Listen: What Consumers Should Consider When Buying A Car
We are pleased to share that our editor Ms Vuyi Mpofu is now on national radio station, SAfm, presenting a weekly motoring feature.
5 Tell-Tale Signs Your Car Is Costing You Too Much
We live in an era in which it has become the norm to inflate our sense of self-worth with material possessions.
4 Traffic Rules Motorists Habitually Ignore
There are numerous reasons why traffic laws exist but many motorists seem to habitually and deliberately ignore the rules of the road.
Here is the pricing of VW’s popular Polo DSG derivatives
By H&H Admin
The Polo 1.0 TSI 70kW manual and Polo GTI derivatives went on sale at the beginning of January 2022 and from the end of February 2022, South Africans will now be able to purchase the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG.
The Polo Life 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG comes standard with a digital dashboard display, Park Distance Control (front and rear), electric folding mirrors, lumbar support for the driver and front passenger, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles as well as 15-inch Essex alloy wheels.
The Polo R-Line 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG distinguishes itself from the other Polo versions by its striking ‘R’ design. In addition to the standard features of the Polo Life, the Polo R-Line is offered with 16-inch Valencia alloy wheels, Composition Media infotainment system with inductive mobile charging and a two-zone climatronic air-conditioning system.
Recommended Retail Price (VAT and emissions tax included)
Polo 1.0 TSI 70kW Manual R311 800
Polo Life 1.0 TSI 70kW Manual R350 000
Polo Life 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG R370 700
Polo R-Line 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG R421 900
Polo GTI 2.0 TSI 147kW DSG R489 400
The new Volkswagen Polo comes standard with a 3 year/120 000km warranty, 3 year/ 45 000km EasyDrive Service Plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.
The service interval is 15 000km. Customers have the option to extend EasyDrive Maintenance and EasyDrive Service Plans up to 10 years/ 300 000km.
Safety Tip of The Week: Check Your Wheel Alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment can take a toll on your car’s tyres resulting in you having to replace them soon than expected. Misaligned wheels significantly contribute to the diminished lifespan of your tyres, so it is vital that you check your wheels’ alignment regularly.
Reader Query: Why Does My Car Shake Whenever I Press The Brakes?
We receive a lot of queries via email and social media from readers enquiring about various aspects of motoring.
Double Kyalami 9-Hour Podium For Into Africa Mining Team
Xolile Letlaka claimed a double podium at the prestigious Kyalami 9-Hour, earning a third place finish in the SA GT 1-Hour race, before racing to a superb second place in the Kyalami 9-Hour National GT3 class along with teammates Tschops Sipuka and Philip Kekana.
Sipuka and Kekana were recruited into the team as a homage to the missed international opportunities their talent deserved.
The Stradale Racing/Into Africa Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo team created history as the first all-Black African team to enter – and finish – the Kyalami 9-hour. The team gained enormous exposure and interest from the International media on the grid before, during and after the race, garnering the loudest applause from the throngs of spectators as they mounted the podium.
The pre-race grid activities included Letlaka revealing his Africa Race Together Foundation, an initiative aimed at driving sustainability in national and international motorsport through diversity. The Foundation aims to identify and nurture emerging talent across all spectrums of the sport.
After the race, an elated Letlaka said: “Racing in the Kyalami 9-Hour was an amazing feeling, made even more special with the crowd so strongly behind us. We got a huge cheer at the end which was quite emotional for us. This is how motorsport should be.”
“The car ran perfectly for the whole race. This result is a testament to the whole Stradale Team as well as Tschops and Philip,” he concluded.
A weary Sipuka summed up his Kyalami 9-Hour experience: “The Lamborghini is an exciting car to drive. The team did their best and worked wonders during the event. Racing at night doesn’t happen very often – you really need an extra set of eyes out there as all your brake markers have disappeared into the night. You need high concentration levels as the last thing you want is to throw the race away in the dying minutes.”
Kekana, the oldest member of the trio was equally thrilled with the team’s result: “I had minimal seat time before the race. Once I worked out just how good a GT3 car is, I started to explore its capabilities more and more as the race went on. I’m really happy for the team and amazed at just how much support we enjoyed from the crowd. It’s an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life”.
Good start to the new year with impressive January car sales figures
By H&H Admin
An increase in the cost of living at the start of 2022 did not discourage South Africans from buying new vehicles during January.
South Africans were faced with fuel price hikes and another increase in interest rates as the new year started, but that didn’t deter them from buying new vehicles during January.
According to naamsa | the Automotive Business Council, January new vehicle sales increased 19.5% to 41,382 units compared to the start of 2021, creating a solid start to the year and the market’s continued recovery.
“January new vehicle sales kicked off the year at similar levels to the momentum created during the second half of 2021,” says Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communications at WesBank, referring to four months of sales in the period exceeding 41,000 units. “While some purchase decisions may have been deferred out of December into the new year, January sales provide a solid start to the year, raising the hopes of manufacturers and dealers for ongoing market improvement.”
While year-on-year comparisons remain difficult to interpret because of differing pandemic circumstances, WesBank remained positive for a continued slow recovery of the market during 2022.
Both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) started the year positively, increasing 26.6% and 3.8% respectively. Dealer sales in the passenger car space out-stripped the overall market, increasing 33.7%, a very positive sign of consumer demand.
Sales into the rental market also indicate an increase in business confidence and a more positive outlook to tourism with sales in the channel up 21% during January.
