bolandsold 20140130
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Bolandsold 20140130TRANSCRIPT
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30 JANUARIE
RE/MAXHELDEBERG:TOPAWARD FOR SALES ASSOCIATE PIETER KOTZE
InternationalHall of Fame
RE/MAX Helderbergs Water-
tone Village office achieved spec-
tacular sales figures in 2013,mir-
roring the growth ofRE/MAX in-
ternationally. RE/MAX now
covers 92 countries worldwide.
The RE/MAXHelderberg office is
benefiting from improvements and
extensions to the magnificent
WaterstoneVillageshoppingcentre,
whichisthedynamicRE/MAXsales
teams home, and which is rapidly
becoming the hub of Somerset West
society!
Most notably, RE/MAX Broker/
OwnerLeeSiebert, commendsSales
Associate and Team Leader, Pieter
Kotze, for his outstanding achieve-
ments in 2013, and for his interna-
tional career achievement the
highly acclaimed RE/MAX Interna-
tional Hall of Fame Award.
Kotze entered the real estate in-
dustry in 1993 in Johannesburg, and
relocated to Somerset West in No-
vember 1997.
His many accolades throughout
his career within previous compa-
nies includeRookieof theYear,Mar-
keter of the Year, Most Profitable
Agent, and Highest Turnover of the
Year.
Kotze joinedRE/MAXHelderberg
in 2009 and within 6six months
achievedhis firstRE/MAXofSouth-
ern Africa award. Kotze comments
.. since joining RE/MAX my busi-
ness has grown by between 20-30%
year on year through these years
of severely depressedmarket condi-
tions.
Kotzes RE/MAX of Southern Af-
rica Awards include Platinum Club
in 2010; Millionaires Club in 2011;
andREMAXofSouthernAfricaHall
ofFame in 2012.Hewasalsopresent-
ed with the Chairmans Award in
2012. He has won a Diamond Award
in 2013, and marking his 20th anni-
versary in the industry, in recogni-
tion of outstanding sales levels
measured in US Dollars Kotze has
also achieved the RE/MAX Interna-
tional Career Award, Hall of Fame,
an accolade reserved for the top
Sales Associates within the RE/
MAX Group internationally.
Siebertadds:Sincethereareover
90 000 RE/MAXSales Associates op-
erating in over 90 countries world-
wide, and only a handful have
achieved InternationalHall of Fame
status,Pietersachievementsareex-
traordinary! His teams property
transfers total R130 million plus
within the residential sector, not in-
cluding developments and agricul-
tural property sales.
Kotze says about RE/MAX: Hav-
ing experience of other top real-es-
tate companies, in my opinion, RE-
MAXoffers a great dealmore oppor-
tunities for top agents to maximise
their earnings. Also the RE/MAX
ethos of community involvement
andofgivingbacktoonescommuni-
ty is incredible and is very close
to my heart ... so for me RE/MAX is
the only choice.
I base my success onmy referral
business and on dedication and on
working 7 days a week for 20 years.
My natural empathy with clients
circumstances has helped, because
we deal a lot with emotion in our in-
dustry. Genuinely caring, and al-
ways striving to achieve perfection
are important in this job. But, also
beingacceptingincertainareas,and
recognising that perfection is not al-
ways within ones grasp and ac-
ceptingthatclose-to-perfect -onecan
sometimes live with, quips Kotze.
Formore information contact Lee
Siebert on 021 852 6464 or e-mail
[email protected]. Pieter Kotze
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2Districtmail
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland
SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste
toegang tot die mark vir
eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die
Boland.
021 870 4600
021 841 4285
021 887 2840
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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3Districtmail
30 Januarie, 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
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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5Districtmail
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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6Districtmail
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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7Districtmail
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
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9Districtmail
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
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HELDERBERG
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10
Districtmail
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
HELDERBERG
Factors to considerwhenbuyingor sellinghouse
In todays real estate market, homeown-
ers who have decided to move to another
propertymay find themselves sittingwith
the conundrum of whether they should
first sell their current property or find a
new property and then sell their home.
The answer to this questionwill be differ-
ent for every homeowner, based on their
personal circumstances andunique situa-
tion,saysAdrianGoslett,CEOofRE/MAX
of Southern Africa.
There will be several elements that could
influence the homeowners decision in cases
such as these, Goslett says. These factors
could include the financial options available
to them, localmarketconditionsandofcourse
thehomeowners feelings aboutmovingmore
than once, should they have to vacate their
current home before the new home is availa-
ble.
Factor one: finance
While every home buyer would ideally like
to have the option of purchasing their next
propertywith cash,most home buyers are re-
liant on banks for finance. Essentially what
this means is that home buyers who are up-
grading to a larger or more expensive home
mayneed the equity from the sale of their cur-
rent home as a deposit.
