Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
ABS should be required by law.
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: How often do you receive spam calls?
The SA Vehicle Industry Thread
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
rietrot
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2016
- Messages
- 44,469
- Reaction score
- 22,510
Lol no why? By law people are already required to keep a safe following distance. You only really need the ABS if you already did something stupid.
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
rietrot
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2016
- Messages
- 44,469
- Reaction score
- 22,510
I don't even think airbags should be standard. It should all be optional extras, but the car manufacturers do it for the safety ratings were they crash test the cars ABS won't help get that up as they have to crash test the car. They can't have the crash dummy brake before the wall and claim the accident was avoided. So its all just bs marketing.
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Most drivers will jump on the brake pedal in an emergency - it's a reflex like action. Having ABS not only shortens the stopping distance it also keeps the driver in control at least as far as steering goes - which goes a long way in avoiding potential crashes. Preventing a crash is better than surviving it.
DA-LION-619
Honorary Master
You don't have to buy Jeep also why buy a Jeep unless it fits your lifestyle.
shooter69
Expert Member
No you don't. I merely pointed out the fact that South Africans in a 3rd world country with a 3rd world economy would rather buy 1st world cars at 1st world prices.
How many Fortuners, Rangers, Amaroks or Hilux's do you see on the road? Loads of them.... none of them come cheap.
You can buy a polo yes, but even the vivo is approaching the R200k range. Renault Clio is sitting at R207k.
Last edited:
DA-LION-619
Honorary Master
But they fit a purpose. In 1st world countries most people use public transport.
shooter69
Expert Member
I am in a horrible mood today. Do not get me started on the crap public transport in SA!:twisted:
I so wish I could get on a train to work and actually get there! Not even speaking of getting there on time. Just getting there is a battle.
DA-LION-619
Honorary Master
:twisted:
I so wish I could get on a train to work and actually get there! Not even speaking of getting there on time. Just getting there is a battle.
Lol I can understand your frustration.
I wish Uber would bring out their car pooling out here already.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Top 10 cars that nobody buys in SA
'They live among us – the nuggets of brilliance that South African tyre-kickers keep ignoring,' writes Braam Peens as he lists 10 cars 'nobody buys' in SA.
What does dust sound like at the moment of impact as it settles on an unsold car at a local dealership? Are more people coming to your forecourt to score a free boerie roll but couldn’t be bothered by what’s winking in the showroom behind? And are you moving – somewhat apocalyptically – fewer cars per month than your dealer network has branches?
There’s good news. You can stop blaming the sagging economy, consumer debt or stingy banks: sometimes car-shoppers simply fail to see the sheer brilliance of certain models.
What’s going on? Price considerations aside, March NAAMSA car sales figures reveal a common theme of a lack of consumer education, misinformed preconceptions and ever-evolving needs. On the other hand; sometimes there just are none so blind as those who do not want to see.
1. Audi A7 TDI bi-turbo quattro
If for aesthetics alone, the A7 range has forever polarised opinion since its 2010 introduction. The bi-TDI’s three-litre V6 will murder most hot hatches off the line, as this two-tonne cruise missile tears to 100km/h from standstill in just 5.2 seconds. How is that even possible? Because torque. Torque – and not kilowatts – is what makes cars real-world fast.
Torque provides bottom-end, mid-range and the solution to internet trolls and fake news. Because in the all-wheel drive A7, all 650Nm of it is available from 1450rpm, offering a relentless surge of shove in any gear, at any speed. Sleeper status, space, practicality, economy (6.1l/100km) and Le Mans pedigree, this is probably the most complete performance family car you can buy. Yet only 6 A7’s were bought in March: proof, if ever needed, that the three-box sedan is dying.
2. Mazda MX-5
To the average South African performance enthusiast, speed is the sole determinant in the thrills-per-rand-spent consideration. Therefore the Mazda’s wheezy 118kW and 200km/h top speed is lost on those who fantasise about living their lives one quarter mile at a time.
That’s because the MX-5’s appeal lies in its handling-friendliness: it weighs just 1000kg and is shod with comparatively skinny 205-section rear tyres. Paired with a rev-hungry naturally aspirated two-litre engine and bolt-action rifle-slick manual gearbox, you can fling (and drift) the Mazda like a rag doll: you could only have more fun if you drove it naked (but you really shouldn't). Only ten South Africans took up this challenge in March.
