Mad Manny's Monthly Motoring Magazine Review...

[Mike Nel]

This issue looks to be a bit bland vs last month’s?

[RynoB]

I told you the Amarok is more enjoyable than any other bakkkie

[Ricof4e]

I told you the Amarok is more enjoyable than any other bakkkie

To be fair, the Merc (like 99% of Mercs) are over priced and over-rated.

[Mad Manny]

AUGUST 2019 MAG REVIEWS

Leisure Wheels Magazine August 2019

Here goes...

Five cars on cover, you'll notice the Hilux, but in front is the new Jeep Wrangler JL & a Merc G pointless...

Voetspore: Johan covers Khaudum

Kingsley Holgate: Talks about Africa...

Interview with adventurer Gavin Sinclair - guy who runs & cycles all over the world.

The new BMW X7 - over R1.5bar

The new Kia Seltos (as covered by CAR)

The Merc GLB Class - 7 seater GL... slots in between the GLA & GLC but has more seats...

Then the LW's team goes top Moz with a string of vehicles. They review Moz & the vehicles.
They give you a 'How To' about going to Moz.
The Vehicles - Disco 5, Jimny, Triton, Haval H9, Hilux, Ranger 2.0BiT, MU-X, Amarok 2.0, Mahindra Pik Up...

Another drive & vehicle review - this one in Zim & the vehicle is the X-Class.

The a Travel review of the Kia Grand Sedona...

Then a Rhino Darting travel review using the Amarok.

Lesotho on KTM's.

Then the Jeep JL & Merc G-Wagen. They focus on keeping them retro but modern. Something Land Rover failed to do with the Defender.
The JL is a 3.6 V6 & costs R950k, the Merc is the G63 4.0 Twin Turbo, it costs R3 bar...

Then some where sub niche of a sub niche BMW - the BMW X4 M40d

A Crash Test Rating article...

THEN! for Black LX: They cover FIVE of these compact small caravans - two are teardrop.
Costs range from R50k to R124k...

Buyers guide to 5 Sports watches. R3.5k to R9k...

They cover the Toyota 1000 desert race...

Then, they report on their two long term test vehicles:
The new Duster. They loved it. Used 6,5l/100km.
Their dislike? the infotainment system.

The new RAV - they liked it. 9.1l/100km.
Their complaint? Doesn't have Apple Car Play

The last two articles - Binoculars & an ARB advert on sand trax - probably pricey...

[Ricof4e]

The new Rav - is it the 2,0lt ot the 2,5 they tested?

[Mad Manny]

RAV4 2.0 GX - R AWD with CVT

[XJ Junkie]

I still would like to test a CVT off-road. I suspect it’ll be very usable.

[Mad Manny]

SEPTEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

CAR Magazine September 2019
The CAR arrived ahead of LW again.

This months edition is fairly good if you are into platkarre, new models & electric vehicles.
For the purposes of my review on this Forum it's not great.
But it's a good issue nonetheless.

Arse end of the new 911 on the cover.

INSIGHT:
Bentley to go Electric.

New BMW X6 in M50i & M50d.

A new BMW Bakkie (Concept) based on the X7. 250kW 3.0 TurboPetrol.

Full EV Mini - 135kW& 270Nm. 0 - 100 in 7.3. 270km range. So it's useless.

Lotus EV 1471kW 2000Nm. 0 - 100 in 3.0. 400km range.

Audi SQ8 twin turbo 4.0 Diesel with a 48v mild hybrid - 320kW & 900Nm.

Audi S8 twinturbo 4.0 Petrol with a 48v mild hybrid - 420kW & 800Nm.

New Ford Puma - 1.0 Ecoboost with a 48v mild hybrid - NOT coming to SA.

The following cars are no longer sold: Merc SL, Nissan Juke, Nissan MV200 & the Golf GTD.

A FEATURE on Scribante's Merc Collection - nice!!!

DRIVE:
The new Renault Triber (think of it as a very nice Datsun Go+ 7 seater).

The BMW One Series has gone FWD. But the M135i is AWD - 2.0 Turbo Petrol 225kW R705k.

New Merc A45 - also an AWD because A class is also FWD - 2.0 Turbo Petrol 310k R?k.

Porsche 718 Spyder.

Audi A4 4.0 TFSI 2.0 turbopetrol with 140kW.

Mini JCW Clubman - 2.0 Turbopetrol - 225kW (same engine as in the BMW M135i

Nice FEATURE on a 1928 Bentley 4.4 litre 4 cyl - 82kW

THEN!!!!
TESTS:
Porsche 911 - who cares?

