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If you wanted a small family car decade or two ago, you probably drove out of a Toyota showroom. Going right, presumably. These days, if you’re after a sensible car around 250 to 300 kays, there are hordes of choices with the latest tech and engines. But not many Toyotas…
Today’s rant is being flung in your general direction from the dizzy height of my high horse where I aim to slay many motorised misconceptions thought up by automotive ignoramuses. Feel free to validate any of these claims with your local petrol head or grease monkey.
Many years ago there was a hatchback Toyota called Conquest, a name that was a purely South African invention for the five-door Corolla shape. This gave birth to the cheapie offspring Tazz which could only watch VW’s Golf and other premium hatchbacks drive off into the sunset.
Many cars have left their mark on the South African market, some more than others, and few as successfully as the original Honda Ballade. The unique local name for what was essentially a Civic disappeared long before its antiquated, price-busting Citi and Tazz competitors did.