HAVE CAR DEALERSHIPS LOST THE PLOT?
Nicol Louw’s column ( The right to repair or not) in your February 2019 issue really got me thinking.
If you look at South African car dealerships, they are extremely expensive lumps of real estate; each one’s architect tries to outdo the other. Is it meant to attract potential buyers? All I can think of is that each vehicle, part and hour of service will contribute to paying that massive investment.
It’s no wonder trade-in prices are a fraction of what you initially paid for the car.
Maintenance plans are a cunning tool to ensure vehicles remain captive in the market for the period that these “free” inclusions in the deals are offered.
South Africa has an extremely well-developed automotive manufacturing industry and, in many cases, the aftermarket components offered are better than the genuine articles. Having been in the business for a number of years, I speak from experience. The fear-mongering that all nongenuine aftermarket parts are substandard is rubbish. I know of numerous OEMS which fit locally manufactured heavy filters to their units prior to releasing them into the African market as the genuine articles they are fitted with are not up to the task that lies ahead.
The other scary aspect is that, with a captive market, many dealerships’ standard of service leaves much to be desired. On the other hand, the regular Joes must provide fantastic service, otherwise their clients will vote with their feet. It is not the architectural masterpiece that attracts but rather word-of-mouth of excellent service. You’ll find that Joe does not work in a Crystal Palace but in a basic workshop.
There are cowboys ready and willing to rip you off and that is why there are regulatory bodies to keep them in check.
GERHARD UNGERER Kwazulu-natal
[Gerhard, keep in mind local dealers often have to adhere to an international corporate identity, which dictates the dealerships’ appearance. But, yes, I do sometimes drive past these monolithic structures and wonder if the result justifies the cost… - editor.]
FANTASY GARAGE
It was with great interest I read editor Terence Steenkamp’s letter in the February 2019 issue of CAR regarding a fantasy garage and his request for readers to submit their ideas.
For the purpose of this daydream, I think it best to limit the number of vehicles in my fantasy garage to five. Most of us aren’t oligarchs who can afford a large selection of highly collectable vehicles of the past century. Furthermore, I believe these cars should be driven regularly; it defeats the purpose of owning a vehicle if it was bought to be placed on display in a garage where it collects dust and rust. The joy of owning any vehicle is in driving and using it for its intended purpose.
First in my fantasy garage will be the new Suzuki Jimny. It’s a great, capable and compact offroader with lots of history, style and character. I read your road test of the Jimny twice and, in December, I test drove the vehicle. There’s currently nothing else like it on the market, not even close. Its compact dimensions and high seating make it perfect for daily city commutes and parking in tight spaces and, come the weekend, gravel roads beg to be explored. It truly looks like a baby Gelandewagen, which isn’t a bad thing. I would choose Kinetic Yellow to stand out in traffic. We South Africans (or maybe it’s our dealerships) are such a boring lot: all we ever see are white, silver and black vehicles. Can’t we be more creative? After all, a vehicle is our second biggest monthly expense, so why can’t we have more fun with colour?
My second choice would be a red Honda NSX, manufactured from 1990 to ‘96. Ayrton Senna was directly involved with the development of the suspension when he drove for the Mclaren Honda F1 team. I absolutely love the styling and it had blistering performance from its naturally aspirated 3,0-litre V6 VTEC engine. In Fast & Furious 4, Mia Toretto used a black Acura NSX to break Dominic Toretto out of the jail bus on his way to prison. CAR published a comparative test between the Honda NSX and Ferrari 348 and it is one of my most cherished tests to date. I even have a yellow Hot Wheels version on my desk. Unfortunately, only three examples of the NSX made it to South Africa (our leaded petrol was considered unsuitable at the time): one belongs to the Franschhoek Motor Museum; I’ve been told another is on display at a dealer in Johannesburg; and the other is privately owned. Unfortunately, we cannot privately import used vehicles anymore but I believe there are many NXSS for sale by Japanese exporters.
The third vehicle in my fantasy garage has to be a Reflex Silver Volkswagen Amarok 3,0 TDI V6 Highline. This is the only vehicle in my garage with four doors and the only one big enough to carry passengers and oodles of bulky luggage. The Amarok is also the perfect vehicle for caravan towing and camping, transporting off-road bikes, and other leisure outdoor-lifestyle goodies. That beautiful V6 engine has more than enough engine power to scare some hot hatches at the robot. You sit high and have a commanding view of the road and other traffic, eyeballing taxis in the process.
My fourth choice will be my daily commuter: an Estoril Blue BMW M235i Coupé. Yes, the M2 is faster but the M235i will do just fine. That is how good it is, especially if you can find a six-speed manual derivative. With our Swiss cheese-like roads, where will you find a road to legally exploit the full potential of the BMW M2? I like the styling, performance and driving enjoyment of the M235i. If there’s one thing BMW has mastered over the years, it is building coupés that are a joy to drive. Whether it is a trip to work or an open road en route to a holiday destination, the M235i is guaranteed to put a smile on its driver’s dial.
Lastly, I would love to have a 1948 Chevrolet pick-up hotrod. It’s a throwback to the past when split windscreens were the order of the day, but this version will be fitted with new suspension, running gear, a modern engine and gearbox, and an updated braking system. This car cuts an intimidating figure in the traffic. It would be great to have a vehicle for my own personal touches and styling preferences, much like I want to do with the 1998 BMW Z3 hiding in my garage. I need to spend some time and money on it to save it from a scrapyard.
If only I had the financial means to indulge in such automotive splendour and luxury. But that was enough daydreaming for now. I have to return to reality and my normal day job…
GELLIS MEYER By email
[Some great choices here, Gellis. I especially like the idea of that Amarok in the mix – editor.]
B200 BREAKUP
After being a member of the Benz family for some years (I had been driving a B200 CDI for a little over three years), late last year I decided it was time to move on. When my relationship with the B was over, I bought a W205 C220d and, man, this thing just comes with way better perks and comfort. A full tank on a road trip at 125 km/h would last me about 1 000 km, which is brilliant.
My nightmare started when I got a loan car from a dealership: a 1,6-litre B200. My friends and I decided a road trip was in order. We filled the car and off we went. About 250 km later, the tank was just below half, with an average consumption of 8,5 L/100 km. Some 490 km later, the little light of mine was shining.
This car confirmed that smaller engines don’t always give the best results. I’ve driven diesel engines for a long time and I don’t think I’ll ever change to small petrols.
FRANCISCUS FLEISCHMANN Arcadia
[Couldn’t agree more, Franciscus. While our future is electric, internal-combustion engines have never been better and nothing beats the punch and efficiency of a welldeveloped diesel – editor.]