I’m not talking about talking up something you read on Wikipedia. I’m talking about making a statement then backing it up with a whole lot of in depth research. Incidental research in my case, but, research all the same.

Those of you who read my article each month would be aware that last month finished with a week of despair. My beloved vehicle had developed a problem with the camshaft and hydraulic lifters. A few days after that was fixed, the gearbox died a slow and painful death.

I lease my car with a novated lease through my workplace. It lowers my taxable income and, apparently, also comes with an extended driveline warranty through Swann Insurance. Can’t actually remember ticking that box, but there you go.

This sounds great, but there are problems with having an extended warranty through a third party. Mainly that any work done under the warranty must first be assessed by someone other than my mechanic.

Ballan Holden checked the vehicle, found the problem (failed transmission Oil Pump) and gave me a timeline (car back on Friday). All was well.

Enter Swann Insurance and their policies. The repairs would not be approved until they sent the transmission to their own repairer. So the gearbox went to Bayford’s in Coburg, who were eventually given the all clear to perform the repairs. I was assured that I would have the car back by Monday or Tuesday.

So, Monday and Tuesday came and went, all I got was a phone call about “waiting on parts.” It wasn’t until the following week that Holden called and told me they had the transmission back and the car would be back together the following day.

The next day came and Ballan Holden called again. “Is my car ready”, I asked. “No”, came the reply. Apparently during the test drive the car had lost all forward gears. A quick call to Swann Insurance ensued to find out precisely what sort of monkeys they had hired to repair my beloved vehicle.

Swann weren’t happy, I was unhappier than them and I have no doubt that Bayford’s were even less happy to see the car come back . The transmission was rebuilt for a second time and, after three long, horrible weeks, the car was finally returned. So far the car is running fine and I hope that this horrible saga is forever behind me.

Now, back to how I was right. Through this whole affair Ballan Holden were kind enough to give me access to one of their loan cars. Unfortunately it was a base model Commodore, called the Omega. It was also the model previous to the current one - a V6 with a four speed automatic transmission that was probably designed in 1909. Holden were wise enough to fit a five speed automatic and fiddle a bit with the engine for the VE Series 2 Omega.

If you remember, several issues ago I was banging on about how smaller engines in bigger cars does not necessarily mean lower fuel costs. Well, I can now add something else to the list of variables. Terrible, clunky, old stupid four speed gearboxes also mean that cars do not get the best efficiency from their engines.

Over the three weeks we had the car we pretty much made the same journeys that we regularly made with our car and found that, despite the smaller engine and supposed better fuel economy, we only achieved 0.5 l/100km better fuel usage than the V8, which means over a full year I’d only save about $250 in fuel. Factoring in that my car also comes with a fair bit of (heavy) kit, the actual figure would be lower than that. The question I asked myself is this: “Would that small saving justify purchasing a V6 over the V8 next time?” The only answer is no. Why the hell would give up my lovely V8, with its lovely V8 goodness for that horrible little V6 with no goodness?

Another discovery I have made in the last month. Beloved had to drive to Albury. Her office provided her with a hire car. It was a Hyundai Getz and I had to drive it one night. This is the first official car review I have done for the Tribune. What did I think of the new Hyundai Getz?

It was horrible. Not just one aspect or detail. The whole car is horrible. The engine is horrible. The seats are horrible. The seating position is horrible. It looks horrible and drives horrible. Never, ever buy one of these cars, don’t even hire one.

Skoeman has been the Tribune’s car enthusiast for over a year and still has new car stuff to write about!

Read the rest of his automotively inclined articles here: www.kingstribune.com/regularcontributors/skoeman and follow him on twitter @Skoeman74

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