The Value Of A Small Car On Modern Day Roads

Any one that drives from Pta to Johannesburg or from the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg to town or from the Northern suburbs of Cape Town to the city bowl will confirm, it is sheer nightmare venturing by vehicle each day as without a doubt it is in the reverse direction at night. Travelling in a small car in these situations is, naturally, no safer or less irritating than travelling in a big car or truck, but at least it reduces fuel usage and plays a part in savings on harmful gas expulsion.

The case for large comfortable passenger cars as pertained a decade or 2 ago, no longer exists. The small car, today, is as comfortable in the city and as a commuter vehicle as any. They could well lack some of the splendid luxuries that their large brothers have, but who is able to get pleasure from luxuries while having to be so cautious on the over populated commuter roads anyhow? Also the large vehicles are gas guzzlers and spew out masses of carbon dioxide. The maintenance costs of these high-class sedans cost a fortune, as do tyres along with other consumables for these gas guzzlers. As for the debate of luxury and comfort over saturdays and sundays and holidays offered by large cars, I say rubbish. If you wish to do an hour or so on the weekend do you really need to do so in an over abundance of extravagance? Many a small car has air cooling, fancy entertainment systems and those tiny motors these days produce amazing performance. So, is there really any convincing argument for larger sized vehicles? No, the key argument for large cars, these days, is about reputation and showing off. It is a well-known indisputable fact that South African motorists adore buying these large and expensive vehicles notwithstanding that we as a nation spend some 75% of our monthly earnings paying back debt, compared to the Europeans at 8%. So financially and economically there is also a case to be made out for smaller cars rather than large cars and trucks, leaving behind our South African snobbery and avoidable competition with the Jones’.

One of the major issues on road use we as family members should consider, is whether it is worth endangering our lives to load our large car and head off for the coast or wherever, on our yearly leave. A favorite argument for the justification of large cars and trucks is the fact that we need them to travel to our holiday destinations. The mortality figures over holiday periods on account of road accidents, however, aren’t just shocking, but they are grotesque. These terrible accidents don’t take into consideration the size of the car or its luxury features nor its cost. It is all the same to all vehicles. So, I say keep off the primary routes over holiday periods as well as over weekends (if it is preventable) and fly the family to the holiday destination and rent a small car for local commuting. This way at least you are far less likely to become a holiday death statistic.

A small car could save you a king’s ransom in maintenance and running charges, they are fun to drive and a lot of of them come with such sumptuous luxuries that would allow you to travel in comfort. Use these passenger cars in the city and as weekend runabouts and use air transport over holiday periods. Attempt to stay off the main roads at holiday periods and trade in the huge car on two pretty little things