Bucket Seat: Volkswagen Golf 8.5 GTI

Yesterday I was invited by Volkswagen South Africa to experience the new Golf GTI, first showcased at last years Festival of Motoring and later went on sale around December 2025, the new GTI has a lot more advancements than the previous model which was launched in 2024. For starters, we are now getting the full European spec in terms of engine performance where as the previous model had a down tuned version of the engine, after various tests locally it was found that the fuel quality locally has proven to be suitable for these cars hence the change in mind for bringing us this new GTI, albeit a bit later than the rest of the world. 

This translates to the engine producing 195kW and 370Nm of torque, making this one of the most powerful GTI's to hit the streets of Mzanzi (that is stock). So what else is changed in the car? Well there is new alloy wheels that make the car look amazing, 19-inch Queenstown rims are the only choice available on the new GTI and the design pays homage to the Mk5 GTI rims. The headlamps and tail lights receive new Matrix LED' signature designs and the VW badge in the front is now illuminated. Stepping inside, the first thing you would notice especially if you driven the Mk8 GTI is that the steering wheel now has actual buttons and not the haptic touch ones used previously, the infotainment screen has grown with it now measures 10.3-inches but the cars we drove came with the optional 12.9-inch screen with a redesigned interface and VW's MIB4 operating system. 

All GTI's come standard with a range stuff, like premium sports seats with integrated head restraints and the GTI logo embossed in it. The driver side seat is electronically adjustable with the front passenger having to do it manually. The climate control still is accessed via the screen and does get a bit cumbersome especially when driving. The screen is angled at the driver so as the front passenger, trying to access the screen can get a bit tricky. The new GTI also has a range of safety features like travel assist, side assist with rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front assist with emergency braking which we tested voluntarily, PDC and reverse camera, proactive passenger protection system and driver alert system to detect when you need to pull over and have a stretch of the legs.  

On the road, the GTI remains true to its heart as a performance hatchback, it gives you the thrill that you'd associate with the car and more. The new engine performances speaks for itself and you can feel it when you are on the road, the cornering and braking is very responsive and even though the Vrrrpha is not as loud as we are used to, it still sounds amazing when you're in the car. Driving on both the highway and side roads really gave me some insight into how well balanced the car is and while being a performance car, it still has that practicality to it. 

Staring price for the GTI is R908,000 with not much additional extras you can get, I will give me full review on it after having it on test. 

Monday Choon: Swedish House Mafia ft. The Weeknd - Moth To A Flame

The legendary Scandinavian electronic music DJ trio, Swedish House Mafia have released another single, this time teaming up with award winning musician, The Weeknd. The track, A Moth To A Flame was released late October and has already been quite a hit around the globe with it already receiving close to 4 Million views on YouTube to date. The track has that unique SHM sound to it with the unmistakable voice of the The Weeknd just elevating this track to another level. When great artist combine to share their talents and create a track, you really get something special and that is exactly what this track is, whether or not there is more music planned by them is yet to be seen but this track really has us frothing for more from this collaboration. 

Monday Choon: Tiesto & Karol G - Don't Be Shy

There seems to be no stopping Tiesto, the Dutch Trance music legend just celebrated his 750th episode of his weekly podcast "Clublife" last week and just a week before that dropped his latest single "Don't Be Shy" featuring Karol G. The 52 year old who also became a father for the first time in the past year seems to be loving life at the moment with much of the US clubs and festivals slowly opening up, he has a lot planned for the rest of the year. This track takes on a bit of different style and has similar sounds to what was used in his London Sessions album but with a more pop sound to it. The track has a catchy bassline and backtrack but has that unmistakably Tiesto sound to it. The music video is brilliant as well, themed around the movie Night at the Museum, really gives you a experience on its own.  

Monday Choon: Armin van Buuren - Turn The World Into A Dancefloor

Whether you're into trance or not, there's one name that is synonymous to the genre, some regard him as the father or God of trance music and he is none other that Armin van Buuren. The work he's done over the past few decades has been immense, not only in terms of producing music, finding talent but the work done by his weekly podcast which just snowballed into something epic that is recognized world wide as one of the biggest trance music shows in the world. He used to celebrate every 50th episode in grand scale with shows around the globe, taking the music that people know and love to every corner of the earth, this year he celebrates the biggest milestone, being the 1000th episode, it's really unfortunate that it happen to fall while the world is still trying to get a grip with this ongoing pandemic but never the less, the show goes on. Every year a special "Anthem" is created by invited artist as the halo song for the celebration, its only fitting that Armin made this years anthem, and encapsulates everything there is to him, his show and what he stands for. "Turn The World Into A Dancefloor" is achieving just that, while we all cannot celebrate together in one space, we can do so in the safety and comfort of our own homes and Armin is giving us something to celebrate about. Congrats to Armin and the Armada team on 1000 episodes of A State of Trance, a monumental effort by all and here's to the next 1000!

