2 Plucking The Goose

14 Unlocking the Power

24 happy Customer
Official Mouthpiece of
43 The DI Phenomenon
62 Inglourious Basterds
68 Le Crossover
 The Phoenix

Plucking the Goose

For this month’s editorial, I lean heavily on WJH van der Walt’s address to the
Annual MBA Dinner of the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape
Town on 22 September 1978. Yes, 1978! Van der Walt was the Secretary for Inland
Revenue at the time, and his address titled “The Art of Taxation” remains, in my
humble opinion, one of the all time masterpieces in explaining taxation.

V
an der Walt himself relied on
previous sage observers of this
unpleasant but necessary activi-
ty. He harked back two cen-
turies and more, delving into Roman
philosopher and statesman Cicero’s letters
to his publisher Atticus, and his remark in
60 BC that “taxes are the sinews of state”,
which was an appropriate comment during
those robust imperial times. American
jurist Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, in a
gentler era, proclaimed in 1904 that “taxes
are what we pay for civilised society”. Both
quotations can still be used accurately
today, but the best quotation on taxation
came some three and a half centuries ago
from Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French
Minister of Finance from 1665 to 1683. In
his first year of office, he said that the art of
taxation “consists of so plucking the goose
as to obtain the largest amount of feathers
with the least possible amount of hissing”.
Monsieur Colbert must have done his
plucking very well, because he managed to
sustain the Ancien Régime for quite some
time, and many of his feathers built the
Chateau Versailles for Louis XIV, whilst
also financing many wars.
The point of this article is that the more
things change the more they stay the same.
We may not have the ego and spendthrift
ways of Louis XVI and his courtiers to
contend with today, but we do have Vader
Jakob and his ministers with a penchant for
R1,2 million cars. And it is instructive to
learn that women who attended the court
of King Louis XVI were known as courte-
sans. Instructive to a tee. To finance this
behaviour requires an artful plucking, and
Pravin Gordham follows a rich tradition
of imaginative ways of manipulating
the peasants in acquiescing to a hissless
divestment of down. And the latest budget
speech is no exception, with very little
hissing whilst Pravin has gone about this
feather harvesting.
From an automotive perspective, we’ve
been sandbagged with an emissions
tax, which whilst justified on the noble
altar of cleaner air, is in reality a
naked grab of our money. NAAMSA, the
National Association of Automobile
Manufacturers of South Africa, have had
no option but to accept the situation, and
have been left to plead for an integrated
approach to CO₂ emission reduction ini-
tiatives, and to “suggest” that government
should also legislate and incentivise the
introduction of Euro IV enabling fuel in
South Africa. “Green” fuel is how they
euphemistically call it in their media release
of the 17th February 2010, but they unfor-
tunately have very little leverage with the
fiscus. This emission tax is going to have an
effect on vehicle sales once it’s introduced
in September 2010, and poor old NAAM-
SA have had to bite the bullet, with very
little hissing. They are being led like sheep
to the shearing shed. As van der Walt so
succinctly put it, in the levying of taxes and
in the shearing of sheep it is as well to stop
when you get down to the skin. Thirty
years later, our Minister of Finance has got
down to the skin.
The automotive industry, tied inexorably
with the long suffering motorist to skin
therapy, is a tried and tested cash cow for
government, so it also came as no surprise
that Pravin targeted the fuel levy as an
additional source of plunder, pushing the
costs of motoring to ever increasing
heights. Not good news for the industry,
and from an aftermarket point of view,
damage will be done to the hoped
for growth in 2010. But the automotive
aftermarket consists of resilient people,
such as Control Instruments Automotive.
Our cover feature pays homage to this
resilience, and the yearning and striving to
reach for the sky. Read about how CI Auto
intends to unlock the power, and to
leverage their brands, on page 14. The rest
of our magazine is similarly upbeat, so take
a few minutes out of your busy schedules,
and take inspiration from your automotive
peers.

w w w. a b r b u z z . c o . z a
2 MARCH 2010
 Contents

8 14 68

©Frans Dely - www.avpix.co.za

Cover Photo:
22 75
2 The Phoenix 46 Tyre Talk
6 What’s the Buzz 48 Tyre Safety
10 Commercial Vehicle news 49 Show News
12 Personal Profile 50 Launch Technologies
14 Cover Feature 52 Capricorn Insights
18 Tony’s Take 56 Topclass Topics
20 Frankly Speaking 58 Robert Bosch
22 AAMA Alert 60 e-CAR
24 The Chery Story 62 Wilde Things
26 Industry Update 64 Burford on Brands
28 Auto Topical 68 Vehicle Launch
30 Weighty Issues 69 AIDC Quiz
32 Consumer Protection Act 70 Vehicle Evaluation
34 The 2010/2011 Budget 72 A Word on Cars
36 Intelli-Driving 74 Fast Wheels
40 Diamond Dialogues 75 Midas Sport
42 Customer C.A.R.E 76 The Last Writes

The publisher and contributors have done their best to ensure the accuracy of the articles and cannot accept responsibility for any loss or incon-
venience sustained by any reader as a result of information or advice in Automotive Business Review. The information provided and opinions
expressed in this publication are provided in good faith and do not necessaraly represent the opinion of the publisher. No article may be repro-
duced in any form without the prior written permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in reviews.

Publishing Editor Horn, Gerhard Editorial Office: Design and Reproduction:

Graham Erasmus Keeg, Howard 81 Alma Road, Wendywood j. Kraft Information Design cc
083 709 8184 McCleery, Roger Tel 27 11 656 2198 Tel: 012 997 6946
Twine, Tony Fax 27 11 802 3979 Fax: 012 997 6987
Editors at Large Wilde, Fingal e-mail: bigheart@iafrica.com e-mail: jackie@kraftinfo.co.za
Alwyn Viljoen Website: www.abrbuzz.co.za
Paul Collings Published by: Printing:
Trilogy Publishing Subscriptions and Data Business Print Centre, Pretoria
Intelli-Driving Editor Management:
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Beeton, Frank e-mail: abr@stanport.co.za Tel 27 11 802 6020
Borlz, Baron Claude Fax 27 11 802 3979
Burford, Adrian Marlene Erasmus e-mail: bigheart2@iafrica.com
Gamble, Austin 082 837 2668
Hogg, Gilbert e-mail bigheart2@iafrica.com

4
 What’s the Buzz?

Toyota South Africa launches campaign to correct

accelerator mechanism
Toyota South Africa recently announced that it would call back 52 546 vehicles because of possibly faulty accelerator mechanisms. This step was taken
only as a precaution, since no faults have been reported in South Africa. In an entirely unrelated matter, Toyota have also decided to recall all previous
generation Prius’ for a software update to the electronic braking device. This should cancel out the delayed braking feel that has been experienced in
certain other countries. “We would like to apologise to all Toyota vehicle owners for the uncertainty and inconvenience that this process may have
caused. We value the trust and confidence that Toyota owners have put in our brand over the past five decades and we will do everything in our power
to honour that,” says Dr Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of TSAM. The vehicles affected by the call backs are:
Toyota Corolla (February 2007 to January 2010) – 45 040 vehicles
Toyota Auris (June 2006 to January 2010) – 6 665 vehicles
Toyota Verso (October 2008 to January 2010) – 841 vehicles

Atlas Copco introduces oil free

compressor range
Atlas Copco’s new innovation allows you to reduce operating costs without
compromising on world class air quality. This new range consists of the ZR/ZT
15-750 and ZR/ZT 37-900VSD air compressors.

These new units have a simple modular construction that makes for easy serv-
ice and extended service intervals. This in turn decreases the chances of the unit
malfunctioning which should keep business operation at maximum efficiency.
The ZT/ZR compressors are designed as fully integrated, compact packages
with drive motor, coolers, moisture drains and filtration along with a controller
for optimum efficiency and reliable performance even in the toughest environ-
ments in temperatures of up to 50 degrees C. The full feature versions include
integration of a choice of drying technologies to ensure compliance with cus-
tomers’ air quality requirements even in small operating areas.

TENNECO ESTABLISHES GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION GOAL

The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States recently announced that Tenneco would be reducing their global greenhouse emissions by
20% between 2008 and 2014. This figure is taken as per the weight of manufactured goods and shipped parts. Tenneco is best known for the manu-
facturing and distributing of Monroe and Rancho shock absorbers and Gillet emission control products in South Africa.

This announcement is the next milestone in Tenneco’s participation in the Climate Leaders program. This program helps Fortune 500 companies to
cut their environmental footprint by developing comprehensive climate control strategies. "By committing to a global GHG reduction goal, Tenneco
is adding value to our non-environmental impact approach to manufacturing,” said Tim Gordon, executive director, Environmental, Health and Safety.

KenKen 3 x 3
How to Play:
Like Sudoku, even though difficulty may vary from puzzle to puzzle, the rules for
playing KenKen are fairly simple:
For a 3 x 3 puzzle, fill in with the numbers 1-3.
• Do not repeat a number in any row or column.
• The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any
order) to produce the target number in the top corner of the cage using the mathematical
operation indicated.
• Cages with just one box should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.
• A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or
column. Answer on page 62

Renault launches television channel

On January 28, Renault became the first manufacturer to launch an international television channel. This has been done to improve their presence
with the general public and to be a showcase for the brand. The channel will broadcast news on the latest models as well as features meant to enter-
tain the entire family. This concept originally started with the launch of www.renault.tv in March 2009. This website has been extremely successful
with an average visiting time of 15 minutes. Renault also believes that their channel could reach a potential 30 million people and can be seen as a real
opportunity to broaden their target market.

6 MARCH 2010
 What’s the Buzz?

Jaguar returns to Le Mans

The Jaguar brand turns an impressive 75 in 2010. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Jaguar has entered the famed Le Mans motor
race. They will be taking their place on the starting grid with a XKR GT2 run by the Jaguar RSR racing team. Paul Gentilozzi, princi-
pal partner of JaguarRSR, has been named the driver of the XKR. He commented on the situation, stating that “Spirits will be high
around Jaguar’s return to Le Mans but we must remember the incredibly high level of competition - a podium place will not fall into
our hands. That said, I can guarantee 100 per cent commitment from JaguarRSR and urge fans of Jaguar and Britain’s racing heritage to
support the team whole heartedly.” C.J. O'Donnell, Global Marketing Director of Jaguar Cars said: “Motorsport has always been
important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed.

The Citroën C3 Experience

Nissan wins energy
conservation prize
for new system
Nissan Motor company recently announced that its
revolutionary eco-drive support systems, Eco-mode
function and Navigation linked speed-control, has
won the ANRE (Agency for Natural Resources and
Energy) Director-General’s award. This award was
part of the annual Energy Conservation Prize. This
award is open to the general public and covers a wide
range of technologies that conserve energy. It awards
innovations that can be put to use in commercial
applications to achieve above mentioned goal. These
systems help the driver to conserve fuel and have
already been adopted in the Tiida as well as the Cube The Citroën C3 was unveiled in style at Movida in Rivonia on 18th February 2010.
(not available in the South African market). ABR was there to take in the action.

(quickpic)

8 MARCH 2010
 commercial vehicle news

NDSA announces new

name and strategies by Gerhard Horn

N
issan Diesel South Africa tivity and a loss of trading days, we expect
recently announced that it substantial Government expenditure after-
would henceforth be wards, which could have another positive
known as UD Trucks effect on the truck industry."
Southern Africa. This
change comes after an announcement from In October 2009, Nissan Diesel South
Japan that the Nissan Diesel Motor Africa introduced a range of new engines
Company will now be called UD Trucks for its Heavy Commercial Vehicle range
Corporation. The new branding campaign that are in full compliance with Euro II
in sales. According to statistics released by
will start at the beginning of February and emission regulations. These standards were
National Association of Automobile
will only reach its peak in the last quarter set by the South African government and
Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa),
of 2010. After this the dealership network came into full effect in January 2010.
the local industry only managed to sell 18
will be updated and completed within 8 UDSA will soon be launching a Euro ll
934 units in 2009. This is shocking when
months. The new group will retain its sta- emission compliant Medium Commercial
compared to the 2008 figure of 34 659
tus as the second biggest trucking manu- Vehicle to our market and other markets in
units. The outlook for 2010 seems to be
facturer in the world. The shareholding of the continental Africa.
more positive. The local economy is slowly
the local subsidiary will remain at 80%
recovering from the global recession and As mentioned, UDSA is not limiting itself
belonging to the UD Trucks Corporation
experts believe that it may grow by 2.7% only to the South African market and will
and 20% to the trading house Mitsui.
with an even bigger growth in 2011. The be increasing its footprint into Africa. The
banks are also showing signs of being less manufacturer will be responsible for a total
Johan Richards, chief executive of Nissan
strict with applications for credit and com- of 20 countries in the Southern African
Diesel South Africa believes that this evo-
panies are adopting new strategies in fleet region and will be expanding on this num-
lution from the previously named compa-
management. This could have a positive ber as time goes by. According to Richards,
ny provides them with a clear vision and
effect on the local trucking industry and they believe that there are numbers of
dedicated path going into the future.
could very well see them recovering from a untapped opportunities that need their
Nissan Diesel South Africa separated from
disastrous 2009. quality products.
the Nissan South Africa passenger vehicles
in 2002 while still keeping the Nissan
Looking at the market forecast for 2010, "We don't believe in merely dumping sub-
name to associate with a leading brand.
Nissan Diesel believes that the slow, but standard products and services in Africa.
This served them well and has led the way
improving economy could attribute to a We are in the process of establishing deal-
to their strong holding on the local truck-
16% market growth to a forecasted total of erships all across the region that all have to
ing market. This final move away from the
22 000 units. "We also expect some last adhere to the same stringent quality
Nissan brand allows them to “fully evolve”
minute buying leading up to the World requirements we have here in South Africa.
as a leading trucking company.
Cup Soccer in June, in order to fulfill all As a result, we are able to deliver the same
the logistical requirements of the event," quality services and products to our cus-
This move comes at a critical moment in
said Richards. "Although an event of such tomers, no matter where they are."
the South African trucking industry. In
magnitude might lead to a drop in produc-
2009 the industry recorded a 45.5% drop

What’s the Buzz?

HUMMER ANNOUNCEMENT
The announcement by General Motors that it will wind-down the HUMMER brand will have no impact on operations in South Africa, accord-
ing to General Motors South Africa. GMSA says that while they will no longer distribute and sell HUMMER vehicles in South Africa, they remain
fully committed to looking after customers through their network of HUMMER approved dealers. HUMMER customers can be assured that
GMSA will continue to offer full after sales support and that they will honour all warranty agreements. In May 2009 GMSA halted HUMMER
H3 production and commenced the process of consolidating manufacturing operations at their Struandale production facility. This is progress-
ing well and is enabling GMSA to further improve efficiencies, and to put a product portfolio plan in place which will enable the achievement of
the 50000 Automotive Production Development Programme volume requirement by 2012. This incorporates new product programmes for the
replacement Corsa Utility and the Isuzu KB as well as derivatives from these vehicles. To date GMSA have announced that they will be invest-
ing R700 million in new tooling and facility upgrades to accommodate these new programmes.

10 MARCH 2010
 industry Update
Tenneco South Africa – manufacturer of Monroe and Rancho
shock absorbers – has shown impressive market share growth
in 2009, despite the adverse global economic conditions.
Monroe is able to supply around 90% of the car parc in
South Africa, particularly the newer, imported models. This,
combined with the international technological expertise and
quality control, is making the brand a firm favourite.
Monroe has a wide portfolio of suspension products and continuously offers new product lines,
services and support to its customers, positioning Tenneco as a genuine ‘Solution Provider’. Monroe Mounting
Kits, Protection Kits and MaxLift are part of this portfolio.
MONROE MOUNTING KITS
Monroe has released the new Monroe
Mounting Kits – an integral part of its ‘Tech-
nology Driven Safety’ philosophy. They are
made specifically for each vehicle applica-
tion and are easy to fit.
Why are Monroe Mounting Kits important:
- More durable and improve road holding
- Improve ease of steering and handling
(and steering return)
- Reduce noise and vibration
- Increase the lifespan of the strut
Remember that the price is for a set of two
and unlike many others, includes bearings.
MaxLift – simple but brilliant
MONROE PROTECTION KITS
The compression bumper and the dirt shield The MaxLift saves you energy as well as saves your
around the piston rod are included in the fingertips! The newly-launched range of gas lifts
Monroe Kit so always check these when called Monroe MaxLift, is a gas spring especially
replacing struts or spring seat units. designed for a particular vehicle and now covers
Why are Monroe Protection Kits important? many newer applications previously unavailable.
The compression bumper: Improves the MaxLift is used to lift and secure: Bonnets, boots, rear
quality of suspension and allows optimum hatch and station wagon doors, canopy doors, tail-
distribution of the car’s weight on the four gates, toolboxes, trailer lids and machinery.
suspension corners.
Advantages of MaxLift:
The dirt shield: Helps to increase the life of • Price competitive
the shock absorber by allowing dirt and
water to drain away and protects the sur- • High quality
face of the rod. • 12-Month warranty
Important: Worn Mounting Kits or Protection • Custom applications also possible
Kits can affect the vehicle’s handling and if
• Pre-gassed to the correct pressure per vehicle
they aren’t replaced with the shocks – the
shock will lose its warranty. The combination of advanced technology and innovation has made
Monroe Mounting Kits and Protection Kits Monroe the suspension solution provider for the automotive aftermarket.
have a TWO YEAR GUARANTEE

