Zimbabwe Independent - Motoring Journal July 2015

Road safety tipsPractical workhorsesfarming, mining, � eet, tourism Asset Finance

& Insurance

New duty tariffs

Landrover Discovery Launched in Zimbabwe

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Motoring Journal is a monthly feature and the next edition will run

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Smart buys budget vehicles

Asset � nance & insurance

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Road Safety & State of roads

Best Buys: Sedans

118 Practical workhorses

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Local assembliesan importers nightmare?

Service and Maintanance

1513 Executive update

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Fabulous Accessories, dazzling cars, dirty o� -roading, and all things motoring, you will be reading about it every month. We have all the latest tidbits and more. Welcome to the Motoring Journal, an auto edition which aims to educate and inform readers on all auto related issues in Zimbabwe and the world.

When it comes to vehicles there are key things that every person regardless of budget looks at and those are, performance, safety, comfort, style and functional-ity. In this issue we get to test drive the newly launched Landrover Discovery Sport. If you have a bank statement displaying a few extra zeros before the dot then this will be the perfect accessory.

CFAO motors Zimbabwe has recently acquired the VW dealer franchise and that’s brilliant news for VW converts like me. It means more new exciting products and genuine VW parts will be hitting the showrooms from passenger vehicles to light commercial vehicles.

The Journal is not just about the vehicles with high price tags but vehicles which � t any line of business or individual. The state of our roads is a burning issue which we get to shed some light on as this is a hot subject which currently sits with no active solution. In this edition there is so much to learn and apply as motorists and buyers of vehicles.

In the next editions you are going to indulge in the lat-est cars the market has to o� er locally and internationally. Motorsports, genuine parts and insurance and � nance is-sues will help you shortlist and choose as you shop around through our “How to guides”.

Brace yourselves and keep it pumping. Till next issue.

Fact [email protected]

new franchise dealer for VW

Editors note

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ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT JULY, 2015 M3

Landrover Discovery Sport now in Zimbabwe

MOTORING JOURNAL

BY FACT JEKE

THE Landrover Discovery Sport has been fi nally launched in Zimbabwe. Having driven the vehicle in Mauritius during the unveiling of the vehicle to all media in Sub Saharan Africa, I was looking forward to a repeat of the adventurous journey in the Disco Sport. � is past Wednesday cli-ents and stakeholders had an opportunity to experience fi rst had the new bee in the Landrover stable. If you are a follower of every brand new car I wonder how you can keep up because these vehicles always come in with something new that will have you drooling and your adrenalin pumping.

During the launch at the Venue, the Mayor of Harare as always took all the city jokes with a manly face. � e state of the roads which have left Harare looking like a bundu with craters the size of small ponds. Harare is offi cially 4x4 city and in our small hatchbacks and sedans, the struggle continues of us having to do 4 x 4 driving because of the deteriorating state of the roads.

� e Discovery Sport’s progressive de-sign sets the tone for a new generation of Land Rover Discovery premium SUVs. � ese vehicles will be positioned in the Leisure family of Land Rover’s three-pillar brand architecture: Luxury (Range Rover), Leisure (Discovery) and Dual-Purpose (Defender).

Its striking interior architecture off ers high levels of superior quality materials. Land Rover has revealed the new Dis-covery Sport, the world’s most versatile premium compact SUV, and the fi rst mem-ber of the new Discovery family. Uniquely in its segment, Discovery Sport’s dynamic design combines 5+2 seating confi gurabil-ity with design and engineering integrity in a compact footprint.

A suite of Land Rover innovations debut, including the next generation multi-link rear axle, an all-new touchscreen info-tainment system and state-of-the-art high-strength steel and lightweight

aluminium body shell for outstanding per-formance, safety and effi ciency.

It is clearly identifi able as a Land Rover but introduces a progressive new design approach specifi cally tailored to create clear diff erentiation between the other families within the Land Rover brand ar-chitecture: Luxury (Range Rover), Leisure (Discovery) and Dual-Purpose (Defender).

� is beautifully proportioned vehicle brings a new sense of dynamism to the Discovery family and projects an image of confi dence with its wheel-at-each-corner stance. � is streamlined design is complemented by class-leading usability: all-round visibility is excellent, whilst the interior and load space are easily accessible and fully optimised.

Its versatile interior has been designed to be premium, not precious. � e centre console forms a strong vertical graphic in the middle of the instrument panel; en-

suring key controls are deliberately placed to provide easy access from the Sport’s Command Driving Position. Simple, clean surfaces and high-quality materials fea-ture throughout.

Currently a range of four-cylinder tur-bocharged petrol and turbo diesel engines is available. All feature stop-start tech-nology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and smart regenerative charging for outstand-ing performance and economy.

Petrol derivatives use an all-alloy Si4 2.0-litre engine with 177kW and direct fuel injection. � is off ers six-cylinder levels of performance in a compact package that re-duces weight and cuts CO2 emissions by up to 20 per cent, compared to conventional larger capacity engines with a similar pow-er output.

2.2-litre turbo diesel derivatives are available in either 110kW TD4 or 140kW

SD4 specifi cation. With both TD4 and SD4 producing the same 420Nm, drivers can count on exceptional fuel effi ciency, as well as eff ortless overtaking ability.

All engine derivatives are mated to an advanced ZF 9HP48 nine-speed automatic transmission, for peerless refi nement, ef-fi ciency, driver engagement and off -road capability. Discovery Sport models are available with Land Rover’s legendary full-time four-wheel-drive system, to provide an unrivalled combination of on-road agil-ity and off -road capability. Locally it will come in very handy and we all know why.

Naturally, Discovery Sport’s body ge-ometry has been optimised for even the harshest terrain, with excellent ground clearance, approach, departure and break over angles, and an ability to wade through water to a class-leading depth of 600mm. so you can handle bundu driving the rivers included at ease.

Land Rover’s Terrain Response system also features on all derivatives, allowing drivers to tailor Discovery Sport’s responses to the prevailing conditions. Up to fi ve set-tings are available, General; Grass/Gravel/Snow; Mud and Ruts; and Sand.

Discovery Sport’s full suite of all-terrain technologies includes Hill Descent Control (HDC), Roll Stability Control (RSC), Dy-namic Stability Control (DSC), and Engine Drag torque Control (EDC). � is means your vehicle literally has more control and capa-bilities that are only but a dream with other manufacturers. � ese are key to its respon-sive handling and composure on-road.

Off ering further diff erentiation, the Black Pack emphasises the vehicle’s sport-ing appearance, with a gloss-black grille, door mirror caps, front fender vents, bon-net and tailgate lettering and a choice of eye-catching 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels. To achieve further distinction, a contrast roof extends to the base of the A-pillars and is available in either Santorini Black or Corris Grey. So if you want exclusivity and to be separated from the rest of the pack, the Black Pack will make you stand out.


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY MADA BORERWE

VEHICLE Financing has become a more eff ective way of acquiring assets. In-stead of dissecting your salary a mil-lion times and trying to fi gure out how you can make that once off payment for that car you desperately need, asset fi -nancing off ers you a tailor made pack-age which can make you a proud car owner without a hustle. Most institu-tions in Zimbabwe are off ering Leas-ing and Hire Purchase Packages of As-set Financing. With these Asset Finance Packages the advantage is that you can breakdown the payments of your assets into aff ordable monthly instalments. � is makes the investment aff ordable and has a less impact on your cash fl ow.

