Mr. Steve Spalding

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/New - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/24/2007    Last Visited: 8/1/2007  

  RACQ technical services manager Steve Spalding said that of the 279 vehicles covered, there was a marked difference in the risk of death or serious injury between the best and the worst rating vehicles.
  
  "For example, the ratings indicate that you are 26 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in the worst rated car than in the best rated car," he said.
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  Mr Spalding said 86 vehicle models rated better than average, with 35 of those much better than average.
  
  "Heavier vehicles generally performed better, showing the role vehicle mass has in protecting people in crashes," he said.
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  Mr Spalding said small and light cars continued to have the worst performance in crashes.Light cars remained particularly problematic with around two thirds of them among the lowest ratings.
  
  "Most of the worst performing vehicles were pre-1990 models, demonstrating the gains made in occupant protection in newer vehicles," he said.
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  Mr Spalding said the used car ratings guide would be a useful tool for anyone contemplating buying a used car and wanting to ensure the car would not only protect them in a crash but also take into consideration the harm their car was likely to do to users in a crash situation.
  
  "The RACQ believes the guide will be particularly useful for young people when they choose their first car," he said.

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/New - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/1/2007    Last Visited: 8/1/2007  

  "A shiny coat of paint and polished wheels can hide some nasty, and costly, surprises,' said RACQ technical services manager Steve Spalding.
  
  "It's almost impossible for the average buyer to pick these up.
  
  "But an RACQ vehicle inspection done before a car is purchased can help buyers avoid these problems."
  
  Mr Spalding said RACQ vehicle inspections were convenient, reliable and affordable.
  
  "With an RACQ vehicle inspection car buyers know exactly what they're buying before they hand over their money," he said.
  
  "RACQ reports can also be used by prospective buyers to negotiate repairs before they accept a vehicle.
  
  And, of course, any vehicle which is mechanically unsound can be rejected outright by the potential purchaser."
  
  Mr Spalding said that under no circumstances should a buyer rely solely on a Safety Certificate as a guide to a vehicle's condition.
  
  "As the name suggests, a Safety Certificate is a check of a car's ability to meet basic safety standards," he said.
  
  But this certificate should not be confused with a full mechanical inspection.

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  www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?s=14fbc5c750 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/28/2007    Last Visited: 12/17/2007  

  However, RACQ vehicle technologies manager Steve Spalding said it missed out on five stars because it did not have Electronic Stability Control (ESC) available on any Epica variant.
  
  Spalding said the Epica result was reasonable but fell short of the top five-star rating now being achieved by many similar vehicles.

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  blog.autopeople.com.au/?\\)/,2r - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 10/7/2008    Last Visited: 9/13/2008  

  RACQ vehicle technologies executive manager Steve Spalding says "misfuelling" incidents were on the increase in Queensland for both diesel and petrol-engined vehicles.

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  www.mycarpools.com/news/art_peak-hour-more-emissions.as - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/20/2008    Last Visited: 7/23/2008  

  The RACQ's Steve Spalding says the test confirms what drivers already know."In terms of additional fuel consumption and CO2 emissions I think this would be fairly typical of any city's traffic, congested traffic conditions," he said.
  
  Mr Spalding says it also found inbound travel times during peak periods for the routes had blown out by 85 per cent, while the outbound journey took 38 per cent longer.
  
  He says motorists need to do what they can to avoid peak hour traffic if they want to reduce their petrol costs and carbon dioxide emissions.He says the finding also reinforces the need for governments to get serious about reducing congestion on the roads.

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/New - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/14/2006    Last Visited: 3/1/2007  

  "The Government's claim that LPG will save motorists travelling 20,000km a year about $1600 in running costs is ‘on the money', but LPG conversions still won't suit everyone," said RACQ's executive manager of technical services, Steve Spalding.
  
  "A motorist would need to determine, first of all, whether their car is suitable for conversion and if the conversion will affect the vehicle's warranty," he said.
  
  "Another important factor for some will be the availability of LPG in areas where the vehicle is likely to be used.It is not as readily available in some regional centres as it is in larger cities.
  
