boland sold 21082014
DESCRIPTION
Boland Sold 21082014TRANSCRIPT
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21 AUGUSTUS
FIBRENETWORK:THE SPEEDOFACHEETAH!
Highspeed Internet connection forPvlei
A fully scaleable open access fi-
bre network officially launches
at Paardevlei, Somerset West on
1September,withthefirstclients
already utilising this state of the
art connectivity system.
Paardevlei, a mixed development
of business, industrial and residen-
tial developments, managed by
Paardevlei Properties (previously
known as Heartland Properties) on
behalf of AECI, spans some 730 hec-
tares between Somerset Mall, Som-
erset West, Strand and False Bay.
Regional manager Mark Bezen-
con, notes that just under two mil-
lion square metres of bulk is desig-
nated for development at Paarde-
vlei. Apart from numerous
commercial and industrial entities
already operating on site, two state
of the art medical facilities are ear-
marked for completion by years
end. For this already commercially
established area, the addition of the
fibre network adds immense value
intermsof infrastructure.Randfor
rand fibre networks offer the most
efficient, affordable and reliable
connectivity technology available
in South Africa, and are a must for
any future driven business, said
Bezencon.
Paardevlei has entered into an
agreement with Frogfoot Technolo-
gies to operate the network. Accord-
ing to Frogfoot project manager,
Hannes Pieterse, the network has
been designed to carry future de-
mand for a completely developed
mixed-use node. He said fibre net-
worksarealso themosthighlyavail-
able. Chances of going offline are
therefore very close to zero.
The network has two routes back
to Cape Town where it physically
terminates at the Teraco Data Cen-
tre, the largest vendor-neutral data
centre in the country. This provides
anumber of advantages for consum-
ers. Firstly, explains Pieterse, it en-
sures a very quick turnaround for
thosewishingtoconnect.Userscan
be connected to the system within
less than a month of signing con-
tracts. In addition, the fibre net-
works circular route creates geo-
graphical diversity, meaning there
will always be two routes for con-
necting to the grid, ensuring con-
stant connectivity. Connection to
the data centre is also a great advan-
tage forbusinesseswithbranches in
Johannesburg or Durban, since
they can all link up directly via the
highly reliable fibre network. Be-
cause the network is open access,
companies and private userswill al-
so not be tied into using one service
provider exclusively, leaving them
freedom to negotiate.
Fibre is the fastest and most effi-
cient connectivity technology cur-
rently available. States Pieterse,
comparing 3G mobile technology,
orWiFi orADSL technologies to the
lightning fast speeds provided by fi-
bre networks is rather like compar-
ing a cheetahs speed with that of a
tortoise. Now Paardevlei boasts
something much faster even than
the cats at the Cheetah Outreach
Trust!
The fibre network offers users
quadruple play services, which in-
clude seamless Internet speeds, ex-
tremelyhighqualityvoicecalls, real
time video and other low latency
services such as gaming and online
trading. Its amust-have for any fu-
ture-minded business, while simul-
taneously offering private residents
withfantastic,highspeedandhassle
free connectivity, states Bezencon.
Paardevlei will launch its fibre network for high speed internet in September.
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2Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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3Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
021 841 4285 021 887 2840 021 870 4600
SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe ho-impak keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland
Biggest and Best Property Guide in the Boland
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4Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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5Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
Citywelcomes small-scaleelectricitygeneration
The City of Cape Town has set it-
self a target to source 10% of its
electricity fromrenewable ener-
gyresourcesby2020andtheroll-
out of the small-scale embedded
generation tariff supports this
goal.
Simply put, those residents and
businesses that generate their own
electricity through alternative re-
newableenergyresourceswill soon
have the option of feeding a limited
amount of surplus generation back
into the grid, for which there will
be an off-set against their electrici-
ty accounts, said the Citys Execu-
tive Mayor, Patricia de Lille.
In a pilot project, a small number
of residential, industrial and com-
mercial consumers have already
connected rooftop photovolta-
ic (PV)generationto theCityselec-
tricity grid.
