30 JANUARIE

RE/MAXHELDEBERG:TOPAWARD FOR SALES ASSOCIATE PIETER KOTZE

InternationalHall of Fame

RE/MAX Helderbergs Water-

tone Village office achieved spec-

tacular sales figures in 2013,mir-

roring the growth ofRE/MAX in-

ternationally. RE/MAX now

covers 92 countries worldwide.

The RE/MAXHelderberg office is

benefiting from improvements and

extensions to the magnificent

WaterstoneVillageshoppingcentre,

whichisthedynamicRE/MAXsales

teams home, and which is rapidly

becoming the hub of Somerset West

society!

Most notably, RE/MAX Broker/

OwnerLeeSiebert, commendsSales

Associate and Team Leader, Pieter

Kotze, for his outstanding achieve-

ments in 2013, and for his interna-

tional career achievement the

highly acclaimed RE/MAX Interna-

tional Hall of Fame Award.

Kotze entered the real estate in-

dustry in 1993 in Johannesburg, and

relocated to Somerset West in No-

vember 1997.

His many accolades throughout

his career within previous compa-

nies includeRookieof theYear,Mar-

keter of the Year, Most Profitable

Agent, and Highest Turnover of the

Year.

Kotze joinedRE/MAXHelderberg

in 2009 and within 6six months

achievedhis firstRE/MAXofSouth-

ern Africa award. Kotze comments

.. since joining RE/MAX my busi-

ness has grown by between 20-30%

year on year through these years

of severely depressedmarket condi-

tions.

Kotzes RE/MAX of Southern Af-

rica Awards include Platinum Club

in 2010; Millionaires Club in 2011;

andREMAXofSouthernAfricaHall

ofFame in 2012.Hewasalsopresent-

ed with the Chairmans Award in

2012. He has won a Diamond Award

in 2013, and marking his 20th anni-

versary in the industry, in recogni-

tion of outstanding sales levels

measured in US Dollars Kotze has

also achieved the RE/MAX Interna-

tional Career Award, Hall of Fame,

an accolade reserved for the top

Sales Associates within the RE/

MAX Group internationally.

Siebertadds:Sincethereareover

90 000 RE/MAXSales Associates op-

erating in over 90 countries world-

wide, and only a handful have

achieved InternationalHall of Fame

status,Pietersachievementsareex-

traordinary! His teams property

transfers total R130 million plus

within the residential sector, not in-

cluding developments and agricul-

tural property sales.

Kotze says about RE/MAX: Hav-

ing experience of other top real-es-

tate companies, in my opinion, RE-

MAXoffers a great dealmore oppor-

tunities for top agents to maximise

their earnings. Also the RE/MAX

ethos of community involvement

andofgivingbacktoonescommuni-

ty is incredible and is very close

to my heart ... so for me RE/MAX is

the only choice.

I base my success onmy referral

business and on dedication and on

working 7 days a week for 20 years.

My natural empathy with clients

circumstances has helped, because

we deal a lot with emotion in our in-

dustry. Genuinely caring, and al-

ways striving to achieve perfection

are important in this job. But, also

beingacceptingincertainareas,and

recognising that perfection is not al-

ways within ones grasp and ac-

ceptingthatclose-to-perfect -onecan

sometimes live with, quips Kotze.

Formore information contact Lee

Siebert on 021 852 6464 or e-mail

lee@remax-helderberg.co.za. Pieter Kotze

2Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste

toegang tot die mark vir

eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die

Boland.

021 870 4600

021 841 4285

021 887 2840

021 841 4285 021 887 2840 021 870 4600

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe,

ho-impak keuse vir die bemarking

van eiendom in die Boland

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

3Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

021 841 4285 021 887 2840 021 870 4600

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe,

ho-impak keuse vir die bemarking

van eiendom in die Boland

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

4Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

5Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

6Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

7Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

9Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

10

Districtmail

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

Factors to considerwhenbuyingor sellinghouse

In todays real estate market, homeown-

ers who have decided to move to another

propertymay find themselves sittingwith

the conundrum of whether they should

first sell their current property or find a

new property and then sell their home.

The answer to this questionwill be differ-

ent for every homeowner, based on their

personal circumstances andunique situa-

tion,saysAdrianGoslett,CEOofRE/MAX

of Southern Africa.

There will be several elements that could

influence the homeowners decision in cases

such as these, Goslett says. These factors

could include the financial options available

to them, localmarketconditionsandofcourse

thehomeowners feelings aboutmovingmore

than once, should they have to vacate their

current home before the new home is availa-

ble.

Factor one: finance

While every home buyer would ideally like

to have the option of purchasing their next

propertywith cash,most home buyers are re-

liant on banks for finance. Essentially what

this means is that home buyers who are up-

grading to a larger or more expensive home

mayneed the equity from the sale of their cur-

rent home as a deposit.

