The multitasking Chevrolet Captiva can literally morph into the kind of car you need at any time. With the state of Zimbabwe’s roads being so terrible and deteriorating everyday with the rains and lack of maintenance, we will all be in need of well-raised vehicles like the Captiva.
The Captiva is slick in the city, cool in the country as we go Kumusha or bundu bashing to that campsite with the boys and very bold on the open highway driving out to Bulawayo or the Eastern Highlands.
With that rounded and sporty design, this vehicle is an all rounder, perfect for any scenario.
The senior manager will look executive driving to work or to a meeting, all his golf gear will fit in the generous boot as well.
As for the stay at home mummy, her junior football or rugby team will be comfortable in the back joining them together with Bingo or Wolf… the dog to that weekend match.
Chevrolet invented the SUV way back in 1935 and decades later, we have the super-changed and transformed Captiva ruling the roost in its category. The New Captiva is totally in tune with what today’s busy professional woman and man like.
It’s a vehicle that counts and is noticeable in a crowd. When you look at the previous SUV from way back in 1935, you would literally think this vehicle has undergone extensive plastic surgery.
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The flirty facelift has given it a fresh look, which is both fashionable and updated.
It’s not just the exterior which has had major transformation, the interior has been tweaked and polished giving it a modern feel which is up there with what Land Rover’s Freelander, BMW’s X3, Toyota’s Rav4, the Hyundai’s ix35 has to offer.
For an American car, it’s a bit smaller than what you would expect since Americans believe the bigger it is, the better it is. The few features, which would make me buy it, are the rear-parking sensor, so you can say goodbye to the Easypark guy trying to direct you to park.
The electronic park brake and hillstart and descent assist is a big plus because we all know so many struggles with that even in an automatic. You will love the revamped upscale interior décor, extra storage space and user-friendly controls.
Pros of manual over automatic transmission Initial Cost: Manual transmissions are a lot cheaper than automatics. Choosing to buy a manual over an automatic saves you a bit of change, depending on the make and model of the car.
There is nothing I hate more than having to do tutorials on how controls work.
The radio system is also pumped up and up there with the rest of the competitors. When it comes to green issues, the American brand has tried to reduce emissions but it’s not as good as most of its competitors.
My favourite is the 2.4 LT AWD which is 5-door petrol engine for it’s economical, all powerful and fuel efficient. There are other trims it’s available in that you can check with your local General Motors dealership to see what is available.
Chevrolets is fast becoming a brand to reckon with in Zimbabwe with more of its brands being a car of choice.
With costs rocketing for maintenance owing to the high cost of getting original genuine parts into the country, brands with a track record are easier to stick to.
Higher Fuel mileage: Manual transmissions are lighter and normally have more gears than their automatic counterparts.
Also, a manual transmission doesn’t have a hydraulic pump, which puts a big load on your engine. This can save you between 5% and 15% at the pump, depending on the make, model, driving conditions and driving style.
Lower Maintenance / Repair Costs: Automatic transmissions need regular fluid changes and are vulnerable to fluid leaks which can be very destructive. Many manual transmissions do not require any regular maintenance whatsoever.
Repairs are usually more costly on automatics.
For most buyers it’s no longer about driving a very chic expensive car which will have the neighbours wondering what exactly they are doing for a living, but about comfort, reliability, handling and practicality.
With it available in different trims, the fuel consumption on urban and open road driving and offcourse at different prices, you will be able to determine what is ideal for you.
Better Control: With a manual transmission, the driver decides what gear to use. The best gear can be selected for the conditions (eg. low gear for going up steep hills or towing). Under these conditions, automatics often shift too high and end up wasting the engine’s power.
Performance: In general, manuals have better acceleration than automatics.
Fun: Automatics are boring as hell to drive whereas manuals are fun!
Just a side note. If you have a manual car and for some reason your battery goes dead and you can’t start the engine…just get your buddy to give you a little push and you’re good to go! Can’t do that in an automatic!
Till next week, God bless you.
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