If the home buyer does require the equity
from the sale of theirhome topurchase anoth-
er property, they could sell their property and
perhaps negotiate with the new owners that
they rent the property back from them until
they find a newhome. This doesmeanhowev-
er, that they will be paying occupational rent
and this may not be possible if the new home-
ownersareeager tomove into theirnewhome
themselves, saysGoslett. Another option is
that the seller temporarily stays with family
members or friends or at a short-term rental.
In this instance storage facilitiesmaybecome
a necessity.
There are also bridging finance options
available tosellerswhowould likeanadvance
on their homes equity before themoney from
the sale has come through. Bridging finance
is a short-term finance option based on a sell-
erscreditrecord, theamountofequityavaila-
ble in their current property and the expected
cash inflow.
While having the equity readily available
is an advantage, the down side is that living
ina temporary situationcouldmakeyourush
into buying another property that doesnt
quite meet all the criteria. There is also the
chance that there are no properties available
that offerwhat you are looking for, saysGos-
lett. Perhaps the best option is for the home-
owner to stay in their current home while
looking foranotherproperty.Theycould then
make an offer to purchase their next home
subject to the sale of their current homegoing
through. This way they have time to do their
research and find the perfect home that fits
all their criteria before making a move.
In the case where the homeowner does not
require the equity from their current home,
but can obtain finance for an additional prop-
ertywithout selling first, theymay find them-
selves in a situation of being stuck with two
properties. This could be fine as a short-term
solution, but might not work for the home-
owner on a long-term basis. In this instance
thehomeownerwill need tohave a contingen-
cy plan in place.
Factor two: local market conditions
According toGoslett,while there are gener-
al property market trends seen throughout
the country, most areas are affected by their
own unique micro conditions. It is never
good to assume that because the general mar-
ket conditions currently favour buyers, that
the same will be true for your specific neigh-
bourhood. Elements such as the type of home,
price range and availability of other similar
homes in the area will all have an impact on
thesaleof theproperty.This iswheretheserv-
ices of a professional real estate agent with
area specific knowledge will be of value. The
agent will be able to advise the homeowner
how long homes are sitting on themarket for,
andhowmuch theyare selling for. This is val-
uable informationingaugingtimeframesand
possible equity expected from the sale, says
Goslett.
From a buying perspective, the purchaser
should be researching properties that are
available in the areas they want to buy in,
looking at all aspects of the neighbourhood
and elements that may have an influence on
their decision.
Factor three: risk and emotion
Whether selling first or buying and then
selling, either option has an element of risk
involved,soit is importantforthehomeowner
to ask themselves if they would rather sell
first and possibly have nowhere to go; or buy
first andhave twobonds to payuntil a proper-
ty is sold? While the emotional response to
these questions is strongly based on finance
options and the local market conditions, the
homeowner will need to have a plan in place
to deal with either scenario, Goslett con-
cludes.
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11
Eikestadnuus
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
STELLENBOSCH
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12
Eikestadnuus
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
STELLENBOSCH
Howtosafeguardyourhomeenvirons forbaby
For many young couples, the prospect
of starting a family is what prompts
their first home purchase. But if youre
about to bring home a new baby, you
need to make sure your home will pro-
vide a safe as well as a loving environ-
ment.
So heres a Chas Everitt Top 10 tips for
making a baby-friendly home as your little
one starts to crawl, walk and run:
* Install safety gates at the top and bot-
tom of all stairways and keep them proper-
ly closed at all times;
* Install plastic safety guards in all un-
used plug points to keep out curious little
fingers and put snap locks on all ground-
level cupboard doors;
*Make sure any nappy or cleaning buck-
ets have lockable lids, and install snap
locks on toilet lids too. Small children are
top heavy and can easily drown in very lit-
tle water.
* If you have a pool, its best to have both
a fence with a locked and alarmed gate and
a safety net. Small children should also not
be allowed to play in a paddling pool with-
out close supervision, and the pool should
be emptied immediately after use.
* Make sure all bookcases and storage
cabinets are firmly fixed to the wall with
brackets so that they cannot fall over if
used as standing aids by a child learning
to walk;
* Make sure deck or balcony railings are
close enough together that a child cant
squeezebetween them. If theyarenot, plas-
tic mesh at least 1m high should be firmly
fixed to the vertical railings and the floor.
* Storemedicines and chemical cleaners
in closed, preferably locked cupboards,
well out of reach of any climbable furni-
ture.
* In the kitchen, be careful not to let pot
and pan handles project over the edge of
the stove, and never leave a climbable
chair or stool near the stove.
* If you have glass sliding doors, place
bright stickers or decorative decals low
downon the glass so that children can easi-
ly see when theyre closed.
