Mad Manny's Meandering Motoring Musings

[Mad Manny]

I used to do a brief review of the Monthly Motoring & Outdoors Magazines.
It didn't get a large following, but those who read it really enjoyed it.

Due to the low readership & because I stopped subscribing to the magazines, I scrapped the idea.

This new Thread is a less formal "Motoring News" related discussion where I share my views on the news.
You are welcome to offer your thoughts & insights...

[Mad Manny]

Ford Ranger
Ford sell a Ranger Double Cab called the Platinum.
It costs R1 120000, it's a 3.0 V6 Diesel 4WD Auto.
It does NOT come with a Service Plan.
You have to pay extra for a Service Plan.
R1.1 million. No service plan.

Proving what I've always said "Only Cnuts buy Fords"...

[Mad Manny]

Lexus GX for SA?
I read a report saying the Lexus GX may come to SA next year.

What is a Lexus GX?
It's a Toyota Prado that's been pimped.
In the US it has the 3.5 twin turbo petrol from the LC300.
Not sure what it'll have if it comes here.
It'll cost over R2bar.

[jakeslouw]

I see vehicle loans are up to 96 months now? With a residual? How is that sustainable?

[Mad Manny]

Jake's, you actually never own the vehicle, it's a perpetual. Lease and every few years they exchange the vehicle...

[grips]

As far as I knows we are going to see the Lexus with the 2.8 only. I might be wrong however.

[jakeslouw]

Jake's, you actually never own the vehicle, it's a perpetual. Lease and every few years they exchange the vehicle...

I just can't do that at my age. In fact, I'd say that is borderline criminal from any registered credit provider. Lease should be reserved for companies with fleets or for proper independent consultants. It's a false construct to offer that to normally employed, private people, it something that props up all the role players (vehicle manufacturers, dealers, and banks) at the expense of decent financial advice to consumers.

But we're vehicle befok in ZA, everybody wants the latest and greatest and damn the budget.
Yet there are literally MILLIONS of vehicles lying in second hand lots at stupidly inflated prices. Again, only the banks and the dealers win.

The bubble, like the housing market in the US, will burst.

[Mad Manny]

As far as I knows we are going to see the Lexus with the 2.8 only. I might be wrong however.

In that case, they are wasting their time bringing it in.
But this was Cars.co.za speculation, TSA hasn't said it's coming.

Would be a better idea for TSA to offer us the Prado with the USA's 2.4 Turbo Petrol.
Better outputs than the old V6 4.0 and much lighter on fuel.

[Mad Manny]

Chinese Bakkies
We have GWM with the very good value Steed bakkies.
There is also the successful P-Series in Commercial & Luxury guises.

JAC offer a bakkie, think they're badged T6 & T8.

But now a few more have arrived:
1. LDV has now arrived & like the P-Series, it's a 2.0 tt.
2. Foton, have returned, but this time with a 2.0tt.

Personally I'd only buy a GWM if I went Chinese (although I did have that JMC Baodeng bakkie - I actually did well out of it.)

I suspect all these 2.0 liter bakkies use the VW Amarok 2.0 motor, or copies thereof.

[Mad Manny]

Incidentally, regarding the Chinese bakkies, the new Foton is well priced.
But I have a policy - I won't buy a vehicle that was in SA, left & then returned.
So Foton, Chery, the French etc are out.
However the LDV is NOT well priced - I'd rather buy a Triton or D-Max for a similar price - even with less spec.

[Mad Manny]

New Ford Territory:
Ford used to sell the Australian Territory here - big, 4.0 straight 6 with RWD or AWD.
Then they discountinued it & replaced it with the Everest.

Well Ford has relaunched a Territory again, but it is nothing like the old ladder frame vehicle of long ago.
The new one is more like an X-Trail.

In fact, it isnt even a Ford...

The Territory is manufactured in Nanchang by Jiangling Motors Co (JMC) as part of a joint venture between Ford and the Chinese manufacturer. In its home market, the Territory is badged as the Equator Sport and the model shares underpinnings with the Yusheng S330, a later iteration of the Landwind X7

So it's a JMC Yusheng S330...

[jakeslouw]

"So it's a JMC Yusheng S330..."

So we won't talk about Toyota : the Celerio rebranded as the Vitz, the Baleno rehashed as the Starlet and the Ertiga becoming the Rumion – along with the Grand Vitara-based Urban Cruiser?

[HenriSteyn]

I read a motoring article that there are 20 "new" model vehicles hitting our shores in these next 6 months. And they list them too. 8 replacement and 12 brand new makes, mostly Chinese

How will so many dealerships be set up and do quality work?

And how long will this be sustainable?

I feel for the less informed potential buyers.

[jakeslouw]

The argument is actually how many CURRENT dealers do quality work?

Mitsu?
Nissan?
etc

I stopped buying Nissans when I realised the average Nissan workshop couldn't even successfully boil water at tea time.

[Mad Manny]

"So it's a JMC Yusheng S330..."

So we won't talk about Toyota : the Celerio rebranded as the Vitz, the Baleno rehashed as the Starlet and the Ertiga becoming the Rumion – along with the Grand Vitara-based Urban Cruiser?

All Toyotas below the Corolla Cross are Suzukis.
The Agya was a rebadged Diahatsu.

But I'd rather buy a rebadged Suzuki than some JMC SUV badged as a R700k Frod...