  "Other considerations include loss of boot space resulting from the fitting of the LPG tank, while a slight drop in performance and up to 30 percent higher fuel consumption compared with petrol also need to be taken into account."
  
  Mr Spalding warned that the LPG industry was already overstretched by strong demand for conversions and a skills shortage and there was a real risk that the subsidy could result in longer delays and price increases.

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/new - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/19/2007    Last Visited: 8/1/2007  

  "If a car has been playing up during the warmer months, the chances are it will be even more cantankerous now that the colder weather is upon us," said RACQ technical services manager Steve Spalding.
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  Mr Spalding said that to make sure a vehicle was in good shape for winter motoring, owners should ask their local service centre to:
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  Mr Spalding said motorists living in areas where overnight temperatures were likely to drop below zero, should ensure there was anti-freeze in their car's cooling system.
  
  "It's important to check first whether the vehicle's coolant corrosion inhibitor already contains an anti-freeze agent," he said."And as cooling systems need to be flushed before anti-freeze is added, this job should be referred to your local service centre."
  
  Mr Spalding said that during the winter months motorists should operate their car's air-conditioner from time to time to prevent the system's internal seals from drying.

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/New - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/14/2007    Last Visited: 8/1/2007  

  RACQ technical services manager Steve Spalding said previous studies had shown that 4WDs provided good protection from injury to their occupants in a crash, but were more likely to injure other road users who collided with them.
  
  The new evidence now showed that 4WD vehicles were more likely to be involved in a crash when driven by drivers aged under 20.
  
  "Parents need to consider carefully whether to allow their teenage children to drive a 4WD without supervision, particularly as these crashes are more severe with a higher risk of roll over," Mr Spalding said.
  
  The research also showed that sports cars have up to twice the crash risk and the highest rate of fatal and serious injuries compared to other vehicles.
  
  "Vehicles in this category, which included coupe-type vehicles but not sports sedans, have better handling and braking systems and would be expected to perform better than they have in this research," Mr Spalding said.

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/New - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/13/2007    Last Visited: 8/1/2007  

  RACQ technical services manager Steve Spalding said the ANCAP results were good news for car buyers.
  
  "We now look forward to the Australian industry building a five-star car to match several European and Japanese models that have already scored the top mark," Mr Spalding said.
  
  Results for other ANCAP tested vehicles were the Toyota Tarago and Mitsubishi Triton with four stars, the Hyundai Accent with three stars and the Mitsubishi Express van with one star.
  
  "The Mitsubishi Triton results - up from two stars a year ago to four stars now - is a great outcome," Mr Spalding said.
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  Mr Spalding said the RACQ encouraged new vehicle buyers to select those with a full six-airbag package that included side head protection, and Electronic Stability Control.

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  racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/New - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/22/2007    Last Visited: 8/1/2007  

  RACQ technical services manager Steve Spalding said that while buying a first car was an exciting event for most teenagers, it was important they not have a sudden rush of blood to the head over the first set of wheels that took their fancy.
  
  "It's great to buy a car that looks good but it's even better to buy one that's reliable and suits your pocket," he said.
  
  "And attention to some of the boring details like loan repayments, running costs and insurance premiums before you buy can make a big difference to how you feel about the vehicle once it's yours."
  
  Mr Spalding said this was the time of year when many school leavers started shopping around for their first car.
  
  "First-time buyers traditionally brought second-hand vehicles but these days some of the smaller new cars are so well priced that they have become an attractive alternative," he said.
  
  "Whichever way they go, first-time buyers need to follow a set of guidelines so that they end up with the car that's right for them.
  
  "With this in mind we've produced a checklist which we hope will guide first-time buyers through the purchasing process."
  
  Mr Spalding said the RACQ's display at Brisbane International Motor Show, starting next week, would focus on the club's ability to act as a "one-stop shop" for members seeking advice on buying a car.
  
  "The RACQ can help buyers in their quest to find the right car through a range of services including technical advice, vehicle inspections, car reviews and car valuations," he said.

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