Try GOLD - Free

Drinks And Cars: You Know It's Not Going To Work

Drive Out

|

June 2017

After almost 18 years of writing about different kinds of vehicles, I have literally driven thousands, in various conditions. From places like Nürburgring race course in Germany, the Namib Desert, and deep water in Moremi to the biting cold of Iceland (there is a reason they don’t call it “Sunland”). Eventuall you start to know things about vehicles. Not a lot, but at least a bit more than the average guy who goes to buy cigarettes and bread in his slip-slops.

Drinks And Cars: You Know It's Not Going To Work

It’s always nice to chat to people who want to know things. But guess what? Sometimes I simply don’t want to talk about cars.

The worst is at a braai at someone’s place. Contrary to what many people might believe, I’m interested not only in 4x4s or vehicles. I also like to hunt, I enjoy good wine, cooking, dogs, Seinfeld, good movies, rugby, Formula One, rock music, and most types of cheeses (except gouda, which is basically a yellow-coloured eraser sold as food).

I don’t know if it’s the pressure of playing host but sometimes someone will introduce me with “This is Jaco, he drives cars and writes about it!” before turning around and making a beeline for the fridge.

MORE STORIES FROM Drive Out

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Provincial colours

Where KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State meet, you'll find a well-known trail with a fitting name: 3 Provinces 4x4 Adventures.

time to read

3 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Nestle down at Falcon

Next time you find yourself in the Swellendam area, settle in at a brand-new campsite on the banks of the Breede River.

time to read

3 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Christmas in Hartenbos

A whole range of new caravans made their debut at the recent kykNET Buite Expo outside Mossel Bay.

time to read

5 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Padstal pantry

Dried fruit and nuts are pure padkos - the taste of the long road and good company. This year, we're turning these classics into a Christmas feast.

time to read

6 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

The bakkie that binds us

The bakkie is as proudly South African as boerewors and brandy. Sure, you'll find sausages, cognac and pickup trucks in other countries, but the bakkie is part of our culture.

time to read

1 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

The Red Tide cometh

The days of Chinese products being cheap copies of Western ones are disappearing fast, and Mic van Zyl predicts the same will eventually happen with vehicle manufacturing.

time to read

2 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

What happened to fairness?

Why do some people refuse to accept that camping simply isn't the bargain it once was

time to read

2 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Where safari meets shoreline

Pitch your tent just across the Mozambican border and explore the Maputo National Park's lush grasslands, ink-blue lakes and dazzling white beaches in search of elephants, spoonbills.

time to read

7 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Under the covers

Is a caravan double bed the same size as the one at home?

time to read

2 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Go! Drive & Camp

Go! Drive & Camp

Fighting fit

Nissan has reworked the Navara with chunkier rubber and upgraded suspension so it can take on those 4x4 obstacles with confidence.

time to read

4 mins

December 2025/January 2026

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size