Car Advice (+- R150k)

[FiestaST]

I just picked up a Golf 6 1.4 TSi for about 10k more than your budget, with under 90,000km on the clock for around that price. Very nifty little car with loads of torque and 7 airbags. Maybe have a look in the VAG direction? An auto will cost you a bit more though.

Smart choice; well made quality engineering...like a G6

 

[Rouxenator]

If you want to buy new then the i10 is a rock solid option, you might also try and get a good deal on some of the last Ford Ikons, they are going for a song.

Used the only good value for money is the Suzuki Swift or Corsa D.
R137k gets you a Swift with less than 20,000km on the clock, solid Japanese hatch with good looks :

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...llville-fpa-8a8184424b2c7423014b35bb758449c0/

For a couple grand more you can drive a proper German hatch with a little over 20,000km on the clock, R140k gets you a Corsa Essentia :

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...llville-fpa-8a81844a49ae858c014a146007dc4ca2/

 

[PostmanPot]

Baffling how people pay that kind of money for the above. The industry really is built on ignorance and the fear 'high mileage', keeps people buying new cars with maintenance plans!

 

[Rouxenator]

High mileage cars are usually bought by those who cannot afford to compensate, yet have to.

 

[PostmanPot]

High mileage cars are usually bought by those who cannot afford to compensate, yet have to.

The problem is the varying interpretation of what high mileage is, as well as the most significant underlying problem, which is ignorance/non education about cars.

Your example is true for poor people who need to look at something with say, over 200,000km and therefore severely depreciated, in order for their car to be within their budgetary means.

±100,000km is not high mileage, yet is incorrectly believed by most people to be high mileage. They therefore want to spend R130,000 on a cheap entry level car with less comfort, safety and performance. This is the basis of many of these exact threads. Wanting low mileage and service plan in order to alleviate fears based on said ignorance and non education about cars.

Clever people know that this is nonsense, and therefore have no problem buying mid mileage cars around the 100,000km mark, scoring big time.

The irony of it all is that you've own/ed plenty of high mileage cars, and buy them too. Yet advise people completely differently. You cannot be taken seriously at all. We all know this, I'm just mentioning it for the sake of the non regulars.

 

[Rouxenator]

I agree with you on the maintenance plan loop, it is rather silly getting a new car just to keep your service costs down when the service cost on a new car should be relatively low anyway as everything is new. If you take into account the interest you pay and the depreciation you will face then more often that not you are not actually saving by getting a new car purely for it's service plan.

Also I do agree that high mileage is relative, so you want to try and keep it as low as possible. You therefore start off with what your motoring needs are and select something that satisfy it and that you can afford. Thus, if your budget is R150k and you can make do with an i10 by all means buy it, if you need something a little bigger why not a nearly new Swift or Corsa? If you really do need a large family car to get you from A to B then you will have to make peace with something that is beyond 100,000km.

The problem with larger and more luxurious cars are they costs of parts. They are not built using bits from the budget parts bin so if something does break you are going to pay more to fix it. Now if you buy such a car with a mileage that is already relatively higher than other options the chances of a repair is statistically higher.

 

[PostmanPot]

I agree with you on the maintenance plan loop, it is rather silly getting a new car just to keep your service costs down when the service cost on a new car should be relatively low anyway as everything is new. If you take into account the interest you pay and the depreciation you will face then more often that not you are not actually saving by getting a new car purely for it's service plan.

Also I do agree that high mileage is relative, so you want to try and keep it as low as possible. You therefore start off with what your motoring needs are and select something that satisfy it and that you can afford. Thus, if your budget is R150k and you can make do with an i10 by all means buy it, if you need something a little bigger why not a nearly new Swift or Corsa? If you really do need a large family car to get you from A to B then you will have to make peace with something that is beyond 100,000km.

The problem with larger and more luxurious cars are they costs of parts. They are not built using bits from the budget parts bin so if something does break you are going to pay more to fix it. Now if you buy such a car with a mileage that is already relatively higher than other options the chances of a repair is statistically higher.

Agreed, 100,000km is indeed a low mileage.

Yes servicing and parts will be slightly more expensive, but you cannot put a price on safety, comfort and performance. Polo, Golf, Jetta, A3, A4 - all on par when it comes to servicing/parts, for example.

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Polo Vivo Blueline brand new for that Price.
No CONTEST.
Light on fuel
Good resale Value

This is a joke right?

R150k for a citi golf in a new body with wind up windows, no radio, no alarm, no service or maintenance plan and no power.

 

[Hamster]

Think I would consider a 2nd hand Corolla over a brand new Polo Vivo :wtf:

 

[FlashSA]

I'd buy the Figo. I am a warranty person and it's 4yr can be extended by 2 extra years for under R8k

 

[Rouxenator]

Agreed, 100,000km is indeed a low mileage.

Relatively, yes. In a Cherry QQ it is pretty high but there are some cars that are still a good deal with roundabout 100,000km done.