� e major advantage of vehicle fi -nancing is that you do not have to get a loan or over draft facility to make a

once off payment for a car, instead you can acquire the vehicle and pay for it in monthly fl exible instalments. When ownership has been passed on to you after the contract ends, you can sell the asset at a later date for a lump sum and make a down payment for the latest model.

However the downside of vehicle financing is that, just like any other loan you will be required to pay in-terest in addition to the principal amount borrowed which raises the total cost of the car. Secondly vehicle financing might appear to be an easy thing to do but when it comes to re-payments it might cause a few cash flow challenges and you might need to stretch out the payments over a longer period of time for them to be more affordable.

Insurance for a brand new vehicle

may be slightly higher and your fi nan-cier may require you to carry a higher liability and physical damage coverage than you would normally take to pro-tect its interest which will be an ad-ditional cost to you. Auto fi nancing is a form of a secured loan which means you must agree to put up the vehicle as collateral to gain approval of the loan. It also means if you fall behind with your payments the car may be repossessed and it has a negative impact on your credit history if you are black listed.

So before you put the ink on the paper make sure that you understand every-thing that is written on the Loan agree-ment contract and also ensure that the monthly repayments do not choke you. For more information on asset fi nanc-ing visit any Asset Finance Broker or Dealer.

- www.referenceforbusiness.com

Vehicle financing

BY TATENDA MACHEKA

MANY a times I have heard colleagues cursing their insurance policy providers when it is the renewal date. People assume that insurance is there to rip of their monies. But is this true? Can insurance providers really assist when they are called to duty?

When it comes to applying for a Motor Insur-ance policy, it is tempting to go for the cheap-est option, � ird Party insurance, which is the minimum level of insurance which satisfi es the requirement of the laws of Zimbabwe as defi ned by the Road Traffi c Act.

In a bid to shy away from this menace most Zimbabweans go for the third party insurance. � is is the most basic. I have seen a number of colleagues going by the main Post Offi ce in the CBD where the transactions are done in the streets. � is is very risk.

In as much as the third part insurance is cheaper it is the most expensive in the long run. It provides the basic minimum insur-ance cover required by the law before one can go on the road, basically covering pedestrians and cyclists against injury or death or damage to third party property, caused by the insured vehicle.

With the economic hardships facing most people this is the threshold of many and going beyond this will be madness. However some in-clude theft of insured vehicle or its accessories and damage to the insured vehicle caused by fi re only.

“When it comes to a claim, � ird party in-surance off ers very little protection so it really is important to understand what you are being covered for in all the three options for motor in-surance,” said an insurance expert

� is is the most basic cover and protects the client (or insured/ policyholder) against loss or damage to third Party Properties in the course of driving, and death or bodily injury to these � ird Parties only. It also covers any legal liabilities arising from the policyholder’s driving which accidents (bodily injury, death, or property damage) to third parties. It does NOT cover any loss or damage to the car of the policy owner.

� e full cover has In addition to the third party cover, this insurance policy also covers theft or fi re damage to the policy owner’s car. It does NOT cover damage to the policy owner’s car for any other reason than fi re damage.

Full cover is the widest form of cover which in addition to covers provided under Full � ird Party Fire and � eft above, extends to include repair costs for damage to the insured vehi-cle following an accident, medical expenses up to policy limit, towing charges for the disabled vehicle and emergency hotel or other accom-modation expenses up to the limit stated in the policy.

� ough the economy is hard and people trying to make ends meet all that glitters is not gold. A full cover insurance is the most reliable one.

Some drivers interviewed by this publication experienced ignorance saying if the cannot af-ford fuel what else a full cover insurance. While others said it is lack of understanding on how the insurance cover operates.

Research shows it is only those blue chip com-panies that are subscribing to the full cover in-surance while the rest are on third party.

Insurance a necessary evil


Used Vehicle Import duties increased

MOTORING JOURNAL

BY TATENDA MACHEKA

THE importation of grey imports to Zimbabwe was the best thing ever to happen in the coun-try for motorists since the purchasing of a brand new vehicle is beyond the reach of many.

From the looks of things the joys of owing your own car is quickly drifting away by the day as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has seen the importation of cars as a low hanging fruit that they make quick bucks.

A fortnight ago � e Zimbabwe Revenue Au-thority (Zimra) announced the unilaterally increased import duty on used vehicles. � e new development has seen duty for a wide selection of vehicles increasing by between US$200 and US$400.

According to Zimra this increase comes as the harmonisation of duties on all boarders, “…We are now calculating value of duty based on a na-tional catalogue which has since been dispatched to all borders…”, explained the Revenue Authori-ty adding on that “…In previous years, individual stations were using varying values for duty pur-poses (VDP) but now we are now calculating duty based on one standard VDP,”.

� is comes at a time when the aggregate de-mand is dwindling and many motorist are shying away for the purchasing of these cars due to the high amounts of money Zimra is demanding.

In an Interview with a car dealer based in Seke road Innocent Nyamazana lamented that the in-crement of duty by ZIMRA pointing out that why was the harmonisation done now instead of long back.

“It is sad Zimra want to keep on ripping us, how many ages has it take them to realise that there is need for realignment and harmonisation of duty across boarders?” fumed Nyamazana.

According to Zimra duty to be paid on im-portation of motor vehicles into Zimbabwe is based on the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value plus other incidental charges and ex-penses incurred in the purchase of the vehicle and its subsequent transportation up to the first point of entry into Zimbabwe? This CIF value and the other charges constitute what is known as the Value for Duty Purposes (VDP).

Under the current import duty schedule, bus-es with a carrying capacity of 26 passengers and above pay 40 percent of the value of the vehi-cle, double cab trucks 60 percent, and passenger motor vehicles of engine capacity below 1,500cc attract duty of 40 percent.

Vehicles with engines above 1,500cc are charged 86percent duty inclusive of VAT and Surtax.

Import duty on vehicles is calculated based on year of manufacture and fuel transmission (au-tomatic or manual). � e new development has seen the tax authorities processing fewer vehi-cles at the Manica Transit shed in Beitbridge.

CFAO Motors Zimbabwe is a subsidiary of the CFAO Group. � e motor company is not new in Zimbabwe but have been active for almost a decade. � e Group have the largest automobile network in Africa and are represented in 32 Af-rican countries and French overseas territories, distributing a number of leading brands.

� e group is now the importer and distributer and franchise holder of the prestigious global brand Volkswagen. A leader in a wide range of passenger and light commercial vehicles, CFAO Motors Zimbabwe have brand new vehicles sit-ting on the showroom fl oor. With its background and its closely linked network and ability to ac-cess parts, accessories and current vehicles CFAO Motors Zimbabwe plans to grow the VW market share over the next few years.

It comprises a team of over 25 skilled profes-sionals striving for customer satisfaction through relentless focus on quality and compliance to the Volkswagen brand’s international standards of excellence. Personnel training is ongoing to match up and keep abreast with the ever evolving trends, technical development and advancement. � e dealership facilities are modern and spacious

CFAO Motors Zimbabwe affi rms the VW brand visibility

CFAO MOTORS ZW

and leading-edge technology provides a complete range of before- and after-sales services to meet all customer needs.

CFAO Motors Zimbabwe is dedicated to providing a sustainable transport solution for its current and prospective custom-ers through a value added supply chain of vehicle sales, service and support.� e group is responsible for all Volkswagen Passenger and Volkswagen Commercial

Vehicles Vehicle Sales, After Sales, Sup-port/Maintenance and Warranties on behalf of the Volkswagen Group.

