Namibia's content-driven motoring portal
I’ve made a huge mistake. Desperate for clever ways to start my recent reviews, I encouraged readers to remember certain vehicles. Now I’m staring at the Big Daddy of most people’s motoring past and feel a bit sheepish using the same angle: do you remember the old Kombis?
Volkswagen het onlangs twee van hulle meer semi-handelsvoertuie meer gesinsvriendelik gemaak met ‘n paar veranderings aan ratkaste, enjins en afwerking.
No more than two decades ago, if you wanted to buy a family car you would choose between an estate (station wagon) or a Kombi (microbus). Thanks to the advent of SUV’s, cross-overs and niche cars, those days have long gone. I find this a real pity as I’ve just spent some time with Volvo’s excellent V60.
Normaalweg durf ons altyd die Sederberge met ‘n 4X4 voertuig aan om ons geliefde ent pad tussen Matjiesrivier en Wupperthal te kan ry. Hierdie keer was dit anders want die geskeduleerde toetsvoertuig was ‘n nuwe Ford Tourneo bussie met sitplek vir agt, en belangriker nog, pakplek vir bagasie vir agt mense. Ondanks die vier vrouens se bagasie was daar nog steeds ekstra pakplek!
A gruff, off-beat sound usually accompanied by a whistling turbo charger can only mean one thing: five cylinders. With even numbers being the preferred stencil for engine manufacturing, the five-pot is just as quirky and potentially unbalanced as those little three-cylinders.
One of the most striking things about the motor industry is its diversity; not just in terms of products but the preferences of various regions. Every continent, nation, country, often even province is different from the next and what sells next door may not even feature on the newest local brochure.
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.
Dit was Volkswagen wat die naam “Kombi” ‘n huishoudelike woord gemaak het toe hulle die eerste generasie bussie in 1956 in Uitenhage begin bou het en teen £674 verkoop het; £105 méér as wat die Kewer se prys was.
Certain cars raise the eyelids and saliva levels of petrol heads and guarantee their owners, even temporary ones, a crowd of inquisitive onlookers. The escalating-pitch one-word “And?” is a favourite question you’ll have to endure when you hold the key to a Chevrolet Lumina SS.