AutoExpert

John Cadogan
  • 5.0 (5)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED DAILY

AutoExpert is all about cars from Australian automotive expert, journalist and engineer John Cadogan

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Hot to tow legally: You MUST crunch these numbers

    A huge proportion of people who tow 2 tonnes+ are doing so illegally - unwittingly, perhaps, but still illegally. I suspect the percentage of illegality grows considerably with the weight of the trailer, too. This has obvious legal and safety implications. And of course manufacturers are in an 'arms race' where 3.5-tonne tow capacity is not just the 'gold standard' - they know they're not selling as many cars as they could if they don't offer that. Compliance is not as straightforward as it sounds - so here's how you crunch the numbers to stay 'roadside weigh station ready'.

    41 min

  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    EV Vs Hybrid: I ran the numbers - for Australia

    The '$75,000: Do the "right" thing' problem: You can buy a Tesla Model Y, or a RAV4 Hybrid + rooftop solar. One of these options will leave you 4 tonnes of CO2 better off. And it's not the option many people want it to be.

    45 min

  3. 1 FEB

    Everything you’ve been told about EV battery failures is wrong (there's a major complexity problem)

    A viewer asked me recently an innocent, and seemingly simple, question: Why are EV fires in the news all the time, and yet power tool batteries (which use the same fundamental tech) are so ubiquitous and seemingly safe? The answer opens a wormhole into the non-linearity of complex systems and failure mechanisms. Prepare to bleed from the ears.

    1h 2m

  4. 1 FEB

    So, you bought an EV for the range - then the carmaker slashed it

    Volvo is recalling almost 35,000 EX-30 battery EVs globally (almost 3000 here in Australia) because the batteries mught just catch fire without warning. All you have to do to enter this lottery is charge to 100%, and see what happens. They don't actually have a fix. The 'fix' (if you can call it that) is to refrain from charging beyond 70%, indefinitely. But that's OK because ... net zero. Obviously.

    22 min

  5. 31 JAN

    EV sales were a joke in 2025 - despite massive government cash

    We all paid $600 million in 2025 for EV sales to remain, essentially, stagnant. (Up 1.1 per cent over two years.) Unincentivised hybrids are selling their ta-tas off, however, and likewise unincentivised PHEVs are 'boom town'...

    21 min

  6. 24 JAN

    Kia Tasman is a cash incinerator, commercially!

    Kia's sales apocalypse with the Tasman continues - which is awesome news for you if you want a massive discount.

    35 min

  7. 24 JAN

    Make this hyper-useful brass hammer with only simple tools - for under $100

    Brass hammers are A) more dense than steel, B) don't damage steel parts you're working on, C) don't spark (in combustible environments) and D) have excellent impact kinematics. They're a superpower in the home workshop, basically. Proving a point here: I made one in under a day, for under $100, without using special tools, and you can, too. So just get started.

    44 min

  8. 23 JAN

    Toyota front diff drain plug design deficiency

    Toyota has a reputation for never putting a foot wrong on mechanical design. Unfortunately that's a total myth - and here's just one glaring example...

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

AutoExpert is all about cars from Australian automotive expert, journalist and engineer John Cadogan

Information

  • Creator
    John Cadogan
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    924
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © John Cadogan
  • Show Website
    AutoExpert

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