OPEL
ADAM S
By Francisco Nwamba
We live in the hipster generation. A generation
that wants to be so different, it all ends up being
the same. We blame the MINI brand for starting
this trend in vehicles. Before, hatchbacks were
hatchbacks. Now, everything is edgy, two toned
and has a strange name. Take for instance the new
Opel Adam, with names like Glam and Jam, you
realise that being different is very much in at the
moment. Well then we bring good news to those
wanting something different, there is a fast version of the Opel Adam and it’s simply named the
“S”.
Like adding whipped cream to your cappuccino,
the Adam S adds richness to the range. With a
punchy 1.4 turbocharged engine and firmer suspension, it does a good job to put a smile on your
face. No it’s not very fast nor is it the best handling hatchback there is, but it does have charac-
ter and that counts a lot. The character is
made up of its charming good looks, sporty
Recaro bucket seats and large wheels. It’s
also very well built and as a result the cabin is a
quiet and refined place to be in.
What we like:
The best part about the Opel Adam S is the
fact that it works well in the city as it’s small
and nimble. It’s also not terrible on fuel even
though it has a small fuel tank. Topping it up
with R200 gives you half a tank of fuel, which
is music to the ears of the youth, or anyone
for that matter. Another great thing about the
Adam is how the torque is delivered through the
rev range, so you can buzz around town without having to rev the little thing to the death.
It serves its purpose as a single person’s trendy
car very well as it’s both masculine enough and
feminine enough to be driven confidently by
both sexes. If you are in the mood to drive enthusiastically the chassis on the car allows you
because it’s balanced and sharp. As mentioned,
it’s not very fast but it is fun.
What we don’t like:
As much as the Opel Adam S is intended for young people, most young people still
have friends. Trying to fit four adults of var-