Author: Daniel Goldberg

Currently we find that the South African Rand is strengthening against foreign currencies, however what does it mean to consumers? It essentially means new vehicles will become less expensive than in previous years, but it is not a simple explanation. Every quarter something called the Vehicle Pricing Index (VPI) is released by the Credit Bureau TransUnion. The VPI is essentially an illustration of the changes (increases) in prices of new and used cars among the top 15 bulk automakers. The most recent VPI available to analyse was released in the fourth quarter of 2017, and it showed a promising improvement…

This week the test car being reviewed was the all-new, redesigned Volkswagen Polo TSI for 2018. The car belongs to the Highline spec category, with an all-new 1.0 litre TSI engine designed to keep fuel economy as low as possible while maintaining a reasonable power output, as the new engine produces 85 kW at 5000 r/pm with 200Nm of torque being available as low down as 2000 r/pm. The new Polo’s appearance is striking to say the least. It appears as an evolution of the old Polo, in that all of its design serves to improve on that of the…

The Grahamstown BMW Owners’ Club was established after an inaugural meeting called on 28 October 2017 by founding member and first chairman David Williams. The first meeting of the club begun in Joza and went on a slow drive throughout Grahamstown’s multiple districts, ending at a local car wash. The motorcade comprised five of Bavaria’s best from the local community, although the club was established with 12 active members. The club’s primary aim is to be involved in charity work around Grahamstown and will visit schools and look into options like supplying sanitary towels to needy pupils. Members also hope…

This week the test car was a 2017 Toyota RAV4 2.2D-4D AWD GX, with optional leather trim, now made standard in the 2018 facelift model. Toyota initially debuted the production RAV4 in 1994, and it served as a pioneer for what is now a hugely successful compact SUV market. The RAV4 (standing for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive) served as an all-rounder between traditional off-road vehicles and passenger vehicles, and was an instant roaring success. Now the compact SUV market is exponentially popular in South Africa, due to the general mindset of consumers and the vehicle’s multi-purpose nature. The…

On 5 August, following a 25-17 Win by The Crusaders over The Lions, the Springbok Squad for the 2017 Rugby Championship was announced. Grahamstown-born Springbok coach Allister Coetzee opted for continuity with his squad, retaining the majority of players who starred in the test series win over France. “All of the Springboks who were in action in the June Tests and the latter part of the Vodacom Super Rugby campaign played very well and I have no doubt that they will bring that form with them when we assemble,” explained Coetzee. “Some players have initially missed out on selection due to…