Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Leisure Wheels

AS our lives become busier and we continue to fight the pressures of a struggling economy, micro adventures offer a realistic escape to the wilderness, simplicity and the great outdoors. The term ‘micro adventures’ was coined by British adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys and is defined as an overnight adventure that is small and achievable for normal people with real lives. Micro adventures are short, simple, local, cheap (yet still fun), exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding. Many people are tied down with 9–5 jobs but this concept challenges them to use the remainder of their time doing something different and exciting. These adventures can be as simple as an overnight campout or full moon hike. Some of the trips in Leisure Wheels are extended voyages that require a lot of…

Voetspore has, over the past two decades, used South Africa mostly as a point of departure, or as a place to come home to. One of the best endings we ever had to an journey was when we arrived at Sendelings-drift in 2009 after travelling all the way from Casablanca down the west coast of Africa. About 120 people in 50 4×4s were waiting on the banks of the Orange River. It was good to be back home again. Now we decided, with the next expedition, not to depart or arrive only in South Africa, but to do the entire journey in Mzansi. Voetspore South Africa starts in July 2019. We will go off the beaten track. We will explore inside the borders of our country. We are looking for…

Top Trumps was beautiful in its simplicity. Every challenger had a chance to select a figure related to the card they had and the rest of the participants had to respond with their respective figure. The best figure won the round and all the cards involved in that round. The winner was the guy holding all the cards at the end of the game. The featured cars were always the best of the best. Back when we played, these cars included the Ferrari F50, Jaguar XJ 220, Lamborghini Diablo and Bugatti EB 110. There was one annoying car in the mix, however. It was called the McLaren F1 and to keep our high school from turning into barney battlefield, we eventually removed it from the pack. You see, its figures…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know by now that Jeep recently unveiled the all-new Gladiator, which is basically a double-cab version of the Wrangler. It’s already a rather rugged looking thing but in case you’re the kind of person who likes to add an extra helping of individuality, look no further than Jeep’s line-up of Mopar accessories designed specifically for the Gladiator. From the get-go, Mopar will offer a portfolio of more than 200 parts and accessories. The options include Jeep Performance Parts, a two-inch lift, JPP tube doors, Mopar spray-in bedliner, tonneau covers, a load bin storage system and much more. “The Mopar brand is bringing to market a full selection of parts and accessories for owners to personalise the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator to fit…

The current darling of the automotive world, the Suzuki Jimny, has been receiving a lot of attention from aftermarket tuning companies. To date we’ve seen plenty of body kits, a V8 monster truck and even a rendering of a 6x6 version. None of these were sanctioned by Suzuki but the Japanese company finally got in on the action at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon. This model is called the Sierra Pickup Style and as the name suggests, it’s based on the wider Sierra model we get here in South Africa. The design cues are quite retro, especially the wooden panels on the side. To make space for a load bin, the rear seats were removed completely. The rest of the car is stock standard, which makes complete sense as Suzuki…

Near the end of 2018, the all-new Jeep Compass arrived in South Africa. Apart from being a rather handsome vehicle, the Compass claims to be the most competent off-roader in its segment. In order to achieve that claim, only one model is available and it’s called the Trailhawk. Like the TrackHawk mentioned elsewhere in this issue was built for track use, this model was built for rough trails. It offers five off-road driving modes, off-road bumpers, front and rear skid plates and 17-inch alloys. It’s powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine that produces 129kW and 229Nm of torque. The power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. As the Trailhawk is a top-of-the-line model, you do get a lot of equipment as…

This Malco range of Turbo-Shears fits your existing drill and transforms it into a Turboshear. All the units have a sleek, lightweight aluminium-cast shear head and compact moulded polymer drill clamp allowing maximum portability. The telescoping drill clamp adjusts to fit both length and width of all popular drill sizes, both cordless and electric, as well as smaller bodied impact drivers. The shears can operate at high or low speeds for the control you need to follow a precise cut line. Heavy-duty gearing and beefy, hardened carbon steel blades combine to offer long service life. A lateral blade adjustment capability ensures that optimum cutting performance and manoeuvrability can be maintained for the life of the blades. Replacement blades are also available and are easily installed. There are currently three models…

