24 APRIL

PROPERTY:HIGHDEMAND FOR RETIREMENT VILLAGES

Helderbergpreferred for retirementDALEEN FOUCHÉ

The Helderberg has been a pre-ferred retirement destinationfor several years and is now be-ingdescribedby someas thepre-ferred retirementdestination inthe country.

Councillor Garreth Bloor, theCity of Cape Town’s Mayoral Com-mittee Member for Economic, En-vironmental and Spatial Planning,says the Helderberg district is apreferred location for retirementhousing due to the unique beautyof the area combinedwith themed-

ical services and retail opportuni-ties offered. He says this was takeninto consideration with the draft-ing of theHelderbergDistrict Plan,a document that deals with plan-ning for future development.Elzaan Nagel, spokesperson for

The Somerset Retirement andLife-style Village that is being devel-oped in Somerset West, says thisdevelopment is doing very wellwith the firstphasealmost soldout.She says before the development

was started, research was under-taken and found that even thoughthere already are several retire-ment villages within the Helder-

berg, there is a need for retirementhousing, adding that there arewaiting lists for several existingretirement villages.Russell Masters, sales consult-

ants for the Schonenberg Retire-ment Village in Somerset West,says the Helderberg is the pre-ferred retirement location, be-cause it is so centrally located.He says the Helderberg is a mere

half an hour drive to town and theairport and is also the gateway tothe winelands and the coast. “It isconvenient for peoplewith holidayhomes in Pringle Bay or Her-manus.”

Masters, who has more than 15years of experience selling retire-menthousing, saysabout60%ofre-tirement villages are sold to locals,while thebalance ismadeupof oth-er provinces and overseas. He sayspeople fromGautengareespeciallyinterested in retiring in SomersetWest.HesaysSomersetWest isper-ceived as a lot safer than the Gau-teng suburbs and is a big drawingcard. Masters adds that manyyoung familiesmove to the Helder-berg and their parents follow themwhen they retire.Di Havard, an estate agent for

RE/MAX, says the demand for re-

tirement housing in the Helder-berg, especially Somerset West, isvery high. She says the naturalbeauty, safe environment andocean and mountain views aresome of the drawing cards of thearea. She says many locals, whohave lived in the area, would notwant to move away and prefer toretire here.She says many people from Gau-

teng also want to retire close to theocean. She explains that peopleprefer theHelderberg, because it isnot in the hustle and bustle of thecity, but close to top retail andmed-ical amenities.

An artist’s impression of The Somerset Retirement and Lifestyle development. Schonenberg Retirement Village

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11Eikestadnuus24 April, 2014

BOLANDSOLD STELLENBOSCH

ChoosingyourestateagentLet’s face it, if you’re a seller you’respoilt for choice. There are literallyhundreds of estate agents to choosefrom.Sojusthowdoyouselect thebestagent for yourself?

Sellers generally select an agent usingone of two methods.

The first method used, is to select theagentthatplacesthehighestmarketvalueonyourproperty.Itinvolvescallingintwoor three agents and asking them to valueyour property. Then, once you have re-ceived their appraisals, you select theagentwhohasplaced thehighestvalueonyour property.

The problem with this method is thatthe agent has absolutely no control oversetting the market value. The market –made up of the buyers – sets the marketvalue. The buyers will determine what aproperty isworthbycomparingit toothersimilar properties that are on themarketand that have sold. So, if you select theagent who places the highest value onyour property youare really choosing theagent who promises you something theyhave no control over and, in most cases,cannot deliver.

It’s incredible to see that, even in thisprofessional era, some estate agents over-value properties by asmuch as 30%. Thisis a practice called “buying your man-date”. It’s highly unethical and a breachof the estate agents’ Code of Conduct. Yetsadly many sellers fall for it.

These unethical agents will list a prop-ertyatanunrealisticpriceandinvestverylittle inmarketing it.Theresult is that thelistingstaysonthemarketforanextendedperiodoftime.Statisticsshowthatproper-ties that stay on themarket longer sell for

less than mar-ket value. Thisis in stark con-trast to proper-ties that arecorrectlypriced and sellquicker. Thefaster aproper-ty sells themoreitsells for– and that’s aproven fact.