* And finally, add to your baby-friendly
home safety by keeping children out of tool
sheds, workshops and garages, and keep
your car locked even when its parked
in the driveway.
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13
Eikestadnuus
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
STELLENBOSCH
What tourism really
means to real estate
Among all the exciting new statistics on
South Africas burgeoning tourism sec-
tor, one number in particular should
stand out, and that is the fact that this
sector currently accounts for at least
10% of the countrys employment.
So says Richard Gray, CEO of the Har-
courts Real Estate group, who says this is
the real relevance of the encouraging
growth in tourism to the economy and to
South Africas property market.
Quite simply, the real estate sector can
only really expand when the economy is
growing and more jobs are being created,
and that iswhere there is a really important
link between property and tourism.
He says it is of course good to hear that
foreign visitors who have been to South Af-
rica on holiday or business have been so
impressed that they have decided to buy a
property here, or that the lower rand ex-
change rate is bringing overseas investors
back to globally sought-after destinations
such as the Atlantic Seaboard, the Wine-
lands and the Golf Coast of the southern
Cape.
But our real hope should be that we can
keep the tourists cominghere in ever-great-
er numbers, as that will create more oppor-
tunities for South Africans to be employed
and eventually become homeowners. Theo-
retically, doubling the current tourism fig-
ures could raise the countrys employment
rate by 10% and that would already give
thousands more local consumers the
chance to participate in the formal real es-
tate market.
The most recent statistics released by
Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalk-
wyk show that tourism now contributes
someR70bnayear to thenational economy,
and that the number of tourists coming to
SA has been growing by around 10% a year
since the Soccer World Cup in 2010.
Now when one considers that the cur-
rent growth rate of the overall economywas
estimated inNovember at just 1,9%a year,
notes Gray the significance of tourism as
a potential driver of job creation and of
spinoff growth in many other sectors be-
comes even greater.
However, we believe that in order to
keepup themomentumand enjoy the down-
stream benefits of higher employment,
those other sectors need to pay it forward
now by doing whatever they can to support
and promote tourism either locally or be-
yond our borders.
In our case, for example, being part of
the international Harcourts group and in-
teractingwith potential property buyers all
over theworld gives usmany opportunities
to showcase South Africa as a destination.
But growing local tourism is just as impor-
tant at this stage as increasing overseas vi-
sits, and even small businesses can and
should be finding ways to attract people to
their own areas. They will undoubtedly
benefit from doing so.
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
Quite simply, the real
estate sector can only
really expandwhen the
economy is growing and
more jobs are being
created, and that is where
there is a really important
link between property and
tourism.
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14
Eikestadnuus
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
STELLENBOSCH
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15
Paarl Post
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
PAARL/WELLINGTON
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16
Paarl Post
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
PAARL/WELLINGTON
Historic Paarl farmgoingonauction
Portion 1 of farm 1111, Malmesbury
Blijdskap is to be sold on auction by
BKB Properties.
This well-positioned 206 ha farm close to
Paarl dates back to the early 1800s and con-
tains fertile land used for wine grapes and
fruit.
The farm contains 37 ha under vine-
yards including Palomino; Clairette
Blanche, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Char-
donnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
The balance consists of open, mountain
and fallow land. Water is plentiful with a
mountain stream running into a large
earth dam.
The main house is a Cape Dutch classic
with three large bedrooms and spacious
living areas. In addition, there are two
guest cottages, three garages, an office
building,workshop, stores, anoldwine cel-
lar and eight workers houses.
The farm is steeped in historywith a sur-
veyor generals diagram from 1822 clearly
indicating the portions of land that formed
the original farm, then known as
Brauwerskloof. This consisted of about
2 000 ha which went over the top of the
mountains. Ithassubsequentlybeensubdi-
vided into De Modder Kloof to the east and
Brauwers Kloof no. 871 and 872.
A while later the middle portion of the
farm was occupied by then Administrator
of the Cape, Mr Joubert, who mainly
farmed wine grapes, peaches and guavas.
Willie van Rensburg of BKB Properties
comments, This is an excellent opportuni-
ty to obtain a historical farm in a sought-af-
ter area, less thananhour fromCapeTown.
Subdivision of the farm into two portions
of 126 ha and 80 ha has already been ap-
proved.
The auction takes place on-site at 11:00
on 7 March.
Order of sale:
1. Portion A: 80 ha.
2. Remainder: 126 ha.
3. Total farm: 206 ha.
Formore information, contactWillievan
Rensburg on 083 261 7641;Albie Loubser on
082 573 9902/ willie.vanrensburgbkb.co.za;
or visit www.bkb.co.za.
A placid landscape for relaxed weekends on the farm. The historic beauty of Cape Dutch architecture sets the mood.
