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/ 5 September 2007
"Powered by a 2,3-litre diesel multi-jet engine with an output of 88kW and 320Nm, the 13m Fiat Ducato wasn’t the quickest taxi I’ve ever been in. But with the help of a smooth six-speed manual gearbox, increased body rigidity and Macpherson suspension up front, it ranked among the most comfortable."
No image available
/ 5 September 2007
"I know this might sound corny, but the sound of the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster’s V8 engine gave me indescribable pleasure. Yes, I’ve driven V8s, V10s and even a V12-engined vehicle before, but none has ever sounded as viciously sweet as this," writes Sukasha Singh.
The facelifted Hyundai Tiburon (Spanish for "shark") perfectly illustrates just how far this young Korean manufacturer has come in a short space of time. Given that it’s a sports coupé, Hyundai took the opportunity to use Wesbank Raceway to take motoring scribes through an advanced driving course using the new Tiburons.
My first car, a Ford Sapphire, was an absolute disaster. I owned it for six months before trading it in for a Toyota Corolla 1,3-litre. But my third car, a Corolla 160i, was, in my book, my first real car. I loved it. Its acceleration was smooth, it handled twisty bits with confidence and it never let me down, writes Sukasha Singh.
I’ve discovered a lovely, sneaky trick to play on fellow gym-goers whenever I force myself to go to gym these days. Of course, no normal person wants to be in a gym surrounded by sweaty, heaving masses, but nobody wants to take the risk of being mugged while walking or jogging, writes Sukasha Singh.
You trundle along through your daily activities — drive to work, drive home, drive to gym, drive home — and you never really consider how much time you spend behind the steering wheel of your car. That is until you find a vehicle that’s not completely manic in nature, but stirs the senses enough to make you realise that it’s not about getting from Point A to Point B anymore.
40 years ago the Hyundai Motor Corporation created its first car — the Pony — and it was a dismal failure. The few cars that were shipped to Nigeria (and a handful of other countries) experienced a host of problems, which included the vinyl peeling off the roof as a result of the harsh African sun.
Sleek from nose to tail, with just the right amount of muscle thrown in here and there, the BMW 3-Series coupé represents a harmonious blend of elegance and performance. Inside the two-door coupé, comfort is the central theme, with even the two rear seats offering decent enough space for two fairly tall adults.
During the launch of the Honda Civic Type-R, we asked assistant to Honda’s MD, Seki Inaba, why South Africa hadn’t received any Honda hybrid vehicles yet. His answer was one that epitomised why so many Honda customers love this brand. Inaba explained that Honda headquarters in Japan was not happy with the quality of fuel in South Africa and it was therefore unwilling to make its hybrids available to us.
Despite being an MPV, the new Mazda 5 makes its somewhat chunky appearance rather becoming, and its agility adds to its appeal. Driving the 5 in Cape Town was an absolute pleasure; it accelerates easily, feels composed at all times — even when being driven hard — and fits its marketing slogan of being "surprisingly stimulating", writes Sukasha Singh.