Tabla de contenidos para August 2019 en Leisure Wheels

Felo Germany has launched another smart kit in South Africa. The new Smart Engineer magnetic nut driver set – with powerful rare earth magnets – is perfect for the fastening or extracting of bolts and nuts in hard to reach places and cavities. The innovative Felo Smart Handle is included in the kit, converting the unit from screwdriver to T-handle with a push and click of your thumb. The ergonomic two-component polypropylene and rubber constructed handle increases grip, comfort and has a deep handle neck for additional thumb support. This 20-piece toolbox remarkably replaces 48 tools, the shafts are made from high-quality bit-steels and are supplied in a strong box. Felo screwdrivers have a 15-year warranty. More information: www.vermontsales.co.za…

A police road block looming ahead in Mozambique used to be one of those situations that sent chills down your spine. Not because you knew the police were about to discover those extra six beers you packed, taking you over the liquor import limit. Rather, it was a feeling of antipathy because you knew, even if all your paperwork was in order and you hadn’t committed any traffic offences, a Portuguese-speaking policeman – often supported by a colleague from the armed forces with an AK-47 – would find some arbitrary reason to demand an admission of guilt fine (read cash payment) in lieu of a trip to the local police station. The good news is that in the southern region, in particular, this is no longer the case. That is,…

DURING the 2019 Adventure, the Triton served as one of our crew vehicles, loaded to the hilt with gear and four adults. The Triton never complained. It handled the sandy tracks of the Machangulo Peninsula with comfort and the suspension never once bottomed out. Even the radically styled front bumper survived everything we could throw at it. The majority of the changes to the updated Triton are under the skin. A new transmission, an enhanced 4WD system and the improved active safety and driver assistance systems are the biggest improvements. Inside, the cabin expresses a modern and robust feeling with new frame surroundings for the switch panel and air outlets. A high-quality look and feel is created thanks to soft touch materials and stitching on the floor console, armrests and…

THE Ranger you see here retails for R570 000, all in. No need to add leather seats, or a fancy infotainment system, towbar or anything else for that matter. It’s a fully kitted 4×4 double cab with a new two-litre turbodiesel engine and 10-speed automatic gearbox that undercuts its main rivals by some way. Let’s start with the drivetrain and the differences between the XLT and the range-topping Wildtrak (the new Raptor lives in another bracket altogether). Under the skin the two bakkies share the same four-cylinder diesel engine; in the XLT application it is equipped with a single turbo, while the Wildtrak gets two. Not that this single turbo Ranger lags behind in the power games: it has 132kW and 420Nm, the latter available from 1 750r/min. It’s a…

WITH most mainstream double cab bakkies now retailing for more than R500k, the Mahindra Pik Up has created a decent little niche for itself. With average monthly sales currently sitting above 240, it’s easily outselling the Mitsubishi Triton, Volkswagen Amarok and Nissan Navara. By sticking to its tried and tested method of offering above-average cars at a reasonable price, Mahindra has managed to eclipse some big names. The reason behind the Pik Up’s success is its simplicity. It rides on a ladder-frame chassis, is equipped with a straightforward diesel engine and manual gearbox and it features the kind of styling that stems from necessity rather than a need to be funky. As an on-road driving machine, it feels a generation or two behind the other bakkies. It’s a hefty beast…

The Kia Grand Sedona is a bus. But it’s also not a bus. Updated late in 2018 with some cool styling upgrades, it’s a sizeable chunk of metal but it uses the same amount of fuel as a medium-sized sedan. It is no land speed record breaker but it’s got plenty of poke. It’s also a luxurious barge, featuring all the creature comforts you’d need. We used the EX+ derivative on our trip, which presides in the middle of the line-up. It doesn’t get the top SXL version’s electric side doors, second-row captain chairs, LED headlamps, keyless entry, push-button start, dual sunroofs or fancy eight-speaker sound system. Still, our van had plenty of luxury kit to keep us content over more than 5 000km. This included multi-zone climate control (the…

YOU finally decided to get rid of that gas-guzzling SUV but now you’re stuck with a twin-axle six-bed caravan and no means of getting it from point A to point B. This was always going to be the inevitable dilemma in a world where downsizing currently reigns supreme. Fear not, there are a number of small teardrop caravans out there that can be towed by small SUVs. There are numerous other reasons why you might be interested in scaling down from a bigger caravan. It’s the perfect solution for a young couple just starting out, not to mention an older couple suffering from empty nest syndrome. They’re also easier to stow, tow and much easier on the pocket. The only downside is a lack of space but as you’ll soon…

