As a student I was given my white Ford Fiesta Flair 1.4i. The car was a small hatchback, sporting two doors and a 1.4 litre fuel injected engine. Aesthetically it had the characteristics of a bubble, yet was neat enough. It was not the car of my dreams, it was not even the car I wanted, it was just a car... a means of getting from A to B. Who was I to deny myself that pleasure. So I gratefully accepted the gift bestowed up me and drove off into the sunset.
6 years and a lot of kilometres later I am still driving that very same Fiesta. Sure it has a huge dent in the bonnet and a couple of smaller dents at various intervals around the car. The heater is stuck on, the windscreen cracked and the window winder has broken in two. My speakers too have been distorted for the last few years and there is a somewhat disconcerting rattle from the back wheels.
On paper, this poor little Ford Fiesta is a disaster, surely not more than a few kilometres shy of the scrap yard. In reality however, it is an absolute dream. I can fill my petrol tank up for R400, which lasts me a couple of weeks when driving locally around Johannesburg, and can get me to within a stones throw of Durban when hitting the open road. The services are also very reasonable. Sure, I don't go to directly to Ford, but rather my local mechanic and it rarely costs me more than R1000 - R1500 per year to keep this little hatch running. Then there is the cost of car insurance, which is substantially lower than that of other cars I compared with. Not driving a recognised performance vehicle and not being highly sought after by the crime syndicates of the world definitely has its perks.
The true beauty of this car however, is not in the money it saves me alone, but also how we have bonded. Put anyone else in the driver's seat and what follows is a constant stream of complaints and abuse at the car. I however feel completely at home in that front seat - the acceleration is fast enough, in fact the car feels quite zippy. My arms have grown accustomed to the lack of power steering and all the above mentioned idiosyncrasies which would certainly deter a buyer (or thief for that matter) have become so normal to me, that I would struggle to function in a properly working vehicle. Add to this that rattles aside, the car runs like a dream and hasn't given me much trouble in the time we have spent together, and I am more than happy to drive my Ford Fiesta Flair for the foreseeable future.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Petrol price increase... not again!
It seems that petrol prices increase with a disconcerting regularity. If I had a penny for every time I have heard the phrase "remember to fill up your car today, petrol prices are increasing tomorrow", I would be a wealthy man, provided of course, I too didn't need to fill up.
At moments like these, when the impending doom of yet another hike is upon me, I take some time to reflect on ways to stem the tide of this petroleum beast. The logical choice would be to change my mode of transport, a bicycle sounds really good, but just isn't practical in Johannesburg, walking a definite no no. While a motorbike or scooter is an option, the aura of danger surrounding these vehicles is enough to put me off. Cancel public transport due to unreliability and we are once more right back where we started... a Car.
The good news however, is that there is ample choice when buying a car, and with the advancements in technology, hybrid cars (and hopefully electric cars in the not to distant future) are definitely worth considering. Just how much can you save financially buying a hybrid car? In the short term, probably not as much as you would save scratching the idea and taking the extra 34c per litre in your stride. This however, is not the case on a more long term timeline. The effects of a more fuel efficient car on your wallet and the environment will be quite significant going forward and hopefully the prices of these cars will come down too, thus making it easier for us to help ourselves and the environment.
A while ago I wrote a post on the most fuel efficient cars in South Africa, give it a read if you are interested in upgrading.
At moments like these, when the impending doom of yet another hike is upon me, I take some time to reflect on ways to stem the tide of this petroleum beast. The logical choice would be to change my mode of transport, a bicycle sounds really good, but just isn't practical in Johannesburg, walking a definite no no. While a motorbike or scooter is an option, the aura of danger surrounding these vehicles is enough to put me off. Cancel public transport due to unreliability and we are once more right back where we started... a Car.
The good news however, is that there is ample choice when buying a car, and with the advancements in technology, hybrid cars (and hopefully electric cars in the not to distant future) are definitely worth considering. Just how much can you save financially buying a hybrid car? In the short term, probably not as much as you would save scratching the idea and taking the extra 34c per litre in your stride. This however, is not the case on a more long term timeline. The effects of a more fuel efficient car on your wallet and the environment will be quite significant going forward and hopefully the prices of these cars will come down too, thus making it easier for us to help ourselves and the environment.
A while ago I wrote a post on the most fuel efficient cars in South Africa, give it a read if you are interested in upgrading.
Driving the Renault Sandero 1.6 United
This weekend past I has the opportunity to drive the Renault Sandero 1.6 United, a car marketed as having ample space, in fact, the most space in its class. I took the opportunity with both hands, and put this "little" car to the test.
