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| Alwyn 'No-Airbags'Viljoen points out what drivers really need. |
IT is ironic that the 1.2 Datsun Go is selling very well to
pensioners, a group of people with a lifetime’s practice in spotting
bargains.
Ironic, because Nissan’s designers had packed the Go with a rather
nifty Bluetooth system that links seamlessly with most smartphones out there,
hoping to impress first-time buyers.
Of course, older people know smartphones make for dumb people who
can’t even remember phone numbers, and sales staff were asked politely to ditch
the nifty Bluetooth and put in a “proper” AM/FM radio instead.
But Wheels fielded
queries from aspiring buyers who read our rave review for this real little
bargain car, and are now worried about all those reports that the Go failed its
crash tests in India.
Fact is, all cars fail their crash tests as soon as you move faster
than the low speeds at which these tests are conducted.
As example, we cited a new Merc, which exploded after the
youngsters in it tried to dice the cops, racing the wrong way up the N2 where
they collided head-on with a bakkie. The many airbags in the Merc did not save
them.
For those who want the reassurance of an expensive explosive device
ticking away inches from their faces, Nissan has bowed to all the criticism and
since March, you can order a Go Lux, now with a driver airbag and ABS brakes.
It costs R108 200 compared to the basic Go, still a bargain at just
over R90k at most dealers.
Our advice — get an entry-level Datsun Go and then make sure you
all click in those seatbelts.
You will be as vulnerable as everyone else in a small car on the
road, but paying a lot less for this privilege.
