Stick to reliability when you buy an entry-level car as it is a car you will depend on heavily. Just such a car is the Honda Ballade 1.5 i-VTec, which I have been using as my long-term test vehicle.
Those who were around in the 1980s and '90s will remember the Ballade marque well. It was synonymous with reliability and ruggedness.
My uncle is still cruising around in one of those popular Ballade models of the '90s - and my new version is as problem free as his older model.
Having to update my test Ballade's performance every month has really been a mission, because it have not given me one hiccup.
At 7176 on the clock, the only thing this little princess has required from me is petrol, something she likes drinking more than girls her age should. She's an automatic after all, the high revving gears are overworking the little engine a bit.
The Ballade's problem-free performancecan be attributed to the manufacturer's long history of producing trustworthy products through the years.
After three long journeys and countless trips to the shopping malls, I nothing negative was going to emerge from the Ballade during the test period. In fact it has been dubbed
the "toughie" by my younger siblings.
They have often joked that I should have got myself one of the Chinese brands if I had wanted to be kept busy.
"You would be visiting the dealership every week after the first 1000km," said one of my sisters.
Nevertheless, I'm not complaining, I'm just amazed that I have had absolutely nothing bad to report. Let's see how the Ballade copes for the next few months. Watch this space.
The Specs:
Engine: 1.5 i-VTEC
Power: 88kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 145Nm at 4800rpm
0-100km/h: 13 seconds (achieved)
Top Speed: 185km/h (claimed)
: 148g/km
Fuel consumption: 7.0l/l00km(tested)
Price: R196900
We like:
The strong Honda brand
Perfect for everyday use
Packed with safety features
We don't like:
Automatic box is very sluggish
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