OUR trip consisted of three parts: a visit to Etosha, some downtime in the Moon landscape area outside Swakopmund before joining Uri adventures on its Faces of the Namib tour. The initial plan was to tow the Jeep behind the Cruiser until playtime but when the loan of a suitable trailer did not materialise, we decided to drive both vehicles. Many people warned us about visiting Namibia in December but we found the heat bearable and managed thanks to air-conditioning in the cars, regular trips to available swimming pools and lots of beer. THE ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK The word Etosha comes from the local Oshiwambo language meaning ‘The Great White Place’ and once you arrive it is easy to understand why. The 5 000km2 pan is the remnants of a…

I SUZU’S what-you-see-is-what-you-get MU-X is powered by the brand’s well-proven three-litre turbodiesel engine. The intercooled four-pot delivers 130kW and 380Nm of torque and, although it won’t blow your hair back when you floor it, it has plenty of poke. The engine’s renowned reliability record is a major selling point, too. Just ask all the Isuzu lovers out there. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that boasts a sequential sport mode. The 4×4 derivatives are fitted with Isuzu’s Terrain Command 4×4 system with a dial in the centre console (next to the gear lever) that offers the option between 2H, 4H and 4Low. The Isuzu rides on an independent suspension at the front and a five-link and live axle set-up at the back. Standard fare includes aluminium side-steps,…

BEFORE the economic crisis, buying a car was relatively easy. You liked it, you bought it… easy as that. Now, however, the consumer is forced to look at a purchase more carefully, taking multiple aspects into consideration. What will the monthly instalment be? Can I afford the insurance premium? How much fuel will it consume? Will my family be safe in case of an accident? These questions are merely the tip of the iceberg, but have one thing in common: they’re all short-term considerations. Things that will have an impact on the ownership experience the moment you drive off the dealer floor. Consumers often overlook the long-term implications of buying a car. Specifically, what it will be worth five years down the line when you might be tempted to swap…

VRR PHAA. It’s a straightforward chemical reaction that occurs in vehicles fitted with dual clutch gearboxes. When the system changes gears, the ignition is momentarily cut off and the excess fuel in the system ignites, causing a mini explosion. Or vrr phaa. It’s a sound initially made famous by the Volkswagen Golf GTI, fitted with the brand’s dual shift gearbox (DSG). Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz now have similar sound effects in their respective performance derivatives. Here in South Africa, vrr phaa has become sacrosanct. Songs have been written and recorded about it. Traffic officers stop vrr phaa cars just to listen to their sound. In 2016, former Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, even implied vrr phaa cars could have had an influence on the high accident rate, saying the exhaust…

THE Leaf was a groundbreaking vehicle and not just in South Africa. There’s a good case to be made that it was the vehicle which finally convinced the masses that the future might be electric after all. This was mostly because it was just a normal car. At its core, it was a hatch that could move five people and some luggage from point A to point B. It just happened to have an electric motor and some batteries rather than an internal combustion engine. Even here in South Africa, where we usually follow a trend 20 years after the fact, we already have an impressive electric infrastructure. And it will likely only grow in the coming years. The Leaf deserves all the love it gets but it can’t claim…

It’s safe to say Renault’s SUV and crossover offerings are extremely popular in South Africa. The Kwid is selling up a storm at the bottom end, while the Duster is doing well for itself higher up the scale. The only odd one out was the Kadjar, which struggled to get a foothold in the mid-size SUV segment. Renault quietly dropped it from its local line-up a few months ago and we thought that was the end of the French manufacturer’s attempt at trying to gain momentum in that particular segment. But it seems Renault has not given up on it because it’s now offering the brand-new Koleos in South Africa. It’s built on the same platform as the Kadjar and Nissan X-Trail, but Renault says it’s meant to be more…

Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Company recently announced that they’ll be working together to produce vehicles in the future. Volkswagen chief executive Dr Herbert Diess and Ford head Jim Hackett confirmed that the companies intend to develop commercial vans and medium-sized bakkies for global markets beginning as early as 2022. The alliance will drive significant scale and efficiencies and enable both companies to share investments in vehicle architectures that deliver distinct capabilities and technologies. In addition, Volkswagen and Ford have signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate collaboration on autonomous vehicles, mobility services and electric vehicles and have started to explore opportunities. Both companies said they were open to considering additional vehicle programmes in the future. The teams will continue working through details in the coming months. “Over time, this…

