Support your local car dealership
How we buy cars today
The internet has changed just about every aspect of our existence, especially how we buy things. Even how we buy cars. While 20 years ago, when looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle, you headed to your nearest dealership and if you didn’t find what you’re looking for, you went to the one next to it.
Today you can sit in your living room in Richards Bay or even at your homestead near Manguzi, and browse vehicles on sale from as far as Cape Town on your smart phone, and actually buy whatever vehicle you see, wherever that vehicle is. So why support local dealerships? There are still many advantages to buying close to home, so let’s have a look:
Why buying local is lekker
Yes, John, the car salesman in Joburg, is giving you a better deal than the local guys, but is it really better? You can go with John’s deal and maybe all turns out okay but if it doesn’t, then it’s going to cost you a whole lot more than the few thousand you saved. John in Joburg knows very well that chances are that you will not drive all the way to Gauteng to complain about faults on the car he sold you.
The local guys, on the other hand, in turn realise that if they sell you a car that’s full of gremlins, you will be back in their offices the very next day, jumping on their tables and making noises. Even though there’s legal routes to take when what you bought is not working 100%, dealing with the matter becomes more difficult as the distance increases. Another aspect to consider, especially when buying new cars, is aftersales service.
If you want a courtesy car when your vehicle is in for service or repairs, then buying local is the way to go. Build up a good relationship with a reputable car dealer and he will always go out of his way to ensure you get the best car and the best service; someone whose office door is always open for you, no matter what, and who can be almost considered a friend. Imagine buying a car from a friend… Someone you bump into at the supermarket and who greets you, asking ‘how’s the car? Now that’s what makes buying local lekker!
The warranty covers track racing!
This is the first proper Hyundai performance car, and they nailed it! There have been efforts before – mildly hot hatches and big-bumpered F2 editions of the pretty ’90s Hyundai Coupe – but nothing with over 200kW and a development programme overseen by a former BMW M boss. Which is what you’re looking at here. The i30N has been developed at a depth far beyond any quick Hyundai before it.
An illuminated rev counter whose redline shifts as the engine warms up, the ability to channel your favourite mix of chassis settings into one button press, a manual gearbox and handbrake… this is a car that’s been honed by bona fide driving enthusiasts without yielding to the needs of marketing departments and the like. Tangawizi Motors is one of only a handful of Hyundai dealerships which is approved by the brand to sell and service this feisty hot hatch. Speak to the Hyundai team if you’re interested in the i30 N.
Everything you want in a family car
The perfect car for that city drive or weekend getaway. Everything you want in an SUV. Everything at the tip of your fingers The BR-V offers a number of comforts: Inside, the cabin’s roomy dimensions allow the introduction of a third seating row, boosting the BR-V’s occupant seating capacity to seven. Access to all seating positions is easy and convenient, thanks to split seat rows that can be tumbled forward at the pull of a lever. Drivers are well taken care of with an instrument panel with trip computer functionality, with information on driving range, fuel consumption, fuel tank level, ambient temperature and time, as well as odometer and trip meter readings.
Other features such as an audio system, which comprises an FM Stereo/AM tuner, together with a USB socket for connecting iPods or USB flash drives. A 12V charging socket is also conveniently located in the front centre console. All derivatives of the new Honda BR-V are powered by the same, efficient 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. The SOHC unit produces 88kW of maximum power with a torque peak of 145Nm. Drive is sent to the road via a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or Honda’s refined Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
Practical 7-seater
The Renault Triber is a well-priced 7-seater. It’s practical because the two rows of seats in the rear can be configurated in many ways while the third row can even be removed completely to load big items. Lots of other storage options right through the cabin make the Triber a comfortable people mover. Under the bonnet is Renault’s proven 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine which offers 52kW and 96Nm of torque and comes paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Claimed fuel economy is 5.5-litres to 100km.
To ensure the requisite comfort, Triber has a dedicated air-conditioning duct serving the second and third-row of seats and infotainment is serviced by an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system which plays nice with either Apple or Android smartphones and offers navigation. Rear parking sensors also feature on the Triber making it slightly easier to park. The Renault team at Tangawizi Motors will always go the extra mile to structure the right deal for their clients.
Perfect for work and play
The Navara is incredibly good at the everyday ‘leisurely’ activity that is traffic, driving to and from work and even gravel roads. The ride is easily the best in class thanks to coil springs in the rear in place of traditional leaf springs. The interior is upmarket and comfortable. It feels comparable to a premium SUV rather than a bakkie and offers very good space front and rear, the level of standard spec is really impressive and does a good job of helping you forget about the bakkie roots.
It’s incredibly refined and cancels out wind noise, vibrations and harshness – another class leading aspect. Standard features on SE models including a touch screen Sat Nav system with CD player, AM/FM Radio, AUX, USB and Bluetooth connectivity with steering mounted audio controls. Top spec LE models get leather interior, electric and heated seats, keyless entry and start, reverse camera, rear PDC and LED daytime running lights.
SA’s best-kept hatch secret
The Suzuki Swift is SA’s best-kept hatchback secret, but the word is spreading steadily because Suzuki sales are climbing month after month. The Swift, especially, has pretty much everything a city dweller needs, offering drivers of all age groups a reliable, stylish and economic small car, with the added fun factor to make the daily commute a little less of a slog.
Given the Suzuki Swift’s price and purpose, as well as what it offers and how it delivers its performance (replete with oodles of driving fun), the hatch is a very hard car to fault. In GL specification it offers all the features you can reasonably expect, more space than before and a class-leading driving experience. With a Suzuki dealership right here in Zululand, offering friendly and fast service, there’s no reason not to give this fast-growing Japanese brand a try.
