Tenacious Used Cars — 5 reasons why the Ford EcoSport is the lifestyle…
The Ford EcoSport for sale is already a familiar sight on the streets and is a model we know quite well, but there’s almost always something new to discover whenever we get behind its wheel. This time around, we found out why the Ford EcoSport is the perfect Instagram #OOTD bestie.
1. It has enough space. It’s cramped when you invite the whole barkada and their bagahe for long haul road trips, but you can always give them the boot to make room for your change of clothes and shoes. Fold down the seats and you can probably set up an Ikea closet. That’s no joke, as there’s 705L of space.
No changing room within the 100-meter radius? No problem. Just climb into the second row. It’s a wee bit narrow for three people to sit in — but you can definitely pull your pants on and change your shirt with ease. On a hot and traffic-filled trip to Lucky Chinatown, we managed with three passengers and a handful of Divisoria finds.
2. Plenty of cubbyholes. This is important when you have way too many accessories/IG props (aka clutter). There’s a side door pocket for Evian water, a cupholder between the front seats for an iced caramel macchiato, and a glove-compartment/mini ref for the soft drinks and water bottles when you want to wash down your pretensions. The slide-out drawer under the front seat is useful for small valuables, too.
3. This baby Ford is a sedan on stilts. Anyone who has ever driven in Binondo should be familiar with pedestrians, street vendors, tricycles, and occasional ill-paved street. What we liked about the EcoSport during the nerve-wracking drive? Its 200mm ground clearance and easy maneuverability. It looks like a small SUV on the outside too — good for intimidating pesky pedestrians. You can take the car to Intramuros for an impromptu shoot (which we did), or on a road trip to the beach (which our guest blogger did).
4. It’s cute — in its own peculiar way. We actually know people who’ve given the EcoSport’s looks a “meh,” but we think that it’s actually photogenic. Take it on a road trip out of town and it instantly looks like a weekend warrior, drive it around Metro Manila and it looks like an urban explorer. It’s never out of place. We had to pose inside and beside the car, and finding the perfect angle was a cinch (we can’t say the same about the models though).
5. Competitive price. When Ford Philippines invited us to do a Fashion Challenge in Divisoria, we were tasked to shop for the perfect tropical outfit with a P1,200 budget. Kind of appropriate with the EcoSport, as it’s a car you might recommend to college kids or yuppies on a budget. We drove the P1 million Titanium variant, but you can drive home an EcoSport for as little as P800,000. In the case of the 1.5L Titanium we had, you get a six-speed automatic transmission with leather seats, automatic climate control (thank god), and rear parking sensors (thank god, again).
We’re not really sure how we fared during the challenge since we’re not that familiar with the area, shopping, or fashion. We’d like to think that we did okay since our stylist approved of our outfits and our photos with the vehicle. At the very least, we discovered new things about the EcoSport.
Discover and experience the Ford EcoSport firsthand at Group 1 Used Cars.
Article source: https://ultimateusedcars.wordpress.com/2018/11/14/5-reasons-why-the-ford-ecosport-is-the-lifestyle-bloggers-ideal-car/
The Kia Rio for sale has been a phenomenal success for the South Korean brand within the local automotive market, although this was not always the case.
The first generation model graced South African shores at the turn of the century, and was a rather forgetful but dependable econobox. The second generation was better.
But, in 2011, South Africans were introduced to the third generation Rio, an all-new product with a design language that appealed to the masses. Some 37 237 local unit sales later, the third generation has been replaced by the fourth iteration, which I drove in Johannesburg recently.
Grown-up looks
The latest Rio certainly demonstrates the newfound maturity of the Kia brand first seen in the latest Sportage. We now have a car with a more grown-up, upmarket exterior design. While not the most radical of departures from its predecessor, I feel that consumers will still get the idea that this is most certainly a new model.
Up front, we see an evolution of Kias signature Tiger Nose grille, which is now slightly shorter and thinner. There are also new headlamps and U-shaped daytime running lights. The side profile is typically hatchback and at a glance, could be something more premium, more German, which is a good thing.
At the rear, there are new LED taillights that benefit from an arrow motif, while keen observers will note that the rear overhang is a bit shorter than before. Overall, the Rio continues to display the brands successful interpretation of modern motoring design with aplomb.
