34 Tuesday <strong>May</strong> <strong>17</strong> <strong>2016</strong> SELWYN TIMES GLS 4WD MANUAL We have a limited number of pre-registered Triton GLS double cab utes on special offer SAVE OVER $15,000 * with a FREE ARB Deluxe bullbar ONLY a1 vailable OR DRIVE AWAY $44,990 FOR ONLY *Saving based on Triton GLS 4wd Manaual RRP of $57,490+orc. Limited stock and colours available. Vehicles include the balance of factory warranty. ONLY a3 or with a FREE Maxtop canopy and deck Liner vailable cnr Montreal & St Asaph Streets, Christchurch. Sales, Service & Parts: 03 379 0588 *Prices shown include Factory Rebate Discounts, where applicable.
http://kaywa.me/Op1Vo My Kaywa QR-Code www.robertbrucemotors.co.nz SELWYN TIMES Tuesday <strong>May</strong> <strong>17</strong> <strong>2016</strong> 35 motoring Amarok at home in the rural role Three years on from driving Volkswagen’s Amarok at its New Zealand launch, I’ve finally landed an evaluation drive on my on patch for the first time. There’s no one to blame for that, it’s more because the Amarok is a victim of its own success. Several times I was scheduled into one but it was either sold or availability issues meant it didn’t land in Christchurch. Nevertheless, a high-spec Edition R model was made available for me, it had all the traditional Amarok features, along with other interesting add-ons such as 20in wheels, deck cover and side sills. The Amarok is a traditional double-cab, four-wheel-drive utility, although twowheel-drive variants are listed. The range starts at $43,990, and ends at $69,990 for the high grade model as tested. The Amarok is also a bit of a departure from the norm for light commercials of this type; interestingly, most variants sell with a 2-litre engine, and any potential buyers need to get into the mindset that it doesn’t need an engine with greater capacity. However, for those who think there’s no substitute for size, there is a new V6 just landing in the range. The four-cylinder unit will still be the mainstay of the line-up, it drives through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. That number of ratios are becoming is becoming commonplace in new vehicles, although it is unusual to find one in a ute. That aside, the Amarok’s eight-speeder effectively does away with the traditional low ratio transfer case. And the gearbox is a beauty, it will promote slow speed off-road travel along with ratios that even out to provide fuel efficiency at highway speed. In between, the gearing shifts seamlessly and works the four-cylinder diesel effectively. The Amarok impresses with its refinement and practicality. It has a deck size up to par with the competition and a cab area that is roomy, comfortable and very car-like in terms of layout. Volkswagen has done well to disguise the utilitarian feel of a ute, the Amarok rides comfortably even without a load on, the rear end jiggle that characterises many utes has VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK: Now with the choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines. been almost engineered out of the vehicle. Of course, it would ride better with a bit of weight over the rear axle, but with the deck cover attached I never entertained the idea of carrying a tall load. Even though the Amarok is large at over 5m, it doesn’t feel like a big ute to drive, and that has a lot to do with the sophistication that has been built into the vehicle, but you’d expect nothing less from Volkswagen. Under the bonnet sits the twincamshaft, 16-valve turbocharged diesel engine. It is rated by Volkswagen at 132kW with 420Nm of torque. And with the low and close ratios of the gearbox, the engine never seems to go off song, it is responsive and willing, it is also quiet when operating hard. It also rates well with fuel usage. Volkswagen also claim an 8.3-litre per 100km (34mpg) combined cycle average. The fuel usage readout was listing around 9.2l/100km (31mpg) when I took the ute back after testing. At 100km/h the engine sips fuel at the rate of 8.5l/100km (33mpg) with the engine loping over at just <strong>17</strong>00rpm. I took the test car on a Hororata/ Dunsandel loop, spending a bit of time on the shingle roads which run parallel to the Hororata River. The Amarok steers directly in the loose shingle with positive feedback of what the tyres are doing transmitted to the steering wheel. Providing the grip are 265/50 Nexen