However, conventionalmetering
installations do not allow for a two-
way flowof electricity and theCity,
for over a year now, has been in
search of a solution that will allow
consumers to feed power back into
the grid and to receive an off-set for
doing so.
This has been a complex process
as numerous factors have had to be
addressed, including: theestablish-
ment of suitable tariffs; identifica-
tion of suitable metering systems
which can measure power flow in
two directions; and the implemen-
tation of automated billing systems
which take into account both the
purchase and sale of electricity.
The implementation of the small-
scale embedded generation (SSEG)
tariffs will make it legally possible
to feed electrical power back into
the municipal grid.
Consumers who wish to feed
SSEG electricity into the munici-
pal electricity grid will be required
to have a bidirectional advanced
meter infrastructure (AMI) credit
meter installed by the City at their
own cost and take their electricity
supply at the appropriateSSEGtar-
iff.
Most SSEG projects generate
electricity from renewable sources
like the sun andwind. SouthAfrica
is blessed with sunshine and the
City isembracingSSEGtechnology
to assist with the countrys acute
power supply. By doing so, we are
assisting businesses and house-
holds to minimise their own elec-
tricity consumption fromthegrid,
De Lille said.
Consumers who generate their
own electricity are not always able
toconsumeallof thegeneratedelec-
tricity immediatelyandwillnowbe
able to receive anoff-set against the
cost of their electricity purchases
for excess electricity fed back into
the municipal grid.
One of the major advantages to
consumers is that they can gener-
ate electricity for their own use
without having to invest in expen-
sive batteries to provide electricity
after the sun has set or after the
wind has stopped blowing.
Prior to the publication of the
guidelines, interested parties are
encouraged to contact the City for
further information.
Please send an email to
green.electricity@cape-
town.gov.za or power@cape-
town.gov.za
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6Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
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HELDERBERG
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7Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
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8Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
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HELDERBERG
Securing your property increases its
value and desirability
We all want to live in a safe en-
vironment. The safety of our
family and our possessions is
of paramount importance to
every property owner. The re-
cent increase in crimes relat-
ing to housebreaking and hi-
jacking in theHelderberg area
is of concern to all residents.
When communities stand to-
gether against crime they send
a strong message to the perpe-
trators.
Increased vigilance and
speedy reporting of suspicious
situations assist Neighbour-
hoodWatches and the police to
act swiftly.
Buyers are aware that crime
will always be a concern. Its
no surprise that, over the last
two decades, the number of
gated estates has increased
dramatically.
Initially buyers may have
resisted the secure estate
lifestyle, stating additional
levies and a reluctance to con-
form to additional rules and
regulations as a deterrent.
Yet, when you come toweigh
up the pros and cons it would
seem that the benefits of added
security are winning the bat-
tle.
This doesntmean that prop-
erties outside of estate are not
in demand.
Butwhat it doesmean is that
these buyers are keenly inter-
ested to know what security
measures are in place should
a listing not be located in a gat-
ed village.
It is advisable to get an opin-
ion and a quotation frommore
than one Security Company.
Weigh up your options and en-
sure your property has the
best security you can afford.
Other simple measures that
can be taken are to ensure you
trim back trees and shrubs
that overhang your boundary
walls. Ensure that dark areas
are well lit.
Do your gates close and lock
properly? Do all your doors
and windows lock securely?
From time to time carry out
an inspection on your proper-
ty to make sure that all your
alarm sensors are in good
working order, and covering
the areas they are intended
for.
Its also a good habit to
change your alarm codes from
time to time in case they have
been compromised. The same
applies to passwords that you
have with your alarm moni-
toring service.
Do you have a backup ar-
rangement with your neigh-
bours if anything goes wrong?
Its not a bad idea for you and
your neighbours to meet and
discuss what you would do in
certain situations. There is
strength in numbers, and hav-
ing an emergency plan may
come in handy one day when
you least expect it.
Give the issue of security
some forethought and ensure
youhave done the best you can
to secure your property and
your loved ones. If and when
you decide to list your proper-
ty for sale, a discerning buyer
will take note of the level of se-
curity your property offers.
This will add to the value of
your property and increase its
desirability. But most impor-
tantly of all, you will have the
peace of mind of knowing you
have done your very best to
protect the ones you love.
