July 16, 2020
THE WITNESS
Call to extend grace
The 2020 Defender as seen in the James Bond movie No Time To Die.
NEW DEFENDER ON YOUR SCREEN
SERVICE PLAN FOR OLDER AUDIS AUDI has launched the AudiSmart Service plan, an affordable new service offering which is applicable to all Audi vehicles that are 6 to 13 years old (or within a maximum mileage threshold of 270 000 km), and which fall out of the standard Audi Freeway Plan or Freeway Plan Extension. This progressive new plan includes cover for two years and/or 30 000 km (whichever occurs first) and includes two minor oil change services at a significantly discounted price. The AudiSmart Service plan sells from R4 800 and includes roadside assistance.
SELTOS GETS FRUGAL DIESEL
Further licence extensions needed KIA has introduced three turbo diesel models, all driven by Kia’s frugal 1,5-litre diesel, alongside the two petrol engines in the Seltos range. CEO of KIA Motors South Africa Gary Scott said In the eight months since its local launch, the big SUV has become one of the most popular models in the KIA stable. The 1,5-litre diesel has a common-rail direct injection with a variable turbocharger that removes lag and makes 86 kW and 250 Nm from 1 500 to 2 750 rpm. Prices for three diesel models start at R411 K for the EX manual and go up to R447 K for the EX+ auto. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
Towbar maker expects more local trips after lockdown ADRIAN BURFORD LOCAL is lekker — that’s the message from Mark Gutridge (pictured) of BRiNK Towing Systems South Africa. The reference is not only to the tens of thousands of BRiNK tow bars which have shipped from the Pietermaritzburg factory, but it also the return of local holiday trips, which Gutridge expects to be the next trend in recreational travel. “Six months ago if you had asked me what we should be focusing on as a Tier One supplier to the South African motor industry, I would’ve said we simply need to be keeping up with volume demand and quality levels from OEM customers like Toyota and Ford. “But now there’s a new, additional focus,” said Gutridge. “We think the travel landscape is going to change and there’s going be a resurgence of motor-
ised travel, and a new-found desire to explore our beautiful subcontinent on wheels. “We’re expecting caravans, camping trailers, campervans and the like to be wheeled out, have the tyres pumped and be put into service. But there’s more to it than that and there are legal and practical considerations to consider. “Not all driving licences are created equal and most are only sufficient for a driver to tow a light trailer and not a caravan. There’s also maintenance to consider, and like anything, merely
standing idle does a trailer or caravan no good at all.” Gutridge also says, however, that safe towing is hugely dependent on the quality of the tow bar and the integrity of its partnership with the vehicle. “This includes not only using approved mounting points (as dictated by the vehicle manufacturer) but also wiring the connection to ensure that not only the lights work correctly but also that systems such as stability control and even engine cooling are able to detect the presence of a trailer. Finally, the set-up of the trailer vis-á-
vis the towing vehicle is critical — with a “nose up” attitude any trailer can be dangerously unstable. “The swing to ‘DIY’ holidays suggests a return to more fundamental values: it has put us — hopefully not just temporarily — back in touch with some of our core values. Themes like family and environmental awareness seem to be closer to front of mind than before lockdown. These values are close to BRiNK as a brand. “Importantly, everything we supply is globally compliant and every BRiNK product has been designed and engineered in partnership with the vehicle manufacturer, and then produced in a BRiNK factory in Europe. In the case of vehicles like the Ford Ranger or Toyota Fortuner, it will be a tow bar made to the same exacting standards right here in our own proudly South African plant,” said Gutridge. — Motorworx.