Manufacturers© warrantyAll vehicles and spare parts sold

through the network are fully covered under Volkswagen warranty terms and conditions.

� e Warranty Period for Passenger and SUV models as sanctioned by the Volk-

swagen Group for Zimbabwe is 2 years unlimited mileage. � e Warranty Period for Commercial models as sanctioned by the Volkswagen Group for Zimbabwe is: Am-arok - 3 years or 100,000km (whichever comes fi rst) Caddy, Caravelle, Multivan and T5 - 2 years unlimited mileage

Crafter - 2 years + 1 year limited to the third year of operation with a mileage of 250,000km


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY MADA BORERWE

WITH fuel prices on the rise, a smaller motor for your vehicle will give you more distance on lesser

fuel. So here are a few small nippy rides that will give you more distance on a litre of fuel and less costs on maintenance.

Smart Buys

The Fabulous Ford Figo is a well- loved little car. It has delivered great performance in city and high-way driving. It has a light and precise steering which delivers superb control. The Figo is full of happy sur-prises, for instance it has an astonishingly large boot and interior is unexpectedly spacious (remember this is meant to be a small car). It has an optimised suspension for a comfortable ride. For pricing and availability you can check with Dulys your local Ford Dealer.

Fiat Panda simply has to be on your budget buy shopping list. It is powered by 1.2 litre engine matched to a 5 speed manual gear box. It’s a car that is suitable for city driving and most importantly it comes with dual front air bags and ABS and EBD. Other features include central locking, electric power steering and climate control. For pricing and availability you can check with Zimoco your local FIAT dealer.

FORD FIGO

FIAT PANDA

The Hyundai i10 has a modern stylish exterior and a pre-mium quality exterior. It a car like no other, its list of features is a big contrast to its price tag! For instance it has air condi-tioning, electric front and rear windows, central locking and a stereo RDS radio/ CD player with MP3 compatibility. It has a driver and front passenger air bag as well as ABS.The 101L iRDE2 engine delivers a mileage of 19.8 km per litre with low emissions. For pricing and availability you can check with A.D.I. your local Hyundai dealer

HYUNDAI I10

The new Chevy Spark is a 5 door hutch back and it is for the driver who is not ashamed to show o� !The Spark is equipped with 84hp 1.2 litre four cylinder pairs with either a 5 speed manual for a punchy control or for a smooth ride opt for the available Continuous Variable transmission (CVT). The distinctive design of the rear hatch showcases the sharp sporty look of the Spark. For Pricing and availability you can check with Autoworld GM your local Chevrolet dealer

CHEVROLET SPARK

The Kia Picanto is a cute tiny little car which is about 3.6m long and is popular amongst women as it easy to park! It’s also fairly spacious and its front leg room is 36mm over from the previous model. The enhanced KIA Picanto boasts of the redesigned front and rear bumpers to enhance the car’s bold looks. Like the Hyundai i10 the Kia Picanto boasts of a wonderfully handy storage tray. For pricing and availability contact KIA Zimbabwe your local KIA dealer.

KIA PICANTO

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Budget city run around vehicles

BY MADA BORERWE

WHEN you have a growing family or when you are a middle manager or small business owner space and comfort are key when choosing a vehicle. Here are a few sedans which will af-� rm your presence yet not so priced out of reach. What’s more comforting is the fact that all have after sales support using genuine parts by trained personnel.

1) VW JETTA

The Volkswagen Company always launches one fabulous product after the next and the Jetta is indicative of this trend. The VW Jetta is a sedan that exudes character and style; it has a sporty front bumper and a quality interior. It has a leather bound multi-function steering wheel and controls that allow you to operate blue tooth phone connectivity. It has bold alloy wheel which gives the car a complete stylish look. For pricing and availability contact CFAO Motors your local VW Dealer.

2) FORD FOCUS

The Ford Focus o� ers something new for every driver and the design attracts a lot of attention as it appears to be in mo-tion when it’s standing still. Drivers looking for exhilarating performance should look out for the most advanced engine o� ered by Ford the 1.0 litre. It has a number of innovations which includes a remarkable turbo charger which reduces engine weight, a split circuit cooling system which helps to ensure the engine reaches proper operating temperature faster and the variable- pressure oil pump which enhances e� ciency. When you look at the Ford Focus you’ll see how quality and craftsmanship has been placed when it was be-ing designed. For pricing and availability contact Dulys your local FORD dealer.

3) HYUNDAI ELANTRA

The Hyundai Elantra features a “wind craft” designed in-spired by nature’s fault lines and dynamic waves. The Korean Stunner’s swept back elongated headlamps and long � owing character lines are signature elements of the exterior design.

Hyundai’s no 1 goal is to become the world’s leader in fuel e� ciency and the Elantra’s engine proves this. The 1.6litre MPI engine is equipped with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-VVT) to boost horse power output (130ps) and lower exhaust emissions while improving fuel economy. For pricing and availability contact CFAO/ A.D.I , Clover Leaf Hyundai Bulawayo, your local Hyundai dealers.

4) TOYOTA COROLLA

The freshly minted Toyota Corolla came up trumps in CAR magazine’s annual Top 12 Best Buys, walking o� with the ti-tle of Best Compact Sedan for 2014. Toyota always delivers fuel e� ciency and economy leaving you with good change to spare. The all-new Toyota Corolla boasts cutting-edge design featuring an expressive face courtesy of the striking headlamp clusters that elegantly frame the sporty grille. In pro� le, the all-new Corolla’s � anks are pierced by a character line linking the top of the front wheel arch with the rear lamp cluster. You won’t be disappointed, contact Toyota Zimbabwe for pricing and availability.

5) NISSAN ALMERA

Thanks to its revolutionary design, owners can enjoy class-defying comfort and versatility in a beautifully compact package. A� ordability is key when it comes to any purchase looking at the current economy and Nissan is priced right. There is plenty of space, with class-leading rear knee room, premium textures, and a focus on personalized comfort en-sure that every passenger feels like a VIP. The boot space is astonishingly generous. A full 490 litres of capacity allows you to load up with room to spare – shopping, sporting events or holidays all become pleasure cruises. Just load up and away you go. The intelligently designed cabin layout puts all the controls you need right at your � ngertips, from audio control to boot release, powered mirror control to remote central locking. Thanks to the revolutionary design of the Nissan Alm-era, owners can enjoy class-defying comfort and versatility in a beautifully compact package. Contact Nissan Clover Leaf Motors or any other Nissan Dealer for pricing. #Nissan SSA


MOTORING JOURNAL

Best buys - Sedans

VW Jetta

Ford Focus

Hyundai Elantra

Toyota Corolla

Nissan Almera


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY FACT JEKE

BUNDU bashing is no longer just for the farm, rural areas, tourist adventure or mining. In Zimbabwe we now bundu bash in our various city since our city

fathers have decided that the tarred roads should be replaced with pot holes the size of craters. Here is a look at practical vehicles which should be on your TO BUY list in 2015 and beyond because the sedan and sports car is not practical anymore.

Practical workhorses

The Tough Isuzu KB-seriesAs the new Isuzu Pick-up

continues its engagement in key African markets, ongoing pro-cesses of quality management and engineering development ensure that the new Pick-up is built in Africa, for Africa.

With the harsh environments of the African continent dictat-ing vehicle specifi cations and design – including fuel quality, road conditions, consumer de-mands and vehicle versatility – Isuzu engineers not only had to design and develop specifi c elements of the Isuzu Pick-up to cope on a long-term basis, but also ensure the quality of each and every aspect that goes into the production of an inter-nationally renowned pick-up

– to ensure complete peace of mind and trouble-free motor-ing for the customer.