The first thing I noticed when approaching my charcoal coloured Sandero, was that it actually looks quite good. Sure its no fancy sports car, but the Renault Sandero is certainly not offensive in any way. The car seems well put together and flows nicely. The charcoal colour also worked quite nicely on the model and worked nicely with the grey interior. So far we were off to a good start.
A quick trip around the car testing things soon brought many nuances to light. The boot for example doesn't have a regular handle, and requires a second look to figure out how to open it. Though it really is simply enough, straying from the generally accepted norms can be quite disconcerting for first time drivers, myself included. The Sandero also didn't seem very big, in fact I likened it to a 4 door hatch in many ways and wasn't overconfident that it would be able to live up to Renault's space claim.
On entering the drivers seat and playing around, I was once more presented with certain foreign intricacies. The window winders worked in reverse, the dash seemed to be presented in code and no matter how many times I turned the radio down, it would always return to a default volume when starting the car (though this may have been unique to my Sandero). On the positive side, everything seemed easy enough to figure out, the seats were comfortable, and the car did come with some bells and whistles - air conditioning (an essential in the hot Durban climate) and power steering, not to mention a small bag of mint imperials. The other overwhelmingly impressive thing was the space. It is strange, but Renault have somehow managed to create space without flaunting it. The space is certainly there, large objects just seems to fit, and I had 4 small adults comfortable seated in the back seat. The Sandero is actually deceivingly large, despite its diminutive looks. At least Renault had delivered on their main claim to fame, always a positive.
Aesthetics aside, it was time to begin my weekend away and take the Sandero out onto the open road. Air conditioning blowing full steam ahead, we eked out of the parking bay and began our mission. While not the most powerful car, even with the air con on and a full car, the Sandero seemed to drive alright. It was sufficient for urban driving. The car did seem to increase in size on the road, and I often felt I was straying out of my lane. Still, the drive was smooth enough, until we hit the highway. The major negative point for me about the Renault Sandero was the cars ability at higher speeds. Hitting 120km/h and the car seemed to bounce all over the road, the steering wheel begun to shake and the steering seemed so sensitive that the faintest touch would have the car leaping from side to side. This was certainly not a performance machine, but then again, it was never supposed to be. If you are looking for performance however, keep looking, this is not your car.
In my opinion, the Renault Sandero is a great urban family car. Aesthetically pleasing, spacious, fairly inexpensive and well constructed. The extra features are a nice touch and make the drive comfortable. It delivers on its promises, and is a great addition to its class of car.
The first thing I noticed when approaching my charcoal coloured Sandero, was that it actually looks quite good. Sure its no fancy sports car, but the Renault Sandero is certainly not offensive in any way. The car seems well put together and flows nicely. The charcoal colour also worked quite nicely on the model and worked nicely with the grey interior. So far we were off to a good start.
A quick trip around the car testing things soon brought many nuances to light. The boot for example doesn't have a regular handle, and requires a second look to figure out how to open it. Though it really is simply enough, straying from the generally accepted norms can be quite disconcerting for first time drivers, myself included. The Sandero also didn't seem very big, in fact I likened it to a 4 door hatch in many ways and wasn't overconfident that it would be able to live up to Renault's space claim.
On entering the drivers seat and playing around, I was once more presented with certain foreign intricacies. The window winders worked in reverse, the dash seemed to be presented in code and no matter how many times I turned the radio down, it would always return to a default volume when starting the car (though this may have been unique to my Sandero). On the positive side, everything seemed easy enough to figure out, the seats were comfortable, and the car did come with some bells and whistles - air conditioning (an essential in the hot Durban climate) and power steering, not to mention a small bag of mint imperials. The other overwhelmingly impressive thing was the space. It is strange, but Renault have somehow managed to create space without flaunting it. The space is certainly there, large objects just seems to fit, and I had 4 small adults comfortable seated in the back seat. The Sandero is actually deceivingly large, despite its diminutive looks. At least Renault had delivered on their main claim to fame, always a positive.
Aesthetics aside, it was time to begin my weekend away and take the Sandero out onto the open road. Air conditioning blowing full steam ahead, we eked out of the parking bay and began our mission. While not the most powerful car, even with the air con on and a full car, the Sandero seemed to drive alright. It was sufficient for urban driving. The car did seem to increase in size on the road, and I often felt I was straying out of my lane. Still, the drive was smooth enough, until we hit the highway. The major negative point for me about the Renault Sandero was the cars ability at higher speeds. Hitting 120km/h and the car seemed to bounce all over the road, the steering wheel begun to shake and the steering seemed so sensitive that the faintest touch would have the car leaping from side to side. This was certainly not a performance machine, but then again, it was never supposed to be. If you are looking for performance however, keep looking, this is not your car.