Contact: (011) 574 5600 • www.monroe.co.za

MARCH 2010 11
 Personal profile by Roger McCleery

Q&A MALCOLM GAULD

We are all aware that the motor industry underwent some huge changes and manufacturers had to make
huge sacrifices and structural changes to remain competitive during this time. Amongst this turmoil, many
casualties resulted both here and abroad. During this time, General Motors South Africa undertook many
internal changes and despite this negative activity happening around them, managed to hold firm and
finished in a strong third position on the South African sales charts. One of the key people at GMSA who
helped manage and steer the ship through these extremely rough waters was one of South Africa’s most
experienced motor men, Malcolm Gauld, who started in the industry at the bottom of the ladder and has
risen to his current position as GMSA Vice-President : Sales and Marketing.
YOU HAVE PICKED UP A COUPLE OF AND THE NEW PRODUCTS FOR THE and gained valuable experience moving into Sales
GREY HAIRS OVER THE LAST FEW FUTURE? and Marketing, followed by the Fleet Sales
YEARS. We have some amazing new product on the way, Department. This was all superb experience for
If I had any hair left ! It has been a tough eighteen commencing with a new look to the Corsa Utility what lay ahead.
months in the industry and the brutality of 2009 Bakkie, which has led the way in sales in this seg-
was enough to stretch the limits for me personally, ment for the last 58 months. This will be followed THEN CAME A BIG STEP IN 1987?
as well as many other people in my team and the by the next exciting Chevrolet Cruze addition: a 2.0 Delta Motor Corporation was formed out of GM,
industry litre diesel engine, joining our 2010 SA C.O.T.Y. who were leaving the country, due to political pres-
and World C.O.T.Y finalist. This will be followed sure. It emerged as a great opportunity and I joined
WHERE DOES GENERAL MOTORS GO in the fourth quarter by an all new, very trendy, well a new team with Willie van Wyk, initially as
FROM HERE? priced Chevrolet Spark. Further to this, from 2011 Business Project Manager and then moved on
The new GM has the makings of a real success onwards, expect a deluge of great all new product shortly thereafter to head up the Sales Operations
story, as globally business is beginning to look a lot from GMSA and especially the Chevrolet brand,
healthier. After what has taken place, the personal where we have realised amazing market success
YOU WERE BIG IN AFTER-SALES AND
hardship experienced by a lot of people and all the since re-introduction in late 2003.
PARTS ?
efforts of the GM family in operating in a new envi-
Moving from Sales Operations into After Sales was
ronment, in working to firmly established objec- OPEL?
very different for me. I relished the challenge and
tives, the resultant plans that are in place are prov- Corsa has been a great success story and now that
ing that GM is on the road to recovery. The cash sit- globally GM has made the decision to retain Opel, led a great team in achieving world class Parts
uation remains positive, with a $1.29bn loan from we are looking at all avenues to ensure that we can Processing Systems and changing distribution mod-
the US government already repaid in December make the Opel brand into the force that it used to els, currently in use, into one of the leading and
2009, with the balance of the loan due for repay- be in SA. This is provided that we can bring the most efficient in the motor industry in South Africa
ment this June 2010, which is way above schedule. right vehicles, at the right price to market. Opel is today.
and remains a key brand in our line up – we have a
Through all this General Motors and its brands remarkable amount of loyal customers to this brand WHAT YEAR WERE YOU APPOINTED
remain in the forefront of all consumers minds, who we continue to support with parts and service V-P SALES AND MARKETING?
showing the brand strength, built up over nearly a excellence In 2003. This position has been one of the most
hundred years and with over two million vehicles challenging and satisfying jobs, working with a
sold in 2009. New models being introduced into SAAB? great team, towards establishing a firm hold in the
the American market are receiving rave reviews and Now that GM has sold the SAAB brand, we will market place.
they appear to be the right vehicles, as the cus- continue to work with the new owners towards
tomers are supporting the products with their hard continuing with the unique SAAB offering. But WHO HAS MADE A BIG IMPRESSION ON
earned resources – sales and share in North America for sure, whatever happens, we do and will contin- YOUR LIFE?
are moving ahead very positively indeed. ue to support our current SAAB owners with serv- Three people – Peter Frost at Ford, who taught me
ice and parts. that “Knowing your product is the start of all suc-
AND IN SOUTH AFRICA? cess” in the motor industry. Also the magnitude of
GMSA is looking great and is well geared to WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Nelson Mandela for his immense contribution to
progress well into the future. All the agonies of Like many South Africans, I am a local motor creating the “new South Africa” the “rainbow
restructuring have been completed and our work- industry man from the Eastern Cape. I went to nation” and also to FW de Klerk, who took person-
force is enthusiastic and more positive about the school in PE and obtained a B.Comm from the al risks in his political career, towards changing
future. Our production facilities have been updated University of Port Elizabeth. After leaving school, South Africa, for all of us, forever.
to meet international standards and a new Vehicle my first choice was Mechanical Engineering, but I
Conversion and Distribution Centre is fully opera- was talked into studying for a B. Comm Degree, MARRIED?
tional with a brand new Parts Distribution Centre which was a completely different field for me, but Very happily for 32 years to Michele. We have two
nearing completion at the end of the year. All this now I am actually pleased at the outcome! wonderful daughters. Jamie (23) who has followed
investment points to GMSA being positive about
her father’s footsteps with a B.Comm in Marketing
the future. Added to this positive progress, I am WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN
and Kelsey, still finishing school, who would like to
pleased to advise that during this time, we have not YOU WERE AT SCHOOL?
study either Medicine or Law.
lost one of our distributors/dealers. This dealer net- I have always been fond of cars and motorbikes,
work is widely recognised for their superb after sales I always had an inkling to do something mecha-
back-up and renowned service in South Africa. nical… WHAT ELSE DO YOU HOPE TO
ACHIEVE?
We have worked particularly well in this partner- SPORT AT SCHOOL? There are still huge challenges’ remaining ahead of
ship with our distributors, particularly in keeping Of course, enjoyed playing rugby and was doing me and with this comes huge opportunity to keep
them fully briefed about the company’s progress pretty well and enjoying it until – being smaller me very busy indeed ! Our family holiday home at
throughout this process. We are also particularly than some of the Eastern Cape farming stock - an Keurbooms is perfect for retirement, but remains
proud of the manner in which we have been able to injury put paid to that. firmly for limited vacations at this point in time, as
engage with our customers, who have rallied behind retirement is a long way away, but when it does
our resurgence during this period. Great new prod- YOUR FIRST JOB? come, my biggest hope is that I will be healthy.
uct that we have brought to market – like the new Out of UPE, logically it had to be the motor indus- When this time arrives, I would love to get my
Chevrolet Cruze, has also assisted us in motivating try. So I joined the Ford Motor Company. After hands dirty in a mechanical sense and achieve a per-
a positive feeling towards GMSA , its products and nine years working in Port Elizabeth, Ford relocat- sonal objective that has been on my mind for many
the brands. ed to Pretoria and with this move, it turned me into years and that’s to build a Lotus 7 or a Cobra !
an ardent Blue Bulls supporter. I progressed well

12 MARCH 2010
 Cover Feature

Unlocking the
Power
Control instruments Automotive is a subsidiary of Control Instruments Group
Limited with one mission in mind. To be the leading supplier of premium automo-
tive brands. This is an uncomplicated and easily understood mission, but when
analysed this aim is both simple and complex. The simplicity is in the goals, the
complexity in the execution.

T
he pivot for the activities in reaching these goals resides in marketing and sales. It requires a talented and dedi-
cated team, operating as one and focusing on a singular goal. Control Instruments has had a long and construc-
tive relationship with aerobatic teams, and this is a good analogy for what CI Auto is striving for. The success of
an aerobatic team relies a great deal on tried and tested aeroplanes (read tried and tested brands), meticulous plan-
ning and preparation (read budgets, forecasts, capex, action plans, and all those good things), a talented team total-
ly in sync with each other (read executive team), and a support structure that inspires confidence (read back office
support). This is what CI Auto has been, and still is, all about, despite the various obstacles to achieving its aims, not least being
the tough trading environment visited upon South Africa by the global financial crisis which erupted in late 2008. However, the
goals remain the same, and the strategies remain sound and remain in place. With South Africa having weathered the economic
storm, it is time for the goals to be realised, and CI Auto is up for it. ABR speaks to Kevin Rogers, General Manager, and Grant
Fraser, Marketing Executive, about CI Auto’s prospects for the coming year.

“ 2008 and 2009 were tough years, but Control Instruments Automotive is resilient
and has emerged from the storm in a strong position. We are clear about where we
want to be in the market, and we need to build on the strengths that are already
in place. We have identified what is required from a management point of view,
and our Exco Team is in place. We have been busy on a recruitment drive and have
already appointed the six executive committee members. We are gearing up for
growth, and our message to the market is ‘We’re Here, and we’re Going to Make
a Difference’. Resounding change is what we’re going for, and our first focus is
going to be on customer satisfaction. We are enthusiastically moving to proactive
mode with the entire trade, and we are putting in place the internal mechanisms
to enable us to build a platform to reinforce our incredibly strong brands, increase

”
customer loyalty, and most importantly, to deliver exceptional service.

Kevin Rogers – General Manager

14 MARCH 2010
 Cover Feature

“ Continuing on our strategy from last

Grant Fraser – Marketing Executive
whilst also investing heavily in systems, support and people. 2010 is going to be an
exciting year for us and the general automotive aftermarket. We intend to take full
year, aggressive marketing and strate-
gic product development are the keys
to success. The foundations for these
initiatives remain. CI Auto’s phenom-
enal stable of world class brands, in
particular Gabriel, Warn, VDO,
Echlin, Autocom, AutoExcel, and
other leading brands will take us to
the next level to access the impending
market growth. We will support these
brands with range expansion, cata-
loguing, technical assistance and after
sales support, so that our customers
can leverage off our efforts. And an
important ingredient will be passion
and commitment. To this end, we will
spend a lot of quality time this year
with our customers and suppliers,

”
advantage of the new business environment.

Leveraging CI Auto’s
Sponsorship Initiatives
CI Auto has a rich tradition of
sponsorship initiatives, and
does not just rest on its lau-
rels once the sponsorship
deal has been signed and
sealed. CI Auto gets actively
involved in the various events,
and traditionally uses its
flagship brand Gabriel to rein-
force this powerful brand in
the minds of the trade retail
customers and the general
public. CI Auto looks for
sponsorship opportunities
that fit the Gabriel mould and
events that can easily be asso-
ciated with Gabriel’s durable
and reliable image. CI Auto
also gets involved in public
service projects, that fit with
Gabriel’s long association Gabriel used the opportunity during the Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe
with road safety initiatives. Marathon to donate stationery to three schools in the Umgeni Valley

MARCH 2010 15
 Cover Feature

T
he Gabriel Wings Aerobatic Team provides a great metaphor for the Gabriel product range of shocks, struts and car-
tridges. To attain the perfection of synchronised flight and to perform daring aerobatic feats requires tried and tested
planes, meticulous planning and preparation, and a talented team, all held together by a support structure that inspires
confidence. Similarly the Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon is a wonderful tradition on the South African sport-
ing calendar. It has endured the test of time, it is tough, and it demands determination to complete the race. Aerobatics
and canoeing require dedication, spirit and an effective support team, and Gabriel also loves to do things differently and
to break the mould when it comes to branding conventions. Gabriel wants its brand to be associated with positive emotions, and to cre-
ate a subliminal pull with long term benefits. The Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon held in January 2010 allowed for Gabriel to
play its high profile role with giveaways and friendly social interaction, whilst the Gabriel Wings team under the lead-
ership of Scully Levin was there to entertain the crowds with a wonderful display over the Inanda Dam
on day two of the race, as well as at the race finish in Durban North on day three. It’s all
about brand reinforcement to the public, and it strengthens brand aware-
ness and reminds them to ask for Gabriel the next time
they fit shocks.

16 MARCH 2010
 Cover Feature

Gabriel has also been involved with the Arrive Alive campaign for many years, and for the past eight years it
has been in attendance at the Arrive Alive “Roadblock’ organised by Greyling Broers Toyota every December at
the R26 cross roads between Bethlehem, Frankfurt, Heilbron and Reitz. Whilst vehicle compliance, roadworthy
checks, outstanding fines and content checks are carried out and enforced, the main purpose of this roadblock is
to promote road safety and the message of ARRIVE ALIVE via regular stops and a relaxed approach to driving
during the yearend holidays. Motorists are urged to stop and stretch their legs, and are given refreshments and
promotional give-aways to enhance the message.

A tradition at the Reitz ARRIVE ALIVE stop is the

Ceremony of Memory

MARCH 2010 17
 Tony’s take

Synoptic Chart of
by Tony Twine
the Electric Storm
Anybody is entitled to be bewildered by the storm that erupted in the South African
Economy in the run-up to the NERSA assessment of Eskom’s price increase appli-
cation, due to be announced between this edition of the magazine going to the
printers and it appearing on your desk. Mental pictures of a price tsunami hitting
industries, commerce and consumers (nobody mentions government, probably because
they are suspected of being largely responsible for the apparent economic impasse
surrounding the supply of electricity) have been conjured up, against a background
of virtual certainty, that to do nothing now will simply render the power inter-
ruptions of early 2008 a far more regular occurrence after 2010.

W
ithout any prescience of
the NERSA decision, here
is a skeleton of major eco-
nomic points which sur-
round the decision on pricing vs other
forms of funding desireable levels of gener-
ation capacity expansion. Points are kept
as brief as possible:
• For the economy to grow its output,
the available generation capacity would
be inadequate to handle peak loads
within a year or two, and would strug-
gle with base loads very soon after that.
• Demand side management could put
off the evil day of zero buffer capacity,
but only for a limited period of time.
• Two large generating facilities will have
to be on stream by around 2014 or
2015.
• Given the fact that these units had to
be started a few years ago to meet dead-
lines, coal as the primary energy source
was an imperative, not an option.
• Renewable fuels rely on current tech-
nologies that are more costly to set up
than coal fired generators, even though
the renewable primary energy may be
cheaper in the long run.
• Eskom’s capital reserves are currently
minimal, hence their push to fund
investments out of short term cash-
flow.
• Electricity generation prices in SA are
currently low by world standards, even
after the 2009 price increase.
• The is no such thing as “the electricity
price” as different users pay different
unit prices, both here and elsewhere
around the world.
• Retail electricity in SA is actually rela-
tively expensive, because of mark-ups
by re-distributors (mainly local govern-
ments) which are large and are used to
cross-subsidise free usage, busses, refuse
removal and other services.
• Given the low levels of generation
prices, no substantial private sector
investment can be attracted that will
offer any attractive yields in reasonable
risk-reward assessments.
• Eskom therefore presents as the only
likely source of generation capacity
expansion.
• Eskom has a limited number of
options to fund such expansion, name-
ly price increases and/or debt financing
and/or issuing equity.
• The sole shareholder of Eskom is the
Department of Public Enterprises,
which so far has shown no inclination
to dilute its 100% equity holding in
the utility.
• Issuing equity outside of the DPE
would demand realistically attractive
earnings and dividend yields on hun-
dreds of billions of rands worth of new
equity, which would be diluted by the
existing DPE equity.
• Such earnings and dividend yields
could only come about if Eskom’s prof-
itability were to be improved, which
may be achievable to a limited extent
by more efficient management, but
would be more likely to be achieved by
means of higher generation prices.
• Similarly, if Eskom was to issue debt, it
would have to fund the cost of the debt
and ultimately redeem it, which
appears challenging at present electric-
ity generation prices.
• Thus, both debt financing and equity
financing of any expansion will require
higher electricity prices in the future,
but may obviate the need for sudden
huge price increases that may be
suggested in the scenario relying on
short term cash flows to finance the
expansion.
• Arguments presented to NERSA most-
ly seem to revolve around one or more
user groups trying to duck the ultimate
reality of users paying for generation
capacity expansion.
• No matter how the expansion is
funded, the extra capacity will have to
be paid for, and it is iniquitous to
expect non-users to fund users.
• The only way to save the domestic
economy from the shocks that would
rattle through it if very large price
increases were introduced to fund the
expansions out of current and future
cash flows alone, is to create a mix of
equity and debt financing that would
allow the very large short term price
hike threats to be flattened out over a
longer period of time.
Participants in the South African economy
have woken up to the fact that, while
electricity supply has not been a totally free
lunch over the past two decades, there is a
bill to pay for future meals provided by the
same facility. The common bar room game
of short arms and deep pockets has moved
to the boardroom and the domestic dining
room.

18 MARCH 2010
 Frankly Speaking

An Albatross Around
by Frank Beeton
the Neck?
Leadership of the global motor industry is a subject that frequently comes up for
discussion in this column. Regular readers will remember that, in 2008, Toyota Motor
Corporation finally ended General Motors Corporation’s 77-year former period of world
domination. Toyota had frequently protested that Number One in terms of sales volumes
was not its true goal, but these claims seemed a little hollow when contemplating
the rate at which the Japanese manufacturer was building new plants, introducing new
products, and striking new alliances, on a worldwide scale. Hardly had Toyota moved
into the prime position when new chairman Akio Toyoda, grandson of the company’s
founder, publicly admitted to an excessive degree of “stretch”, fuelled by an ambition
for global leadership, and promised more corporate prudence going forward.

