Ron, that'd make me a Neanderthal as well as we have both cars on your hit list.
In Queensland, registration on an 8cyl car has gone up to just a smidge under $1K per year (Incl CTP). The 5yo Land cruiser is about to be replaced with a new TD one, which gets much better ecconomy and better emissions, however as it still has 8 cylinders, it cops the same rego costs as the Petrol. We camp twice a year and traverse the beach or bay islands 6 times a year. We've seen friends do it in a CRV, but they can never take as much camping gear with them, and usually end up with bits broken off.
I've got a 2007 falcon wagon, that I bought second hand at 18 months old for $19K and only 16K Km on the clock. It averages about 12L/100km around town driven carefully as low as 8L/100km on the highway, yet still accelerates comfortabley on the open road, and when I need to take the dog somewhere along with a boot full of picnic gear I can, and still 4 adults and a baby in the car. If need be I get three TL washers and a dishwasher in the back with the seats down. Its all horses for courses. I beleive things need to be more efficient, and compared to my old Falcon wagon, its about 3L/100km more so. If we had a smaller car on either front, it would be difficult to cart, 3 toolboxes, plus all our washing, the dog and god knows what other junk between our house and Michaels Mum's each weekend. (the joys of having an older parent)
If we were a sedan only household, we'd need to take a trailer up and down the 120km each fortnight when we visit between houses with or without various family members.
Thats the reason we bought new falcon wagon as comparatively it is cheaper to run than the Landcruiser. That will change however when the new one arrives in November, as Highway cycle its good for 10L/100km, from a 2.5ton vehicle thats pretty impressive.
So you are right in some ways, but to write off the big aussie six as being inefficient and old is unfair, you get a lot of space for your money, and the fuel consumption is nothing like what it was in the mid 90's.
In Queensland, registration on an 8cyl car has gone up to just a smidge under $1K per year (Incl CTP). The 5yo Land cruiser is about to be replaced with a new TD one, which gets much better ecconomy and better emissions, however as it still has 8 cylinders, it cops the same rego costs as the Petrol. We camp twice a year and traverse the beach or bay islands 6 times a year. We've seen friends do it in a CRV, but they can never take as much camping gear with them, and usually end up with bits broken off.
I've got a 2007 falcon wagon, that I bought second hand at 18 months old for $19K and only 16K Km on the clock. It averages about 12L/100km around town driven carefully as low as 8L/100km on the highway, yet still accelerates comfortabley on the open road, and when I need to take the dog somewhere along with a boot full of picnic gear I can, and still 4 adults and a baby in the car. If need be I get three TL washers and a dishwasher in the back with the seats down. Its all horses for courses. I beleive things need to be more efficient, and compared to my old Falcon wagon, its about 3L/100km more so. If we had a smaller car on either front, it would be difficult to cart, 3 toolboxes, plus all our washing, the dog and god knows what other junk between our house and Michaels Mum's each weekend. (the joys of having an older parent)
If we were a sedan only household, we'd need to take a trailer up and down the 120km each fortnight when we visit between houses with or without various family members.
Thats the reason we bought new falcon wagon as comparatively it is cheaper to run than the Landcruiser. That will change however when the new one arrives in November, as Highway cycle its good for 10L/100km, from a 2.5ton vehicle thats pretty impressive.
So you are right in some ways, but to write off the big aussie six as being inefficient and old is unfair, you get a lot of space for your money, and the fuel consumption is nothing like what it was in the mid 90's.