As a result, the new Isuzu Pick-up features a number of uniquely African solutions to the problems and challenges that were identifi ed. For exam-ple, a larger radiator is fi tted to assist in improved cooling, and the radiator fan is indeed placed behind the radiator to remove the risk of fan blade damage when entering water at speed. � e high-ride suspension de-sign which allows for ground clearance of up to 224 mm (linked to high profi le tyres) enables for enhanced peace of mind when driving on particu-larly bad roads.

With certain derivatives avail-able with four-wheel drive, traversing even the toughest of environments becomes an easy and enjoyable task thanks to great ground clearance, all-ter-rain tyres and an advanced 4x4 system with an electronic con-fi guration switch which allows for easy transition between 2-Hi, 4-Hi and 4-Lo driving modes.

� e result of customised de-sign, development, engineering and production done in Africa, for Africa. On the downside the ride is not as comfortable on rough terrain, but then again it’s a bakkie, its meant to do rough hard work. Autoworld has stock available in Harare and Bula-wayo.

THE Amarok Double Cab has revo-lutionised the local 1-tonne bak-kie market since its introduction in September 2010. One of the innova-tive technologies that Amarok intro-duced into the local bakkie segment was the 8-speed automatic trans-mission in January 2013.

� e additional gears in the 8-speed automatic make it possible to achieve a wider gear ratio spread between the 1st and 8th gears com-pared to a conventional automatic transmission. As a result, the 132kW 2.0 litre diesel BiTurbo engine works more frequently in its optimal torque band. � e 2.0 litre diesel BiTurbo has a combined fuel consumption of 8.2 litres per 100 km and CO2 emissions of 216 g/km.

� e 2.0 litre diesel BiTurbo 8-speed automatic has a maximum torque of 420 Newton metres which is available at 1 750 rpm.� e top speed of 180 km/h is reached in 7th gear. It only takes 10.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.

� e Amarok Double Cab Auto-matic is off ered in a basic trendline and highline specifi cation. Its stand-ard safety and convenient features,

to mention a few, include ESP with brake assist, EDL, Hill Start/Hill De-scent assist, ABS including off -road ABS, driver and front passenger air-bag, daytime running lights, park distance control, 17-inch alloy wheels, Radio/CD (MP3 capable) with 6 speakers, Climatronic 2-zone air conditioning system, electrically foldable mirrors, storage drawers under front seats, cruise control and 12-volt socket in centre console, dashboard and load box.

A wide range of Amarok Double Cabs are readily available at CFAO Motors Zimbabwe, on Golden Stairs in Harare. Sales Manager, Robyn le Roux and her sales team, Austin Upenyu and Lot Chapendeka, will assist with pricing and additional information. � ey can be contacted at [email protected] or (04) 369 030-6.

Service and Warranty: � e Am-arok Double Cab with automatic transmission comes standard with 3 year/100 000 km manufacturer warranty, 5 year/90 000 km Au-tomotion Service Plan and 6 year anti-corrosion warranty. � e ser-vice interval is at 15 000 km.

The VW Amarok Double CabAvailable in 4x2 or 4MOTION, manual or automatic.

More Powerful Single Cab 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi Ford RangerTHE current Ranger is one of the toughest, most capable trucks out there and off er and delivers more than its competitors. When it comes to style and comfort it stands tops and also size does matter, giving you bigger and better performance. � ese two powerful Single Cab de-rivatives powered by Ford’s 3.2-li-tre diesel powertrain will have your foot trembling on the accelerator. � e 3.2TDCi models is available in either 4x2 or 4x4 guise with both of-fered in XLS specifi cation and mat-ed to a 6-speed manual transmis-sion. Manual never kills the joys of driving especially in a truck with our near to no tar roads these mod-els will add the funk and fun into your fl eet.

� e 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi fi ve-cylinder diesel engine of-fers a substantial 470Nm of torque and power rated at 147kW. � e im-pressive performance does not come at the expense of frugal-

ity with both models utilising only 9.3l/100km of fuel on a combined cycle route. Emissions are measured at 245g/100km on both the 4x2 and 4x4 models. Move over Toyota Hi-lux, there is a new king on the reigns with more to off er.

� e Ranger also off ers notable towing capabilities with the 4x4 model able to tow up to 3 350kg when fi tted with the range top-ping diesel engine. For farmers and logistic business owners, this will save you time as you can ferry spare parts and tyres without a glitch.

� e Ranger has been designed to cater to a wide spectrum of custom-ers. If it’s an addition to your fl eet you are looking for, the Ranger is reputable and capable and available in many derivatives either on dou-ble cab, king cab or single cab. For pricing, fi nance options and after-sales service visit the Croco Motors or Dulys showroom.


MOTORING JOURNAL

THIS vehicle is more of your Isuzu under the hood which makes it a fun drive. Even though the GWM brand has gotten a bit of bashing over the years, in Southern Africa, it is fast taking a chunk in the bakkie market. After being introduced a few years ago, it has become very favorable because of the pricing and reliability. It comes standard with your basic features like the radio, and ABS. For the price, you will be left with so much change that you will fit in a few extras.

This vehicle can be used to move a lot of dirt and other stuff for your home or business every day of the week. Most people or businesses who invest in this vehicle mean serious business. It can ferry five adults together with a fair amount of goods in the back. With its towing capabilities, you can tow one tonners easy without having to worry about anything braking. When I drove it we went a few kilometers out of town to test its off road capabilities and boy was i shocked. Most 4x4 don’t handle dirt roads well, with some brands you even wonder why they say it’s a 4x4 yet when you get stuck and need the function, you might just end up being bailed out by a farmer driving his tractor.

Practical workhorses

FOR those not familiar with the Patrol Pickup, over six decades on, this has been a legend from the Nissan brand. Sporting a sharp new look with rugged overtones, a new diesel engine and upgrad-ed features.

� e Patrol nameplate has been running strongly for over 60 years and the new Patrol Pickup builds on this heritage. It is an authen-tic 4x4 which represents Nissan’s commitment to the large pickup segment in Sub Saharan Africa with a bakkie that expresses the brand’s ultimate ‘do-anything’ attitude, especially in the rough-est and toughest environments.

Up for any challenge, the new Patrol Pickup has the perfect mix of brawny good looks and brute performance to make light work of even the most daunting ter-rain. Its all-terrain suspension, impressive torque delivery and superior off -road performance makes traversing any terrain for any purpose easy and reassuring. Couple these factors with its low cost of ownership and the Patrol Pickup is easily identifi ed as the best workhorse and status sym-bol – the ultimate 4x4 that gets the job done, comfortably.

� e new Patrol Pickup looks tough, and is tough. Available in single-cab confi guration and with a diesel-powered 4x4 drivetrain,

the new Nissan Patrol Pickup 3.0DTi 4x4 5-speed manual is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled new-age 16-valve diesel engine which features common rail fuel injection for improved fi ltration, greater effi -ciency, enhanced durability and improved power output. Produc-ing 110 kW at 3 600 rpm and 371 Nm of torque between 1 800 and 2 400 rpm, drivability is excep-tionally refi ned especially due to the low and widespread torque availability. Coupled to this, a class-leading towing capacity of 2 500 kg emphasises the Patrol Pickup’s abilities as an all-round-er for work and leisure purposes.

It realises average fuel economy of 10.9-litres per 100 km on the combined cycle and, with two fuel tanks totalling 175 litres, a range of over 1 600 km between fi ll-ups is easily achievable.