D
uring 2009, it seemed that Toyota had chosen exact-
ly the wrong time to assume leadership of the global
market, being confronted by unprecedented financial
losses, and issues of excessive production capacity,
spread all around the world. Early in 2010, the twin ogres of safe-
ty-related product problems, and resulting recalls for correction,
reared their ugly heads. It has been estimated that recalls for accel-
erator and brake system modifications could affect more than 7,7
million vehicles, and Toyota is reportedly allowing for a $US 1,1
billion negative impact on its 2010 bottom line from the product
fixes, and 100 000 fewer unit sales.
While this has been going on, we have been hearing more about
Volkswagen’s openly discussed management plans to boost its
group sales by 60%, in order to “dethrone Toyota” by 2018. In the
last issue, we detailed the emerging partnership between
Volkswagen and Suzuki, and pondered on the outcomes this may
eventually produce. Toyota’s current misfortunes may even short-
en the timescale of conquest, considering the reported relative
2009 performance of these two global giants. Toyota sold 7,81
million units in that year, 13% down year-on-year, and well off its
2007 record of 9,37 million, while Volkswagen chimed in with
6,3 million units in 2009, which was an improvement of 1,1% on
its 2008 performance. Volkswagen’s plans also call for improved
profitability, with a targeted operating margin of “at least 5% in
its core automotive business” (this was reported to have been just
1,6% in the first three quarters of 2009).
Undoubtedly, the introduction of important new products like
the Amarok pickup, and building new North American plants
will benefit Volkswagen’s cause, but the question must be asked:
Does global leadership really mean anything in the marketplace,
or is it only a servant of boardroom testosterone? There can be no
question that the level of domination by the Ford Model T, which
made up more than 90% of the global vehicle population in the
early Nineteen-Twenties, was a license for old Henry to print
money, but GM’s recipe for ending this domination from 1931,
which was to bring together several distinct brands in a corporate
grouping, and offer the market a wide variety of products, served
to permanently break the mould of one stand-alone iconic
presence at the top of the market. Volkswagen is following the
mid-20th Century GM example by bringing together its own
“Auto Union” (there have been suggestions that it may even revive
that name). The imminent acquisition of sports car manufacturer
Porsche will add to a grouping which already includes Volkswagen
Commercials, Seat, Skoda, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti,
Scania, MAN, NeoMAN, MAN Force Trucks and
MAN/Sinotruk, while the developing relationship with Suzuki
has the potential to add a further 2½ million annual units to the
corporate “pot”. The spectrum of specialised vehicle market
“niches” that are covered by this impressive collection of brands
contrasts strongly with Volkswagen’s early post-World War II
profile when it was very narrowly focussed on producing afford-
able “people’s cars”. It bears remembering that GM started to shed
brands and market positions long before it experienced the
cataclysmic decline to bankruptcy protection, and substantial
restructuring, in 2009.
The question remains: Why do motor manufacturers so assidu-
ously pursue global leadership, rather than just accepting the
route of longer-term natural, organic growth? Commenting on
the dynamics within these vast global empires is problematical
from a miniscule South African point of view, but that’s what I get
paid to do! Rationally, I would dare to suggest that some of the
risks of too-rapid growth include possible exposure to areas of
business not fully understood by the main board, and difficulties
with finding the right calibre of skilled people to fill an ever
increasing number of critical functions in an expanding organisa-
tion. Volkswagen’s recent engagement with the heavy truck
business, through MAN and Scania, has raised a few knowledge-
able industry eyebrows, while it is generally known that major
vehicle manufacturers have been pushing the technical and
financial responsibility for detailed component and assembly
development increasingly into the laps of their component suppli-
ers. Could it be that the present problems being experienced by
Toyota, and, to a lesser extent, by some of its competitors, are an
ominous indication that the whole system is starting to creak?

20 MARCH 2010

Retail Behaviour and
Responsibility
AAMA, the Automotive Aftermarket Manufacturers Association, has many objectives.
Each and every one of these objectives are in the main of equal importance, but it
could be strongly argued that three specific objectives, listed as numbers (iv) to (vi)
in the AAMA charter, together form the most vital element of AAMA’s activities, from
a consumer’s perspective.
These objectives are:
(iv) promote employee training and train-
ing accreditation within the automo-
tive aftermarket and to facilitate the
establishment and administration of a
joint training facility in the automo-
tive aftermarket parts industry;
(v) promote and protect the interests of
members, customers and the public by
ensuring the proper standards of qual-
ity, service and ethical trading condi-
tions are maintained by its members
(vi) jointly promote members’ brands and
products in the Southern African
market by facilitating trade shows and
similar marketing activities
Jointly and severally, from a formal and a
less rigid definition of the term, these
objectives form the core of an overriding
higher goal – to strive for quality, service,
ethical trading and customer care, and to
support this with skills development and
training, because an under qualified work-
force cannot sustain these high principles.
The attitudes underpinning these philoso-
phies start at the top, and AAMA plays a
leadership role in the industry in inculcat-
ing this through the distribution chain,
from sourcing and manufacturing down
to retailing and fitment. To become an
AAMA member requires a strong adher-
ence to these principles, so any distributor
or wholesaler dealing with an AAMA
member has an inherent guarantee that
these rules will be adhered to.
The problem lies further down the chain,
where AAMA has a less formal influence
on the behaviour and responsibility of
retailers and workshops. This is the raison
d’être behind the Partinform format,
22
ALERT
which is a series of road shows travelling
to all corners of Southern Africa, utilising
innovative ways and means to get a very
important message across to the trade, and
particularly to work shops, fitment cen-
ters, wholesales and retail outlets and their
employees in the rural and emerging areas.
The Partinform format allows for the
manufacturers to get face to face with this
important and influential element of the
automotive aftermarket, and to pass on
the vital message of quality and safety, the
rationale and essence behind the prefer-
ence of fitting premium brands, and the
dangers of selling or fitting inferior parts.
There has always been a moral imperative
and an ethical angle to this argument,
which does strike a chord with many
retailers and fitters, but unfortunately
there will always be an element in society
that will never play by the rules, either
through character faults, or in the vast
majority of cases, through a commercial
motive. Sadly, it is a truism that it is easi-
er to make a fast buck than an honest
buck. In the short term, that is. This is the
fight that Partinform takes on its crusades
across the country, and it is a fight that it
is slowly but surely winning. It is a battle
worth fighting. The good news is that a
very strong ally has joined the scrap, and
this ally comes in the form of the CPA
(Consumer Protection Act). This Act
comes into effect in October 2010, and
no longer shall it be caveat emptor (buyer
beware), more like cave canem (beware of
the dog), because this Act will have very
sharp teeth. And it is hoped that the pow-
ers that be will use these teeth. The CPA
gives consumers easy access to legal
recourse and is applicable to all transac-
tions, from buying to servicing, and the
point that needs to be noted is that the
retail motor industry sits squarely in the
sights of the Act. Good news for the good
guys, and bad news for the bad guys. And
it also needs to be noted that anyone
transgressing the Act will not be able to
run and hide behind the facade of not
knowing the consequences of selling rub-
bish. Jeff Osborne, CEO of the RMI
(Retail Motor Industry Organisation),
puts it succinctly, “We need to ensure that
the motor industry is fully up to speed
regarding the implications of the CPA,
ignorance will not be accepted as an
excuse for non-compliance with the new
laws.”
AAMA also leaves the last word to Jeff
Osborne, who is a fellow soldier in the
battle for the minds and souls of the parts
retailers and the workshop fraternity,
“The CPA is a key issue for the industry.
It is vital that its implications are fully
understood. The legislation is consumer-
friendly, making stringent demands on
service providers. South Africa’s customers
will be among the most protected in the
world and business will now have to work
smarter and better to ensure compliance
with the law.”
MARCH 2010
 A series of articles on the rise of the Chery automobile
Happy Customer
(She loves her Shrek)
When it comes to happy customers few people can get close to Serena
Sampson. She just loves her little orange Chery QQ even though it
is obviously Shrek green. “It is just not ripe yet,” she quips.
S
erena bought the car new in December 2008 and has had
nothing to complain about since then. Originally she only
wanted to buy a cheap second hand vehicle but immediate-
ly fell in love with the Chery when she saw a brochure at a deal-
ership in Port Shepstone. She had two conditions before she pur-
chased the car. It had to be Shrek Green and she needed to be
approved for finance. Chery South Africa hooked her up and she
has not looked back since.
Serena could almost write a book about all the things she loves on
the QQ. The colour, the nippiness, the spacious interior and of
course the rest of the standard features are the things she loves
most. “My baby came full house and that’s one decision I have
never regretted.”
This Chery was part of a big change in her life. On the 27th of
December, about three weeks after delivery, she packed all of her
worldly belongings into it and set off to start a new life in Cape
Town. Here she encountered three other Chery QQ’s and has a
story to tell about each one. “The first one I saw each morning as
I took my son to school. The friendly driver hooted and waved
like crazy every morning. In the afternoons I took a different
route and usually saw the second Chery - that driver also hooted
24
and flashed his lights every day. The third one would often be
parked next to mine when I returned to my car at the mall.”
Unfortunately she got no job offers in Cape Town and set off to
Johannesburg. Along the way she encountered many other QQ
owners that would hoot and wave to her. Finally 20 000km’s later
she settled in Margate. “In the 8 months of our travels I may not
have earned much, but my son and I had a ball exploring our
beautiful country and a lot of fun waving to QQ3 drivers.”
Serena loved her QQ3 so much that she even designed a calendar
with her vehicle as the main theme. Nobody bought the calendar
from her but she is hoping somebody might buy it for 2011. How
many people do you know who actually made a calendar about
their beloved car? This is definitely the kind of love that lasts a
lifetime. Serena mentions that she loves to show off her car as
much as possible. After picking her son up from school she
usually gives other kids lifts on the way back. Her son did not
always feel that comfortable with the car though.
“My son used to feel embarassed being seen in a 'girlie car', but
he seems to have come around - especially after I gave him his first
driving lesson in my Chery.”
MARCH 2010
 Industry Update

Hyundai Goodwill Ball Roadshow

Hyundai South-Africa is a proud sponsor of the 2010 World Cup. They recently showed
their devotion to this much anticipated event by taking part in a traditional celebration
of goodwill. 32 goodwill balls were made up to represent each and every country that
will take part in the soccer World Cup. These balls were revealed at Hyundai Park
(situated at Mushroom Farm Park) to a wide range of dignitaries, politicians and govern-
ment officials. These people were the first to write messages of goodwill on these balls
before they will visit other countries participating in the World Cup.

T
he round-the-world trip will end at the beginning of May written for their own national teams. It really does seem that for
and they will only be used again for a celebration directly once the world has united in one common cause. The love of soc-
before the World Cup. After the opening ceremony they cer and the love one has for his country.
will follow their respective teams and the goodwill messages will
be displayed at the various matches. We have to applaud Hyundai for being there to capture these
hopeful messages on something that can be preserved for genera-
According to the CEO of Hyundai South Africa, Alan Ross, the tions to come. It seems that when it comes to soccer, Hyundai is
balls “have become a symbol of pride, hope, passion and the unit- South Africa’s number one fan. They have sent a clear message
ing power of football the world over.” Hyundai has also commis- across the globe to prove this.
sioned the popular band Watershed to write a song to accompany
the balls as they travel the world over. The song is called “United
by the World” and touches at the heartstrings of every South
African. The message is clear: unite behind our soccer team and
kick it till the sun goes down. Each and every South African sup-
porter will have his/her chance to write their own message of
goodwill on the ball. It will make its way across the country stop-
ping at all the major locations. Soccer fans will also stand the
chance to win many prizes at these signing events. Hyundai has
done much to ensure that the public gets as pumped as possible
before the kick-off in June. This is a once in a lifetime opportuni-
ty to relay a message of goodwill across the world. Imagine your
own message displayed to our South African team as they play
against some of the fiercest competition from across the globe, all
the while reading the messages that other hopeful fans have
Osman Arbee, Director of Imperial
Holdings, has a wide and far reaching Manny Da Canha, CEO of Associated Motor Holdings and Chairman
portfolio at Imperial, including after- of Hyundai South Africa, and Albrecht Gründel, Operations Director
market functions. ABR will be talking of Hyundai South Africa, attended the event. ABR took the chance to
to him frequently in the future. ask some questions. Da Canha predicts a strong new vehicle market in
the first six months of 2010, but expects the emissions tax to dampen
demand from September 2010. Gründel is proud of the role that
Hyundai has played in rehabilitating Mushroom Park Farm, and he
Soccer is not soccer wants this green initiative to be a lasting legacy.
without a vuvuzela.

At the ball signing ceremony; Alan Ross, CEO of Hyundai South

Africa, Gert Oosthuizen, Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation,
and Hansoo Kim, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea.
MARCH 2010
26
 Auto Topical

PINNING THE
by Tony Twine,
TAILPIPE ON
Senior Economist,
Director –
Econometrix (Pty)
Ltd
THE CASH COW
The question of carbon dioxide emission taxation in South Africa was first raised before
the February 2009 budget, but the Finance Minister Trevor Manuel quietly postponed any
announcements until the February 2010 budget, no doubt in the interest of not increas-
ing the tax burden as the economy sank to the lowest point of the recession during the
first quarter of 2009. So we cannot claim the outline of the emissions tax to be a total
surprise in the form that it took in the release of the budget on 17th February 2010.
But a greater appetite for fiscal revenue may just have accelerated Treasury decisions,
perhaps to the detriment of a truly equitable approach.

M
otor vehicles are a gen-
uine fiscal cash cow for
both National and
Provincial treasuries. A
quick and dirty assess-
ment of the first 10 years of a budget end
passenger car indicates that a government
owns over 100% of its original purchase
price in terms of excise duties, fuel tax,
licensing fees and sales tax at the point of
its first and more subsequent sales, as well
as on replacement parts and service expen-
ditures, insurance, etc. The more up mar-
ket the car, the greater the proportion of its
purchase price that will be collected as tax.
The emissions tax of 2010 will add to the
slope of this vehicle life tax curve, as there
is likely to be an initial broadly positive
stepwise correlation between vehicle
prices, engine sizes and fuel consumption
rates. The biggest question about the
behavior of new vehicle buyers must lie in
the field of the price elasticity of their
demand for engines of a particular size,
fuel consumption rate and correlated car-
bon dioxide emission levels per distance
traveled.
A study undertaken six years ago by
Econometrix reflects a lack of vehicle fuel
consumption segmented price elasticity,
implying colossal duty impositions to make
small impressions on the way the public
chooses their vehicles in terms of their fuel
consumption.
But taxing new vehicles at the time of their
first sale is probably politically appealing to
a government wanting to retain populist
support at the ballot box. Less than 400
000 new vehicle sales a year implies a very
tiny threat to votes for a government with
an electoral majority running into many
millions ahead of its nearest rival – and
most of those millions do not buy new cars.
Despite the political astuteness of the car-
bon dioxide tax on new vehicles, the fair-
ness of the tax appears to be disturbed by
the fact that an incredible hulk of a vehicle
that slurps its way through 18 litres of fuel
per 100 kilometers may produce less car-
bon dioxide over any period of time, than
does a lighter fuel sipper that perhaps trav-
els four times the distance of the incredible
hulk, at, say, 6 litres per 100km.
The simple fact is that it is not the machine
that defines how much carbon dioxide is
emitted, but how much it is asked to work
at its given level of fuel efficiency. Of
course, that given level of fuel efficiency is
a distinctly moveable feast, or perhaps a
moveable famine. A car rated at, say,
8.5l/100km could consume 50% more
than that if driven hard in urban traffic
environments, or much less than the rating
level if handled gently on the open road.
Conversely, hybrids may sip fuel in stop-
start conditions because most of the accel-
eration is being powered by the batteries,
but be no more fuel effective than similar
sized vehicles in freeway or country road
conditions.
Taxing new vehicles at point of sale leaves
many of the gas guzzlers bought yesterday
and 20 years ago yesterday spewing ever
greater quantities of emissions the older
and more worn their engines get. This
year, South Africa will be extremely fortu-
nate to see 450 000 new vehicles sold into
a population numbering over 9 million
vehicles. Even if the tax is effective, it
would take 10 to 11 years to impact on the
youngest half of the countries vehicle fleet.
For the motor sector, this tax appears to be
most unfortunately timed to create an
impact (largely immeasurable) a decade
from now.
Emissions are related to the fuel efficiency
of a vehicle engine plus the way that it is
driven plus the extent to which it was used.
Taxing fuel would be a greater disincentive
to creating emission gasses than taxing
vehicles, but would impact on more voters
ahead of what is going to be a tricky local
authority election period in 2011 than the
handful of new vehicle buyers. The politi-
cal arithmetic is simple, but does not can-
cel the reality that it is the quantity and
quality of what you put into the front of
the tax cow that determines its emissions,
not the size of the cow.

28 MARCH 2010
 weighty issues

Quo Vadis the 2010

by Frank Beeton Truck Market?
As the first working weeks of 2010 rolled out, the South African commercial vehicle
industry was left contemplating the final results of the 2009 market for trucks,
vans and buses with Gross Vehicle Mass ratings of more than 3 500 kg. The market
totaled 18 934 units, which was 45.4 % lower than the equivalent 2008 result of
34 659 units, and took us back to the sort of volumes last seen circa 2003/4. The
extent of the downturn was beyond the imagination of the supply industry, whose
leaders had produced a consensus forecast of slightly less than 28 500 units just
prior to the end of 2008. At the time, it was seriously questioned why volumes should
deteriorate by some 18% from the previous year’s level, the second best ever. This
view that was subsequently encouraged by former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel,
who, in his February Budget Speech assured the continuing roll-out of the govern-
ment’s R787 billion infrastructure development plan, including R50.9 billion ear-
marked for specific transport-related expenditure.

