book 1.indb - lowvelder epaper

Tel: 013-754-1600Tuesday September 26, 2017

Yet another Chinese manufacturer has entered the South African vehicle market. Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), currently the fourth largest Chinese manufacturer in China, introduced ITS brand earlier this year and cars have just started to arrive at dealers. BAIC has been in existence for some 56 years.

The D20 is built on the Smart ForFour platform, and when one looks at the range of its current products, some of which will be introduced at a later stage, it is clear that BAIC designs have been infl uenced by a range of well-known manufacturers like Jeep, Lexus, Mercedes, Hyundai and Suzuki

Matthys Ferreira

Chinese brand makes its debut in South Africa- the result, we were told, being that of various joint venture operations with these brands. BAIC has also acquired what

remained of SAAB. My Google search revealed that the latter gave it access to two platforms,

two engines and gearboxes. And by the way, Foton and BAW are also products of

BAIC.If you have ever had a visual glimpse of

the Chinese’s technological capacity for manufacturing, whether one buys into their perceived quality or not, one thing is for sure, their manufacturing ability is truly impressive and even staggering.

Continued on page 2

remained of SAAB. My Google search revealed that the latter gave it access to two platforms,

BAIC has been in existence for some 56 years

405429NG

Visit us today for the best deals in town | Bester Street,Nelspruit, Mpumalanga | 013-752-3735 | [email protected]

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2 Tuesday September 26, 2017

EDITOR

Matthys Ferreria083-455-5608

FAX NUMBERS

Editorial: 013-755-2414Classifi eds: 013-753-2422Advertising: 013-752-4287Accounts: 013-755-3096

ADDRESS

PO Box 246Nelspruit 1200

12 Stinkhout CrescentNelspruit 1200

OFFICE HOURS

Mon-Thurs: 08:00-17:00Friday: 08:00-16:00

MANAGEMENT

Regional manager:Buks Esterhuizen

Distribution manager:Monya Burger

Sales manager:Charmaine Schönborn

013-754-1694

Marketing and PR:Julia Burger

Meditation in action is different from doing it (meditation that is). When you meditate an action, you have already released attachment to the outcome of that action. In forgetting yourself, you become what you do - so your action is free, spontaneous and without inhibition or fear.

Thought of the week

In November 2016 BAIC opened an R11 billion manufacturing plant at Coega in the Eastern Cape. Its D20 design resembles that of the fi rst generation B-Class, and it was fi ne-tuned at MIRA in the United States. It is not ugly at all, but the resemblance is certainly clear.

The D20 will be available with two engine derivatives, a 1.3- and 1.5-litre engine, both four-cylinder, producing 75kW/128Nm and 85kW/148Nm respectively.

Power is delivered to the front wheels via a fi ve-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox. Passenger and driver airbags, ABS and EBD are standard on all models. The Google generation has been catered for adequately with connections for Bluetooth, USB and the rest. The D20 is covered by a fi ve-year/120 000km warranty with service intervals at 10 000km. Optional maintenance and service plans will be available from the dealers.

BAIC’s intention is to establish at least 40 dealers countrywide.

According to Colin Nell, Produkta’s general manger for Honda/Suzuki/KTM, BAIC has decided on a roll-out of their products via large and established dealerships, so as to ensure a fi rm base of consistent quality and technical after-sales service. Well, I certainly support that intention, because history is witness to other brands which failed miserably as a result of inadequate planning and investment.

Visuals and technologyI am not going to spend much time

discussing the exterior design, because the similarities with designs of BAIC’s other JV partners are obvious.

Thus, D20 is most certainly not unattractive by any means. The interior is uncluttered and practical, but I will most certainly not describe it as being luxurious. There is just too much plastic for the latter to be applicable. Be that as it may though, panels do fi t properly and this is a massive improvement on some other Chinese products which were initially allowed into South Africa.

And then typical of Chinese manufacture,

BAIC’s D20 is vibrant they understand the value of installing many luxury features and technology, even in so-called base models, which will normally only be found in higher-spec models of more established brands. If my mind serves me correctly, I think it was Hyundai (despite not being Chinese) which actually started this trend many years ago.

I mean to name a few of these technologies: photosensitive headlights, sunroof, high-fi delity loudspeakers, 64-bit engine immobiliser, side air curtains and Bosch 9.0 ABS and EBD technology.

Space utilisation throughout the D20 is good and also offers a more than just adequate boot space.

Driving experienceThe 1.5-litre manual test vehicle was

supplied by Produkta Nissan in Mbombela. It is quite vibrant and eager with a smooth changing fi ve-speed gearbox.

The engine does present a slight whine though, but this quiets down as soon as one shifts into fi fth gear and settled down to a constant speed. Other than this, the D20 is as quiet inside as one could expect from a car in this class.