Talking Property, by Steve
Caradoc-Davies, principal of
Harcourts Platinum
Flipping easier in
residentialmarket
There are many people, or inves-
tors, in the property market who
strive to make money by flipping
a property, or buying and selling
properties within a short space of
time. This can be very rewarding,
but it comes with a high level of
risk, especially in the office prop-
erty market.
This is according to Org Gelden-
huys, MD of property development
and management company, Abacus
Divisions. Lots of people buyproper-
ty in the hope that it will increase,
enabling them to flip the property by
selling it in the short term, and, in
so doing, make a healthy profit. But
this is speculation, which can obvi-
ously be risky.
Buying and then quickly selling a
property at a higher price is only via-
ble if you are astute enough to buy
the property at a price that is below
the market value, or if the market is
buoyant and prices are in an upward
spiral.
Timing is often the key issue and
this can determine whether there is
sufficient demand for the property
from buyers.
It is also easier to follow this meth-
odology in the residential property
than in the commercial property sec-
tor. One of the reasons for this is the
cost of entry.
In the residential market a buyer
could get awaywith spending as little
as R1 million. But the ticket prices
and the point of entry are far higher
in the commercial sector.
If youwant to speculate in the com-
mercial property market you would
arguably be looking at several mil-
lion rands, and not just one or two.
The buyer would then have to come
up with a 30% deposit and find a ten-
ant, or tenants, who receive the
banks approval. If the bank thinks
that the tenant is not in a solid finan-
cial position themselves, the bond
could be declined. This makes specu-
lation a lot tougher in the commercial
property space, says Geldenhuys.
But investors can also adopt a spec-
ulative approach if they build for
their own purposes to occupy the
building as an owner/occupier. By
doing this, the investor also leaves
the door open for selling at a later
stage, either in the short term, or in
the medium to long term.
A persons asset base can be im-
proved if they buy, or buy and build,
in the right place like a secure office
park. It is likely that the value of the
property would increase more in a
sought-after office park, meaning the
buyer could make a profit, whether
he is an owner/occupier or someone
who builds to rent.
In either scenario the property
could possibly be sold after a short pe-
riod of time in other words, flipped
, potentially realising a handsome
profit for the owner.
Geldenhuys concludes: Naturally,
if the investor has a pile of cash in
his pocket, speculation is a lot easier.
However, it is still possible to burn
cash reserves if the wrong decisions
are taken, if building maintenance is
ignored, a tenant is lost, or if themar-
ket simply turns.
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9Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
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HELDERBERG
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10
Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
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HELDERBERG
Sitari Country Estate
salesnowopen
Sitari Country Estate, set to become
a trail-blazing R4 billion new suburb
in theHelderbergbasin,wasofficially
launched at an event held at Waterk-
loof Estate on 31 July.
Master of Ceremonies, popular radio
personality Ryan OConnor of Kfm 94.5,
told an array of invited guests from the
financial, architectural and property-re-
lated industrywhatwasonofferandwhat
will be included in this unprecedented
lifestyle offering.
Uvest Property Group are the property
developers of Sitari Country Estate, and
the launch sees the first phase of sales
opening. First phase sales officially
started on 1 August, and since then we
have been selling at an average rate of
two to three properties per day. Our on-
site sales centre officially opened on 16
August, where clientswill be able to view
our large-scale estate model and engage
with our sales professionals, said John
Coet-zee, one of the executive directors
of Uvest.
There are three types of products on of-
fer at Sitari Country Estate, the country
plots, village homes and luxury apart-
ments.
The country plots are the quintessen-
tial option for larger families, and offer
the freedom to choose your own architect
and builder from an accredited panel.
They are competitively priced from
R530 000 to R987 000.
The Grand Olive luxury apartment
complex will consist of 69 units, which
range from large studios of 53 m to two
bedroom, two bathroom apartments of
83 m and three bedroom, two bathroom
unitsof122 m.Allapartments feature top
of the range fittings and finishes selected
by Uvests interior design firm. These in-
clude porcelain-tiled kitchen, dining and
lounge areas and carpeted bedrooms; ov-
en, hob and extractors by German appli-
ance specialist Miele; grand bathrooms
with walk-in showers, wall-hung toilets
with Geberit systems; and taps byGrohe.