3. Alfa Giulia
With the Alfa launching as recent as January, perhaps a simple lack of public awareness could be seen as extenuating circumstances for its sales performance. The 29 units sold means the Giulia hardly troubled the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series or Audi A4 in March.
Not now, and not ever: after decades of near-zero marketing, consistently underwhelming products dogged by a dodgy sales network, whatever passion South Africans once harboured for the Italian four-leaved clover has wilted away. The Germans do a better job of marrying premium to performance and the Alfa’s resale value will no doubt be of the meteor shower variety.
Yet TopGear’s Chris Harris adores the Giulia Quadrifoglio (“If you imagine Ferrari doing a little sports saloon, this would be it”), it laps the TV show’s test track faster than the benchmark BMW M3, yet it’s failed to capture anyone’s imagination.
4. Mazda BT-50
It’s no secret that the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are, sales-wise, galaxies ahead of their competition. But the latter also an eviller-looking twin, and it’s called the Mazda BT-50. Although the (in many instances cheaper) Mazda is mechanically identical to the Ford (a very good thing), looks-wise it’s also identical to a Lord of the Rings villain (a very bad thing), which goes some way to explain why only 35 found homes last month.
Thinking of it as a poor man’s Ford Ranger doesn’t help, either but the fact is the Mazda is a smart buy.
5. Volkswagen Passat
There’s a lot to like about the new, eighth-gen Passat; not least the fact that the top model has a Golf GTI engine and gearbox. Or that you can trade one of your lesser-used arms and legs in exchange for speccing Audi’s innovative Virtual Cockpit in your Passat. You can see where this is going, and there’ll be hate from Audi for saying this, but in many respects the more-premium-than-before Passat is an A4 wearing a communist’s badge.
At its launch the former VW Group chairman, Martin Winterkorn, hailed the new Passat as “a premium car without the premium price”, which makes it perfect for limousine liberals with a conscience. So theoretically Blade Nzimande should approve, although only 21 other buyers agreed with him in March.
6. Ford Fusion
The Fusion is equipped to the hilt with equipment, including the optional Focus ST engine, but its numbers – along with those of its competitors – reads like a cast credit straight from The Walking Dead: Hyundai Sonata (discontinued), VW Passat (on life support) and Honda Accord (deceased). The damage in March? A street-wise four.
7. Volkswagen Scirocco R
Sure, the Scirocco has been around for seven years, but forever remains the two-door Golf you always wanted. Here’s why: when the Golf 6 R launched in 2011, you could only have it with a pansy, performance-killing all-wheel drive system. Not the Scirocco equivalent. It took all of those 188kW and presented them to you through the front wheels only, for wrist-tugging pleasure of a different kind. Only four people chose to share that pleasure in March.
8. Audi A1
The masses against the classes: the A1 is the posher monopoly capital version of the mechanically identical VW Polo, and an excellently crafted one at that. 78 units retailed seems far from a tragedy, but consider that the people’s Polo sold 1997 units (and the Vivo a further 2383), then suddenly, it is.
9. Volvo V40 Cross Country
Audi used to sell something called an A4 Allroad, and although miles away from a Mercedes Geländewagen for off-roading ability, if you squinted it nonetheless exuded a type of Camel-man weekend warrior appeal. That place has now been taken by the V40 Cross Country. If the small man-syndrome of a balloon payment-purchased 3 Series, C-Class or A4 hurts too much to bear thought, the zen Cross Country offers a credible alternative to the angst-ridden compact executive sedan. Yet only 17 fewer packets of Prozac were sold last month.
10. BMW M140i
It’s depressing, isn’t it? Don’t worry; we’ve left the best for last. BMW doesn’t publish model-specific sales numbers, so it’s hard to tell if they sell one or one thousand of these, but when the M140i went on sale at the end of last year, the speed-hunting public’s silence on what has to be the best hot hatch of 2016 was deafening. So here’s a refresher: three-litre, straight-six, 250kW, 500Nm, rear-wheel drive, a sub-5 second 0-100km/h time, and a R656k price tag. BMW at its best; and the performance bargain of the century. It's a pleasure.
http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Guides_and_Lists/top-10-cars-that-nobody-buys-in-sa-20170421
'They live among us – the nuggets of brilliance that South African tyre-kickers keep ignoring,' writes Braam Peens as he lists 10 cars 'nobody buys' in SA.