The secondmethod that sellers use is to select theagent and agency that is best able tomar-ket your property, has the best tools andresources to attract qualified buyer en-quiry, and the best skills to secure you asale at market value.

Most informed sellers realise that thesecondmethod is thebestmethodof agentselection to use. In evaluating estateagents, they will enquire as to what mar-ketingplantheagentundertakesto imple-ment and what resources the agent willemploy.

In addition, in the interview process adiscerning seller will take note of theagents’ abilities and skills, and the trackrecord that they and their company hasin the localmarket.All of these indicatorswillhelpasellerselecttheagentmostcom-petentandwith thebest chancesof sellingtheir property for market value.

Spend time on selecting your agent andbesure thatyouarenotbluffed intoselect-ing the agentwhoplaces thehighest priceon your property. When you select anagent for the right reasons you will sellforthemaximumthemarketwillpay.Andthat’s what every seller deserves.

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Talking Property, bySteve Caradoc-Davies,principal of HarcourtsPlatinum

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EXPERTOPINION

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Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe, hoë-impak

keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland

Paarl Post – 021 870 4600District Mail – 021 841 4266 Eikestadnuus – 021 887 2840

HOTHATCH:TROPHY CASE FILLINGUP

NewFiestaSTWins22awardsQUICKPIC

The new Ford Fiesta ST’strophy case is filling upfast.

Ford’s fastest and most dy-namic small production carhas earned 22 awards fromEuropeandaround theworldsince going on sale last year,making it the most-awardedperformance subcompactFord has ever made.NamedBBCTopGearMag-

azine Car of the Year, U.K.,and Echappement magazineSports Car of the Year,France,theFiestaSTalsowasrecently named a 2014 Auto-mobile Magazine All-Star inthe U.S.“ThedevelopmentoftheFi-

estaSTwasaglobaleffortandthe intention from the outsetwas to deliver a world-beaterthat would spread the mes-sage of Ford’s dynamic hand-ling and performance far andwide,” saidGlenGoold, Fiesta global chief pro-gramme engineer, Ford of Europe. “These arequalities that run through our veins, and it’sgreat to see that recognised with awards fromall around the world. We make cars with theaim ofmaking our customers smile; there’s nobetter feeling than achieving that.”In South Africa the compact performance

hatch has also been showeredwith praise, tak-ing home top honours in Car Magazine’s Top12 awards this past January. In its selection ofthe 12 best cars in specific categories, the staffof CarMagazine named the Fiesta ST the BestHot Hatch for 2014. The ST also scooped theawards forHotHatch of the year 2014 andmostenjoyable, car of 2013 fromTopGear SAmaga-zine. RPM also recently named it Hot Hatch ofthe year.“FiestaSThasbeenwell receivedbyboth the

media and enthusiasts,” says GavinGolightly,marketing manager, Ford Motor Company

Southern Africa. “Its EcoBoost engine com-bines thebest of bothworlds, offering excellenteconomy as well as the power and torque buy-erswant inasportymodel. It’salsogotanexcel-lent chassis from Ford’s performance expertsin Europe.”TheFiestaSTemploysaprecision-tunedand

driver-focusedpowertrainandchassis todeliv-er the ultimate Fiesta driving experience. De-veloped by Ford’s TeamRS, the European armof Ford’sGlobal PerformanceVehicle group, itis equipped with a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol en-gine to achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds andoffers 134 kW and 240 Nm of torque. Top speedis 220 km/h.Team RS tuned the powertrain, suspension,

steering and brakes for optimised driving dy-namics;andintroducedfeaturesonlyprevious-ly foundin largerperformancecars– includingenhanced Torque Vectoring Control (eTVC)and three-mode Electronic Stability Control