Details released at the launch include
the fact that it will include an inspiring
main gatehouse and office; an unparal-
leled24/7 security solution; countryclub-
house with restaurant, kids play zone,
pool and day spa, revolutionary Crossfit-
TRF gym, a 22 hectare wetland with tim-
ber decks and bird hides, various play
parks as well as a central park spinewith
windmill, gardens and water features, a
14 km cycle and running route, a Curro
Castle (crche) and Curro School (junior
and high) catering for over 2 000 children
from threemonths to high school; as well
as a shopping centre, retirement village
and medical centre.
Power Construction has already com-
mencedwith civilworks and the first reg-
istrations are expected in mid-2015.
The development construction is set to
roll out over the next seven years, and
once complete therewill be a total of 3 150
residential units with the coveted ad-
dress of Sitari Country Estate.
John Coetzee (left), one of the executive directors of Uvest, developers of Sitari Coun-
try Estate, chats with guests next to a large-scale model of this new suburb, at the re-
cent launch event at Waterkloof Estate.
Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland
SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe, ho-impak
keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland
Paarl Post 021 870 4600District Mail 021 841 4266 Eikestadnuus 021 887 2840
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11
Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
021 841 4285 021 887 2840 021 870 4600
SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe,
ho-impak keuse vir die bemarking
van eiendom in die Boland
Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland
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12
Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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13
Districtmail
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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15
Paarl Post
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
PAARL/WELLINGTON
Live fornow,butplan for tomorrow
While taking the step from
renting to buying is very ex-
citing, it is a major financial
commitment that should not
be entered into without the
proper consideration, says
Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/
MAX of Southern Africa. He
notes that there are a
number of essential aspects
that should be carefully
measured beforehand to en-
surethatthebuyerismaking
the right decision and is pur-
chasing a property that
meets their needs both now
and in the future.
Buying a home is not a deci-
sion that will only affect the
buyers financial well-being
now - it will have ramifications
in the future as well. That is
why it is so important for abuy-
er to make an informed deci-
sion based on their life plans
and what their criteria are at
the moment and how their
plans and needs could change
over the next five to ten years,
saysGoslett. Making a rushed
decision and purchasing a
home that will not fit into your
future plans could end up cost-
inga lotmoremoney in the long
run.Property shouldbeviewed
as a long-term investment and,
as such, decisions regarding
property should be made with
futuregoalsandplansinsight.
He notes that before a buyer
goes out looking for a property,
they need to sit down and de-
cide what features they cur-
rently need in a home andwhat
features they may need in the
future. Some things to consider
would be the number of bed-
roomsandbathrooms, theneed
for a garden or the number or
typeofparking facilities.There
may also be special criteria
such as energy-efficient fea-
tures, a swimming pool and
fireplace or wheel-chair acces-
sibility.
Goslett says that no matter
what type of housing a buyer
chooses, theymust have a clear
ideaof theirneeds todayaswell
as their possible future
needs.
According to Goslett
every buyer will have
their own unique re-
quirements based on
their life stage and what
they have planned for the
future. For example, for
buyers planning to have
children, proximity to
good schools could be a
priority, while older buyers
facing retirement might want
something further away from
the hustle and bustle.
Goslett says that when look-
ing to purchase a home that fits
in with future plans there may
be certain financial restric-
tions due to the buyers level of
affordability, so there could be
aspects that the buyer might
need to compromise on. If the
buyers are a young couplewith
future plans of having a family,
theymaywanta threebedroom
home to have the space they
would need to grow. However,
if theirbudgetonlyallowsthem
to purchase a two bedroom
home, they could try and find
a property with the space to
buildonandadd theextraroom
at a later stage.While the home
may not currently meet all the
requirements immediately, it
is important to findahome that
can growand changewith your
needs, explains Goslett.