FLECKVIEH Guestfarm is located on a working farm, near the Tradouw Pass at the foot of the Langeberg mountains. Chantell van Staden will take your booking and is helpful, ensuring your visit to Fleckvieh is unforgettable. I was in the mood to camp for one night during the week and the Fleckvieh Guestfarm was an easy choice. The last 100m to the camp is via a gravel road and I would recommend you camp there with a off-road trailer, off-road-caravan or tent. You pitch your tent alongside a beautiful dam on green grass terraces. Each spot has a power point. Make sure to bring your kayak along as the dam is ideal for paddling. In summer months, campers can cool off in the dam. There is also a communal pool…

LET’S talk about the styling first, if only because it’s something Toyota has traditionally struggled with. A quick glance at its history reveals a sea of bland and boring, with the occasional glimmer of funkiness. The modern line-up of Toyotas is a huge and positive departure from days past. With the exception of the Corolla Quest, there isn’t a single model that one could reasonably refer to as featureless. Furthermore, we think it’s fair to say that the RAV4 is at the forefront of this drastic 180-degree departure. Sure, the new Supra looks cool but how many of them will ever be spotted on the road? The RAV4 is the kind of car people spot daily and even after three months it still managed to turn heads. Not bad for…

A 2017 announcement of a R3 Billion investment opened up new potential for Ford’s Silverton vehicle assembly plant in Pretoria and the Struandale engine plant in Port Elizabeth. The Silverton plant now has capacity to produce up to 168 000 Rangers and Everests per year – an increase of 44 000 vehicles prior to the expansion – and a substantial 58 000 more than the original Ranger production capacity when this programme commenced in 2011. Part of the investments included expansion of the Ford Struandale engine plant with the installation of a new assembly line for the new-generation 2.0 Bi-Turbo and Single Turbo diesel engines used in the New Ford Ranger, the first-ever Ranger Raptor and the New Everest. The expansion introduced higher production capacities for the component machining and…

Visiting real wilderness areas in Southern Africa becomes more difficult each year. Too often, just when you believe you’re experiencing true, untamed Africa, a game viewer with Japanese, German and American tourists rocks up, taking selfies with a lion, elephant or African sunset in the background. But it is still possible to find true wilderness in this part of the world, and it is at Khaudum. This is a game park of contrasts, however. The Khaudum is situated in the northeastern corner of Namibia, bordering Botswana. Rarely visited, it is wild and with only rudimentary tourist infrastructure. Recently, new structures were erected at the southern and northern entrances. All that remained of the original offices are the signboards, warning visitors of elephant, lion and hyena in the camp at night.…

The last time BMW wanted to build a seven-seater, it simply added a third row in the X5. This time round, it went and designed an entirely new X model, though its existence is a little more complicated than simply being another seven seater. This car was built for one reason and it’s the same reason the Audi Q8 exists: the sedan is on life support and traditional models are being replaced with high-riding vehicles. The X7 is BMW’s answer to the luxury barge segment, currently consisting of the Range Rover, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Mercedes-Benz GLS. Prospective customers in this segment aren’t interested in reasonable pricing but, for the record, we think the X7 is actually not that expensive. Compared to a few of the other cars mentioned…

Mercedes-Benz recently introduced its new GLB SUV, which will slot in between the GLA and the GLC. The GLB will be aimed at adventurous families. It features seven seats and can be ordered with optional 4Matic all-wheel drive. On the inside, the instrument panel consists of a single piece, which has optical cut-outs in the driver and front passenger area. The driver faces a widescreen cockpit, with control and display via MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). A new feature is the characteristic off-road tubular element in an aluminium look which rounds off the lower section of the instrument panel and houses the three round centre air vents. Below the nozzles is the air conditioning control panel, whose buttons create the impression they have been milled from a solid aluminium cylinder. The…

WE kick off with some numbers from the three-litre V6 diesel engine, fitted with two turbochargers: 190kW of power and 600Nm of torque, the latter peaking from 1 750r/min. And a permanent 4WD system with a transfer case that comes with the latest incarnation of Terrain Response: Land Rover’s patented system which allows the driver to select between several modes that optimise performance on a variety of different surfaces. The system is coupled to an advanced air suspension system that adjusts the ride height according to the conditions. Can you really trust a computer making vital off-road driving decisions? On the first day in the sand we went all manual on the All-New Discovery: we selected a higher ride height and switched off the traction control. With all those horses…

EVERYWHERE you look in Mozambique, the effects of Chinese investment can be seen. Among our convoy of adventurers was a new brand, too, with Haval bringing its seven-seater 4×4 H9 along to play in the sand. The road from Ponta da Ouro to Maputo is now one of the best stretches of tar we have ever driven and the suspension bridge from Katembe to Maputo is an engineering marvel that makes the lives of Mozambicans travelling in the area so much easier. In the same way, Haval is making inroads into the South African market, now selling around 800 cars per month. It is hoping to use South Africa as a springboard into Africa and what better way to check out Mozambique than on a Leisure Wheels Adventure. The H9…

