Namibia's content-driven motoring portal
This is probably our favourite section but – SHHH! – please don’t tell the others! You’ll find our reviews on everything from hatchbacks to supercars in Afrikaans, English and German:
Certain names or descriptions have become global icons and in the motoring world they don’t come much more iconic than the acronym GTi. Never mind that it would roughly translate into grand touring injection; when the Germans stuck the badge onto a hot little Golf, a legend was born.
Met die herbekendstelling van die klein Suzuki, die Jimny 4×4, ‘n jaar of drie gelede, moes my gedagtes teruggaan na my eerste kennismaking met die Suzuki jeepie by ‘n Suzuki handelaar in Angola in 1973. Ons het slegs die legendariese motorfietse in Suid-Afrika en so ‘n klein broodwaentjie/bakkie.
Many years ago our automotive landscape was slightly less crowded and infinitely less confusing. Big saloons were balanced with small hatchbacks and boxy Kombis stood alongside rustic 4×4’s. German, British and American cars were the order of the day and Japanese products were rudely pointed and laughed at.
Vor vielen Jahren sah unsere automobile Landschaft noch etwas einfacher aus. Große Limousinen standen neben lustigen Kleinwagen, langweiligen Transportern und eckigen Geländewagen. Deutsche, Engländer und Amerikaner hatten das Sagen; Japaner wurden gnadenlos verspottet.
First impressions are vital but can often be misleading. Actually I was supposed to tell you about the new Honda CRZ Hybrid today but a slight mishap landed me in the driver’s seat of the equally hybrid Honda Insight. And my initial impressions were rather mixed…
My records allege that I already tested the 5-door Turbo-diesel Honda Civic over two years ago but that didn’t stop me from grabbing the key and taking it home for a week. Nothing much seems to have changed and the four-year-old still looks like an extraterrestrial Mom’s taxi.
The hardest part about reviewing cars is not the constantly fluctuating garage contents, vastly differing car controls, losing CD’s and ipod cables, chasing after missing sunglasses and house keys, nor the brief confusion in multi-story car parks because you forgot which car you’re driving.
Einde verlede jaar het die Isuzu KB-reeks ‘n ligte uiterlike opknapping gekry om by te bly by die bakkiemodes. Historici sê mos dat verandering ‘n historiese wet is; of die politici met hulle uitspraak dat as jy nie aanpas nie; sterf jy uit.
I think I may be in trouble here; after a business emergency prompted my premature exit from the recent Nissan X-Trail launch I completely forgot to write a report on the face-lifted car. In all fairness, I never drove the new X-Trail until my press demonstrator arrived last week.
I’m assuming that some of you have just returned from a long, hot and tiresome holiday trip ready to trade in the spouse’s ageing wheels. In your absence, most dealerships have steam-cleaned the driveway, topped up the coffee machine and are waiting (some, anxiously) for your visit.