Car advice

[hj2k_x]

This is gonna be a long one, so bear with me

I have a 2005 VW Velociti which is about to be paid off at the bank (R8000 odd owing). I was going to wait till then, save some cash and then trade it in for something worth around R60k or so. But now, it seems I am probably gonna have to sell it sooner. So I have quite a few questions in this regard:

These are the full specs:
VW Velociti 1.4i
2005 model
65k on the clock
original condition
new front tyres
serviced at 15k, 30k, 45k and 60k

1) What would I be looking at selling it for? Autotrader seems to suggest around the 60k mark?

2) Would I be better off selling it privately? Like how much is a dealership gonna rip me off in a trade-in situation? I'd prefer not to have the hassle of a private sale, nor the risk that is attached to it.

3) Assuming I were to sell it tomorrow, with the R8k still owing, what would I be able to get in this economic climate with the cash left over? ( don't want any finance or anything) These are the requirements:

Aircon
4 doors
Central locking, alarm, power steering
Good fuel economy but a decent engine ( I don't want to battle up hills with the aircon on)
Cheap servicing/parts
Must be reliable (not like anyone would say this is not a requirement, but still )
Low insurance premiums (no nothing like another Citi/Polo which is a target for theft)
Obviously as low mileage as possible...

If you have read this far, I thank you and look forward to any feedback/comments

Thanks

H

 

[quik]

Why sell it to begin with? The cheapest car you'll ever own is the one you're driving

Or if you really want to sell your car, maybe do some research first and find out what cars are available in your price range.

 

[hj2k_x]

Why sell it to begin with? The cheapest car you'll ever own is the one you're driving

Or if you really want to sell your car, maybe do some research first and find out what cars are available in your price range.

Reasons for selling
1) NO AIRCON
2) Massive insurance premium
3) Risk of theft
4) Not very fuel efficient for a small car
5) No safety features at all.

Just browsing through the Autotrader, there are already a few cars catching my fancy...

 

[ben dover]

Go for the Toyota Yaris, been driving mine for 4 years, happy as ever, economic as ever and safe as a house.
The Middle of the range "T3+" has all the bells & whistles as well...
Second hand ones come in at about R90k.
Worth a look.

 

[hj2k_x]

Go for the Toyota Yaris, been driving mine for 4 years, happy as ever, economic as ever and safe as a house.
The Middle of the range "T3+" has all the bells & whistles as well...
Second hand ones come in at about R90k.
Worth a look.

My friend has one, albeit the smallest of the range, and it struggles up hills with the aircon on

Also, R90k is not really gonna be in my price range.

I want to straight trade the Velo for something 2nd hand.

 

[ben dover]

Forgot about your questions:

1: Try with a piece of paper in the window first and see what offers you get...Then the next best bet is judging it according to AutoTrader. If you sell it privately and not on Autotrader, add about 5%.
2: Private is always better, make sure you do things properly though.
3: Honestly i drive Toyota and anyone that knows anything about Cars will tell you toyota is the best out there.
I have seen the new Ford Fiesta's and they aren't half bad, pretty good price...

Car manufacturers are suffering the most in the current situation so they'll pretty much suit your needs if you'll buy their car.

Try your luck with second hand dealers, Ford, Toyota, any of the small car manufacturers will be your best bet.

And run as far away as possible from VW!

 

[ben dover]

My friend has one, albeit the smallest of the range, and it struggles up hills with the aircon on

Also, R90k is not really gonna be in my price range.

I want to straight trade the Velo for something 2nd hand.

True, but how badly do you want to get uphill that fast? And how many mountains do you drive over that often?
It does struggle a bit but it's really not that noticeable.

I'm sure you can get better deals than 90k, was just a rough number.

In that case AutoTrader would be your best bet, with a small Fiesta or something in that range...

 

[hj2k_x]

Forgot about your questions:

1: Try with a piece of paper in the window first and see what offers you get...Then the next best bet is judging it according to AutoTrader. If you sell it privately and not on Autotrader, add about 5%.
2: Private is always better, make sure you do things properly though.
3: Honestly i drive Toyota and anyone that knows anything about Cars will tell you toyota is the best out there.
I have seen the new Ford Fiesta's and they aren't half bad, pretty good price...

Car manufacturers are suffering the most in the current situation so they'll pretty much suit your needs if you'll buy their car.

Try your luck with second hand dealers, Ford, Toyota, any of the small car manufacturers will be your best bet.

And run as far away as possible from VW!

Thanks for the feedback

How much do you reckon I would lose out if I go through a dealer and not private? To be honest, I am not up for more mission in that regard and the risk of someone not paying or getting hijacked and murdered while out on a test drive

 

[hj2k_x]

True, but how badly do you want to get uphill that fast? And how many mountains do you drive over that often?
It does struggle a bit but it's really not that noticeable.

I'm sure you can get better deals than 90k, was just a rough number.

In that case AutoTrader would be your best bet, with a small Fiesta or something in that range...

Hehe, I go over hills quite a lot here in CT - which is one reason why my fuiel economy is not so great. I don't wanna win any races, but I don't want to have to switch the aircon off on a hill

How old a car do you think is a viable one to buy nowadays? I have been limiting my searches to 2000 and newer...

 

[quik]

Go for the Toyota Yaris, been driving mine for 4 years, happy as ever, economic as ever and safe as a house.
The Middle of the range "T3+" has all the bells & whistles as well...
Second hand ones come in at about R90k.
Worth a look.

Seriously? I drove the Yaris way back when and the plasticy feel of the car really put me off.