What does dust sound like at the moment of impact as it settles on an unsold car at a local dealership? Are more people coming to your forecourt to score a free boerie roll but couldn’t be bothered by what’s winking in the showroom behind? And are you moving – somewhat apocalyptically – fewer cars per month than your dealer network has branches?
There’s good news. You can stop blaming the sagging economy, consumer debt or stingy banks: sometimes car-shoppers simply fail to see the sheer brilliance of certain models.
What’s going on? Price considerations aside, March NAAMSA car sales figures reveal a common theme of a lack of consumer education, misinformed preconceptions and ever-evolving needs. On the other hand; sometimes there just are none so blind as those who do not want to see.
1. Audi A7 TDI bi-turbo quattro
If for aesthetics alone, the A7 range has forever polarised opinion since its 2010 introduction. The bi-TDI’s three-litre V6 will murder most hot hatches off the line, as this two-tonne cruise missile tears to 100km/h from standstill in just 5.2 seconds. How is that even possible? Because torque. Torque – and not kilowatts – is what makes cars real-world fast.
Torque provides bottom-end, mid-range and the solution to internet trolls and fake news. Because in the all-wheel drive A7, all 650Nm of it is available from 1450rpm, offering a relentless surge of shove in any gear, at any speed. Sleeper status, space, practicality, economy (6.1l/100km) and Le Mans pedigree, this is probably the most complete performance family car you can buy. Yet only 6 A7’s were bought in March: proof, if ever needed, that the three-box sedan is dying.
2. Mazda MX-5
To the average South African performance enthusiast, speed is the sole determinant in the thrills-per-rand-spent consideration. Therefore the Mazda’s wheezy 118kW and 200km/h top speed is lost on those who fantasise about living their lives one quarter mile at a time.
That’s because the MX-5’s appeal lies in its handling-friendliness: it weighs just 1000kg and is shod with comparatively skinny 205-section rear tyres. Paired with a rev-hungry naturally aspirated two-litre engine and bolt-action rifle-slick manual gearbox, you can fling (and drift) the Mazda like a rag doll: you could only have more fun if you drove it naked (but you really shouldn't). Only ten South Africans took up this challenge in March.
3. Alfa Giulia
With the Alfa launching as recent as January, perhaps a simple lack of public awareness could be seen as extenuating circumstances for its sales performance. The 29 units sold means the Giulia hardly troubled the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series or Audi A4 in March.
Not now, and not ever: after decades of near-zero marketing, consistently underwhelming products dogged by a dodgy sales network, whatever passion South Africans once harboured for the Italian four-leaved clover has wilted away. The Germans do a better job of marrying premium to performance and the Alfa’s resale value will no doubt be of the meteor shower variety.
Yet TopGear’s Chris Harris adores the Giulia Quadrifoglio (“If you imagine Ferrari doing a little sports saloon, this would be it”), it laps the TV show’s test track faster than the benchmark BMW M3, yet it’s failed to capture anyone’s imagination.
4. Mazda BT-50
It’s no secret that the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are, sales-wise, galaxies ahead of their competition. But the latter also an eviller-looking twin, and it’s called the Mazda BT-50. Although the (in many instances cheaper) Mazda is mechanically identical to the Ford (a very good thing), looks-wise it’s also identical to a Lord of the Rings villain (a very bad thing), which goes some way to explain why only 35 found homes last month.
Thinking of it as a poor man’s Ford Ranger doesn’t help, either but the fact is the Mazda is a smart buy.
5. Volkswagen Passat
There’s a lot to like about the new, eighth-gen Passat; not least the fact that the top model has a Golf GTI engine and gearbox. Or that you can trade one of your lesser-used arms and legs in exchange for speccing Audi’s innovative Virtual Cockpit in your Passat. You can see where this is going, and there’ll be hate from Audi for saying this, but in many respects the more-premium-than-before Passat is an A4 wearing a communist’s badge.
At its launch the former VW Group chairman, Martin Winterkorn, hailed the new Passat as “a premium car without the premium price”, which makes it perfect for limousine liberals with a conscience. So theoretically Blade Nzimande should approve, although only 21 other buyers agreed with him in March.