Interior updates
For those accustomed to Rio interiors of old, the new model is not likely to surprise, particularly in the entry-level models. The basic ergonomic layout is commendable, with all of the controls and their placement being easy and logical when put into practical use.
Kia also claims that there are new, improved materials used throughout the cabin, but expect the odd hard plastic surface to linger. The big change to the interior though has to be the inclusion, or option should I say, of a touchscreen infotainment system. There are three options within the range the more basic models get a 3.8-inch mono-TFT screen with Bluetooth, USB and Aux compatibility.
Moving up the range, we have a five-inch colour touchscreen unit with the same features as the mono-TFT, while flagship models receive the brands new seven-inch touchscreen setup complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice control. The top-line system really improves the look of the cabin and modernises the facia, a useful option worth ticking.
Driving Rio
In terms of the powertrain department, Kia has decided to stick with the more tried and trusted variants, with the much anticipated 1.0-litre turbo mill still under consideration for South Africa. Instead, we get mildly revised versions of the 1.2 and 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol motors.
The entry-level unit produces 62kW/120Nm through a five-speed manual gearbox, and the 1.4-litre 74kW/135Nm with transmissions consisting of a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic. I drove the top-of-the range1.4-litre manual TEC derivative at launch up at altitude.
I have to say that the car does feel rather underpowered most of the time, add a hill into the equation and the problem is compounded. That said though, it wasn’t frustratingly slow with the lack of power being made-up somewhat by very little road noise and a good level of interior comfort, two traits buyers in this segment want, along with low costs and fuss-free motoring, which the Rio delivers.
Verdict
While Kia hasn’t really re-invented the wheel, so to speak, with the new Rio, it didn’t really have to. The updated looks, improved quality, added interior technology and the fact that the new model is similarly priced to the older version, will likely ensure that this generation Rio is as successful as its predecessor.
Warranty and service
All Rio models come with a four-year/60 000km service plan as well as a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
Find your perfect Kia Rio here or visit a Group 1 Used Cars dealership now!
Article source: https://www.imperialselect.co.za/blog/articles/kia-ups-its-game-with-new-rio
The BMW 1 Series is a popular car, but does it stack up as a used buy?
Why consider a used BMW 1 SERIES for sale?
There is something about the styling of the 1-Series hatchback that doesn’t quite work in comparison to its closest competitors, the Golf and Audi A3. But once in the driver’s seat it feels like a 3-Series, so that explains the firm used prices.
Because the 1-Series feels like a 3-Series to drive but costs less people overlook the small boot and that is also hard to load. The rear legroom is pretty poor too, but not much worse than any other hatchback of this size, or indeed the 3-Series.
Which BMW 1 SERIES to buy?
The 1.6 petrol is the cheapest model. 3 year old versions are less than the 2.0 diesels. Depreciation stays low for the first 3 years, so it’s only after 4 or 5 years that they become good value.
The 2.0 petrol engine’s MPG is similar to the 1.6 petrol’s of around 38. So if you can afford the insurance, it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t take the more refined engine. But if fuel economy is the key factor, the 2.0 diesel manages around 15 MPG more.
The 1.6P has an average mileage almost as high as the 2.0D which suggests they have been company or commuter cars. As a result, the 5 and 6 year old cars all have mileages in the 40 and 50,000s and the prices remain fairly the same no matter which model you’re looking at.
What faults do I need to check before buying?
Test drive used BMW 1 Series and check for a creaking from the rear suspension, particularly over rough roads and speed bumps. This creaking can be a problem with the ball joints in the rear suspension. If you find this fault try to negotiate a discount off the price of the car.
View the available pre-owned BMW 1 Series vehicles on offer at Group 1 Used Cars to find the right one for you.
Article source: http://www.wheelworldreviews.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-1-series-used-car/
Why don’t you ever recommend the Corolla? I dare you to show me a better used car for under R140,000. And don’t tell me to buy a Hyundai.
Since 1966, Toyota has sold more than 44 million Corollas. They must have been doing something right.
But popularity isn’t everything, right? For looks and overall driving experience, there are less bland bets.