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17
Paarl Post
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
PAARL/WELLINGTON
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18
Paarl Post
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
PAARL/WELLINGTON
Demand forPaarl residential property continues to rise
Numerous predictions made by herself
and other estate agency principals in
Paarl to the effect that the demand for
residential property in the town is in-
creasing all the time and is pushing
up prices have in the last three to four
months been proved completely cor-
rect, says Lizette Joubert, franchise
principal for the Rawson Property
Groups Paarl franchise.
Onseveral recent sales, said Joubert, her
team has received two or three offers, very
often backed by an ability to pay big depos-
its (in the region of 25% to 50%). Further-
more, she said, trading conditions have
been improved by the banks adopting a
more accommodating approach to poten-
tial buyers.
Historic central Paarl, said Joubert, has
always had a slightly superior up-market
image and themajority of recent sales here
have been in the R1,6 million to R2,4 mil-
lion bracket and it is here, too, that de-
mand is strongest
Prices, she said, are 5% up on the same
time last year and her franchises sales are
38% up, which keeps her in line with the
Rawson Property Groups national aver-
age.
Also showing big increases are Paarl
rents, which, Joubert estimated, have
grown by 80% in the last year.
Capitalising on the demand, Joubert has
bought the entire rental book of another
national agency and this has more or less
doubled the Rawson Paarl teams managed
portfolio.
Joubert has, on several occasions,
stressed that the entire residential estate
agency sector depends to a large degree on
accurate valuations and the ability to do
these requires thorough training.
In this field, I believe, we have been per-
forming exceptionally well. Our agents,
have recently done around 52 valuations
in two weeks and these have proved to be
so well researched that we have now been
recommended by current clients to others,
who are also interested in knowing the cor-
rect market value of their homes, possibly
with a view to putting them up for sale.
Asked to explain Paarls on-going popu-
larity, Joubert listed several factors: the
towns attractive historic central area, its
excellent schools (somenowover a century
old), its low crime statistics, its platteland
lifestyle, its efficient municipality and its
still affordable prices.
This combination of factors puts Paarl
on the same level as Stellenbosch as re-
gards popularity in the Boland, the differ-
ence however being that our prices are still
far more affordable, said Joubert.
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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Peugeotbacks TreadMountainBikeSkills initiative
MOTORPRESS
Peugeot SouthAfrica is about to throw its
weightbehind thegrowingsport ofmoun-
tainbikinginabigway,thankstoitsspon-
sorship of Tread Magazines innovative
Tread Skills Clinics initiative.
The mountain-biking journal will be pre-
senting at least 39 clinics during 2014, all
backed by Peugeot, and aimed at improving
both the capabilities of novice riders, and
sharpening the technique and speed of more
experienced mountain bikers.
We have identified a very real synergy be-
tween the rapidly growing sport of mountain
biking, and Peugeots burgeoning range of
crossover vehicles, says Clara Metivier-
Beukes, GM of marketing at Peugeot SA.
Our 3008 is the perfect partner for moun-
tainbikersseekingaspacious,luxuriousvehi-
cle that is also versatile and practical enough
tocopewiththespecificneedsofthemountain
biking community, says Metivier-Beukes.
The cargo capacity of the 3008 is generous
enough to accommodate a fully assembled
mountainbike,andaccesstothatspaceiscon-
venient, thanks to the split tailgate. That tail-
gate also provides a useful seating platform
during final preparations before a ride, she
points out.
In addition, Metivier-Beukes adds, the
3008s standard on-board navigation system
makes finding mountain-bike race venues
and trail parks easy, while its raised ride
height ensures that it easily copes with coun-
try roads and gravel tracks.
Then theres the 1.6-litre turbocharged en-
gine, which not only delivers sparkling per-
formance and plenty of low-down lugging
power, but also achieves excellent fuel effi-
ciency on the open road, Metivier-Beukes
said.
By mid-2014, Peugeot will be extending its
reach into the crossover market with the ex-
citing 2008 compact crossover, which will
bring the youthful exuberance and dynamic
styleof thepopular208hatchbackto thecross-
oversegment.The2008willalsobeincorporat-
ed intoPeugeots activities at theTreadSkills
Clinics.
TheTreadSkillsClinicsorganisedandhost-
ed byTreadMagazine employ a series of pro-
gressivemodules to teachmountain bikers of
varying expertise how to enhance ride com-
fort, improve bike control and gain confi-
dence.
The 39 clinics planned for 2014 will provide
riders with tips and techniques to assist in
maximising their performance in a convivial
and enjoyable framework.
Mountain biking has already established
itself as a key sport and recreational pastime
withaverybroadappealacrossall agegroups
and genders, and a strong emphasis on fami-
lies, Metivier-Beukes says.