6. Ford Fusion
The Fusion is equipped to the hilt with equipment, including the optional Focus ST engine, but its numbers – along with those of its competitors – reads like a cast credit straight from The Walking Dead: Hyundai Sonata (discontinued), VW Passat (on life support) and Honda Accord (deceased). The damage in March? A street-wise four.
7. Volkswagen Scirocco R
Sure, the Scirocco has been around for seven years, but forever remains the two-door Golf you always wanted. Here’s why: when the Golf 6 R launched in 2011, you could only have it with a pansy, performance-killing all-wheel drive system. Not the Scirocco equivalent. It took all of those 188kW and presented them to you through the front wheels only, for wrist-tugging pleasure of a different kind. Only four people chose to share that pleasure in March.
8. Audi A1
The masses against the classes: the A1 is the posher monopoly capital version of the mechanically identical VW Polo, and an excellently crafted one at that. 78 units retailed seems far from a tragedy, but consider that the people’s Polo sold 1997 units (and the Vivo a further 2383), then suddenly, it is.
9. Volvo V40 Cross Country
Audi used to sell something called an A4 Allroad, and although miles away from a Mercedes Geländewagen for off-roading ability, if you squinted it nonetheless exuded a type of Camel-man weekend warrior appeal. That place has now been taken by the V40 Cross Country. If the small man-syndrome of a balloon payment-purchased 3 Series, C-Class or A4 hurts too much to bear thought, the zen Cross Country offers a credible alternative to the angst-ridden compact executive sedan. Yet only 17 fewer packets of Prozac were sold last month.
10. BMW M140i
It’s depressing, isn’t it? Don’t worry; we’ve left the best for last. BMW doesn’t publish model-specific sales numbers, so it’s hard to tell if they sell one or one thousand of these, but when the M140i went on sale at the end of last year, the speed-hunting public’s silence on what has to be the best hot hatch of 2016 was deafening. So here’s a refresher: three-litre, straight-six, 250kW, 500Nm, rear-wheel drive, a sub-5 second 0-100km/h time, and a R656k price tag. BMW at its best; and the performance bargain of the century. It's a pleasure.
http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Guides_and_Lists/top-10-cars-that-nobody-buys-in-sa-20170421
rietrot
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2016
- Messages
- 44,469
- Reaction score
- 22,510
In that situation most people crash and survive anyway. Its called a bumper basher and mostly happen in residential areas.
/conspiracy hat on
The car manufacturers like these. It's big business for them their mechanics and the insurance companies.
They get to write off the car and make a new sale.
Craig_
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2016
- Messages
- 31,029
- Reaction score
- 29,903
I prefer more cars with ABS, I hate that dreadful feeling when you see a car coming at you way to fast at an intersection and then just hoping he will stop in time. With ABS, there is a bigger chance that the moron will be able to stop being hitting you at least.
Agree, but with all these type of safety features, drivers adapt to use them as driving aids instead of safety features. Quite common with Polo drivers.
rietrot
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2016
- Messages
- 44,469
- Reaction score
- 22,510
I also prefer ABS. I just don't want the government to inforce my personal preferences or even a majority preference as law.
DA-LION-619
Honorary Master
ABS just prevents locking right? Doesn't make braking any better?
Sinbad
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2006
- Messages
- 88,945
- Reaction score
- 41,642
Nithan15
Expert Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2016
- Messages
- 3,712
- Reaction score
- 1,921
This actually keep the car in a straight line when braking in the wet or gravel
Also a good foot massage
Craig_
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2016
- Messages
- 31,029
- Reaction score
- 29,903
[video=youtube;mKiTAcXK6M4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKiTAcXK6M4[/video]
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Here they are: SA’s ten cheapest cars
South Africa’s recent downgrading to junk status will inevitably take a bite out of households’ disposable income, and when coupled with expected interest rate hikes and pricier insurance, new car purchases might have to go on the back burner for many. The very bottom end of the market is under the spotlight now more than ever, so for those still shopping for new cars we’ve listed the ten cheapest passenger vehicles on sale today.
1. Chery QQ3 TE – R99 995
Chinese brand Chery is the only carmaker in our market currently offering a new vehicle under the R100 000 mark, albeit by just five rand. But don’t expect much in the way of safety features at this level. The QQ3 in base TE spec comes with air conditioning and a CD player, but no airbags, ABS brakes or stability control. If we included individual variants in this list, the QQ3 TX and TXE would technically sit second and fourth places.
