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Buying cars for the fuel crisis

Buying cars for the fuel crisis

Car Torque with Matty J Apr 03, 2026 96 min
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About this episode

Fuel prices spark a buying-and-keeping strategy: Edward grabs an E-gas Falcon to diversify away from diesel and premium petrol, aiming for cheap fills and “apocalypse” practicality. The crew also trades real-world efficiency stories—Honda Insight hybrid battery fixes, low-consumption challenges, and commuting math—plus ongoing mechanical sagas (a crank-angle-sensor Saab drama, indicator quirks, and various maintenance). They compare notes on the All Four Day Falcon show (fewer cars, mostly Falcons, but standout builds like engineered BF Utes). The episode ends with a wide-ranging car quiz and a few classifieds-style plugs.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

front wheel drive

"And it's front wheel drive. Sorry, have you got anyone you want to thank?"

Front-wheel drive means the front wheels do the work of moving the car. Many normal everyday cars use it because it’s efficient and cost-effective. It can feel a little different than cars where the back wheels drive.

Car

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

"You haven't bought a Rolls-Royce Cullinan or something. Well, in the grand scheme of things, you've bought the apocalypse car, haven't you?"

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a super-luxury SUV. People bring it up when they mean “the most expensive, over-the-top” kind of car.

Car

Ford Falcon

"...me you, mate. Welcome you to the fraternity, the Falcon Brotherhood. Is this the first one?"

The Ford Falcon is a car model that was especially popular in Australia. The podcast talks about it like a club, which means many people really love these cars. It’s often remembered for being a classic, enthusiast-style vehicle.

Term

V8

"I mean, it wasn't that long ago that I was driving the big girl to Canberra and back. Running the V8 and loving life. It was like it was the 1980s."

A V8 is a type of engine with eight cylinders. It usually means strong performance, but it can also use more fuel than smaller engines.

Concept

interest rates

"And then it feels like now we're in the early 90s recession. Interest rates at, you know, they're not quite there, of course, but back then they were 17% or 19% or something. David will remember that well."

Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money. If they’re high, car loans cost more each month, so fewer people can buy the same cars.

Car

Honda City

"And I think we said it last time I was on the Honda City. It's probably the most economical car that I own. So for me to run the Honda City, you know, for one tank, I get about 450 Ks out of a tank."

The Honda City is a small Honda that’s known for being pretty cheap to run. Here, the host is using it as an example of a car that goes far on one tank and costs less to fill.

Term

LPG

"every time I drive past the servo, LP gas back then was 79 cents a liter. I was like, this is quite the contrast."

LPG is an alternative fuel that some cars can run on. If it’s cheaper per liter than petrol, it can make driving much less expensive.

Term

heavy duty tow bar

"But it's got a heavy duty tow bar, which is good for towing my caravan or trailers or other things."

A heavy-duty tow bar is the hitch hardware made to tow bigger loads safely. If you tow a caravan or trailers often, this is the kind of upgrade you want.

Term

headlight flasher

"So it had a headlight flasher like in 1971, which is great little feature. Cause if, you know, someone's turning or you're not sure, you can just flash your lights and really easily in them just with this little, little pressure switch at the end of the, um, indicator stalk."

A headlight flasher is a quick “flash” of the headlights you can do to get someone’s attention. It’s usually a momentary button so you don’t have to turn the headlights fully on.

Term

D cell batteries wired together

"...but the, the battery box that says do not touch, you will die if you open it, um, has five D cell batteries wired together and it's got 20 sticks of these five D cell batteries."

They’re describing the hybrid battery as being made from many standard D-cell batteries connected together. It’s a throwback design that makes the battery feel more “DIY” than today’s sealed hybrid battery packs.

Term

liters per 100 Ks

"And he was getting about five and a half, six liters per 100 Ks. Anyway, he pulled it."

They’re quoting fuel economy in liters per 100 kilometers. Lower numbers mean the car uses less fuel for the same distance.

Concept

kilometers (Ks)

"How many Ks did you go and what did it cost you? ... Can we cup it at like a certain amount of kilometers? ... let's say 400 or 500 Ks."

They’re talking about kilometers—distance. They want to compare fuel costs using the same distance (like 400 or 500 km) so the numbers are apples-to-apples.

Term

80,000 Ks

"80,000 Ks. Well, there you go."

“80,000 Ks” means the car has about 80,000 kilometers on it. That’s a useful checkpoint for thinking about routine maintenance and how much the car has been used.

Concept

combined cycle

"Okay. 4.3 to 4.6 liters per 100 on a combined cycle."

“Combined cycle” is a test that mixes city driving and highway driving to estimate overall fuel use. It’s a useful comparison number, but your real results can be different.

Concept

F1 car

"cases you'll get at that current consumption. So we have to get like an F1 car. Yeah."

