Can't decide what car to get

[Gaz{M}]

What generally terrible advice from most people here.

1) DO NOT even THINK about buying a new car - there is no benefit.
2) Consider a factory demo < 15 000kms 2007/8 model.
3) Don't waste money on expensive or fancy cars.
4) No one is impressed by your car. No one. Not even ugly women. No one.
5) Get something with a good resale value.
6) If you can, buy japanese.
7) Do not buy older BM's, Audis,Mercs,Volvos etc. They break. They cost a %%% load to repair.
8) Get a car with 2+ years service/maintenance plan remaining.
9) Do not buy a black or dark car - the get so dirty and covered in scratches.

My choice would be: Polo 1.6 or 2.0 or tdi. Get mags, body kit, leather, decent sound system and you'll look sharp! Use the R30k you save for a rainy day.

 

[JK8]

What generally terrible advice from most people here.

1) DO NOT even THINK about buying a new car - there is no benefit.
2) Consider a factory demo < 15 000kms 2007/8 model.
3) Don't waste money on expensive or fancy cars.
4) No one is impressed by your car. No one. Not even ugly women. No one.
5) Get something with a good resale value.
6) If you can, buy japanese.
7) Do not buy older BM's, Audis,Mercs,Volvos etc. They break. They cost a %%% load to repair.
8) Get a car with 2+ years service/maintenance plan remaining.
9) Do not buy a black or dark car - the get so dirty and covered in scratches.

My choice would be: Polo 1.6 or 2.0 or tdi. Get mags, body kit, leather, decent sound system and you'll look sharp! Use the R30k you save for a rainy day.

1) I bought brand new, theres alot of benefits, no worries, drive it as hard as you want.
2) Demos tend to have other peoples problems, and stains, get a fresh one with plastic on the seat and little spikes on your tyres!
3) Buy fancy, you only live once and I promise you, you will feel some regret for not getting what you want.
4) Alot of people will be. But more important you should be and not care what others think.
5) Good comment.
6) Toyota should be the only Jap brand on your list.
7) All cars break, some more than others, German cars tend to be better quality, their previous owners however tend to be more wild.
8) Get a maintanence plan and service plan, daddys paying
9) Buy black, it looks hot, its sexier, you will have to wash it more often, you do get more visible scratches and you pay more on insurance, .... but its worth it. I prefer white though.

Rimz, sound, drop and a free flow... Durban standard!

 

[Serqet]

I opted for a black car and in hindsight i wouldn't buy black again. It was my first black car so i was magnetised more by the appeal of a black machine than anything else. Now i can't keep it clean and any little scratch shows up terribly. Will definitely make a better choice next time around.

 

[Rouxenator]

A mate of mine just got himself a 2006 VW Passat 2.0 FSI, it has 55000.00kms mileage for a measly R149000. Don't limit yourself to Golfs and Polos.....

Don't limit yourself to VWs. Seriously - you can do better.

 

[BCO]

. Someone metioned Fiat PANDA(WTF? OPINION : dont waste your time with FIAT dude ) .

I mentioned the Panda. What exactly is wrong with the 100hp?

I have a Panda 4x4 that works damn hard offroad and has not given me a single problem barring one flat battery.

 

[Rouxenator]

Panda is pretty good. FAIT in SA sucks. But Pands is one solid car.

 

[BCO]

Panda is pretty good. FAIT in SA sucks. But Pands is one solid car.

Yeah, but there's no guessing what "GolfBOOI" would rather drive. Personally, I reckon a Panda 100hp with 19000km on the clock for R99k is a damn good deal and much much much much much much better than a new Citi for the same price (or more).

 

[GolFBOOi]

Yeah, but there's no guessing what "GolfBOOI" would rather drive. Personally, I reckon a Panda 100hp with 19000km on the clock for R99k is a damn good deal and much much much much much much better than a new Citi for the same price (or more).

Agreed , much better value fo money than a new Citi and not a bad buy (Im no h8er). But like someone sed earlier , FIAT in SA SUX , absolutely Noooooooooooo resale value and availablity of parts is questionable. (might have to be imported so you wait longer)

But hey dude , Afzal , end of the day different strokes for different folks. There are lotsa things you have to consider when buying your new car.
Maybe :

Take a few days and do some test driving. Look at running costs , compare prices of brake pads and other items that woudl require regular changing.

Test new and used cars (maybe two to three years old with remainder of plan) in your price range.

DONT go for an old exclusive type car (performance cars in price range) that might have tons of street cred but wil cost you big time in terms of maintenance and repairs.

and oh yeah , DONT GET A FIAT ............... just kidding. Its all up to u mate. You dont wanna buy something and then regret it.

 

[Rouxenator]

Definately. Plus, the Panda was European car of the year 2004.

So far the mighty VW only managed 1 car of the year and that was way back when in 1992. FIAT has managed 8 so far! That right EIGHT Euro COTY awards, Ford has 5, Opel has 3 and Toyota 2. So there are your list of what to get instead of VW

 

[afzal786zn]

I was also wondering is there is any car changing its shape real soon because I gotta becareful not to buy one that is just changing. I know some one who bought there car in June and went to pick it up in July as he went for holiday and when he went to pick it ip next to it was the new model. His was already old. I know the polo is changing their shape in April 2010

 

[thatdamnJoe]

You forgot the part about the R1.1m house in Stellenbosch on which I still only need to repay half of it...

Perhaps that is the kind of person you should ask for advise in these economic times, no matter what colour you are or where you come from.

R1.1m in stellies? Thats like a bachelors flat right?

 

[Rouxenator]

R1.1m in stellies? Thats like a bachelors flat right?

On Campus, you'd be lucky if you get a bachelors flat for that price they go for much more these days

Luckily I stay far away from students Its a small house in a security complex, no houses in front of me so I have a pretty sweet view.

 

[Pyro]

I was also wondering is there is any car changing its shape real soon because I gotta becareful not to buy one that is just changing. I know some one who bought there car in June and went to pick it up in July as he went for holiday and when he went to pick it ip next to it was the new model. His was already old. I know the polo is changing their shape in April 2010

Jeez, that's a bit about as vague as a shotgun blast. There's plenty of cars that will be changing soon, and plenty that have just changed. You also get slight revisions every year on many models.

First make a list of cars that you'd want, then start weeding out the options.

 

[thatdamnJoe]

There's something t be said for buying older BMW/Audi/merc's.

Lets say you buy new(er) car A for R100k or much older car B(merc/Audi/BMw for R70k.

Obviously car B must have proven itself in terms of its engine lasting for a long time. The internet is your friend here, but for example, BMW 3 series e46 engines are known to run up to 400 000/ 500 000 kms regularly.

Car A is a guaranteed R100k spent. Car B may break down, but you've got R30k in the pocket to fix it up. Thats R100k definitely spent vs R70k definite and some more possible. Time for a risk reward exercise. If you're a woman driving past dodgy areas and cant afford to break down at all, the risk is higher. If you often drive far out from any breakdown services, obviously the risk of a breakdown is larger etc. You make the call.

I've bought older 'performance' cars without any hassles before and havent had any problems (yet). But if I do, I've got R50/60k just chilling for that rainy day.


WRT smaller marques like Fiat panda etc. The credit crunch is hitting the motor industry hard. Dont be surprised if a lot of the smaller brands go the same route as SEAT and skip the country in the next year.