Mad Manny's Monthly Motoring Magazine Review...

[Mad Manny]

OCTOBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

CAR Magazine October 2019
The CAR arrived ahead of LW yet again?
I really wanted to start with a LW review - but alas.

There are a few GOOD reasons to buy this month's CAR Mag...

TWO new matt green DEFENDERS on the cover on an appropriately powder pink background...

INSIGHT:
New Audi Q3 Coupe' - its a 3 seriws, in Q (Suv Body) but in Coupe, but with 4 doors ???
The Krauts really do explore every sub-niche of a niche - don't they?.

Bugatti Centodieci - it costs R135million BUT all TEN are sold out, so don't bother.

New VW T-Roc Drop top - the Krauts really do explore every sub-niche of a niche - don't they?.

Responding to Neil XJJ'scriticism of the German big three being slow to adopt Hybrid power...
1. New Merc A250e - 1.3 TP + Electric Motor
2. BMW 330e - 2.0 TP + Electric Motor

Thres a new Hyundai i10 Grand coming...

The 1922 Lancia Lambda was the first car to employ 4 wheel independent suspension.

Then a SIX PAGE ARTICLE ON THE NEW DEFENDER - JLR proving the 70 series Cruisers are NOT overpriced!

FEATURE:
A Porsche collection

DRIVE:
New Rolls Royce Phantom6.76l V12 Turbo 420kW & 900Nm.

PorscheCayenne Turbo Hybrid Coupe - it has a V8 4.0 Twin Turbo Petrol - so what the electric motor is there for, God only knows.

Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBurst 4 cyl with a 10 speed box - 213kW

Lexus RC-F - 5.0 V8 with 351kW & no Boost...

Volvo XC90 AWD - 2.0 Turbo & Supercharged Petrol + an Electric motor - 300kW & uses under 3.0l per 100km.


TESTS:
Tuyoyota GR Supra - they say it isnot a badge engineered Z4
But they also say rather buy the Porsche Cayman.

Test of the BMW X7 M50d - it has a MASSIVE BMW Grill - MASSIVE.
they rated it as follows:
1. BMW X7, 2. Lexus LX450 3rd Merc GLS400

COMPARATIVE Test Hilux GR vs D-Max AT35
They give the Hilux 74/100 & the D-Max 70/100

Test of the Merc AMG CLS53 R1.5 million!!!
1. The Merc 2. Audi RS5 3rd Porsche Panamera
Merc has a 3.0 straight 6 with 320kW and 520Nm.

Test of the BMW M850i - 390kW
They say rather buy aPorsche Carrera (CAR Mag loves a Porsche)
The Lexus LC500 comes 3rd

TEST of the EVEREST 2.0BiT.
They say rather buy a Hyundai Sante Fe.
They rateit above the Fortuner though.
The Fortuner loses because of inferior rear seat packaging & its slapgat Autobox.

LONG TERM TESTS
Wrap up of the VW Aerton 2.0TDi. It used 7.37l/100km throughout.
Wrap up of the Haval H6C - averaging a HIGH 10.83l/100 - that's poor but that 2.0TP is crap.
Long Term Test cars feedback:
Opel Combo Van 1.6TDi - 5.89l/100km - That's VERY Good.
Honda BR-V 1.5 - 7.43l/100km - That's OK.
Kia Sportage 2.0CRDi - 7.98l/100km - that's a bit poor.
Datsun Go! - who cares...
Suzuki Ignus - 6.66l/100km - not bad
NEW Duster 1.5dCi 4x2 EDC - 5.81l/100km - that's the Lowest consumption in their fleet - IMPRESSIVE!!!

They test two Suzuki's (Old vs New) motorcycles.

An Article on Dunlop - 130 years old.

TECH:
Cameras that monitor drivers.
External Airbags.
3D Instrument Clusters.
Car Sound in Head Rests...

Then, using a Golf, they show what uses up all your power:
Drag - 16kW
A/C - 3kW
Electrics - 1kW
Tyres (inertia) 7kW...
Interesting article...

Then some motorsport crap I don't read, the used buyers guides don't interest me this month either...

Buy it for the Defender article...

[Mad Manny]

OCTOBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

Leisure Wheels Magazine October 2019

New Defender on the cover

The usual regular good Voetspore, & Kingsley Holgate articles.

The interview some cricketr from days gone by about his ride - Ginger chap from the Clive Rice era...

Then a 2 page article on the 2020 Defender.