� e new Nissan Patrol Pickup is available at Nissan Clover Leaf Motors & other authorised Nis-san Dealers nationwide, which also has access to a full range of accessories including spot lights, cattle rails, replacement bumper, winch, snorkels and audio system along with many others, allowing owners to customise their Patrol Pickup to perfectly suit their re-quirements. � ey will assist with pricing and availability.

Rugged new Nissan Patrol Pickup

continued

THE Tata Xenon XT is packed with eXTra features in all aspects - per-formance, safety, comfort, style and functionality. It comes with impressive features that give it a competitive edge amongst oth-er lifestyle bakkie options on the market. � e Tata Xenon XT range comes in 4 variants - Single Cab (4X2), Single Cab (4X4), Double Cab (4X2) and Double Cab (4X4). � e range has a perfect blend of looks, safety, comfort, conveni-ence and performance thanks to its state-of-the-art European styl-ing; features like navigation, Blue-tooth, dual airbags, ABS, diff eren-tial lock (double cabs), and limited slip diff erential (single cabs). � e Tata Xenon XT’s common rail die-sel engine deliver high power and torque providing overall perfor-mance of an effi cient work-horse.

� is is an ideal bakkie for seg-ments like family and leisure, farming, mining, construction, small businesses and munici-palities. Its excellent off -roading capabilities also make it an ideal vehicle for 4X4 enthusiasts.

� e Tata Xenon XT is packed with XTreme Technology. It is

powered by a new generation 2.2L VTT DiCOR (Variable Turbine Technology, Direct Injection Com-mon Rail) engine that is controlled by a 32-bit electronic control unit and incorporates state-of-the-art technology. � is is the same Euro V engine that powers the Xenon range across the world. � is en-gine has been fi ne-tuned to meet domestic Euro II requirements. � e new engine delivers an in-credible peak power of 110 kW @ 4000 rpm and peak torque of 320 Nm over a wide rpm range of 1500 - 3000. � e vertical central-ised injector and the variable swirl system together provide good air and fuel mixing that result in com-plete combustion and outstanding fuel effi ciency and therefore, low emissions. � is innovative engine technology not only provides the best-in-class performance but is also environment-friendly.

With the Tata Xenon XT, one can experience the wild outdoors in the cushioned comfort and safety of it’s indoors. Extra care has been taken to ensure driver and passen-ger safety with advanced features for both active and passive safety.

� e Tata Xenon XT helps you make a distinctive style statement. Its European styling gives a pleas-ant feel to the vehicle. � e front signature Tata chrome grill and at-tractive clear lens headlamps are complimented by fl ared wheel arches.

On warranty, its 2 years or 24000km whichever comes earli-er! With the addition of the Xenon XT range, Tata Motors now boasts of an impressive bakkie portfolio catering to every discerning need of the Zimbabwean automotive market and suiting every con-sumer segment. � e company’s portfolio comprises of Super ACE (1T mini truck), 207 DI turbo (3.0L worker), the existing Xenon range with eleven variants and the new-ly launched Xenon XT range with four variants.

With its superior styling, ex-treme technology, ideal safety features, top-end comfort and convenience, complete peace of mind etc., Xenon XT is truly the vehicle that will take it to the XTreme. Its at Blackwood Hodge Zimbabwe and Elliot Shoniwa and his team will assist.

Tata XENON XT a� ordable and

practical

GWM Steed 5 meant for business

I am totally happy about the handling. I can see myself touring with other 4x4 vehicles and I can go everywhere they go in this bakkie. The only thing i will advise anyone buying one is that this is not a 4x4 adventure vehicle, so stay away from the real 4x4 track and even some of the 4x4s are towed out by tractors. If you look for trouble, you will find it and there might not be a tractor to save you...

Fuel economy is 10l/100km or as others put it 10km per litre. The only thing that is frustrating is that I would

have liked a bit more torque. Overall, this is a perfect vehicle for the price. I can hear all of you say what about the safety features; the most important safety feature is your brain, use your brain and you will not need anything else. It does come with the basic ones like you ABS brakes, central locking etc, but we all know that if you are a good driver you always make your fellow motorists and your-self safe. For pricing and more information please contact ZIMOCO your local GWM dealer.

CASTROL Team Toyota© s Anthony Taylor and navigator Dennis Murphy achieved a hat-trick of wins on the iconic Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race this weekend, by achiev-ing the top step of the podium for the third time in a row, in their Toyota Hi-lux. Teammates, Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, finished third after run-ning into difficulties early on day two.

"Leeroy and Rob started today in first place with a fourteen second lead. But a problem with the brake caliper saw them lose the best part of twenty minutes right at the start of the day," explained Castrol Team Toyota Team Principal Glyn Hall. "But they man-aged to catch the Ford of Gary Berthold ahead of them, ending the day just fourteen seconds behind."

For Taylor/Murphy, however, Poulter and Howie© s trouble opened the door. They passed their stricken teammates

just 4 km into Sunday© s first loop, after pausing to check if they could assist.

"We saw Leeroy and Rob stuck on the route, so we asked if there was anything we could do to help," said an elated Taylor from the service park in Jwaneng. "They told us to carry on, which is exactly what we did."

For Poulter/Howie, the day turned into a flat out race, despite being handicapped by three-wheel braking during the first loop of the day and a damaged clutch, which also resulted from the broken brake caliper that instantly jammed the wheel of the Hilux.

"Even so the Hilux ran extremely well, and we managed to catch up with some of the slower cars ahead of us," said Poulter from the finish. "But it was heart breaking to start the day with a lead, only to lose it in the first 5 km of the route."

Despite losing his lead, Poulter re-tains his lead in the Donaldson Cross-Country Championship, thanks to winning the first day of the Desert Race. Effectively this has given him three wins from three starts, with Tay-lor still comfortably in second place.

In Class S, for vehicles with engines of four liters and solid read axles, it was the Toyota Hilux of Heinie Strumpher and Henri Hugo that triumphed. Their victory contributed to Toyota winning the manufacturer© s award for the De-sert Race. They were followed home by Deon Venter and Jaco van Aardt, also in a Toyota Hilux.

For the Donaldson Cross-Country Championship, the next round of the championship is the Malalane 450, which takes place in early August 2015. This will be round four of the six-round championship.

� ree in a row for Castrol Team Toyota on 2015 Desert Race


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY TATENDA MACHEKA

Kaguvi street pirate parts havenAS the debate on vendors and the city fathers rages on the fate of the former still hangs in balance. In a way the vendors have been a men-ace and caused some confusion in the Sunshine city, the city of Kings and the City of progress but these same cities will never be the same again. A permanent mark has been left that will tell the generations to come that once upon a time there was laissez faire and hocus po-cus in Harare, in particular a street called Kaguvi in Harare.

Named after one of the most popular and infl uential spirit me-diums the country has ever seen

Part & AccessoriesKaguvi street has been turned into a tunnel sandwiched by vehicles spare parts shops supplying every-thing from spark plugs , propeller shafts, fan belts and shocks.

Motorists might be annoyed by those selling vegetables and cloths in Park Street, Speke Street and every open space in Harare but Kaguvi Street has been turned into a warzone. Battle lines have been drawn in that street, ter-ritories have been marked. � e moment you drive your car into Kaguvi Street you will be wel-comed by diff erent types of stand byes diagnosing your car without you uttering a single word. If you are not carefully enough the self proclaimed sales man who will be standing in the streets will start fi ghting for you claiming to have seen the customer fi rst. Such has become the normal, a party of our

lives not in Kaguvi Street alone but also Lobengula Street in Bulawayo and Main Street in Gweru.