ENGINE: 812cc 3-cyl, 38kW and 70Nm
2. Datsun Go Mid – R106 900
The relaunch of budget brand Datsun has seen a handful of bargain basement models, but the cheapest of all is the Go hatch in Mid spec. Air conditioning is included but there’s no radio, and more importantly no airbags or ABS brakes. It has seatbelts but they’re only retractable in the front seats. The Indian-built city car is a sub-brand of the Nissan stable and is only sold in Russia, Indonesia and South Africa.
ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3-cyl, 50kW and 104Nm
3. FAW V2 DLX – R114 995
Another Chinese entry, the FAW V2 is surprisingly well stocked for the price, and comes with two airbags, ABS brakes, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, and a sound system with a USB port. It’s also one of the biggest cars in this list with a maximum 320 litres of boot space, and is the most powerful in this list.
ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4-cyl, 67kW and 120Nm
4. Tata Indica LGi – R118 995
Tata’s Indica is one of the stalwarts of the cheapie league with a familiar nameplate that’s been around for nearly two decades. In latest LGi form the Indian hatch gets rather bland styling with unpainted bumpers and is stripped down to only the bare essentials with no airbags or ABS , but some buyers might comfort in the relatively established Tata brand.
ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 55kW and 110Nm
5. Renault Kwid Expression - R124 900
As the newest car on this list, Renault’s Kwid comes with relatively modern styling designed to look like a miniature SUV. Buyers at this level will be impressed with its digital instrument cluster, aircon, an 18cm colour touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB port, and a decent 5-year/150 000km warranty, but Renault has skimped on safety features with just one airbag and no ABS brakes.
ENGINE: 1-litre 3-cyl, 50kW and 91Nm
6. Kia Picanto LS – R129 995
Kia’s cheapest car, the Picanto in LS trim, is an attractive little runabout with its gaping front grill, a cheeky headlight design and an up-to-date dashboard layout. It also gets one of the best warranty plans in the segment at 5-years with unlimited mileage. It has no ABS and only the driver gets an airbag.
ENGINE: 1-litre 3-cyl, 51kW and 94Nm
7. Suzuki Celerio GA – R132 900
It might not be the prettiest, but Suzuki’s Celerio is one of the safer budget cars in this list with two airbags and ABS brakes even in its lowest GA spec. You won’t get much in the way of creature comforts here though, with air conditioning pretty much the only standard nicety. Not even a radio is included. For 17 grand more, the much higher specced GL is a no brainer.
ENGINE: 1-litre 3-cyl. 50kW and 90Nm
8. Tata Vista Ini Bounce - R134 995
The Vista fits into Tata’s hatch range above the cheaper Indica, and below the pricier Bolt. It’s actually a newer version of the Indica, and overseas it’s badged as an ‘Indica Vista’. Spec-wise it’s nearly identical to the bare basics Indica (listed at number 4) but for the extra money you get a slightly more modern look and feel.
ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 54kW and 114Nm
9. Chevy Spark Curve – R140 700
Chevy’s Spark is certainly among the smallest hatches in our top-ten, but it’s also one of the most radical looking in baby bulldog kind of way. It’s also specced well at lowest Curve level with dual airbags, ABS brakes, electric windows, remote central locking and a stereo with all sorts of input options.
ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4-cyl, 60kW and 108Nm
10. Mitsubishi Mirage GL - R149 900
Though Mitsubishi’s Mirage disguises its age well, it’s one of the oldest models here. When we road tested it after its local introduction in 2014, we described it as “basic transport” with “anonymous jellybean styling”, although at this end of the market we know there are buyers looking for exactly that. Two airbags, ABS brakes, central locking, aircon and an audio system are part of the well-stocked deal.
ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3-cyl, 57kW and 100Nm
http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/special-features/here-they-are-sas-ten-cheapest-cars-8754488
South Africa’s recent downgrading to junk status will inevitably take a bite out of households’ disposable income, and when coupled with expected interest rate hikes and pricier insurance, new car purchases might have to go on the back burner for many. The very bottom end of the market is under the spotlight now more than ever, so for those still shopping for new cars we’ve listed the ten cheapest passenger vehicles on sale today.