If the home buyer does require the equity

from the sale of theirhome topurchase anoth-

er property, they could sell their property and

perhaps negotiate with the new owners that

they rent the property back from them until

they find a newhome. This doesmeanhowev-

er, that they will be paying occupational rent

and this may not be possible if the new home-

ownersareeager tomove into theirnewhome

themselves, saysGoslett. Another option is

that the seller temporarily stays with family

members or friends or at a short-term rental.

In this instance storage facilitiesmaybecome

a necessity.

There are also bridging finance options

available tosellerswhowould likeanadvance

on their homes equity before themoney from

the sale has come through. Bridging finance

is a short-term finance option based on a sell-

erscreditrecord, theamountofequityavaila-

ble in their current property and the expected

cash inflow.

While having the equity readily available

is an advantage, the down side is that living

ina temporary situationcouldmakeyourush

into buying another property that doesnt

quite meet all the criteria. There is also the

chance that there are no properties available

that offerwhat you are looking for, saysGos-

lett. Perhaps the best option is for the home-

owner to stay in their current home while

looking foranotherproperty.Theycould then

make an offer to purchase their next home

subject to the sale of their current homegoing

through. This way they have time to do their

research and find the perfect home that fits

all their criteria before making a move.

In the case where the homeowner does not

require the equity from their current home,

but can obtain finance for an additional prop-

ertywithout selling first, theymay find them-

selves in a situation of being stuck with two

properties. This could be fine as a short-term

solution, but might not work for the home-

owner on a long-term basis. In this instance

thehomeownerwill need tohave a contingen-

cy plan in place.

Factor two: local market conditions

According toGoslett,while there are gener-

al property market trends seen throughout

the country, most areas are affected by their

own unique micro conditions. It is never

good to assume that because the general mar-

ket conditions currently favour buyers, that

the same will be true for your specific neigh-

bourhood. Elements such as the type of home,

price range and availability of other similar

homes in the area will all have an impact on

thesaleof theproperty.This iswheretheserv-

ices of a professional real estate agent with

area specific knowledge will be of value. The

agent will be able to advise the homeowner

how long homes are sitting on themarket for,

andhowmuch theyare selling for. This is val-

uable informationingaugingtimeframesand

possible equity expected from the sale, says

Goslett.

From a buying perspective, the purchaser

should be researching properties that are

available in the areas they want to buy in,

looking at all aspects of the neighbourhood

and elements that may have an influence on

their decision.

Factor three: risk and emotion

Whether selling first or buying and then

selling, either option has an element of risk

involved,soit is importantforthehomeowner

to ask themselves if they would rather sell

first and possibly have nowhere to go; or buy

first andhave twobonds to payuntil a proper-

ty is sold? While the emotional response to

these questions is strongly based on finance

options and the local market conditions, the

homeowner will need to have a plan in place

to deal with either scenario, Goslett con-

cludes.

11

Eikestadnuus

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

12

Eikestadnuus

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

Howtosafeguardyourhomeenvirons forbaby

For many young couples, the prospect

of starting a family is what prompts

their first home purchase. But if youre

about to bring home a new baby, you

need to make sure your home will pro-

vide a safe as well as a loving environ-

ment.

So heres a Chas Everitt Top 10 tips for

making a baby-friendly home as your little

one starts to crawl, walk and run:

* Install safety gates at the top and bot-

tom of all stairways and keep them proper-

ly closed at all times;

* Install plastic safety guards in all un-

used plug points to keep out curious little

fingers and put snap locks on all ground-

level cupboard doors;

*Make sure any nappy or cleaning buck-

ets have lockable lids, and install snap

locks on toilet lids too. Small children are

top heavy and can easily drown in very lit-

tle water.

* If you have a pool, its best to have both

a fence with a locked and alarmed gate and

a safety net. Small children should also not

be allowed to play in a paddling pool with-

out close supervision, and the pool should

be emptied immediately after use.

* Make sure all bookcases and storage

cabinets are firmly fixed to the wall with

brackets so that they cannot fall over if

used as standing aids by a child learning

to walk;

* Make sure deck or balcony railings are

close enough together that a child cant

squeezebetween them. If theyarenot, plas-

tic mesh at least 1m high should be firmly

fixed to the vertical railings and the floor.

* Storemedicines and chemical cleaners

in closed, preferably locked cupboards,

well out of reach of any climbable furni-

ture.

* In the kitchen, be careful not to let pot

and pan handles project over the edge of

the stove, and never leave a climbable

chair or stool near the stove.

* If you have glass sliding doors, place

bright stickers or decorative decals low

downon the glass so that children can easi-

ly see when theyre closed.

