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THE WITNESS
JULY 25, 2019
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
ORIGINAL RIKER GOES ON AUCTION
Ride-hailer perfection ALWYN VILJOEN finds the uber ride for Uber drivers in the lesser-spotted Ciaz from Suzuki
ONE of the oldest surviving cars in the world, the 1898 Riker Electric Car, will be auctioned during Monterey Car Week, starting on August 9. Built by electric car pioneer Andrew L. Riker, the car won three of America’s first car races, setting a blistering pace of 64 km/h. The then state-of-the-art vehicle also competed in static shows, and was exhibited alongside the famous Lohner Porsche at the 1900 Exposition Universalle Internationale in Paris, where it won the gold medal. Not just a fast and pretty face, the car was then used until 1930 by Riker’s wife, Edith Riker. After her death it was gifted to the Henry Ford Museum. The Riker family bought it back in 1985. This 121year-old electric vehicle ticks all the boxes for car investors and Monterey’s auctioneers do not even want not to guess what it might fetch under the hammer. PHOTO: MONTEREY
U.S. company Peleton Technology tests its automated slip-streaming systems for trucks. PHOTO: PELETON
Drivers ‘the best sensors’ AROUND the world, from Japan to England, trucking companies are trying to develop systems that will enable trucks to follow the examples set by cyclists, birds and most trucks on the N3. Called “peletoning” by the cyclists, slip-streaming by truckers and a V-shape by bird watchers, the idea is simply to let the one in front overcome most of the air resistance. The latest company to make progress in this field is Peleton Tehcnology Inc,, based in Orlando in the U.S. CEO Josh Switkes launched a new Level 4 Automated Following solution at the Automated Vehicle Symposium 2019 in Orlando last week. “We’ve taken a different approach to commercial introduction of automation in class 8 vehicles.” said Switkes in a statement.
Peloton’s Level 1 (Driver Assistive) system, PlatoonPro, has a driver in both the lead and follow trucks. The driver in the follow truck must still steer, but the system controls the powertrain and brakes to manage the following distance very precisely and to provide immediate reaction to whatever acceleration or braking the lead truck performs. “We see the drivers as the world’s best sensors, and we are leveraging this to enable today’s drivers to be more productive through automated following platoons,” said Switkes. The system is being tested by six customers and additional fleet trials are under way. Customers have reported fuel savings averaging over seven percent, with some trucks peletoning for over 1 100 km a trip. — WR.
WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF ENGINES AND GEARBOXES TO CHOOSE FROM
MANY PERFORMANCE ENGINES AVAILABLE
QUALITY USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINES, GEARBOXES & PARTS
Lexus Spares 1UZ-FE - Full Gasket set - Water Pumps - Cam Belts - Flywheel - Plug Lead set - Coils - Fan Belts - Starters - Dizzy Caps - Airflow Meters - Engine Mountings - Gearbox Mountings - Cam Belt Pulleys - Alternators
Other Engine Spares - Cylinder Heards for most makes of LDV’s - Replacement Turbos for most makes of LDV’s - Bell Housing Big/ Small - Gearboxes - Diffs
ENGINES, GEARBOXES, HEADS, TURBOS, DIFFS, LEXUS SPARES We have in-house Workshop for Engine Exchange and Fitments
WE OFFER DELIVERIES INTO DURBAN AND SURROUNDING AREAS ON ALL ENGINE AND GEARBOX PURCHASES.
I HAD to eat a lot of humble pie this month, all because of the predictions I made in 2014, when Uber launched its ride hailing app in S’africa. Back then I went on record to opine that Uber’s business model is good to cover the costs of a cheap new car, but not to earn a living wage for the driver. Overseas, striking Uber drivers now say the same, but local Uber drivers, whom I’ve hailed in Maritzburg, Jo’burg and PE, tell me they make more than a minibus taxi driver and while the hours are long, the passengers are often quite interesting and the working conditions much better. Thus corrected, the Uber drivers and I inevitably end up talking cars. Toyota’s Corolla Quest, which was launched in 2014 — the same year Uber started in SA — remains a firm favourite with Uber drivers. But I’ve also hailed a ride in a Nissan Micra and a VW Polo. Yet none of these reliable cars can touch what has now replaced the Nissan Almera as my uber car for Uber drivers — the Suzuki Ciaz. Light body, willing engine The are four models in SA, a GL and GLX, with either a five-speed manual, or four-speed auto gearbox that costs a reasonable R15 000 more. Both boxes have ratios that make the most of the 1,5 engine’s 77 kW and 138 Nm from 4 400 rpm. The GL manual sells for a comparatively low list price of R214 900 — and that’s before trade-in or discounts. The GLX manual costs R30k more, which buys you leather seats and a seven-inch infotainment system that features a reverse-view camera, very useful in crowded parking lots. On its way to fetch you, this Japanese
traffic lights, while Suzuki say their (more mature) drivers managed 5,5 l/100 km. During my test drives I especially like how the Ciaz took speed humps in its stride, thanks to a 16 cm road clearance, while the high, 195 mm sidewalls on its tyres have enough flex to absorb shocks from potholes I spotted too late. After a week with the Ciaz, I had only three negatives on a long list of positives. The first two are mere niggles — the rear back rests do not fold flat, which is not a biggy for Uber drivers; and the infotainment system in the GLX doesn’t play nice with older Android phones, a common problem with systems featuring Apple and Android car play. The third negative is the warranty. Uber drivers want a warranty that offers distance rather than years, and the 100 000 km or three years that Suzuki offers is adequate. But the Almera does rather better with 150 000 km or six years; as does the Polo, with 120 000 km or three years. The Almera also beats the Ciaz’s service plan of three years or 60 000 km by an extra 30 000 km. But the Almera costs over R8 000 more and is now half-a-decade old, while the Ciaz was launched earlier this year, making this Suzuki a no brainer for any ride hailer. Sales staff at the Fury dealership in Maritzburg say they are ready to prove the point.