Buying second hand clothes from the vendors is cheaper but it comes with skin disease and other unknown anomalies to the end user, same as buying spare parts from the street marketers who will be standing in the street scaveng-ing for customers.

Having bought wipers blades from one of them during the rainy season it nearly claimed my life when I realized that the blades could not with stand the Novem-ber rains and they impaired my vision that I had to park and re-sume when the storm died down drizzling. Even in light drizzles the blades would leave visible tracks on my widescreen.

Notwithstanding the tyres the boys mould and polish to appear

Your vehicle is built with precision, using only the highest quality mate-rials. Which is why only genuine parts are recommended to give you reas-surance and con� dence of the best safety, performance and the right parts always � ts � rst time..

Bene� ts of Genuine Parts:

They’re speci� cally designed for your vehicle They must pass constant quality control checks to ensure that your

car or van remains as safe and reliable as the day it � rst went on the road Their use will ensure your vehicle’s Euro NCAP rating is maintained

whereas the use of non-genuine parts could compromise your safety and that of your passengers They’re protected by the manufacturer warranty They’re engineered and manufactured to stringent standards - for a

precise, just-like-new � t They’ll add value to your vehicle They ensure peak performance, comfort and safety. Genuine Parts are manufactured to strict factory speci� cations for high quality and long life High quality workmanship ensures a precision � t for your vehicle

Disadvantages of Counterfeit Parts and Accessories

Non-genuine parts could be made from sub-standard materials that may only last for a short time, which could jeopardize the safety of

you, yourvehicle and your family. Counterfeit consumables, such as engine oil, brake � uid and non-

genuine accessories such as alloy wheels, can have damaging e� ects on your vehicle, leading to costly repairs and potentially invalidating your warranty and insurance. Imitation parts can compromise your vehicle, and may void your vehicle warranty and, surprisingly, they are not always cheaper! After market parts may not be fully tested to meet regulatory and

safety standards

-www.google.com

Genuine Parts

as new to deceive their customers into an impulse buying trap.

Charting with the Exide battery sales representative in Graniteside he said the Kaguvi street mongers came to their workshop to buy used up batteries claiming that they can resurrect the dead cells and sell the batteries for a good money.

� ough some of their products have the stamps of genuine brands such as Dunlop, Goodyear, Exide,

Michelin and Castrol, take heed and think again, whether you want to end your vehicle life span. It might save you more money to buy genuine parts with warrant. One major fact is that the moment your genuine vehicle uses a pi-rated part, it ceases to be a genuine vehicle. Your warranty goes out the window and you are no longer covered. � ink about it the next time you want to buy a part from an unauthorized parts dealer.


MOTORING JOURNAL

DRIVING should be a pleasure a moment of freedom and comfort. However driving is not risk free as evidenced by the many accidents that we see on our roads. In this issue we will look at how we can reduce the number of accidents, the death toll and carnage on our roads. We hope that you will adopt these good practices and share them with your family and friends.

� ere are many simple and ef-fective ways of improving road safety, fi rstly the responsibility is on the driver to ensure that he is in good health and he has a sound mind. It is important to get your eye sight checked regularly to en-sure that it is perfect. Extra care should be taken when driving at night. Avoid taking medication that makes you drowsy when you are driving.

When you are about to take off ensure that your seat belt is buck-led up as well as the seat belts of your passengers. Check your mir-ror s and avoid overloading your vehicle. Before Turning check your mirrors, blind spots and indicate.

Drinking and driving should be avoided at all cost. If you decide to

embark on a drinking binge make sure that you designate a driver who will not be drinking at all. Do not let someone drive if they are not in a fi t state to drive.

When you are driving for long distances take regular breaks and if your body is tired fi nd a safe and secure place where you can park and rest for a few hours before you continue with your journey. Re-member it’s better to be late than to be late.

Respect the traffi c code; it’s there to protect you and to en-sure your safety. Speed � rills but it kills, control your speed and always stick to the stipulated speed limits. Adapt your speed to the weather and road conditions. Keep a safe distance from the car in front and avoid braking or ac-celerating sharply.

� e use of cell phones whilst driving is prohibited if you have emergency calls that you are ex-pecting get a blue tooth device which will enable you to answer your calls without disturbing your steering handling capabili-ties. Never reply text or whats app messages whilst driving.

Safety fi rst

BY TATENDA MACHEKA

THOUGH the revenue collections from Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has tri-pled it is a sad reality the length of paved road has not followed suit instead with the amount of pot holes it has actually shrinked.

� e road that the link Zimba-bwe’s two biggest cities is now a delightful and thrilling experi-ence as the 400km stretch is now smooth and makes the journey more comfortable . Contrary to that the once Masvingo ne carpet has transformed to be the corri-dor of death. Over the years the road has claimed more human lives than any other highway in the country. � e highway from Beitbridge to Harare, itself is the continent’s busiest thoroughfare and gateway to South Africa, Af-rica’s second-biggest economy after Nigeria.

According to the latest ZINARA statistics of the estimated total road network of 800 000km, only 20 percent is surfaced; and of the surfaced portions, vast swatches are plagued by potholes or are un-imaginably uneven.

Where it is supposed to take half the time and distance to trav-el using a direct road link between two points, it takes a huge eff ort to complete the journey.

� ese dilapidated roads have caused road traffi c accidence. Lat-est Figures from the Traffi c Safety Council of Zimbabwe shows that the total number of road traffi c crashes increased by 449 from 1

Country roads an eyesore.

766 recorded in 2013 to 2 215 re-corded in 2014, 25% increase.

A total of 144 people were killed from 112 fatal road traffi c crashes in 2014 representing 12% increase when compared 129 people killed in 100 fatal road traffi c accidents recorded in 2013.

While a total of 1 133 people were injured in 2014 which re-fl ects a 28% increase when com-pared to 884 people injured in 2013.

Apart of human errors and speeding the poor conditions of our roads has caused most of the death.

� e road authority notes that there is a huge infrastructure funding gap, which needs more than US$5 billion to transform lo-cal roads into a traffi cable state.

“It’s actually diffi cult to quan-tify (the funding gap) especially in the absence of a roads condition survey … If funding was found was ought to be found, we would need to revamp or overhaul in totality the whole network in Zimbabwe. If we talk about reconstruction or

new construction, we are talk-ing about millions of dollars. I think the board chair (Mr Albert Mugabe) is on record that if we are access a fi gure of say US $5 bil-lion, we will be able to do justice in terms of road development and maintenance, and, currently, like in our case in a good year we are able to mobilise about US $200 million,” said Engineer Moses Juma, the acting chief executive offi cer of Zinara.

With the increase talk of intro-ducing the urban toll gates maybe we might see the roads worked out .Toll fees and transit fees contributed US$27 million and US$18 million, respectively, of the US$133 million that the fund gen-erated in 2015. Government has decided to roll out 35 new tolling points, adding to the 26 toll gates that are already operational. Not surprisingly, this has been met with scepticism by the public who feel that Zinara is not adminis-tering the Road Fund judiciously since there isn’t any demonstrable development.

To keep your car on top condi-tion, you should have a full service at the recommended mileage service interval or at 12 monthly intervals, whichever occurs fi rst. Not to fi x it when you had a break down.

Just like the human anatomy that responds diff erent to condi-tions and environment it is the same with vehicles there need at-tention.