Steering is light, and the suspension response to road conditions was surprisingly good. Although I did not subject the D20 to any hard driving, she was confi dent at all national speed limits.

The only query I have is this: I just could not, despite my best efforts, fi nd the sweet spot for the driver’s seat. The result of this was lower-back discomfort on longer drives.

ConclusionWith pricing starting at R149 900, the D20

offers good value for money and like I said when I tested the Datsun Go, there most certainly is a market for these cars. And although time will confi rm the durability of the engines, I suspect that the latter may well be very impressive.

The larger question though is, will the after-sales service from the manufacturer/dealers be equal to the D20’s high JD Power quality award received in 2014?

Visit your nearest Nissan dealer and give the D20 the beady eye! Your impression would we welcomed. Email us at [email protected].

Continued from page 1

4039

73R

* FREE suspension safety check * FREE wheel alignment check

013-752-3833 | 013-755-4623 | [email protected] | 51 Bester Street, Nelspruit

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• Same day power steering rack/box repairs • Manufacture heavy duty engine, gearbox, di� and suspension mounting• Heavy duty suspension

control arm bushings • We stock & sell and � t new suspension parts,steering racks and boxes

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RUDI076-296-6597

RYNO072-339-6487

JAUN083-391-6974

RASSIEMANAGER

Tuesday September 26, 2017 3

and oh-so eager

Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6 LTD

R269 900

'12

Mazda BT50 3.2 Freestyle Cab

R225 900

'13

Nissan NP300 2.4

R175 900

'13

Audi A5 2.0TCabriolet

R225 900

'100

Mercedes E200 Avantgarde

R359 900

'14

Land Rover Freelander2.2Sd4 A/T

R299 900

'133

Land RoverDiscovery 4 SDV6 SE

R465 900

'144

Toyota Hilux 3.0 4x4 Legend 45

R429 900

'15

Honda CivicType-R

R439 900

'16

13

14

13

1612

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G

/

175/65TR14 GT 2 ....................185/60HR14 DuraGrip .............195/65HR15 Excellence ............205/55WR16 E� cientGrip ........225/45YR17 E� cientGrip ..............215/80TR15 Wrangler AT Adventure 245/75TR15 Wrangler AT Adventure 245/70TR16 Wrangler AT Adventure 265/65TR17 Wrangler HP................

185/60HR14 P1 Cinturato ........195/50VR15 P1 Cinturato .........205/55WR16 P7 Cinturato. .............205/40WR17 PNero ..................225/45YR17 P7 Cinturato .........265/65TR17 Scorpion ATR .........265/60HR18 Scorpion ATR .........255/55HR19 Scorpion ATR ......... 245/45VR20 Scorpion Verde.......

30X9.50R15 All Terrain KO2 ..........31X10.50SR15 All Terrain KO2 ...235/70SR16 All Terrain KO2 ......245/70SR16 All Terrain KO2 .......265/70SR6 All Terrain KO2 ........265/75R16 All Terrain KO2 ........265/65SR17 All Terrain KO2 .......265/70SR17 All Terrain KO2...... .265/65R18 All Terrain KO2.........

Terms and Conditions apply. E&OE. While stocks last. Prices valid until 2 October 2017. Prices are per tyre

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185/60HR14 Voyager .....................185/65HR15 Voyager .....................195/55HR15 Voyager .....................195/65HR15 Voyager .....................205/55VR16 Voyager ......................195/50VR15 Sava ...........................205/40WR17 Sava ..........................225/45WR17 Sava ..........................235/35YR19 Sava ...........................


The Partner, Peugeot’s largest little van, offers everything you need for your business and more: cargo capacity, flexibility, drivability, style and minimal operating costs. When choosing the Partner, you choose more than just a utility van - you buy a vehicle designed to enable you to make the most of your business.

Small businesses often travel long distances, therefore, you need to be comfortable on the road. The Peugeot Partner is not a bad place to spend the day hopping in and out of, delivering and collecting, and making some money at the same time. It is a compact commercial vehicle with loads of space. In fact, getting into a Partner is much like getting into a passenger car.

It has large doors with a bright airy cabin thanks to the generous heat-reflective windscreen and large mirrors - a must on any van.

The seats are comfortable, and the rake and tilt adjustable steering wheel enables most drivers to find their ideal driving position. A sliding door gives easy access into the cargo area.

A necessary, practical feature is that the cargo area doors can be locked and unlocked separately to the cabin doors which can be very useful, especially during stop-start dashes into shops or businesses.

You will not battle to find storage space in the Peugeot Partner either. There are loads of storage bins such as the shelf

The partner you have

4052

69N

H

405570NH

TRUCKS, TRAILERS, 4X4’s BAKKIES, TOOLS & EQUIPMENT


above the driver and passenger area and the bin under the driver’s seat. It even has a bin on top of the dash in front of the driver, perfect for housing anything from cellphones to A4 notepads.

