Top 10 most popular car advice stories on Drive in 2024
12/30/2024 04:00 PM
Drive readers were interested in a broad range of advice stories, including a Tesla bumper sticker about Elon Musk, Australian road rules, and what those black traffic tubes really do.
Another year is almost over, so it's time to look back at the stories most popular with Drive readers in 2024 across our news, reviews and advice content.
In this edition, we've compiled a list of the Top 10 advice stories clicked on in 2024.
Our advice team covers various topics, with the most popular stories this year including travel stories, electric car advice, road rules, and the reliability of used cars.
The list below represents the most-read car advice stories of 2024 on Drive.com.au.
10. 'I tried sleeping in a campervan and learned a valuable lesson'
Date published: 23 June 2024
At the onset of winter 2024, campervan dealer Achtung Camper offered Drive Journalist Tom Fraser its new Mercedes-Benz Vito Campervan for a weekend.
Tom took the opportunity to stay overnight along the iconic Great Ocean Road in the campervan.
"Campervans have come a long way since my childhood," Fraser wrote. "I was worried about the comfort, convenience and on-road handling of such a large, kitted-out van, but was pleasantly surprised to find the Achtung Camper over-delivered on all three. And the bed wasn’t bad either."
MORE: I tried sleeping in a campervan and learned a valuable lesson
9. 'What I wish I'd known before buying an electric car'
Date published: 19 August 2024
Drive spoke to eight electric vehicle owners across Australia to hear their first-hand experience, including buyers of the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Model S, BYD Seal, Atto 3, MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona, Cupra Born, and Peugeot E-2008.
The owners revealed they all charge their vehicles at home – five using solar power – while three of the eight buyers did not test drive their electric vehicle before signing the dotted line.
Most of the drivers said their decision to purchase an EV was to be more environmentally conscious.
MORE: ‘I wish I’d known’ – Honest electric car advice from real EV owners
8. The country with the youngest driving age in the world
Date published: 18 February 2024
A state in the United States was found to have the youngest legally permissible age for solo driving anywhere in the world at 14-and-a-half, albeit with some restrictions.
The US state of South Dakota will allow drivers to obtain a full, unrestricted license at 16 years old – the same age most Australians receive their learner permit.
Australia isn't far behind, with drivers in the Northern Territory able to drive unaccompanied on a provisional licence at 16-and-a-half, followed by 17 years old for all other states and territories except Victoria, which makes drivers wait until they turn 18.
MORE: The country with the youngest driving age in the world
7. 'Sell the car': Tesla bumper sticker causes a stir online
Date published: 11 November 2024
A bumper sticker on a Tesla Model Y has taken a dig at Elon Musk, the outspoken CEO of the car company, with the owner claiming they "bought it before we knew how awful he is".
Posted to the r/CarsAustralia Reddit group, the photo of the Model Y with the bumper sticker generated different opinions, with some telling the owner to be quiet or sell their car.
“Either sell the car and live by your principles or shut up and drive it,” said one user.
“This is ridiculous. It’s not as if anyone who buys a Ranger is necessarily a supporter of Jim Farley, nor is anyone who buys a Camry a fan of Akio Toyoda. Is everyone buying some gizmo from Amazon endorsing Jeff Bezos?” wrote another.
MORE: 'Sell the car': Tesla bumper sticker causes a stir online
6. 'Worrying': The roundabout rule 'so many' Aussie drivers get wrong
Date published: 16 August 2024
The Royal Automobile Association (RAA) of South Australia recently found one in five drivers weren't aware of the rules for indicating at roundabouts.
In a quiz about roundabout road roles, roughly 21 per cent of respondents failed to correctly answer a question about indicating left when exiting a roundabout.
MORE: 'Worrying' –The roundabout rule too many Aussies don’t know
5. What do mobile phone cameras look like? Here's how to spot them
Date published: 5 August 2024
Mobile phone cameras have been introduced in most Australian states over the last five years, with some also able to detect seatbelt offences – often using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
There are two types of mobile phone detection cameras across Australia – fixed and mobile – with fixed cameras attached to existing infrastructure, while mobile cameras are often easier to spot with a large, long-armed structure.
South Australia was the most recent state to enable mobile phone cameras in June 2024, with almost 31,000 drivers detected using their phones behind the wheel in the first month of operation.
MORE: The surprising things new mobile phone cameras can detect
4. 'I've killed the car': The car wash function to avoid at all costs
Date published: 6 September 2024
Car forums have been littered with posts about people who have sprayed down their engine bay at the car wash and been left stranded with a car that won't start.
Drive Consumer Journalist Zane Dobie spoke with an owner of a vehicle who fell victim to the engine bay cleanser at a self-serve car wash because their car "leaks a little bit of oil at the top".
A car wash owner told Drive how trouble can be avoided, including covering the alternator and sensitive electrical parts before rinsing the engine bay.
MORE: 'I've killed the car' – The car wash function to avoid at all costs
3. 'Everything just fails': The cars that break down the most
Date published: 8 January 2024
Drive spoke to a mechanic who has worked for a major roadside assistance provider in regional Australia for nearly 20 years, revealing the vehicles he sees break down the most.
While anecdotal to the experience of a single person, the list revealed several cars with reliability concerns, including the Holden Cruze and Captiva, earlier Ford Focus models, some dual-cab utes, and second-hand Fiat, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles.
MORE: The cars that break down the most, according to a mechanic
2. Used car prices fall, but one vehicle type plummets faster than the rest
Date published: 6 September 2024
In August, global data firm Moody's Analytics found utes and SUVs were losing value on the used market faster than lighter, more-fuel efficient vehicles.
"The value of passenger cars has been much more resilient in the resale market, and we have been seeing this trend in both the United States and Australia," Catarina Noro, Associate Economist at Moody's Analytics, told Drive.
"In Australia, used light vehicle prices are currently still 49 per cent higher than before the pandemic, in contrast to trucks and SUVs, which are just 21.1 per cent higher."
MORE: Aussie used car prices are coming down – especially these models
1. What's the real purpose of those black cables running across roads?
Date published: 8 November 2024
If you've ever seen the black traffic tubes running across the road in Australia and wondered about their purpose, Drive Consumer Editor Susannah Guthrie revealed the answer.
Known as 'traffic tubes', 'traffic counting tubes' or 'pneumatic road tubes', the technology is used by councils, state governments and some private companies to monitor conditions on a particular stretch of road.
While many believe these tubes count the number of cars travelling on the stretch of road, a lesser-known fact is that the technology can also count axles to determine the type of vehicle, and capture speeds for authorities to determine whether people are speeding or travelling lower than the posted limit.
MORE: What those black traffic tubes across roads are REALLY doing
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