H
owever, it soon
became clear, during
the early months of
the year, that the com-
bined impact of an
extremely stringent
local asset financing environment, the
global financial meltdown and South
Africa’s own domestic recession, was
driving the market down to monthly vol-
umes around half of the 2008 going rate.
As the year moved through its mid-point,
however, there were the first encouraging
signs that the financing environment had
started to ease, although at a very modest
level. This was brought about by both the
direct intervention of some vehicle manu-
facturers in the financing arena, and a
slightly more accommodating stance
by the financial sector towards vehicle
financing in general.
After the initial rapid decline, the market
thankfully soon found its bottom, with
surprisingly consistent monthly sales
returns in the period from March until
December averaging 1 536 units. Even the
month of December, with its reduced
number of working days and traditional
year-end shut-downs, produced an
uncharacteristically strong result to sustain
the average. Earlier, it had seemed that the
local business community had become
paralysed, and that decision makers were
sitting on their hands, waiting for concrete
signs of recovery before moving in any way
to rebuild inventories, or move forward
with developing their businesses. The con-
sistent March-December profile, however,
seemed to provide a platform for recovery,
and December’s performance inspired
confidence.
So, what about 2010? Even allowing for
these encouraging signs, the outlook for
total commercial vehicle sales over the
whole of calendar 2010 remains extremely
difficult to predict. Some level of market
growth is expected, but the pattern of sales
could be highly erratic, with the market
showing a measure of volatility over any
extended period. The most likely opportu-
nity for recovery will lie between February
and June, as preparations for Soccer World
Cup 2010, and its expected bounty of sev-
eral hundred thousand foreign visitors,
progress. This will be mainly concentrated
in the country’s consumer goods distribu-
tion and passenger transport infrastruc-
tures, and could result in short-term spikes
in the demand for medium and heavy
goods vehicles, and buses. There are also
expectations of a recovery in extra heavy
goods vehicle volumes, driven by the con-
tinued roll-out of national fixed invest-
ment projects up to, and beyond, SWC
2010, with early signs of this trend already
having been evident in January.
Substantial firm orders for buses and
coaches, already announced in the local
media, will also have a positive influence
on reported sales volumes as these units
leave local plants or arrive at ports of entry
during the first half of the year.
However, several recent events will act to
sustain some of the uncertainty prevailing
in 2009. Government utterances on pro-
posals to reduce truck axle mass limits, and
the lack of clarity surrounding the legal
road transport of high cube containers out
of South African ports, may discourage
local operators from investing in expensive
new equipment possibly threatened with
legislated obsolescence. The drastically
reduced sales volumes in 2009 will also
have dampened the risk appetite of truck
manufacturers, importers and dealers, and
intending buyers could find themselves
facing shortages of their most favoured
products, should they try to make last-
minute acquisitions during the first half of
this year.
There is little argument over the expecta-
tion of market growth in 2010, but a great
many different opinions over its magni-
tude. The most favoured range seems to be
between 10 and 20%, which would result
in total market sizes of 20 900 to 22 700
units, moving us slightly ahead of the
2004 experience. The danger is, however,
that most of this growth may be concen-
trated in the first half of the year, with a
sharp drop-off in demand as the last few
SWC 2010 visitors drift away in
July/August. There is also the danger of
idle fleets looking for alternative employ-
ment, and displacing new vehicle purchas-
es, as business levels return to normal. A
challenging time for forecasters, indeed!

30 MARCH 2010
 Consumer Protection Act

Customers get more

Muscle with new Act
Just when you thought it was safe to step into the ring without your protective head-
gear, government serves up a fresh set of legislation to help protect consumers
against rogue business practices. Come October 2010 when the new Consumer
Protection Act comes into effect, any automotive business looking to make a fast buck
off naive consumers should think twice about it...Joe and Jane Public just got some
serious backstop, writes Paul Collings.

Jeff Osborne contemplates

the impact of the CPA on
RMI members

T
he automotive industry will remember well the
scramble to comply with new labour legislation
that came into effect just over a decade ago. In
particular, the revised Labour Relations Act, the
Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Skills
Development Act and the Employment Equity
all placed additional stress on human resources departments
around the country at a time when most were struggling to man-
age skills deficits borne largely out of the country’s Apartheid-era
education policies. As the millennium rolled in with South
African employees now protected by the world’s most ‘labour-
friendly’ legislation, enterprises of all sizes and descriptions soon
faced another obstacle in the National Credit Act of 2007,
designed to put the dampers on reckless lending by banks to indi-
viduals and businesses who in essence weren’t equipped to shoul-
der debt levels they once qualified for.
This clamp-down on ‘borrowed money’ hit the automotive sector
hard and as new and used car sales rapidly plummeted, many
dealers liquidated their operations. With consumers forced to
hang on to their old wheels, it was only the automotive aftermar-
ket which benefitted, thanks to an increase in auto-servicing and
spares-sales to keep motorists’ ‘late models’ on the road. And then,
six months later, came the global economic meltdown...
Long story short, it’s been a tough ten years for the automotive
industry but those players who have survived have done so
because they operate ‘by the book’, something that will stand
them in good stead when it comes to complying with the stipula-
tions of the new Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
Tasked by the Department of Trade and Industry (Dti) to formu-
late a set of regulations to govern the retail automotive sector with
respect to the CPA, the RMI (Retail Motor Industry) is currently
holding a nationwide symposium to spell out the requirements of
the CPA as they apply to automotive retail/aftermarket suppliers.
“We need to ensure that the motor industry is
fully up to speed regarding the implications of the
CPA,” says Jeff Osborne, CEO of the RMI.
“Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse for
non-compliance with the new laws.”

32 MARCH 2010
 .......Consumer Protection Act

Charlie Teuteberg-Kirk spells out Bonita Degenna advocates

the dangers of non-compliance making legal compliance part
of the workflow process

‘Helping ‘unpack’ the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the new Act at the work-
shops are specialist attorney Charlie Teuteberg-Kirk (of legal con-
sultancy, Robertson Teuteberg-Kirk) and Bonita Degenna of
Ayria (a consultancy integrating legal compliance within the auto-
motive industry). At the Gauteng workshop held on 11 February
at Gold Reef City and attended by hundreds of RMI members,
Teuteberg-Kirk stated that: “The proliferation of unfair business
practices (like pyramid schemes) has given rise to the new Act.
The CPA gives consumers easy access to legal recourse and is
applicable to all transactions, from buying to servicing.”

The point was stressed that the retail motor industry sits squarely
in the sights of the Act. As such, the workshops outline the aims
and objectives of the CPA as well as the demands the Act will
place on business and the many pitfalls to be avoided, says
Osborne. “Solutions designed to ensure compliance with the new
Act, as well as the elimination of risk, are also presented, while
guidance is given with regard to the adaptation of new business
practices. The aim is to ensure a smooth and healthy transition
in compliance with the new legislation.”

According to Teuteberg-Kirk, “the Act gives consumers the right

to cancel fixed-term contracts and prohibits unfair contract terms.
Enhanced levels of disclosure regarding prices, safety, guarantees
and warrantees must be presented to customers, who also now
have the right to demand quality products and service as well as
documentation that is written in ‘easy-speak’.” Interestingly, fran-
chisees now hold the rights of a ‘consumer’ as stipulated by the
Act. What’s more, “producers, distributors, retailers and suppliers
will be severally liable for damages resulting from the death, injury
or loss/damage to property as suffered by consumers or third-
party users of goods. The Act sets out administrative sanctions and
penalties for non-compliance. Businesses have been given a fixed
period of time to bring their procedures, processes, sales records,
documentation, warranties and agreements etc. Within the com-
pliance requirements of the Act, adds Teuteberg-Kirk.

Osborne concludes by saying: “The CPA is a key issue for the

industry. It is vital that its implications are fully understood. The
legislation is consumer-friendly, making stringent demands on
service providers. South Africa’s customers will be among the most
protected in the world and business will now have to work smarter
and better to ensure compliance with the law.”

MARCH 2010
 The 2010/2011 Budget

Budget Blues – not a

Black and White
by Austin Gamble
Outcome
At the Budget Conference held at the JSE Auditorium on Friday, 19th February 2010,
and jointly sponsored by Business Report, Noah Consulting and Econometrix, some
sound and interesting feedback was delivered to the invited and spellbound audience.
Whilst Pravin Gorhan was given a general thumbs up for the 2010/2011 budget,
there were some interesting titbits to be gleaned from the speakers, and an
enthralling half an hour of political analysis by Aubrey Matshiqi.

D
r. Azar Jammine,
Director and Chief
Economist at
Econometrix, set
the tone for the conference with
the comment that he was “very
encouraged” by the budget,
adding that the budget instils
confidence in the macro man-
agement of South Africa’s econ-
omy. Dr. Jammine also com-
mented that we could not
expect fireworks in the next few
years, because the world had Aubrey Matshiqi, Senior Research Associate at the
spent the bulk of the Centre for Policy Studies
“noughties” in digging itself
into a credit inspired grave, and that any recovery would have to
be carefully managed by the world’s central banks. Tony Twine,
Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix, looked at the
budget from an automotive perspective, and referring to the emis-
sion tax to be implemented in September 2010, he said that it was
“a fundamental waste of time to charge new car buyers R450 mil-
lion” because historically the fuel consumption of cars has been
singularly inelastic when it comes to purchasing decisions by the
kind of people who buy gas guzzlers, as they would hardly notice
an extra R20 000 odd. Thus, if the intention is to make South
Africans motorists more environmentally conscious, then it will
be a singular failure. However, Twine did put it all into perspec-
tive by noting that “political arithmetic is very straightforward”.
George Glynos, from Econometrix Treasury Management (Pty)
Ltd., looking forward, said that South Africa is not in a position
to manipulate the exchange rate, nor could it do much with mon-
etary policy tampering in influencing interest rates. He pointed
out that a growth environment needs stability in both currency
and interest rates. Peering into his crystal ball, Glynos sees the
possibility of 10 to 15% returns on equities, 7 to 12% returns on
bonds, and the Rand to remain strong, with the possibility of it
testing R7 to the Dollar in 2010.
Aubrey Matshiqi, Senior Research Associate at the Centre for
Policy Studies, then unleashed his web of political intrigue, which
made for entertaining listening. Referring to the iPap (Industrial
Policy Action Plan) unveiled on the same day by Rob Davies,
Minister of Trade and Industry, Matshiqi made the acerbic obser-
vation that epap meant a
flat wheel in the townships.
On a more serious note, his
observation that the politi-
cal coalition that removed
Thabo Mbeki was based on
political interests, as narrow
economic and business
ends were behind the drive
to capture the ANC, and by
default to capture the state,
was spot on. Thus those
with their hands on the
levers of power comprise
both leaders who are serious
about state craft and the
need to deliver on promises, and looters with the aim of enrich-
ing themselves. Another big problem is the erosion of Jacob
Zuma’s authority and standing, and the disturbing fact that the
ANC is “one apology away from a leadership crisis”, which could
happen long before the 2012 ANC conference, and could make
the months’ leading up to the 2007 conference look like a Sunday
School picnic. Matshiqi also commented that Jacob Zuma’s boast
that the ANC would stay in power until the second coming of
Christ gave him as a Christian wild hope for a spectacular return
much closer than we think.
Matshiqi also foresees policy predictability going forward, and
cannot see any shift to the left, precisely because the left has not
put forward an alternative to the recent economic crisis, which
effectively means that capitalism has saved itself. Despite this he
cannot see a Workers Party emerging, primarily because of their
obsession with the alliance and the harsh fact that they would not
do well at the polls. He does however warn us to beware of the
Black Swan. Referring to the budget speech, Matshiqi observes
that there is “a mismatch of the rhetorical dimensions of the
speech and policy substance”. He bemoaned the fact that the win-
dow of opportunity during the growth period does not extend to
the poor, and that if these windows are not used that we can
expect social and political instability. He ended off on a positive
note, using a vegetable analogy to say that we have just endured a
broccoli and cauliflower phase, and that he has no doubt that
pudding will follow. The only question is about the quality and
quantity of the pudding.

34 MARCH 2010
 Intelli-Driving

Looking Back is Good – Part Two

This is a continuation of last month’s article in which we spoke about
effective use of mirrors. In part two we extend this to see how better
control of our rear zones will create greater stability and therefore a
safer driving experience.
by Eugene Herbert

Before and After Braking REMEMBER: Before your foot goes to the
Before your foot goes to the brake pedal, your eyes should go to brake pedal, your eyes should go to the rear
the rear-view mirrors. view mirrors.
The earlier the mirrors are used, the sooner the condition behind Till next time safe driving
can be identified. This leads to more available options, which con-
tribute to better decision making and lower risk, it also gives time
for more effective communication with the following driver.

While you are in Stopped

Traffic
You, your passengers and other road users can become vulnerable,
not only from rear end collisions but also hijackers and smash and
grab thieves, when the car is stationary. As a high percentage of all
crashes are rear end collisions, when we are stopped in traffic our
risk potential could dramatically increase. The faster that the traf-
fic is moving the greater is the potential risk of serious injury if
and when your vehicle comes to a standstill. Continue to moni-
tor the rear view mirrors until at least a couple of vehicles have
stopped behind you. When at least two cars have stopped behind
you, they will act as barrier to absorb the force of impact should
an incident occur.

Before and After Turning

Right or Left or making
Lane Changes
This helps to give an update of conditions behind immediately
before and after entering a new traffic pattern. Look for fast
approaching traffic.

Vehicles Closing Fast

When you see a vehicle behind you closing fast, consider using
your brake pedal to activate your brake lights to try to get the dri-
ver's attention. The sooner you see the closing vehicle, the more
time you will have to communicate, which is why you need to
check behind your vehicle often and as soon as you see a reason
to reduce your speed or change your road position.

If your foot needs the brakes or hands need to turn the wheel,
then your eyes need the rear view mirrors.

Using the Rear view Mirror

Imagine that you are approaching a slow moving or stationary
traffic queue at road works on the motorway... When would you
like to know that there is a Truck or bus (maybe even a taxi) clos-
ing from behind? The earlier the mirrors are used the more time
and space you can give the driver of the vehicle to slow down.

36 MARCH 2010
 Product News

Leaky, Damaged, Defective
Damage to Cylinder-head gaskets
MLS cylinder-head gaskets manufac-
tured by the Dana Sealing
Products Group are subjected to
demanding quality tests during
production. Leaks, damage or
total failure of the sealing system
are mostly an indication of
causes or defects in the engine/
gasket system. Consequently,
simply replacing the cylinder-head
gasket will not automatically solve
the problem.
Typical leaks between cylinder
head, cylinder-head gasket, and
engine block involve gas, oil, or
coolant leakages. These leakages
occur between combustion
chambers, into the coolant circuit,
or to the environment. Gas leaks
can result in fatal engine damage
within a very short time – oil leaks
can cause severe environmental
pollution.
Premature Failures
In MLS CHG
Pressed-in dirt or foreign objects While reworking the surfaces of
as well as rough surfaces also cylinder head or engine block in
cause damage to cylinder-head case of component unevenness,
gaskets. Component unevennesses distortion, waviness or scores and
lead to gas blowby between grooves, dirt and foreign objects
the combustion chambers, and accumulate, which can result in
consequently to gasket failure. damage to the cylinder-head gasket.
Therefore, thorough cleaning
Causal Investigation of the sealing surfaces is essential
Engine overheating in combination before installing the cylinder-head Typical media leakages with
with component distortion, or gasket.
inadequate compression of the
MLS cylinder-head gaskets
cylinder-head gasket are the most
frequent reasons for leakage.
Thermal overloading occurs as a
result of defective components
in the coolant circuit or incorrect
maintenance. Other causes are
irregular combustion due to coke
deposits, and excessively high
exhaust gas pressure after failure
of the catalytic converter. Moreover,
chemical additives in the
coolant and low-quality antifreeze
agents can attack sealant coatings.

Part two to follow in ABR - May edition

What’s the Buzz?

Bridgestone warns on old tyres

CEO of Bridgestone South Africa, Romano Daniels, recently warned the public against using ageing tyres on their vehicles. According to
Daniels, the tyre undergoes chemical changes when the structure ages. This could cause the tyre to harden. This process could start as little as
four years from the manufacturing date of the tyre. At this point the tyre may start showing cracks on the sidewalls that could get worse as the
tyre ages. As these tyres harden they may also lose their ability to perform in emergency situations. These types of tyres could fail instantaneous-
ly without warning, which is all the more reason to replace them immediately. Daniels further stated that “the average lifespan of a tyre is five
to seven years. After that, the tyre should be replaced regardless of its remaining tread.” It is almost impossible to prevent this ageing process.
UV radiation in sunlight, ozone and oils all play a part in this problem. “However, keeping tyres correctly inflated ensures heat build-up is kept
to a minimum while driving and this may slow down the ageing process,” he added.

MARCH 2010 37
 Diamond Dialogues

Editorial
Partnership
Giel Steyn

In this series of articles ABR discusses with Giel Steyn of Grandmark International the four significant factors that should be taken into
account when purchasing automotive parts - Technology, Quality, Safety and Value for Money. These four characteristics are inter-related, and
each cannot stand on their own, and together they become a motorist's best friend. Similarly, diamonds are also judged on four characteristics,
known as the “four c's” - carat, clarity, colour and cut; and of course, diamonds are a girl's best friend. Grandmark International, as a dis-
tributor of automotive parts, is keenly aware of the need to source only the best in Technology, Quality, Safety and Value for Money, and
therefore it is appropriate that this series of articles is titled Diamond Dialogues.

Consumer Protection
– All Have Responsibilities
The hot topic at the moment is the Consumer Protection Act, which comes into partial
effect on 28 April 2010. In the previous issue of ABR, we looked at various aspects
and issues relating to this important piece of legislation. We said then that this Act,
together with the National Regulator for Compulsory Specification Act, is all good
and well, but that these Acts can only be truly effective if the means to the end are
adhered to. These Acts require observance both in law and in spirit, and very
importantly, the consumer also needs to accept his and her responsibilities.