(ESC), six-speed manualtransmission, and rear discbrakes.Everydaypracticalityisun-

derlined by fuel efficiency of5,9 F/100 km* and 138 g/kmCO2* – a 20 percent emissionsreduction compared with thefirst generation Fiesta ST,though it produces almost 20percent more power than thefirst generation’s 2.0-litre en-gine.“ThenewFiestaSTdelivers

remarkable levels of perform-ance, design and quality to of-fer an unsurpassed drivingexperience,” said JuergenGagstatter, chief programmeengineer, Fiesta ST. “Ford’sEuropean customers are con-noisseurs of the hot hatch-back and the new Fiesta STspeaksdirectlytothatpassionfor performance driving.”Thefull listofawardstheFi-

esta ST has won since launchis:•BBC TopGear Magazine

(U.K.), Car of the Year•Echappement (France), Sports Car of the

Year•Car (Spain), Top 11 Sports Cars•Car (South Africa), Best Hot Hatch•Auto Express (U.K.), Best Hot Hatch•Scottish Car of the Year (U.K.), Best Hot

Hatch•The Sunday Times (U.K), No. 1 Hot Hatch•Autocar (U.K.), Best Value Driver’s Car•Automobile Magazine (U.S.), 2014 All-Star•Car and Driver (U.S.), 10 Best•Gear Patrol (U.S.), GP100 Top Gear•Popular Mechanics (U.S.), 2014 Automotive

Excellence Award for Handling•Esquire (U.S.), Small Car of the Year•Culture Map – Houston (U.S.), Hot Compact

of the Year•Autobytel (U.S.), 2014 Compact Car of the

Year•MotorWeek (U.S.), Drivers’ Choice Award

for Best Subcompact Car•Hagerty (U.S.), 2014 Hagerty Hot List•About.com (U.S.), Best New Cars of 2014•National Business Review (U.S.), Sports Car

of the Year 2013•UKCar of the Year (U.K.), Best Performance

Car•kbb.com (U.S.), 10 Coolest New Cars Under

$25,000 of 2014•TopGear Magazine (China), Best Perform-

ance Car in 2013•TopGearMagazine (SouthAfrica),MostEn-

joyable Car 2013 and Best Hot Hatch 2014•China Auto Pictorial (China), Performance

Car of the Year•RPM South Africa, Best Hot Hatch 2014TheFord team thatworked on the Fiesta ST,

and TeamRS vehicle dynamics lead David Putalso last year won awards for Dynamics Teamof the Year and Dynamicist of the Year, at theVehicle Dynamics International Awards.

In South Africa the compact performance hatch has also been showered withpraise, taking home top honours in Car Magazine’s Top 12 awards this pastJanuary. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

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BOLANDSOLD AUTO

021 841 4287

021 887 2840

021 870 4601

021 312 3717

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BOLANDSOLD AUTO

Suzuki senuweSwift biednounogmeerwaardeCHRIS DE WIT

Met die herbekendstelling enaanslag van Suzuki op die Suid-Afrikaanse motormark in 2008,hetSuzukiseSwift-modelaandievoorpunt hiervan gestaan. Metdie aankomsvandie eerste nuwemodelle hier te lande kon diemaatskappy alreeds spog met 63Motor van die Jaar-toekenningsin 19 landewêreldwyd, onderan-dere in lande soos Indië, Ysland,Australië, Ierland, Uruguay enJapan. In die JuniorWêreld Ral-lyKampioenskappe het die Swiftgewoonlik ook onder die eerstesklaargemaakenin2007 isdiewê-reldtitel in hierdie resiesklas ve-rower.

Geen wonder dus dat Suzuki as’twaredieSwiftbeskouhetassytroef-kaart om ’n kleim af te steek in diepryssensitiewe kompakte motor-sektor,watbesigwasomvinnigbin-ne die passasiersmotormark tegroei. Met sy sportiewe en gesofisti-keerde voorkoms vir ’n luikrugmo-tor was dit dan ook geen verrassingnie dat die Swift ’n uiters gewildemededinger in sy klas geword het.Binnedieeerstemaandvanverkopehet hierdie gewilde nuwe model ’nindrukwekkende 132 eenhede ver-koop, wat sy eerste jaar met ’n sesmaande sluitingstotaal van 1 281eenhedeafgesluit het. Ten spyte vanstram ekonomiese omstandighedeen’nmoeiliketydperkvirdiemotor-mark, het die Swift steeds ’n stygingin aanvraag ervaar.