In my opinion, the Renault Sandero is a great urban family car. Aesthetically pleasing, spacious, fairly inexpensive and well constructed. The extra features are a nice touch and make the drive comfortable. It delivers on its promises, and is a great addition to its class of car.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Losing a car key
There are few things more frustrating than losing a car key. Sure, one can take some comfort in the fact that one has not lost the whole car, but still, for those few hours it is tantamount to the same thing.
The inconvenience caused by the loss of such a simple object is immense, especially when far from home. Obtaining a spare key (if you are lucky enough to have it) is time consuming and frustrating, but it needs to be done. This too is easier said than done, as invariably you are not within a close proximity to the key and must therefore arrange a lift to the destination of said key, and then back to the car, all the time hoping that someone else has not found the desired item and driven off in your prize possession.
When you finally do arrive back at the car, spare key in hand, the mission surrounding it seems completely unnecessary, as with a simple turn you are back in your car and ready to go, as if nothing happened. Yet, something did happen, and it has just cost you a few hours of your life. That, however is not all, as the prudent owner is now faced with the cost and task of acquiring a new spare key. Having just proved its value, one cannot justify not owning a spare car key.
The inconvenience caused by the loss of such a simple object is immense, especially when far from home. Obtaining a spare key (if you are lucky enough to have it) is time consuming and frustrating, but it needs to be done. This too is easier said than done, as invariably you are not within a close proximity to the key and must therefore arrange a lift to the destination of said key, and then back to the car, all the time hoping that someone else has not found the desired item and driven off in your prize possession.
When you finally do arrive back at the car, spare key in hand, the mission surrounding it seems completely unnecessary, as with a simple turn you are back in your car and ready to go, as if nothing happened. Yet, something did happen, and it has just cost you a few hours of your life. That, however is not all, as the prudent owner is now faced with the cost and task of acquiring a new spare key. Having just proved its value, one cannot justify not owning a spare car key.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Most anticipated cars of 2012
If last years car manufacturer announcements are anything to go by, 2012 promises to bring with it an array of impressive new cars. With the turn of the year in our rear view mirrors, the eagerly awaited car releases have once more grabbed the attention of motoring journalists around the country and the world.
Cars.co.za has released a comprehensive article, highlighting the Top 5 most anticipated cars of 2012.
The list covers a variety of cars to suit most individuals.
Lets hope that all the cars live up to the hype which the announcements created over the past 12 months.
Cars.co.za has released a comprehensive article, highlighting the Top 5 most anticipated cars of 2012.
The list covers a variety of cars to suit most individuals.
Lets hope that all the cars live up to the hype which the announcements created over the past 12 months.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Festive season road safety
Found quite a comprehensive article on festive season road safety. I know it may be a little bit late, but a lot of the tips are pertinent all year round and the rest... consider it an early start for next year.
http://www.cars.co.za/car-information/Road_Safety/Holiday_driving_-_What_you_need_to_know/7/
On a similar note, I drove from Johannesburg to Durban this December and was very impressed by the traffic police presence. I must have driven past about 7 fixed cameras and almost a dozen temporary police operated speed cameras. It really felt like there was a concerted effort to keep the roads safe over the festive season, a very worthy cause. I must admit that of late there really has been a noticeable difference in road safety in South Africa. Lets keep up the momentum and make our roads safer for all!
http://www.cars.co.za/car-information/Road_Safety/Holiday_driving_-_What_you_need_to_know/7/
On a similar note, I drove from Johannesburg to Durban this December and was very impressed by the traffic police presence. I must have driven past about 7 fixed cameras and almost a dozen temporary police operated speed cameras. It really felt like there was a concerted effort to keep the roads safe over the festive season, a very worthy cause. I must admit that of late there really has been a noticeable difference in road safety in South Africa. Lets keep up the momentum and make our roads safer for all!
Top car videos of 2011
With the recent video craze, everyone and their dogs are creating and uploading videos to sites like Youtube with the hope of being a instant celebrity. For each successful video however, there are thousands which fail. This does leave the average user in quite a pickle, as due to the volumes of videos available, it is very difficult to find the choice videos to watch.
Cars.co.za has taken the time to compile a list of the top 5 car videos for 2011, based on number of views. Whether you are a car fanatic, video fundi or just want to be able to hold your own in conversation with your mates, this list is a must view.
Click here to view this list: http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/The_top_5_Car_videos_of_2011/608/
Cars.co.za has taken the time to compile a list of the top 5 car videos for 2011, based on number of views. Whether you are a car fanatic, video fundi or just want to be able to hold your own in conversation with your mates, this list is a must view.
