Road Tests

So the 2011 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year was announced last night at a black tie event at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand and my did it come as a shock to the wide eyed members of the motoring industry.

A rather interesting notion was posed at the launch of the new Honda Ballade today. You’ll struggle to find a person in South Africa who doesn’t know someone who owned one of these iconic vehicles.

There was a great deal of expectation riding on the day the Citroen DS3 was delivered to my door. This car has after all won international acclaim from a myriad of motoring publications.

Jo’burg has an unrelenting pace that many of us struggle to keep up with. Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing here, when I could be living a less stressful life in Durban, or eating peaches in the Mother City.

That new car smell is certainly something to be savoured. Even if you aren’t crazy about cars, you’ll probably still appreciate the addictive aroma exuded by the various materials and adhesives in a new vehicle.

Gauteng must have a money fountain somewhere, simply because there cannot be any other justifiable explanation for how everyone with a GP license plate manages to afford a brand new car.

A new trend has started in South Africa. Motor manufacturers have begun to re-badge their outgoing entry level models to create an entry-entry level vehicle that precedes the old entry level one.

I’ve had this discussion with many of my friends. And most of them share my sentiments: BMW M models of late have grown slightly sedate, becoming more clinical and refined, renouncing that essence of hooliganism that M-badged beauties of past held.

It’s that time of the year again when Jeremy Clarkson and his mates come over for a holiday in sunny South Africa and while they’re here throw on a pokey motoring festival to entertain us locals.

Generally I don’t like bakkies as private vehicles, don’t see the point, never have, never will, which is why I’ve always been quite a fan of the Isuzu KB range. They are without a doubt the most workmen like vehicles in the sector…