Drive Magazine - Latest Comments

Re: Dlightful, or Dsastrous?

Ray Allen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:47:44 -0000

not so bad.
I love c30

Re: SEAT Leon Nurburgring record exposed!

Shrimp — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 06:32:45 -0000

Hah, nice spot :)

Re: Giant Slayer

MJ Meyer — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:40:01 -0000

Awesome review guys!! Refreshing viewpoint. Especially since the majority of journos seem to think that a rock hard "fun" car translates to every day driving pleasure! Love the Pug!

Re: Launch Drive: Toyota Innova

Akshat Jain — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 08:37:42 -0000

Toyota is one of the most trustable and reliable car maker of the world and we can trust on their products and sales of Toyota get increased these days,recently Toyota Group are launching his new car Toyota Innova facelift in India on October 5, this is an updated version of old Toyota Innova, stunning Toyota Innova cost in India is around Rs. 9,51,381 but Toyota does not make any majour changes in this car but we can see some minor changes like bigger chrome grille with three horizontal slats, revised front bumper, new airdam with restyled fog lamps, the Innova facelift now looks much refreshed than before. i am waiting from a long time for this car and now my wait is going over.

Re: Opel Corsa 1400 Essentia

Phumlani ChiefofProjects Ndawo — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:37:01 -0000

Eish.... Moving Off and Clutch Pedal is a hectic issue on this car...... Hope Opel will notice this , as I have a 2013 Model.

Re: BMW Shrinks X6 Down To X4

Jason Devey — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:28:24 -0000

looks do matter these days... i hope they don't smother it with M badges when it only has a 2l turbo... :/

Re: Drive Test: BMW 116i Sport

Tarek — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:13:50 -0000

Hi,

I'd like to ask you if you ever got to drive the 118i 2012 0r 2013 after writing this review. Just wodnering how that compares to your take on the 116i.

Re: Drive versus – Suzuki SX4 4X4 vs Kia Soul CRDi

caro galiani — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:38:56 -0000

Great review, realy complete... The best i readed but too old! I have the same question today! In 2013 both have changed!

Re: Drive Test: Honda Jazz Comfort Auto

Dave Prentice — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:34:31 -0000

Thanks Russell, puts it in perspective for me. After reading my original response, it comes across harsher than what I intended. I just think that perhaps it would be a good idea for these "soulless little econo-boxes" to rather be tested by a person who is not a petrolhead and more likely to drive such a vehicle. But I suppose there are not many motoring journos in that category, are there? Cheers.

Re: Drive Test: Honda Jazz Comfort Auto

DriveMagazine — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:47:54 -0000

You’re absolutely right Dave, and the manual version also isn’t nearly as frustrating for a committed car enthusiast as this awful horror of a gearbox.

The fact is, in today’s climate motoring enthusiasts often have to settle for a good, reliable, unexciting city runabout. I simply hope that I am able to steer them clear of being stuck with a product which is going to make them want to end their suffering sooner rather than later, as this CVT-equipped Jazz (and indeed most cars fitted with this transmission technology) would undoubtedly do.

We test all the cars available to the SA market, but always from the perspective of a car enthusiast. It’s the raison d’etre of the publication, where others have softened and diluted their opinions to fall in with mainstream thinking we refuse to let the enthusiast mindset, which is under massive pressure from manufacturers, eco organisations, and governments across the globe, to simply die out and be forgotten. We never once in the article say this Jazz is a rubbish product which shouldn’t even be purchased as a glorified shopping trolley, not once. We’re merely pointing out that people like us, people who drive for the joy of driving, should steer well clear. Even you seem to agree that’s sound advice, hence falling back on to the old “horses for courses” argument. It’s the reason why our road tests so often disagree with the glut of samey “opinions” on many modern motoring trends – like the diesel engine or even hybrid drivetrains as the saviour of the industry, or the dual-clutch or CVT gearbox being considered in any way superior or desirable. We are South African enthusiast drivers, we evaluate cars as such. Not as moms popping to the shops or to collect the kids, not as senior citizens never exceeding 40km/h on their monthly drive out to the family three blocks away, not as European car consumers with their viable public-transport alternatives to cars.

Anyway thanks for the discussion. I’m afraid it hasn’t changed my mind and you’re likely to be annoyed at my “unfair” approach to heartless soulless little econo-boxes again, but I do understand where you’re coming from and at the core of it all, entirely agree with you. Go well.

Re: Drive Test: Honda Jazz Comfort Auto

Dave Prentice — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:01:27 -0000

If you're a "Petrolhead" - what on Earth are you test driving a 1.3 AUTO Jazz for? Don't waste your time and your readers' time with your opinion that is totally out of context with the market segment it is aimed at. Russell....it is a runaround, a city car that will do ok on a long trip. I have driven the manuel version and think that compared to what else is available out there, the Honda Jazz from a quality, practicality, running costs and reliability - you can't go wrong.

Re: Drive Impression: Renault Megane RS

Guest — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 02:43:30 -0000

the communist cheese eating surrender monkeys won the 100 year war again england .

Wanker !!!

Re: Drive Test: Honda Jazz Comfort Auto

DriveMagazine — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:58:32 -0000

Well I am glad you could also see the funny side of the S mode on the gearbox….

Otherwise, I hope you do understand that the content on Drive is written by a petrolhead, for petrolheads. All I’m really saying with this review, is that people who love cars need not even look in the direction of this vehicle, and people who love driving should immediately strike any car with a CVT transmission off their list of possible choices. CVT is for the person who cars not a whit about driving, and only wants some form of machine that will transport them from point A to point B, as you’ve rightly pointed out the Honda does, reliably. If that’s really all you want from a car, then something powered by electricity would work just fine – perhaps at some point in the future there’ll be a way for people who aren’t at all interested in driving to get around without needing a conventional car as we know them today at all! Unfortunately for the moment cars actually have to be made for this market, which actually represents the bulk of motoring consumers, but until then petrolheads need to be informed about what models conform to this car-disliking notion and entirely ignore that there are still people passionate about motoring so they can stay as far away as possible from the result.

