The Details Matter

Australian politics and international affairs have recently become something resembling a failing soap opera.

So, gentle reader, I'll post something less disagreeable.

My project to convert a Japanese domestic market Toyota Hiace into a camper is just about complete, so I'll outline the journey, and where I've ended up. 

The vehicle is a 2014 Hiace Commuter which was used as a dry cleaner's vehicle in Japan. Clothes aren't heavy, so I assumed that it hadn't had a hard life. It was showing about 140000 kms when I bought it from a Brisbane importer who furnished all the necessary documentation, including the auction report from its sale prior to import.

As I bought it with dry cleaner's clothes racks.

A mechanical inspection confirmed that the vehicle was in good condition, and had a number of useful features including an aftermarket audio installation with Apple Carplay. More about that later.

It also had a slightly upgraded trim and features list which included push button start, climate control AC which has an extra unit cooling the rear of the cabin. It is also 180mm wider than the local market vehicles. Again, that's a mixed blessing. More about that later.

Fitout side unit installed across the cabin. Note modem and fire alarm.

Tyres have plenty of tread, albeit a little older than ideal, and the van features chrome trim not seen on the local market. There was also a three person bench seat installed which I removed. I reckon the business was family owned, and that seat was used to drop family members/employees off each day before the vehicle went on daily delivery runs.

First step was to install a plywood floor, which was fairly straightforward. Then I used pre-glued vinyl planking to dress it. This also was cheap, as we had sufficient planking left over when we refloored our home a few years ago.

Initially, to construct a bed, I bought a door from Bunnings, attached legs to it, and attached it to the floor using metal brackets. I located an unused single bed mattress on Facebook and installed it on the bed. This provided accommodation for about a year, until I spent $1990 on a slide out bed from Boxed Fitouts. I'd also used a second hand baby change table (found at Vinnies) as a frame for storage until I replaced it with another Side box from Boxed Fitout ($990). 

Can be converted to a double.

To provide off-grid power, I bought a Bluetti AC70P, ($745) and had a inverter/charger installed so that it automatically charged as the vehicle is driven. For connection to mains power I spent $500 on an external plug.

Despite appearances, it's securely anchored.

What I've finished up with is a van that remains fairly light, is easy to drive, and comfortable both for road trips and extended stays off grid. The Bluetti is good for about three days to keep the Kings 75 lit fridge running, but requires only about 50 kms of driving to be fully charged. I've also bought a small folding Rovin solar kit ($250) for extended stays. I haven't had an opportunity to personally trial it off grid yet, although my daughter has at a four day outdoor festival. It works OK to maintain charge for light use (fridge and charging devices).

Senior's handle & camping sink. The sink is not a total success - unwieldy.

As mentioned above, the van came with a CarKit_blink Japanese audio kit, which is fine, except it's designed for use in metropolitan Japan, and is next to useless in the Australian bush, where streaming through Apple Carplay works providing you're within coverage.

The van's extra width is handy in providing living space, but can be a challenge when parking in narrow bays at shopping centres. It is not too wide to be unwieldy, but a great deal of care is needed if you want to avoid inconveniencing fellow parkers. Having said that, it takes up a lot less space than a Dodge Ram, or a Chevrolet Silverado, and people park them in supermarket car parks. The van is 2280mm tall, so that precludes using most underground parks which average between 2100mm and 2200mm.

Slide out storage. Porta-Potti for contingencies. Not used so far.

In summary, the vehicle cost $24000, and I've added about $5000 worth of kit to make it habitable across twelve months of ownership. 

At that outlay, it's a totally competent camper, and the chassis is sound and looks like being reliable and cheap to maintain. It's not exactly fun to drive, especially in comparison with my previously owned Mazda MX5s. It's a bit like driving a block of flats. 

It is, however, quiet and comfortable when cruising, and the elevated seating position means you have a great view of traffic and surroundings.

Fitout Finished

Sunrise at Miles

I've finished the fitout of the HiAce, and have done a couple of trips in it.

