Every so often it’s high time to blow one’s own horn as they say, and at the same time give a big-up to someone else. Why not, after all?
That’s why Bobby Nitro loves it when he gets a mail from a “huge fan of the [Daily] Voice”, which is how Maro and wife, Cindy, describe their sentiment for Mr Nitro.
So when they called Bobby Nitro asking to be placed together in the Daily Voice, he said “step right up”.
Driving a pair of almost identical Mk3 GTis, known as The President (his) and the First Lady (hers), this couple say they bought the same cars on the same day.
That was five years ago and Maro says: “We first collected the green one then the grey one, and have never looked back.”
We imagine there must be some stories to tell if you are a husband and wife team rolling in the same metal.
Maro says: “I think my best memory is was when we bought our cars on the same day. Then having people driving past and stopping to ask if we want to sell. When we cruise in convoy, heads turn, we get the thumbs-up on the road.
“But as much as we would want to do weekend drives in both cars, petrol is expensive so we have to settle for driving to the garage and filling up together, lol. But they don’t go on sleep outs, we do repairs at home.”
ONE AND THE SAME: Maro and Cindy’s Golfs. Photo: Supplied.
As a couple, they bathe together. Maro says: “The best is when we go to the car wash with both cars. At the car wash, our cars are great conversation starters with other customers and we get the questions as to which is whose. I also personally show them how to apply polish to the black trim, it is all about the attention to detail. I have my own bag of cleaning goodies in the boot that get used – own air freshener, tyre polish and black trim product.”
Of course, they have an ongoing debate as to whose car drives better, whose looks better and whose sound system has better bass – it is still undecided.
Maro continues: “On our first two-car cruise to Gordon’s Bay over a festive period we encountered traffic jams and loads of people but it was like a breeze because the cars were shining, music playing and people staring.”
There are other advantages to having similar cars, like on the technical front.
He says: “The best thing is that you have a reference from one car to another if something goes wrong. My brother once told me servicing is the most important thing if you want your car to last long, do it on time and the car will treat you well.”
LOVELY: Cindy’s green 1996 VW MK3 GTi 2.0. Photo: Supplied.
For Cindy it has been a lekker learning curve.
Maro says: “My wife has learnt a lot over the years by listening to me when I say what is wrong with the cars or when I point out things. So she knows about clutches, oil levels, coolant buzzers, strange sounds on the car and more.”
And she brings a welcome positivity, telling Maro he will get it sorted “when I feel like this is it and the budget is not there and don’t know what to do”.
“I remember on one of my VW Golf MK1’s we had to install a lip − my very first lip − and she assisted with manicured nails,” he says.
Asked about their choice of marque, Maro replies: “I go for German spec all the way. I think that they are very reliable and cheap to maintain. I have never had any other brand. I have even made my wife a believer in the VW brand, so when she speaks she also says VW all the way. An upgrade to the VW Polo TSI will probably be on the cards – hopefully we get a His & Hers again.”
ONE AND THE SAME: Maro and Cindy’s Golfs. Photo: Supplied.
Never one to overlook a compliment, Bobby ends the conversation by asking about their support of the Daily Voice again.
Maro says: “I’m a huge fan of the Voice, it’s literally in my monthly budget, so that I get one every day. Then when the rides get added it’s nice to see different cars in these pages. Thank you for the write-ups and giving car enthusiasts that extra bit of motivation to not stop with their passion for cars.”
HIS GTi Specs:
Grey 1999 VW Golf MK3 GTi 2.0i Millenium Edition with stock standard motor. It has a factory fitted sunroof, badgeless grill, leather interior, red sticker stripe right round, HID Kit, 17-inch BBS LM Replica Rims, DVD Gemsound In-dash Deck, Starsound three-way splits, Pioneer 6x9’s, Kenwood mids (rear), 10-inch Kenwood Sub and Starsound amp. Future upgrades include: Personalised number plates, Coilovers, Interior re-done, and maybe custom sound installed.
HER GTi specs:
Cindy’s car is a green 1996 VW MK3 GTi 2.0. She installed a full car audio system the very next day after buying it and moved to the badgeless grill. Stock standard motor, HID Kit, 15-inch Aline Rims with 195/50/15 tyres, Pioneer Mixtrax Deck, mids, 6x9’s, tweeters and amp. All round lowering kit. Future upgrades: Personalised number plates, Coilovers, Sunroof, Interior redone.