The legal steps a lender has to take before repossessing a vehicle PERSONAL finance website JustMoney listed the legal steps a lender has to take to repossess a vehicle; and how motorists can help prevent this. Jaco Hamman, an attorney at Hahn and Hahn, said when you miss your first payment and the lender notifies you of such and provides you with a certain number of days to catch up on your payment and you fail to pay, the lender is entitled to cancel its finance agreement with you. Hamman says the lender must first institute action against you, such as the issuing of a summons. “The summons will be delivered to your address via a sheriff. If you don’t defend the summons, then the lender can obtain judgment and a warrant of execution. “It’s only through this warrant of execution that a sheriff can repossess
your car,” says Hamman. However, the lender is not supposed to bully and lie to you, alleging that your vehicle can be repossessed without following due process. No obligation to sign Hamman says there are many lenders who use debt collectors to repossess your car. The debt collectors will arrive at your address with a form telling you that you need to sign the form and give back the vehicle. “This form is actually a voluntary surrender form in which you state that you voluntarily surrender your vehicle. There’s no obligation whatsoever on you to sign such a form and return the vehicle to the lender or its debt collector,” says Hamman. “Be sure that it’s a legitimate repossession through the sheriff. If not,
you’re within your rights to refuse to hand back the vehicle,” he says. Voluntary surrender Section 127 of the National Credit Act gives provision for consumers to voluntarily surrender their cars. If you find that you’re no longer able to keep up with your car payments, you can hand it back to the lender. You can do this by writing a letter of notice informing the lender that you want to terminate your contract. After five business days of handing in the letter, you must return the vehicle or arrange with your creditor how the car will be returned. Your creditor will then give you written notice setting out the estimated value of the car. You’ll have 10 days to decide whether you still want
MZANSI’S 3 MOST AFFORDABLE AUTOMATIC CARS ALWYN VILJOEN SUZUKI’S dealer network broke all existing records in June with sales numbers that returned to pre-lockdown levels. The affordable Suzuki S-Presso led the charge, with 555 new units sold in June — the first full month of sales after Suzuki launched the model digitally shortly before the start of SA’s lockdown. “With a starting price of only R139 900, including a service plan and 5-year warranty, the S-Presso seems to be the perfect vehicle for cash-strapped South Africans looking for a reliable new car,” said André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa “Its design as a compact SUV, with more interior space and high ground clearance, certainly helps,” said Venter. Other popular Suzuki models were the Swift (297 units), the Ignis (86 units) and the Jimny 4x4 (249 units). Duncan Parsons, dealer principal at Fury Motors in Pieterma-
11
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
LAND Rover invites everyone to witness the arrival of the New Defender in South Africa via a 110-minute special online event that will be streamed at 4 pm today on Land Rover South Africa’s YouTube channel. Sports presenter Xola Ntshinga has been enlisted to lead the show and the will take viewers on a journey through various segments exploring the Defender’s historical importance and its rebirth as an adventure vehicle for the digital generation. Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa MD Richard Gouverneur will outline key features, backed by Land Rover Ambassadors Bryan Habana and humanitarian adventurers Kingsley and Ross Holgate. Viewers stand a chance to win prizes, including two vouchers to experience the New Land Rover Defender, hampers and GoPro cameras.
|
ritzburg, said the waiting list for the S-Presso will soon be over, as a big shipment is on its way from Maruti Suzuki in India. The S-Presso competes with the Renault Kwid and Datsun Go, neither of which has a standard
service plan. The lighter Kwid does have insurance, a longer warranty and the lowest fuel use. The proven Go, launched in 2014, has the longest warranty and 14 more Newtons, which helps when driving up steep hills.
1st
Suzuki S-Presso 1,0 GL+ AMT List price: R158 900 Drivetrain: 998 cc, 3-cylinder, 50kW/90Nm with 5-speed AMT. Ground clearance, wheels: 180 mm, 165/70R14, full size spare. Warranty: 2 years or 100 000 km Service plan: 2 years or 30 000 km PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
2nd
the car or not. If you’re no longer interested, the lender will sell it. If there’s a shortfall in the sale, you’ll still be liable to pay for the vehicle. However, if there’s a surplus, the lender will credit your account. Can you adjust instalments? As with any credit agreement, you can ask your creditor to adjust your car instalments until you’re back on your feet. The creditor will reduce your instalments and extend the term of your loan. You can also ask your creditor to defer your payments, but this isn’t advisable as the interest won’t stop accumulating. It could land you in more debt, but it will provide temporary relief. “Taking out a car loan is a threeto five-year commitment that ideally needs careful planning before you take
on this responsibility,” says JustMoney commercial manager Sarah Nicholson. “Given the economic downturn and rising unemployment, do your homework, shop around and negotiate before signing on the bottom line if you are in the market for a vehicle.” Avoid repossession Hamman says you can avoid repossession by making a payment arrangement with the lender and if that fails, you must determine if you qualify for debt counselling. Once you’re under debt counselling the only way to change your counselling status is to pay off all your shortterm credit agreements. Note your debt counselling status could also have an effect on your ability to rent property. — JustMoney.
THE Automobile Association (AA) launched an online petition today to encourage Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula to extend the validity period of vehicle licence discs and driving licence cards. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), “All learner’s licences, driver’s licences, motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates and professional driving permits (PrDPs) that expired during the period that commenced from March 26 to May 31, are deemed valid and their validity period is further extended with 90 days from June 1 to August 31, 2020.” However, despite this concession, the AA believes it does not take into account licences which expired after May 31, nor the reduced capacity of Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) to renew driving licences, and the post office to process discs. In a letter to the minister on June 29, AA CEO Willem Groenewald said that there are problems with the current legacy operational framework of the DLTCs which, combined with Covid19, make it difficult for them to service drivers within that time frame.