* And finally, add to your baby-friendly

home safety by keeping children out of tool

sheds, workshops and garages, and keep

your car locked even when its parked

in the driveway.

13

Eikestadnuus

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

What tourism really

means to real estate

Among all the exciting new statistics on

South Africas burgeoning tourism sec-

tor, one number in particular should

stand out, and that is the fact that this

sector currently accounts for at least

10% of the countrys employment.

So says Richard Gray, CEO of the Har-

courts Real Estate group, who says this is

the real relevance of the encouraging

growth in tourism to the economy and to

South Africas property market.

Quite simply, the real estate sector can

only really expand when the economy is

growing and more jobs are being created,

and that iswhere there is a really important

link between property and tourism.

He says it is of course good to hear that

foreign visitors who have been to South Af-

rica on holiday or business have been so

impressed that they have decided to buy a

property here, or that the lower rand ex-

change rate is bringing overseas investors

back to globally sought-after destinations

such as the Atlantic Seaboard, the Wine-

lands and the Golf Coast of the southern

Cape.

But our real hope should be that we can

keep the tourists cominghere in ever-great-

er numbers, as that will create more oppor-

tunities for South Africans to be employed

and eventually become homeowners. Theo-

retically, doubling the current tourism fig-

ures could raise the countrys employment

rate by 10% and that would already give

thousands more local consumers the

chance to participate in the formal real es-

tate market.

The most recent statistics released by

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalk-

wyk show that tourism now contributes

someR70bnayear to thenational economy,

and that the number of tourists coming to

SA has been growing by around 10% a year

since the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

Now when one considers that the cur-

rent growth rate of the overall economywas

estimated inNovember at just 1,9%a year,

notes Gray the significance of tourism as

a potential driver of job creation and of

spinoff growth in many other sectors be-

comes even greater.

However, we believe that in order to

keepup themomentumand enjoy the down-

stream benefits of higher employment,

those other sectors need to pay it forward

now by doing whatever they can to support

and promote tourism either locally or be-

yond our borders.

In our case, for example, being part of

the international Harcourts group and in-

teractingwith potential property buyers all

over theworld gives usmany opportunities

to showcase South Africa as a destination.

But growing local tourism is just as impor-

tant at this stage as increasing overseas vi-

sits, and even small businesses can and

should be finding ways to attract people to

their own areas. They will undoubtedly

benefit from doing so.

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe, ho-impak

keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland

Paarl Post 021 870 4600District Mail 021 841 4266 Eikestadnuus 021 887 2840

Quite simply, the real

estate sector can only

really expandwhen the

economy is growing and

more jobs are being

created, and that is where

there is a really important

link between property and

tourism.

14

Eikestadnuus

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

15

Paarl Post

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

16

Paarl Post

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

Historic Paarl farmgoingonauction

Portion 1 of farm 1111, Malmesbury

Blijdskap is to be sold on auction by

BKB Properties.

This well-positioned 206 ha farm close to

Paarl dates back to the early 1800s and con-

tains fertile land used for wine grapes and

fruit.

The farm contains 37 ha under vine-

yards including Palomino; Clairette

Blanche, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Char-

donnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

The balance consists of open, mountain

and fallow land. Water is plentiful with a

mountain stream running into a large

earth dam.

The main house is a Cape Dutch classic

with three large bedrooms and spacious

living areas. In addition, there are two

guest cottages, three garages, an office

building,workshop, stores, anoldwine cel-

lar and eight workers houses.

The farm is steeped in historywith a sur-

veyor generals diagram from 1822 clearly

indicating the portions of land that formed

the original farm, then known as

Brauwerskloof. This consisted of about

2 000 ha which went over the top of the

mountains. Ithassubsequentlybeensubdi-

vided into De Modder Kloof to the east and

Brauwers Kloof no. 871 and 872.

A while later the middle portion of the

farm was occupied by then Administrator

of the Cape, Mr Joubert, who mainly

farmed wine grapes, peaches and guavas.

Willie van Rensburg of BKB Properties

comments, This is an excellent opportuni-

ty to obtain a historical farm in a sought-af-

ter area, less thananhour fromCapeTown.

Subdivision of the farm into two portions

of 126 ha and 80 ha has already been ap-

proved.

The auction takes place on-site at 11:00

on 7 March.

Order of sale:

1. Portion A: 80 ha.

2. Remainder: 126 ha.

3. Total farm: 206 ha.

Formore information, contactWillievan

Rensburg on 083 261 7641;Albie Loubser on

082 573 9902/ willie.vanrensburgbkb.co.za;

or visit www.bkb.co.za.

A placid landscape for relaxed weekends on the farm. The historic beauty of Cape Dutch architecture sets the mood.