Monday Choon: Tiesto - The Business (220 KID Remix)

 

With the world being on lockdown for most part of the year, it gave DJ's the time to experiment and work on new music. One of the bigger names in the business has been cracking this year with him releasing remixes and new work including his London sessions album release in May, yip I'm talking about Dutch legend Tiesto who also recently became a father. His track The Business is one of the biggest tracks on social media at the moment with people using the sample for videos on Tik Tok, Instagram and many more social media networks, there's been a number of remixes of the track as well but this one by 220 KID has been our pick of the bunch, it was released a few weeks ago and really keeps the essence of the original but ups the tempo to give it quite a vibey sound. 

Monday Choon: Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike x Armin van Buuren x W&W - Repeat After Me

It's the first Monday Choon post of 2019 and we're pulling out the big guns for this one to get the year off on the right note. With the music video just dropping last night it was a no brainer from our side as this tune is hot as it is and features three big name hitters in the industry, starting off with the duo who run the show at Tomorrowland, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, along with the Dutch duo W&W, who are joined by the legendary Armin van Buuren to bring us this epic track "Repeat After Me". Armin says its "easily one of the most epic collaborations of the year". The track is a full-throttle mainstage anthem which is able to cause some serious damage on the festival grounds. It features many fan favourites and has an awesome build up and drop, you're definitely going to hear this one throughout the year. 

Lucas, he is a Scouser

10 years ago, when then Manager of Liverpool Football Club, Rafael Benitez introduced a young, blonde, long haired Brazilian as his latest signing, many were upbeat at this prospect. At the time, the Brazilian National team were the talk of world football, the passion, the flair and the pure entertainment value from the Brazilians were something to be admired. So as you can imagine, with Liverpool signing a midfielder from the South America, many were anticipating sort of the same from this lad. Little did we know what he was truly brought in for and the special place he filled in our hearts as supporters. 

Lucas first few seasons at Liverpool were not the greatest, he was  stubborn, young and lacked knowledge of the English game which saw him struggle a lot, this made many of the supporters growing impatient of the Brazilian, I was one of them. When I saw Lucas name on the starting 11, I would wonder what in the hell was Benitez thinking starting this guy. I was adamant he wouldn't last more than 3 seasons with us. Credit to Lucas though, despite the moans and groans, he kept at it, giving his all, whether it be in training or on the pitch. Soon enough this lad who couldn't speak a word of English was starting a family in Merseyside and speaking the tongue of the locals, Lucas was evolving into a true Scouse legend. 

He kept his profile low, got the job that was handed out to him down, soon did we realise, this little Brazilian wasn't brought in to do tricks and flicks, he was another breed of footballer, one which doesn't get much praise or limelight but one which ensured the team could be expansive knowing he kept a tight seal at the back. This was proved by not just Rafa who brought him in but for the managers that succeeded him at the helm. All of them had high praise for the hard work that Lucas put in for the team. Injuries did plague him during his 10 years at Anfield but even that didn't deter him from getting back into the first team as that famous speech Brendan Rodgers gave the team before Lucas started a game after being one year out injured. He kept the fight to recover faster than expected, he pushed himself in training to get back into that first team and to put on that red shit that meant as much to him, as it did to us. 

The #LFC squad say their goodbyes to @LucasLeiva87 from Hong Kong.#ThanksLucas pic.twitter.com/9mQ20ip21t

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 18, 2017

If one has to look at highlights of his career, there weren't many goals, nor did the goals he score be any spectacular ones but the biggest highlight was his fight and tenacity. It's this key aspect that held him in such high regards with his team mates and managers. With him departing Liverpool after 10 years, it really is a sad day for the club but with competition in the league at it's highest level in a long time, Lucas knows there isnt much he can do now due to age and limitations to help. When players leave with a good conscious for the club, you know they're putting the club before themselves and it's with this, Lucas just earned himself one of the highest respects as a Liverpool Football player. A player who many regard as an honorary Scouser, a true lad and a servant of the game. 