Suzuki se gewilde Swift-luikrug-motor, wat in 2011 bekendgestel is,

hetpas’naantalverbeteringevirdie2014-modeljaar ondergaan. Diemeerderheid veranderinge is op ’nvarservoorkomsgerig,maardie lysstandaardtoerusting is ook aange-pas, wat meebring dat die Swift GLen die GLS, wat ook die toetsmotorwas, nou nog selfs meer waarde virgeldbied. Indieknellendegreepvanvoortdurende verhogings in brand-stofpryse is die uiters ekonomiesebrandstofverbruik van die Swiftwerklik ’nkoel briesievirmotoriste

In die binneruim toondie Swift ’ndeftiger, moderner en meer gesofis-tikeerde voorkoms met Bluetooth-koppeling wat een van die GLS sestandaardkenmerke is. Hierdie ge-vorderde tegnologie bied aan die in-sittendes nie net alleen koppelingevanselfoneendraadlosemetdiemo-

torseklankstelselnie,maarkanmu-siek vanaf slimfone en Bluetooth-toegeruste toestelle ook deur dieklankstelselherleiword.Diebeheervantogsnelheidvanafdiemeerfunk-sie-stuurwiel deur middel van kon-troles is nog ’n standaardkenmerkwat veral byval behoort te vind bydie jonger geslag.AanboordvandieGLS word die bestuurder verwel-komdeurleersitplekke, ’ndriespeekstuurwiel met leeromhulsel, methoogte- en reikafstand-verstellingen sleutellose sluit- en aansit/afsitfunksie deur middel van ’n druk-knop. Binne-gemak word onder-steun deur outomatiese tempera-tuurkontrole.Verder isdieGLSmetnieminder as ses lugsakke toegerusom veiligheid van veral voorste in-sittendes te verseker.

Verdere kenmerke sluit ook elek-tries-verstelbare buitespieëls, hoog-teverstelling vir die bestuurdersit-plek, en ’nmeerfunksie-ritrekenaarinwat inligtingsoosdiebuitetempe-ratuur, brandstofverbruik en reik-afstand vertoon.

Wat die buitevoorkoms van die2014 Swift betref is die splinternuwesierrooster en die herontwerptevoorste buffer miskien die opval-lendste. Die GLS-model word ookvoortaanmet LED-dagryligte toege-rus, terwyl die derde hooggeplaasteremlig ook van ’n helderder LED-eenheid gebruik maak. Voor rondmisligtedieverbeterde ligtegroepseverbeterde funksionaliteit af. DieGLS word van die GL onderskeideur sy opvallende multi-speek16 dm allooi-wiele en ’n vergrootte

naafdeursnit van R16met ’n gevolg-like verlaagde bandprofiel. Dit geeaandieGLSnienet’ngroter,sportie-wer voorkoms nie, maar verbeterook die hanterings- en padhouver-moë.

Wat die aandryfstelsel betrefmaakdie2014Swift-reekssteedsvandieselfdedoeltreffende,brandstofin-gespuite viersilinder-kragbron ge-bruik. Die sogenaamde K14B-een-heid se maksimum-kragleweringbeloop 70 kW by 6 000 r/min, met ’ngepaardgaande wringkragpiek van130 Nmby4000 r/min.Uitersekono-miese brandstofverbruik bly ’n uit-staandekenmerkvandieheleSwift-reeks. Die vyfgang-handratweerga-wes behaal ’n verbruiksyfer vannet5,5 F/100 km in die gekombineerdesiklus, met ’n gepaardgaande CO2-uitlaatgasvlak van 132 g/km.