He notes that regardless of
the type of home the buyer de-
cides on purchasing, sustaina-
bility is a key issue to home-
ownership. Buyers need to en-
sure that they can afford and
sustain the necessary financial
obligation before making the
commitment. To precisely as-
sess this, a buyer can use the
resources available to them
such as financial advisers,
banks and bond origination
companies. This will give the
buyerestimatedrepayment fig-
ures based on bond require-
ments, says Goslett.
It is important to remember
that it is not just the bond re-
payments that should be taken
into consideration as there are
other costs involved in a prop-
erty transaction and home-
ownership.These costs canadd
up to a relatively large amount
and it is essential to include
these when assessing afforda-
bility.
According to Goslett, anoth-
er essential aspect to consider
is location. A property that has
everything the buyer needs but
is situated in the wrong loca-
tion is probably not going to be
the right property to
buy.
Location is a key in-
fluencer when it comes
to a homes future in-
vestment potential. It is
far better to compro-
mise on the features of
the home than onwhere
it is located, advises
Goslett.
He notes that when
looking at an area, buyers
should consider the general up-
keep along with proximity to
amenitiessuchasschools,med-
ical facilitiesandshoppingcen-
tres.
Goslett concludes by saying
that buyers who purchase a
property in the right location
that meet both their short and
long-term needs will be able to
enjoy the benefits of an accom-
modating home that grows in
value over time.
Buyers need to ensure that they
can afford and sustain the
necessary financial obligation
before making the commitment.
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Paarl Post
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
PAARL/WELLINGTON
Demandgrows forhomesatPearlValleyGolf Estate
ThePearlValleyGolf Estate enjoys an en-
viable location and lifestyle, a combina-
tion that is increasingly drawing upper
income buyers according to Seeffs agent
for the estate, Elza Oberholzer.
Located about midway between Fran-
schhoekandPaarl, the212 haaward-winning
estate is framedby the toweringDrakenstein
and Simonsberg mountains and boasts spec-
tacular views, top class security and out-
standing facilities including a JackNicklaus
Signature Golf Course.
The estate comprises about 500 residential
properties with a mix of freehold homes and
66 sectional title apartments. About 200 va-
cant plots are also still on offer. The freehold
properties around thegolf courseareonplots
of 1 000 m to 3 000 m while plot sizes around
the lake area range from450 m to 650 m. The
apartments, knownasResort Lodges are also
in the lake area and have between two and
four bedrooms.
The estates lifestyle offering is enhanced
by facilities that include a stunning club-
house with a golf shop, restaurant and bar,
lounge and conference facilities. Then, there
isalsoa spaandgymnasium, swimmingpool,
tennis courts, cricket nets, boule courts and
equestrian facilities.
The childrens play areas and hiking, run-
ning and cycling trails add to the superb life-
style on offer.
In terms of the performance of the estate,
about 140 sales to the value of just under
R500 million have been recorded here over
the last five years. Activity has also strength-
ened year-on-year. Last year for example,
about 33 properties sold, about 80% more
than the 18 sales of 2009, Oberholzer says.
With an average price of around R5,6 mil-
lion and a highest price achieved of just over
R15 million, the estate ranks amongst the top
golf estates in the country.
Current rental rates are excellent and
range from about R11 900 at the bottom end
to R30 000 per month for a top-end home.
Holiday demand is also strong and the
agent says that fully furnished homes cur-
rently on offer for rent are already fully
booked until the end of March 2015.
Prices for the apartments start at around
R2,5 million for two bedrooms and range to
around R3,3 million for four bedrooms.
Mid-sized houses sell for upwards of
R4,2 million for three bedrooms to just under
R7 million for a luxurious four bedroomed
home with loads of extras.
Top end homes though can range up to
R22,5 million, says Oberholzer.
Vacant plots around the lake area sell for
upwards of R950 000 while the larger plots
around the golf course cost upwards of about
R1,9 million.
The beautiful Lake Homes at Pearl Valley.
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Eikestadnuus
21 Augustus, 2014
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STELLENBOSCH
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Eikestadnuus
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STELLENBOSCH
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Eikestadnuus
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STELLENBOSCH
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TougherRangerunveiled for
SecondOdysseyChallenge
QUICKPIC
To coincidewith the 2014Ranger
Odyssey off-road challenge, Ford
Motor Company of Southern Af-
rica (FMCSA) has unveiled a
new, limited edition version of
the locally-built Ranger thatwill
be available from mid-August
until the end of September 2014.