As a general rule, we tend to avoid Zimbabwe at all costs. Years ago, it used to feature regularly as a destination in this magazine, but after multiple bad experiences with corrupt border officials and police officers, we decided it just wasn’t worth the effort. Why struggle with all the red tape when Botswana is just as beautiful and infinitely more welcoming to outsiders? The onslaught of corruption in Zimbabwe was, in our opinion, suffocating. On one particular trip, we were pulled over at every single roadblock, where officers would take their sweet time in an effort to find something they could fine us for. When nothing was found, they started making things up. The country is so poor that even those meant to serve and protect have to turn…

WE are at an undisclosed location, getting ready to witness the darting, data collection and micro-chipping of a pair of rhino. A convoy of bakkies is ready to go and a Bell Jetranger hovers overhead. The call comes over the radio that a rhino has been spotted and the helicopter leads the way. The rhino is darted from the air and followed until it comes to rest. I thought that looking for a rhino in thick bush would be a time-consuming exercise but clearly, if you know where to look, they are not that difficult to find from the air. As the ground team nears the site of the helicopter, we quickly realise the rhino has come to a standstill in an area covered by thick shrubbery. We leg it…

ANYONE who really knows anything about cars knows that the zero to 100km/h sprint time is pretty much meaningless. It’s of little relevance in any real-world situation, not to mention the fact that you have to be fairly brutal in order to get anywhere near what a manufacturer claims a car can do. Yet, we can’t help but quote this useless figure as often as possible, albeit for good reason. As humans, we need to quantify our existence and the same is true when it comes to cars. Frikkie is a more impressive human and has achieved more with his life, if only because his car is 0.1 seconds faster to 100km/h than Hennie’s car. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is. For reference, we look back at our…

THIS year saw the event move to a new location in eastern Botswana with the route looping around the town of Selebi-Phikwe. The 2019 race will be remembered as one of the toughest in recent history. The dense bushveld conditions and resulting slow average speeds saw the organisers cutting Saturday’s planned 200km loop east of Selebi-Phikwe down to 171km. In the end it was Chris Visser and navigator Phillip Herselman who took the honours in their Class FIA Atlas Copco-supported Toyota Hilux. “What a race! Everything just felt right and even though we had our fair share of challenges along the way, we managed to stay out of trouble and bring the Toyota Hilux home in first place.” Visser and Herselman were quick from the get-go, setting the fastest time…

BINOCULARS are great for game viewing, ticking off that Hottentot buttonquail from your birding list or checking if there’s a bridge ‘over the river down there’. But what makes one pair of binoculars better or different and what all the numbers mean is still a mystery to many prospective buyers. It is necessary to understand these markings to be able to compare apples with apples when shopping for your next pair of binocs. First off, binoculars use a series of lenses, elements and prisms to produce a magnified view of objects. Two parallel optical tubes allow the user to observe with both eyes open, which is more comfortable and natural than using a scope or telescope, which requires you to keep one eye closed. Having both eyes open provides a…

Kia will be heating up the local compact SUV segment early next year with the introduction of the all-new Seltos. It was recently unveiled at an event in India and it’s set to take on the Renault Duster, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra XUV 300. To compete in this segment, a manufacturer has to cater to the needs of a younger crowd and it certainly seems as if the Seltos will succeed on that front. Not only does it look funky, but it’s equipped with a number of cool features that will likely lure prospective customers away from the previously mentioned competitors. On the outside, it’s hard to miss the long bonnet and sharp lines surrounding the now famous tiger nose grille. It’s most definitely recognisable as a Kia but there…

Doubts concerning the efficacy of electronic alarms fitted to certain brands has resulted in an upswing in demand for more traditional security systems, specifically those which operate on a mechanical principle. “Vehicle-related crime continues to be a massive headache and cost-contributor for South African motorists and traditional insurance is only a partial remedy,” says Manuel Reis of Auto-Grip. “That’s why, even if you can’t stop them getting into the car and starting it, making it difficult for thieves to actually drive off is a real deterrent. They’ll often simply go look for a softer target.” Reis recommends consumers build layers of protection: make sure the alarm is activated and the car locked. Most importantly, install a gear lock which locks the gear lever in reverse (or Park in the case…

