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THE WITNESS
JUNE 20, 2019
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
Panelvan vs bakkie
LAND ROVER DURBAN POLOCROSSE THE fourth annual Land Rover Durban Polocrosse High Goal tournament returns to the Shongweni Polocrosse Club from tomorrow to Sunday. Apart from superb equestrian action, families can expect entertainment, food stalls and more for a weekend to remember.
ALWYN VILJOEN asks mechanics, taxi owners and race drivers about the Sprinter ‘lite’
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MERC has reintroduced a Sprinter “lite”, which drivers with a normal car licence (code B or old code 8) can drive. In Europe, entrepreneurs all use vans, not bakkies. Like those Europeans, I fail to see why so many “Saffricans” who live in cities buy thousands of enormous double cabs each month. If it is for the bakkie’s high seating position, a van puts you higher. If it is for the bakkie’s practicality, a van comes with more space, a low floor for easy loading and a roof to keep out rain and thieves. If it is for all round readiness, a van is a camper, load lugger, bike shed and a dog house all in one. Vans also come in all sizes, from the tiny Chana to the big Iveco, but the long-distance taxi operators and race drivers Wheels spoke to all rate the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter the highest. These demanding owners say competitive pricing, reliability and a wide network of workshops help to set the Sprinter apart. The cherry on top for taxi operators is that passengers feel safer in Sprinters, says Lunga Sibaya, former Merc technician who now fixes trucks’ computer-controlled braking systems at Duzi Brakes. These passengers ride in the Sprinter Inkanyezi, the latest model of which Sibusiso Mkwanazi, marketing and com-
Race drivers and taxi owners say Sprinter vans are the most economical rides, and more practical than a double cab. PHOTOS: ALWYN VILJOEN munications specialist for Merc Vans, says caters to the needs of the everyday commuter even more precisely than before. Options in the Inkanyezi range from the basics like three-point safety belts on every seat, to USB charging ports for each row of seats. The new 3,5-ton Sprinter “lite” can be fitted with such seats in the back, or left bare to load up camping gear or pets.
six-cylinder diesel engine. The 2,2-litre makes two output levels, 84 kW/300 Nm, or 120 kW/380 Nm, while the 3-litre engine makes 140 kW/440 Nm. Driving from Jo’burg to PE and back, Wheels managed to get a very impressive 10,9l/100 from the 2,2 engine. Is it safer than a bakkie? Vans have the same seatbelts and airbags and crumple zones as bakkies, with the added advantage of being big. In a crash, the heavier one always
What’s under the hood? The new Sprinter is powered by either a 2,2-litre, four-cylinder or a three-litre,
wins. The Sprinter also comes standard with cross wind and hill start assist. Is it comfortable? The only discomfort for short people is stepping up, instead of into, the cab. But the step up won’t smear your pants as do the rock sliders on most double cab bakkies. In a van, the driver sits in the same posture as at a dinner table, which is much easier on the back on a long drive. For entertainment, Merc offers various multimedia systems, up to MBUX,
a system with artificial intelligence. Are vans not more expensive? Prices start at half a million rand for the smallest 311 CDI panelvan and go up to R725 407 for the 519 CDI extra large panelvan. Add-ons will add to these prices, but Shaun Howard at Garden City Commercials in Maritzburg invites anyone who wants to step up from a double cab to talk discounts and learn why Europeans say vans cost less per kilometre than bakkies. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
CTA says ‘Isuzu trucks perfect for women drivers’ ISUZU Motors South Africa is the first OEM to invest in the development of professional commercial drivers with a particular focus on youth and women. Nicci Scott, founder of Commer-
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Unit 1 No 13 Betastraal Street Alton, Richards Bay Fax 086 459 6725 sales@eastcoastengines.co.za
2017 HYUNDAI I10 1.25 MOTION, 33864KM
R109 995 2017 TOYOTA ETIOS 1.5 XS SPRINT 5DR 21 167km
R139 995 2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO CROSS 1.6 130 000km
R149 995 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE 1.4T LS 57 000km
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cial Transport Academy (CTA), said the Isuzu truck range is perfect for women drivers. “Of the 2016 intake of five women who graduated, two stayed in the industry. Safety is still a concern
for women drivers, particularly longhaul driving, but we are slowly preparing the industry for skilled women truck drivers,” said Scott. Ten learners of the 2018 intake completed both a theoretical and
practical component of their learnership. They gained practical experience at OneLogix Trucklogix by collecting Isuzu trucks in Port Elizabeth, delivering these trucks within the dealer network across SA. — WR.
Full race card for riders and drivers at Dezzi’s CV Joint speCialists
for CV joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings.
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2011 HYUNDAI i20 1.4, 80 000km
COLIN WINDELL THE fourth round of the KZN Roadracing Club Championship features a very full race card at Dezzi Raceway on Saturday. The first three rounds of the season have seen plenty of hectic action both on bikes and in cars, with the
2010 NISSAN NP200 SE 63 265km
R109 995 2015 TOYOTA ETIOS CROSS 1.5 Xs 5DR 51 730km
R109 995 2016 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO 1.4 GP, 54 000km
R139 995 2017 CHEVROLET UTILITY 1.4 AC, CANOPY, 65 145km
R139 995 2018 NISSAN NP200 1.6 AC 150
R159 995 2013 MITSUBISHI ASX 2.0 AT GLS 80 773km
championship chase now balanced on the proverbial knife-edge in several of the classes. Punters can expect an entertaining race in the 300 Club Championship, with Malcolm Rudman, Nikolai Conci and Blaze Baker chasing each other. It is also tight at the top of the GT Class
R159 995 2016 RENAULT CLIO 900T EXP HB 38 256km
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Trusted pre-owned Cars Trade-Ins Welcome
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where the Porsches of Duncan dos Reis and Lawrence Smith are challenged by Mike McLoughlin’s Backdraft Cobra replica, which currently holds the fastest lap around the Dezzi circuit. Racing starts at 10 am and entry fee is R100 for adults, who can look forward to fine weather and non-stop action all day.
2019 RENAULT KWID 1.0 DYN 5DR 10 484km
2015 RENAULT SANDERO 900T STEPWAY, 28 840km
R119 995 2016 CHEVROLET UTILITY 1.4 AC 37 000km
R139 995 2016 FORD FIESTA 1.4 AMBIENTE 66 000km
R149 995
R149 995 2018 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO TRENDLINE 5DR, 28 434km
2016 TOYOTA COROLLA QUEST 1.6 MAN, MAGS, 75 000km
R169 995
R169 995 2017 VOLKSWAGEN POLO GP 1.2 TSI TREND, 37 963km
Scania has launched an electric robot minibus at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm last week. Called the NXT, Scania’s president and CEO Henrik Henriksson said the front and rear drive modules can drive a minibus, truck and refuse collector in the same day by dropping the different units on the skateboard chassis. — WR.
2018 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO 1.4 TREN SEDAN, 31 600KM
R179 995
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