A Used Toyota Corolla for Sale is reliable — and Consumer Reports recommends it. It took second place in the compact-car segment in J.D. Power’s 2014 dependability study of three-year-old cars (Chevy’s Volt came first and the Civic came third).
Corollas tend to stay on the road for quite a while.
- Ninth generation: 2009–2013
- Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder
- Transmission/drive: Five-speed manual, four-speed automatic/Front-wheel drive
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 8.6 city/6.7 highway (manual), 9.1 city/6.8 highway (automatic)
Consumer Reports recommended the Corolla and said it “handles soundly but is not engaging to drive.” It praised its fuel economy, ride, quiet interior, turning circle, controls and crash-test results.
The magazine gave the Corolla a five out of five rating for reliability.
There were no recalls.
- Fifth generation: 2011–2016
- Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder
- Transmission/Drive: Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic/Front-wheel drive
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 8.3 city, 6.3 highway (manual), 8.4 city, 6.3 highway (automatic)
Anyone would like the Elantra’s outstanding fuel economy, ample features, comfortable and well-built cabin, and big trunk. It complained about tight headroom and a lack of sportiness compared with some rivals.
There were three recalls, including fixes to suspension coils that were potentially prone to corrosion.
If you’re interested in the a reliable, pre-owned Toyota Corolla — Group 1 Used Cars is the place to go, view their available range easily online.
Article source: https://ultimateusedcars.wordpress.com/2018/09/25/is-there-a-better-used-car-than-the-corolla-with-a-reasonable-price-tag/
The Toyota Hilux has been declared the world’s best-selling car. What’s behind our love affair with this rugged jack-of-all-trades?
Parking moguls, Indigo UK, used data compiled by Best Selling Cars Blog to give us the most popular cars in the world. According to the data, the most popular car in the world was none other than the used Toyota Hilux for sale. The Japanese manufacturer produced the best-selling car in 25 countries. As the world’s favourite car manufacturer in general, Toyota took the top spot. They have 11 best-selling models in 54 different countries.
It’s little surprise that South Africa was included on the list of used Toyota Hilux aficionado’s. We’ve all felt that sudden rush of terror as we’ve looked up into the rearview mirror to find a Toyota Hilux with a Free State license plate roaring up on us. Even the folks over at Top Gear are huge admirers. You may remember, they once attempted to destroy a 1988 diesel model by crashing it into a tree, assaulting it with a wrecking ball, submerging it in the ocean, setting it on fire and eventually — well, you’ll see.
You can watch their futile attempts for yourself in Part One, Part Two and Part Three. The Toyota Hilux, or Truck Norris, as those witty Randfonteiners call it, is certainly one mean machine. Built to survive and designed to last, there’s little wonder why the world loves them.
Toyota Hilux — The Poster Child For Indestructibility
Robustness. Reliability. Peerless off-road capability. Value for money. These are some of the attributes people love about the Hilux. They’re the Nokia 3310’s of the automobile world. Not only that, but it’s widely regarded as impeccable on-road, too, as well as safe. It’s efficient, lighter on fuel than you would think and incredibly user-friendly. It’s the ideal vehicle for hard-working people such as farmers or builders, but the level of luxury customization can afford also makes it appealing to everybody who simply appreciates a good ride.
They’ve always been built as body-on-frame vehicles, meaning that the body is fitted on top of the firm steel frame construction. This makes it stronger than most modern cars, where the body and frame are one. It has strength — able to carry anywhere from 860kg up to 1405kg in the tray itself. Underneath, 4x4 versions come with a number of heavy-duty protection plates shielding the major components. It’s pretty difficult to assail the invincible reputation of this vehicle. The launch of the Toyota Hilux in 1968, however, happened to coincide with a form of Third World conflict the world had never seen before.
The Hilux is so frighteningly dependable it even has a war named after it. No kidding. It’s called the Toyota War. In the final phase of the conflict between Chad and Libya, a Chadian army equipped primarily with Hilux’s outmaneuvered, outdrove and indeed outgunned a far greater Libyan force armed with aircraft and tanks.
If you want to be in the driver’s seat of a mean machine like the Toyota Hilux — test drive one at Group 1 Used Cars. We know you want to.
Article source: https://compareguru.co.za/news/whats-special-toyota-hilux/
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Originally published at tenacioususedcars.tumblr.com.