BEFORE we get to the Suzuki’s off-road performance, it’s worth taking a look at what happened in the 750km leading up to it. The previous-generation model wasn’t great at long-distance driving. Sure, a quick jaunt between Johannesburg and Pretoria was fine but anything more than 300km was considered punishment. Suzuki spent a lot of time and money ensuring the new car would be easier to live with and it shows. At 120km/h, the engine is turning over at 3 500r/min but since the cabin is decently insulated and the sound system actually works, it never feels like an intolerable drone. Looking at the car, you’d never expect it to perform well in sandy conditions. The skinny 195/80R15 tyres don’t offer a huge footprint, even when the pressure is lowered to…

IT’S annoying writing about this car because what else is there to say? Every few months a new challenger enters, yet the Hilux comes out tops on the sales charts month after month. Some say it’s because of blind loyalty but we don’t think that’s the case. The Hilux is a superb product; not particularly segment-leading in any one area, but above average in all the right categories. That makes it hard to criticise. In fact, there’s only one real problem as far as we’re concerned and it’s the fact that the infotainment is outdated compared to its main rivals. Does this even matter to the average Hilux customer? Probably not. What matters is the sensation of solidity. It feels as if this bakkie was mined from a solid block…

LAUNCHED around 10 years ago, the Amarok has done a great job in remaining current in one of the most hotly contested vehicle segments in South Africa. It did receive a slight redesign in 2017 with a new front bumper, grille and headlights, which aligned it with the latest Volkswagen DNA. The recently launched special edition Amarok Dark Label further distinguishes itself from the rest of the range through a locally sourced Maxe matte black styling bar with Amarok lettering, door handles and exterior mirrors. There’s also a matte black highlight front protection grille with dark chrome lacquered edges, tinted rear windows, blacked out B-pillars, side sills, Dark Label side stickers, smoked tail lights and new 18-inch Rawson alloy wheels. These changes are subtle yet effective in ensuring it remains…

IN 1967, the Roof of Africa was contested for the first time. After Lesotho received some international funding in the early ‘60s, a gent by the name of Bob Phillips was tasked with building a road up the Moteng track from Butha Buthe to ease access to central Lesotho. As the road neared completion, Bob bragged to his friend Louis Duffet from the RAC that he had built the world’s worst road. Duffet took it to the sports car club where John Butress was asked to organise a rally crossing Duffet’s Moteng Mountain Pass. The rally started in Johannesburg, had an overnight stop in Bethlehem before crossing Moteng Pass, following the mountains past Mokhotlong and down Sani Pass before finishing on the Durban beachfront. The rally element was eventually scrapped…

FOR the third year in a row, Global NCAP and the Automobile Association of South Africa teamed up to crash three popular vehicles to give South Africans an insight into local safety standards. Since no standard safety crash tests are performed in South Africa, the car-buying public has to rely on European crash test results to find out whether a car is safe. As the South African results have shown over the last few years, local cars don’t always perform as well as their European counterparts. Manufacturers may remove some standard safety kit in order to sell a car at a certain price point. This tends to happen in the entry-level segment, which is topical for timing reasons. It’s around this time of year we’re usually asked to recommend a…

WHILE we were busy working on this month’s issue, a few handy machines came and went. The list includes a BMW X4 M40d, BMW X7, Mercedes-AMG G63 and Audi Q8. These machines have almost nothing in common, other than that we got right back behind the wheel of the Duster almost immediately after interacting with all of them. Compared to this impressive line-up of vehicles, the Duster is almost depressingly slow. Rather than focusing on the negative, though, we chose to see the positive side of getting back in an affordable SUV. It fits neatly within the boundaries of what the average South African spends on a new car and it competes in what might just be the hottest segment out there right now. Over the last few months, we’ve…

THE new ARB TRED Pro is the world’s most advanced recovery board, utilising patented dual-composite Exotred technology for flexibility and strength, as well as an innovative Sipe-lock design for positive engagement with the world’s most popular off-road tyres. Designed, developed and manufactured in Australia, TRED Pro recovery boards are the result of years of consumer feedback and in-the-field testing. They are made from a dual-composite material that provides flexibility across the board as well as incredible strength on the grip nodules that could otherwise be damaged by wheel spin. The ARB TRED Pro is available in two exclusive colour schemes and is supplied with a premium leash with a neoprene handle. It can be mounted to existing recovery board mounting points or to TRED Pro-specific mounting brackets. UNIQUE DUAL-COMPOSITE MATERIAL…

WE would have loved to be a fly on the wall during the initial meeting that led to the existence of the Dodge Ram SRT-10. The guys at Daimler Chrysler’s Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO) division must have been bored. They successfully designed and built the first- and second-generation Viper and had just finished up the third. It would be at least four years before a new Viper was needed. What could they possibly do to keep busy until the bosses gave them their next task? They could have started working on a more efficient engine for upcoming Vipers but at the turn of the century, people still had no idea the motoring world would crash and burn a few years later. Fuel was cheap and it was still very much…