The conclusions are these.

It's comfortable, both to drive, and to sleep in.

It cruises well on the highway, the only exception being its performance in high winds. It feels more like a yacht than a van under those conditions, and the options are to stop and wait until the wind drops, or keep the speed below 80km/h.

The system I bought to allow for off grid camping works well It consists of a Bluetti power unit connected by an inverter to the alternator. 

This lasts about three days when I'm powering the refrigerator, but you need only to drive it for half an hour to charge the unit up to 100%, so it's feasible to do road trips, stay off grid overnight, and live in it without having to use the 240V setup.

Bribie Island

I use a portable gas stove with pressure cans and it does the job well. Washing up is a bit of a pain, but the collapsible bucket I found at BCF does the trick. I ordered a camping sink online which has proved less useful, although it's OK for quick ablutions. There's also a portable toilet, but it's for emergency use only. Storage in plastic boxes which are housed under the bed and slid out on demand also are pretty cheap and convenient. 

I use occy straps to keep everything located, and haven't had any problems with this method so far but always wear eye protection when working with them.

Camping sink - really a vanity only.

The purchased items are the Bluetti AC70P power unit and a King's 45lit,  refrigerator. Everything else is material repurposed or found in my disorganised garage.

It's surprisingly economical of on a trip, using between 11 and 12 litres per 100km, which is OK for a fully loaded camper. 

Columboola veterans' retreat.

Items that need improving include the Japanese head unit (it's buggy and the radio pretty useless) and the interior appearance. At the moment it looks a bit like a jumble sale.

Still, my daughter has given it her seal of approval after attending a music festival in it.

Project Rondo

For some time now, I've been looking for a Kia Rondo with low kilometers.

Last week I found one; a 2017 model, with 34000 on the clock, and the best part of one year's warranty left. 

The low kilometers is a product of Covid, as the car was used by a local health service for outpatient transport. It sat in the depot for the duration, and averaged only about 5000 kms annually.

The only downside was that it was located in Nowra, so a 2000 km round trip was necessary. 

After much swapping of photographs and negotiation over the phone, the deal was done. The CX-3 was my trade, and in the end, no actual transfer of funds (except for the deposit) was necessary. The transaction cost me only travel and accommodation expenses. 

The reason for swapping a perfectly good Mazda CX-3 for a base specification Kia Rondo, is very simple. You can't sleep in a CX-3, but you can in a Kia Rondo.

The project will involve a very minimalistic conversion. 

Here are the details - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3cfH39yPIg

Wish me luck....

A Superior Household Appliance?

Appearance is pleasing

On a recent tour of FNQ* I had the opportunity to spend a week driving a hired Toyota Corolla. 

It was the barebones hire car version, but nevertheless was equipped with just about every conceivable feature, some more useful than others. Apple Carplay was extremely useful, especially as I have become used to what you can do with it based on experience with the CX-3.

Toyota interior finish is solid

We are in the habit of watching the ABC's Insiders on Sunday, and we were able to do this on the iView App playing on the audio. Sound is all you need on a panel show, and I was surprised how well the signal held despite negotiating at the time the convoluted and relatively remote Palmerston highway.

One feature I did not appreciate was the lane keep assist. It seemed to kick in over 60 kph as we headed North from Townsville, and nearly drove me bonkers as we proceeded along the Bruce Highway. It is supposed to prevent the car wandering out of its lane, but seemed to cantankerously want to take over the steering at the most inconvenient times. My guess is that it is engineered for your well-designed dual carriageway, and there aren't too many of these in FNQ. 

Plenty of space here

I pulled over, grabbed the driver's handbook and figured out how to turn it off. this transformed the car, and made it almost enjoyable to drive. Even the CVT (which I did not appreciate at first) managed to be in the right gear most of the time, and actually provided quite respectable engine braking in the mountains.

