Advice picking a new car

[Y'all Qaeda]

I am, but like I said I don't know much about cars...

So what are the main things that I'll need to be replacing?

Brakes - once a year? depending how I drive?
Wipers - Once a year?
Shocks - Once in 3 years? 5 years?
Bulbs - 2 / 3 years?

ok and that's what I can think of...

When they fail.. And they are cheap, unless you go for more expensive aftermarket stuff like nightbreakers or somesuch. These you don't buy at dealerships anyway..

 

[MikyMouse]

Depending on how you drive - your brakes should last +/-50 000km - these you don't but at the stealerships anyway, you get them at midas and replace them at HiQ +/-R800.
Shocks last 75 000km - or 5 years.
Wipers - replace when needed +/-R200 at midas, they'll help you out with model and all that.
Clutch - unless you drive like an orangutan, no ways the clutch will fail in the first 3-4years.

Anything else? What about the pricey things like cam belt? or are these all only after 100 000km?

and cost wise based going to a stealership? R500pm (R6k per year)?

 

[Vegeta]

Depending on how you drive - your brakes should last +/-50 000km - these you don't but at the stealerships anyway, you get them at midas and replace them at HiQ +/-R800.
Shocks last 75 000km - or 5 years.
Wipers - replace when needed +/-R200 at midas, they'll help you out with model and all that.
Clutch - unless you drive like an orangutan, no ways the clutch will fail in the first 3-4years.

Okay so all the vehicles i've owned some over 10years old. Never replaced a clutch. I do more than 50k on brakes more like 70k

Shocks about 80-90k

Wipers I do every winter just in case... being able to see where you're going is optional is South Africa but it helps.

Bulbs cost R5-20 depending on the type you can change a lightbulb in your house a car is no different, these can last years haven't changed mine in 4years.

I have to add that I do drive like a civilized person but when i'm in a rush I like a little pull. I don't have many stop streets on my commute more highway so have less wear.

 

[MikyMouse]

Okay so all the vehicles i've owned some over 10years old. Never replaced a clutch. I do more than 50k on brakes more like 70k

Shocks about 80-90k

Wipers I do every winter just in case... being able to see where you're going is optional is South Africa but it helps.

Bulbs cost R5-20 depending on the type you can change a lightbulb in your house, these can last years haven't changed mine in 4years.

I have to add that I do drive like a civilized person but when i'm in a rush I like a little pull.

I presume you don't service at dealers?

 

[Vegeta]

I presume you don't service at dealers?

No but when i'm lazy I do. Nothing wrong with a cheap R1000 service at the dealer. I'm just not going to let them change my wiperblades for R500 it makes no sense.

Would you let them tie your shoelaces for R1000?

 

[Y'all Qaeda]

Anything else? What about the pricey things like cam belt? or are these all only after 100 000km?

and cost wise based going to a stealership? R500pm (R6k per year)?

Cambelt/Timing belt gets done either at 90 000 or 120 000km service.

Not sure what you mean with cost wise, going to a dealership?

 

[Y'all Qaeda]

I presume you don't service at dealers?

Most people I know don't service at the dealers once their warranty is up - you have to service there to keep your warranty though. But things like shocks/brakes etc. can be done at other places.

 

[Vegeta]

Cambelt/Timing belt gets done either at 90 000 or 120 000km service.

That little Mazda has a chain. My old one also it's done 250 000 without any maintenance needed to the chain or tensioners. They just check it and say it's fine.

 

[MikyMouse]

No but when i'm lazy I do. Nothing wrong with a cheap R1000 service at the dealer. I'm just not going to let them change my wiperblades for R500 it makes no sense.

Would you let them tie your shoelaces for R1000?

I guess wipers and possibly bulbs are easy enough, as for the rest I'd go to a dealer

 

[MikyMouse]

Not sure what you mean with cost wise, going to a dealership?

Sorry I see now that I didn't explain enough. As for a yearly car servicing budget on a VW up for example at a dealership what am I looking at?

Most people I know don't service at the dealers once their warranty is up - you have to service there to keep your warranty though. But things like shocks/brakes etc. can be done at other places.

Good to know

 

[MikyMouse]

Cambelt/Timing belt gets done either at 90 000 or 120 000km service.

so the standard service plan should cover this?

 

[MikyMouse]

what else is there to consider? Battery?

And in terms of oil, filters, spark plugs is this all covered by the std service plan?

 

[Vegeta]

I would say the only possible thing that you'll maintain in the next 3-4 years would be brakes & maybe shocks but that you do at one of the big Shocks joints. HiQ etc. Everyone does that.

 

[MikyMouse]

I would say the only possible thing that you'll maintain in the next 3-4 years would be brakes & maybe shocks but that you do at one of the big Shocks joints. HiQ etc. Everyone does that.

I presume that wouldn't affect the warranty?

 

[Vegeta]

what else is there to consider? Battery?

And in terms of oil, filters, spark plugs is this all covered by the std service plan?

All routine service items are covered by service plan. Battery shouldn't die in that period. Have had 10year old cars with original batteries but lets say 5years.

 

[shooter69]

You shouldn't have to replace that within 3 years if you do normal kms per year only after. And that's why I say it's free money for the salesman. As for wipers that's some expensive wipers then.

If any of those things go wrong you are statistically just purely unlucky it's like falling in a storm drain, it could happen but you don't pay someone just in case.

In all fairness, I know people that had to do brakes and clutches in the first 15k km. One of those vehicles was a brand new Kia rio(clutch). The other a Suzuki swift(brakes). These things are not supposed to happen on new cars......but sometimes they do. I think this is what the OP is scared of and I think it is valid.

Maintenance plans should be seen as insurance. It is not for "when" but "what if"!

 

[Vegeta]

I presume that wouldn't affect the warranty?

No same with Tyres, do that at a Tyre joint. Tiger Wheel, Supa Quick etc.

 

[MikyMouse]

In all fairness, I know people that had to do brakes and clutches in the first 15k km. One of those vehicles was a brand new Kia rio(clutch). The other a Suzuki swift(breaks). These things are not supposed to happen on new cars......but sometimes they do. I think this is what the OP is scared of and I think it is valid.

Maintenance plans should be seen as insurance. It is not for "when" but "what if"!

Would the warranty not cover the clutch?

 

[Vegeta]

In all fairness, I know people that had to do brakes and clutches in the first 15k km. One of those vehicles was a brand new Kia rio(clutch). The other a Suzuki swift(breaks). These things are not supposed to happen on new cars......but sometimes they do. I think this is what the OP is scared of and I think it is valid.

No I completely understand. Geez 15k No ways would I accept that they'll have to repair it under warranty or have me make lots of noise and never return their courtesy vehicle until they fix it. It's unlikely but it can happen it's like buying a new Apple Iphone and it's dead on arrival, it happens I know. But I wouldn't be so scared that I part with my money before hand chances are better that it doesn't happen.

 

[MikyMouse]

No I completely understand. Geez 15k No ways would I accept that they'll have to repair it under warranty or have me make lots of noise and never return their courtesy vehicle until they fix it. It's unlikely but it can happen it's like buying a new Apple Iphone and it's dead on arrival, it happens I know.

The real question is, is the R20K initially worth the 5yr peace of mind....

TBH I'm 50/50