He said that the current National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) on which people must book appointments continues to be problematic and that centres may be closed intermittently due to Covid-19. An added issue, Groenewald said, is that drivers who are unable to renew discs or driving cards may have problems if they are involved in crashes as insurers may repudiate claims based on the fact that the drivers are not on the road legally. The AA has therefore called for a further extension beyond the end of August to the end of January 2021. In support of the minister resolving the problems, the AA is offering its national network of agents to assist drivers renew their licences. The association says the minister should consider allowing third party agents, such as the AA, to perform vehicle disc and driving licence card renewal services which are currently only offered through the DLTCs and the post office. The AA’s online petition is available at: https://www.aa.co.za/petition-toextend-the-licence. — Wheels Reporter.
Director of customer experience Multiple awardwinning marketer Charmagne Mavudzi has been appointed Volvo Car South Africa’s new director of customer experience. Mavudzi moves into the role after joining the company as head of marketing and communications in 2018. She also takes a chief position in the company’s recently established Transformation Through Change management portfolio, as the company embarks on a global restructuring towards a more customer-centric approach. Her appointment is part of a global reshuffle in the Swedish auto giant to create a company that is more adaptable to individual customers, driven by data and focused on the customer, with decentralisation and entrepreneurship at its core, said Mavudzi. — MOTORPRESS
Ariya is the next level Leaf Nissan chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta (left) and CEO Makoto Uchida unveiled the Ariya to a global audience during a livestreamed event at the new Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama. Four models of the electric crossover SUV go on sale in Europe, North America and China by December 2021. Like a Tesla, the Ariya updates its firmware using cellular connections. Controls are voice activated and the Ariya uses Amazon’s Alexa. Four models, two of them all-wheel drive, go on sale in Japan in mid-2021, starting at around 5 million yen. Battery capacity is either 65kWh or 90kWh, with power output starting at 160 kW/300 Nm and going up to 20kW and 600 Nm. Depending on the model, the range is from 450 km to 610 km. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
CV JOINT SPECIALISTS
Like us on Facebook
for CV joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings.
facebook.com/WitnessKZN
3rd
341 GREYLING STREET Pmb. 033 342 9174/75
WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF ENGINES AND GEARBOXES TO CHOOSE FROM
MANY PERFORMANCE ENGINES AVAILABLE
QUALITY USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINES, GEARBOXES & PARTS
VIEW OUR SPECIALS - HURRY WHILE STOCK LASTS
HILUX 2.4D 2L2 ENGINE COMPLETE 4 BOLT R 20 000-00 HILUX 2KD 2X4 MANUAL GEARBOXES
R 5 500
VW GOLF 5 1.9 TDI BKC/ BXE ENGINE COMPLETE
R 17 500
VW GOLF5/ CADDY 1.6 BSE ENGINE COMPLETE
R 15 000
PICANTO/ATOS G4HD/G4HG ENGINE COMPLETE ALUMINIUM INTAKE R 10 000-00 MANUAL 5 SPEED GEARBOXES OLD TYPE METAL GEARBOXES R 2 500-00
TOYOTA COROLLA/RUNX ENGINE COMPLETE R 15 000-00 4ZZ/3ZZ/1ZZ MANUAL ALUMINIUM 5 SPEED GEARBOXES R 2 500-00
Renault Kwid Expression AMT List price: R166 900 Drivetrain: 999 cc, 3-cylinder, 50kW/91Nm with 5-speed AMT. Ground clearance, wheels: 180 mm, 165/70R14, full size spare. Warranty: 5 years or 150 000 km Service plan: Optional PHOTO: QUICKPIC
Datsun Go Lux CVT List price: R197 800 Drivetrain: 1 198 cc, 3-cylinder, 57kW/104Nm with 5-speed CVT. Ground clearance, wheels: 180 mm, 165/70R14, full size spare. Warranty: 6 years or 150 000 km Service plan: Optional PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
ENGINES, GEARBOXES, HEADS, TURBOS, DIFFS, LEXUS SPARES
STUCK WITH AN ACCIDENT DAMAGED VEHICLE OR NON-RUNNER?
LET US TAKE IT OFF YOUR HANDS. WE BUY NON-RUNNERS AND ACCIDENT DAMAGED VEHICLES.
Give us a call on 078 951 3530 or 035 751 1430 Email: eugene@easexpress.co.za
13 BETASTRAAL, RICHARDS BAY ALTON TEL: 035 789 0464 / 035 789 0754 CELL: 084 357 1082 CRAIGH CELL: 062 633 4755 NTUTHUKO MLAMBO PLEASE CALL NTUTHUKO FOR ALL OUR VALUED ZULU SPEAKING CUSTOMERS
035 751 1430
SALES@EASTCOASTENGINES.CO.ZA @
We have in-house Workshop for Engine Exchange and Fitments WEBSITE:
DIANNE 071 677 0799 www.eastcoastengines.co.za CHARLINE 076 690 9829 WHATS APPS WELCOME