It only takes a few minutes to see if your tires are worn or los-ing tread. Examining your tires for wear and tear, along with checking tire pressure and align-ment, are essential to ensuring your vehicle’s safety on the road and helping to improve efficient fuel consumption and perfor-mance

It is always advised to go and service your care All car service repair shops are not created equal. Today’s cars are run by high-tech


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY TATENDA MACHEKA

IF you think you can get away with just changing your oil as a proper vehicle service, think again! Be-lieve it or not, your car actually uses six types of fl uids which in-clude motor oil (engine and gear box), coolant, power steering fl u-id, brake fl uid, transmission fl uid, and windshield washer fl uid.

You may not see any warning lights on the dashboard, and your vehicle may seem to be running as smoothly as normal, but your ve-hicle’s exhaust smoke may have a diff erent story to tell. Blue, grey, black, or thick white smoke could all signal various engine prob-lems. Up until the vehicle has a strange sound or producing that king of smoke that is when mo-torist start to think about serving the vehicle.

� e increase of the vehicle pop-ulation that has been witnessed by fl oods of cars fl ocking our cit-ies prompting serious congestion has also seem the mushrooming of quick fi x garages across the country some motorists are pay-ing more for less.

� is quick fi x garages do not even check some of the fl uids that has been mentioned earlier theirs is more of fault fi nding and impro-vising. To this end this mechanics have put the lives of many motor-ists at risk.

Service & maintanance

computers that Batteries are ad-versely aff ected by heat as cold. If your battery dies, think twice before you “do it yourself.” It’s easy to buy the incorrect battery for your car, enquire quite a bit of training

Authorised car dealers are still the correct route though the price scares you away it is far much better. Most if not all of them off er technicians and provides

special tools and equipment. In addition, dealership service de-partments work mainly on the makes and models that they sell. � ey understand each and every component on the vehicle .Since they are very familiar with the particular car line, they can usu-ally pinpoint a problem more quickly and more accurately than the quicky quicky boys in town who base their arguments of pre-

dictions. Independent mechanics have always been there to serve the neighborhood. When one had a tire puncher, fl at battery and you need jumpers not serious issues. In this era cars have com-puter boxes those are the brains and you cannot just give some-one who is learning to replace plugs to experiment on your car no authorised car dealers still the correct route.

Authorised car dealers still the correct route


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY MADA BORERWE

The Mercedes Benz C Class Coupe

� e C Class Coupe is all about power, poise and purpose. Its muscular front sets the tone for the rest of the vehicle. It has a prominent bumper and a distinctive radiation grill which is fl anked by BI xenon head lamps with LED running lights. � e engine line up for the C Class Coupe includes the C220 CDI which delivers exceptional environmental per-formance. Other options include a 4 cylinder diesel engine with twin turbo chargers. Mercedes always puts a huge emphasis on safety and the new C Class off ers an array of technologies to protect you and your passengers. � e ve-hicle has multiple air bags including driver knee bag, side bags in front seats and window bags. Fitted as standard, it recognises signs of driver fatigue and provides visual and or audible warnings accordingly. For Pricing and Availabil-ity contact Zimoco your local Mercedes Benz Dealer.

Executive Cars

The Jaguar XJ

� e new XJ has an engine that delivers an outstanding combination of performance, refi nement and effi ciency. � e range extends from a new version of the 3.0 litre V6 engine now with 300 PS and 700 NM of torque and a 3.0 litre V6 340 PS supercharged petrol to the 5.0 V8 470 PS, 510 PS and 550 PS supercharged petrol engines. All models feature an 8 speed automatic transmission for responsive, smooth gear changes. � e XJ’s all aluminium body archi-tecture is not only strong and rigid but also extremely light. It is a well-connected car with a state of the art infotain-ment system. For Pricing and availability please contact Premier Auto Services your local Jaguar Dealer.

The BMW 5 Series

� e BMW 5 series sedan has been built to meet the high-est requirements. � e sedan’s engine represents the high-est standard in motoring with major innovations such as the twin turbo 8, 6 and 4 cylinder petrol engines. � e Key element of these engines is the BMW Effi cient Dynamics strategy which helps to minimise fuel consumptions and CO2 emissions. It has an automatic Start/Stop function which makes sure that fuel is only used when your car is driving. It has intelligent energy management and light weight construction as well as aero dynamics and engine effi ciency measures. For pricing and availability contact Quest Motors.


MOTORING JOURNAL

TOYOTA Zimbabwe is off ering a free ser-vice plan for any Toyota vehicle manu-factured in 2010, to 2013. If your Toyo-ta is in this bracket then you are now part of an exclusive club that understands your needs and they will go out of their way to make you happy. You will be prioritized and will be part of their new programme I’M VIP CLUB. You will enjoy the various priviledges and take advantage of many benefi ts that come with it. Where possi-ble, you will receive prioritised bookings for service. By being a part of the I’M VIP club you are entitled to have the following done for you:• Check front & rear refl ectors• Check all lights, including dome• Check operation of wipers, washers

and adjust washer nozzles• Check operation of mirrors, ventilation controls and horn• Check operation of seat slide and seat

belts

• Check and lubricate doors and bonnet hinges• Check tyre pressure including spare,

report on tyre condition• Check battery SG levels and clean

terminals• Pressure check cooling system and radiator cap• Replace air cleaner element and clean

dust trap• Grease, steering, suspension joints• Replace engine oil and replace sump

plug seal• Replace oil fi lter• Replace main diesel pre fi lter• Check and adjust valve clearances• Replace main diesel fi lter• Tighten all chassis, suspension, steering and exhaust bolts• Replace gear box and transfer box oils• Replace front and rear axle oils and replace plug seals• Check front and rear axle oil levels

• Adjust hand brake (Average seven clicks)• Report on any engine, transmission oil

leaks• Renew service sticker and insert next service schedule• Inspect pads/shoes including discs and drums and record• Check function of air conditioner• Carry out diesel smoke test• Road test vehicle and record any observed faults

� e Toyota Zimbabwe Service Team re-mind you when service is due and will assist with bookings. Where possible, you will receive prioritised bookings for service.

Enjoy the Toyota Driving Experience. The service plan is only applicable to the vehicle purchased and is non-transfer-able. It only applies to the IMV Models -Hilux Single cab, Double cab, Extra cab or Fortuner. The Service plan valid

for one year commencing from date of purchase (as per date on this form) or 25 000km, whichever comes first. To qual-ify for the IMV service plan, the vehi-cle must be purchased in the period be-tween May 2nd 2015 to April 30th 2016. 4x4 Training is free only with the pur-chase of an IMV 4x 4 vehicles. Normal Toyota Warranty conditions apply. This plan in no way alters or replaces Toyota Warranty. There are 5 services covered (5k, 10k 15k, 20k, 25k) once used up the policy expires regardless of time. The Policy not refundable for cash or other benefits. The free service only redeem-able at Toyota Zimbabwe service cen-tres Harare (Robert Mugabe Rd.), Msasa (Robert Dr.) and Bulawayo (11th & Main St.). For more information on how to en-joy this VIP service visit a Toyota Zim-babwe dealership near you and they will assist.

Service plan I’M VIP CLUB from Toyota Zimbabwe

YOUR vehicle is a precious asset and you will be distressed to see it go into a panel beating shop in a damaged state. � at’s why it is important for your peace-of-mind that you select a profession-al partner and not some unworthy back-alley pretender.

Restoring damaged vehicles to their look-like-new original condition is their business.

