First off, let’s point out the absolute peak of a mountain that the Opel Adam is intended to climb. Named after the company’s owner, the Adam has been told that it’s their job to take on the mighty Mini Cooper and the less mighty but still cool Fiat 500.
Over and above this, the Adam seems to be spearheading Opel’s fighting return to the cool hatch market, evident in the recently announced return of the Opel Corsa Sport. And then there are OPCs and GTC and ABCs which will no doubt follow soon.
The good news is, Opel’s flagship Adam is as impressive as Jacob Zuma’s butt-covering skills. First off it looks awesome. There are only two side doors and not a great deal of space inside, but you could say the same for its competitors.
Here’s some demographic appropriate marketing:
Performance-wise you won’t be leaving much at the lights, but you’re not in a wagon either. Three variants and two engine options. A four cylinder 1.4-litre engine complimented by a five-speed gearbox will make sure you get to where you’re going rather quickly. The other variation may only be a 1.0 litre, but it’s rocking a turbo that allegedly makes it quicker than its big brother. I only had the 1.4-litre on test, so can’t confirm but can believe. I’ve always said it: small engines with a turbo are the future.
Opel claim that the two engines have consumptions of 5.3 litres per 100km and 5.1 litres respectively, which is more or less on point with its competition in its class, and both engines have stop/start technology to keep your petrol card in your wallet just a bit longer.
To my point. Expensive cars are dinosaurs. (Some context: expensive means comparative cars in the same demographic and segment.)
So. Lets talk about Sam. Sam’s just got out of High School and her folks (execs, both of them) have agreed to buy her a new car. Options befitting her privileged birth and need for speed:
Golf GTi – R447 000
Audi A3 – R419 500
BMW 1-series – R326 500
All quick. All incredibly stylish and branded befittingly. All beautiful cars. But all also incredibly expensive, heavy on petrol and boasting two more doors on the sides than are necessary for Uni bound Sam or anyone living in a modern metropolis like Jozi or Cape Town. Two-door town cars with low emissions, tiny lengths and turbos are the way to go.
My advice to new car buyers in the past 2 years has been this:
There are no “shit” cars anymore. Everyone’s got their production quality up, their cars are reliable, their cars look good. You don’t need to buy German to be seen (I recognise Opel is German but you know what I mean).
Why don’t you opt for a brand whose marketing campaigns you won’t be footing the bill for, tick every extra box on the dealership form and drive out in a less powerful but more suited to the city customized, bespoke and gorgeous Opel Corsa or Hyundai i20 instead of signing up to be just another Audi driver?
That’s what you get when you do the same on an Opel Adam. And maybe…maybe you’ll be tickling the R300 000 mark. This is where the Adam comes into its own.
With a completely customizable interior, the Adam also comes in nine paint jobs and five customisation packs. Sitting inside you really could be fooled as to what car you’re sitting in. Leather seats, accessories galore and comfort. And these are the options. Things you don’t even need to select include Opel’s Smartphone communicating Intellilink system, Multi-function steering wheel and Bluetooth, Side Blind Zone Alert (which is incredibly helpful and safe once you get used to it. First few drives were a skriek), a full GPS system in BringGo and Advanced Park assist.
Getting these extras put into your new entry-level Audi or Beemer all of a sudden puts you in a new tax bracket. It sours the deal. It makes you feel like that brand you’re associating yourself with is perhaps costing you a bit much.
In “cheaper” brands like Opel and Hyundai, they’re nice enough to give these to you for free. No brainer to me.
PRICING:
ADAM 1.4 R189 900.00
ADAM JAM 1.0T ecoFLEX R209 900.00
ADAM GLAM 1.0T ecoFLEX R232 900.00
