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When caught in casual conversation and people discover that you are a motoring journalist, two questions will inevitably pop up. What’s the most impressive car you’ve ever driven and what car should I buy next? The former would be a 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 with a Hooper coach and the second answer matters not as they will purchase a Polo or Yaris anyway.
In order to entertain all three of my regular readers (and myself) I have decided to prematurely abuse the whole you-know-what world cup fever and give this review a bit of a soccer feel. So strap on your matching scarf and shirt, get ready to sing the Marseillaise and put your hands together for the brand new Renault Megane Coupé.
Mention the name Suzuki and most people will immediately answer with marine or motorbike stories, plus the odd tale about an SJ4 or Jimny adventure. The plucky Jimny was recently joined by the brilliant Swift and miniscule Alto, while the Vitara and Grand Vitara SUV’s also soldier on.
Do you enjoy fishing with dynamite? Does every bathroom in your house feature a shiny flat TV? Do you regularly use tens or twenties to light your cigars? If you’re the type of person who likes to gracelessly wallow in life’s excesses then I’ve got brilliant news for you. I found your next car.
Besitzen Sie mehr als drei Armbanduhren? Befindet sich in jedem Badezimmer Ihrer Wohnung ein glänzender, flacher Fernseher? Gebrauchen Sie regelmässig Zehner und Zwanziger um Ihre Zigarren anzuzünden? Wenn Sie gerne aus dem Vollen schöpfen, dann habe ich gute Nachrichten für Sie: ich habe Ihr nächstes Auto gefunden.
Prepare to be surprised in a pleasant way, especially if you aren’t familiar with the latest GT version of the Subaru Legacy. This mid-size sedan never really made a big impression on me right up to the minute that I set eyes on our burgundy metallic test mule with its taught body panels and where-can-I-buy-those 18-inch mag wheels.
You might agree that our changing weather isn’t the ideal time to launch a new soft-top convertible, but this only boosted the confidence of Mercedes-Benz representatives at the recent launch of the new E-Class Cabrio. Backed by a joyful marketing campaign that denotes the newcomer as one cabrio for four seasons, the topless executive German completes the E-Class line-up of sedan, estate, coupé and convertible. It’s based on the 2-door coupé version of the E and is only available with a soft top.
Think before you speak, something I should’ve done last week before I had to eat my own words with a hefty side dish of umm’s and ah’s. When the friendly Subaru chaps dropped off a pearl-white Impreza sedan I immediately mistook it for a WRX, hence I pointed out their blunder: “No, no, I’ve tested this before” I alleged. “No, no, you haven’t!” they retaliated.
Last week I was presented with a bit of a problem. The instance that the cheerful Renault guys dropped off a brand-new Grand Scenic at my home I realised that I had no proper means of testing it. With so much room at my disposal it became abundantly clear that I had no wife and hence, even fewer children to strap to its modern seats.
Ek kan aan geen slim opmerking dink om ‘n ekstra stertjie by te voeg by die opskrif van hierdie artikel nie behalwe die woord magnifique. Die rede: my Frans is regtig gebrekkig. Maar dit beteken nie dat ek opgewonde was oor die splinternuwe Renault Megane luikrug nie!