The sleek, less-is-more design of the Ciaz makes a very good first impression, the power to weight ratio makes for a lively ride and the interior (right) is up to date with the latest digital trends. PHOTOS: SUZUKI makes a very good first impression with its less-is-more European styling and daytime LED lights. At the rear the 480-litre boot swallows an entire family’s luggage. Among 4,4 metre sedans, only the Nissan Almera, launched in 2013, does better with a 490-litre boot. At 4,49 metres, the Ciaz is by a centimetre or two the longest among its competitors, and Suzuki’s engineers made the most of this by ensuring a lot of legroom at the rear, which is a major selling point for Uber drivers and
their passengers. Inside, the Ciaz has a height adjustable driver’s seat, two airbags, air con, a USB port, an AUX inlet and Bluetooth connectivity, and lots of settings on the trip computer. Active safety features are ABS and EBD with brake assist, which you may need once you start pushing that 1,5 petrol mill and discover just how much it loves the red line.
Combined with the lightest kerb weight among its competitors (only 1 020 kg) and a slick gearbox, this dad’s sedan is actually fun to drive — so much so I never got around to doing some sedate consumption tests. Still, I got 6,2 l/100 km pushing the revs between
Six simple ways SA drivers can save on motor insurance premiums CAR owners can find themselves paying 20-30% more in motor insurance premiums by failing to do a few simple things. This is according to Christelle Colman, managing director of Elite Risk Acceptances — a subsidiary of Old Mutual Insure which provides bespoke short-term insurance solutions to high-net-worth individuals — who was speaking to Wealthwoke about the various criteria that South African insurers take into account when calculating individual premiums. “Local insurers consider a wide range of factors when it comes to motor insurance, from the value and age of the vehicle being insured, to its engine size — the bigger the engine, the higher the premiums. Then there are statistics-based factors, such as the crime rate of the area and the risk profile of the driver — men, statistically speaking, are deemed to be riskier drivers than women, for example.” Colman said even the colour of the car will impact the level of premiums charged. “In South Africa, black cars are more expensive to insure than white cars because black cars tend to be driven faster and by ‘riskier’ drivers.” She provided six simple ways that South African drivers can save on their motor insurance premiums.
A car is crushed under a large tree in Neptune City in the U.S. on Tuesday, after powerful storms blew across New Jersey state the day before. PHOTO: AP Don’t default on credit payments A credit score is a global rating factor used to predict how much risk a driver presents as a policyholder. So it’s very important to remember that if you default on your credit payments, this will likely have a negative impact on your motor insurance premiums.
to a minimum. A minor scratch or dent on a car door, for example, is often not worth claiming for because the increase in premium you will get on renewal will likely be as high, if not higher, than the cost to repair the minor damage, which is compounded by being a monthly instalment.