In addition, the Peugeot Partner boasts a range of safety equipment. It handles well and has driver and passenger airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brake- force distribution, emergency brake assist, electronic stability programme, pre-tensioning and force limiting outer front seat belts, driver-seat belt warning alarm, automatic door unlocking and fuel cut-off in the event of an accident, and automatic activation of hazard lights under emergency braking.

The Partner can transport an additional passenger, giving added mobility options

- it is a three-seater with an extra third middle seat. Fold down the side seat and you’ll get more continuous fl at-fl oor space. This allows you to carry loads of up to 3m long and up to 10cm in height.

The payload of 850kg, and a volume capacity of 3,7m3 coupled with a load length of 1 800mm and a width between

the wheel arches of 1 230mm means the Partner’s loading capacity is among the best in its class.

To give you ultimate peace of mind the Peugeot

Partner comes with a three-year/100 000km factory warranty and a standard four-year/60 000km service plan. Parts distribution from Peugeot’s dedicated local warehouse has improved dramatically with speedy parts supply and minimum delays in delivery to our dealer network.

Pricing: From R264 900 including vat.

always been looking for

It is a compact commercial vehicle with loads of space. It is like getting into a passenger car

Shop 2, Upper Cascade Falls,Cnr Madiba Drive & Mystic River Crescent,Riverside, Nelspruit | Tel: 013-755-5024 / 6

Email: [email protected]’S & C’s apply

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55 Anderson Street , Nelspruit | Tel: 013-753-4000 | Fax: 013-755-2683quotes@� eldautospares.co.za | www.� eldautospares.co.za

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Since its separation from Ford, Mazda has blossomed into a premium brand with exceptional products on offer. Adrian van Vuuren, the newly appointed sales manager for new vehicles at Mazda in Mbombela, said that 65 per cent of its current new vehicle sales are female buyers.

This is quite substantial, and even

surprising, but then again, the fi nish and fi t of these vehicles and their user-friendly technology may well be exactly what the ladies prefer.

Adrian has been in the industry for the past 17 years - Ford/Mazda only, and loves the brand. Previously

An amazing team to support an amazing brandhe was involved with training and mystery

shopping, and confi rmed that he has many stories to tell. “Selling cars is about people and providing a professional service. To gain and keep

a satisfi ed customer, is very rewarding.”

Outside of this, Adrian loves playing golf and fi shing. “Please visit us, enjoy a cup of tea and allow us to attend to your transport needs.” Llewellyn Logie - the new pre-owned sales manager is no stranger to the Lowveld. “I love the business of doing business,” he says. Llewellyn has been in retail since 1999, and loves chasing targets, problem solving and deal-making as much as he loves golf and hunting.

Selling cars is about people and providing a professional

service

This Mazda team is willing, waiting and eager to surprise you. They are, from left to right: (front) Adrian van Vuuren and Llewellyn Logie. Middle - Peggy le Roux, Veronica Swanepoel, Cynthia Ngomane, Thandi Shongwe and Charlotte Heymans. Back - Trevor Smith, Steven Mkhize, Charl van Dyk, Corné Nienaber, Frans Nel, Gideon Khoza, Neil van Heerden and American Ndlovu.

Mathys Ferreira

405428NC


Visit www.mccarthypreowned.co.za for more details 7 Mystic Crescent, Riverside, Nelspruit | Tel: 013-757-8500

Email: [email protected]

We’re open: Monday to Saturday. Terms and conditions apply.

Trusted by the public for over 100 years

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113 500KM

R304 900

2015 FORD RANGER 2.2TDCi XLS 4X4 P/U D/C

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2014 AUDI A31.4T FSI CAB

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The manner in which buyers of products and cars access the market is changing and the internet contributes signifi cantly to these changing patterns. It’s all about convenience and being close to your market.

In 2015 the owners of Numbi Auto in White River decided it’s time to expand its business into Hazyview. On October 1, 2015 a dealership (showroom) opened its doors in Hazyview. This allowed Numbi Auto to

expand its offering to customers in this area. However, despite the challenging economic conditions, it soon became apparent that the demand for the brand and a full after-sales service capacity, is bigger than what was initially expected.

The dealership needed even larger premises. The building previously used by Stewards & Lloyd’s was renovated and on August 1, 2017, the dealership moved to the latter building.