The inaugural Ranger Odyssey
challenge in 2013 saw ten finalists
settingupcampanddriving insome
of Africas most gruelling environ-
ments. Contestants embarked onan
action-packed cross-continent ad-
venture,with only the toughest pro-
gressing to the final rounds.
We set out to find the hardiest
contestants to take onAfricasmost
demanding conditions, saysGavin
Golightly, marketing manager at
FMCSA.
We wanted a personality that
was as tough as the Ranger itself.
In September, this years Ranger
Odyssey competitors will get to ex-
perience the most testing terrain
that Namibia has to offer over 12
days,13stages,and2 500kilometres.
One team of two people will each
win the opportunity to drive an Od-
yssey Ranger vehicle for a year,
along with a R5 000/month fuel al-
lowance.
To offer Ranger fans the opportu-
nityofhavingtheirownodysseys,
Ford has built the limited-edition
Odyssey Ranger. This double-cab,
off-road-readyversionofFordspop-
ular bakkie will be fitted, as stand-
ard, with an accessory pack that in-
cludesasnorkel, allowingdrivers to
cross deeper bodies of water without
endangering the engine, as well as a
steel bullbar to protect the front end of
the vehicle, and a diff guard to protect
its running gear.
This year the general publicwill get
a chance to drive their own Odyssey
Ranger, says Golightly.
Weve taken the toughestRanger on
offer the XL-Plus, built to withstand
punishingmining environments and
given it a Bushveld makeover.
Other extras fitted to the Odyssey
Ranger also include a rubberised load
box to deal with the most gruelling de-
mands, and black 17-inch alloy wheels
that complement the vehicles tough
appearance.
The Odyssey Ranger is based on the
mine-hardened XL-Plus model, recent-
ly unveiled by FMCSA at the Go Fur-
ther event in Johannesburg.
In addition to the off-road ac-
cessoriesbuyerswillalsobenefit
from the uprated components
and heavy-duty design imple-
mented in the XL-Plus.
Improvements here include a
corrosion-treated, uprated
frame that allows for a 3 6500 kg
towing capacity; front-drive
shaft jointsdesignedtocopewith
extrememudenvironments; and
stone protection for the rear sus-
pension.
Power is provided by the 2.2-
litreDuratorq enginebuilt at the
Struandale Engine Plant in Port
Elizabeth. It produces 110 kW at
3 700 rpm, and 375 Nm between
1 500 and 2 500rpm. Mated to a
six-speed manual transmission,
a locking rear differential, as well
as a transfer case offering high- and
low-range four-wheel drive, this
limited edition Ranger will be able
toconquerthetoughroadsthatcom-
petitors will encounter in the Odys-
sey competition.
Pricing for the double-cab model,
including the Odyssey accessory
pack, isrecommendedatR415750in-
cluding VAT.
All Ranger derivatives comewith
acomprehensive4-year/120000 km
warranty and a 5-year / 90 000 kms
service plan with service intervals
of 15 000 km.
Customers will also benefit from
3-years of roadside assistance and a
5-year corrosionwarrantyaspart of
the Ford Ranger package.
Improvements here include a corrosion-treated, uprated frame that allows for a 3 500 kg towing capacity; front-
drive shaft joints designed to cope with extreme mud environments; and stone protection for the rear suspension.
PHOTO: QUICKPIC
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Kia reveals first official photosof Sorento
QUICKPIC
First photos of the all-new Kia
Sorentoreleased todayshowthat
the third generation of the popu-
larSUVfeaturesanewlook,with
bold, swept-back styling and so-
phisticated surface detailing.
Longer, lower and wider, with an
extendedwheelbase, thenewSoren-
to builds on the success of the outgo-
ing model, delivering a premium
look and feel, with more space and
numerous innovative features.
