The experts say we should buy a car using logic, not emotion. They're right, of course. Ideally, you should look at value for money, practicality, running costs, resale value, and so on. Safety, build quality and fuel consumption should also be scrutinised. Midway down the list, or perhaps hovering near the end, comes driving pleasure, passion, etc.
People like me, on the other hand, who tend to be ruled by emotion rather than logic, usually start at the bottom of the list and then move up: passion and soul are the prime considerations when I buy a car. If it doesn't have soul, I find it hard even to give it a second look.
Yet, funnily enough, although the new Polo Vivo doesn't possess this attribute, I would definitely consider buying one. That's clearly because, the older I get, the more logical I get. Or maybe wiser would be a better word...
I wasn't surprised to discover the Vivo has become one of South Africa's top sellers: it fact, according to Naamsa, it's just been recorded as the No.1 passenger car brand for the third consecutive month with sales of 2471 units in June.
Says Volkswagen SA: "The no-compromise value proposition of the Vivo has clearly resonated with the South African consumer."
I've spent a week bonding with the 1.4 Vivo (sedan), and honestly, for R109 900, it really is excellent value for money - and proudly South African, girls!
Apart from being of the usual impeccable quality we've come to expect from this stable, the Vivo contains 70 percent local parts content, so costs less to build and offers parts that are also more affordable and readily available.
Yet, despite the ridiculously affordable price, quality hasn't been compromised at all: the car has been produced to international standards with the build integrity and quality of components you would expect from VW. What does this mean? Simply that, as with all VW's, you can expect the Polo Vivo to retain a higher than industry average resale value.
Did it stir my soul? No, not in the way a Jaguar, for instance, or the Audi TT, does. There was no fire in my heart when I drove it. In fact, as I sat in it for the first time, I closed my eyes and it briefly felt as though I were sitting in a Citi Golf: that same on-your-seat as opposed to in-your-seat feeling.
And, of course, there were no electric windows, and "no CD, mom!" uttered my daughter in complete shock. Nor is there aircon. But for R109 900, you get a spacious, well-built car which is actually very neat looking (great in black!), with dual crash bags upfront, a childproof lock on each rear door, height-adjustable steering column, power steering, lights-on warning buzzer, full-sized spare tyre, and excellent fuel consumption of (mixed cycle) 6.2 litres/100km.
You also get a three-year or 120 000km warranty and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty.
You can always add the aircon for about R8000 extra if you live in the tropics and I would definitely consider forking out only R2000 for anti-lock braking.
Passion? No. But value for money is top of the mind when driving this smooth, five-speed and, it must be said, quite comfortable little budget car.
Vivo affordability!