Chevrolet Cruze
I think all the trouble started with Sir Ian Flemming, or was it Albert Broccoli? There was no such thing as luxury anymore unless it included an ejector seat. From now on standard smokescreen, Radar and flip down headlights with concealed cannons would be de rigueur.
It began to beg the question on what defined luxury. “Would that be the 007 pack with sir's new Aston?” What add-on's need a supplier fit in order to make it a luxury model? At one point the simple addition of an 8 track and “real vinyl” would have us salivating.
And then with the passing of time came the electronic age. Elect r ic windows , power steering, Aircon and ICE became the bare basics. ICE, for those who do not understand techno-music probably requires an explanation. For those that do understand techno music, it isn't a new drug you are missing out on, but an inway of saying In Car Entertainment.
(No more 8 tracks for you then. (If you don't know what an eight track is, go ask a baby boomer, I just use words, I don't always understand them).
And then came feature creep. The need to add gadgets to a thing until it is so crammed with arbitrary buttons, that you can't figure it out without RTFM (refer to the F@#$ing manual) what the hell does the PTY button on the radio do anyway? Buttons everywhere… an adolescents techno fantasy become the geriatrics cold shivers upon entering the driver's seat. Cured by BMW and the first i-drive. Hide everything where it can never be found again, as if it were never there in the first place.
What options boxes do I want checked on a car? Sat-Nav? Forget, my Garmin, Tom-tom or Mio works better, is easier to program, identifies traffic cameras and costs about a tenth of the price.
Seemingly bulletproof, able to maintain a stiff upper lip no matter what. Its interior was maybe not as classy as it's voice and mannerisms made it out to be, and its looks could betray its lack of heritage. But there it was able to hobnob with Royalty and keep up. A threat at many levels to the supercars looking down on it in disdain.
Massaging seats? Well yes, but would I pay for them? Leather? Yup, wears and therefore looks better when time comes to sell the car. Electric windows? Sure. Euro-NCAP 5 star rating? Oh yes, in our nanny coddling poli-tically correct “modern age” you almost can't get a date to hop in the passenger seat until she checks the damn safety rating of your humble carriage. Used to be she just cared how much it cost you.
Although the way journo's test everything so comprehensively, a few airbags never seem to be a bad idea. This brings us to this years COTY (car of the year) finalist. The Chev Cruz LT, for Around R260k, have dual zone climate control, a grown up cabin, park distance control, 6 speed box, rain sensoring wipers, auto-on headlamps.
Mirrors that fold away when you park eliminating your mirrors being used for impromptu street volleyball sessions. Hell it even has a leather steering wheel. Enough safety to get the 5 important checkboxes of NCAP fulfilled. Where does it compromise? While it has a decent, make that good ride, the auto drivetrain is noisy and a little buzzy for my liking and less than quiet and sedate. It is no grand prix challenger either.
This is a car for going to work in the morning traffic. Well appointed, a nice space to be in. Upmarket for those who aren't brand conscious or frustrated boy racers. Solidly built, decent if not quite game changing fuel economy and, according to the Kinsey report at least, one of the most cost effective parts price baskets in its class.
Combined with a five year, 120 000 kilometre warranty with a five year unlimited anti-corrosion warranty as well. Service intervals are 15 000 kilometres. A three year, 60 000 kilometre Service Plan is included in the purchase price. This should be the perfect vehicle for those who like the car to match their grey shoes.