Kia chose the Detroit Motor Show to unveil its largest SUV yet: the Telluride. It’s powered by a 3.8-litre V6 GDI engine producing 217kW at 6 000r/min and 355Nm torque at 5 200r/min, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately it’s unlikely it will ever go on sale here, as the Telluride was designed specifically for the US market. It definitely looks American. It has the kind of presence associated with the original legendary SUVs: big, bold and boxy. On the off-road side, it features all-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and a self-levelling rear suspension. Ride height is automatically calibrated depending on vehicle load to optimise control and stability. To further emphasise the Telluride’s off-road ability, Kia built a special model featuring a large bull bar, some off-road rubber and…

Owners who have been fortunate to get ahead of the waiting list and purchase a new Suzuki Jimny will be pleased to know there is a range of Thule products available to expand the rather limited luggage capacity. Fitting a tow bar to the Jimny is possible but it will detract slightly from the awesome departure angle. Fortunately, Thule has a number of roof rack options available. As a base, the tried and tested Thule square bar fits perfectly with the retro styling and once these are in place, the sky is the limit. The Canyon roof basket is the rugged option and the hardwearing Thule chasm bags are perfectly at home out in the open. Alternatively, an enclosed, lockable luggage box can be used, bringing with it security, refinement…

MOST of us have a RAV4 story, stored somewhere in a memory bank. Like the story of a 4×4 trail, and the local farmer who doubled as 4×4 tour guide. After some 4×4 challenges, he’d lead his charges to a particularly steep, slippery climb up a hill, announcing: “Right gentlemen. Just up this hill and then we’ll enjoy a break and some lunch on top of the koppie. Off you go.” And so the mayhem began, as male egos, predictably, squared off against each other. The first 4x4 started off, the driver – clearly in no mood to not make it up the incline and have his ego take a knock – adding about 20km/h too much to the approach. The double cab bakkie bounced through the deep ruts but…

THE last few lighthouses in the previous article were all within spitting distance of Cape Town. This made the logistics fairly easy, there were more than enough places where one could eat, sleep or refuel. After Roman Rock lighthouse, however, Derick and Sue experienced the adventurous side of their adventure bikes. Derick knew from previous adventures that some of these lighthouses would be tricky to find and that they might run out of time, so both riders and bikes had to be self-sustaining. Both bikes had been prepared by Cytech and the riders were lugging along the bare minimum. Even so, Derick and Sue had enough food and water to survive for a week. “Few people understand wild camping. You have to be 100% self-sustaining. Own water, food and roof.…

THERE certainly are some choices in the compact crossover segment for local consumers. Although our selection may not be as elaborate as is the case in some other markets, we’ve still got a fair dollop to choose from in this competitive segment. In this segment, Renault’s Honest Joe Duster has traditionally been a beacon of practicality, value for money and a surprising amount of off-roading ability (in the 4WD models). The Duster has, over the years, earned itself a loyal and devoted following, too, culminating in the active Duster Club of South Africa. The Duster polarises views. Some uppity punters, worried mainly about what their peers think about them, refuse point blank to be seen in a Duster, just because its ‘image’ is not up to their fashionable standard. The…

HOVERCRAFT come in many shapes and sizes yet they all rely on the same method of propulsion. Depending on how large the craft is, air is forced below the hull to create a cushion of air. This cushion of air relies on a pressure difference between it and the air outside for lift and that’s basically half the work done. Another means of propulsion is then needed to push the craft in a direction. It’s as easy as that. Because of this, hovercraft are extremely easy on the environment. They can cross over water, mud, ice and grass without any problems. This made hovercraft a popular choice for tasks where special vehicles are required. If, for example, you need to fix a transponder in the middle of a swamp located…

SOMETIMES one gets that indescribable longing for quietness and open spaces. Karoo quietness and openness. The only way to solve this craving is to go camping in the Karoo (or in Namibia). When looking for a suitable spot on Google, all indicators pointed me towards Gatsrivier. I didn’t know the place and I didn’t know where it was. A quick look on Google Earth and I was sold. This is where I needed to go. I sent an email to reserve my spot and received a prompt and friendly confirmation along with directions. Everything was confirmed, it was time to pack and go. From Cape Town you have two options; either via Touws River or Ceres. On the way there, I travelled via Touws River. You follow the N1 up…