tyres, they are a chunky tyre which are a satisfactory compromise between what is needed for grip in the loose and on the seal. They are also quiet at highway speed, the Amarok travels without catching the air, and when presented with a corner or two it steers directly. Utes with their load bearing live rear axles are never the best handlers, but the Amarok equips itself $22,999 2006 Ford FalCon FPV F6 tyPHoon 4.0L turbo, 6 speed sports shift auto, Brembo performance brakes, 18" FPV alloys, leather trim, ECS parking sensors,push button start, cruise, alarm. $<strong>17</strong>,999 2003 Holden Commodore Vy sV8 Harman Motorsport enhanced, OTR intake, Bigbore exhaust, Big Cam Upgrade, 20 DTM alloys, rear spoiler. $29,999 $15,999 2008 Ford FalCon FG Xr6 4.0L, twin cam engine, 6 speed tiptronic, auto,<strong>17</strong>" alloys, climate a/c, remote locking, cruise control. $15,999 SPECIFICATIONS Price: Volkswagen Amarok R-Edition, $69,990. Dimensions: Length,5254mm; width, 1944mm; height, 1834mm. Configuration: Four-cylinder longitudinal, four-wheel-drive, 1998cc, 132kW, 420Nm, eight-speed automatic. Performance: 0-100km/h, 9.6sec. well, and such is the information gathered at the steering wheel, it feels relatively agile. There may be the four-wheel-drive purist who will argue that the Amarok isn’t a serious off-roader given that it doesn’t have a high/low ratio transfer case. However, I can report that on Volkswagen’s media launch for the Amarok it equipped itself in rugged, very low grip conditions. Slow speed momentum downhill can be locked to a crawl through a descent mechanism, and drive is distributed efficiently to all four corners. I believe it is as capable as any of the competition, and it rates highly in terms of occupant comfort and practicality. It has a cabin which is comfortable, and equipped with all of the elements which make Volkswagen so popular as a car maker. I also think Volkswagen has done well breaking into a fiercely competitive part of the market, the ute segment is one of our most popular. It’s just as well it competes strongly amidst the opposition. $41,999 CHRISTCHURCH'S LEADING COMMODORE & FALCON DEALERS 2010 Ford FPV F6 4.0L turbo 6 spd sports shift auto, FPV Brembo performance brakes, 19" FPV alloys, leather trim, ECS, 6 airbags, Bluetooth, reverse camera, low 44,000kms! $<strong>17</strong>,999 2001 Holden Commodore Vu V8 5.7L V8, Bigbore exhaust, rare factory 6 speed manual, lowered on 18" alloys, colour coded canopy. $9,999 $25,999 2005 HsV ClubsPort VZ 297 6.0L V8, Bigbore Exhaust, Alarm,19" Alloys, Cruise, Climate A/C, Towbar, Electric Seats, Full HSV Bodykit. $24,999 2006 Holden Commodore Ve ss-V 6.0L V8, 6 spd manual, cruise, low 78,000kms, 8 airbags, ESP, 19" wheels, Bluetooth, leather trim. 2004 Ford FalCon ba Xr6 4.0L, tiptronic auto, <strong>17</strong>" alloys, cruise, CD player, remote locking, driving lights, sports suspension. 2003 Holden Commodore Vy series ii 3.8L Ecotec V6, auto, full VZ style HSV bodykit, <strong>17</strong>" HSV alloys, remote locking, 4 airbags, cruise, in fantastic condition! 2004 HsV ClubsPort r8 285 series 2 5.7L V8, headers, Bigbore exhaust, 19" alloys, big brake package, alarm, traction control, cruise, leather trim. $13,999 $16,999 $24,999 $16,999 2007 Ford FalCon bF Xr6 mKii 190kW 4.0L twincam engine, 6 speed tiptronic, 19" alloys, cruise, CD player, remote locking, towbar. 2008 Holden Commodore Ve sV6 3.6L V6, 5 spd tiptronic sports shift auto, ESC, 8 airbags, cruise, 18" alloys, dual exhaust, spoilers, parking sensors. 2011 Holden Commodore Ve sV6 series ii 3.6L, 6 speed tiptronic, 8 airbags, ESP, cruise control, alarm, lowered sports suspension, 18" alloys. 2002 HsV ClubsPort 255i series 2 5.7L V8, bigbore exhaust, 18" alloys, remote locking, alarm, traction control, 4 airbags, CD player, cruise control, towbar. $27,999 s $18,999 VERSATILE: Even though it’s over 5m the Amarok doesn’t feel like a big ute to drive. 2012 Holden CaPtiVa 7 lX series ii 3.0L, 6 speed tiptronic, EBD, 8 airbags, reverse camera, GPS, alloys, cruise, auto suspension, Bluetooth, 7 seats, tinted windows, towbar, low 69,900kms. 03 366 5888 www.robertbrucemotors.co.nz Corner Lancaster St & Moorhouse Ave | OPEN 7 DAYS 2006 Ford FalCon Xr6 mKii ute 4.0L, tiptronic sports shift auto, 18" alloys, remote locking, CD player, cruise, rear spoiler, auto lights, towbar, lockable hardlid, low 75,000kms, immaculate!