You'll Never Walk Alone, Lucas #ThankYouLucas

WHEN I first joined Liverpool ten years ago, I had three main ambitions. First, I wanted to win a place in the team, which I managed to do. Next, I hoped to prove myself worthy of the shirt, an aim that others will be better placed than me to decide whether or not it was achieved. Finally, I looked ahead to the future with a hope that if and when the time came to leave this wonderful club I would do so on the best possible terms. That time has now come as I prepare for a new career at Lazio and while I am saddened that my days at Anfield are coming to an end, I can at least take comfort from the knowledge that my relationship with Liverpool and the supporters is stronger than ever. This is one of the greatest clubs in the world and my intention had always been to spend the rest of my career here but the less I have been able to play, the more I have realised that I need to go to another club if I want to play as much as I possibly can. When you love a club and a city as much as I love Liverpool that isn't an easy decision to come to. The easiest thing for me to do would be to stay here for as long as I can even if I do not expect to play so often but that would go against everything that I believe in as a footballer and as a competitor. It is for that reason that I will be joining Lazio, which means my sadness at leaving Liverpool is accompanied by a real excitement that I will be representing one of Italy's great clubs. Before I made my decision to take the opportunity to go to Italy, I discussed my situation with Jurgen Klopp and the way he handled it showed once again how respectful he is to his players. I am grateful to him and to all of the managers I worked under at Liverpool, especially the ones who showed faith in me when it would have been easy to do the opposite.  My priority now is to look ahead to a new chapter in my career in the belief that I can contribute to Lazio in the same way that I hope I have helped Liverpool....

A post shared by Lucas  Leiva (@leivalucas) on Jul 18, 2017 at 11:48am PDT

A Legend of The Game

Yesterday Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from professional football, we all knew this day would come after he left his beloved childhood club of Liverpool for new pastures in the USA to play out the reminder of his career. There was always this hope that many of us had that after his stint in the US, Steven would return to Liverpool in limited capacity to play for the Reds one last time before he bid farewell to the footballing world but as with him, he demands perfection, firstly from himself before others and as he said in his interview with BT Sports, he felt he couldn't give his best all the time on the field and that doesn't sit well with him. He is a perfectionist, we've seen it for ourselves, everything he does, everyone he plays with knows this as well, hence he built such great respect from players world over. 

The tributes that started to pour in for him from current to former players and greats of the game since the announcement speaks volumes about the player he was. One of the worlds greatest midfielders, if not the best. Yes there will be those who will argue this as he did not win a league title in his career but with winning the league, it's down to team work and not one individual, those who know this are the players themselves, and is why they still rated him so highly and voted for him as their choice to make many teams of the year and so on. 

It's not a time to focus on negatives though, its about celebrating what Stevie did for football and what he did for Liverpool Football Club. I count myself as fortunate to witness his career from the time he debuted, till his last game for the club, yes it wasn't the best way to say goodbye but team was in a bit of turmoil at the time. He knew things would change, low and behold, 2 years later and we find ourselves fighting with the best in the land, right back up where we belong. No one will be more prouder about this than Stevie. 

There has been so many highlights in his career, that to select a few would be wrong but ones that do stand out for me personally would be. The goal he scored against Manchester United in the 2000/1 season at Anfield, it left a lot of people with their jaw on the flaw for obvious reason. 

The "oh you beauty! against Olympiakos in 2004/5 Champions League season. I like many sat watching the game, praying for a miracle (which wouldn't be the last time I did so and it delivered). The strike was superb, bottom right corner, giving the keeper no chance, but something that many don't pick up was the lovely cushioned header Neil Mellor provided for Gerrard, regardless he still had to hit it sweetly and boy he did!

THAT match, 3-0 down, starting the second half on the back foot, digging deep to fight for a way back and producing a headed goal not only to ignite the greatest comeback in footballing history but bring back belief that anything is possible. 

The goal that literally killed some people, scoring Liverpool's 3rd in a pulsating FA Cup Final in the dying minutes to send the tie into extra time. It's goal that till this day I don't understand how much force it was hit at to get in from so far out. 

His season with Fernando Torres that saw the pair become one of the most feared in the league, there was nothing they couldn't do. Gerrard brought the best out of Nando and till this day Torres admits that was the best part of his career, playing along side Stevie. 

When Suarez came in, we didn't know what we brought in and while his partnership with Sturridge was making headlines, it was Stevie who played a pivotal behind the scenes role which both will justify to their goal scoring success. 

I don't think Football will ever see a more complete footballer in the near future, while there are current greats, Gerrard brought that unique style that only he can produce. He will be missed, that is for sure, there is mermers of him taking up a role as one of the coaching staff at Liverpool which would be great, but for now we would like to salute the player he was and the legend he has become. 

YNWA Steven Gerrard

Gerrard

Rumours were rife for the previous 2 weeks, "will he sign?", " Contract negotiations have broken down", "He wants more playing time", "He's off to the MLS" but then the inevitable happened. Following Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Leicester, the club called for a press conference on the Friday morning to make an announcement, by then everyone had knew the reasoning. 

It's almost like a bad dream you never want to come true but the reality is, it was happening. The blue eyed boy from the Red half of Merseyside was calling it quits on his career as a player for Liverpool. Emotions overwhelmed at that time, silly might say but Gerrard was not just a player to me and I'm sure many share the same feelings. He is an inspiration, a role model, someone you look to for motivation. A couple years ago after his testimonial game I wrote a piece on why he is so important to me in: Not just a name, so in this post I'm not going to divulge into what kind of player and person he is but rather reasons to why he is leaving.