T
o understand this respon-
sibility, and indeed
imperative, we wish to
graphically illustrate
where the industry is
going terribly wrong,
with a real life scenario. In late 2009,
Consumer A had the misfortune to suffer
engine failure in his relatively late model
German sedan. This vehicle, apart from its
prematurely expired engine, was in pristine
condition, and when the recalcitrant
power plant went to the big engine
resting room in the sky, the vehicle
was conservatively valued at
R130 000. Here comes the rub
– the repair bill came to R95
000, of which R88 000 was
for a partly new replacement
four cylinder engine (sub
assembly). Note the emphasis
on new. Based on this exorbitant
cost, the insurance company decided
to scrap the vehicle, despite its excellent
condition. A tremendous waste, but even
more scandalous was the fact that a per-
fectly acceptable remanufactured unit
(using the OEMs approved parts), and car-
rying the same warranty as a new engine,
was available at R31 000. We haven’t done
the exercise, but we guarantee the reader
that using equally acceptable alternative
parts to repair the engine, the repair bill
would have come in well under R30 000.
When questioned, the insurance company
said that they had no choice, as their poli-
cy was based on the overwhelming desire
of consumers, insisting on brand spanking
new replacement engines.
What can we deduce from this? Simply
put, it is the consumer, who by wanting
the cake and wanting to eat it, is playing
a major role in pushing up inflation,
increasing premiums, and affecting gener-
al affordability. By this behaviour the con-
sumer is his own enemy. By insisting on
original parts vs. quality replacement parts,
sometimes for older vehicles, the consumer
is doing nothing else but shooting himself
in an artificially valued foot. This scenario
is a classic case of the consumer needing to
be protected from himself. One of the
CPA’s drivers is the intention for the
industry to regulate itself, because the con-
sequences of misfeasance will force the
unscrupulous suppliers to think twice
before importing absolute rubbish. This
will hopefully, in the longer term, force
inferior quality parts out of the market.
But the situation at the other end of the
spectrum with the mollycoddled consumer
demanding “perfection” is ludicrous. The
majority of branded alternative parts avail-
able in this country not only comply
with OE specifications, but many
also carry the SABS mark.
Responsible companies such as
Grandmark International offer
high quality product at com-
petitive prices, and this fact
has to be accepted and
acknowledged by both the
consumer and the insurance
industry. To write off valuable
assets just because of a myopic
approach to quality and price, is forcing
the insurance companies to scrap perfectly
sound vehicles – vehicles that can be
repaired with parts at a fraction of the cost
of comparative OE approved parts. It is a
well known secret that compulsory specifi-
cations apply equally to OE approved
parts and the aftermarket alternatives.
If the truth be told, they are often identi-
cal, and many times come out of the same
factories.
This insanity must end.

40 MARCH 2010
 Customer C.A.R.E.

Automotive CRM – from an inter-

national perspective to local activity
I have been in the fortunate position to attend some inter-
national Automotive CRM conferences. It’s fascinating to
see and hear what the car companies are doing in the differ-
ent countries to develop and improve their relationship with
Theo Calitz has been
working in or involved their customers. During one particular conference held in
in the motor industry Amsterdam a few years ago one of the presenters, Rob
for the last 16 years.
A Mechanical Malyn of GM Europe, made some pertinent points.
Engineer by

H
profession, he is pas-
sionate about customer
care and his company,
T-R-M specialises in
automotive CRM for
the automotive indus-
try and has been doing
We have brought these ideas to SA and we have done a survey by testing two aspects of CRM: requesting a
it for nine years.
test drive and requesting a brochure. The results were quite shocking. Clearly the strategies of the OEM did
Brochure Request
is first point was that the Automakers should be tested to see to what extent their CRM
strategies are working or not. His second point was that the CRM practitioners from the
motor industry should meet from time to time in order to set standards, share ideas and sup-
port each other. I think both ideas are great since improving CRM in the motor industry
would invariably lead to a better experience by the customer as well as more sales.
not work as well in practice as in theory. (See table).
We believe that regular measurements should be done
and published with names in order to encourage
improvement in the attention given to the customer
from the OEM. Companies that cannot even respond
to a request to provide a Brochure or test drive their
product surely should not complain if their sales are
not doing so well. With most automotive companies
and dealers currently reeling under the effects of the
recession, this is one area that needs as much attention
as possible, requiring the right systems and processes
as well as the very important aspect of excellent fulfil-
ment. We will discuss some great case studies in a
following article.

The second concept that we introduced was that of a

CRM Forum. A Power Lunch is offered from time to
the industry where guest speakers present information
and where networking opportunities exist. The next
event is going to be on the 29th of March where Brian
Mdluli from the DMA will present the details of the
new Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

The event will take place at a major OEM’s

Head Offices. If anyone is interested please
phone Gareth at 0861 876 876.

NA = Not available
EB = Electronic brochure
DNA = Did not arrive

www.t-r-m.co.za
T 0861 TRM TRM
F 086 686 8382

42 MARCH 2010
 Customer C.A.R.E. What’s the Buzz?
Test Drive Request
A Day at the Races
Kyalami was all abuzz on Saturday, 20th February
2010. ABR was there.

NA = Not available • NR = No response

Customer C.A.R.E. Programme

– sponsored by Federal-Mogul

MODULE NINE - STEP # TWO:

THE DI PHENOMENON
What exactly is the DI PHENOMENON?
I have called it such, because it describes exactly how a vast group of people can be conned into believing that a mere mortal, with
many faults, is really a saint, and whose mere touch can heal the sick. For the purposes of STEP # TWO, please read “employees” for
the group of people and “customer” for the mere mortal. This unbelievable, but true story, is that of Diana Spencer, the dysfunction-
al teenager and the product of a broken home, and highly hormoned parents. This poor rich young girl, before she had come close to
grasping the meaning of life, and before she had tasted the normality of balanced human relationships, was thrust into one of the
world’s most visible and scrutinised roles - the wife of the future King of England, and the mother to the future King of England. And
as it turned out, the Queen of Hearts. Her beauty and photogenic qualities added grist to the mills of the mainline press, magazine
moguls and tabloid tyrants, and the deification (or di-eification ) of Diana had begun.
What I am about to say will upset many of you, but it is the truth. And the fact that you are upset proves my theory that any situa-
tion can be manipulated, and with the correct brain-washing techniques, anyone can be built up into a demi-god. In a few chapters
back, I stated that for all you know, your customers in their private lives, could be bulimic, adulterous, vain, rebellious, spiteful,
Continued on p44
MARCH 2010 43
 Customer C.A.R.E. Programme
from p43
hurtful and shallow. I also mentioned that
they may even cheat on their golf handi-
cap. Yet, I said, even with all of these
faults, we MUST get our employees to be
fascinated with the customer. This is
exactly what happened with Diana. It was
quite clear to the dispassionate observer,
that she was bulimic, adulterous, vain,
rebellious, spiteful, hurtful and shallow.
And yet, with all of these faults, the
majority of people were totally fascinated
and besotted with her. I don’t think that
she ever cheated on her golf handicap, but
judging by the way her brother treated his
wife, it definitely is not genetically in the
realms of the impossible. Of course,
Diana had many redeeming features, of
which her love for the downtrodden was
the most worthy, but for the purposes of
explaining the phenomenon, I have to
concentrate on her less virtuous side.
How did she pull this off? Or more accu-
rately, how did the media pull it off? They
did it by relentlessly pushing an image of
her, day-in, day-out, month after month,
year after year. To assist them, they also
had the ideal foil in Prince Charles, who
managed to make a centipede look inade-
quate, the amount of times that he man-
aged to put his foot in it. This is also a
good analogy of how you must relentless-
ly push an image of your customer, with
the foil being examples of poor service in
your organisation. This we will discuss in
more detail in module ten.
– sponsored by Federal-Mogul
* NOTE OF EXPLANATION
Before I go, I think it is important and
wise to calm the nerves of all the
Diphiliacs out there, who have gone
through an incredible range of emotions
whilst reading this article. Please note
that this has not been an attack on
Princess Di per se, but that I had to use
her as an example of how powerful the
media can be, and how information can
be manipulated and utilised, because
this example is so true, and so accurate.
It was tailor made to prove my theory.
Princess Di, unfortunately in hindsight,
led a tragic life, and it had to end tragi-
cally, because of the relentless and inex-
orable nature of the media spotlight. She
became the victim of her own populari-
ty, and once she started to believe in her
own invincibility, she became a prisoner
of this shallow soap opera. An immature
girl who had been thrust into a make-
believe world, and who could not be
expected to handle the phenomenal mar-
keting power that had been given to her,
and I don’t think that there has ever been
any mortal on this earth who could not
fail to manipulate the situation.
THE LESSON TO
BE LEARNED
The lesson for you is to create this extraor-
dinary image of the customer, but never to
allow it to become a distorted fairy tale,
and never to allow the customer to manip-
ulate the situation. We must make the
customer KING in both the employee’s
mind and the customer’s mind, but never
the DICTATOR. This is how a good
kingdom is run - the KING (the cus-
tomer) must be made comfortable, and
must walk down the red carpet, and must
be adored by the subjects (the employees),
but the power must be held by the elected
officials (the company). Think about it!
Think about South Africa today, and the
parallels.
DISCUSSION
POINTS
1. What is the meaning of life?
2. Do you think it is important to know
the details of your customers’ private
lives?
3. Every day, hundreds of thousands of
people are quietly improving the lives
of others, without any fanfare. What
can we learn from this?
4. Customers have buying power, and can
use this power to great effect. However,
when dealing with customers, employ-
ees also have immense power. This can
be called the power of customer c.a.r.e.
Discuss.

What’s the Buzz?

Volvo PV36 celebrates its 75th anniversary

The Volvo PV36, better known as the Carioca, celebrates its 75th birthday during 2010. It was originally intro-
duced to the world in the spring of 1935. The PV36 was the brainchild of Ivan Ornberg who led the production
process from the very beginning. Unfortunately he died in 1936 shortly after the vehicle was launched. The PV36
was best known for its revolutionary pressed steel body and the 3.67l, 6 cylinder engine that delivered 80 horse-
power. These kinds of features came at a price though. This Volvo was one of the most expensive vehicles you
could buy during the 30’s.

44 MARCH 2010
 Tyre Talk

Firestone Unveils
New General
Use Multihawk
South African tyre manufacturer Firestone has
announced the launch of its new Multihawk tyre which
will become its core General Use (GU) product for the
foreseeable future. The Multihawk replaces the F900,
which is being phased out in all sizes except the 12-inch
‘trailer-size’ tyres. The Multihawk also supplants the
venerable S211, which has
been a South African tyre
icon since 1981, and was
produced as the S211T vari-
ant from 1996.

The media launch took place at the historic Lanzerec

Estate with the tyres been given a searching examination
over the Western Cape passes.

“We believe the Multihawk will build on
both the S211’s iconic status and the
F900’s wide acceptance as a tyre for the
discerning motorist,” said Bridgestone
General Manager for Marketing, Romano
Daniels. “We are targeting buyers who
consciously seek reliability and value at a
reasonable price, meaning the Multihawk
will be available in a range of sizes typical-
ly used by B and C-Segment sedans and
hatches,” he added.
The Multihawk is a safety-focused tyre
and particular attention has been paid to
its wet-weather performance. Despite
this, the tyre compound is formulated to
perform well in dry weather without com-
promising on durability. Firestone says the
tyre gives above-average steering precision
and is more resistant than previous tyres
to abnormal wear patterns which can
result from wheel alignment or suspension
defects. Special attention has been paid to
the styling of the tyre to ensure it is an
attractive match for the wheels and body-
work of the modern vehicles to which it
will be fitted. It also has a noticeably dif-
ferent tread footprint to its predecessors,
with a bigger contact patch than an equiv-
alent-sized F900. This gives better dry
weather road holding and braking dis-
tances. Meanwhile, the void ratio (the
ratio of the tread gaps to the total foot-
print) increases to 26 percent versus the
24 percent of the F900. Apart from reduc-
ing tyre noise, this change improves water
dispersion on wet roads, giving greater
resistance to aquaplaning. The higher void
ratio partly accounts for the tyre’s
improved resistance to irregular wear.
Another factor in extending durability
and improving resistance to irregular wear
has been the elimination of the F900’s
twin-rib configuration in the centre of the
tread pattern in favour of lens-shaped
blocks. These also play a part in improv-
ing dry handling characteristics, while at
the same time contributing to the better
water dispersion performance. “The result
of these advances is an exceptionally well-
balanced tyre under all conditions,” said
Daniels. “The Multihawk has proven its
mettle in real-world testing, with sound
levels observed at just 68dBa versus the
current EU regulation limit of 74 dBa,” he
continued. “We are confident the
Multihawk will become the benchmark in
this tyre category,” Daniels commented.
“Motorists will enjoy the immediate
advantages, like better safety and lower
noise, while benefiting from greater dura-
bility in the long term,” he concluded.

46 MARCH 2010
 What’s the Buzz?
Ford Everest hits the
road with SA Rugby’s
Champion Tour

F
ord Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) together
with SA Rugby is preparing to hit the road with world rugby’s
most sought-after silverware. The convoy will visit schools and
clubs across the country early in February to share the success of
South African rugby with all supporters. FMCSA has a long-stand-
ing relationship with SA Rugby, as the official vehicle sponsor of the
Springbok Rugby team, the South African A team, the South African
U-21 team and the South African Sevens team. The recently
launched Ford Everest is the perfect partner for the Champions Tour.
SA Rugby is constructing a purpose built trailer for the Tour,
complete with a fold-out stage and retractable roof. Two Ford
Everests will be used by support staff that will travel with the trophy
cabinet. The contingent will travel all across South Africa taking the
game to the people and showing them the trophies won by South
African teams in 2009. Among the display will be the Vodacom Tri-
Nations Trophy, the IRB Sevens World Series trophy, The British
& Irish Lions series trophy, the Vodacom Super 14 trophy, the
Freedom Cup and the Mandela Plate. The display will also include
the Rugby World Cup (won in 2007) and the icon of South African
rugby, the Absa Currie Cup. “South Africa enjoyed a formidable year
in 2009 and the Champions Tour provides South African rugby sup-
porters all across the country an excellent opportunity to share in
these successes,” says Ben Pillay, Ford Marketing Manager. “The
Ford Everest is perfectly suited to this application thanks to its go
any-where ability and aptitude for adventure.” The tour started in
Cape Town on Friday, February 5 and will snake its way through all
14 provinces, including rugby “outposts” such as Springbok,
Upington, Polokwane and Nelspruit before concluding in Durban
on Sunday, March 21.

MARCH 2010
 Tyres and Their Contribution
to Safety in Motoring
www.bridgestone.co.za
This year we are going to change our approach
slightly. We have previously discussed ways to Marcus Haw
improve tyre expenses, and gone through the
safety aspects of tyres. We have explained which vehicles are
hardest on tyres and why; even approached the subject of
improving tyre life on such vehicles. We have touched on the
responsibility carried by fleet controllers and vehicle opera-
tors. This year we will return to the tyre itself. What it is, what
it does and why it is so important from a road safety perspec-
tive. Yes, there will be some parts that you will have read
before, but as mentioned previously, education is repetitive.
Remember too that we need to cater for new readers, people
who have just been introduced to fleet management and those
who need reminding. So while we intend to keep things as inter-
esting and varied as possible, bear with us on the bits you may
have seen before.
By reintroducing the tyre to you, we hope supporting large loads, and accepting and shouldn’t be selling tyres. While doing a
to remind you of what a special product a distributing various lateral and vertical spot survey recently we came across a
tyre really is. forces. That’s quite a lot for something beautiful looking Hummer fitted with 24”
that is usually overlooked and ignored as chrome wheels and 45” profile tyres.
Defining a tyre usually comes as a surprise an unimportant product which is mostly While this type of fitment is open to
to the uninitiated, and usually is too sim- purchased under protest. Tyres are with- much debate and ridicule by those in the
plistic. The reason for this is that a tyre is out exception the most underrated and know, this particular set of tyres total load
so much more involved in it’s make-up misunderstood products on any vehicle. index was exceeded by the vehicle’s weight
than is normally imagined. Here is a And strangely, they are the primary safety alone, never mind with the added burden
description of a tyre: a tyre is made from product on any vehicle. In current times, of passengers. So while we have been quite
many components which comprise many people’s values are more questionable than blatant in pointing out the responsibilities
materials. These range from chemicals to ever before. We see more and more fleet carried by the fleet controllers, we cannot
steel. All these components and materials operators changing to cheap imports with be sufficiently critical of the criminal neg-
have to be put together in a way that they no thought or research into the tyre’s his- ligence of dealers like this.
stay together under all conditions. Some tory, quality or safety record. The empha-
of these materials are incompatible, and sis is purely purchase price, not long term
ways are sought to make them compati- returns. In many cases this is done at the
ble. An example of this is that steel and expense of safety considerations. Image
rubber don’t bond. In order to get them to and looks come into play both in the fleet
bond the steel has to be wrapped in cop- and private sectors. Fancy rims with inap-
per which facilitates the bond between the propriate tyres are also being fitted with
rubber wrap which covers the steel belts. no thought to safety.
Other components have to be able to per-
form multiple functions while being Making money is all important and while
joined to a component performing other this is simple business logic, it should still
multiple functions. Then there are the be done professionally, ethically and with
joining areas between all these compo- the safety of the buyer in mind. Tyres are
nents known as transitional areas. In safety critical items, we cannot emphasise
many cases this would require rigid areas this enough. Yet we still come across buy- It does however, once again, confirm the
to be able to meld with flex areas. The ers and sellers who don’t give a damn. need for continuous education of users.
melding has to be reliable under extreme This is the only way they will be protect-
dynamic conditions. Tyres, the sum of all The buyers can be ignorant to the dan- ed from those few unscrupulous non-car-
these materials and components, need to gers, but the sellers cannot claim this as an ing individuals in the industry. At
be able to retain air under pressure, while excuse, and if they are that ignorant, they Bridgestone, this is a fight we willingly
accept. Think Safety, Think Tyre Safety.