AS the final stage of Dakar 2019 drew to a close in Pisco, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel brought their South African-built Hilux home to a historic victory. Not only was it a first win for Toyota but it was also the first petrol-powered car to win the Dakar in the South-American era. Toyota Gazoo Racing SA led this year’s Dakar from the first to the last stage, with Al-Attiyah/Baumel drawing first blood, before handing the mantle to Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz during Stage two. A disastrous Stage three, when many of the top contenders ran into trouble, saw the Qatari retake the lead which he didn’t relinquish despite some of the toughest stages yet seen on any South American Dakar. Al-Attiyah had to fight off a number of…

BACK in the hot rod era, the focus was on bigger carburettors, superchargers, free flow exhausts and hot camshafts. Tuning a car was all about bolting on better hardware and then playing with jet sizes and a timing light. Vehicle technology has progressed at such a rate that these days, cars are completely controlled by computers. The swapping of hardware is still possible but it is only done in extreme cases. The first step in performance gains is found with a laptop and the altering of the vehicle’s software, allowing the vehicle’s engine to perform better. This process entails loading new engine control software onto the vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU) or using a system that allows the manipulation of the car’s ECU. There are a large number of these…

The BMW X3 line-up has been expanded from four to six models. The new models include an entry-level sDrive18d and the monster top-of-the-line M40d. Featuring a 118d badge, you’d expect that particular model to sport a 1.8-litre engine but it’s actually the same unit used in the 20d, albeit slightly detuned. In the 18d this engine delivers 110kW and 350Nm of torque, which is still more than adequate considering the X3’s size and weight. At R651 403 it’s also the cheapest X3 available in South Africa, undercutting the sDrive20i by nearly R10 000. BMW claims it will use just 5.3l/100km on the combined cycle. At the other end of the spectrum we have the M40d. It’s equipped with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged diesel, which develops 240kW and 680Nm of torque.…

Mahindra has grown in leaps and bounds locally. Not just in terms of sales volume, but reputation as well. In addition to building solid, affordable vehicles, it also added a layer of that home-grown flavour when it built an assembly facility in Durban last year. In doing so, Mahindra found even more favour with the South African audience. Said facility only assembles the Pik Up but this local investment will in all likelihood have a positive effect on sales across the range. Up until now, Mahindra has had a clear strategy with the models they sell. Across the range, they’re honest vehicles that compete in hotly contested segments. It’s sticking to what they know well, rather than trying to upset the apple cart. The XUV 300 is a little bit…

Last month we featured the Rivian R1T bakkie which, at the time, seemed like it would be the first mass-produced all electric LCV. A lot can change in a month and now there’s a grand total of six manufacturers working on similar vehicles. Apart from Tesla and Rivian, Bollinger is also working on an electric bakkie. Ford also announced that they will build an all-electric and hybrid version of the next F-150. The latest company to join the race is Atlis Motor Vehicles. It showcased its XT Pickup at the Detroit Motor Show. While it looks a bit rough round the edges, the claims are highly impressive. Atlis says it has a top speed of 200km/h and can rocket to 100km/h in five seconds flat. The range between charges is…

Bondic is a revolutionary product that works where glue fails. It can be used to repair wood, glass, plastic, ceramic and metal. The product is a liquid plastic that only hardens when exposed to a UV light. It stays liquid and won’t dry out like conventional glues. Using four easy steps – clean, fill, cure and shape – you can fix almost anything and save countless precious items from ending up in the trash before their time. The basic starter kit includes a pen, an applicator, one LED UV light, and a 4-gram tube of liquid. More information: 011 314 7711 or www.vermontsales.co.za…

IT seems like a silly point but it is something the Suzuki 4×4 Club’s Ryno Cloete was worried about. On their most recent expedition, the youngest member of the group was 10 years old, the oldest in his 90s. What would they have to say to each other? As it turns out, there was no need to worry because it took no more than a few hours for everyone to get comfortable, relaxed and chat up a storm. The Suzuki 4×4 Club is an amazing group of people. We’ve been in their company many times before on various 4×4 events and they’re always great, willing to help out or provide some insight into their vehicles. They’re not a dop-in-the-hand-and-watch-my-move kind of outfit, which is something we appreciate. In fact, drinking…

