ZA Car Show: Episode 65

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First, let’s start with the Hybrid Porsche because its more important than our other waffle.

Now with that out of the way, the fourth podcast of the year sees a team reunited. With all the seats filled the show is packed with more comment on Toyota’s recall in South Africa, a fresh onslaught of new vehicles expected at Geneva in a couple of weeks and ZA Car Show bring you the pricing of the BMW F10, BMW’s new 5-series. This came about as a glitch in the online virtual dealer on the local BMW ‘site revealed the pricing and spec-options ahead of the vehicle’s local launch.

MINI-rival will probably be better have fewer rattles and drive better

Episode 65 direct download (28MB) – or subscribe via iTunes here

For news and show notes click ‘more’

Audi A1 officially revealed ahead of the Geneva Auto Salon. The MINI-competitor was officially unveiled as a concept in 2007 and Audi has had the following showcase on its website for some time now. Click here for the Audi site. [News via EVO]

Renault revealed its Twingo-based coupe/convertible, the Renault Wind. Stop making jokes about  farts. Click here to go to the official Renault Microsite 12-seconds open to coupe to convertible makes this one of the fastest folding roofs in the business. [via Topspeed]

MX5-competitor: this Twingo based coupe will be a cracker if it's even half as good as the Twingo RS.

Renault reveals that the Megane will become available at the end of 2010 in South Africa.

Nissan Juke is not a Joke. Baby sister to the Qashqai and more than likely a MINI Countryman competitor [via: Automotorblog].

Ugly Stick: This was hit by it.

Porsche GT3 R-hybrid [via: Auto123]

KERS for a Porsche, don't let the Hybrid tag fool you.

GM strikes a deal with NASA to build a humanoid robot for space adventures. Perhaps it should strike a deal which will see it build cars that people want before committing to pie in the sky ideas.

BMW 5-series pricing leaked by accident. Listen to the show to find out more.

Rolls Royce Ghost officially unveiled in SA to exclusive customers (I guess all Rolls Royce customers are exclusive anyway).

Competition prize, courtesy of Have2Have.

ZA Car Show Challenge: New cars for R200 000 or less. Each member of the crew picks a car they’d most likely spend their money on. Just for interest’s sake, some rough numbers:

• R200 000 financed, with a R30 000 deposit: 60 repayments of about R4 000 each. Insurance should cost around R900 – R1 200, depending on the relationship with your broker.
• R160 000 financed, with a R30 000 deposit: 54 repayments of about R3 300 each. Insurance is slightly less, at about R600 – R900.
• The average price for a cheap 16-inch tyre? R1 000 or so.
• Prices for 15-inch tyres: R500 – R1 300.
• Service costs: Thankfully most of the cars we look at have service plans, but bank on between R1 100 and R2 000 for a regular service.