Porsche launches a Hybrid Cayenne.

Amarok launches another Amarok, but NOT the one we want - we want the manual V6 with Low Range.

Seems like BAIC will launch that knock off Wrangler here is 2020,

Feature on a Land Cruiser Prado AT38 in Iceland... you can inflate & deflate tyres on the move!!!

A great article on Camping in Southern Africa.

Tour De Tuli - it's about cycling.

Then a COMPARATIVE TEST: Five Special Editions Compared
Hilux GR Sport - 29 points
Ranger Raptor - 53points
Pik Up Karoo Edition - 28 points
D-Max Arctic - 28 points
Amarok V6 - 57 points WINNER!!!!
Navara Stealth - 22 points
Hilux Legend 50 - 53 points
X-Class 250d - 18 points LAST!!!

Audi Q8 is now the top Audi (Listen carefully - an SUV, not a Sedan, it the TOP Audi) It's R1.4 million...

Some wierd mobile homes, camp lighting options & De Bakke Santos at Mossel bay.'

They cover the Bronhorstspruit 400.

An article on Diesel systems - but I haven't read it.

That's about it.

BTW: Suzuki SA is surpassing it's own sales forecasts comfortably...

[RynoB]

Manny I am trying to convince you since 2010 that the Amarok is a winner!

[Estee]

Cool, is Leisure Wheels still around?

[Nico-MAD]

Cool, is Leisure Wheels still around?

Yes but it's as boring as that old magazine we used to get with the stars all over.

[Mal Hannes]

"Then a COMPARATIVE TEST: Five Special Editions Compared
Hilux GR Sport - 29 points
Ranger Raptor - 53points
Pik Up Karoo Edition - 28 points
D-Max Arctic - 28 points
Amarok V6 - 57 points WINNER!!!!
Navara Stealth - 22 points
Hilux Legend 50 - 53 points
X-Class 250d - 18 points LAST!!!"

Ok, one good thing about this is: Amarok is the best!

They obviously can't count, There are 8 special editions! Not 5?

[Mad Manny]

NOVEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

CAR Magazine November 2019

The CAR arrived ahead of LW as always?

The pen-ultimate CAR of 2019 (for the Afrikaners 'The last, but one, edition for this year')

The dark COVER features a white VW ID.3 (think Polo)

Advert for the Lambo Urus - looks like a stunning Audi...

INSIGHT:
The VW ID.3 - looks like a modern Polo - it's EV with 3 battery packs, the biggest77kWhr gives a range of 550km.
It weights a whopping 1.8 tons.
What is interesting is that it is REAR WHEEL DRIVE. I don't think VW has a RWD in it's entire line up.\

BMW's next 4 Series (think 3 Series Coupe') - looks stunning!!!

Concept: Audi A1:Trail - 4WD of the future - Concept.
The headlights are NOT ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE ( I shit you not) - the headlights are drones that take off & fly in front of you illuminating the road ahead...

Merc's pure EV range is called EQ, in merc-speak S means Top-Of-The-Range - so the EQS is the Top EQ.
The 'grill' is actually 188 INDIVIDUAL LED's - VERY MODERN.

THEN!!! of interest to us.
GWM's new P-Series Bakkie coming in late 2020
2.0 Petrol 140kW 360Nm (so its a TGi)
Has AWD, CDL & rear electronic DL (EDL is just a BS way of saying TC)

SPEED:
In the 1900's the fastest we could go was 117km/h in a Merc Simplex
In the 1910's we could reach 137km/h in an Austro-Daimler
1920's it had increased to 193km/h (Duesenberg)
In the 1830's (The Fuhrer years) it rose to 225 (also a Duesenberg)
In the 1950' the Gullwing Merc too us to 245km/h

The fastest vehicle in this past decade is the Bugatti @ 491km/h

Interesting.

Hyundai Concept 45 (EV)

Some rag top supercar.

A Lego Bugatti for Apoc.

Then the INNOVATORS:
First vehicle to use Electronic TC was the Merc (obviously) W126 S-Class of 1987.

FEATURED:
Goodwood Revival - a must for guys who love classics.

Speaking of classics, a guy has a (rather dusty) collection of assorted original mini's) he has over a dozen.

DRIVEN:
Audi Q3 Sportline.
So the Q3 is a niche based on the A3, the Q# Sportback is a sub niche of the Q niche.
It's also a 4 door but in Coupe.
So its a sub-niche, of a sub-niche, of a niche....