1. Chery QQ3 TE – R99 995
Chinese brand Chery is the only carmaker in our market currently offering a new vehicle under the R100 000 mark, albeit by just five rand. But don’t expect much in the way of safety features at this level. The QQ3 in base TE spec comes with air conditioning and a CD player, but no airbags, ABS brakes or stability control. If we included individual variants in this list, the QQ3 TX and TXE would technically sit second and fourth places.
ENGINE: 812cc 3-cyl, 38kW and 70Nm
2. Datsun Go Mid – R106 900
The relaunch of budget brand Datsun has seen a handful of bargain basement models, but the cheapest of all is the Go hatch in Mid spec. Air conditioning is included but there’s no radio, and more importantly no airbags or ABS brakes. It has seatbelts but they’re only retractable in the front seats. The Indian-built city car is a sub-brand of the Nissan stable and is only sold in Russia, Indonesia and South Africa.
ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3-cyl, 50kW and 104Nm
3. FAW V2 DLX – R114 995
Another Chinese entry, the FAW V2 is surprisingly well stocked for the price, and comes with two airbags, ABS brakes, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, and a sound system with a USB port. It’s also one of the biggest cars in this list with a maximum 320 litres of boot space, and is the most powerful in this list.
ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4-cyl, 67kW and 120Nm
4. Tata Indica LGi – R118 995
Tata’s Indica is one of the stalwarts of the cheapie league with a familiar nameplate that’s been around for nearly two decades. In latest LGi form the Indian hatch gets rather bland styling with unpainted bumpers and is stripped down to only the bare essentials with no airbags or ABS , but some buyers might comfort in the relatively established Tata brand.
ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 55kW and 110Nm
5. Renault Kwid Expression - R124 900
As the newest car on this list, Renault’s Kwid comes with relatively modern styling designed to look like a miniature SUV. Buyers at this level will be impressed with its digital instrument cluster, aircon, an 18cm colour touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB port, and a decent 5-year/150 000km warranty, but Renault has skimped on safety features with just one airbag and no ABS brakes.
ENGINE: 1-litre 3-cyl, 50kW and 91Nm
6. Kia Picanto LS – R129 995
Kia’s cheapest car, the Picanto in LS trim, is an attractive little runabout with its gaping front grill, a cheeky headlight design and an up-to-date dashboard layout. It also gets one of the best warranty plans in the segment at 5-years with unlimited mileage. It has no ABS and only the driver gets an airbag.
ENGINE: 1-litre 3-cyl, 51kW and 94Nm
7. Suzuki Celerio GA – R132 900
It might not be the prettiest, but Suzuki’s Celerio is one of the safer budget cars in this list with two airbags and ABS brakes even in its lowest GA spec. You won’t get much in the way of creature comforts here though, with air conditioning pretty much the only standard nicety. Not even a radio is included. For 17 grand more, the much higher specced GL is a no brainer.
ENGINE: 1-litre 3-cyl. 50kW and 90Nm
8. Tata Vista Ini Bounce - R134 995
The Vista fits into Tata’s hatch range above the cheaper Indica, and below the pricier Bolt. It’s actually a newer version of the Indica, and overseas it’s badged as an ‘Indica Vista’. Spec-wise it’s nearly identical to the bare basics Indica (listed at number 4) but for the extra money you get a slightly more modern look and feel.
ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 54kW and 114Nm
9. Chevy Spark Curve – R140 700
Chevy’s Spark is certainly among the smallest hatches in our top-ten, but it’s also one of the most radical looking in baby bulldog kind of way. It’s also specced well at lowest Curve level with dual airbags, ABS brakes, electric windows, remote central locking and a stereo with all sorts of input options.
ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4-cyl, 60kW and 108Nm
10. Mitsubishi Mirage GL - R149 900
Though Mitsubishi’s Mirage disguises its age well, it’s one of the oldest models here. When we road tested it after its local introduction in 2014, we described it as “basic transport” with “anonymous jellybean styling”, although at this end of the market we know there are buyers looking for exactly that. Two airbags, ABS brakes, central locking, aircon and an audio system are part of the well-stocked deal.
ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3-cyl, 57kW and 100Nm
http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/special-features/here-they-are-sas-ten-cheapest-cars-8754488