Consumer Advice | Car And Bike SA

Tanya and her blue Fiat 500 are a formidable and passionate representation of FIAT’s iconic success

July 25, 2024July 25, 2024 Car and Bike SA

As FIAT celebrates its 125th anniversary globally, one passionate South African fan is celebrating her own life – changed courtesy of a Fiat 500. Tanya O’Connor, a core member of the Fiat Society of Cape Town, loves cars. She worked in the automotive sector for 25 years and raced Opel vehicles that she had modified at some of South Africa’s most legendary racetracks, including Tarlton, Zwartkops, and Kyalami – but nothing can beat her Fiat 500. It was love at first sight, not once but twice, two years ago. She…

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The Future of Car Industry in South Africa: Will Electric Cars Triumph Over Combustion Engines?

August 29, 2023 Car and Bike SA

The current car industry in South Africa is dominated by petrol and diesel engines. But a new future is on the horizon as electric vehicles (EVs) are starting to gain traction in the country. According to an analysis by a researcher at the University of Cape Town (UCT), EVs and plug-in hybrids could potentially make up 20% of new cars sold in South Africa by 2030. However, there are still some major roadblocks to overcome for this transition to occur. For starters, the vastness of South Africa’s cities and the…

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Range Rover Personalised Luxury.

May 25, 2023May 25, 2023 Ray Stewart

The Range Rover is arguably the world’s most desirable luxury SUV, having led the field in status for more than 50 years. Now the company is setting a new benchmark in personalisation by offering its clients the facility to choose from a wide range of options to create a unique and individual vehicle built to the owners wishes, blending enhanced personilastion with peerless refinement. Bespoke commissioning service is the name given to this capability and allows the client access to a vast range of materials and exterior and interior finishes.…

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A connected drive for older Audi vehicles – Free Audi connect plug and play OBD device

July 4, 2022August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

Audi South Africa has introduced the national availability of its new Audi connect plug and play device. This innovative technology solution is freely available to all customers whose vehicles have a model year introduction from 2008 onwards and that doesn’t currently offer Audi’s latest connected integrated technology. The Audi connect plug and play app (available on iOS/Android) lets your smartphone use Bluetooth and the Audi connect plug and play hardware to connect to your vehicle, turning it into a connected car. “We understand that Audi customers are keeping their vehicles…

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Nissan Qashqai Review

January 22, 2017 Car and Bike SA

by Keith WR Jones The original Nissan Qashqai was a sales success in the way the iPhone was for Apple. It was one of the first cars to popularise the so-called crossover genre, blending the low-running costs of family hatchbacks with SUV looks, and becoming a commercial success in the process. Over two million have rolled off the production line since its launch in 2007. So the second-generation Nissan Qashqai had big shoes to fill, and bigger it is: wider and longer this time around, but it’s also lighter and more efficient, too. It’s a…

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Volkswagen Beetle Hatchback 2012 up Review

January 22, 2017 Car and Bike SA

Verdict Following on from the successful Scirocco is another retro-inspired Volkswagen, the Beetle. Almost 22 million original Beetles were built, making it one of the most successful cars of all time. The next 1999 re-imagination wasn’t quite as popular, with just over one million sold, as issues like poor interior space and questionable styling cut its appeal. This latest model, which shares many parts with the Golf, aims to improve on the previous generation by offering more equipment and improved levels of practicality; including a boot that’s 44% bigger than…

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MINI Cooper S Review 2007 up R56

January 22, 2017July 12, 2022 Car and Bike SA

Verdict The MINI Cooper S has an historic name stretching all the way back to the early days of the small car’s history. However, there is nothing old fashioned about the latest Cooper S, offering both petrol and diesel engines with strong performance. This is allied to economy and emissions that are bang up to date, while the interior of the MINI continues to offer a unique style that has helped make it a sales hit from the moment BMW first relaunched the MINI brand in 2001. Style and substance While some may mumble…

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Audi A1 Hatchback Review 2010 up

January 22, 2017August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

Verdict A small Audi is big news in the car world. Signalling the brand’s first ever head-to-head battle with MINI – a car made by Audi’s arch enemy, BMW – the new A1 takes a very different, grown-up approach. Instead of focusing on fun, the A1 smacks of classy sophistication. There’s the usual soft-touch materials and leather dotted around the cabin along with some excellent technology on offer too. Quite frankly, nothing in its small premium class looks and feels so expensive behind the wheel even though underneath the smart-suited A1 is…

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Jeep Grand Cherokee used review | 2011 – 2014

October 24, 2016October 24, 2016 Car and Bike SA

What we like Capable off-road Powerful engines for towing Large and practical interior What we don’t Frequent and expensive servicing None of the engine options are economical Some reliability issues Graham Smith road tests and reviews the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee as a used buy. The Jeep’s distinctive grille, dating back to WWII, is hard to ignore. One of the most popular models to sport the seven-bar grille on our roads was the big, attractively styled WK Grand Cherokee launched here in 2011. There was plenty…

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Audi A4 used review | 2005 – 2016

October 24, 2016August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

What we like Excellent build quality Available in many body styles An engine for every taste What we don’t Small inside Understeer on earlier models Repairs can be expensive Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2014 Audi A4 as a used buy. A major player in the trio of prestigious German cars Audi has become very strong in South Africa in recent times. The Audi A4 is a midrange model that’s sold as a sedan, a two-door cabriolet and an Avant station wagon. A further…

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Great Used Luxury Cars You Can Buy For Less Than a New Toyota Corolla

July 27, 2016July 27, 2016 Car and Bike SA

None of these are headache-free like a Corolla, but style never comes easy. Buying a new car is generally a safe, sensible option, but what if you’re not safe and sensible? What if instead of buying a base Toyota Corolla for R200 000 you decide you want a bit of luxury ? If you look to the used market, there are tons of great cars that might not be headache-free (don’t say we didn’t warn you), but offer comfort and style for a song. 2005-2011 Audi A6 (C6) You could…

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BMW z4 for Kia Picanto money

July 18, 2016August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

The BMW Z4, is currently very much undervalued in terms of bang for buck, you get a sleek German roadster with quality engineering and great reliability, an early 2006-2007 model will set you back in the region for 120-140k and for the higher end you’ll get a neat lower Km car with some neat extras like sat Nav and 18″ wheels and tyres, the folding tops on these cars are bullet proof and give very little to no issues, the 2.5 and 3.0L models are lots of fun to drive…

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Ten Things You Learn Driving The New Turbo Porsche 911 Carrera

November 18, 2015February 6, 2020 Car and Bike SA

Much has changed, much has stayed the same. Does a turbo ruin the car? We drove the 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera last week on Tenerife, a Spanish island off the coast of Africa. Don’t ask why Porsche decided to launch the face-lift of its most important car on the rim of the western Atlantic. Do ask whether or not the base 911 needs to be turbocharged, and whether or not that serves the model’s character. Answers below. 1. Don’t call it the Porsche 911 Turbo. Because it’s not. Because that car is…

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