Datsun Go! Thoughts

DRIVEN: Here's why Datsun's new GO CVT is everything you wouldn't expect it to be

It is the ideal A to B, has the features you need and looks the part as well. Everyone might not take an instant liking to CVT transmissions but simplicity, especially when sitting in daily traffic, might be a defining factor over the manual counterpart.

The GO has my respect because, just like the guy that had to squeeze a cow's teets to discover milk, no car in its segment has attempted the transition from something (CVT) other than manual or automatic transmissions in their cars. If it works, it works. If it doesn't then back to drawing board and go again.

In terms of the market, expect the Kwid and GO to keep duking it out because they are a big part of the leading A-segment pack constantly trying to improve their already popular options.

 
Driven: Datsun's slicked-up Go with CVT gearbox

Ownership

To ensure you have peace of mind for as long as possible from their side, Datsun gives you a whopping six-year/150000km warranty on the new GO. You can also add a service plan or a maintenance plan at dealer level.

Service intervals are every 15000km or annually, whichever comes first.

Pricing starts at R184 200 for the CVT GO while the CVT GO+ will set you back R194 800.

 
Datsun brand won’t be discontinued after all - report

Back in October it was reported that Nissan was likely to ditch its Datsun brand, with Reuters having cited two company insiders with direct knowledge of the matter. But now Nikkei is reporting that the budget brand will be discontinued in East Asian markets, but not in India, where South Africa’s cars are sourced from.

This comes as Nissan’s new boss Makoto Uchida takes the helm with the promise of turning the tide for the Japanese carmaker, which in recent times has seen its sales and profits fall in the wake of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn’s arrest.

According to Nikkei Asian Review, Datsun will stop producing vehicles in Russia from next year, as well as Indonesia - which serves the entire Southeast Asia region.

However, the publication also reports that India will continue to produce Datsun vehicles, and that the brand is also set to launch a new compact SUV in 2020, according to IndianAutosBlog.

This should in theory secure Datsun’s future in South Africa, as our Go and Go+ models are sourced from India. The local division has certainly shown no signs of giving up on SA, and recently reiterated its commitment by launching upgraded Go and Go+ models, which now offer the option of a CVT gearbox. The aforementioned SUV is also expected to reach local shores in 2020.

 
4 Budget Crossovers for SA in 2020

If a budget hatchback is too small for your needs then perhaps a larger budget crossover will be the perfect fit for your lifestyle. Here are 4 new budget crossovers coming to market in 2020!

The budget end of the new car market is both important and lucrative for manufacturers, especially in South Africa, as it offers an opportunity to unlock potential revenue where cash-strapped buyers are eager to purchase their first new car.

While budget cars such as the Renault Kwid and Datsun Go continue to grow in popularity, there’s also a growing demand for budget crossovers that offer not only a higher ground clearance (which suits local conditions) but also for more space and passenger-carrying capacity.

Here are 4 new budget crossovers headed for South Africa next year!

Datsun Cross

Ford Figo Freestyle

Renault Triber

Suzuki S-Presso



Datsun.jpg
 
No thank you :)
What I find sad about the Kwid is that once upon a time Renault used to make some of the safest of cars that normal people could buy BUT now?! Yoh that's gone out of the window.
 
indeed it is a major improvement over the original GO, I would say about 70%. I just don't like the way the door plastic flexes while closing the door when sitting inside. It makes me very uncomfortable. Either its made like that (ew) or I am pulling extra stronk like slav.

although it can't get any worse than my 2006 tata indica LGI with brick-like seats ! That car gave me bone diseases while driving lol !

I'm getting a super good deal so I am happy. (thanks to AutoExpert aussie's advice on youtube)

reasons for purchasing the car :

Ground clearance (living on a farm)
Cheap to maintain (again farm live makes getting to dealerships a bit hard but not impossible)
Reliable micra type engine
A to B - 40km a week (shops)
I get 30km per litre (probably more like 20-25km realistically)
All the warranties and jazz of Datsun included.

I am going to make a sticker and place it next to the GO badge

GO_F_yeh_self :laugh:
 
5 lightest vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2019

You might expect the lightest vehicles we tested in 2019 (yes, we weigh every single one) to be high-performance vehicles best suited to track work, but that's simply not the case. In fact, of the 75 vehicles we featured over the year, the five lightest were all budget-beating daily runabouts (with three from the Suzuki stable)...

5. Suzuki Vitara 1,4 Turbo GLX 6MT – 1 149 kg

4. Mahindra KUV100 Nxt G80 K8 – 1 103 kg

3. Suzuki Jimny 1,5 GLX ALLGRIP – 1 089 kg

2. Suzuki Ciaz 1,5 GLX MT – 1 037 kg

1. Datsun Go 1,2 Lux – 864 kg

 
So - this Ignition GT 'review' of the Datsun GO CVT is basically B-roll footage of the car being driven at about 10 km/h backwards, forwards & in circles in the poorly-illuminated TV Studio parking garage, followed by a 'talking heads' studio chit-chat, with NO ACTUAL 'test' of the car being driven in the city or out on the highway, where the various pros & cons of the CVT transmission can be shown to prospective buyers?

What's the point of that, then? How to waste a few minutes of airtime before the next commercial break, perhaps?

P.S. - Also, just WTF was the idiot dancing maniacally in the white rabbit suit supposed to represent? - That people who drive the Datsun Go CVT are about to take the Mad Hatter to go & enjoy a tea-party with Alice?
 
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So - this Ignition GT 'review' of the Datsun GO CVT is basically B-roll footage of the car being driven at about 10 km/h backwards, forwards & in circles in the poorly-illuminated TV Studio parking garage, followed by a 'talking heads' studio chit-chat, with NO ACTUAL 'test' of the car being driven in the city or out on the highway, where the various pros & cons of the CVT transmission can be shown to prospective buyers?

What's the point of that, then? How to waste a few minutes of airtime before the next commercial break, perhaps?
That & to also say "we tested it"
 
Datsun Go 1.2 Lux CVT (2020) Review

Fast Facts

Price: R188 300 (January 2019)
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
Power/Torque: 57 Nm/104 Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Fuel consumption (claimed): 5.0 L/100 km
Load capacity: 265 litres

Price and after-sales support

The Datsun GO 1.2 Lux CVT is priced from R188 300 and is sold with a commendable 6-year/150 000 km warranty. A service/maintenance plan is optional.

Verdict

There you have it: the Datsun Go 1.2 Lux CVT surprised us! Its performance in the city was quite satisfactory and, for the most part, the CVT-equipped powertrain delivered a generally pleasant driving experience. The fact that the Go’s safety specification has been upgraded is a big bonus and, as a result, it’s far easier to recommend than ever before.

We do, however, feel that Datsun should look to improve the material quality of its hatchback's interior in order to bring the overall offering in line with its asking price. And that brings us to the crux of this verdict. The Datsun Go (this CVT derivative, in particular) is a relatively pricey proposition and we don’t believe there’s quite enough value on offer to justify that "steep" asking price. The Go simply doesn’t feel like it’s worth its asking price. For roughly the same capital outlay, the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL automatic, in our opinion, is a more substantial car with markedly-superior perceived quality to the Datsun. It has mounted steering-wheel controls, a better-visible USB port and rides with greater pliancy.

As prices of budget-car prices increase – but quality stays the same – a strong case can be made for shopping in the used market where better quality (and value) is available from nearly-new derivatives. A benefit of going that route is that you wouldn't bear the brunt of the "first knock" of depreciation, as first owners do. If you can accept not driving a brand new car off the showroom floor, then buying a used car at under R200k can be a very smart buying decision.


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Dustbin Crash
 
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