17

Paarl Post

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

18

Paarl Post

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

Demand forPaarl residential property continues to rise

Numerous predictions made by herself

and other estate agency principals in

Paarl to the effect that the demand for

residential property in the town is in-

creasing all the time and is pushing

up prices have in the last three to four

months been proved completely cor-

rect, says Lizette Joubert, franchise

principal for the Rawson Property

Groups Paarl franchise.

Onseveral recent sales, said Joubert, her

team has received two or three offers, very

often backed by an ability to pay big depos-

its (in the region of 25% to 50%). Further-

more, she said, trading conditions have

been improved by the banks adopting a

more accommodating approach to poten-

tial buyers.

Historic central Paarl, said Joubert, has

always had a slightly superior up-market

image and themajority of recent sales here

have been in the R1,6 million to R2,4 mil-

lion bracket and it is here, too, that de-

mand is strongest

Prices, she said, are 5% up on the same

time last year and her franchises sales are

38% up, which keeps her in line with the

Rawson Property Groups national aver-

age.

Also showing big increases are Paarl

rents, which, Joubert estimated, have

grown by 80% in the last year.

Capitalising on the demand, Joubert has

bought the entire rental book of another

national agency and this has more or less

doubled the Rawson Paarl teams managed

portfolio.

Joubert has, on several occasions,

stressed that the entire residential estate

agency sector depends to a large degree on

accurate valuations and the ability to do

these requires thorough training.

In this field, I believe, we have been per-

forming exceptionally well. Our agents,

have recently done around 52 valuations

in two weeks and these have proved to be

so well researched that we have now been

recommended by current clients to others,

who are also interested in knowing the cor-

rect market value of their homes, possibly

with a view to putting them up for sale.

Asked to explain Paarls on-going popu-

larity, Joubert listed several factors: the

towns attractive historic central area, its

excellent schools (somenowover a century

old), its low crime statistics, its platteland

lifestyle, its efficient municipality and its

still affordable prices.

This combination of factors puts Paarl

on the same level as Stellenbosch as re-

gards popularity in the Boland, the differ-

ence however being that our prices are still

far more affordable, said Joubert.

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe, ho-impak

keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland

Paarl Post 021 870 4600District Mail 021 841 4266 Eikestadnuus 021 887 2840

Peugeotbacks TreadMountainBikeSkills initiative

MOTORPRESS

Peugeot SouthAfrica is about to throw its

weightbehind thegrowingsport ofmoun-

tainbikinginabigway,thankstoitsspon-

sorship of Tread Magazines innovative

Tread Skills Clinics initiative.

The mountain-biking journal will be pre-

senting at least 39 clinics during 2014, all

backed by Peugeot, and aimed at improving

both the capabilities of novice riders, and

sharpening the technique and speed of more

experienced mountain bikers.

We have identified a very real synergy be-

tween the rapidly growing sport of mountain

biking, and Peugeots burgeoning range of

crossover vehicles, says Clara Metivier-

Beukes, GM of marketing at Peugeot SA.

Our 3008 is the perfect partner for moun-

tainbikersseekingaspacious,luxuriousvehi-

cle that is also versatile and practical enough

tocopewiththespecificneedsofthemountain

biking community, says Metivier-Beukes.

The cargo capacity of the 3008 is generous

enough to accommodate a fully assembled

mountainbike,andaccesstothatspaceiscon-

venient, thanks to the split tailgate. That tail-

gate also provides a useful seating platform

during final preparations before a ride, she

points out.

In addition, Metivier-Beukes adds, the

3008s standard on-board navigation system

makes finding mountain-bike race venues

and trail parks easy, while its raised ride

height ensures that it easily copes with coun-

try roads and gravel tracks.

Then theres the 1.6-litre turbocharged en-

gine, which not only delivers sparkling per-

formance and plenty of low-down lugging

power, but also achieves excellent fuel effi-

ciency on the open road, Metivier-Beukes

said.

By mid-2014, Peugeot will be extending its

reach into the crossover market with the ex-

citing 2008 compact crossover, which will

bring the youthful exuberance and dynamic

styleof thepopular208hatchbackto thecross-

oversegment.The2008willalsobeincorporat-

ed intoPeugeots activities at theTreadSkills

Clinics.

TheTreadSkillsClinicsorganisedandhost-

ed byTreadMagazine employ a series of pro-

gressivemodules to teachmountain bikers of

varying expertise how to enhance ride com-

fort, improve bike control and gain confi-

dence.

The 39 clinics planned for 2014 will provide

riders with tips and techniques to assist in

maximising their performance in a convivial

and enjoyable framework.

Mountain biking has already established

itself as a key sport and recreational pastime

withaverybroadappealacrossall agegroups

and genders, and a strong emphasis on fami-

lies, Metivier-Beukes says.

