Isn’t that ‘arrival time’ indication on a GPS unit a bit too tempting sometimes? If you’ve ever tried to beat it, you might be known as a route racer; a condition that seems to affect the majority of us…

A recent study undertaken by Manheim Auctions in the UK has revealed that 80 percent of British motorists have admitted to regularly attempting to beat the arrival time estimated by the GPS device – even attempting to find better routes to do so.

Often drivers familiar with with the route (or part thereof) will deliberately stray from the GPS-guided path to outfox the technology. So, is the technology better? Not when you know the route, apparently. But when you are stuck in Brakpan and want to get back to Benmore, you’re going to trust that little box with your life.

Download audio file (zacs56.mp3)

Packing barely more octane than a litre of 93RON, ZA Car Show flies through Episode 56 in what seemed to be a relatively dull motoring week for South Africa. A number of Toyotas got through minor face lifts while the F1 driver and constructors championship was decided.

Christo has also launched ZA Car Show into the elite digital realm of racing games. Some of the cars he races online, in the recently launched Forza Motorsport 3, bare the ZA Car Show logos. If you play Forza 3 online look out for him.

Click for BIG

Show notes, pictures and links after the jump

Direct file download (18MB)

Mercedes Benz Engine Technology that delivers economy of a diesel and performance of a petrol. Very Clever.

FIA elects new president: Jean Todt.

BMW unveils lightweight, one-off M5 “CSL”.

Garmin Live traffic – first impressions.

Mitsubishi Outlander Face Lift [via Mitsubishi]

Driven: VW CC 2.0 TDI

The CC looks very unlike anything else VW has produced.

Even from behind, it looks striking.

Inside it's a bit bland, though.

Driven: Mazda 3 Sport 2.5 Individual

Some of the ZACS team considers this a looker...

From behind. Trevor adores its Saab-like iced taillights.

The cabin is a bit haphazard, with many blinking lights and mismatched colours.

Download audio file (zacs40.mp3)

Rapidly approaching a year’s worth of podcasts, the team decided to invite someone who can help them find their way. The team this week is joined by Garmin South Africa’s Chief Technology Officer, Chris Crozier. South Africa is lagging behind in navigation technology and adoption, but this very interesting interview outlines the path to GPS’s ultimate  destination.

Mercedes' new entrant into the long E-Class lineage...

The CLK ceases to exist and in its place is this...

Another iconic car hits the SA shores

Show notes and links to news after the jump

Direct file download (26MB)

In episode 40 we discuss:

• Launch: Golf VI GTi
• Launch: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Interview with  Chris Crozier, Chief Technology Officer: Garmin South Africa

Download audio file (zacs18.mp3)

Welcome to the first episode of ZACS for 2009. We’re all back safe and sound and in this show we discuss the North American International Auto Show 2009 (NAIAS 2009), chat about cars and what makes people buy the ‘wrong ones’ and also give you our driving impressions of the Kia Pro_Ceed and Hyundai i10 1.2

Show notes

• North American International Auto Show 2009 – The Detroit Auto Show launches more models than ever before. More of the same is what it really was.
• Chrysler 200C EV
• Dodge Circuit ENVI – can you say Lotus
• Chrysler Voyager EV
• Jeep Wrangler EV
• Lexus HS250h
• VW Concept Bluesport
• And many more… for more news go here and here [thanks IOL Motoring and Road & Track]
• Alfa Romeo’s CEO resigns
• You bought the wrong car…what makes it wrong? This debate can carry on for pages, what do you think makes cars “right” or “wrong”?
• Test Driven: Hyundai i10 1.2 High-Spec
• Test Driven: Kia Pro_Ceed
• Win a TomTom One V4 GPS.

Yes that’s right. All these weeks of asking questions with no reward, we have finally secured a prize. Courtesy of Have2Have – South Africa’s premier online shopping portal, you can win a TomTom One V4 GPS, by simply listening to the question in any of the ZA Car Show’s from Episode 18 until 3 February 2009. It’s easy, we promise.

Win this. No jokes, we finally have some reward for your effort

The TomTom One Version 4 features the following:

• Easy Port Mount – the mount folds into the back of the device. Very clever.
• Plug and Go – Just plug it in and tap the touch screen and off you go
• Map Share technology- Tomtom users can update their own maps which are shared with other users free of charge. This makes it the most up-to-date mapping solution available.
• South African maps with guidance in English and Afrikaans – draai links in een honderd meter. Dankie.

The competition is open until noon on 3 February 2009 when the draw will take place. Listen to the Episode  available on 6 February for the winner. Winners will be notified by phone and email, so remember to include those details.

Have2Have is an online store with direct links to online retail stores in the US and around the world. Are you tired of finding stuff online and only finding out once you reach the checkout that the store doesn’t ship to South Africa?

Have2Have, through its presence in the US is able to procure any items and arrange delivery and customs clearance direct to your door. Simply locate the item online and send the request to the Have to Have team, and they will get back to you with pricing and delivery details.