Hi everyone!
Currently I am on vacation in South Africa, and I thought I'd give people an idea of the vehicles here. First off, in North America, our cars like the Civic are nice and bi compared to these. Also, they have a lot more power.
Hyundai Getz 1.1 - Not even worth mentioning.
Toyota Corolla 140i - with a massive 65 hp, it couldn't get out of its own way. 100 KM/H in 5th yielded 4000 RPM, and I was climbing hills in 3rd. A lot of stalling.
VW Polo 1.6 Sport - A bit better than the Corolla, but the brakes were sh*t
My grannies '97 Nissan Sentra 160 GS - a tin can, with a carb that likes to flood
Dad's '04 Benz C180 Kompressor - One of the better cars I've driven
Aunts '87 Benz 230E - Catch a snooze while accelerating
VW Golf Mk5 2.0 - Eh, it was ok
VW Citi Golf 1.4i - A brand new Mk1 Golf, it felt unsafe
Opel Corsa Bakkie 1.3i (its a pickup) - Go weedeater power!
I'm sure I'll have the pleasure of driving more of these fine beasts over the next 2 weeks. However food for thought: My Chevy Colorado is a freakin sport car compared to these. Also being 6'4 in one of these cars is not a good idea. It is hilarious though to see a Geo Metro 1L towing a trailer. Also, these cars tend to go at least 180 KM/H, posted limit is 120 to 130. I found out as well that 1) Fuel injection is a option, 2) Airbags are almost non-existent, as they are quite expensive, 3) You CAN buy leaded fuel here still. It is great though to see a 2nd gen Civic with no rust.
So that is a look into the world of vehicles in South Africa. To sum it up, they are expensive, gutless, and small.