Full size alloy spare is a bonus

The seats were comfortable, the road noise less intrusive than in the Toyo Kogyo competition, and it was very economical. We saw 6 lit/100km cruising. It seemed to handle a lot better than Corollas I have previously driven, and is a little bit further along a continuum with household appliances at one end, and fun driving machines at the other.

I don't know that I could ever own one, but it was a very pleasant little thing, and served our purposes well across a wide variety of roads and conditions.

Eight out of ten I reckon....

*Far North Queensland - generally North of Cardwell. 

 

Goodbye and Hello

 

It's gone.

I sold it to a bloke in Melbourne for $7000 more than I paid for it three years ago, and it arrived via truck yesterday and was collected by the new owner this morning.

He phoned me and told me he was wrapt in the car. I'm glad. He bought it sight unseen, based on my description, and I would have felt bad if he had been disappointed.

I sold it because it had ceased to be an object of enjoyment (although it remained a lovely little thing to drive) and had become an artifact to be preserved. This meant that every time I wanted to drive it, I was considering how many kilometres I would put on it, and how that would affect its value. 

The fact that my degenerating spine (a consequence of humping a military load in and out of choppers and for ten weeks at a time fifty-one years go) was making it increasingly painful to access its cockpit was also a factor.

Whilst all low-kilo NBs are holding their value well, this one, because of its Jasper Conran interior, is a collector's item. It probably should be on display in a museum, and a car like that is no good to me. Cars are for driving, not looking at.

I researched its replacement carefully and looked online for the most sensible and practical low mileage Japanese sedan with a manual six-speed gearbox. I found a 2013 Mazda 3 with 40000kms and (as the cliche goes, one lady owner). I bought it from a dealer, taking advantage of my TPI GST free concession. 

The plan was to deliver the MX5 to its new owner in Melbourne and to collect the Mazda 3 from the dealer and bring it back to Queensland.

Then the lockdowns happened.

In the end, the buyer had the MX5 trucked south, and I had the 3 sent north. Shortly before my car arrived in Pinkenba (the Brisbane depot of the logistics company) SE Queensland was locked down, and I couldn't pick it up without being quarantined at home for two weeks, so I had to shell out for the Brisbane-Toowoomba leg.

So the savings I'd made buying GST free were cancelled out by the trucking costs. The car should arrive home today or tomorrow.

The blog will remain, despite the lack of an MX5 to write about. It will continue to cover matters motoring.

Watch this space.

The Chinese Alternative

 

Chinese vehicles are beginning to arrive in numbers on the Australian market. Frankly, I would never buy one for two good reasons.

The first is, I don't buy new cars. The fact that they lose a very large proportion of their value when you drive them out of the showroom explains that.

In the case of vehicles produced by Chinese companies, recent behaviour in their treatment of our exports is reason enough. Having said that, the research and development undertaken by SAIC, the Chinese company that owns the brand, takes place in Longbridge in the UK. The cars are actually manufactured in China or Thailand.

I had occasion to hire a car last week, and my promised Toyota Yaris somehow morphed into an MG3, so I'll write a brief review.

The MG logo is everywhere.

The car was fun to drive, as steering, handling, and road feel were all of a pretty high standard compared with its rivals. Build quality was so-so, being let down by fit and finish and lots of hard plastic.

The bells and whistles were all there, including a graphically excellent eight-inch touch screen, which handled the installed Apple Carplay very well. Bluetooth was simple and clear. Seating was basic but comfortable, although my trips were all short, so I can't say how it would fare on a highway run.

It was also reasonably refined considering the price point, and road and engine noise were generally subdued. The power steering pump made a yowling noise which was only present on the first start-up of the day. Once warmed up, it disappeared.

Engine is 1.5 litres.

The engine-transmission combination, whilst old-tech, works well. The auto is four-speed only, but preferable, in my opinion to the CVTs that are becoming commonplace in this market segment. It also used very little fuel. I didn't measure it but paid $8 to top the tank up after three or four trips from one side of town to the other.

