Sasha says...

                                                        Motoring memoirs: Blog 20

I'm convinced that the person who designed the SsanYong Stavic drew it in the dark. It’s simply ghastly. As my friend Hannes says, “It looks like a yacht parked on top of a bus.” It puzzles me no end as to why some people choose certain cars. And hey, it’s my opinion. You can argue if you want in the comments section after you’ve read this.

Someone must like SsanYong cars because the company has been going since 1939. However, even back in 2008 they are quoted as saying, “Our future models won’t be ugly.” I usually have a cigarette break during my radio show at about 10.20am and that’s why you usually hear a triple play. Don’t tell the boss. Anyway, I go outside and stand in the parking lot and look around to see if there are any new and exciting cars. Don’t forget, I work for the SABC (government) and the officials seem to spend an awful amount of money on their cars. And so they should. I would if I was a minister.

Anyway, I digress. This is about the design of cars and why people buy what they buy. There are situations where maybe you get a job and you’re forced to take over a vehicle from a previous employee. I have sympathy but don’t forget your car is free and that is always the best kind of car. Perhaps you’re stuck with that Nissan Tiida ’cos the previous guy or girl thought it was cool, then realised it wasn’t and decided to leave their job rather than drive the car.

In our parking lot there are many different types of car. Some are regulars which I see on an everyday basis like the Toyota Camry. The 2005 model has got to be one of the most “unpretty” cars ever designed. I’m convinced the Toyota chiefs asked school kids to decorate their favourite brick and just addes four wheels to the creations. Let’s be honest, can you seriously imagine a person walking into a dealer and gasping,” Oh my God, I have to have one of those!” Me neither, yet they sell and they sell well. Yes, yes – reputable name, good service history, reliable, blah blah... It’s not a good looking car, people. Buy with your heart next time.

My next irritation is these students we have at the SABC doing sound engineering. All are about 18-20 years old with emo-looking oil-slick hair and bones through their extremeties. Grow the f**k up, already. You look like spanners. Some come from wealth and have pretty cool ST’s, while others have hand-me-down Jetta’s, old Preludes, etc. But you always get one tonsil who decides in his infinite adolescent wisdom that a VW Citi Velociti 1,4 is the business. Not only that, this mullet decides to spend whatever money he has on a metallic spray job, plastic seats (sold as leather) and 18-inch rims. On top of that, the exhaust has just been sawn off. (Argh, hold my Black Label, dude. Watch this!) The windows are tinted and the sound system comes from one of those discount stores where you can get a 1 000 000 Watt CD/MP3/iPod/DStv/tape/vinyl player with 77 speakers for only R999.00. Yes, just like the rest of your bucket of bolts, that is also rubbish. The car’s design is 35 years old. The dashboard is just about the same age and it still leaks through the pedals when it rains. For what you spent on all the extras, you could have at least bought a Stavic!

More next week !