ZA Car

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Welcome to 2012 and welcome to the first show the year for the ZA Car Show team. There are a number of big things in store for you this year as we’ve embarked on a couple of changes to the ZA Car Show product offering. Stay tuned to find out more in the coming weeks. In the mean time we kick off the year with John Beale, The Times’ Thomas Falkiner and ZACS’ Trevor van de Ven. Much like your return to work, this year has kicked off with a bang in the form of the North American International Auto Show. Tom also gives us a run down on his upcoming trip to the Yas Marina GP circuit in the UAE with Porche for the launch of the Porsche 991.  And with the start of varsity, there are a ton of new drivers on the roads. We explore what reasonably priced cars — under R140 000 — you should consider if you are planning to buy a car for your recently-left-school child. Reviewed this week are the BMW 116i Urban and controversial Nissan Juke 1.6 Tekna.

As always click on the images to go to a full gallery of that car. You will be redirected away from this page if you do so, however, so to carry on listening and still view the albums right click on the image and select ‘open in new tab’ or ‘open in new window,’ and enjoy. 

This car is one of the most beautiful mid-sized sedans. It will never sell as much as the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class and it remains a mystery as to why. In global markets though, this car will be a game changer for the Ford brand, we think. Let's hope that we are proved right with this.

The last time the Americans and Italians mixed this closely it took the FBI many years to find the root of the problems (and they're still looking). Let's hope the same symptoms do no befall a very good looking car which is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

We review the Nissan Juke 1.6 Tekna in this show. It's a car that polarizes opinions, sells well and remains pretty unique in its segment. Is nissan too bold, or would you buy this car. Take a listen to find out more.

Sport and Urban, good or strange looking, you decide. We review the 116i Urban that looked identical to the blue car and walk away very impressed, find out why.

Episode 145 hi-fi download (18MB) 
Episode 145 lo-fi download (9MB)

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It’s the last show from the team for the year and what better way to wrap it up than with the ZA Car Show Car of the Year awards? Whether you’re looking for a hatchback, sedan, fun car, practical car or want to find out what each of the team picked as their overall car of the year for 2011, then go on take a listen, the results will surprise you, that much we are sure of.

The third and fourth doors are deceptively hidden in this image. Click on the image to see a full gallery and decide whether you like this new BMW or not (you will be redirected to another page -- right click and select 'open in new tab' to avoid this.)

The smart fortwo pickup expected to be unveiled in the US early in the new year. Our Trevor van de Ven is really excited about this. He really is strange.

The ZA Car Show Car of the Year features a Lexus, Honda, Citroen, BMW, to name only a few. Take a listen to find out what each member of the team chooses for their favourite cars of 2011.

Episode 144 hi-fi download (18MB) 
Episode 144 lo-fi download (9MB)

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Join the ZA Car Show fan page on Facebook, here.

 

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Our friend and contributor John Beale needs a new car so Thomas Falkiner, Christo van Gemert, Trevor van de Ven, Patrick Gearing and journalism student Dean Venter put their collective heads together to show what sensible options can be thought up if you crowd source.  The team, without Mr Beale who was eating sushi without us, also review the new Honda Accord 2.4 automatic and give you the low down on the motoring news from the past week.

The rebirth of the exciting Toyota. This flat four developed in conjunction with Subaru looks as if it has all the right ingredients to steal customers from the hot-hatch market. Click on the image to see a full gallery (you will be redirected away from this page).

Machbach is dead, Merc is pulling the plug. They are not the most handsome or striking cars but Trevor van de Ven still gets a bit teary eyed knowing that he will not see another all-white Landaulet again.

Patrick and Trevor love wagons. They also love Jaaaaags, so this car should put them both in a flat love-induced coma.

The new Honda Accord sports a dramatically revised front-end even if it's only the hawk-eyed that will spot the changes. Under the skin, this car is phenomenal. Take a listen to the show to find out what we think. Click on the image to view a full gallery (you will be redirected away from this page).

Episode 142 hi-fi download (18MB) 
Episode 142 lo-fi download (9MB)

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Too many dials, gauges and buttons can be distracting. The new Ford Focus and Renault Megane both suffer from this – buttons, button everywhere!. Sometimes… simplicity is the best. And that’s the theme for this week’s selection of wallpapers. Something plain and elegant, where the objects of our automotive desire are the main focus.

*All photos are property of their respective copyright holders. If you see a photo that is yours, please get in touch and we can credit you, or remove it from this posting.

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Arrr, we be hittin ya wit a whole lot ‘a aRRRRRRRRRR cars this turn ‘o tha week, most importantly mateys, arrrr the reviews of the Porsche Cayman (like the pirate islands) R by o’er favourite deckhand from ye Sunday Times, Tom Tom Falkiner an’  also the lane lubbin’ Volkswagen Scirocco R.

Christ’o Nobeard gets excited abou’ all manner ‘o Toyboaters an’ what they be doin’ in Dak to the arrrr. The team ‘o salty dogs also talk about the new Toyboater Yaaaar-is an’ the vulgar display [of pow'aar] that BMW X5M and X6M owners can display with thar new Individual package.

Already a display of bad taste, the BMW has now opened its Individual styling options pack to X5 and X6 M buyers.

Roundin’ it up Shipmate Tom Tom updates ye all on the new Mercedes Benz C63 and new E63 5.5 Bi-turbo engined wee-beastie. Just ta keep ‘em greenie meanines happy tankard Trevor, gets all excited abo’t a 1-litre engine for a Ford Focus.

No longer a hunking lump of 6.3 litres of V8 in this one anymore, it now features a 5.5l V8 Bi-Turbo. Good for 700Nm and 410Kw. Click on the image to view a full gallery.

A very masculine and handsome car this new C63 is, but is it still just a quarter mile king? Take a listen to find out. Click on the image to see a full gallery of the C63 range.

For the price of the 1.3 3-door you could get into a MINI One and still have change. What would you prefer? Click on the image to see a full gallery of the new Toyota Yaris

Thomas Falkiner reviews the Porsche Cayman R. We are secretly jealous, but when you hear his enthusiasm in the reivew we can't be jealous of him for long.

Episode 141 hi-fi download (18MB) 
Episode 141 lo-fi download (9MB)

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Join the ZA Car Show fan page on Facebook, here.