Auto Uncovered

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

This week John gets behind the wheel of the JAC Hunter PHEV, Australia’s most affordable plug-in hybrid dual-cab ute. It's got huge (claimed) power, a luxury-feeling interior and a seriously competitive price. The fundamentals are impressive, but there are some frustrating calibration issues that stop it from being the complete package.

Then, listener David asks why buying a new car still feels so painful. In his words: 'why is it so shit'. Adam and John unpack what’s wrong with the traditional dealership experience and why the industry needs to rethink the way it treats customers.

Plus, Adam drives the Honda Super-ONE and reckons it might be the small EV that finally wins over petrolheads. That prompts a debate on whether small cars are more fun than supercars, what Japanese brands can do to fight back against the rise of Chinese manufacturers, and why personality, heritage and fun still matter.

In this episode:
00:00 Welcome to Auto Uncovered

00:51 JAC Hunter PHEV: Huge power for the money

02:30 Would John still buy one?

03:50 Where Chinese car brands are falling short

06:14 The missing ingredient in the JAC Hunter

07:28 Why 360kW doesn’t always feel like 360kW

08:15 The little details JAC needs to fix

11:10 What the Hunter gets right

12:20 Should Toyota and Ford be worried?

13:18 How the JAC Hunter’s hybrid system works

15:49 Can an electrified ute really work off-road?

17:02 The argument for coil-sprung utes

17:47 Testing the Hunter with 500kg in the tray

20:35 Why hybrid engines can sound disconnected

24:37 Listener question: Why does buying a new car suck?

25:15 How dealerships could improve

26:35 The real problem with car dealerships

28:38 Adam’s terrible dealership experience

30:12 Why dealership culture needs to change

31:23 Honda Super One: The EV for petrolheads?

32:13 Why being electric makes it more fun

33:17 Why kei cars make so much sense

35:22 Honda might have a hit on its hands

36:18 Why small cars can be more fun than supercars

38:00 What Japanese car brands should be building

40:04 How Japan can fight back against China

41:00 The problem with massive Chinese car logos

43:45 Why heritage still matters

45:05 Honda proves people still want fun cars

45:55 Remember when Japanese cars were this exciting?

46:27 Wrapping up

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Adam narrowly avoids buying a written-off Skoda after a last-minute history check uncovers $14,500 worth of previous damage, prompting a chat about pre-purchase inspections and the checks you should never skip when buying used.

Then John looks at the changing Australian car market and why he believes the growth of Chinese brands increasingly resembles “colonisation”, as established dealerships move away from legacy manufacturers and embrace new Chinese brands. Can traditional Japanese and European manufacturers compete on price (not really), performance and technology? Perhaps bringing back proper halo cars could help?

Finally, Adam explains why cars like the Ford Bronco and Renault 5 EV can't simply be shipped over and sold here, breaking down the compliance, training, parts, marketing and logistics costs involved in bringing a new model to Australia.

And what happens to Leapmotor if Stellantis pulls out of Australia?

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this ep:
00:00 Welcome to Auto Uncovered
01:46 Adam dodges a Skoda-shaped bullet
04:08 The used-car history check that changed everything
06:59 The checks you should do before buying a used car
12:58 Are Chinese brands “colonising” the Australian car industry?
15:40 Chinese brands take over established dealerships
20:23 Why dealers are turning away from legacy brands
22:10 Can traditional car brands compete with China?
30:39 Has China overtaken Japanese brands in Australia?
33:50 Do legacy brands need to bring back halo cars?
37:51 Will Leapmotor survive if Stellantis leaves Australia?
42:19 Why Australia matters to Chinese car brands
45:04 Why don’t we get the cool cars in Australia?
45:18 The hidden costs of bringing a new car to Australia
48:57 The problem facing Australia’s aftermarket industry
50:25 Wrapping up

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Are new cars actually better? There's still life left in this debate, so Adam and John are going to keep having it.They dig into the growing amount of tech packed into modern cars, from glitchy screens and cameras to expensive sensors, powered tailgates and useless features most people simply don’t need. All that complexity can mean bigger repair bills and reliability headaches.

Depreciation makes buying new hard to justify, so is a five or ten-year-old car actually the smarter choice? Plus, a look at whether motoring media’s obsession with new cars is being driven by the industry itself. Just ignore the ads and the salesman!
Then, listener Ian asks what actually defines a luxury car these days? Adam and John debate the difference between genuine luxury and brand prestige, whether the traditional German badges are still worth paying a premium for, and how cheaper alternatives are challenging the old idea of a luxury car.
Finally, the conversation turns serious as they discuss the tragic death of Constable Mia Lay, the circumstances surrounding the crash and the bigger questions it raises about high-speed police driving, risk, training and whether current policies need to change.

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this episode:
0:00 Intro
1:24 Why are we buying new cars?
3:40 Are older cars actually better?
4:13 Why modern cars are less reliable
6:22 The rising cost of car repairs
8:25 How much car tech is actually useful?
11:13 The problem with unnecessary features
13:02 Upgrading old cars vs new cars
14:38 Are car reviewers biased towards new cars?
17:46 What actually makes a luxury car?
22:28 Are traditional luxury brands losing their appeal?
24:12 The death of Constable Mia Lay
26:00 Questions over police driving speeds
28:37 Do police driving policies need to change?
32:12 Questions for NSW Police leadership
35:10 What needs to change?

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au
John and Adam pull apart ABC Four Corners' BYD hacking exposé, arguing that every modern car collects your data and can be hacked through its CAN bus, no matter where it's built. They break down the TV tricks used to steer viewers, what the story should have covered instead, and answer a listener question on whether legacy brands can fight back against China, and why halo cars might be their best shot.
Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJC
Check out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven
Skip ahead:
00:00 - Intro01:04 - Four Corners' BYD exposé03:50 - Every car is spying09:50 - CAN bus hacking13:21 - China as a trading partner15:39 - On bullshit17:45 - Inside China20:09 - Current affairs tricks25:07 - What they should've covered27:02 - Can legacy brands compete?33:04 - Halo cars and heritage36:52 - Wrap up
Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.auAdam needs to trade in his beloved Fiesta ST for something more practical, and in the process uncovers a gold mine of enthusiast cars now sitting between $20,000 and $30,000 used, from hot hatches and rear-drive sedans to V8 SUVs and future classics. A listener asks what makes car brands keep their die-hard fans, and John and Adam finish with simple ways to cut your motoring costs, why buying an EV to save on fuel doesn't add up, and why petrol is still almost free when you look at what it does for you.Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDrivenSkip ahead:00:00 - Intro00:47 - Replacing the Fiesta ST01:47 - The $20-30K gold mine03:11 - SUVs and hot hatches08:43 - Rear-drive sedans and coupes13:22 - Peak car17:11 - Adam's shortlist17:55 - What keeps enthusiasts loyal24:03 - Cutting motoring costs31:01 - EVs and depreciation33:20 - The real value of fuel39:12 - Wrap upJoin auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.