Avoid claiming for small incidents A driver’s motor premiums increase based on their accident history, so the more accidents you have claimed for in the past, the higher your premiums will be. In today’s digital age, all insurers share their claims data, so it’s in your best interest to keep your claims down
Shop around People underestimate the power of being a consumer in a consumer-driven market, and make the inaccurate assumption that direct insurance is always cheaper than going through an intermediary. The reality is that to get the best pre-
mium, you have to shop around both directly and via a broker. Adjust your excesses instead of cancelling your policy Times are tough, but if you find yourself in financial difficulty, the worst thing you can do is cancel your insurance policy altogether. Instead, consider increasing your level of excess to decrease your monthly premium. This is a great option for people with a good claims history. If comprehensive insurance cover is simply too expensive, rather opt for third-party, fire and theft cover, that way you still have some cover even if
SA racers impress in Holland, Germany and England IT was a busy weekend across a broad spectrum for South Africa’s motorsportsmen home and away over the past weekend, headlined by Tasmin Pepper, Jonathan Aberdein and Sheldon van der Linde’s performances at Assen in Holland, while SA riders delivered positive results at the British Superbike weekend at Snetterton, with some drama and good racing on the home front too. Pepper bounces back SA’s Women’s World Championship star Tasmin Pepper endured a tough weekend in the W Series, spinning out to retire from Saturday’s championship race in Assen, Holland after qualifying a fine sixth. Pepper however bounced back to deliver a brilliant 12th to sixth run in Sunday morning’s non-championship race that started off a grid in reverse championship order. German Touring Cars Also at Assen, SA DTM German Touring Car rookie Jonathan Aberdein delivered a brilliant result to put his Audi 11th on the grid for the
A determined Tasmin Pepper spun out of contention on Saturday but raced from 12th to 6th on Sunday. PHOTO: MOTORSPORT MEDIA first heat before powering to finish sixth in the wet race. Aberdein then qualified second and came home a fine fourth in Sunday’s second race. Compatriot Sheldon van der Linde’s weekend started bright with 7th on Saturday’s grid, but he was spun round in race 1 to end 10th, before qualifying sixth for Sunday’s
race and enjoyed a great start. Sheldon however fell back to end 15th after tangling with Paul di Resta’s Aston Martin. Snetterton British Superbikes A number of South African international two-wheelers were in action at the Snetterton British Superbike
races, where young Kade Verwey put it on pole and ended second in Junior Supersport and Phil Atkinson took a fifth and a fourth in the Ducati races. Brent Harran meanwhile finished 10th in Superstock 600 and Jordan Weaving ended 21st in Superstock 1000, but Bjorn Estment retired.
African Cross Country Motorcycle championship 13 BETASTRAAL RICHARDS BAY ALTON TEL: 035 789 0464 / 035 789 0754 CELL: 084 357 1082 CRAIGH CELL: 062 633 4755 NTUTHUKO SALES@EASTCOASTENGINES.CO.ZA
CV Joint speCialists
DIANNE 071 677 0799 CHARLINE 076 690 9829 WHATS APPS WELCOME
Ciaz GL at a glance Price R214 900 Engine: 1,5 four cylincer petrol Power: 77 kW at 6 000 rpm Torgue: 138 Nm at 4 400 rpm Kerb weight 1 020 kg • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
for CV joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings.
341 GReYlinG stReet Pmb. 033 342 9174/75
PEPSON Plastics Husqvarna Racing star Kenny Gilbert heads for the Live Lesotho 400 on Saturday, looking to make it three wins on the trot in the African Cross Country Motorcycle OR1 championship, while team-mate Taki Bogiages is confident to be back on top form for his OR2 attack. Gilbert will arrive at Thaba Bosiu Cul-
tural Village-based race in a comfortable lead in the OR1 title chase following his wins in the previous two races. Bogiages is back to full strength and aims to chase the OR2 title following strong regional race results. “I am delighted with my day by day progress,” Taki said. “Now the hard work starts as I push forward.”
Proud brand manager for Husqvarna Motorcycles SA, Fred Fensham, said the Pepson Plastics Husqvarna Racing team arrives at the Live Lesotho 400 Cross Country race on the front foot. “Championship leader Kenny has been in brilliant OR1 form this season and Taki is quickly getting back on top form in OR2 — go get it guys!” — WR.
it is less comprehensive. Do your due diligence A major mistake that motor insurance clients make is to look only at bottomline premiums when getting covered, and failing to consider the level of excess and the restrictions that are written into the policy. These important details then unfortunately only become apparent at claims stage, and the insured will find themselves out of pocket. Combine your policies Motor insurance is substantially loaded as a standalone policy, so it makes financial sense to combine this policy with your contents and building insurance if possible. Every year, insurers do cross-subsidisations and offer discounts for full-service clients, so combining your policies is a sure way to save on premiums. “There is always a way to save and tailor your insurance cover to suit your pocket, because at the end of the day if life throws a curve ball and you are not covered, the cost could financially cripple you. “Speak to your broker or insurer to see how you can optimise your cover to suit your needs better,” said Colman. — Witness Reporter.
Sprinter is ‘large van of the year’ THE Mercedes-Benz Sprinter scooped yet another award today — the Large Van of the Year — awarded by Company Van Today in the UK. “The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has long been the king of the large van segment, and the new model has only accelerated that position thanks to new levels technology and quality,” said Company Van Today editor Tom Webster. “The Sprinter sets a high standard, is a desirable and capable vehicle available with a variety of options that will suit any customer use and has a reputation for durability that is the envy of the industry.” The Company Van Today Awards reward the best vehicles in the industry, those light commercials that offer fleets a combination of great running costs, high quality, efficiency and clever features that help businesses do their jobs. Carefully selected by a Company Van Today editorial team with combined decades of experience in the sector, the winners are those that can best serve a business audience. Steve Bridge, managing director, Mercedes-Benz Vans, said in a statement: “We are extremely proud to win Large Van of the Year not only for the ‘metal’, but for the connectivity and technology too. “This accolade from Company Van Today is testament to the capabilities of the Sprinter and how it really can keep businesses moving.” — WR.