48
 Show News

Another exciting line up of exhibitors will

be displaying their products & services at
WATS 2010 taking place at the Tshwane
Events Centre / Pretoria Show Grounds in
Hall “L”, 24-25th March 2010 from 10:00
to 21:30 daily.

This year for the very first time WATS is hosting a number of,
mini seminars, each no longer than 60min covering technology
based topics such as:
• Generic Vehicle Diagnostics, Fuel Injection, Gas
Analysis & Engine Management presented by Colin
Sapsford & Driko Henningse of Automotive Diagnostic
Solutions.
• ATE Brake Systems by Norman Bull. Followed by Quality
Brake Kits by Quick Brake.
• Safeline Brake Systems by Chris Brand. Followed with
Quality Brake Kits by Quick Brake.
• Getting the most out of your Electrolog. S.A’s only PC Based
Auto Electrical Catalogue presented by Kerrie Gregoriou of
Autocosmos.
• Moto Query – *The All New* RMI / Electrolog JV -
internet based, Technical Forum presented by Paul
Brits & Rob Mildenhall from RMI & Kerrie Gregoriou
of Autocosmos.
• Correct Testing of New Generation Alternator Voltage
Regulators (2005 onwards) presented by Chris Scheepers &
Johann de Bruyne of CAELEX Auto Electrical Parts & Service.

And Launch Technologies will be launching the X431 Master

Diagnostic Tool as well as the Launch KWA-300 3D Wheel
Aligner, plus showcasing an off-vehicle truck balancer and heavy
duty truck tyre changer.

An added bonus for visitors this year will be the staging of the
first ever HEAVYWEIGHT Expo taking place in halls and open
areas surrounding WATS, featuring earthmoving equipment,
trucks, plant & machinery, farming implements & an assortment
of related yellow metal vehicles & tooling.
Success is all about networking! Make sure that you are in the
main stream by visiting WATS 2010.

FREE entrance for WATS Visitors. Secure Parking for WATS

visitors within the Show Grounds, when using the Church Street
entrances only.
Our next Groundbreaking WATS Expo will be in Bloemfontein
on 21st October 2010 from 16:00 to 22:00 at Ilanga Estate.
For further information visit www.wats.co.za where you can
register to exhibit, or visit, on-line, or contact Miranda on:
082 9680 214 & admin@wats.co.za or Johann on: 082 5515
061 & info@wats.co.za The WATS Expo’s are fully Endorsed
by the RMI (Retail Motor Industry Organisation).

MARCH 2010
 launch tecnologies

Launch Rewards Customers

with Loyalty Rebate
Launch Technologies SA (Pty) Ltd has established itself as a major supplier of auto-
motive aftermarket service equipment to the automotive and allied industries in south-
ern Africa. One of the major reasons for this success is that the quality range of
Launch equipment and products are fully backed up and serviced by in-house after
sales service teams, which has resulted in the impressive statistic that of the work-
shops in South Africa using Launch equipment, 70% of their requirements are met by
Launch Technologies.

E
ver since Launch unveiled its versatile X-431, its rep-
utation as a supplier of reliable and proven hardware
backed up by technologically advanced and innova-
tive software, has grown apace. The X-431 is now in
use in over 80 000 workshops worldwide, and its
open platform diagnosis represents the latest technology and the
future of vehicle diagnosis. The most powerful diagnostic scan
tool in the world has just got better, with the recent introduction
of the X-431 Master in China, and the impending roll-out world-
wide. South Africa is in the fortunate position to be one of the
first countries outside of China to get access to the X-431 Master,
and to encourage its customer base of over 1 000 X-431 users to
upgrade to the Master, Launch Technologies SA (Pty) Ltd is intro-
ducing an extremely attractive upgrade offer, which is also avail-
able to ADC2000 and Carlink owners. This offer gives Launch’s
valued customers the opportunity to upgrade their existing
Launch diagnostic machine at a cost saving of up to 60% on the
price of the X-431 Master, depending on the age and condition of
their existing equipment.
The Launch X-431 Master still uses the same proved, user friend-
ly operating procedure as its predecessor, but has a considerably
larger vehicle data base, and with its increased computing power
it communicates with vehicles much faster than the X-431 Super
Scanner. It also comes with a unique 16 pin connector which
incorporates the BMW 16, Can-Bus II, OBD II and Smart OBD
II plugs amongst many others.
For further information, current users may contact
Launch Technologies SA (Pty) Ltd at one of the following
contact no’s/addresses:
Phone no: 011 937 3072/3
Fax no: 011 397 6489
Hunter: 082 418 2257 / quiteaguy@163.com
Hans: 082 701 4203 / greglaunchsa@yahoo.com
Details required are:
Model, Serial number, company name, physical
address, contact person, contact no. and service
agent.

In the next issue of ABR, we shall give further

information on the X-431 Master.

To view the X-431 Master, plus many more Launch products, visit the Launch stand at the WATS show at the
Tshwane Events Centre (Pretoria Showground) on 24 – 25 March 2010, open from 10h00 to 21h30 both days.

50 MARCH 2010
 Insights

Mission Accomplished
Capricorn Society Limited was established in Western Australia in 1975, with the pur-
pose of creating a vehicle to assist the independent workshops to survive and thrive
in an increasingly competitive environment. Little did the founders know how big
Capricorn Society would get and how its relevance would increase exponentially over
the next 35 years. Nor did they envision that their good old fashioned co-operative
concept would adapt to the times and to spread its wings to the shores of New
Zealand in 1997, and later to South Africa in 2000.

left to right, Paul Kennedy, André Changuion, Rob Mildenhall and David Fraser

W
ith technology now
fundamental to the
success and even sur-
vival of the modern
workshop, and the
need for the workshop of the 21st century
to embrace technology in all its aspects, the
arrival of Capricorn Society in South Africa
at the beginning of the century was a bless-
ing to the automotive aftermarket. When
Rob Mildenhall was appointed as Business
Development Manager for Capricorn in
2001, his brief was to get the message
across to both potential members and
potential suppliers of the immense benefits
that Capricorn offers to both sides. He was
also tasked with growing the South African
leg of the Society, and to reach critical mass
and sustainability as soon as possible.
This Rob achieved in a very short space of
time, and today Capricorn is an integral
part of the South African automotive after-
market landscape, and its momentum in
the market has assumed impressive propor-
tions. To such an extent that the
Management of Capricorn have decided to
give Rob a new assignment on the east
coast of Australia, and placing on his broad
shoulders the responsibility for significant-
ly increasing Capricorn’s collision repair
footprint in that market. Collision repair is
the second largest automotive aftermarket
segment in Australia.
Rob’s appointment was announced during
a visit to South Africa in early February
2010 by Capricorn’s David Fraser, General
Manager Automotive, and Paul Kennedy,
General Manager People. David Fraser told
ABR that “It is truly an exciting time for
Capricorn. Rob’s new position will allow us
to have a greater focus and dedicated
resource in Australia to oversee the growth
of what is already Capricorn’s second
largest mix of business. Capricorn’s colli-
sion repair business is 17.5% of Capricorn’s
total sales mix in Australia and is worth
over R1.09-billion each year. Whilst
Andre’s appointment will allow Capricorn
to continue its development in South
Africa, and leading a team of five including
the Area Managers and Capricorn’s
Johannesburg based administration staff,
he will ensure our South African members
and suppliers receive prompt service and
attention at all times”.
continued on p54

52 MARCH 2010

from p52
The André to which David refers is André
Changuion, who has been promoted from
Capricorn Area Manager, Pretoria and
Northern Area, to Sales Manager for South
Africa. André will assume his duties in the
middle of March 2010, when Rob moves
across the Indian Ocean on his new and
very important mission. Rob will say
farewell to his South African customers
and friends at Capricorn’s Annual Dinner
and Trade Show in Johannesburg on 1st
May 2010.
Paul Kennedy added, “I was very pleased
to visit with the team in South Africa to
announce the promotion of André to the
Sales Manager role and the opportunity for
Rob to join the team in Australia. We have
tried hard to provide new and exciting
career challenges for our top talent within
the business and these are two fantastic
Insights
examples. I am confident through Andre’s
leadership the South African team will
continue to strive to make the lives of our
Members easier through their association
with Capricorn. Rob’s move to Australia is
our first inter-country transfer and his
extensive knowledge and expertise will be a
welcome addition to the business. We will
continue to invest in our people in South
Africa through suitable training opportu-
nities so our future talent pool is ready to
help drive the business forward”.
We leave the last words to the man of the
moment, Rob Mildenhall, “I am thrilled to
have this opportunity to further my career
in Australia! My new role provides me with
a significant challenge and an opportunity
to learn from my peers and industry lead-
ers in Australia. This said, I am extremely
thankful for the support I have received
from our local members and suppliers
while building Capricorn here in South
Africa. Capricorn’s model has broadened
my experience and knowledge of our
industry, while developing valuable rela-
tionships with our co-operative minded
business model. The relationships built
along the way, are made more significant
by those who shared the vision of what
Capricorn could mean to the local after-
market from the outset, and I am very
pleased that André and the local team have
a sound, co-operatively minded base on
which to build Capricorn into the future.”
In the April 2010 issue of ABR, we shall
give a profile of André Changuion, and we
shall also give a preview of the pending
Annual Dinner.

Addendum:
In the February 2010 issue of ABR, Capricorn Insights looked at two of its shining lights in Cape Town; Mace
Group and Disa Auto Services. We inadvertently omitted a picture of the Mace Group, an omission which we
are now happy to correct. A quick recap: Capricorn membership augments a highly skilled and specialist team
of technicians who service everything from passenger cars to light delivery petrol and diesel workhorses to
racing cars. With all the latest diagnostic equipment and a speciality in turbo conversions, dyno tuning and the
supply of high-octane racing fuel, Mace Group is indeed a worthy Capricorn member.

To join Capricorn Society Limited call Rob

Mildenhall on 083 654 2094 or e-mail him at
rob.mildenhall@capricorn.com.au or visit
their website on www.capricorn.com.au

54 MARCH 2010
 Top Class Topics

Saving on Motoring
Costs – Across the Globe
Permatex currently operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico,
and the United Kingdom. It also exports products to more than 85
countries around the world. One of those eighty odd countries is
South Africa, which has larger implications than many realise, as
Permatex products can play a significant role in saving on motor-
TopClass MD, ing costs for our cash strapped motorists. Last year Permatex cel-
Richard Pinard ebrated its 100th anniversary … thus commemorating a century of
quality and innovation.
2009 was Permatex’s 100th year in busi-
ness, and since its inception, Permatex has
been the preferred choice in chemical
tools for motorsports teams, professional
automotive technicians, performance
buffs, and general automotive do-it-your-
selfers. One of the main reasons for this
preference is the wide range of adhesives,
sealants, gasket makers, hand cleaners,
lubricants, appearance products, specialty
repair kits, and additives. From a global
perspective, Permatex now has over 350
products making over 1 000 SKUs, pro-
viding market-specific formulations and
application methods for a variety of
industries, including automotive, marine,
motorcycle, heavy duty, and off road. A
critical element of the success is that the
company is constantly working with
automakers, parts suppliers, service parts
groups, and other aftermarket companies
to develop the next generation of service
technology. In addition to product devel- Andy Robinson was directing his com-
opment, Permatex is also focused on ments primarily to his US, Canada, Alain Erasmus of Tottenham, London, had
developing even more effective support Mexico, and UK customers, but these a problem with a pesky radiator on his
programmes for its product lines and dis- comments apply equally to anyone across 2000 BMW 318sei. Problem solved with
a Permatex Radiator Repair Kit.
tribution partners with new packaging, the globe who takes advantage of
clinics and on-line training for profession- Permatex’s superb mix of innovation, per- cooling system, so he recommended to his
al and student technicians, product demo formance and value. And South Africa is son that the sooner he solved the problem
videos, category management, expanded uniquely placed to take advantage. We as the better. And the cost effective solution
website activities and motorsport sponsor- a nation are proud of our cars, and we was a Permatex Radiator Repair Kit. Two
ships. General Manager Andy Robinson want to keep them in good condition. months later, the good news is that the
noted at the 100 year mark, “At Permatex, We, like all other developing nations, also repair was affected, and the leak has
we continue to deliver products that make face the same problem that even devel- stopped. More importantly, a more
caring for cars easier and repairs more reli- oped nations' face – the ever increasing expensive repair further down the line has
able. From our performance proven cost pressures that face the consumer. been headed off at the pass.
“chemical tools” and shop supplies that Permatex products can significantly assist
simplify maintenance and repair to our in meeting both objectives – vehicle The aforementioned is just one example
innovative appearance and additive prod- maintenance and cost saving. This was of how Permatex can contribute to saving
ucts that work better and last longer, brought home to the editor of ABR, who on motoring costs, and over the next few
Permatex delivers best-in-the-business when visiting London in December 2009, months we shall bring to our readers a
performance and value. As we get ready discovered that his son’s BMW had a radi- range of Permatex products that are ideal
for another century of quality and innova- ator leak, which required a topping up for workshops across the spectrum and
tion, we’d like to thank all of our cus- every few days. Apart from the irritation D-I-Y enthusiasts.
tomers for making Permatex the brand factor, this is not the ideal situation when
they trust to get the job done right”. it comes to the efficient running of a car’s

56 MARCH 2010
 .....Top Class Topics
Permatex® Radiator Repair Kit
Complete kit contains everything required for making a professional-quality
permanent repair in just minutes. Includes easy-to-follow instructions with
photographs. Formulated to repair all plastic and metal radiator tanks. The repair
resin is designed to harden within eight to ten minutes and cures in 30 minutes.
Repairs can be made on cracks up to 10 centimetres long and holes up to nine
millimetres in diameter. Seals small holes and weak seams in fuel tanks without
welding or removal.

Suggested Applications: Plastic and metal radiator tanks in cars and light
commercial vehicles

Permatex®
Windshield Repair
Kit
Make permanent airtight repairs
on most types of damaged lami-
nated windshield glass, includ-
ing bullseye’s and star damage
up to three centimetres. This
newly designed state-of-the-art
delivery system with advanced
spring-lock feature, allows you
to make professional quality
repairs with no mixing required
and it cures by natural daylight.
This complete kit provides
everything needed for the repair
including easy-to-follow
instructions with photographs.

Suggested Applications: Repairs

bullseye’s, star damage, and
chips up to three centimetres
long in laminated automotive
windshields.

Permatex® Wheel Restoration Kit

This effective kit restores damaged metal wheel surfaces to a “LIKE NEW” appear-
ance. This easy-to-use do-it-yourself kit makes permanent repairs to various unap-
pealing wheel damage including curbside rash, corrosion, rust, pitting, scuffs,
dents and scratches. Dupli-Color® high performance silver wheel paint included to
restore original silver metallic finish. Note: Not for use on plastic wheel covers or
structural wheel damage.

Suggested Applications: Metal wheels (aluminium, alloy, steel, mixed metals);

wheel damage including curbside rash, scuffs, corrosion, rust, pitting, dents,
grooves, and scratches.

MARCH 2010 57
 Robert Bosch
A series of articles on the versatile FSA 720/740/754 series

The Golden Triangle

– KTS, ESI[tronic], and FSA
In this issue, we continue to track the exploits of Carlo “Sherlock” du Plessis of
Cencar, Centurion, as he tackles pesky vehicle problems, using the Bosch golden tri-
angle of KTS Compact Control Unit Diagnostic Tester, the ESI[tronic] Service
Information System, and the FSA Engine Management System Analyser.

T
he last problem solved was a BMW 535i with
hard starting and lack of power. After utilising the
full might of the golden triangle, Carlo had
found the problem – a blocked catalytic convert-
er. Now Carlo has a new problem. A 2006 VW Jetta V 2,0i
litre that is going fine, but the owner has brought the car in
because he is concerned about the ABS/ESP light on the
console which is shining permanently. This is not an imme-
diate concern for normal braking, but it could become a
problem. If the ABS or traction control is not functioning,
there could be serious safety issues down the line. First port
of call for Carlo is the KTS, and a read out of the trouble
codes. Then Carlo clears the codes to see if anything comes
up again. Trouble code 011B does not budge, so Carlo
knows where to look. 011B identifies the error type as an
open circuit in wheel-speed sensor front left.
The dirt that is attracted to the sensor’s magnetic field builds up over time
Before tackling this sensor, Carlo goes through his tried and
and could have a detrimental effect on the car’s braking and traction
trusted routine of testing the battery and checking the fuses. performance. This must be cleaned up at every service.
Carlo knows from experience that these two areas, if not test-
ed upfront, can cause wasted time and effort. It is only after
these hardy annuals have passed their simple examination,
that Carlo zeroes in on his next port of call, the ABS unit and
its ECU. Now it is time to examine the sensor. It is unplugged
and cleaned, and checked for physical damage. Then Carlo
has a good look at the pulsating ring. The pulsating ring could
be on the CV joint, it could be inside the wheel bearing, but
wherever it is, the pulsating ring must also be checked for
damage, and cleaned, as dirt, grime or mud are the enemies of
ABS and ESP systems, and can lead to incorrect signals being
sent back to the ABS’ ECU. Thus, Carlo strongly recom-
mends a thorough cleaning at every service, to reduce this pos-
sibility, and to ensure that the car is as safe as the manufactur-
er intended. The pulsating ring is a vital element of the sys-
tem, as it cuts into the magnetic field of the sensor, causing a
switching effect, with the fields changing the polarity and this
is what creates the signal for the ECU to read. Carlo also tests
the positive and negative supply, and furthermore he checks
the wiring. These are all necessary basics.