“While gradual interest rate hikes are inevitable over the course of the year from their record lows, their impact should be considered within purchase decisions and affordability,” says Gaoaketse. “Rising costs of living amidst more slowly recovering earnings are expected to continue placing pressure on household incomes and the wherewithal for consumers to afford new vehicles during 2022. But price inflation in the pre-owned market and necessary replacement cycles some two years after the onset of the pandemic should be expected to fuel demand.”
3 Common Car Transmission Problems You Should Attend To
By H&H Admin
Not only does the transmission on your car handle the shifting gears of your car as it accelerates and decelerates, but it also ensures you of a smooth comfortable ride.
You should immediately have your car looked at by a professional should you notice any problems with your car’s transmission. Failure to do so will result in the problem worsening and of course, that only means one thing – more money out of your pocket.
Here are the three most common signs that your transmission may need replacement or attention:
- Vehicle Warning Light
A deteriorating transmission is one of the numerous indications that are associated with the “check engine” light which comes on when you turn on the ignition of your vehicle. This is why it is important to pay attention to all the warning lights which stay lit on your dashboard. A qualified technician will know what to look for, even if you haven’t started experiencing problems with your vehicle.
2. Slipping Gears
Slipping gears is a clear indication of a problem with your car’s transmission. Your gear slipping out of position while you are driving or when your car is stationary is reason for concern, particularly if you are struggling to go up hills or if your car accelerates sluggishly.
3. Difficulty Shifting Gears
In manual cars, a problem with your transmission could also present as follows:
- Gearshift is becomes sticky
- Gearshift is difficult to move
- There is an awful grinding noise when you try to shift gears
In an automatic transmission, you may experience delays when shifting into Drive or Reverse.
In both instances, your car may struggle to accelerate.
The best possible course of action is to attend to any problems which may arise with your vehicle as soon as possible.
Safety Tip of the Week: Things Expectant Moms Need To Know – Part Two
Expectant mothers have to content with a lot, such as swollen feet, mood swings, nausea and the constant need to pee! Sadly, not many can afford to sit at home for the duration of their pregnancy and may need to occasionally drive themselves.
100 000th Polo Vivo rolls off production line at VWSA plant in Kariega
Starting 2022 off on a strong note, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) celebrated a production milestone this week, with the 100 000th unit of the current Polo Vivo rolling off the production line at the plant in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage).
The Vivo is built exclusively in Kariega for the South African market and this milestone comes just over four years after the plant began manufacturing the current Vivo model in 2018.
Prior to this, VWSA built the first generation Vivo from 2010 to 2017, with a total of 254 683 units built in this generation. This means the plant has built just over 354 000 Vivos to date.
In turn, South African consumers have shown their appreciation consistently for this uniquely South African vehicle: the Vivo has been the best-selling vehicle in the passenger car market every year since its introduction in 2010.
A total of 350 289 Vivos have been sold between 2010 and 2021, of which 251 726 were during the first generation and 98 563 of the current model (up until December 2021).
The best annual sales performance for the current Vivo model was recorded in 2019 when VWSA sold a total of 29 618 Vivos in one year. In terms of monthly performance, the Vivo proved most popular in October 2018, when 3 009 Vivos were sold in a single month.
The Vivo is one of two vehicles currently being built at the Kariega plant, the other being the Volkswagen Polo. The Polos built in Kariega are exported to all right-hand-drive markets worldwide, while VWSA also supplements production for left-hand-drive markets.
“This milestone means a lot to our team, both in Production and in the rest of the company,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWSA. “Given the challenges of our industry and of the Covid-19 pandemic, this achievement is a proud moment that sets the tone for a successful year ahead. I am grateful to every VWSA employee for their dedication, and the part they played in making this milestone a reality.”
Isuzu appoints Marcia Noxolo Mayaba as Department for Dealer and Business Development
Marcia joins the Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) senior executive team as the newly appointed Department Executive for Dealer and Business Development.
Marcia Mayaba has an impressive track record within the automotive industry, which spans over two decades.
She has worked across various fields, including truck rental, car rental, leasing and fleet management as well as having extensive retail experience, holding positions of General Manager, Dealer Principal and Franchise Executive, and was the first female in the South African Motor industry to head a Motor Group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange when she was appointed as the Chief Executive of Barloworld Motor Retail.
During her tenure with Barloworld, Marcia also held the role of Vice President of the National Automobile Dealers Association. In 2021 Marcia was voted as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Africa – Automotive Supply Chain.
“We are excited to have Marcia join the IMSAf team, especially with her wealth of experience, where she will be instrumental in bringing to life the IMSAf vision of transformation, high performance and results,” says Mongezi Hermans, Senior Vice President Human Capital and Corporate Affairs at Isuzu.
Looking forward to the challenge, Marcia Mayaba, Department Executive for Dealer and Business Development says “The role is both exciting and challenging at the same time. It aims at bringing about transformation, not only from a diversity and inclusion perspective, but also from the way we conduct business with our business partners and the dealer network into the future”.
Marcia completed a Gordon Institute of Business Science Programme for Management Development, a Diploma in Public Relations from Lesley Carnelley Business College and an Advanced Certificate in Road Transport obtained from the Rand Afrikaans University (R.A.U), now the University of Johannesburg.
She has also completed Dealer Principal Management Training Programmes both at OEM and retail levels. She also holds a Sewell’s Dealership Management Qualification.