The sports exponential growth means
there is a real need for credible guidance and
assistance tomaster themountain biking art,
andPeugeot isproudtobeassistingmountain
bikers in their quest to improve their skills
to the benefit of their safety and enjoyment.
Tread is a mountain-biking brand estab-
lished five years ago with the aim of enhanc-
ing the South Africanmountain-biking expe-
rience. It includes a magazine, a website and
skillsclinicsaswellaswomen-specificexperi-
ences.
Peugeot will have a product presence at
each of the Tread Skills Clinics, allowing
mountainbikersattending theclinics toexpe-
rience itscrossovermodelshandson,andwill
provide clinic attendees with Peugeot-brand-
ed goodie bags and certificates.
The company will also use its presence on
social media networks such as Facebook and
Twitter to interact with the mountain bike
community via #PeugeotMTBSkills and the
@PeugeotClinic handle.
Formore information onTread Skills Clin-
ics, driven by Peugeot, visit www.Tread-
skills.co.za
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20
Donderdag
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
AUTO
Countdown toCarof theYear kicksoff
QUICKPIC
Twenty-five members of the SA Guild of
Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) have just
spent twodays on the road in the area sur-
rounding the greater TshwaneMetropoli-
tan Municipality to evaluate the nine fi-
nalists for the coveted WesBank/SAGMJ
Car of the Year award, to be announced
in less than a month.
Each of the 25 jurors had already been ex-
posed to the finalists, having either attended
the local launchevent of thevehicle orhaving
tested them for at least three days, under nor-
mal driving conditions, in 2013. During the
evaluation days, the jury had to test each fi-
nalist under simulated extreme conditions at
the Gerotek vehicle testing facility. In these
controlled conditions, the jury was enabled
to evaluate each of the finalists dynamic and
response in wet conditions, steering inputs
and stability at high speeds, road comfort and
suspension on simulated extreme road sur-
faces aswell as handling, braking and corner-
ing abilities on the facilitys Dynamic Han-
dling Track.
According to Christo Valentyn, chairman
of the SAGMJ, the South African version of
the Car of the Year award is one of the tough-
est and most professionally run events of its
kind.
The competition is unique in that all full
members of theGuild have input inwhich ve-
hicles ultimately become finalists. These
members also determine the jury, which con-
ducts the formal evaluation of the finalists on
behalf of the broader membership, making it
one of the most representative and experi-
enced jurypanels used in competitions of this
nature, he says.
The demographics of this years jury in-
cludeawide spectrumof individuals that rep-
resenta faircross-sectionof themotor-buying
public. In terms of age, the youngest jury
members are, for instance, in their twenties,
while the oldest is in his seventies. And con-
sidering the important rolewomenplay inve-
hicle purchasing decisions, the jury also in-
cludes four highly experienced and respected
women.
Over the next week, the jury members will
evaluate the finalists for the COTY trophy in
their segments,withdueconsiderationofaes-
thetics,quality,price, costofpartsandservic-
es and value for money.
The jury has the mandate to select, from
the nine extremely worthy finalists, the car
that, against its direct competitors and in the
market as a whole, displays the ultimate in
motoring excellence. This is the competi-
tions primary criterion, says Valentyn.
The jury members will cast their secret
votes on-line, afterwhich the voteswill be tal-
lied and audited. The finalist vehiclewith the
highest score will be awarded the title of 2014
WesBank/SAGMJ Car of the Year, the ulti-
mate award in the South African motoring
industry, at a gala event inSandtonon 19Feb-
ruary.
The nine finalists for the 2014 WesBank/
SAGMJ Car of the Year competition are:
Audi A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI Manual
Jaguar F-TYPE 3.0 V6 S
Lexus IS 350 F-Sport
Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG
Peugeot 208 GTI
Porsche Cayman S
Renault Clio4 66 kW Turbo Dynamique
Volkswagen Golf 7 1.4 TSI 90 kWComfort-
lineDSGand theVolvoV40D3GeartronicEx-
cel.
Issued on behalf of the SouthAfricanGuild
of Motoring Journalists and WesBank.
Here are the nine finalists in the 2014 SA Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year competition. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
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21
Donderdag
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
AUTO
HANS HEESE
Normaalweg durf ons altyd die Sederber-
gemet n 4x4 voertuig aan omons geliefde
entpadtussenMatjiesrivierenWuppertal
tekanry.Hierdiekeerwasditanderswant
diegeskeduleerdetoetsvoertuigwasnnu-
we Ford Tourneo bussie met sitplek vir
agt, en belangriker nog, pakplek vir baga-
sie vir agt mense. Ondanks die vier vroue
se bagasiewas daarnog steeds ekstra pak-
plek!