They interview Xavier Gobille who they say "Credited with turning around the fortunes of Renault & Nissan in SA".
You can't get parts for their slow selling crap - what turn around?
Anyhoo, he now runs Peugeot Citron SA - I thought Citron left SA & was hoping PeeJoe would piss off too...
Anyway, read the interview.

Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition (So, it's basically a Legend 50 GT-R ?)

Lekker Classic Feature of a 1927 Bugatti Type 37 (1.5 liter 4 cylinder with 44kW and a 4 speed box)...

TESTS:
Audi Q3 35 TFSI S Line S Tronic (how forking long is it's name!?! )
They say the Volvo XC40 is better, but it's better than the BMW X1.

Test of the NEW Merc B200 7G-DCT - I really don't care.

Test of the Suzuki Vitara with 1.4 Turbo.
It's FWD.
It is worse than it's competitors the Qashqai & the PeeJoe 2008
So it's crap.

COMPARATIVE Test of yet ANOTHER TWO Mercs (I think Merc owns CAR).
Test of C63 S Speedshift-MCT 9G (whats with the Krauts & looooooooong vehicle names? )
Test of E63 Cabriolet 4Matic+ 9G Tronic (again, long forking name )

The YET ANOTHER German car - BMW 13 120Ahr REx.
Its a small R750k EV with a BMW 650cc motor from the BMW GS650 motorbike which acts as an onboard gennie.

Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBurst Convertible with a 10 Speed Autobox.
They say rather but the Audi A5 Cabriolet TFSI Sport Quarto S Tronic blah blah long name twaddle.
Or buy the Merc C200 Cabrio which has MUCH less power.


LONG TERM TESTS:
Wrap up of the Suzuki Ignus 1.2 GLX - lekker little car.

They report back on the RAV 2.5VX - using only 8.73l/100 - not bad for a big Naturally Aspirated Petrol motor.

Then the usual BIKE article - German (This must be German month at CAR)

TECH:
The death of the 'Zorst

That's basically it...

If you are into German Platkarre - buy it!!!

[Mal Hannes]

Manny you made me buy the magazine.. All I've read so far is the Bakkie comparison and it was less than I expected. What was interesting for me was the pricing. The V6 is not anymore the most expensive but more middle of the road..

The specific Isuzu, Toyota, Merc and Raptor is more!

Bakkies are not Bakkies anymore.

[Ricof4e]

NOVEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

CAR Magazine November 2019

The CAR arrived ahead of LW as always?

The pen-ultimate CAR of 2019 (for the Afrikaners 'The last, but one, edition for this year')

Its PENULTIMATE. No haai-fin required.

And you just could have typed "second to last" in stead of "last, but one".

At least Hannes will follow now.

[Mal Hannes]

[Paul#25]

Manny you haven't mentioned Geoff's well written article in the October edition of SA 4X4. You are slacking in your support of club members achievements.

[Mad Manny]

NOVEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

Leisure Wheels Magazine November 2019

Newestest Merc GLE on Cover (The GLE used to be called the ML).

Not a lot in this issue.

The usual regular good Voetspore & Kingsley Holgate articles.

They interview Mattias Ekstrom - FIA World Rallycross Champ...

They Drive the new Audi Q3 - R565k for a 1.4T...

They Drive the Pee Joe 5008 - a clever 7 seater SUV, 1.6 GDi or 2.0 TDi - R535k up...

They report on the GLE... in Coupe (Niche of a Niche)...

Toyota now offers in car WiFi & 15GB of free Data as part of the myToyota App...

All VW Commerical vehicles now get locking wheel nuts... Mmmmm...

The article on the GLE starts on page 28 and runs to page 37 - I don't care...

Then a Ford Ranger article, 12 pages long, they drive the Karoo - I don't care...

The next 6 pages are on the Cedarberg - but I haven't read it yet.

Then an article about a trip, along the coast, in an Iveco based Campervan - I'll definitely read it...

TESTS:
BMW X7 M50d - R1.9 million

Opel Corsa Crossland Diesel - R350k

VW T-Cross 999cc - R365k - I think it's basically a Polo Cross SUV!

Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography - 405kW 5.0 supercharged petrol - R1.8 million

Drones - a review of 5 models.

Interesting buyers guide of 5 different two way radios - interesting

The Lichtenberg 400 - Totally dominated by TOYOTA Gazoo Racing.

