Phuti Mpyane

Phuti Mpyane

Walking into a VW dealership last week I saw a sizeable piece of paper glued to a wall that boldly said: "We will not participate in the recession".

I admit it was touching. There is a McCarthy Motor Holdings drive throughout its dealer network to help bring back hope. For that small but big statement, I will reward the company in kindness and subsequently borrow its new motto for personal usage.

Though there is a crisis the country need not lose its values and principles in the hunt for financial comfort. With the reported retrenchments plaguing the motor industry, I asked manufacturers nationally how this has affected their BBBEE score cards.

Those that obliged with an update happily announced that regardless of the hardships, they have managed to maintain their commitments.

Now we wait for when we'll ask of them their Employment Equity and Gender Equality scores when all is well. I have always maintained that a new way of doing things needs to be found and Renault SA came up trumps this past weekend.

In a bid to market its new entry-level Sandero - a robust car with funky looks and a great price - this weekend saw the culmination of a month-long blitz into township car-wash spots and hang-out joints ranging from Pimville in Soweto to Eldorado Park to Tembisa, where its team of youthful staff mingled with ordinary folk, offering information about the car.

But, crucially, it achieved what many dealers yearn for and is labelled seat-of-the-pants experience by taking the masses on test drives in and around the various township routes.

That's innovative and ground-breaking. This weekend also saw Kyalami host a leg of the World Super Bike Championship, but hearing that plenty of new age riders from many townships were scheduled to attend brought confidence to the two-wheel industry.

Motorcycle dealers must take this as a hint and do their bit. As previously noted further car price hikes are on the cardsand people should make haste and buy now. Mahindra SA and Porsche SA have also just upped prices.

There's plenty of savings for Tshwane residents. Those looking at a new Audi A4 2,0 TDI should visit McCarthy Audi in Gezina. This dealer is offering these cars from a lowly R249995. The new price is over R300000 and also, if you are looking for a new Polo or Citi Golf, McCarthy VW in Silver Oaks is offering a "May-Only" special. You can choose between a free maintenance plan or service plan.

Looking for an affordable and capable SUV? Ssangyong makes plenty of them, including the Rexton II. The company says for the month of May only, interested parties should see Ssangyong dealers nationwide and take advantage of a R50000 cash-back deal.