Divanonswatheelwat ouer is as die gewo-
ne groep lesers, sal nog Ford se Transit Won-
derbakkie (en bussie) van die middel-sestigs
onthou. As jong onderwyser op Upington het
ek Sondae altyd n groepie leerlinge met die
skool seTransit-bussie langsdieOranjerivier
vervoer waar hulle opheffingswerk in die ge-
meenskap gaan verrig het. My herinneringe
aan die Ford van daardie jare was dat die
ruimte amper dubbeld di van my eie Kombi
was maar dat die vering en rygerief glad nie
waffers was nie.
So het die Transit by ons gekom en metter-
tydweer verdwyn tot nou onlangs. Intussen
het ek darem oor die jare opgemerk dat die
Transit nog lank n sy verdwyning by ons ter
lande in Duitsland nog altyd gewild was, en
om een of ander rede, veral by groot Turkse
families.
My kennismaking met die nuwe Ford bus-
siemet sy lang as-afstandwas n groot en aan-
gename verrassing; veral toe ons almal, en
hulle amper oordadige bagasie, ingelaai het
endie langpadgevathet.Die 2.2 F turbodiesel-
enjin, gekoppel aan n sesgang-ratkas, maak
die teerpad kort en die brandstof-naald het s
stadiggesakdatek laterwantrouigbeginraak
het en op Citrusdal volgemaak het om seker
te wees dat die diesel sou hou vir die terugtog
deur Ceres.
Met die tenk vol was ek verbaas dat die ge-
middelde verbruik met n baie vol vrag 11 tot
12 kmper liter opgelewer het. (Ford reken dat
dieverbruikonderoptimale toestande so laag
as 6,5 F/100 km kan wees). Die geheim vir die
uitmuntende verbruik is natuurlik die ho
ratverhoudingswaar sesde rat teen 2 000 rpm
n spoed van 120 km/h beteken! Vir die re-
kord: die 2.2 F turbodiesel ontwikkel 92 kW
teen 3 500 toere per minuut en 350 Nm is be-
skikbaar vanaf 1 450 rpm.
Op die teerpadwas die gedrag van die Tour-
neo gelykstaande aan di van n groterige
Duitse gesinsmotor; op die grondpad, en later
swak grondpaaie, was die gedrag soos di van
n goeie Japannese 4X4 stasiewa. Dit ondanks
die feit dat die 16 bande volgens die voorge-
skrewe3,5barvooren4baragtergepompwas.
Die suspensie van die Ford is seker van die
beste wat daar in hierdie groep nutsvoertuie
gevind kan word. Verder was die grondvry-
hoogte ook so goed dat daar nrens n pens-
slepery oormiddelmannetjies was nie; swaar
vrag of nie.
Aan die binnekant is daar alles wat van n
luukse transito of toerbussie verlang word
met n oormaat van armleunings, n goeie ra-
dio- en klankstelsel en n oulike wegsteekkis-
sie vir die laai van selfone en ander elektriese
apparate. Al wat aan die luukse kant kort is
n smukspieltjie vir die voorste passasier.
Maar aan die ander kant is BlueTooth stan-
daard en gaan dit byval vind vir persone wat
professioneel mense vervoer of n toerbussie
vir n professionele toergids. n Opsionele ek-
stra, wat aan te beveel is; is die lugreling vir
die agterste ses passasiers.Daar iswel nweg-
vou-ruitjie vir die passasiers in die tweede ry
se syvenster, maar die heel agterste passa-
siers mag miskien kla van bedompigheid.
nBonuspuntisdatdiesitplekkeindietwee-
de ry se rugleunings ook kan terugvou om ge-
mak op die langpad te verbeter. Hierdie nuwe
Ford wonderbussie is inderdaad ligjare ver-
wyder van die baie basiese Transit van die
jare sestig.
Die Tourneo is n veilige voertuig met lug-
sakke voor en en lugsakgordyne aan die kant,
ABS-remme is natuurlik standaard plus elek-
troniesehulpbystand in nnoodgeval.Belang-
rik ook is die feit dat die deure vanself sluit
asweggeryword en dat die slotte in geval van
n ongelukontsluit.Hierdie veiligheidsfaktor
kan van lewensbelangwees enword nie altyd
vermeld in motorverslaggewing nie. Hierdie
verskynsel kanwerklik help omvinnig by in-
sittendes uit te kom om hulp te verleen, veral
as sekondes van belang is.
Die voorwielaandrywing het hom goed ge-
kwyt van sy taak wanneer daar met so n
swaar vrag teen steil bulte op gruispad gery
is. Slegs een keer het die klippe effens gespat
toe daar teen n skuinste moes weggetrek
word. Om die wegtrek te vergemaklik is die
bussie egter met wegtrekhulprem-aksie toe-
gerus (Hill Assist) wat baie help om die toere
effens te laat klim as daar teen kwaai skuin-
stes met volle vrag weggetrek word.