Then Some Good Options for Budget Overlanders.
They suggest the Patrol.

LONG TERM Test - they report on their NEW Duster - that they've pimped...

Then a article on suspension terminology.

Finally, an article on the 1990's VW Golf Country - it had a PERMANENT 4WD Synchro system... and 74kw

[Mad Manny]

DECEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

Leisure Wheels Magazine December 2019

A Cruiser & a Duster on the cover (Real 4x4 & a Dacia)

The usual regular good Voetspore & Kingsley Holgate articles.

They interview Peter Slingsby the guy who started the Slingsby Maps of the Cape.

Various news articles:
A limited edition Isuzu D-Max & the new 2020 D-Max
RGMotorsport tuned Ranger 2.2 185kW & 520Nm.
KB250 with 1.7 million km.
New Nissan Patrol - not ugly anymore.
Citroen who left SA & came back then left (again) is now back (again) - you'd need to be pretty stupid to buy one.
Something about X class BMW's - don't care.
Tork Craft has launched a range of Automotive adhesives (Loctite type stuff).

Then they take some Cruisers (what else?) to Angola. Nice 10 page article.

THEN!!! Dirk Van Reenen (Yes! DVR) - article about his farm & the adventure driving there... 8 pages!!!
Well done DVR!!!

A few pages of Suzuki's in Moolmanshoek...

6 pages on Ducati.

The new Kia Seltos (think baby Hyundai Creta - 1.4 GDi with105kW & 240Nm Only FWD though.

Ford Kuga 2.0T AWD ST Line - 2.0GDi. 177kW 340Nm. R552k. It SUCKS fuel...

Then some lekker gifts & Goodies.

For the Western Capies - BuffelsJags Camp Site near Swellendam.

Then a Article on the Atlantis Dunes 4x4 Fun Day. He says the Western Cape 4x4 Club put on a great show... Well done WC4x4 Club - whoever you are???

Two pages on Cruisers! Nice !!!

Five Pages on their (Leisure Wheels') Long Term Duster 4WD.

THEN!!! From 1967 to 1971 Isuzu made a Vehicle called the UNICAB (think mangled Willy's Jeep) 1.5 litre 50kW 111Nm.
It was killed by the Suzuki SJ which was better in every way.

That are it...

[Mal Hannes]

"Then some lewkker gifts & Goddies."

What is this?

[Mad Manny]

DECEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

CAR Magazine December 2019

Twenty circles containing the 20 new cars for 2020 Polka dot the cover

They cover 20 of the new cars for 2020 from page14 to page 29.
There are actually dozens of new vehicles coming next year.
3 new Budget Cars
7 new Small Cars
9 new Midsize Cars (including the New Corolla with a boot)
5 new Luxury Cars
Tons of Performance cars (including Golf 8 GTI)
Lots of Small SUV/Crossovers (from a Datsun Go Cross to a Nissan Kicks & a Renault Triber
11 Midsize SUV's (including that Jeep knock off BAIC B40 & a new Thar)
Lots of Premium Midsize SUV's - including the new Defender (110 in Q2 or Q3 & the 90 by the end of 2020)
Then some Large SUV's & of course...
Doublew Cabs (no mention of the new D-Max meaning it'll get here in 2021) butRenault will finally launch the Alaskan (which won't sell) & the Oroch (which will sell).

F1 - Renault sucks @ F1...

A Feature on a stunning collection of classics.

The in Drive - lots of expensive platkarre & some crap Citroen.

Car magazine does there take on the Article in Leisure Wheels where a group of Cruisers go to Angola.

TESTS:
VW T-Cross - they rate it better than the Ecosport & Creta.

Jag I-Pace EV - beytter than the Porsche & Range Rover Hybrids.

Audi A1 Sportback - better than the Mini & CH-R

Peugeot 5008 - rather buy the Tiguan Allspace, but it's better than the Outlander

Mini Cooper 3 Door - Rathjer buy the A1, but it's better than the Abarth 500

BMW 750Li 4.0 V8 Turbo Petrol - Rather by the Merc S560L, but it outguns the Lexus LS500.

They wrap up their Long Term test of the Datsun Go! - light on fuel!

Bike... Husqvarna 701 (which is 693cc)

IF you had to power an EV with AA batteries how many would you need to match the cars power?
Tesla S P1000 - 34722 AA batteries
Nissan Leaf - only 13 900 AA batteries...

Few interesting Tech articles, otherwise - That's It!