Diemodelwattoetsbestuuriswasdieuitmuntende, ekonomiese enbe-kostigbare GLS-model, maar drieverdere modelle is beskikbaar enpryse is as volg:

2014Swift 1.4GL-handratR165 9002014 Swift 1.4 GLS-handrat R186

9002014 Swift 1.4 GLS Outomaties

R201 9002014 Swift 1.6 Sport R223 900Die pryse sluit metaalverf in,

asook die Suzuki Complete-pakket,watalle fasettevannaverkope-diensbehels.DieSuzuki Swift-reeksworddeur ’n omvattende waarborg vandrie jaar/100 000 km gedek, asookroesweerdekkingvansesjaar.Boon-op is ’n diensplan van drie jaar/60 000kmookstandaard,tesamemet’n AA-bystandsplan van drie jaar.

Galimoto Media

Wat die buitevoorkoms van die 2014 Swift betref is die splinternuwe sierrooster en die herontwerpte voorstebuffer miskien die opvallendste. FOTO: QUICKPIC

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BOLANDSOLDAUTO

HyundaiAccenthatchback:more reason toHANJO STIER

By now, Hyundai’s success story is welldocumented and the Koreanmanufactur-er has carefully crafted its tracks in thelocal motor industry. With over 50 000units sold last year, Hyundai’s S.A. divi-sionranks13thworldwideandhashelpedthe global brand rise from 6th to 5th posi-tion for car makers.

Keento increase their footprinton local soilevenmore, Hyundai just launched an Accenthatchback, to slot in between the successfuli20 and i30 models. Previously only availableasa small sedan, thenewsloping-backAccentretains its donor’s 2 570 mmwheelbase, 1,7 m

width and 1 457 mm height.Thesedan’s389 litre boot isalmostmatched

by the hatchback’s 370 litres and most jour-nalists at the car’s recent launch adjudgedits exterior styling as agreeable, with a hintof i30 at the back. The front and most of itssides are exact duplicates of the sedan, whilea small roof spoiler accents this newcomer.(See what I have done here?)Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design lan-

guage isalsostrongwiththisone,ahexagonalgrill and snazzy fog lights define its front end,followed by stylish creases down the sidesthat neatly integrate with the rear bumperand lights. The steeply-rising window linemerges beautifully with a small rear wind-screen.

Rear visibility is rather limited, but Hy-undai thankfully provides rear park-assist asstandard.The adjustable multi-function steering

wheel has buttons for most functions of thesix-speaker sound system with its radio, CD,USB, ipod, Aux, USB and Bluetooth inputs.Uptofiveadultswill findspaceinstylishclothseats and most Hyundai dealers will sell yousome leather surfaces for about R8 000.The cabin layout is modern and stylish,

withshinytrimpiecesandbluescreensoffset-ting the black surfaces. All materials have aquality feel and interesting textures whileeverything feels sturdyand taut –onour long-ish aunch route we didn’t hear any squeaksor rattles from our Accent hatchback.Powercomesfroma1.6-litre in-linefourcyl-

inder petrol engine with a choice of six-speedmanual or four-speed automatic gearbox.Peak power outputs are 91kW (124bhp) or156Nm, resulting in a 0-100km/h sprint of 10,2seconds (11’4 for automatic). Top speeds are190 and 184km/h.

Average fuel consumption is 6,4 or6.8F/100km and CO2 emissions just 152 or161g/km. All Accent hatchbacks have a 43Fpetrol tank, 5.2m turning radius, full sizespare wheel, and a suspension made up ofMcPherson struts up front and a coupled tor-sion beam at the back.Our overall impression from various

routes at the car’s launchwas very satisfacto-ry. Steering and pedal feel are light and easy,as is the operation of that six-speed gearbox.Although most cars only had delivery mile-age showing, we found the 1.6 engine to bewilling and smooth at all but very highspeeds.Prices are R234 900 for the manual and

R10 000 more for an automatic. It’s availablein one of seven colours and comes with Hy-undai’s 5-year/150 000km warranty and 5-year/90 000km service plan. And by slottinginbetween twoother popularHyundai hatch-es, itgivesyouanotherreasontoconsider thisbrand.Galimoto Media

The Accent’s cabin layout is modern and stylish with shiny trim pieces and blue screens off-setting the black surfaces. PHOTO: QUICKPIC