Advice on car for Student

[A3@MBB]

Save for a few months and put down a bigger deposit on a old model 2024 Suzuki Swift. They go for around R200k.

At the rate car prices increase, you would probably be able to sell 5 years down the line for the same price.

 

[Lupus]

Save for a few months and put down a bigger deposit on a old model 2024 Suzuki Swift. They go for around R200k.

At the rate car prices increase, you would probably be able to sell 5 years down the line for the same price.

Don't forget price of insurance

 

[thestaggy]

Don't forget price of insurance

I wonder if the Swift is becoming a high-risk car because of its popularity.

 

[TheChamp]

I wonder if the Swift is becoming a high-risk car because of its popularity.

It's not necessarily the popularity that makes a car a target, but rather to whom is the car popular, the Swift is still a a women's vehicle for the greater part, either old Gogo's, mom's and young women who have started their careers, it has pretty much taken over the Honda Jazz market and added the younger buyers.

So I doubt it will be having issues any time soon.

 

[thestaggy]

It's not necessarily the popularity that makes a car a target, but rather to whom) is the car popular, the Swift is still a a women's vehicle for the greater part, either old Gogo's, mom's and young women who have started their careers, it has pretty much taken over the Honda Jazz market and added the younger buyers.

So I doubt it will be having issues any time soon.

They want polo and/or anything with a GTi badge so I doubt it.

edit: my insurer sent me a list of cars that they don't want to insure anymore unless you fit 2 tracking devices from 2 different installers. Use it / or don't.
• Hyundai H100 (all years and models)
• Kia K2500 & K2700 (all years and models)
• Isuzu D-Max (all years and models except double cab)
• Toyota RAV4 (2019 or later)
• Toyota Quantum (all years and models)
• Hilux (all years and models)

Demand for spares? A lot of hijacking and theft of vehicles is because of the illicit spares market.

I was warned against Grand i10s because of their popularity among e-hailers leading to a growing demand for spare parts.

 

[Hemi300c]

Suzuki Swift

 

[ghaye]

Look at the mileage on a one year old car (admittedly it could be 20 months or so)!


I wouldn't touch that with a barge pole.

 

[TheChamp]

Demand for spares? A lot of hijacking and theft of vehicles is because of the illicit spares market.

I was warned against Grand i10s because of their popularity among e-hailers leading to a growing demand for spare parts.

The people who are buying the car are not exactly the type who will wander into the dodgiest part of town to score spares at a cheaper price, they are not the scrapyard type, so that does not support that kind of market.

It is the owners that create the market and they are the one who keeps it alive, a Swift owner who find their car on bricks will probably go to the tyre place and buy new tyres, A Polo owner will shoot straight to the nearest scrapyard, that is how the illicit market thrives.

 

[thestaggy]

The people who are buying the car are not exactly the type who will wander into the dodgiest part of town to score spares at a cheaper price, they are not the scrapyard type, so that does not support that kind of market.

It is the owners that create the market and they are the one who keeps it alive, a Swift owner who find their car on bricks will probably go to the tyre place and buy new tyres, A Polo owner will shoot straight to the nearest scrapyard, that is how the illicit market thrives.

I mean, it's happening with Chinese cars as they grow in popularity, and the Chinese cars appeal to a market above that of the Swift.

Shift in hijacking targets in South Africa – with Chinese cars now in the crosshairs

Hijackers are adapting their most-wanted lists to the shift in the South African car market.

businesstech.co.za

Chinese Vehicles Becoming Hot Targets for Hijackers in SA

South Africa's carjacking landscape is shifting as Chinese vehicles, once rarely targeted by criminals, are now becoming a prime focus.

www.carmag.co.za

There is a distinct correlation between a vehicle's growth in popularity leading to an increase in hijackings and theft of that vehicle. The Swift is entering Polo/Toyota levels of popularity in the passenger car market.

 

[thestaggy]

Look at the mileage on a one year old car (admittedly it could be 20 months or so)!

View attachment 1861594
I wouldn't touch that with a barge pole.

These little cars are popular as fleet and rental cars, so mileage can be run up pretty quickly and then they are sold just before/after the service plan expires, which is usually around 2-years for a small car like that.

The Celerio specifically comes with a 2-year/30 000km service plan.

EDIT: Dealerships themselves use these smaller cars as pool cars, dropping off/picking up customers who have their cars in for a service, doing admin runs (collecting licensing papers), etc.

 

[repitah]

Well I was looking at those A class Mercs as you can find decent ones for very cheap. Cash, you will struggle to get them financed. But a mechanic said stay away. Starter problem, remove engine and gearbox, alternator problem, remove engine and gearbox to fix.
There is a reason you can get them so cheap, very expensive to fix anything. Same with older BMW's, you can get them cheap too.

Fair enough.
I got a problem child from WBC that was really neglected for <R28k. Changed plugs and HT leads and ran an engine flush then worked through the laundry list of bulbs, wipers and drop-link (completely missing), got it through CoR 2 weeks later.

After replacing the wishbones the door started machine gunning: common problem. There's a Saffer that has a youtube tutorial to fix a W164 which shares the same lock parts. The boot lock is also a common issue, but a screwdriver and flashlight to find the red tab and it'll open and they're cheap on AliExpress.

Ok, the W169 and W245 are not pleasant for what is considered easy jobs on other cars. Starters aren't common, but while you're there you might as well do a clutch, replace the idlers on the accessories belt and do the chain (long oil changes kill chains, doesn't matter the brand; new BMW diesels with very high intervals are a danger for this out of warranty). Yes, an absolute cow because you take the entire engine out (think porches) to get to anything that isn't a regular maintenance job.

I was so impressed with the first W169, I bought a auction A200 auto high spec for R14k as a project car to replace my dad's LR3 (big, heavy and too expensive for a retiree) -- rinse and repeat the first car's issues and pulled the engine for the CVT to be redone and replaced the timing chain because that was done for, and the water pump because why not. His only complaint was it was smaller than his tank, but otherwise simple to drive and should see him through for many years. Perfect old people car because of the high seating position. Finding a bullet under the rear bench was a special moment while detailing the inside.

If you are mechanically and electronically handy and have a spare old notebook and spare HDDs (because everyone should be on SSD now), then don't be afraid of older cars.

 

[XPD]

View attachment 1861606

“The bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking”. What a legend. RIP Patrica

Wrt to the question, stay away from any Ford or French car no matter how tempting. Go for any Japanese or Korean (exception is VW UP!) car as running costs are generally low. i10/i20Picanto/Yaris/Agya/Aygo/Vitz/Celerio/Swift/Jazz/UP. . Any of these would do. Find one in decent condition and get it from a reputable dealer even if it costs more than others on the market and private sales.

It’s a student car that will be dented, scraped and dinged so don’t worry too much about body work as long as no major/material accident damage.