Standard Style 25 May 2014 - 31 May 2014

8 THE STANDARD STYLE / MAN / WHEELS
May 25 to 31 2014
Mazda BT50
Fact Jeke
Powerful and robust 3,2-litre diesel
In Africa we live for bundu bashing. With roads so bad
in certain developing countries, a bakkie is a vehicle of
choice. In other parts of this continent, we constantly
have to manoeuvre in rough and untamed roads to
get to where we want to, get to especially Kumusha.
That is why we have seen that over the years bakkies and
trucks automatically get added to a fleet. When you think
of a workhorse, you quickly think Toyota, nissan, Isuzu
or Mazda. This week I drive around in the 3.2 litre 6 speed
manual transmission Mazda BT50. This is one of the most
robust and monstrous trucks on our streets right now.
Street credit, I would give it a 9 out of 10…keep reading,
you will laugh when I tell you why it lost the one point. The
height just made it a mission to jump in and out….
I had to drive this vehicle that I think all farmers, geologists
and middle managers in the country should invest in.
Believe me, I had quite an experience driving it. It’s meant
for both city driving and the rugged terrain. If you are a
lady like myself, doing the miles in heels even though seated
is not such a good idea. Maybe if it was an automatic,
but it being manual it’s a big fat nO.
The BT50 comes with standard features, which other sedans
don’t come with. You have your powerful stereo and
aircon, which is not even charged as extra. You can get it
in a 4x2 or 4x4 and in single or double cab to fit perfectly in
your company fleet or for home day-to-day use.
The BT50 is chunky, just like its Americanised cousin
the Ford Ranger. The styling is contemporary, with its
more angular headlights making it stand out. For those of
you who follow the vehicle evolution, you will confirm.
The Mazda BT50 comes with a warranty and service
plan, which the sales persons at Clover Leaf Motors will
be glad to relay to you. Customers are guaranteed expert
service from trained personnel and peace of mind from the
availability of genuine Mazda approved parts.
With 147kW at 3000rpm and a stomping 470nm from a
low 1750rpm, there was little need to ever change out of
third gear when we hit some beautiful undulating landscape
out of Harare driving towards norton on Bulawayo
road. There are huge reserves of pulling power from this
inline five-cylinder power plant that includes fifth and
sixth gear ratios. The powerful and robust 3,2-litre diesel
was so smooth and shifting the gears was not so difficult
even in heels. The car-like interior and features deep tray
handling and drive ability made it even more comfortable.
While we didn’t focus on the BT-50’s fuel consumption
due to there being both an off-road and on-road driving
component as well as regular stops into coffee shops, supermarket,
work and church, Mazda lists the combined
consumption for the Double Cab 4×4 with the 3,2-litre diesel
as 9,2L/100km combined with an 80-litre tank.
The modern and sporty three-cluster instrument panel
is complemented by the centre stack housing the integrated
high fidelity CD player, AM/FM radio with MP3 capability.
The seats are ergonomically designed with front-seat
cushions, side bolsters and bigger headrests to offer better
support and comfort for long-distance traveling.
Acceleration is instant, smooth and predictable, while
body roll is at a minimum and adhesion to the ground is
high even under dynamic driving, thus giving the driver
excellent road holding control and confidence.
The brake system is designed for superior braking control
under real-world loaded work truck conditions. Braking
is smooth, stable and controlled. With Electronic Brake
Force Distribution (EBD), the system automatically adjusts
to the load carried to give confidence to the driver even under
maximum payload or towing capacity. The 4-Wheel Antilock
Brake System (ABS) prevents wheels from locking
during sudden braking on slippery conditions.
As a tough workhorse, the BT50 is well-equipped to tackle
any challenging terrain. It has extremely traction-able
engines and high levels of on-demand torque. The BT50 is
an authentic off-roader you can depend on to take you anywhere
and to get you back safely.
So there you have it, you need a support vehicle for your
trucking business, the farm, or delivery business, and this
is the perfect vehicle. For under US$50 000 with finance options
which you can discuss with the sales team at your local
dealer, this could be that vehicle you have been waiting
to buy.
So till next week, enjoy, be safe and God bless you.
Contact me via email on missjeke@gmail.com, torque
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