After the announcement I sat there wondering why? but it made sense to me. I remember when Thierry Henry left Arsenal for Barcelona, many said it was for money, others said it was for trophies Arsenal could not win but following his move to the Catalans, he spoke out in an interview saying that one of the main reasons for him leaving Arsenal was that the youngsters could shine. With him there, he was always the focus of attention and play generally revolved around him, he knew the talent Wenger had and felt his time was up and it was their time to shine. So the Walcott's and Fabregas's rose to fame in his absence. 

Henry, a very close friend with Gerrard, as documented many a time would agree that Stevie is doing the something similar. When I play FIFA15 I have trouble deciding my midfield, we have got some excellent youngsters waiting in the wing but with Gerrard there, his name would always be first on the team list. Allen, Henderson, Markovic, Can, Lucas, to name a few, all are young, full of energy and ready to give it there all. Yes they might not have that gift Gerrard has of an all round player but if given freedom, you never know what you might end up discovering about one of them. Already Henderson has stepped up in leaps and bounds which saw him take the vice captain role in the team and I'm almost certain he will be Liverpool's new captain come the start of the 2015/2016 season. 

The press greeted the announcement in mixed views, many questioned why Liverpool were letting him go, even old team mate Jamie Carragher brought it up that the club should have tried harder to persuade him to stay. I think Stevie had his mind pretty much made up though. He knows he is old, turning 35 in the summer, he hasn't got the pace and energy that he had 10 years ago. He made mention about this in the emotional interview he had with LFC TV. So it was only fair to others that the manager treated his age and performance with the best interest of the club. He was told that he would be rested more, that means no guaranteed place in the starting 11. After 26 years with the club, and starting almost all of the games this would be a shock to any player and as he made mention in an interview, he isn't ready to be a squad player.

Fans of the opposition sides, especially those from Manchester questioned his "legendary" status, saying that a real legend would end his career at the club. For me thats nonsense, Gerrard has nothing more to prove to anyone, let alone the fans of his club. We know what he did for us in those years of service. He made us smile, he made us cry, he made us jump from our seats with joy. His passion flowed with us and it's that connection he had with the fans that made him unlike no other player. You can't compare Stevie to anyone, not Scholes, not Lampard, not Giggs or Henry, he is his own legend and if you ask those players they would agree. 

The outpouring show of emotions from fans via the various social media streams was there for the world to see but players who had the chance to play alongside the talismanic captain also gave their appreciation to the great player. It was quite touching to see the players send their tributes via twitter, none more so touching than the message from Xabi Alonso which I'm sure left no Liverpool fan with a dry eye. He was a players player, a fans player and a managers player as every manger who worked with him only spoke in praise. 

Being his last season at Anfield, he is still missing one medal from his collection, the Premiership, there's still 6 months to do it but it doesn't look likely... then again at half time in Istanbul, no one could ever imagine Liverpool lifting that trophy at the end but one man didn't give up and that man was Gerrard. He said he wants to end his career at the club on a high and he has every right to do so, we're still in contention for the FA Cup, in the semi finals of the League Cup and have the Europa League to fight for as well, so here's hoping we win some silverware for Stevie, our  hero, Mr Liverpool, Captain Fantastic, Legend.

You'll Never Walk Alone

Bucket Seat: 2014 BMW M3 & M4

They're probably the two most anticipated cars of 2014, one is an icon in its own right and the other is a legend in the making. BMW kept it very close to themselves the detailed specifications of the cars but last week they released official pictures as well as performance specs on both models. They're both reasonably light in weight coming in at approximately 1,5 tons with the M3 sedan being the heavier of the two but both powered with a 3 ltr, 6 cylinder Twin Turbo engine and a 6 speed manual gear box (7 speed dual clutch automatic gear box available as an optional extra. The cars sit on 18" alloys which are wrapped with 255/40's at the front and 275/40's at the back giving the perfect grip around the corners at high speeds, along with BMW's perfect 50/50 weight distribution it's one of BMW's most thrilling cars yet. Below are more specifications as well as some of the official pictures for you to drool over. The car is due here in June 2014, here's hoping I make the cut for the official launch. *hint hint*

Specifications

• 3 litre, 6 cylinder twinscroll turbo charged engine
• 6 speed manual/ 7 speed dual clutch automatic (optional extra), step-tronic gear box
• 317kW
• 431bhp 
• 550Nm torque
• Consumption: 12ltr/ 100km (urban driving)
• Top Speed: 250kph (governed)
• 0-100kph: 4.1 seconds 
• Price: not known at the moment but wont be surprised if it is around the bar mark.