Are Convertibles Running Out of Gas?
Once viewed as the future for automotive development and progression, convertibles have seen various iterations – in fact, by definition, some of the first vehicles seen by the motoring world were classed as convertibles. But with sales numbers on the slide, and manufacturers now turning their attention towards other motoring initiatives, is the humble convertible running out of gas?
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Not quite the John Candy/Steve Martin film, but more a query in regards to transport options. As it appears Australia will have a Federal election sometime this year, the age old question about fast trains (especially in Australia’s eastern states) gets hauled out of the too hard basket and recycled for another look-see. 
To fly between the three main cities, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, on the eastern seaboard, takes an hour to seventy minutes, with the usual conditions about weather applying. In context, the Sydney-Melbourne route is considered to be the world’s fifth busiest air route. To fly from Sydney to Perth or the reverse varies, from four to five hours, however the fast train option doesn’t quite apply here. 
Also, theres plenty of intra-urban trains (some will, in certain areas say, not enough), rural trains such as the Prospector that runs between Perth and Kalgoorlie, the XPT service between Sydney and Melbourne and Brisbane (11 to 14 hours) and some other destinations, and the world famous Indian-Pacific…which takes 65 hours to travel Perth to Sydney.
Private Fleet Car Review: 2015 Holden Astra VXR
With Holden due to source more cars from Opel than ever before, they’re telling us via a solid marketing campaign. One of the nameplates we’ve had and that has returned in force is Astra. A Wheel Thing sampled the latest Astra VXR six speed manual, a model due to be completly revamped for late 2016 or early 2017.
It’s a stylish looking beast, with the test vehicle clad in a flat, not metallic, red and riding on 20 inch alloys. The two doors, framed at the top in chrome, open wide and allow access to a surprisingly capacious rear seat and cargo section. In profile it’s amost a continuous curve, with the roof coppinga discrete spolier and the front a sharpish, almost rakish look.
Under the long bonnet lies Opel’s 2.0L turbo four, one with punch and verve, mated to a six speed manual, the car’s Achille’s heel. There’s a hefty 206 kilowatts on tap at 5300 revs but more impressive is the mesa flast torque delivery between 2450 to 5000. Besting most two litres by fifty torques, Sir will enjoy 400 of them across that range. It makes for immense mid range go and flexibility aplenty on the freeway.
Need to overtake? Depending on where you are, it’s either a measure of flexing the right foot just a bit more or dropping back a cog or two and launching the rocket. There’s a buzz from the front, not unpleasantly so, and a soul bending surge as the speedo does silly things. The seats (which have air powered bolsters, by the way), sigh gently as they support the driver’s mass being pushed into them.
Private Fleet Car Review: 2016 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser
Toyota‘s RAV4 is the car most recognised as kicking off the SUV craze. As most small cars have done, it’s increased in size and tech. But has the recently facelifted RAV4 kept up with the most important of all, the times? A Wheel Thing checks out the new look 2016 all wheel drive in top of the tree Cruiser spec.
The facelift mentioned brings the RAV4 more into line with the Corolla. The front has the angular, sharp nosed look, with the compressed and chrome lined air intake design plus large-ish T symbol front and symbol but also has the chin that wouldn’t look out of place on a Superman actor. 
The headlights have slimmed down and have lost the four dot LED driving lights, gaining, instead, a full width setup. It’s brought even closer to the Corolla by slotting in lookalike tail lights complete with the neon light look.
Behind the grille sits Toyota’s 2.5L petrol engine, a revvy and responsive unit. To be honest, it surprised in its capability to buzz around the dial and get the RAV into a comfortable speed, utilising the 233 torques (4100 revs) when under way quite nicely when an increase in forward motion was required. From a standing start, it’ll wind around to the peak power of 132 kilowatts (6000 rpm) easily, getting the RAV to freeway speeds with surprising alacrity. A kerb weight of 1600 kilos goes some way to helping…
Coinciding with the drive being apportioned is one of the display options shown in the centre of the dash, being the proportion of power being sent to the four corners. Under normal driving, it’ll light up the front tyres but when punted hard, the display shows how much drive is sent to the rear. There’s a price to pay for that exuberance, however, and that’s 11.4L of 91 RON being slurped for every 100 kilometres in an urban cycle from the sixty litre tank.
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