, echoing three years of slides that have seen sales move from 139,677 in 2007 to 78,077 last year. So over that time, the pulse has dropped 44 per cent. It’s fading. And only the most evasive physician would pretend otherwise. Tell ‘em, doc – they can take it. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/medicar-the-only-thing-keeping-our-auto-relics-alive/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/medicar-the-only-thing-keeping-our-auto-relics-alive/#item7858 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/save-up-your-pocket-money-if-you-wanna-park-in-CBD/ Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/save-up-your-pocket-money-if-you-wanna-park-in-CBD/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/save-up-your-pocket-money-if-you-wanna-park-in-CBD/#item7649 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-it-really-worth-propping-up-the-ailing-car-industry/ Australian governments have a long history of offering taxpayers’ money to private businesses in an effort to get them to come or stay. Liberal and Country League Premier Tom Playford elevated it to an art form after 1945 when he set out to build an industrial and manufacturing base in South Australia. Tax holidays, grants, cheap land, incentives, and cheap public housing for the industrial workforces through the Housing Trust. In fact, the use of public money to convince car-makers goes back even further. My attention was drawn to a question asked in the South Australian Legislative Council on 14 August 1935. The LCL government was asked “what steps has the government taken to encourage General Motors Holdens Limited to remain in South Australia?” The answer: “The government is much concerned about the possibility of losing that industry and is doing everything possible to retain it”. That question and answer could describe the current decision-making process concerning both GMH and Ford. The Federal, Victorian and South Australian governments are embroiled in trying to work out just how much taxpayer money will be needed to keep both functioning in Australia. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-it-really-worth-propping-up-the-ailing-car-industry/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-it-really-worth-propping-up-the-ailing-car-industry/#item7604 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-are-we-ripped-off-let-us-count-the-ways/ Thanks to the high dollar, Australians have become the world’s most savvy online bargain hunters. Parcels with cheaper DVDs from the US, computer games from Hong Kong and books from Britain now arrive on our shores in the thousands every day. Australian buyers obviously know how much they can save by shunning domestic retailers for their overseas competitors. Little wonder when, say, Steve Jobs’ biography is selling for $44 in Australia but for the equivalent of just $18 in Britain. Some British online retailers even offer free world-wide shipping. What most Australians are probably unaware of is how much more they could save if it was possible to buy other goods internationally. Cars for example. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-are-we-ripped-off-let-us-count-the-ways/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-are-we-ripped-off-let-us-count-the-ways/#item7378 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/doddery-old-drivers-should-not-be-a-protected-species/ Last week I was standing at a pedestrian crossing at the Adelaide Airport with my two kids, aged five and eight. There was a car coming towards us, moving fairly slowly and appearing to slow down. In one of those split-second moments which people without kids will pontificate about, but which parents understand, we started to step onto the crossing. The driver didn’t stop. He went straight through, missing us by inches. I shouted at him, as did a bystander, but he kept meandering along the road for about another 30m. He stopped his car smack-bang in the middle of the road, right on the white line between two lanes, where a security guard approached him to inquire as to what the hell he was doing. The driver was so old that he possibly didn’t even know he was in a car at all.  He looked like he was 90 in the shade. At least. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/doddery-old-drivers-should-not-be-a-protected-species/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/doddery-old-drivers-should-not-be-a-protected-species/#item7288 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Theres-something-about-men-and-cars/ MY husband, a man I’ve long adored for his principles, his fine British wit, his modesty and – I’ll admit it – his good looks, has just done something completely out of character. He’s bought a flash car. OK, it’s not that flash. It’s a few years old. But it’s a posh make favoured by the royal family and the type of car Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson calls “slightly caddish”. Oh all right, what Jeremy actually says is, “It’s the sort of car driven by the sort of person who would go away for a weekend with his wife and spend the night flirting outrageously with the waitress.” (I’ve never liked Jeremy.) penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Theres-something-about-men-and-cars/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Theres-something-about-men-and-cars/#item6529 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/share-the-road-safely-with-those-lycra-clad-clowns/ Cadel Evans’ heroic performance at the Tour de France is being celebrated around Australia, as it should. I’ve been watching the Tour for a long time, and it’s the best individual sporting performance I’ve ever seen. Over the past three weeks, between the wee hours of 10pm and 2am, Evans has bought together the previously estranged cycling fans and those who have never ridden a bike to jointly applaud his guts and determination, his enormous heart and never-say-die attitude. All qualities we Aussies love and admire in our sports heroes. The response has been wholly positive. Almost. Despite Evans’ epic win, some media commentators have still felt the need to roll out the tired “well, I guess this means we have to put up with more lycra-clad clowns on the roads” line. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/share-the-road-safely-with-those-lycra-clad-clowns/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/share-the-road-safely-with-those-lycra-clad-clowns/#item6387 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-should-i-dob-in-my-dad-for-bad-driving/ Anonymous says: “It’s been awhile since I’d been in the car with dad, but when he offered to drive to my cousin’s place last Sunday, I said yep. Hey, it was a great excuse to indulge in a extra glass of wine or two. Anyway, it wasn’t at all relaxing. From the minute we turned out of the driveway, I was gripping my seat. His driving was out of hand. Forgetting to check mirrors, not indicating and one terrible moment at the traffic lights when we skimmed through a red. He’s 75 this year and always been a pretty good driver. But I’m worried about him. What if he hurts himself? What if he hurts other people? If it was anybody else I’d be ringing the cops straight away. But can I really turn in my dad?” Can you help this reader? Post your thoughts below. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-should-i-dob-in-my-dad-for-bad-driving/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-should-i-dob-in-my-dad-for-bad-driving/#item6348 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Car-free-carefree-and-in-desperate-need-of-a-lift/ Last year, I resolved to buy a car. My enthusiasm quickly evaporated, however, when I actually started poring through the classifieds and realised the whole thing was going to cost me a substantial amount of cash. I also became terrified of getting stiffed by some crisp-collared sales-jerk or a bunch of snakes in a floral-print dress disguised as a sweet old lady. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Car-free-carefree-and-in-desperate-need-of-a-lift/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Car-free-carefree-and-in-desperate-need-of-a-lift/#item6331 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/do-bumper-stickers-reflect-the-soul-within/ Welcome to this week’s I Call Bullshit, where we arbitrarily pick a topic to have a crack at. Today, inspired by a Punch thread, we’re going to look at the stickers people choose to put on their cars. Now I’ve previously expressed my hatred of stickers that pretend to be passionately patriotic when in fact they’re just racist. But this time I’ve undertaken a more in-depth scientific study of the chasm between what a sticker purveys and the actual truth. You think a sticker will fool people into believing you are more than you are? I Call Bullshit. Here’s a few examples. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/do-bumper-stickers-reflect-the-soul-within/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/do-bumper-stickers-reflect-the-soul-within/#item6090 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Did you feel ripped off this holiday season when you parked your car in the city, at a shopping centre or at the airport when picking up or dropping off loved ones? If paying inflated petrol prices wasn’t enough, motorists are now also being hit with inflated parking rates when they go shopping or to the airport. Then, of course, there are the CBD parking stations that cost an arm and a leg. It’s these CBD parking stations that consistently cost motorists dearly as the fees at the CBD parking stations start climbing the moment that boom gate rises to let you in.