Customers are now welcomed into a large

Excellence is the order of the day at Numbi Auto Matthys Ferreira

Here are Ndwandwe (sales executive) 083-532-4263, Priscilla (gen worker) 013-737-3059, Andries (males manager new ) 082-554-8189, Andrew (sales executive) 076-921-6799, Nomci (service advisor) 082-071-4041, Muzi (driver and trainee salesman) 079-246-1162, Lynette (fi nance and insurance manager) 083-555-4400, Michelle (reception and admin)013-737-3060, Robert (apprentice) 013-737-3060, Reynard (technician) 013-737-3060 and Coenraad (sales manager used) 084-570-0658.

and light-fi lled showroom, a parts division, a pre-owned fl oor and a fully equipped workshop.

“This dealership accesses many of the surrounding lodges and reserves and bakkies which makes up the larger portion of our sales.

“We also offer a mobile valuation and shuttle service for those customers who service their vehicles with us.

The availability of a workshop has seen an increase in traffi c to the dealership and

we are really chuffed with this,”says Andries van Huyssteen.

A Ford is a Ford, is a Ford - really? The demand for the Ranger and also the Ecosport, is such that this new and now full service dealership, will make a huge contribution to the expansion of the brand’s blue footprint in the Lowveld.

“Our staff is experienced and eagerand we most certainly intend onbecoming the preferred supplier in this area,” concluded Andries.

405159NG

Hazyview Main Road, De Rust, Hazyview. Tel: 013-737-3060

HAZYVIEW - MONDAY - FRIDAY 07:30 - 17:00SATURDAYS 08:30 - 12:00

Vehicle Sales New and Used: Andries 082-554-8189 | Coenraad 084-570-0658 | Andrew 076-921-6799 | Ndwandwe 083-532-4263

Service: Nomci 082-071-4041 | Parts: Philemon 072-252-2881


“The intention of the Lowveld Motorcycle Expo to introduce enthusiasts to a range of interesting and classic bikes and perhaps to motivate them to become involved with restoration projects,” says Fred Viljoen. Fred is a bike afi cionado, owner of the Blast Shop (now also restoring bikes) and has been organising the expo for the past three years.

This year it presented some 40 bikes, from 1928 till present day, superbikes and exotics - some worth more than R400 000, like a Yamaha M1. And while on this note, the total value of the exhibition was about R3 million. The oldest bike was a 1928 BSA, and next was the 1936 Velocette.

The bikes were divided into nine different classes, such as bobbers, racing, classics and so forth. “The most interesting bike for me must be the BMW R80 GS,” said Fred. It was manufactured from 1980 to 1987 and was the fi rst specialised dual-sport bike from BMW. Only 500 000 were produced.

The designation G/S stands for the German words Gelände/Strasse, which mean off-road/street, highlighting the bike’s dual sport design. The bike gained popularity with adventure-seeking travellers after winning the Paris-Dakar rally several times.

Another interesting and recently restored small bike is the Honda CT110. It is a small motorcycle

manufactured by Honda since 1980 and sold in various parts of the world. It is a 105cc four-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine with a four-speed transmission and an automatic clutch, and was popularly used as a Post Offi ce delivery bike.

A slightly modifi ed version, the CT110 AG, is sold for agricultural use. The CT110AG has recently become road-registerable in Australia (2009), and has been road registerable in New Zealand for some time. This restoration was done by No Limits Racing.

The Ducati Pantah is an Italian motorcycle with a 90° V-twin engine, produced between 1980 and 1986. Unlike its predecessors, which were bevel-gear OHC designs, the Pantah was the fi rst Ducati to have belt-driven camshaft motors, thus forming the vanguard of the new generation of current Ducati V-twins. Successful in racing as the 600cc TT2 and later TT1 750cc racer, the Pantah was a lighter, shorter wheelbase motorcycle, in a new trellis frame that was to become a trademark Ducati feature.

Fred is busy with a number of interesting restoration projects and we will share some of these with you in due time. So, watch this space - and, the 2018 Expo will probably present a new format with lots more to explore.

Restored beauts from the past cause a blastMatthys Ferreira

BMW R80 GS.

CT110AG has recently become road-registerable in Australia (2009), and has been road registerable in New Zealand for some time. This restoration was done by No

motorcycle with a 90° V-twin engine, produced between 1980 and 1986. Unlike its predecessors, which were bevel-gear OHC designs, the Pantah was the fi rst Ducati to have belt-driven camshaft motors, thus forming the vanguard of the new generation of current Ducati V-twins. Successful in racing as the

become a trademark Ducati feature.

with adventure-seeking travellers after winning the Paris-Dakar rally several times.

Another interesting and recently restored small bike is the Honda CT110. It is a small motorcycle

A Ducati Desmo.

1968 Triton Café Racer 560cc.

The x-Brad Binder Honda RS125 race bike now belonging to Gary Edwards ofWhite River.

A BSA Thunderbolt racer.

The Honda CT110.

A 1992 Ducati Pantah 600cc.

book 1.indb - lowvelder epaper

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