The sports exponential growth means

there is a real need for credible guidance and

assistance tomaster themountain biking art,

andPeugeot isproudtobeassistingmountain

bikers in their quest to improve their skills

to the benefit of their safety and enjoyment.

Tread is a mountain-biking brand estab-

lished five years ago with the aim of enhanc-

ing the South Africanmountain-biking expe-

rience. It includes a magazine, a website and

skillsclinicsaswellaswomen-specificexperi-

ences.

Peugeot will have a product presence at

each of the Tread Skills Clinics, allowing

mountainbikersattending theclinics toexpe-

rience itscrossovermodelshandson,andwill

provide clinic attendees with Peugeot-brand-

ed goodie bags and certificates.

The company will also use its presence on

social media networks such as Facebook and

Twitter to interact with the mountain bike

community via #PeugeotMTBSkills and the

@PeugeotClinic handle.

Formore information onTread Skills Clin-

ics, driven by Peugeot, visit www.Tread-

skills.co.za

20

Donderdag

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

AUTO

Countdown toCarof theYear kicksoff

QUICKPIC

Twenty-five members of the SA Guild of

Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) have just

spent twodays on the road in the area sur-

rounding the greater TshwaneMetropoli-

tan Municipality to evaluate the nine fi-

nalists for the coveted WesBank/SAGMJ

Car of the Year award, to be announced

in less than a month.

Each of the 25 jurors had already been ex-

posed to the finalists, having either attended

the local launchevent of thevehicle orhaving

tested them for at least three days, under nor-

mal driving conditions, in 2013. During the

evaluation days, the jury had to test each fi-

nalist under simulated extreme conditions at

the Gerotek vehicle testing facility. In these

controlled conditions, the jury was enabled

to evaluate each of the finalists dynamic and

response in wet conditions, steering inputs

and stability at high speeds, road comfort and

suspension on simulated extreme road sur-

faces aswell as handling, braking and corner-

ing abilities on the facilitys Dynamic Han-

dling Track.

According to Christo Valentyn, chairman

of the SAGMJ, the South African version of

the Car of the Year award is one of the tough-

est and most professionally run events of its

kind.

The competition is unique in that all full

members of theGuild have input inwhich ve-

hicles ultimately become finalists. These

members also determine the jury, which con-

ducts the formal evaluation of the finalists on

behalf of the broader membership, making it

one of the most representative and experi-

enced jurypanels used in competitions of this

nature, he says.

The demographics of this years jury in-

cludeawide spectrumof individuals that rep-

resenta faircross-sectionof themotor-buying

public. In terms of age, the youngest jury

members are, for instance, in their twenties,

while the oldest is in his seventies. And con-

sidering the important rolewomenplay inve-

hicle purchasing decisions, the jury also in-

cludes four highly experienced and respected

women.

Over the next week, the jury members will

evaluate the finalists for the COTY trophy in

their segments,withdueconsiderationofaes-

thetics,quality,price, costofpartsandservic-

es and value for money.

The jury has the mandate to select, from

the nine extremely worthy finalists, the car

that, against its direct competitors and in the

market as a whole, displays the ultimate in

motoring excellence. This is the competi-

tions primary criterion, says Valentyn.

The jury members will cast their secret

votes on-line, afterwhich the voteswill be tal-

lied and audited. The finalist vehiclewith the

highest score will be awarded the title of 2014

WesBank/SAGMJ Car of the Year, the ulti-

mate award in the South African motoring

industry, at a gala event inSandtonon 19Feb-

ruary.

The nine finalists for the 2014 WesBank/

SAGMJ Car of the Year competition are:

Audi A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI Manual

Jaguar F-TYPE 3.0 V6 S

Lexus IS 350 F-Sport

Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG

Peugeot 208 GTI

Porsche Cayman S

Renault Clio4 66 kW Turbo Dynamique

Volkswagen Golf 7 1.4 TSI 90 kWComfort-

lineDSGand theVolvoV40D3GeartronicEx-

cel.

Issued on behalf of the SouthAfricanGuild

of Motoring Journalists and WesBank.

Here are the nine finalists in the 2014 SA Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year competition. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

21

Donderdag

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

AUTO

HANS HEESE

Normaalweg durf ons altyd die Sederber-

gemet n 4x4 voertuig aan omons geliefde

entpadtussenMatjiesrivierenWuppertal

tekanry.Hierdiekeerwasditanderswant

diegeskeduleerdetoetsvoertuigwasnnu-

we Ford Tourneo bussie met sitplek vir

agt, en belangriker nog, pakplek vir baga-

sie vir agt mense. Ondanks die vier vroue

se bagasiewas daarnog steeds ekstra pak-

plek!