Once these procedures are over, it is time for the FSA back-
probe phase. The FSA is not absolutely essential to test for
wheel speeds, as sometimes the KTS has this function, but
Carlo likes to test the whole loop, which the FSA scope does. The ESI[tronic] diagrams for the VW Jetta V 2.0i, indicating plug
More on this in the next issue of ABR. connection and the diagnosis socket

58 MARCH 2010
 The Wilropark Motor Repair Centre team – ready and willing to keep Roodepoort on the road

A Shining Star on the Horizon

For anyone on the West Rand who is looking for specialist care for their motor vehi-
cle, help is on the horizon. 11 Sonop Street, Horizon, Roodepoort, to be specific.
Here you will find Wilropark Motor Repair Centre, the e-CAR outlet of choice west of
the N1. Like most e-CAR outlets, this well established automotive workshop is run by
a professional technician, with the support of an enthusiastic and dedicated team.

H
arry Ginsberg served his automotive technician apprenticeship at
Cargo Motors, the iconic Mercedes-Benz dealership, and by the Harry Ginsberg ensures that he has
time he left to start his own business in 1983, Harry had progressed the diagnostic tools for any job
to Workshop Foreman at Cargo, and knew Mercedes-Benz vehicles like the
back of his hand, and he was also no slouch on other vehicle brands. Harry
may have left Cargo Motors, but he took with him Mercedes-Benz training
and a commitment to perfection. This formative grounding has stood him
in good stead, and his reputation ensured that he soon built up a strong and
loyal clientele in his new venture. Assisted by his able wife Herkie and an
enthusiastic and dedicated team, Wilropark Motor Repair Centre is now a
thriving business, providing a valuable service to the community under the
e-CAR banner. Harry and Herkie became e-CAR members at the end of
2008, after an evaluation of the market and the realisation that whilst
Wilropark Motor Repair Centre was an established brand in Roodepoort,
there would be a need in the future to be identified with a national brand
such as e-CAR, as insurance against demographic changes. Additional long
term benefits are the guaranteed supply of premium branded parts at competitive prices from the Diesel-Electric organisation, togeth-
er with the latest technology updates and access to state of the art diagnostic equipment and technical training and support from the
world’s leading parts organisation, Robert Bosch. Harry and Herkie were also attracted to the networking opportunities associated with
belonging to a national organisation, and the high standards demanded, together with an affiliation with the AA and the RMI.

The West Rand has a shining star on the horizon, and whilst e-CAR is barely six years old and needs to play catch-up on century old
brands, Harry and Herkie look forward to the day that e-CAR is as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola.

60 MARCH 2010
 The power of knowledge engineering
SKF releases latest DVD Catalogue
Latest aftermarket reference tool now featuring popular commercial vehicle information,
technical bulletins and downloadable catalogues!
SKF has unveiled the latest version of its DVD catalogue that
gives aftermarket customers easy access to vital information about
the company's expanded product offering for cars and commer-
cial vehicles. As an established OE supplier to all of the major
global car manufacturers, SKF's aftermarket product range covers
popular car and commercial vehicle applications that are required
in today's repair market. To illustrate this point, the SKF DVD
Catalogue October 2009 features 27,316 new vehicle links across
a range of products. This is broken down in to 11,586 new links
to car models and 15,730 for commercial vehicle models.

The SKF DVD Catalogue is based on the popular TecDoc format

to make searching for products easier and faster and product
groups featured in the DVD catalogue include wheel bearing kits,
timing belt kits, multi-V belt kits, auxiliary belts, crankshaft
dampers, water pump kits, CV joint kits, driveshaft kits, boot kits
and suspension kits. As an aftermarket 'one-stop supplier' that
believes vehicle technicians should carry out a complete repair at
the first time of asking, SKF has added 388 new kits to its latest
DVD catalogue - 43 of which are for commercial vehicles. Each
kit contains all of the necessary parts to guarantee a thorough and
safe repair first time. All of the information contained in the SKF
DVD Catalogue is accompanied by specific product pictures, dia-
grams and training videos that are an essential tool in today's busy
vehicle repair workshop.
SKF is committed to enhancing standards of technical
competence in the aftermarket.

Book your free updated SKF DVD catalogue from: vsmsales.za@skf.com

MARCH 2010 61
 Wilde Things

Inglourious Basterds
GP stands for Gauteng Province. It is also known as Gangsters
Paradise. And most accurately, its new moniker is Giant Potholes. All
very humorous, but not so funny when you are a victim of this provin-
cial and municipal ineptitude. This came home to me recently when I
was at the sharp end of such shoddy maintenance.
by Fingal Wilde

This was taken on the evening of 18th Same pothole, taken on 24th February 2010
February 2010. (note – no rain from 18th to 24th
February). This pothole shall continue to

I
t was the evening of Thursday, 18th be observed for action/inaction by the
February 2010, when I hit a particu- inglourious basterds.
larly nasty brute at the corner of
Maxwell Drive and Witkoppen
Road, just across from the entrance to
Megawatt Park. The result was a punc-
tured (and destroyed) tyre and a damaged
rim. An expensive experience, as 17 inch
low profile high performance tyres do not
come cheap, and the repair of a rim runs
into the high hundreds. Expensive for me,
but also expensive for the country. There
must be literally thousands of motorists
every day experiencing this financial and
emotional trauma, as a result of incompe-
tent local authorities. And there is very lit-
tle we can do about it, because we have
descended into third world insanity. No
longer can Amos Masondo claim that
Johannesburg is a world class African city. Amos is very unhappy – Durban has shown him up with the biggest pothole,
Oh no, we are an African class world city, and working robots!
squire. Potholes, broken traffic lights,
unkempt verges, filthy rivers, polluted
lakes, the list is endless. We are being gov- what – not a pothole or broken robot in Answer from page 6
erned and our cities are being managed sight. I searched assiduously, but could
(managed used very generously) by total not find any. Amazing, isn’t it? We must
incompetents. Appointed not for ability, have seriously acidic rain up on the
but by political affiliation. It is a disgrace- Highveld! No sir, it is not the rain. The
ful and unacceptable situation, but as long difference is that London is a world class
as there is no political will, we are doomed English city, run by first class people,
to live according to the whim of the whilst Johannesburg is an African class
lowest common denominator. world city, run by third class buffoons.
The management responsible for this fias-
The heavy rains have been blamed for the co should be fired forthwith, as they are
potholes and the out of order robots. Nice inglorious bastards. Replace them with
one, but I recently spent a couple of wet glorious progeny.
and wintry weeks in London, and guess

62 MARCH 2010
 Burford
From A to Z
Nissan’s Z car has had a patchy past, growing from a lean and
focused sports coupe to a bloated and overweight cruiser which
by Adrian Burford eventually morphed into a grand tourer.
I
t is safe to say that with the 350Z
they got their Mojo back and have
subsequently built on that with the
370Z. It isn’t often that cars become
smaller with successive generations but
that’s what happened with the 370 com-
pared to the 350: overall length dropped
by 60 mm and wheelbase by 100 mm. All
that grew was the engine capacity and with
the V6 now measures 3,7-litres and pro-
duces a useful – albeit slightly agricultural
– 245 kW and 363 Nm. Which is well over
double the power and almost twice as
much torque as the original 240Z made
from its 2,4 litre in-line six. At the time
though, the 240Z’s 200-odd Newtons and
112-odd kW was a real talking point, but
not as much as the styling, which while
generic in some ways (there was more than
a hint of Ferrari GTO, Jaguar E-type and
even Toyota’s stillborn GT2000 in the pro-
portions), was pretty much revolutionary
for a mass market Japanese car. As it turns
out, the links to the GT2000 were not
coincidental, as both were penned by the
same man: Albrecht Goertz. He had
already made a name for himself by design-
ing the BMW 507 and Datsun, under
Goertz’s guidance, had dabbled in small,
two-seater sports cars in the late 1950s and
early 1960s before he went to Toyota.
There he styled the acclaimed GT2000
which was powered by a high-revving
Yamaha-designed 2,0-litre engine. In what
is considered one of the great oversights in
automotive history, it never made it into
series production.Goertz was back at
Datsun by the end of 1967 and two years
later the 240Z was on sale in Japan (as the
64
on Brands
Fairlady Z with a 2.0-litre six) and in early
1970 it reached North American show-
rooms badged as a 240Z and with a larger
engine. Not only did the car look right
with its long bonnet and short overhangs,
but it handled well too. Finally, the entire
drivetrain was tough and reliable and the
car very soon became highly sought-after.
For 1974 Datsun introduced a 260Z which
had roughly 30 kW more, the need to go
bigger on the engine prompted to some
degree by power-sapping emission control
hardware which was rapidly being intro-
duced in the world’s biggest car market. At
the same time, a 2+2 version was
announced, to be built on a wheelbase
which was 30 cm longer, but also adding
close on half a metre to the overall length.
In retrospect this is where the rot started
and the car was obviously heavier. By 1975
the Z needed a 2.8-litr powerplant to cope
with emission requirements, while crash
legislation required bigger and heavier
impact-resistant bumpers which spoiled
the looks and prevented an improvement
in the power to weight ratio, despite a shift
to fuel injection. The 280Z two-seater was
a remarkable 236 kilograms heavier than
the original 240Z! The American market
seemed to embrace it nonetheless, not too
concerned about ride and handling charac-
teristics which were now distinctly boule-
vard cruiser in nature…Things continued
in this vein into the early 1980s, with the
straight six engine eventually needing
forced induction. In 1983 the Z31 series
was introduced, now with a
3,0-litre V6, either normally aspirated or
turbocharged – in which guise it made the
best part of 160 kW. Pop-up headlights
(very ‘in’ back in the 1980s) were a feature
of the design, but the car wasn’t pretty,
thanks to the long overhangs and slabby
sheetmetal. Things looked better with the
introduction of the all-new Z-32 series, in
which car the VG30 engine reached a new
level of technological excellence. Four
cams, 24 valves and twin turbochargers
gave it 224 kW and overall the car show-
cased what Nissan’s engineers were capable
of. Fancy suspension with wider track
widths and a longer wheelbase enhanced
stability while it looked like a sports car
once again too, Nissan benchmarking it
against the likes of the Porsche 944 Turbo.
A couple of hundred of these cars came to
South Africa in the early 1990s, but more
than a decade was to pass before the arrival
of the 350Z. The keen sense of anticipation
which heralded that event confirmed how
well-entrenched the ‘Zee’ badge is in local
car culture, and it was good to see that
the newcomer paid homage to the
fundamental simplicity of the 240Z, rather
than the underpowered heavyweights of
the late 1980s.
MARCH 2010
 Partinform

Partinform Visits the Southern Cape

The Partinform Road Show has a busy and compressed schedule this year, having
to accommodate a secondary event which has elbowed its way onto the South
African calendar in June and July 2010. This secondary event involves teams from
some 32 countries together with their vocal supporters, to find out which team can
get a round ball the most times into a well protected net, for which they get a
golden chalice. ABR is not sure whether it can use the words soccer, football,
world cup or 2010, because it does not want to attract the ire and interest of the
FIFA mafia and its cash hungry lawyers, so let us just call it the Tenth Year of the
Third Millennium Expensive Round Ball Rip Off.

66 MARCH 2010
 Partinform

ready for the influx

... getting

Two mobile messages – both positive, not

negative, some may say electrifying Time to ta
ke stock of
what we’ve learn
t

The general feeling

amongst the visitors was
that Partinform is ...

...some eye
er
rm memb candy
- the latest Partinfo
Holts

T
his event, which has made travel and accommodation challenging for the mid winter months,
has meant that Partinform has had to be shoehorned into four events from February to May
2010, and another four events from August to November 2010. This makes for a winter of dis-
content, but we do get eight great events in our milder months. The schedule kicked off at the George Civic Centre on 11
February 2010, and the usual format of edutainment and knowledge transfer hit the proverbial button. George may be in the grip of a
pernicious drought and a worrying shortage of water, but there was no shortage of information, hands on understanding, one on one
interaction and important networking on the evening of the show, as 160 plus eager visitors from George, Knysna, Mossel Bay,
Oudtshoorn and even further descended on the Civic Centre to get their fill of parts perception and quality infusion. ABR was, as usual,
conspicuously present to record the proceedings, and we give our readers a pictorial overview of what is fast becoming the “not to be
missed” parts event on the southern African calendar.
The schedule for the balance of the year:
Mthata - 9 March • Gaborone – 20 April • Witbank – 11 May • Newcastle – 17 August • Polokwane – 21 September
Rustenburg – 19 October • Soweto – 9 November

Our most
senio
be interest r politician would
ed in this
product

ed prizes
ners receiv
The winner of the Partinform Ferrari Experience to be Other win rd, Safeline and
held at Zwartkops in November 2010 was Riaan van from Willa aeffler
Rensburg of Dolphin Motors, Oudtshoorn Sch

MARCH 2010 67
 Vehicle Launch

Le Crossover
Peugeot has finally taken the plunge by introducing its 3008 into the
local SUV market. According to Peugeot this vehicle is “fresh” and
“versatile” and this allows it to compete over a wide range of segments.
They are gunning for a share of the SUV as well as the MPV market.
by Howard Keeg

T
he 3008 is built on the same platform as the 308
hatchback. In terms of styling it is immediately recog-
nizable as a Peugeot but at the same time has its own
individual personality. It is a mixture of flowing lines
and robust design features that should cater to the tastes of every
person expecting different things from it.

The 3008 is 4365mm long and has a wheelbase of 2613mm. This

means that it will have more than enough space on the inside and
in the back to haul luggage. It also comes equipped with a
panoramic roof to further enhance the feeling of space on the
inside.

Fortunately space is not the only luxury in this vehicle. It has

comfortable leather seats that can be heated at the touch of a but-
ton. For the warmer days it has climate control air conditioning
with an air quality sensor to keep out any outside pollution. In
tune with the standards we have come to expect from this seg-
ment, it also has host of useful storage spaces around the cabin. It
is small but significant features like these that make up a big part
of the luxurious elements of a car.

The previously mentioned luggage space is easily accessed by a

tailgate that splits into two parts. As usual the seats can be folded
down so that the luggage area can be expanded to enormous pro-
portions.

The 3008 can be fitted with a choice of three engines. Each of

these has its own positive attributes, while all of them incorporate
the latest technology to keep fuel consumption and emissions as
low as possible.

The entry level is offered with a 1.6VTi petrol engine that devel-
ops 88kw and 160Nm of torque. Further up in the line is the 1.6l
engine that comes equipped with a high pressure turbo. This unit
is meant for more spirited driving since it delivers 115kw of
power and an impressive 240Nm. Peugeot has also chosen to
include a diesel in the launch line-up. The 2.0l HDi develops
110kw and a simply staggering 340Nm of torque. This perform- Even the residents of the
ance potential and a claimed consumption of 5.6l/100km should Kalahari were impressed
make this unit the default choice for prospective owners.
This gives the driver the option of dialling in a specific road sur-
Both turbo models come standard with a six speed manual gear- face so that the car can set itself up to best tackle whatever you
box and the naturally aspirated 1.6 is fitted with a five speed. To may be facing.
further enrich the 3008, Peugeot has added an impressive amount
of safety features. Both turbo models come with a dynamic roll All the usual features you would expect of a car in this segment
control device to keep it on the road when you are cornering are included as standard. It seems that Peugeot has launched a
hard. The premium models can also be specified with a grip con- strong contender to some of the more established players in the
trol if you are intent on taking it off the beaten track. market.

68 MARCH 2010
 AIDC Quiz

by Roger McCleery

Roger McCleery asks the questions

See how many of these 20 Questions you can answer.
1. What car company makes the SX4?

2. Where it is made?

3. Name the only woman driver to have won a Formula 1 race.

4. What nationality was she?

5. Name two Chinese cars that entered the 2010 Dakar rally and finished.

6. Who heads up “Burchmores" – the auctioneers?

7. In which country is the Suzuki Alto manufactured?

8. What car company has taken 20% of Suzuki?

9. What is the mascot on the bonnet of a Rolls Royce called?

10. Name the third French car manufacturer to set up an office in South Africa.

11. Who makes the 15-seater Inkunzi taxi?

12. Where does Andy Green, the fastest man on land in the world, want to break his land speed record in 2011 / 2012?

13. In 1904 an American motor man set up a new world land speed record. Who was he?

14. What is the maximum fine for drunk driving in SA?

15. What make of vehicle finished 1 - 2 - 3 in the Dakar Rally?

16. What do the letters ‘AC’ in AC Cobra stand for?

17. When did the Boeing 747 Jumbo make its first commercial flight?

18. What was the name of the cartoon character that could climb up walls and eventually was the name of a vehicle?

19. Who heads up the TV programme ‘Top Gear’?

20. Who designed the pre-World War II Auto Union V16 racing car?

Answers on page 74

MARCH 2010 69
 Vehicle Evaluation

Revamped Suzuki SX4

Suzuki Auto South Africa recently revamped and expanded their headlining SX4
crossover range. The greatest improvement has been made to the engine and drive
system. For the first time South African customers get the opportunity to buy a SX4
with all wheel drive. This “intelligent” four wheel drive system allows drivers
to switch between different driving modes with nothing more than the touch of a
button. The driver can use 2WD on normal roads to save on fuel costs and can
then switch to 4WD when the going gets a little tough.

M
uch improvement has also been made in the engine compartment. The 2.0l four cylinder engine has been revised to
develop 112Kw and 190Nm of torque. The engine has been fitted with variable valve timing and this in turn has
improved the fuel consumption by as much as 19.5% on certain models. This system optimises valve train operation
to give you loads of torque without having to stress the engine.

The manual model has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.3l/100km while the CVT only sips 7.6l/100km. Both models have claimed
emission figures that are 15 to 20% less than the previous equivalent model.

This impressive new engine can be mated to a six speed manual gearbox, or you can have it with a brand new CVT box that replaces
the previous four-speed automatic. Both these gearboxes are extremely smooth and work well with the revamped engine. The CVT
gearbox even allows you to change gears from paddles behind the steering wheel.

