Peter Palm

Pete first read CAR at the age of 12 and immediately started modifying his parents’ cars. He studied mechanical engineering due to a fascination with engines, and worked on and spray-painted cars in his spare time. He worked for SA Railways and Denel before switching to proper motoring by joining CAR.

CLASSIC BUY: Volvo 850 (1994-1997)

Race, pace ... and lots of space. Here's what to look out for when considering purchasing a Volvo 850. When Volvo re-entered the South African market with the 850 and 960 in 1994 (incidentally, at the same time as Alfa Romeo), it did not skimp in the power stakes. As an import, the duty penalties on ...

BUYING USED: Seven-seater MPVs for under R800 000 apiece

Know how much you can spend on a car but haven’t made up your mind which one to buy? Each month, we recommend two sensible options plus a left-field choice. In our 2020 Performance Shootout, we used a Mercedes-Benz V-Class as a support vehicle and its fantastic showing got us thinking: which MPVs ...

BUYING USED: Performance cars for under R500 000 each

Know how much you can spend on a car but haven’t made up your mind which one to buy? This time we're looking at performance cars for under R500 000 each. We recommend two conventional options plus a left-field choice... Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic 7G-DCT 0-100 km/h: 4,35 seconds Top speed: 250 ...

CLASSIC BUY: Honda Prelude coupé (1992–1999)

This sporty coupé fuses style with dependability. We take a look back at the Honda Prelude... We are limiting discussion on the Honda Prelude to the final two versions: the fourth and fifth generations. Earlier models were available from 1984 to ‘91 using 1,8-litre and 2,0-litre engines. ...

BUYING USED: Three boutique hatchbacks for under R250 000 each...

Know how much you can spend on a car but haven’t made up your mind which one to buy? We recommend two sensible options, plus a left-field choice. This time, we investigate boutique hatchbacks for under R250 000 apiece... Sensible: Audi A1 Sportback 1,0T FSI 0-100 km/h: 11,10 seconds Top speed: ...

CLASSIC BUY: BMW E36 M3 (1994-1998)

This street-smart inline-six is a joy to drive. We take a look back at the BMW E36 M3... Packaging South Africa did not receive the first (E30) M3 because of its left-hand-drive-only configuration. This subsequent E36 M3 model was thus the first official model available locally. One of the benefits ...

CLASSIC BUY: Volkswagen Golf Mk1 (1978 and 2010)

We take a closer look at the first and last variants of Volkswagen's iconic Golf 1... Model: Volkswagen Golf 1500 GLS/Volkswagen Citi Mk1  0 to 100 km/h: 12,80 seconds/10,54 seconds  Top speed: 156 km/h/180 km/h  Fuel index: 7,3 L/100 km/7,8 L/100 km (both ...

BUYING USED: Four-seater convertibles for under R450 000 each

Know how much you can spend on a second-hand car but haven't made up your mind which one to buy? We recommend two sensible options, plus a left-field choice. This time we’re looking at four-seater convertibles for under R450 000 apiece… Sensible: Audi A5 Cabriolet 2,0T FSI 0-100 km/h: ...

CLASSIC BUY: Citroën ID19 (1955-1968)

Timeless French flair. Here's what to look out for when shopping for a Citroën ID19 (1955-1968)... While the newer DS20 and Pallas are a common sight on our roads, it all started way back in 1955. Because the ID/DS is such an iconic design, we will have too much information for one article, so ...

Long-term test: Toyota RAV4 2,5 AWD VX

Long-term test (Introduction): Toyota RAV4 2,5 AWD VX Having been impressed with the new Corolla Hatch for a few months, this RAV4 is like more of the same, simply supersized. Our car is finished in Moonlight Ocean Metallic, a rich, deep blue with the optional interior colour beige. This is richer and ...

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