Divanonswatheelwat ouer is as die gewo-

ne groep lesers, sal nog Ford se Transit Won-

derbakkie (en bussie) van die middel-sestigs

onthou. As jong onderwyser op Upington het

ek Sondae altyd n groepie leerlinge met die

skool seTransit-bussie langsdieOranjerivier

vervoer waar hulle opheffingswerk in die ge-

meenskap gaan verrig het. My herinneringe

aan die Ford van daardie jare was dat die

ruimte amper dubbeld di van my eie Kombi

was maar dat die vering en rygerief glad nie

waffers was nie.

So het die Transit by ons gekom en metter-

tydweer verdwyn tot nou onlangs. Intussen

het ek darem oor die jare opgemerk dat die

Transit nog lank n sy verdwyning by ons ter

lande in Duitsland nog altyd gewild was, en

om een of ander rede, veral by groot Turkse

families.

My kennismaking met die nuwe Ford bus-

siemet sy lang as-afstandwas n groot en aan-

gename verrassing; veral toe ons almal, en

hulle amper oordadige bagasie, ingelaai het

endie langpadgevathet.Die 2.2 F turbodiesel-

enjin, gekoppel aan n sesgang-ratkas, maak

die teerpad kort en die brandstof-naald het s

stadiggesakdatek laterwantrouigbeginraak

het en op Citrusdal volgemaak het om seker

te wees dat die diesel sou hou vir die terugtog

deur Ceres.

Met die tenk vol was ek verbaas dat die ge-

middelde verbruik met n baie vol vrag 11 tot

12 kmper liter opgelewer het. (Ford reken dat

dieverbruikonderoptimale toestande so laag

as 6,5 F/100 km kan wees). Die geheim vir die

uitmuntende verbruik is natuurlik die ho

ratverhoudingswaar sesde rat teen 2 000 rpm

n spoed van 120 km/h beteken! Vir die re-

kord: die 2.2 F turbodiesel ontwikkel 92 kW

teen 3 500 toere per minuut en 350 Nm is be-

skikbaar vanaf 1 450 rpm.

Op die teerpadwas die gedrag van die Tour-

neo gelykstaande aan di van n groterige

Duitse gesinsmotor; op die grondpad, en later

swak grondpaaie, was die gedrag soos di van

n goeie Japannese 4X4 stasiewa. Dit ondanks

die feit dat die 16 bande volgens die voorge-

skrewe3,5barvooren4baragtergepompwas.

Die suspensie van die Ford is seker van die

beste wat daar in hierdie groep nutsvoertuie

gevind kan word. Verder was die grondvry-

hoogte ook so goed dat daar nrens n pens-

slepery oormiddelmannetjies was nie; swaar

vrag of nie.

Aan die binnekant is daar alles wat van n

luukse transito of toerbussie verlang word

met n oormaat van armleunings, n goeie ra-

dio- en klankstelsel en n oulike wegsteekkis-

sie vir die laai van selfone en ander elektriese

apparate. Al wat aan die luukse kant kort is

n smukspieltjie vir die voorste passasier.

Maar aan die ander kant is BlueTooth stan-

daard en gaan dit byval vind vir persone wat

professioneel mense vervoer of n toerbussie

vir n professionele toergids. n Opsionele ek-

stra, wat aan te beveel is; is die lugreling vir

die agterste ses passasiers.Daar iswel nweg-

vou-ruitjie vir die passasiers in die tweede ry

se syvenster, maar die heel agterste passa-

siers mag miskien kla van bedompigheid.

nBonuspuntisdatdiesitplekkeindietwee-

de ry se rugleunings ook kan terugvou om ge-

mak op die langpad te verbeter. Hierdie nuwe

Ford wonderbussie is inderdaad ligjare ver-

wyder van die baie basiese Transit van die

jare sestig.

Die Tourneo is n veilige voertuig met lug-

sakke voor en en lugsakgordyne aan die kant,

ABS-remme is natuurlik standaard plus elek-

troniesehulpbystand in nnoodgeval.Belang-

rik ook is die feit dat die deure vanself sluit

asweggeryword en dat die slotte in geval van

n ongelukontsluit.Hierdie veiligheidsfaktor

kan van lewensbelangwees enword nie altyd

vermeld in motorverslaggewing nie. Hierdie

verskynsel kanwerklik help omvinnig by in-

sittendes uit te kom om hulp te verleen, veral

as sekondes van belang is.

Die voorwielaandrywing het hom goed ge-

kwyt van sy taak wanneer daar met so n

swaar vrag teen steil bulte op gruispad gery

is. Slegs een keer het die klippe effens gespat

toe daar teen n skuinste moes weggetrek

word. Om die wegtrek te vergemaklik is die

bussie egter met wegtrekhulprem-aksie toe-

gerus (Hill Assist) wat baie help om die toere

effens te laat klim as daar teen kwaai skuin-

stes met volle vrag weggetrek word.