This event would not have been possible without the support from several sponsors and partners. Here’s a list of the companies that helped realise the GAS idea to an actual event: * Isuzu South Africa The main sponsor that essentially made this event possible. Isuzu also supplied a fleet of Isuzu MU-X SUVs which the teams got to drive. isuzu.co.za * Opposite Lock 4WD Accessories The accessory company not only supplied prizes for each event, but also a grand prize for the final. This prize is a set of Australian-made Light Force Striker LED driving lights that are worth more than R10 000. oppositelock.co.za * Front Runner Outfitters SA’s leading roof rack manufacturing company, which also happens to supply many other 4×4 and lifestyle accessories, provided winners with the company’s…

AS we’ve said numerous times before, fuel consumption is a huge factor when deciding which car to buy. Sales figures for smaller, more efficient models are going up but not everybody can afford to buy a new car. There are a few things you can do to soften the blow, however. It has nothing to do those infamous trick devices, or even different kinds of fuel that claim to burn more efficiently. We’re talking about driving style and how much it affects a car’s fuel consumption. We’ll use our Haval H6C as an example. We know for a fact that it can go more than 400km between refills, but that figure easily drops to 350km when you’re not in the mood to hang around. We’re talking pre-modification consumption, in case…

THERE’S a scene in the movie Blood Diamond where smuggler and general bad boy Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) meets American journalist Maddy Bowen And explains to her all that is wrong with the continent. He ends his monologue by saying “TIA”. “TIA?” she asks. “This. Is. Africa,” he explains. We mention this because if you’ve bought yourself a second-hand car recently and there’s no air-conditioning therein, it isn’t going to take you long to realise you’re living in Africa, a pretty hot place at the best of times. You’re going to want to get that air-con sorted out or, if that’s too expensive, look for alternatives. Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work. Because while Africa can be a hard place, there’s always someone willing to lend a hand,…

SO far it has been an epic vehicle. The way it simply idles over obstacles that leave standard 4×4s bumping and grinding never gets old. And then there’s the way it rides, or rather glides over any surface. We have a standard gravel route we use to asses every car’s behaviour on corrugated gravel and, some serious bumps. And if it’s bucketing down, we also get an insight into how a car behaves once the gravel transforms into a giant 5km-long slippery slide. On that road the Everest absolutely shines. In most cars, the traction light flickers like a disco light in some dodgy pub but the Everest simply shrugs it all off. In fact, if it weren’t for the road below changing colour, you’d be hard-pressed to tell you’re…

BIG GAME PARKS - SWAZILAND 13-18 APRIL 2019, 3-8 AUGUST 2019 This unspoilt wilderness is a haven for endangered African wildlife. Mkhaya lies in the tranquil heart of the lowveld in the south-east of Swaziland, a refuge to animals that are now threatened with extinction. Mlilwane is Swaziland’s oldest protected area, situated in the Ezulwini Valley (Valley of Heaven) between Mbabane and Manzini and located in the vast bushveld expanse of eastern Swaziland, Hlane is the Kingdom’s largest protected area. The Royal National Park is home to the largest herds of game in the Kingdom and four of Africa’s Big Five. Accommodation: Self-catering chalets and B&Bs ■ Cost: On application ZAMBIA: FROM AWESOME TO ZEST 23 MAY TO 13 JUNE 2019 We are particularly excited to introduce the ‘revamped’ itinerary…

AS always, the bakkie segment continued to dominate local sales charts. At the end of last year, the Toyota Hilux stood head and shoulders above the rest. Not only was it the bestselling bakkie, but also the bestselling vehicle overall, even beating the likes of the humble Volkswagen Polo. Total Toyota Hilux sales stood at 40 018 units, with the Volkswagen Polo in second with 30 407 units. Comparing apples with apples, however, we find the Ford Ranger in second place, having found 30 141 homes during 2018. In third, was the Nissan NP200 with 19 594 units, followed by the Isuzu D-Max with 15 520. Despite its recent poor performance in local safety tests, the Nissan NP300 continued onwards to a final tally of 9 740 units. The big…