With the brands hallmarkdesign
features and amoremature appear-
ance, thenewmodel is instantly rec-
ognisable as a Sorento. The new
look is an evolution of the current
vehicle, incorporating fresh visual
elements inspired by the Kia Cross
GT concept that debuted at the 2013
Chicago Auto Show, carrying over
the long bonnet and the distinctive
treatment of thewideD-pillars from
the previous generation.
The exterior styling of the new
Sorento was led by Kias Namyang
design studio inKorea,with signifi-
cant levels of input from thebrands
Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine,
California design studios.
The front of the new Sorento fea-
tures a larger, more upright tiger-
nosegrille,witha three-dimension-
aldiamondpattern,andlong,swept-
back headlamps. The lower
roofline,higherbeltlineand muscu-
lar, rounded shoulders at the rear
give the car a dramatic appearance.
The sleeker look is enhanced by
an increase in length (+95 mm to
4 780 mm)* and a 15 mm reduction
in height (down to 1 685 mm), while
the 80 mm longer wheelbase (now
2 780 mm) ensures more passenger
space in all three seat rows.
Soon-Nam Lee, vice-president of
overseas marketing, Kia Motors
Corp, said, Whilewehave retained
the name based on the tremendous
success of the outgoing model, the
all-new Sorento has been complete-
ly redesigned and re-engineered,
and promises to surprise customers
with its thoroughlyupdatedstyling,
a host of new convenience and safe-
ty technologies, aswell as enhanced
space, driving comfort and han-
dling response. The all-new Kia
Sorentowillmake itsEuropeanpre-
miereonThursday,2October,at the
2014 Paris Motor Show.
The exterior styling of the new
Sorento was led by Kias Namyang
design studio in Korea, with signifi-
cant levels of input from the
brands Frankfurt, Germany and Ir-
vine, California design studios.
PHOTO: QUICKPIC
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23
Donderdag
21 Augustus, 2014
BOLAND
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AUTO
BMW420iCoupe: theprettier twin
HANJO STIER
BMW recently announced two
newranges, the2-Seriesand4-Se-
ries.These followinthe footsteps
of other even-numbered models
to designate coup and cabriolet
vehicles. With the bizarre excep-
tion of gran coups, this makes a
lot of sense and we keenly wel-
comed a 420i to our test fleet.
The 4-Series is essentially a two-
door 3-Series, much like any new 2-
Series is basedon the 1-Series. Shar-
ing everything fromplatforms to in-
terior components, youwouldnt be
wrong to view a 420i as the 320is
prettier twin. Something for child-
lesspurveyorsof finedesignandele-
gant touring.
Its not exactly good value when
BMW charges you about R67 500 to
remove the two rear doors but the
resulting shape is just so graceful.
Slightly longer, a bit lower with a
beautiful window-line and big
doors,youretradingspace(the445F
boot is 35F smaller than in a 3-Se-
ries) for elegance.
Most comparable dimensions of a
420i interior are also down on its
four-door siblings but front passen-
gers can remedy that by moving
their seats towards the unoccupied
rear.Shouldyouwishtousetherear
bench, be advised that space is
slightly limited for two adults; even
more so if theyre tall or bring a
friend.
The cabin layout is also similar to
the donor sedan yet it shows the
same amount of extra streamlining
and style as the 420is exterior.
Someone noted that the centre air
vents looked like nasty plastic but
I couldnt agree all modern BMWs
have qualitative materials and
what seems like a durable level of
craftsmanship.
Should stylish design not be
enough to extract your extra invest-
ment, BMW sweetens the 4-Series
with additional luxury and conven-
ience featuresoverandabovestand-
ard items such as auto (Xenon)
lights and wipers, power windows
andmirrors, remotecentral locking
anddriveraids likeABSandstabili-
ty control.
Other goodies such as 18-inch al-
loys, chrome trim, ambient lighting
and fancy door sills can be found in
the various options packages, our
test car being a Luxury Line. Fin-
ished in metallic dark blue, every-
one took great delight at how well
it contrasted thecaramelbrownand
black leather trim of the cabin.