The seven-year warranty and entry price of $17490 are pretty convincing, and these are the factors that are persuading buyers. That's a lot of car for not much money.

It seems to me that some Chinese manufacturers are following the pattern established by the Koreans. Their first offerings were pretty horrible, but they are learning quickly.

X-Trailing

 

                                                                           X-Trail ST

I had a good reason last week to drive from Townsville to Toowoomba, and had booked a Kia Rio for the 1400 km journey. This, in hindsight, was probably not a wise choice of vehicle, given the type of journey.

Vehicle choice became academic in any case, as when I turned up at the hire depot, the only vehicle available was a 2019 Nissan X-Trail, which was probably a better option. It was an upgrade, so didn't cost any more that the Rio would have, except perhaps, for fuel, but more about that later.

In another life, I had a fair bit of experience driving the earlier boxy version (T31) in my forays down the Warrego, and remembered them as solid, unexciting, but comfortable cars.

That hasn't changed. They remain unexciting and comfortable, and for such a journey - kilometre after kilometre of straight wide bitumen - eminently suitable. What really surprised me was the fuel consumption (or lack of it). It used 7 litres per 100 kms between the two cities, which combined with a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres provided for a range of around 800 kms. That's diesel territory (excuse the pun). This thing did remind me of the late lamented Ford Territory.

Around Townsville (where I drove it for a few days before heading south) it was showing anything between 11 and 9 litres per 100 km, which is not shabby for a vehicle this size in an urban environment. It has an "Eco" feature  which is supposed to improve economy by reprogramming the drivetrain computer, but I stopped using it because it made the performance too doughy and unresponsive for my liking.

                                      There's an engine under all that plastic.

The thing was powered by a 2.5 litre four, which was combined with a CVT transmission. As a rule, I don't enjoy the driving characteristics of CVT setups, but this one didn't drone, and responded well when overtaking the occasional road train. No doubt the phenomenal fuel economy is a consequence of this transmission.

                                           Roomy but basic interior. Phone mount top centre.

There was lots of room inside, and the seating was comfortable, but the tech was basic in this ST (bottom of the line) version. There was no Apple Carplay, but linking my iPhone through the usb port emulated GPS and bluetooth music functions very well. The suction mount I bought before setting out is a "must-have" if you do this. My dodgy back coped well with seven hours daily in the driver's seat, which has not always been the case in other vehicles. 

                                                    Belyando Crossing on day 1.

Boot space was generous, and although these things can be bought with seven seats, this one was a five seater. It provides an interesting comparison with our Kia Rondo, offering comparable space with the addition of selectable 4WD, something the Rondo lacks. The rondo,however, is a much more engaging drive.

                                                                    Plenty of space here.

There were a couple of downsides. One was the reflective properties of the shiny black dashboard trim. Each morning of the two day journey,the sun would be over my left shoulder, and was reflected back directly into my eyes. Throwing a pullover across the offending section of the dashboard solved the problem, but it was an issue that could be easily fixed by using a matt finish.

It was also a cumbersome thing to drive when negotiating shopping centre car parks, but it shares that issue with the bulk (another pun!) of SUVs. I'm probably spoiled by driving an MX5.

Lockdown Meanderings

In the shutdown, my SE has been a source of entertainment and relief from boredom.

Here is a video of a local brief drive.

I'm an amateur at this, so forgive the camera shake and wind noise.

It was done with an iPhone mounted on the rear window. 

Travelling North

An early start was the go.

I've been a bit slack with postings of late, gentle reader.

the major distraction has been enrolling at Uni after a gap of 39 years.

The tertiary institutions that I earned RPL* from have had problems with their archives, caused, I understand by the most recent Brisbane floods.

Anyway, they have resurrected sufficient of my academic record to mollify the campus I'm dealing with, so it's all good.

Roadworks were a pain.

To fill in the time whilst waiting to get started at the beginning of semester 2, I took a long road trip north - to Mackay, to be exact, where my 90-year-old aunt was celebrating her birthday.