Die Tourneo bestuur soos n passasiersmo-
tor; hoe hy egter teen ho spoed om draaie en
los oppervlaktes gaan reageer, is nie geduren-
de hierdie luilekker toets beproef nie! Maar
teen n wettige 120 km/h is hy so padvas as
wat enige sedan kan wees. Hier kry die Ford
10 uit 10.
Maarhoe lekkerder nvoertuig ry, hoehor
isdiepryswatbetaalmoetword.TeenR414700
is die bussie met die groot bagasieruimte nie
van die goedkoopstes nie, veral as die lugver-
sorging agter n paar rand ekstra gaan kos.
Die korter weergawe, met minder bagasie-
ruimte, verkoop teen R407 800. En die kam-
peerentoesias kan n Transit-afleweringswa
vir R309 700 koop en dan n ideale kampeerwa
van hom maak.
Die Torneo-reeks word gedek deur n fa-
briekswaarborg van 4 jaar of 120 000 km en
n 5-jaar/90 000 km diensplan. Dit dek ook n
Padbystandplanvir3 jaaren nwaarborg teen
roes wat vir vyf jaar geldig is.
Galimoto
Die Tourneo is n veilige voertuig met lugsakke voor en lugsakgordyne aan die kant, ABS-
remme is natuurlik standaard plus elektroniese hulpbystand in n noodgeval. FOTO: QUICKPIC
FordTourneo2.2TDCi LWB:Sederbergbeproef
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22
Donderdag
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
AUTO
OpelMeriva1.4T Enjoy: theparty trick
HANJO STIER
Some people argue that purchasing an
MPV or mini-van signals the end of your
lifes excitement. Gone are the all-nighters
and crazy adventures because chances are
goodthatyourecartingaroundalittlefam-
ily. I say theres nothing wrong with that,
quite the opposite it can be just as adven-
turous.
Sure,moving betweenKindergarten, school
and theofficewont bequite as thrilling as that
time you still had a cabrio, when four-finger
Frik stole the belt off a Tequila Sheila and you
singed all your facial hair at a beach bonfire.
That doesnt mean your new life or car should
be dull and dreary though.
Never mind that its all down to your mind-
set, but if those boring boxes on wheels alarm
you and stretched vans give you heart palpita-
tions, perhaps you should add Opels Meriva
to your shortlist of family transport. Yes, I im-
mediately christened it MommyMobile but
I also grew quite fond of it. Let me explain.
Drawn with lots of creases and curves, the
compactMPVshowsgoodproportionsandjust
enough flair to not disappear in a sea of metal
at the local malls car park. Big headlights
share a similar kink to what youll find along
the cars flank, the reasons for this being open
to multiple interpretations.
One reasonmay be to lower the rear passen-
gerswindow-line, another could simplybe the
reductionof itsrisingwaistanddecreasingvis-
ibility. Most probably, Opels designers just
wanted something different and fun (good!)
which draws attention to the opposing door
handles on either side of a Meriva.
Not only are they opposing, theyre also in-
credibly close together and thus give away the
carschiefpartytrickrearsuicidedoors.Sui-
cidemeanstheyopenintheoppositedirection
of what one is accustomed to and given the
worst set of circumstances, could somehow
lead to your involuntary suicide.
Modern cars like the Meriva prevent this
withautolockingandchildlocks,thisOpelalso
getsaroundanytrickydoorgapsorclosingpro-
cedures by providing a fat B-pillar (middle
beam)with opposing locks. This also aids safe-
ty, which is visually obvious when the Meri-
vas sides open like a clam shell.
You may think that this is the cars only re-
deemingfeaturebut luckily therearea fewoth-
er niceties to lift it above the MPV crowd. Its
cabin layout is modern and functional with
goodqualitymaterialsasyouwouldfindinoth-
er contemporaryOpel products. It alsohasam-
ple storage and luxury features.
Acentral cubbyboxprovidesmultiple levels
and slides along a rail system, which covers
even more space to hide stuff; the front doors
have two storage pockets each and the front
passenger enjoys a shallow recess for small
items above themain glove compartment. The
rear seats also adjust individually.
Our test model was a base 1.4T Enjoy but its
specifications are very similar to the more
poshCosmoversion.Maindifferencesareabit
of chrome, climate control and leather trim,
bigger wheels and a panoramic sun roof. The
compact dimensions of 4,3 m length, 1,9 m
width and 1,6 m height are identical.
Other measurements are a 400F boot, which
extends to 920F by folding the rear seats and
a 54F fuel tank, giving an ideal range of 806 km
with a claimed average consumption of
6.7F/100km.Maximumoutputofthe1.4Lturbo-
petrol four cylinder are 103 kW (140 hp) at
4 900 rpm or 200 Nm from 1 850 rpm.