BMW SA offers many more op-
tions and fitted almost all of them
to this vehicle. The ones I was quite
fond of and highly recommend are
keyless access (R7 200), head-up dis-
play (R14 500), Harman/Kardon
sound system (R9 800) and the big
daddy hard-drive navigation sys-
tem (R22 200).
Anotherrecommendationisthe8-
speedSteptronicautomaticgearbox
with Driving Experience Control.
This system lets youadjust the cars
performance, steering, and damp-
ing response to Eco Pro, Comfort
and Sport. The difference it makes
to the cars character is quite pro-
found and each setting has its own
merits. Eco Pro encourages frugal
drivingwhileComfort is best suited
to this stylish cruiser; despite the
frontendbottomingoutquitequick-
ly. Select Sport mode and the 420i
becomeswide-eyed and busy-tailed,
thediluted tractioncontrol teaming
up with harder steering and damp-
ing toprovideadditionaldrivingen-
joyment. The steering wheels cen-
tralhubobscuressomeof theinstru-
ments and a set of shift paddles
wouldve been nice, yet that BMW
gear lever provides tip shifting and
even works in the correct manner:
forwards for down, backwards for
up. For the occasional spurt of
naughtiness in a classy cruiser, it
works just fine.
Providing just enough fire power
for such wickedness is the 2-litre
four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine
delivering maximum figures of
135 kWor 270 Nmto reach 100 km/h
in 7,3 seconds (we achieved 7,8) or
236 km/h. Claimed average con-
sumption from the 60F tank is
6F/100 km and CO2 emissions just
144 g/km.
In town, our 420i helped itself to
9F/100 km, while careful highway
cruising yielded about 7. All testers
found that these figures are highly
variable depending on your driving
style and the selected mode. Anoth-
er thing we all agreed on is that the
420i is somethingBMWandthe3-Se-
ries can be proud of.
This car is a stylish, entry-level
petrol coup with seatbelt butlers
and the good kind of multiple per-
sonality disorder.
PricesstartatR479 000 forastand-
ard manual 420i, this Luxury Line
Steptronic costing R514 400 without
options. BMW includes a 5-year/
100 000 km motor-plan as well.
Galimoto Media
The cabin layout is also similar to the donor sedan yet it shows the same amount of extra streamlining and style
as the 420is exterior. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
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Donderdag
21 Augustus, 2014
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Cleaning tips
foryour car
CLEANING AFRICA
Sothereyouare,Saturdayafternoon
and the mother-in-law calls to ask
you to drive her to her bridge club.
Youre just back from themuddy car
bushandyourcarswearingsixinch-
es of custom mud.
And worst of all, Cleaning Africas
closed!
Dont panic.Here are someuseful car-
cleaning tips weve discovered for these
unexpected emergencies but please,
use with caution, and at your own risk.
To clean upholstery use mild, soapy
water (eg Sunlight dishwashing liquid)
and a soft brush. Vacuumup any excess
water with a Wet-Vac.
For hard-to-reach corners use ear-
buds and toothpicks.
For shiny-clean dashboard and vinyl
wipe over with furniture polish on a
soft cloth.
For little paintwork scratches rub
over with a wax crayon in the same col-
our as your paintwork and buff off any
residue with a soft cloth. Works well
with key scratches too.
Greasy, grimy windscreen? Pour a
bottle of soda water over it and use a
squeegee to wipe off excess.
Forbluntwiperblades sharpenboth
sides with an emery board.
Out of car wax? Furniture polish
should shine it up just as well.
For dirty hubcaps scrub with soda
bicarbandawetbrushthenhoseoffwith
water.
And lastly, use these tips to make the
interior of your car smell fresh and
clean. Refresh any existing air freshen-
ers with a few drops of your favourite
essential oil. Spray the interior with a
quick burst of air freshener.
Put a sheet or two of tumble dryer sof-
tener sheets under the seats.
Cover any bad spills/odours with
ground-up coffee beans and leave for a
few days before vacuuming up. Smells
should be gone, or at least smell awhole
lotbetter.Sprinklingthecarpetswithbi-
carbonate of soda and vacuuming up a
few days later also works a treat.
http://www.cleaningafrica.co.za/
2011/07/27/sos-car-cleaning-tips/