Test of Range Rover Evoque D180 (it's a Freelander).
They rated it as follows:
1. BMW X4, 2. Evoque, 3rd Jag E-Pace

Test of the Jag F-Pace SVR
They sgive it 1st spot 2nd. Alfa Stelvio, 3rd BMW X3 M

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 Opel Astra 1.6T Sport OPC
1.6 Turbopetrol 147kW
it comes LAST
1. Audi A3, 2. Mini Cooper Clubman

Long Term test of the Renault Clio RS F1 1.8 - used 10.8l/100km. Wrap up.

Long Term test of the Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi - Feedback - only used 4.7l/100km. Thats Good!!!

They test a Triumph motorcycle.

An Article on Dunlop - 130 years old.

TECH:
Hybrid Transmissions - interesting...

Batteries: (Quack will like this)
the WH/KG of different batteries;
Lead Acid - 35
Nickel CAD - 50
Nickel Metal Hydride - 100
Lithium Manganese Oxide - 150 (Lead Acid is starting to look pretty shitty...
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Alu Oxide - 220
Lithium Carbon Monoflouride - 520!!!

Article on HOW a car battery is made. Will read later.

That's all I'm interested in reviewing...

[Mad Manny]

SEPTEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

Leisure Wheels Magazine September 2019

Cover features a white Disco over a pair of soft UV's - F-Pace Jag & aStelvio by Alfa...

This issue has a pleasant surprise at the end...
Voetspore: Johan stays in South Africa this month

Kingsley Holgate: Talks about 30 years of Land Rover Discovery - they only popped turbo's & chucked cranks for the last 15...

Article on extreme couple Martin & Jeanine Dreyer.

Hilux turns 50 with two special editions - the Legend 50 & the GR Sport.

The new Hyundai Tucson (pronounced Two Son, not Tuxan) Sport - Two engines 1.6TGi 150kW & 300Nm or a 2.0 TDi with 150kW & 460Nm.
Thats a LOT more than the standard models.
But they are VERY expensive.

Nissan has revamped their failed Navara in an attempt to save it from extinction...
NEW 6 speed manual box
NEW revised front & rear suspension.NEW Bigger fron brakes.
NEW rear discs replacing the drums.

24 hours driving in a Disco in Sand... 9 pages of it.
Sand was a good choice... Vleesbaai...
They did 533km using 30 litres/100km
They used the 3.0 twin turbo Diesel...

Then they took an Haval H9 to Mpumalanga

Then they took an Everest to Botswana.

Then they took a DMax to the Garden Route
It used 8.9l/100km

TEST: Ford Ranger Raptor- they liked it.

TEST: Jag F-Pace SVR vs Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio

TEST: Renault Koleous 4x4 CVT

On page 72 a nice article on 30 years of Discovery starts - a buyers guide.

Lego Cars for Apoc on page 76 & 77...

Long Term TEST: Duster

THEN!!!
Right at the back!
A DOUBLE PAGE Spread on the ADORE ATLANTIS DUNES Mandela Day Event.
Written by Apocalypse (on this Forum)
Arranged by ADORE (on this Forum)
Neil XJJ Junkie & David Ayers (both on this Forum) were key organisers of the event...

Well done guys!!!

[KurtG]

Quick question. When last did Apoc go off-road?

[Mike Nel]

Quick question. When last did Apoc go off-road?

Couple of weeks ago at the Mandela day and so did Neil

[Apocalypse]

Quick question. When last did Apoc go off-road?

Couple of weeks ago at the Mandela day and so did Neil

to be very picky, last friday the Jeep hammered a new perimeter in on a portion of a property that will soon be used for a set.

the jeep is used as it should be - not just wandering around dirt roads....

[XJ Junkie]

Quick question. When last did Apoc go off-road?

Couple of weeks ago at the Mandela day and so did Neil

I actually didn’t. Too busy with the event. Also busy with being rude to protestors .

But Alex did

[Apocalypse]

SEPTEMBER 2019 MAG REVIEWS

Leisure Wheels Magazine September 2019

THEN!!!
Right at the back!
A DOUBLE PAGE Spread on the ADORE ATLANTIS DUNES Mandela Day Event.
Written by Apocalypse (on this Forum)
Arranged by ADORE (on this Forum)
Neil XJJ Junkie & David Ayers (both on this Forum) were key organisers of the event...

Well done guys!!!

Thank you for the kind words.

Can I have a little bit of a moment and say how very happy we are that we made the front page....

Well done to the guys that have organised it for the last 9 years, and kept the dunes open to 4x4 users - and thanks to LW for supporting us and the sponsors by publishing my (overly edited ) ramblings on the 8 occasions I submitted an article!

[Apocalypse]

Quick question. When last did Apoc go off-road?

Couple of weeks ago at the Mandela day and so did Neil

I actually didn’t. Too busy with the event. Also busy with being rude to protestors .

But Alex did

I'd like to mention I added a certain amount of colour to the discussion with the protestors per your delicate request.

****s