0-100 km/h is pegged at just over 10 seconds
and the Merivas top speed lies just shy of
200 km/h not that youll enter many races
withyourMommyMobile.Whats farmoreim-
portant is the engines wonderful power deliv-
ery; a linear and eager pull once it hits
1 500 rpm.
Themotor runs out of ideas near its red line
but we found that it has more than sufficient
mid-range punch to dart through traffic or zip
along the motorway. Our average consump-
tionwasquiteabithigherbutwegladlyaccept-
edthatinexchangefortheengineswillingness
to pull forward at almost any speed.
MPVs should also be easy to drive and the
Merivashineswithverylightsteeringandped-
als, a good turningradiusandnotmuch torque
steer to write about. Its brakes are excellent
and, unless you hate these sorts of gadgets, the
electric park brake and automatic hill start as-
sist make commuting even easier.
Further items to seal thedeal are fine instru-
ments with a basic trip computer, multiple
driver aids (ABS, EBD, ESP), power windows
and mirrors, radio with CD/mp3/Aux/USB
and seven speakers, automatic lights and wip-
ers,Bluetooth,daytimerunninglights,sideim-
pact protection, six airbags and ISOFIX an-
chors.
StartingatR253 800witha5-year/120 000 km
warranty and 5-year/90 000 km service plan,
there are cheaper MPVs available but youll
struggle to find any excitement or class in
them. The bigger and more expensive stuff is
too bulky so the Meriva doesnt have much
competition in this segment.
All testers found Opels Meriva 1.4T Enjoy
easy and indeed enjoyable to drivewhile offer-
ing enough versatility and quirkiness to any
potential owners.Theelement(s) of fun, adven-
tureandexcitementareuptoyouitsmyopin-
ion that the Meriva wont hold you back from
any of these. Galimoto Media
You may think that this (the doors) is the cars only redeeming feature, but luckily there are a few other niceties to lift it above the MPV
crowd. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
-
23
Donderdag
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
AUTO
-
24
Donderdag
30 Januarie, 2014
BOLAND
SOLD
AUTO
Touch,
pause,
engage
QUICKPIC
Western Province Rugby can look
forward to the support of the tough-
est player on the block for the 2014
season: Land Rover.
At a launch function held in Cape
Town this morning, it was announced
that Land Rover will be the official as-
sociate and exclusive vehicle partner
of the union for the next three years.
In terms of the agreement, the Land
Roverbrandwill be representedon the
kitof theDHLStormersandDHLWest-
ern Province in Vodacom Super Rug-
by, the Absa Currie Cup and the Voda-
com Cup tournaments respectively.
The local sponsorship complements
Land Rovers global association with
the sport of rugby, and in addition to
the distinctive branding, a fleet of ve-
hicles will be supplied to a number of
Western Province athletes and man-
agement.
Kevin Flynn, Managing Director of
Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and
sub-Sahara Africa (JLR SA and SSA)
said: Todays announcementmarks a
significant development in the part-
nership between Land Rover and rug-
by.
The brand is proud of its latest part-
nership at this level of the sport and
it is fitting that the worlds finest all-
terrain vehicles sold in over 160mar-
kets worldwide - should support West-
ern Province Rugby. It also dovetails
perfectly with the build-up to Land
Roverspartnershipwith the2015Rug-
by World Cup.
The full range of LandRovermodels
will join the DHL Western Province
squad; from the iconic Defender to the
all-new Range Rover Sport the fast-
est, most agile, most responsive Land
Rover ever.
Theres nothing tougher or more
capable than a Land Rover and we be-
lievethispartnershipwillbuildonand
reinforce that fact, explained Flynn.
Through this association we will
drive the message home, and reap the
benefits not only for our dealers in the
Western Cape, but across the coun-
try.
A number of senior DHL Stormers
and DHL WP athletes were present at
the announcement, aswell as topman-
agement and executives.
WPRFU President, Mr Thelo Wake-
field, said: We are delighted to wel-
come Land Rover to the family. This
long-term partnership with one of the
worlds most recognisable brands fur-
ther enhances the enormous prestige
andattractionofWPRugby,both local-
ly and nationally. LandRover is a true
championof rugby fromcommunity to
elite levelandwelookforwardtowork-
ing closelywith the company in the fu-
ture.
DHLNewlands has a capacity of al-
most 48 000, andwe hope to fill it to the
brim aided by Land Rover owners in
the Western Province - for the DHL
Stormers first Vodacom Super Rugby
home game on Friday 28 February,
when they take on the Hurricanes,
concluded Flynn.
Land Rover has partnered up with WP Rugby. Here from left with their new team mate are De Kock Steenkamp, Frans Malherbe, Scarra
Ntubeni and Schalk Burger. PHOTO: QUICKPIC