There were many cousins, most whom I haven't seen for 30+ years, so it was interesting (and revelatory). I seem to have worn better than most of them.

It's all that clean living.

Travel stained at Bororen.

Anyway, I pointed the nose of the MX5 north, and set out early.

An MX5 SE is not designed for long distance cruising, but this little machine acquitted itself well.

It has an excellent driving position, and cruises at about 3000rpm. An overdrive would be nice, but it doesn’t feel (or sound) stressed at this rev range.

Safely in Mackay.

The only problem I had was in 110km/hr zones, because the turbo kicks in at about 105km/hr in top gear, and holding it below the limit required lots of concentration.

It used 7.5lit/100kms of 98 octane, which is pretty good. Prices were surprisingly consistent except for Mackay city.

Despite wet weather and loads of caravans, the trip north ws enjoyable, and the journey back, in fine weather, was great fun.

Agnes Water

EV chargers at Marlborough.

A Blow In

For years I’ve been intrigued with the various iterations of the Mazda MX5.

 Owning a couple of them has not resolved this fascination.

Back in the early part of this century, two turbocharged versions of the NB were produced.

The first (called SP) was a Mazda Australia project carried out under the supervision of Allan Horsley, but it was built by Prodrive in Melbourne, the company that builds FPV performance Fords in partnership with Ford.

The SP has a decal.

The second (called SE) was an official Mazda factory version, called Mazdaspeed Miata in the US, and Roadster in Japan and other markets.

A couple of weeks ago I came across a 2004 SE advertised in Newcastle. Coincidentally, I was planning a visit to an old army mate in Newcastle, so combined that with an inspection of the SE.

The car was good, sporting a unique interior fitout. It pretty much sold itself.

The SE has a badge.

I flew to Newcastle from Brisbane, and was met at the airport by the obliging owner. Incidentally, the last time I flew Brisbane-Newcastle was on my way to Nasho at Singleton in January 1969.

This trip had a much more enjoyable outcome.

I drove the SE to Tamworth the same day, and drove Tamworth-Toowoomba the day after. Whilst the boost is mild, it comes into its own overtaking on two lane roads.

The Tamworth-Toowoomba stretch has plenty of stretches of great give and take roads.

So now I have two MX5s. Given that I haven’t mastered the art of driving them both at once, the original is on the market.

Update - The original (left) is sold. It took a whole week!

Tonsley Park Reflections

This week I spent some time in Adelaide visiting one of my sons. I stayed in a pub at Tonsley Park because it’s close to where he lives.
 I also hired a car, a Toyota Yaris, which was subsequently upgraded to the Mitsubishi ASX illustrated. 

 The ASX reminded me of Mitsubishi Outlanders that were provided to me when I was working out west. It felt the same, smelled the same, and was equally unexciting. These days, Mitsubishi sells lugubrious looking cars - well engineered, but very conservative. It’s best feature was Apple CarPlay which helped me find my way around.

Many years ago, we owned a Mitsubishi Magna (1989) which provided reliable safe and comfortable transport for our growing family.

Back then, Mitsubishi weren’t afraid to innovate.

Sadly, no more cars are made at Tonsley Park.

But the reminders are there if you look properly. Chrysler and Mitsubishi once partnered in Australia.

Korea Rulez

Rego was Victorian.

Over the years, I've driven a range of Korean cars.

They haven't always been wonderful as I recall from my fleet driving days, but the rapid improvement in quality, engineering and technology of vehicles from the land of the morning calm has been nothing short of amazing.

Last week, I hired a Hyundai 130 for a few (very hot) days whilst visiting Adelaide.

I was impressed.

Lots of grey plastic but soft touch.

This thing was well built, well equipped, and a hoot to drive. When I say a hoot to drive, I mean not in the happy tail wagging manner of my MX5, but as an engaging and refined means of urban transportation.

Don't get me wrong. It handled well, the steering was precise, the brakes efficient and it was very comfortable. It was certainly a machine you could happily live with.