The touch-ups are not only limited to the engine bay. Some subtle changes
have been made to keep the SX4 looking as up to date as its competitors.
This includes a new mesh grill in the front that compliments a reworked
front bumper. The overall look has not changed much, but then it was not
a bad looking vehicle to begin with.

On the inside we find some changes to the comfort and refinement as well.
This includes new cladding for the seats as well as the addition of a comfort-
able arm rest for the front passengers. Keeping up with current trends,
Suzuki has added a digital read-out on the instrument cluster that is
extremely easy to read and understand. Couple this with a revamped centre
console and you have a winning recipe for interior comfort.

70 MARCH 2010
 A Word on Cars

This Florid Ain’t That Horrid

All Chinese vehicles are crap! I wouldn`t buy one - ever! Bet you've
heard that before. Well, don't jump to conclusions! Some are crap, but
you might well find that those vehicles aren’t around anymore, good
by Adam Ford riddance and don't come back.
Celebrity Mechanic

O
n a recent trip to China I
visited both the Chery and
Foton plants. I had heard
about large plants in China
but still expected to see third rate facilities
producing substandard vehicles. Was I in
for a surprise! – these facilities were spot-
less first world plants, set up with the
latest equipment sourced from top
German and Italian machine suppliers.
Out of these plants come engines and cars
of ever increasing quality. The speed in
which the quality has improved is impres-
sive. In the Chery plant I saw a few new
models (not here yet) where finishes are
nearly as good as what we see from today’s
Korean cars, not yet up to European spec
but getting there. A huge improvement.
This brings me to the latest offering from
China. It’s called the Florid and it’s made
by GWM. Who comes up with these
names? Did they not think? Hang on a bit,
sounds too close to HORRID. Well fortu-
nately for GWM this little car is far from
horrid. At last a decent looking car from
China - from the front it’s a clone of the
Yaris and from the side you could confuse
it with the Suzuki Swift. Blend all that and
you have the Florid. Quite frankly it’s a
treat on the eyes, and honestly it is a good
looking car. What I like about the Florid is
that it doesn`t look girly - ever seen a guy
in a Twingo? Alto? Charade? Picanto? 107?
No! Unless it’s his sister’s.
Up until now guys were stuck with Citi
Golfs. To put it more pc, the Florid is not
gender specific. Not only is the Florid
good looking it’s also spec’d to the hilt.
Starting with dual front airbags and ABS
brakes- good for safety- comfort is sup-
plied by a/c, power steering, electric win-
dows all round, radio/cd/mp3 player, and
comfy seats, leather is a pay extra option,
rear seats can be split and folded to pack
extra goodies in and security comes with
central locking and alarm activated conve-
niently via key remote. Inside is all plastic,
but what do expect from this kind of car?
It is an entry level car and all its competi-
tors are also a bit plasticky. Instruments
are housed in a central cluster and feature
rev counter, fuel gauges and a speedo (not
the Ryk Neethling type). The whole inte-
rior seems to be put together rather well
and not once did I hear a rattle or squeak.
Personally I don’t like the instruments fit-
ted in the centre mainly because you have
to take your eyes off the road to see what
speed you are doing, unlike “normal” cars
when you can just glance down at the
info. One component that is missing and
seems to be a common trend on new cars
is the temp gauge - it has been replaced
with a blue and red temp signal, blue for
when it’s cold and red for when you have
cooked your engine and blown a head gas-
ket!!! Note to car manufacturers: Put the
temp gauge back, we want to be able to
see if the car is running too hot or cold.
All this sounds good but how does it go?
Well, not bad. The Florid is fitted with a
1500 VVT engine producing 77kw, not
some wheezy 1000cc engine like a lot of
its competition. The engine is not the
most powerful unit around but it’s far bet-
ter than any one litre engine. The Florid
will cruise all day long at highway speeds
and more without any fuss, even at reef
altitudes. Gearbox is as to be expected a
five speed manual, not as slick as a Toyota
but it works! Now that the Citi Golf has
been cancelled there aren’t too many cars
to replace it when it comes to street cred
as most of the competition may be more
modern and have better safety credentials
but are generally boring. The Florid fills
that gap - not that it’s an exciting car but
it just offers such great value with added
good looks.
The best thing about the Florid is the
price @ R109 000. It’s a bargain and
leaves you thinking that there must be a
catch. At this price the Florid is hard to
fault and deserves to be a big seller for
GWM. If you’re in the market for this
kind of car you would be stupid not to go
for a test drive. As one Chinese manufac-
turer once said, “We don't make cheap
cars; we make cars more affordable”...
Makes you think.

72 MARCH 2010
Vehicle Evaluation

Horses for
Courses
The Prize Stallion and
by Howard Keeg
the Workhorse

The Prize Stallion (quickpic)

I
n the space of two weeks during February 2010, I had the opportunity to road test
two diametrically opposed Nissans. First up was the prize stallion, the Qashqai 2
litre petrol engine n-tec, a superb crossover leisure vehicle, and at the time of the
road test, to my mind definitely the pick of the bunch in the crossover segment. You sit
high, comfortable and relaxed in a spacious cabin, tackling the pernicious Gauteng pot-
holes with relative ease. Even when you have to take evasive action when a large hidden
pothole appears suddenly as you follow a delivery vehicle with a driver not particularly
fussed about tyre and rim damage, the Qashqai handles like a low slung saloon, as you
swerve safely in style. It is the perfect vehicle for both commuting and occasional off-
road excursions, and is highly recommended, and frugal to boot.

Next up was the workhorse, the successor to the iconic Nissan 1400 half-tonner, the
NP200 1,5 dCi. Far better appointed than its predecessor, this spirited young filly is not
a workhorse in the fille de joie sense, but it is reasonably pleasurable to drive as it goes
about its load carrying duties. Not having the wherewithal to really test its mettle, I can
only predict that it will stay the course for its designated role, and extremely cost effec-
tively. It may have its detractors (one wag said that the dCi is short for Dacia), but what
really impressed me is that when I handed the vehicle back, having done 260 km, the
fuel gauge had yet to move. Not very scientific, I agree, but to me a good enough sign
that this little filly goes easy on the oats.

The Workhorse (quickpic)

MARCH 2010
 Fast Wheels

Formula 1 has a New

Look for 2010
N
ew teams, new rules, new
points scoring and new cars all
by Roger McCleery point to another drama packed
season of World Championship
Formula 1 Racing. Maybe there won’t be much passing as noth-
ing has changed to improve this, but certainly we will have action
on and off the circuits. Regardless of this, 19 Grands Prix will
keep us glued to the TV in 2010 as this is the longest season in
history. It all gets under way in Bahrain on Sunday 14th March
and stays out East until May, when it comes back to Europe and
Catalunya. Canada is back on the calendar (they must have paid
Bernie). Korea is now holding their first Formula 1 race so the
Government there must be helping with the funding, which
rumour has it has reached at least R500m for one GP. Great cir-
cuits where drivers can pass and test their skills and bodies are still
featured, like Turkey, Silverstone, Belgium, Italy, Japan and
Brazil. Street circuits are used like Melbourne, Monaco and
Canada and that dreadful one in Valencia, which goes around the
harbour. Equally boring is the single file circuit under lights in
Singapore.
Fair are the GP circuits in Spain and Germany.
GP Circuits with great facilities and few passing opportunities
despite ultra wide roads are Bahrain, Malaysia, China, Hungary
and Abu Dhabi. An unknown entity is Korea. Hopefully it is
not another follow-my-leader, no-passing track where the drivers
that qualify on the front row on Saturday generally finish up
front on the Sunday. The regular teams that should fill the top
points scoring positions are Mercedes Benz (formerly Brawn),
McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. Behind them come the second-
stringers – Williams-Cosworth, Torro Rosso Ferrari, Renault
Sauber (ex BMW with a Ferrari engine) and maybe Force India
Mercedes Benz. These teams can cause a few surprises during the
year. New to the scene are Virgin Cosworth, Lotus Cosworth and
Campos Meta Cosworth. Unlikely to field a team is the
American US F1 Cosworth set-up which rumour says has folded.
Hoping to replace these Yanks is the Serbian Stephan Team, who
are running the 2009 Formula 1 Toyotas, I am told. Supposedly
departed Toyota is going to support them with engine and bits
through the back door, straight from the plant. They hope to get
a spot on the grid, although they are not registered so far. They
can’t even get Bridgestone tyres for testing. Drivers for this team
could be the French Canadian, Jules Villeneuve, who won the
World Championship in 1997, and Japan’s ace, Kazuki
Nakajima. I am sure they will get a spot in the end. New driv-
ers, all with experience of winning international or national
championships are Bruno Senna (nephew of Ayrton), who
comes out with the Campos Meta line-up. He hasn’t got a part-
ner yet, just three weeks before the start of the season’s opener.
New also is the Russian, Vilaty Petrov, who signed with Renault.
Pedro de la Rosa is back in GP racing with Sauber Ferrari after
years being a tester for Ferrari. He is joined by Kamui Kobayashi,
the Japanese express train. Williams once again brings in new
drivers to its team. Frank seems to do this every year. Besides
Barricello, there is Formula 2 star and A1GP Champion, Nico
Hulkenberg. Lucas di Grassi, the Formula 2 hotshot has joined
Virgin Active with the experienced Timo Glock as team-mate,
determined to show that he has the talent to live with the best.
Things can still change before Bahrain on 12th March. In my
book there is going to be a war upfront, not only between teams
but drivers versus drivers as well. Michael Schumacher, who I
hope will drill the lot of them, will be number 1 in Mercedes
Benz. He will need a few races to sort out the equipment. Nico
Rosberg will be his wing-man. Alonso will lead the way with
Ferrari with a determined and super-fit Massa showing that he is
still their boy, even though Michael Schumacher, his supporter,
has departed. News is that Ferrari has issued a directive that only
Italian will be spoken in the team now that Ross Brawn and Rory
Byrne have, or will be, departing the scene. Last month I said
Ferrari would be political – it has started already. Button will do
battle with Lewis Hamilton, who has the McLaren team built
around him. Both are World Champions and have MBE’s makes
it even more difficult, although Button could have the edge with
a heavy fuel load in the car at the start of any race. Vettel will get
preference over Webber, although Mark Webber won two GP’s
last year. Early season testing which is essential for the teams due
to the limited practice, is really an exercise in PR, and also sort-
ing out their new cars. Interesting will be the new refuelling
rules, with cars carrying as much as 240 litres to start a race, and
there is no refuelling. To give you an idea what a handicap will
be, have you ever felt the weight of a 200 litre drum of fuel? That
is heavy, and will definitely affect the cars in the first part of any
GP.
Hope of hopes is that we have another fairytale team coming into
GP racing, to do another Brawn GP. But I doubt it.
Enjoy the season.

Answers From page 69

1. Suzuki 8. Volkswagen AG 15. VW

2. Japan 9. Spirit of Ecstasy 16. Auto Carrier
3. Desiree Wilson 10. Citroën 17. 1970
4. South Africa 11. Foton 18. Jeep
5. Chery and GWM 12. South Africa 19. Jeremy Clarkson
6. Darryl Jacobsen 13. Henry Ford 20. Ferdinand Porsche
7. India 14. R120 000

74 MARCH 2010
 Midas Sport

In the Driver’s Seat

A series of articles on Midas motorsport initiatives in 2010
“There’s more to Midas ..” takes form in the motorsport arena in 2010, with a Midas
presence across the spectrum of the sport, in a calculated effort to support local
motorsport talent from Cape Town to the Limpopo Province, and beyond.

M
idas Franchise, Marketing and Commercial
Vehicle Director Stefan le Roux puts it suc-
cinctly, “Midas is the preferred distributor,
value-added provider and franchisor to the
automotive aftermarket in South Africa, so we
feel it is imperative that we put something back for our customers
and franchisees, and motorsport is a logical channel.” Midas are
not new to motorsport sponsorship, but having taken a sabbatical
over the past few years, and having put a tentative toe in the water
in 2009, Midas is now back with a bang, but it is not the big bang
approach that some would expect. High profile sponsorships may
satisfy the egos of the chosen few, but can result in unsatisfactory
returns on investment, and disillusionment in the long run.
Therefore the approach from Midas is to spread their largesse
across the total racing firmament, thus supporting as many
chised outlets in southern Africa, and with the biggest franchise
footprint across the region, we need to ensure that our motorsport
sponsorship activities dovetails with this geographical reality.”
This philosophy means that Midas is going to be active in
Production Cars, the Protour, Formula Ford, the Clubman Series,
historicals, oval track, motocross, regional rallying, modified
saloons, and more. Even bass fishing has got the nod, as an
acknowledgement to the lifestyle element of Midas shops. Stefan
expands on this philosophy, “We need to recognise our leadership
role in the automotive aftermarket, and to show our face in
motorsport and related activities across the nation. This generic
approach fits our profile perfectly. We offer our customers the full
range of premium branded product together with value for
money brands such as Arrow and Motopart. This approach caters

The Midas liveried Lotus Exige shall participate in the Bridgestone Production Car
Championship, with Richard Pinard at the wheel. This vehicle will be the smallest car in
the field, with the smallest engine. But don’t expect it to be bullied, as its weight distribu-
tion and 1 800 cc 16 valve Toyota engine fitted with a programmable ignition and engine
management system, could give the big boys some major headaches.

drivers and as many variations as possible. As Stefan explains, “the for the full spectrum of customers – for those who are prepared to
Midas retail store is designed around the needs of any vehicle pay more for their favourite brand, and for those who still want
owner focusing on various product ranges from parts and acces- quality product with birth certificates but are a little more cost
sories through to lifestyle equipment. There are over 265 fran- conscious. Our motorsport sponsorships are similarly structured.”

MARCH 2010 75
 The Last Writes by Baron Claude Borlz

“For our more mature readers .....”

What a single spelling mistake can do on an SMS... Husband went to Pretoria. And sent sms
to wife: "Having a wonderful time, wish you were HER ......!!

Underwear Crisis The other day I was in an empty

pub having a quiet beer by myself.
An Englishman's wife steps up to the first tee and, as she bends over to place her ball, a
gust of wind blows her skirt up and reveals her lack of underwear. "Good God, woman! The door opened and in walked the most stun-
Why aren't you wearing any knickers?" her husband demanded. "Well, you don't give ning woman I've ever laid eyes on. 5'11'' tall,
me enough housekeeping money to afford any," she replied. The Englishman immedi- stunning blue eyes, silky blonde hair, an hour-
ately reaches into his pocket and says, "For the sake of decency, here's 20. Go and buy glass figure barely covered by a tiny miniskirt
yourself some underwear." Next, the Irishman's wife bends over to set her ball on the tee. and a flimsy cotton top.. I could see she was not
Her skirt also blows up to show that she is wearing no undies. "Blessed Virgin Mary, wearing a bra and her incredibly firm breasts
woman! You've no knickers. Why not?" She replies, "I can't afford any on the money you were on show. After watching her walk in I
give me." He reaches into his pocket and says, "For the sake of decency, here's 10. Go turned back to my beer. No sooner had I taken
and buy yourself some underwear!" Lastly, the Scotsman's wife bends over. The wind also a sip when I turned to see her pulling another
takes her skirt over her head to reveal that she, too, is naked under it. "Sweet Mudder, bar stool up close to me and sitting down. She
Maggie! Where the fook are yer drawers?" She too explains, "You dinna give me enough said 'Hi', and I said 'Hi' in return. She asked
money ta be able ta affarrd any." The Scotsman reaches into his pocket and says "Well, how I was and took my hand and placed it on
fer the sake of decency, here's a comb. Tidy yerself up a bit." her perfect inner thigh, rubbing it up and
down. 'So, does that make you feel good ?' she
CHEMISTRY STUDENT asked. 'I'll bet you feel good,' she continued. 'In
The following is an actual question given on University of Washington chemistry fact, I'll bet you've never felt this good before.'
midterm. The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it 'Well, I have,' I corrected her. 'You see, when I
with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure was 18, I was picked to play for the school 1st.
of enjoying it as well : XV in the Public School Finals in front of a
crowd of about 3000 and I felt really good.' I
Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)? immediately felt a bit pathetic saying that and I
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when thought she would get up and go but she took
it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, my hand off her thigh and put it up the front
wrote the following: 'First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in of her top. Her protuberance pushed into my
time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate palm as she massaged my hand into her pert,
at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to perfect breast. 'How do you feel now,' she
Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are purred. 'OK' I replied. Again, she said, 'I'll bet
entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Most you do. In fact, I'll bet you've never felt THIS
of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to good before!' Unbelievably I heard myself say-
Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong ing 'Well, actually I have. In that game, we were
to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and down by six points with about 20 seconds left
death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase expo- in the match. The Opposition kicked the ball
nentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's deep into our half of the field, where I caught
Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the it... I ran up field, side-stepping past the first
volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added. This gives two pos- few defenders, handed off a couple of would-be
sibilities: tacklers, burst through a few forwards, chipped
over their fullback, regathered and scored a try
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then right under the posts with about 2 or 3 seconds
the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose. 'till full time. We were still behind by one
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the tem- point, but I had a simple kick at goal with
perature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over. which to win the match and........' "Ahhh...."
she growled between clenched teeth, more than
So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman a bit miffed, pulled my hand from under her
year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account top and thrust it down the front of her skirt.
the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am My fingers immediately met what felt like a
sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory wisp of soft moist cotton , and she whispered,
is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and 'Well tell me this, Mr. Rugby Man: Have you
is therefore, Extinct....... leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a ever felt such a perfect …” Before she could fin-
divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting 'Oh my God.' ' ish, I interjected 'I certainly have, I missed the
THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+. kick..'

76 MARCH 2010
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