Yes servicing and parts will be slightly more expensive, but you cannot put a price on safety, comfort and performance. Polo, Golf, Jetta, A3, A4 - all on par when it comes to servicing/parts, for example.

Servicing to a point yes and some parts however other parts will be helluva lot more as well as the labour involved to replace them.

 

[PostmanPot]

Relatively, yes. In a Cherry QQ it is pretty high but there are some cars that are still a good deal with roundabout 100,000km done.

Agreed, in any respectable car, 100,000km is nothing.

Servicing to a point yes and some parts however other parts will be helluva lot more as well as the labour involved to replace them.

But one mostly avoids the need for 'some parts' by doing their homework. Buying a reputable brand, model, service history, etc.

Another reason for the 'expensive parts' myth is because people are using stealership pricing, not independent mechanics who are half the price and may even specialise in the brand, therefore give better service.

 

[PostmanPot]

As an example, look at what one can get here for R109,000 with 100,000km on the clock.

The late 2008/2009 facelift model with LED dots/strip lighting is within the OP's budget, but I would advise pre facelift like this one for value as it's 95% the same car.

When you consider this, as well as how 'higher mileage and premium brand' is misunderstood by most people, it's clear as daylight how it is sheer madness going for a newer entry level car.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-bakkies/city-centre/one-lady-owner-fsh/1001274057570910035051209

*edit*

Note that it's the two-door Coupe, not the four-door Sportback.

 

[Rouxenator]

If you are going the impractical 3-door route you might as well do it with class. C-class that is : http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...goodwood-fpa-8a8184464bc1f537014bdedbbf0b74fb

*does not come with neckwear dangling from the rear view mirror

 

[PostmanPot]

If you are going the impractical 3-door route you might as well do it with class. C-class that is : http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...goodwood-fpa-8a8184464bc1f537014bdedbbf0b74fb

*does not come with neckwear dangling from the rear view mirror

Precisely. Although a more mature car, and I don't know about them.

What I do know is that VW/Audi 4 cylinder engines are reliable, especially the 2.0 N/A.

Sportbacks are around the same price.

 

[FiestaST]

As an example, look at what one can get here for R109,000 with 100,000km on the clock.

The late 2008/2009 facelift model with LED dots/strip lighting is within the OP's budget, but I would advise pre facelift like this one for value as it's 95% the same car.

When you consider this, as well as how 'higher mileage and premium brand' is misunderstood by most people, it's clear as daylight how it is sheer madness going for a newer entry level car.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-bakkies/city-centre/one-lady-owner-fsh/1001274057570910035051209

*edit*

Note that it's the two-door Coupe, not the four-door Sportback.

If you are going the impractical 3-door route you might as well do it with class. C-class that is : http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...goodwood-fpa-8a8184464bc1f537014bdedbbf0b74fb
View attachment 212858
*does not come with neckwear dangling from the rear view mirror

Precisely. Although a more mature car, and I don't know about them.

What I do know is that VW/Audi 4 cylinder engines are reliable, especially the 2.0 N/A.

Sportbacks are around the same price.

Out of the both premium options provided that f/lift A3 is a winner. Not all the f/lift models are this cheap imo.

That C-Class Coupe "older" shape & very likely maintenance will be more.

 

[Rouxenator]

That C-Class Coupe "older" shape & very likely maintenance will be more.

Only issue I am aware of on those cars are the timing chain - I some cases they don't last forever.

However a three door premium option should be last on your list, the i10 mentioned earlier is a great buy as are some of the B-segment cars. If you really need the impracticality of a 3-door perhaps look at a GTC.

 

[PostmanPot]

Only issue I am aware of on those cars are the timing chain - I some cases they don't last forever.

However a three door premium option should be last on your list, the i10 mentioned earlier is a great buy as are some of the B-segment cars. If you really need the impracticality of a 3-door perhaps look at a GTC.

It was a quick example I pulled off Gumtree for an A3, the logical suggestion based on the OP. In my post I specifically mentioned that it is not the Sportback. The Sportback is about the same price though.

This isn't about two-door / four-door, it is about why and how one should be sensible with their money.

 

[adinfinitum]

Your suggestions re the price of higher end mid range mileage cars vs new lower end cars with a service plan is myopic. Did you ever take into account the cost of ownership of such cars?

Please have a look at the Kinsey reports before deciding to do this: http://www.kinseyreports.co.za/

For a specific comparison on the 2014 report for like to like parts total cost:

Hyundai I20 : 64,022.69
Mercedes C200 : 157,453.14

 

[UsernameLadiesMan217]

Your suggestions re the price of higher end mid range mileage cars vs new lower end cars with a service plan is myopic. Did you ever take into account the cost of ownership of such cars?

Please have a look at the Kinsey reports before deciding to do this: http://www.kinseyreports.co.za/

For a specific comparison on the 2014 report for like to like parts total cost:

Hyundai I20 : 64,022.69
Mercedes C200 : 157,453.14

Can you elaborate on this?