The car I’ve been looking for

ITS been a while since I’ve considered buying a vehicle and had almost forgotten the trials and tribulations accompanying the process.

Should I opt for a new car and fall into the trap of instant depreciation or buy preowned and hopefully not be inheriting someone else’s problems?

Once that’s been decided, there are then the issues regarding a service plan, warranty, finance and insurance.

It all adds up to a process you should enter with eyes wide open.

Obviously I would love to have parked in my garage a spanking new BMW M5 (with the Competition Pack of course), but a reality check sees the Beemer quickly dispensed and replaced with something more practical — like our long-term Suzuki Baleno.

Even though it arrived at our offices at the beginning of October, it’s taken the best part of two months to prise the keys from Sowetan Motoring editor Brenwin Naidu. And after a couple of weeks behind its wheel, I’m beginning to see why. It has clocked just over 3500km to date.

There are three aspects to the Baleno that particularly appeal to me, fuel efficiency, a comprehensive list of standard comfort and safety features and the price.

Though there is some respite this month for motorists with a drop in the fuel price, there’s certainly no guarantee it will continue. So for many motorists fuel economy is important — and the Baleno delivers.

A trip to North West saw the car return the excellent figure of 4.8l/100km while around town I’ve been averaging 5.1l/100km. Figures normally associated with a diesel powerplant or perhaps a hybrid.

Powering the Baleno is a tried-and-tested 1.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine which can also be found in the Swift, Ertiga and Ciaz model ranges — and is hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox (a four-speed auto is also available).

According to this publication’s DIY guru, Gerrit Burger, this particular engine is pretty much bulletproof. “It is thoroughly modern, and, I’m happy to see, naturally aspirated. It has DOHC, VVT and drive-by-wire throttle actuation. It has a relatively high compression ratio (11,0:1), and a relatively long stroke (82mm) compared to the bore (73mm). All these enhance fuel economy,” says Burger.

But it is not just the engine that is contributing to a frugal sipping of the juice, as the Baleno weighs in at a trimmed down 915kg. To give that some perspective, it’s 11% lighter than its smaller sibling the Swift, thanks largely to the use of special high-tensile steel in the body shell.

I’m not a fan of having to pay extra for X, Y and Z. It’s like going to a restaurant and ordering a steak, only to find out you have to pay for your chips and veggies. Nope, I want to pay one price and know up front what it’s going to cost and what I will be getting.

In the Baleno’s case the list is comprehensive and the price is pretty attractive.

Yes, on test we do have the higher specification GLX model so we are slightly spoilt. Included in the price of R239,900 one gets an impressive list: among others, there is cruise control, air conditioning, rear parking sensors and a touch-screen infotainment system with USB port.

Safety-wise, the boxes are also ticked — ABS, electronic brake distribution, emergency braking assist, six airbags, child-proof rear door locks plus an alarm/immobiliser system. Remote central locking is also standard.

It highlights why in many markets around the world — SA included — Suzuki continues to build a reputation based on reliability and competitive pricing.

Come to think of it, I might just have found the car that I’ve been looking for.