Click here to view this list: http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/The_top_5_Car_videos_of_2011/608/
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Collection options to avoid drinking and driving
South African drivers are often left with a very serious dilemma... How to get home after having a few drinks. With even stricter laws being enforced to keep our roads safe, having even a couple of drinks could result in large fines or even jail time. While this hard stance is very necessary from a safety point, it does throw a potential dampener on the festive season, as a spontaneous drink or two is out of the question... or is it?
With the advent of designated driver collection / taxi / chauffeur services, South Africans and their cars can now be collected from just about anywhere in the country after having a few too many. This solves the riddle of getting both yourself and your vehicle home safely after a night out. To find out more about these drunk driver collection services, visit Cars.co.za's article post : Designated driver services in SA. The article fully discusses the procedures, costs and benefits of such services, as well as providing a lost of some of the major chauffeur services available in South Africa.
With options like this available, there really is no excuse left to drink and drive. Lets make South Africa's roads safer!
With the advent of designated driver collection / taxi / chauffeur services, South Africans and their cars can now be collected from just about anywhere in the country after having a few too many. This solves the riddle of getting both yourself and your vehicle home safely after a night out. To find out more about these drunk driver collection services, visit Cars.co.za's article post : Designated driver services in SA. The article fully discusses the procedures, costs and benefits of such services, as well as providing a lost of some of the major chauffeur services available in South Africa.
With options like this available, there really is no excuse left to drink and drive. Lets make South Africa's roads safer!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Volkswagen Cross Coupe concept
German car manufacturing giant Volkswagen has debuted its new concept car the VW Cross Coupe, which is a compact hybrid crossover SUV, at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The electric car is said to be able to cover 40km on electricity alone, powered by 2 electric motors. Typical of hybrid cars, there is also a 148hp / 110 kW petrol engine.
From the images, the car looks very unique, and I am unsure as to whether I love it or hate it. The dimensions seem all wrong, and at times I am not sure if I am looking at a SUV or a compact car, which I assume is the point. The car almost looks squashed at times. Though I must say, the longer I have looked at the pictures, the more the VW Cross Coupe has grown on me. It certainly looks sleek and powerful. Personally, though unlikely that you will see this Volkswagen for sale any time soon, I think that by blending many different styles of cars together, both aesthetically and functionally, VW have stumbled onto what may in the future be a winner.
To read the full article, including images, of this new concept car, visit the following link: Volkswagen Cross Coupe Concept
The electric car is said to be able to cover 40km on electricity alone, powered by 2 electric motors. Typical of hybrid cars, there is also a 148hp / 110 kW petrol engine.
From the images, the car looks very unique, and I am unsure as to whether I love it or hate it. The dimensions seem all wrong, and at times I am not sure if I am looking at a SUV or a compact car, which I assume is the point. The car almost looks squashed at times. Though I must say, the longer I have looked at the pictures, the more the VW Cross Coupe has grown on me. It certainly looks sleek and powerful. Personally, though unlikely that you will see this Volkswagen for sale any time soon, I think that by blending many different styles of cars together, both aesthetically and functionally, VW have stumbled onto what may in the future be a winner.
To read the full article, including images, of this new concept car, visit the following link: Volkswagen Cross Coupe Concept
Looking for a car dealership in your area?
Finding the right dealership to buy your car from is important. As a consumer, you want to feel that your best interests are being looked after when it comes to price, quality and service.
Some users prefer to use our simple search facility to shortlist potential vehicles, contact the dealership though the Cars.co.za website and then visit the physical dealer stand for viewing. Others prefer to deal with a single car dealer. By visiting our car dealers page, you may browse thousands of car dealerships nationwide, and view the stock of all participating dealers who advertise on Cars.co.za.Cars.co.za has hundreds of dealer partners from across South Africa. These dealers make up the bulk of the used car stock which is advertised daily on the Cars.co.za website.
Viewing car dealer stock online is a great way to not only find your car, buy also key negotiating information such as competitive prices, other dealership offerings etc.
Some users prefer to use our simple search facility to shortlist potential vehicles, contact the dealership though the Cars.co.za website and then visit the physical dealer stand for viewing. Others prefer to deal with a single car dealer. By visiting our car dealers page, you may browse thousands of car dealerships nationwide, and view the stock of all participating dealers who advertise on Cars.co.za.Cars.co.za has hundreds of dealer partners from across South Africa. These dealers make up the bulk of the used car stock which is advertised daily on the Cars.co.za website.
Viewing car dealer stock online is a great way to not only find your car, buy also key negotiating information such as competitive prices, other dealership offerings etc.
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