Also I don’t quite understand, although given what I’ve just explained it sort of makes sense, why people automatically equate wanting a smidge of performance just to keep you awake on a long drive, to trying to “outrun an F1 car”… a bit extreme methinks as there are levels of performance in-between a pedal car and the pinnacle of international motorsport. This Jazz is far closer to the pedal-car level, but that doesn’t mean it has to morph into an F1 car. Anyways…

Thanks for the comment!

Russell

Re: Drive Test: Honda Jazz Comfort Auto

Dutch Pole — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:10:12 -0000

I wonder what Russel expected of a simple, reliable vehicle, that is only supposed to bring you from A to B and offers lots of space, considering its size. Imho the CVT is the perfect auto box for this kind of car, supposed one is not using the Jazz as if one tries to outperform a F1 vehicle. It is supposed to be not more than an economical means of transport.......
I agree only with Russel about the S mode of the box: not necessary and in fact funny.

Re: Of R8s and Law Enforcement.

Dennis — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 02:02:03 -0000

I couldn't agree more! - We have become so used to feeding the plague of
corruption that it is now endemic in our road going society. Until some austere
methods of discipline and control, along with proper visible and effective law
enforcement methods, we will not see a reduction in the carnage on South Africa’s
road network.

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

DriveMagazine — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:39:57 -0000

Fair comment. Thanks for taking the time.

Regards.

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

Marx — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:38:08 -0000

Ranger owners complain about the exact same thing in the drive department when unladen. If you read you'll find the Mazda handles much better than the Amarok with the same load, has a better towing capacity etc etc. So it clearly wins in the department for which this vehicle was build, to carry big loads, to be a workhorse, but stylish enough to to use as a everyday vehicle, jy weet, D.K.W " Dans, Kerk en Werk" Bru. The 5-Star safety rating sets it apart too. I'll be the first to admit the Amarok might be your better drive for daily commute when unladen, but all round the BT50 is the better package. Regards

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

DriveMagazine — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:26:32 -0000

With the following headline I might add…. “The Mazda BT-50 may not be the better drive, but it makes up for it in other areas.”

Now, I’m afraid, for this particular Drive Magazine, as the name suggests, the drive is everything. Clearly that Antipodean version doesn’t stick rigidly to this defining criteria, but I’m afraid here we do. In Drive, the drive is everything, so the fact that the BT-50 (supported by your own reference) doesn’t offer the best drive in the class is why I was critical, and what’s more I think that was pretty clear in the article.

Anyway.

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

Marx — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:39:01 -0000

Mazda BT50 has just won the 2012 Drive Car Of The Year Title as Best UTE. That makes it 2011 and 2012 champion!!

Re: Riding the Storm

JJ — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:23:50 -0000

Real UTE for real men! Who wants to drive a Ranger??

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

DriveMagazine — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 02:59:37 -0000

Yes, they are the same car platform. And yes, I agree, Ford and Mazda are definitely now the leaders in the segment. Will have to agree to disagree on the pecking order however – to me the Mazda still feels the cheaper, less well-resolved bakkie of the two. But then interior trinkets have never meant anything at all to me – I’d rather a car had absolutely no frills but a great driving experience than pack it with gizmos while ignoring the dynamics.
Thanks for the comment! Food for thought – perhaps the gadget count does actually count for something…

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

Elliot — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 01:33:37 -0000

Have to agree with Marx, Ranger and Bt50 are build on the same platform, uses the same engines etc etc, they are twins in every aspect, only the cosmetic changes sets them apart and most will agree the Mazda's interior is better. Spec. level on the Mazda is better, anyway Ford and Mazda are now the leaders in this segment.

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

DriveMagazine — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:54:45 -0000

You are 100% right Marx, everyone is entitled to their opinion so if that’s how you perceive it then cool! Glad you love your BT-50 – I’m sure there are many more who do as well.

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

Marx — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:43:35 -0000

I have, the Mazda is just as good if not better. I'm a BT50 owner and have driven the Ranger. Don't have anything bad to say about the Ranger except that I get a lot more bang for my buck with the BT50. the interior with all the extra's are miles ahead of the Ranger. The BT50 does have a slightly different suspension tune to the Ranger, but it doesn't really make much of a difference. Both vehicles are a bit stiff and bumpy when unladen, as expected from a bakkie designed to take a big load, but put something in the bin with a little bit of weight in it and the drive is excellent. No two vehicles are exactly the same, it can be that you test model wasn't all that up to scratch. The Mazda won the Drive Car Of The Year award purely on the fact that the Mazda is cheaper and the better spec level in Aus, as stated buy the "awarder" So your info on stating that the award is a "biased" one is even more ridiculous. You comments against the Mazda does seem odd, you don't think you're the one being biased hey? Luckily everyone is entitled to their opinion, mine is more based in everyday driving and ownership, not a once off test drive. Still love the the Ranger though I own a Mazda

Re: Familiar beneath the face.

DriveMagazine — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 02:34:52 -0000

And yet, the Mazda doesn’t feel anywhere near as well-built or tough as the Ranger. I don’t test/review vehicles based on advertiser or commercial influence, which is why my reviews often contradict the established patterns with any vehicle. Try them both out for yourself, and then come back and comment – you may well be surprised. Accolades mean nothing when the awarder of said accolades are inherently biased.

Thanks very much for the comment though. All the best.