CLASH OF THE TITANS

After a long absence, I managed to subscribe to CAR again. In the meantime, I used to take out various motoring magazines from the library but got fed up with the attitude some journalists take: that the reader is stupid. CAR remains factual and one can associate well with the written articles. That, in the present economic climate, is the reason CAR remains on the market, where so many magazines have disappeared.

However, I found the bakkie road test in the May issue incomplete as Chinese, Indian and derived models like Fiat are absent while Mazda/ford is present. I suppose that, of these, many may not compare favourably with the established models, but one must understand that, due to nancial reasons, many customers may have to consider these lower-priced alternatives. One point worth considering is ease of access and, from experience, I found that the GWM was the only double-cab bakkie with rear doors wide enough to accept a 29-inch television set loaded by one person.

Something which bothered me is Case Study, where a Citroën DS3 is recommended as a good buy. As far as I am aware, Citroën ceased production and this is supported by the absence of new Citroën prices in CAR. The product may be very good, but in the past I experienced very poor trade-in estimates on any discontinued model. I would certainly steer clear of the make. PHILIP VENTER By email

[We chose to focus that comparative test on turbodiesel double cabs with automatic transmissions – cancelling out the Fiat – but we will certainly look at doing a similar one on a selection of the cheaper bakkies. Case Study is about the best second-hand buys, which makes the DS3 even more of a bargain – editor.]