Given the forty plus temperatures that Adelaide never fails to provide when I visit, the standard of A/C fitted became very relevant. Believe me, it worked fine.

The mirrors fold automatically.

There were a few surprises when it came to the kit. The mirrors spookily folded when you locked the car, and unfolded when you pressed the key to unlock it. This  reminded me of our Cardigan Corgi's ears. They also unfold when you approach him, but no key is necessary.

Plenty of storage.

The standard navigation worked fine once you got used to it, but it kept telling me (loudly) stuff I didn't really need to know. I didn't take the time to set it up properly, so maybe that can be eliminated. The bluetooth is simple and user friendly.

It was in the sevens....

It also returned pretty close to what was advertised on the fuel consumption sticker. This is, in my experience, comparatively rare.

I'd get hold of one of these things in a heartbeat.

The only real rival is the Kia Cerato with its seven year warranty. Both come from the same manufacturer.

Flagstone Creek Road

This is a grab from my dashcam of a run up the mountain along Flagstone Creek Road.

 The quality is poor (both sound and vision).

 The vision problem is a consequence of camera shake.

 I don't know why the sound is so poor.

 Anyway - FWIW, I'll post it.

NB - It was done whilst remaining well within the posted limits. This is one of the advantages of the MX5. You don't have to drive it fast to enjoy it.

A Lumpy Truck

This week I had the opportunity to cover 1000km in a lumpy truck.

It was an Isuzu MU-X (where do they get these model names?) and I finished up with it because the hire company had run out of Outlanders. It was, apparently, an “upgrade”.

This is the second time this has happened. The last time I was upgraded to a Toyota Prado, so comparisons were possible.

The Prado comes across as slightly up-market, especially comparing the interiors, but there’s not much in it. The MU-X is, for mine, a more useable vehicle. It is comfortable, very easy to drive, and feels every bit as strong as the Prado is reputed to be.

And best of all, it doesn’t smell like a Toyota. It must be the glues they use, but you could blindfold me and I would be able to pick a Toyota immediately by its distinctive pong.

The best feature of the MU-X is its motor. It feels unburstable, but at the same time, discrete and in the background. There is a slight diesel clatter, but noticeable only when cold. It’s the kind of diesel that you can start up at 5am in the motel forecourt without stirring the somnambulists. 

Like the motor, the transmission (in this case a 6-speed auto) is also discrete, but it kicks down with alacrity when booted. It overtakes well. 

It handles as you would expect – the separate chassis and off-road engineering creates a lolloping gait, but the steering is communicative and stability is fine. At no time, did I feel insecure at speed, something that was occasionally an issue in the Prado.

Whilst the interior is a sea of hard dark plastic, it is laid out logically, has plenty of storage, and looks easy to clean. The AC and sound systems were simple to use and the Bluetooth straightforward. The only negative aspect I encountered was the AC. It took a long time (minutes) to get the interior comfortable after parking in full sun. Maybe I wasn’t setting it up properly.

Probably the most sales worthy feature of these Isuzus is their value for money. They come in at over $7000 less than the comparable Prado, and are available with 4X2, for about ten grand less and Isuzu always seem to be prepared to offer deals. The 4X2 is rapidly becoming the weapon of choice for grey nomads towing tandem axle vans. 

They also have a strong reputation for reliability, if you read the forums. They seem to be matching Toyota in this respect.

The fuel consumption readout had me confused for a while until I realised it was set up for kms/litre.

Who uses that? 

After a little bit of maths, it became apparent that the thing was turning 8lit/100kms on a mixture of commuting and cruising. A fill-to-fill calculation across a 350km open road trip turned 7lit/100kms - not shabby.

In summary, these things are user friendly, non-nonsense, and good value for money. The one I drove was a genuine seven seater, with a DVD player folding down from the ceiling to keep the sprogs entertained. 

If you were contemplating a trip across the Nullarbor, or from Brisbane to Mt Isa, with a family of small children, this would be the weapon of choice.