Die Tourneo bestuur soos n passasiersmo-

tor; hoe hy egter teen ho spoed om draaie en

los oppervlaktes gaan reageer, is nie geduren-

de hierdie luilekker toets beproef nie! Maar

teen n wettige 120 km/h is hy so padvas as

wat enige sedan kan wees. Hier kry die Ford

10 uit 10.

Maarhoe lekkerder nvoertuig ry, hoehor

isdiepryswatbetaalmoetword.TeenR414700

is die bussie met die groot bagasieruimte nie

van die goedkoopstes nie, veral as die lugver-

sorging agter n paar rand ekstra gaan kos.

Die korter weergawe, met minder bagasie-

ruimte, verkoop teen R407 800. En die kam-

peerentoesias kan n Transit-afleweringswa

vir R309 700 koop en dan n ideale kampeerwa

van hom maak.

Die Torneo-reeks word gedek deur n fa-

briekswaarborg van 4 jaar of 120 000 km en

n 5-jaar/90 000 km diensplan. Dit dek ook n

Padbystandplanvir3 jaaren nwaarborg teen

roes wat vir vyf jaar geldig is.

Galimoto

Die Tourneo is n veilige voertuig met lugsakke voor en lugsakgordyne aan die kant, ABS-

remme is natuurlik standaard plus elektroniese hulpbystand in n noodgeval. FOTO: QUICKPIC

FordTourneo2.2TDCi LWB:Sederbergbeproef

22

Donderdag

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

AUTO

OpelMeriva1.4T Enjoy: theparty trick

HANJO STIER

Some people argue that purchasing an

MPV or mini-van signals the end of your

lifes excitement. Gone are the all-nighters

and crazy adventures because chances are

goodthatyourecartingaroundalittlefam-

ily. I say theres nothing wrong with that,

quite the opposite it can be just as adven-

turous.

Sure,moving betweenKindergarten, school

and theofficewont bequite as thrilling as that

time you still had a cabrio, when four-finger

Frik stole the belt off a Tequila Sheila and you

singed all your facial hair at a beach bonfire.

That doesnt mean your new life or car should

be dull and dreary though.

Never mind that its all down to your mind-

set, but if those boring boxes on wheels alarm

you and stretched vans give you heart palpita-

tions, perhaps you should add Opels Meriva

to your shortlist of family transport. Yes, I im-

mediately christened it MommyMobile but

I also grew quite fond of it. Let me explain.

Drawn with lots of creases and curves, the

compactMPVshowsgoodproportionsandjust

enough flair to not disappear in a sea of metal

at the local malls car park. Big headlights

share a similar kink to what youll find along

the cars flank, the reasons for this being open

to multiple interpretations.

One reasonmay be to lower the rear passen-

gerswindow-line, another could simplybe the

reductionof itsrisingwaistanddecreasingvis-

ibility. Most probably, Opels designers just

wanted something different and fun (good!)

which draws attention to the opposing door

handles on either side of a Meriva.

Not only are they opposing, theyre also in-

credibly close together and thus give away the

carschiefpartytrickrearsuicidedoors.Sui-

cidemeanstheyopenintheoppositedirection

of what one is accustomed to and given the

worst set of circumstances, could somehow

lead to your involuntary suicide.

Modern cars like the Meriva prevent this

withautolockingandchildlocks,thisOpelalso

getsaroundanytrickydoorgapsorclosingpro-

cedures by providing a fat B-pillar (middle

beam)with opposing locks. This also aids safe-

ty, which is visually obvious when the Meri-

vas sides open like a clam shell.

You may think that this is the cars only re-

deemingfeaturebut luckily therearea fewoth-

er niceties to lift it above the MPV crowd. Its

cabin layout is modern and functional with

goodqualitymaterialsasyouwouldfindinoth-

er contemporaryOpel products. It alsohasam-

ple storage and luxury features.

Acentral cubbyboxprovidesmultiple levels

and slides along a rail system, which covers

even more space to hide stuff; the front doors

have two storage pockets each and the front

passenger enjoys a shallow recess for small

items above themain glove compartment. The

rear seats also adjust individually.

Our test model was a base 1.4T Enjoy but its

specifications are very similar to the more

poshCosmoversion.Maindifferencesareabit

of chrome, climate control and leather trim,

bigger wheels and a panoramic sun roof. The

compact dimensions of 4,3 m length, 1,9 m

width and 1,6 m height are identical.

Other measurements are a 400F boot, which

extends to 920F by folding the rear seats and

a 54F fuel tank, giving an ideal range of 806 km

with a claimed average consumption of

6.7F/100km.Maximumoutputofthe1.4Lturbo-

petrol four cylinder are 103 kW (140 hp) at

4 900 rpm or 200 Nm from 1 850 rpm.