FACT! they have the most highly-trained techni-cians in Zimbabwe who operate state-of-the-art computerised equipment. � at assures you of the best quality and quickest turn-around times.

As a subsidiary of the well-resourced Clover Leaf Motors Group, they have priority access to the most advanced vehicle diagnostic machines for the Nis-san, Hyundai and Mazda brands. For other brands they have preferential partner alliances with the franchise holders for vehicle diagnosis and repairs.

Of great benefi t to you, is that they are an accredited General Motors auto-body repairer and that Clover Leaf Panel Beaters is their only approved auto-body repairer in Zimbabwe. � erefore all GM models (Isuzu, Chevrolet & Opel) under warranty must be repaired by them for the warranty to remain valid.

� eir in-depth customer research has revealed several key issues important to the customer. � ey have the highest-quality workmanship using pre-cise high-tech equipment, Competitive pricing, quick turn-around times for repairs, exemplary service levels and constant communication. � ey have the highest degree of intergrity.

� ey create your specifi c manufacturer-based computerised chassis measurements that provide pictures “before” and “after” repairs. � is ensures critical precision in their chassis repairs, the corner-stone of their high-quality workmanship. Original Manufacturer chassis specifi cations for your model are stored as data on state-of-the-art computers. � ey have been using this superior system. � eir General Motors accreditation means they have ac-cess to an exchange programme where technicians are trained in South Africa on auto-body repairs.

� eir world-class equipment includes a Are-o-Cure combination spray booth & baking oven, Car-o-Liner compact chassis straightener with reduced under body measuring system, Are-o-Cure primer extraction sys-tem, Are-o-Cure central dry vacuum extraction sys-tem, Are-o-Cure prep overhead suspended infrared system, Spans electronic chassis measuring system.

Key to this notable customer benefi t is their in-vestment in a comprehensive parts stock-hold-ing, available to Clover Leaf Panel Beaters through their group companies – Nissan Clover Leaf Mo-tors, Clover Leaf Mazda, Clover Leaf Hyundai and Zim-Midas.

Should certain parts be unavailable ex-stock they are sourced within 14 days through a dedicated truck that travels to and from South Africa. In ex-treme cases spares are air-freighted overnight.

Clover Leaf Panel Beaters off ers a unique one-stop-shop for vehicle repairs.

CLOVER LEAF PANEL BEATERS – An approved panel beater


MOTORING JOURNAL

BY STAFF REPORTER.

ALL imported smaller engine vehicles now cost a few dollars short of the 1.6litre plus engines. Dou-ble cabs on the other hand are now costing more than some luxury sports utility vehicles which traditionally would be priced higher. � is state of aff airs has become a burning issue for the vehicle importers.

Vehicle importers generally have over the years off ered variety and the motoring world has been spoilt for choice. Large corporates, parastatals, the government, NGO and individuals would freely decide on what vehicle or vehicles they wanted to purchase. In short it’s been a free world when it comes to trade. � e government and parastatals through the state procurement board would pub-licise tenders and all importers and the not so ac-tive local assemblies would tender and truth be told the “best man” would walk away with the order. So many factors would be considered, from durability, practicality, service and support, pric-ing and strong brand presence just to highlight a few.

In as much as by local is a good initiative, it’s not feasible because from 2010 to date, the two “local assemblies” have managed to produce and sell less than 15% of the total units sold. � is goes to show that the question of capacity is almost near impossible. With the Japanese motor manu-facturers settling on Asian and South American countries like � ailand and Argentina and in Af-rica, South Africa as the only nations with as-sembly plants one wonders what will become of WMMI as they have been struggling to supply the local market with the Mazda brand. Globally manufacturers are moving away from manufac-turing in small countries like Zimbabwe mainly because of manpower and logistic challenges. Zimbabwe for one is landlocked which makes it very costly to ship components for assembly and manufacturing. With our economic situation tak-ing a downward turn, it is an almost impossibility for the assembly situation to change and a dream to think that other brands or fresh hip and excit-ing models will be locally assembled. With Quest Motor Corporation off ering a limited variety and WMMI struggling to stay afl oat, the parastatals, government, large corporates will defi nitely be distressed. � ere is no fullness of lines and very little brands available too.

� ere are two major factors aff ecting the ve-hicle importer currently which are the punitive new rates introduced on the 1st of November 2014 and the directive to buy Local Assembly. Looking at these two factors it’s highly likely that in 2015 there is going to be a signifi cant drop in vehicles sold, a drastic drop in revenues to the fi scus that is the duties and taxes. � e motor industry has been distressed and continues to be distressed and with these unfavourable developments company clo-sure and job losses in the industry will soon hit headlines.

Dealerships around the country especially in smaller towns are slowly caving in and closing shop as the general populous in the motor indus-try fi nd it more diffi cult or near impossible to sup-ply because of high duties and taxes and the fact that it’s not local assembly. When jobs are lost it will mean that we have thousands of citizens on the streets jobless, employee taxes, PAYE ceases to be collected which is also a huge loss to govern-ment, corporate responsibilities which have been contributing to the communities cease to exist and we now have a bigger problem. � ese jobs need to be preserved by more pragmatic, well thought out policies which sustain the whole sector and the economy at large.

� e high duties and taxes on the other hand have made it hard for the motor vehicle importers to sell to other corporates and individuals. � ey have had to share the increased duty component with the clients making their vehicles almost be-yond reach. Businesses have had to pay more for-commercial vehicles imported into the country and cut their thin profi ts further. � e local indus-tries themselves are currently operating well be-low capacities; the increased duties will literally choke them into closure.

� e belief popular to some that Uptake of lo-cally assembled units will match or replace the imported units is misplaced. In an advanced sec-tor like the vehicles sector, confi dence is easily killed when consumers are made to procure cer-tain brands/ models, when they clearly have their own preferences. Most governments departments and parastatals have for years trusted and used Toyotas, Nissan, Land Rover, Isuzu or Ford be-cause of the brand reputation giving a new mean-ing to “tried and tested”. Anything new or diff er-ent means having to spend more money in re-

Local assemblies – an importers nightmare?placing parts and the actual vehicles themselves.

All these vehicle importers are part of an in-dustry which contributes extensively as they pay their taxes and duties which have been a major source of much awaited revenue by the govern-ment. Zimoco, FCM, Quest, Croco Motors, Clo-ver Leaf, AMC, Mike Harris, Premier Auto, Paza Buster, CFAO Motors Zimbabwe, Autoworld, ADI Motors, Harris Auto, Amtec and Dulys are all lo-cally owned companies with Dulys being a pub-lic company.� e approximate numbers of peo-ple employed by CBU Importers vs CKD is about 7000 vs less than a thousand which means that’s “buying local” will mean losing most of the 7000 plus jobs.

� at being said the playing fi eld has to be lev-elled, favourable rules and regulations should apply for progress and growth to be realised. � e Competition Act (Chapter 14:28) (the Act) provid-ed for the formation of the Competition and Tar-iff Commission. � e purpose of the Act is to pro-mote and maintain competition in the economy, to provide for the prevention and control of re-

strictive practices, the regulation of mergers, the prevention and control of monopoly situations and prohibi-tion of unfair practices.

� e raising of duties does not pro-

mote and maintain competition in the economy. It unfairly tilts the scale in favour of only two motor in-dustry participants.

M16 Zimbabwe independentJULY, 2015

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THE LEADING BUSINESS WEEKLY

Zimbabwe Independent - Motoring Journal July 2015

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