An F1 car is a super high-tech race car. The point here is that they’re talking about needing something extremely efficient, like what you’d see in racing.

Term

flux

"Paration, use flux and you clean the spot and you'll be right. It was just, it just wouldn't stay there."

Flux is a paste or liquid you put on metal before soldering. It helps the solder stick by cleaning the surface so the connection can actually form.

Concept

one of the last ones off the line

"It's a 2016. [1957.1s] One of the last ones off the line. [1958.8s] Oh, yeah, yeah."

That phrase means the car was built near the end of that model being made. People often like late-production cars because they may include the final improvements, and they can be rarer.

Term

supercharged

"[1966.9s] That's a V8 5-litre. [1968.8s] V8 5-litre Supercharged Manwell. [1970.8s] Yeah, that's cool."

A supercharger is a device that squeezes more air into the engine. More air usually means more power, so the car can feel faster, especially when you accelerate.

Term

10,000Ks

"[1976.1s] Yeah, it's only got 10,000Ks on it. [1977.7s] So it's like a brand new car. [1979.2s] Yeah, so."

“10,000Ks” means the car has about 10,000 kilometers on it, which is pretty low. Low mileage usually means less wear, but you still want to check maintenance records.

Term

petrol

"And spent $146 on petrol last week and from Monday to, sorry, from, I think I refueled on Sunday and just topped it up now, which was $68, I think."

“Petrol” just means gasoline. When petrol prices go up, it gets more expensive to drive, so people start thinking harder about what car they should use.

Concept

oil leaks

"and a few other oil leaks that every mechanic seems to change. They mind about what's causing it."

Oil leaks are when engine or drivetrain oil escapes from seals, gaskets, or fittings. They matter because they can lead to low oil levels, contamination of other components, and in some cases fire risk if oil contacts hot surfaces.

Part

clutch

"So, but drives well, I think like as I had already learned anyway, [2322.8s] you know, needs a new clutch, got to get roadworthy and stuff like that. [2325.5s] But it does drive really, really well."

The clutch is what lets you shift gears on a manual car. If it needs replacing, that usually means extra work and cost before the car is ready to drive.

Concept

test drive

"He didn't even want to test drive it. [2606.9s] I was like, have a go. [2608.2s] Like, have a go of what it feels like."

A test drive is just taking the car for a short drive before you buy it. It helps you feel if something is off, like the ride or brakes. If someone doesn’t want to test drive, it usually means they trust the seller or the deal is too good to question.

Term

radiator and heater hoses

"I've got all new radiator and heater hoses on that car."

Radiator and heater hoses are part of the vehicle’s cooling system, carrying coolant between the engine, radiator, and heater core. Replacing aging hoses helps prevent leaks and overheating, which is especially important before a long trip.

Part

evaporator behind the dash

"like the radiator is old, uh, hose are all old, um, the evaporator behind the dash,"

The evaporator is the part of the air conditioning that actually cools the air inside the cabin. If it’s behind the dash, fixing it can be a bigger job than something under the hood.

Concept

Lego Ute

"I thought was really hilarious was the Lego Ute. So, this one guy made his FG into a Lego Ute."

A “Lego Ute” is a pickup-style car that’s styled to look like LEGO. It’s usually a fun, attention-grabbing makeover rather than a serious performance upgrade.

Concept

plug-in hybrid

"and then plug-in hybrid [3689.5s] and GS Sport, plug-in hybrid, all-wheel drive."

A plug-in hybrid is part electric and part gas. You can charge it at home or at a charger, and it can still use gas when the battery runs low.

Term

throttle

"It was a lot of throttle, it was fun. That's true, it was fun."

Throttle is how hard you press the gas pedal. More throttle usually means quicker acceleration and a more exciting drive.

Term

Ks

"And he had it from New. Doesn't do a lot of Ks, because he's in Melbourne."

“Ks” just means kilometers—how much the car has been driven. Fewer Ks usually means less driving wear.

Term

watch list

"So anybody interested, let me know. There's currently, I think 26 people on car sales who have added to their watch list,"

A “watch list” refers to people tracking a listing (commonly on marketplaces) so they can monitor price changes or availability. The speaker’s mention of “26 people” implies demand and can influence negotiation dynamics.

Term

electric windows

"So that's the cruise control, the electric windows, all those other goodies."

Electric windows are the power windows you control with a switch. On older cars, the motors or switches can wear out, so it’s worth checking they work properly.

Term

cruise control

"So that's the cruise control, the electric windows, all those other goodies."

Cruise control lets the car hold a steady speed for you. If it doesn’t work, it can be a small-but-real issue when you’re deciding what the car is worth.

Term

aircon

"I think the aircon worked too when I drove it. Yeah. Aircon needs a good regas, but that's, yeah, you get that."

Air conditioning (“aircon”) is the system that cools the cabin. If it’s not blowing cold, it may need refrigerant added or it could be leaking.

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