0-100 km/h is pegged at just over 10 seconds

and the Merivas top speed lies just shy of

200 km/h not that youll enter many races

withyourMommyMobile.Whats farmoreim-

portant is the engines wonderful power deliv-

ery; a linear and eager pull once it hits

1 500 rpm.

Themotor runs out of ideas near its red line

but we found that it has more than sufficient

mid-range punch to dart through traffic or zip

along the motorway. Our average consump-

tionwasquiteabithigherbutwegladlyaccept-

edthatinexchangefortheengineswillingness

to pull forward at almost any speed.

MPVs should also be easy to drive and the

Merivashineswithverylightsteeringandped-

als, a good turningradiusandnotmuch torque

steer to write about. Its brakes are excellent

and, unless you hate these sorts of gadgets, the

electric park brake and automatic hill start as-

sist make commuting even easier.

Further items to seal thedeal are fine instru-

ments with a basic trip computer, multiple

driver aids (ABS, EBD, ESP), power windows

and mirrors, radio with CD/mp3/Aux/USB

and seven speakers, automatic lights and wip-

ers,Bluetooth,daytimerunninglights,sideim-

pact protection, six airbags and ISOFIX an-

chors.

StartingatR253 800witha5-year/120 000 km

warranty and 5-year/90 000 km service plan,

there are cheaper MPVs available but youll

struggle to find any excitement or class in

them. The bigger and more expensive stuff is

too bulky so the Meriva doesnt have much

competition in this segment.

All testers found Opels Meriva 1.4T Enjoy

easy and indeed enjoyable to drivewhile offer-

ing enough versatility and quirkiness to any

potential owners.Theelement(s) of fun, adven-

tureandexcitementareuptoyouitsmyopin-

ion that the Meriva wont hold you back from

any of these. Galimoto Media

You may think that this (the doors) is the cars only redeeming feature, but luckily there are a few other niceties to lift it above the MPV

crowd. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

23

Donderdag

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

AUTO

24

Donderdag

30 Januarie, 2014

BOLAND

SOLD

AUTO

Touch,

pause,

engage

QUICKPIC

Western Province Rugby can look

forward to the support of the tough-

est player on the block for the 2014

season: Land Rover.

At a launch function held in Cape

Town this morning, it was announced

that Land Rover will be the official as-

sociate and exclusive vehicle partner

of the union for the next three years.

In terms of the agreement, the Land

Roverbrandwill be representedon the

kitof theDHLStormersandDHLWest-

ern Province in Vodacom Super Rug-

by, the Absa Currie Cup and the Voda-

com Cup tournaments respectively.

The local sponsorship complements

Land Rovers global association with

the sport of rugby, and in addition to

the distinctive branding, a fleet of ve-

hicles will be supplied to a number of

Western Province athletes and man-

agement.

Kevin Flynn, Managing Director of

Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and

sub-Sahara Africa (JLR SA and SSA)

said: Todays announcementmarks a

significant development in the part-

nership between Land Rover and rug-

by.

The brand is proud of its latest part-

nership at this level of the sport and

it is fitting that the worlds finest all-

terrain vehicles sold in over 160mar-

kets worldwide - should support West-

ern Province Rugby. It also dovetails

perfectly with the build-up to Land

Roverspartnershipwith the2015Rug-

by World Cup.

The full range of LandRovermodels

will join the DHL Western Province

squad; from the iconic Defender to the

all-new Range Rover Sport the fast-

est, most agile, most responsive Land

Rover ever.

Theres nothing tougher or more

capable than a Land Rover and we be-

lievethispartnershipwillbuildonand

reinforce that fact, explained Flynn.

Through this association we will

drive the message home, and reap the

benefits not only for our dealers in the

Western Cape, but across the coun-

try.

A number of senior DHL Stormers

and DHL WP athletes were present at

the announcement, aswell as topman-

agement and executives.

WPRFU President, Mr Thelo Wake-

field, said: We are delighted to wel-

come Land Rover to the family. This

long-term partnership with one of the

worlds most recognisable brands fur-

ther enhances the enormous prestige

andattractionofWPRugby,both local-

ly and nationally. LandRover is a true

championof rugby fromcommunity to

elite levelandwelookforwardtowork-

ing closelywith the company in the fu-

ture.

DHLNewlands has a capacity of al-

most 48 000, andwe hope to fill it to the

brim aided by Land Rover owners in

the Western Province - for the DHL

Stormers first Vodacom Super Rugby

home game on Friday 28 February,

when they take on the Hurricanes,

concluded Flynn.

Land Rover has partnered up with WP Rugby. Here from left with their new team mate are De Kock Steenkamp, Frans Malherbe, Scarra

Ntubeni and Schalk Burger. PHOTO: QUICKPIC