3: Honestly i drive Toyota and anyone that knows anything about Cars will tell you toyota is the best out there.

Biased much You base this assumption on what?

And run as far away as possible from VW!

What's wrong with VW, I have a polo and a Golf 5 and they are the best cars I've ever owned. I still think in the small car category the polo is the best buy. Just sit in a polo versus a yaris and immediately you notice the difference in build quality, there's just no comparing.

hj2k_x... If you look at a 2004/5 polo TDI, you can pick one up between R50-R70k, services are cheap and the milleage is unbelievable. You won't have hassles with the aircon or inclines either... they have plenty of torque

 

[hj2k_x]

hj2k_x... If you look at a 2004/5 polo TDI, you can pick one up between R50-R70k, services are cheap and the milleage is unbelievable. You won't have hassles with the aircon or inclines either... they have plenty of torque

Are Polos not just behind Citis in terms of being stolen a lot?

 

[news24]

Go for the Toyota Yaris, been driving mine for 4 years, happy as ever, economic as ever and safe as a house.
The Middle of the range "T3+" has all the bells & whistles as well...
Second hand ones come in at about R90k.
Worth a look.

my bad, I almost puked, I'm allergic to bull$hit. If your yaris is as safe as that, why not put it up against an 18 wheeler?

 

[hj2k_x]

my bad, I almost puked, I'm allergic to bull$hit. If your yaris is as safe as that, why not put it up against an 18 wheeler?

I just don't think it would be in my price range, anyway.

 

[UtterNutter]

If you want hills to "disappear" then get a small turbodiesel car like a Polo 1.9TDi or a Fiesta 1.6 TDCi.

I personally would look at Polo, Fiesta, Corolla, Mazda 3, Getz. I've driven all as rentals and am quite impressed by what they offer all round for a small "cheap" car. Can't comment on reliability of the Fiesta, but the others I've mentioned are as reliable as the sun.

 

[hj2k_x]

If you want hills to "disappear" then get a small turbodiesel car like a Polo 1.9TDi or a Fiesta 1.6 TDCi.

I personally would look at Polo, Fiesta, Corolla, Mazda 3, Getz. I've driven all as rentals and am quite impressed by what they offer all round for a small "cheap" car. Can't comment on reliability of the Fiesta, but the others I've mentioned are as reliable as the sun.

Cool. I did not mean to make quite such a fuss about the hills. Just want a decently powered car that can handle its aircon properly, ya know?

Those all look like good suggestions. What age would you say? 2000 and newer? I have seen some Nissan Sentras around for around my budget. They seem decent...

 

[supersunbird]

Ford Ikons should fall in the price range you are looking at (R50 000 to R60 000...

4 doors (check)
Central locking, alarm, power steering (Locking and alarm can be added for R2500, has P/S)
Good fuel economy but a decent engine ( I don't want to battle up hills with the aircon on) (strong rocam engine like bantam bakkies use and I get 6.6l/100km or 15km/l on my 1.3i)
Cheap servicing/parts (average pricing and good part availability since there are so many bantams around)
Must be reliable (not like anyone would say this is not a requirement, but still ) (good solid engine)
Low insurance premiums (no nothing like another Citi/Polo which is a target for theft) (R400pm and I don't think it is a hit with crims)
Obviously as low mileage as possible...

 

[hj2k_x]

Ford Ikons should fall in the price range you are looking at (R50 000 to R60 000...

4 doors (check)
Central locking, alarm, power steering (Locking and alarm can be added for R2500, has P/S)
Good fuel economy but a decent engine ( I don't want to battle up hills with the aircon on) (strong rocam engine like bantam bakkies use and I get 6.6l/100km or 15km/l on my 1.3i)
Cheap servicing/parts (average pricing and good part availability since there are so many bantams around)
Must be reliable (not like anyone would say this is not a requirement, but still ) (good solid engine)
Low insurance premiums (no nothing like another Citi/Polo which is a target for theft) (R400pm and I don't think it is a hit with crims)
Obviously as low mileage as possible...

Thanks, I'll give them a look as well. I remember them not being the prettiest cars, but then again that was not one of my requirements

 

[4cer]

True, but how badly do you want to get uphill that fast? And how many mountains do you drive over that often?
It does struggle a bit but it's really not that noticeable.

I'm sure you can get better deals than 90k, was just a rough number.

In that case AutoTrader would be your best bet, with a small Fiesta or something in that range...

my friends yaris with the aircon on with two people in it can only get up a hill in third, if its got 5 people its foot flat in second !! so i think you'll notice

ya go for a TDi if you want torque. and you don't seem to know that much about cars so you won't care that its a diesel

 

[hj2k_x]

my friends yaris with the aircon on with two people in it can only get up a hill in third, if its got 5 people its foot flat in second !! so i think you'll notice

ya go for a TDi if you want torque. and you don't seem to know that much about cars so you won't care that its a diesel

Haha, if you mean I don't know much about cars then that is not really true

My main concern about diesels is that they generally cost more and still sound to me like tractors.

 

[Alan]

Aircon
4 doors
Central locking, alarm, power steering
Good fuel economy but a decent engine ( I don't want to battle up hills with the aircon on)
Cheap servicing/parts
Must be reliable (not like anyone would say this is not a requirement, but still )
Low insurance premiums (no nothing like another Citi/Polo which is a target for theft)
Obviously as low mileage as possible...

If you have read this far, I thank you and look forward to any feedback/comments

Thanks

H

Renault Clio perhaps. I personally hate the thing but my mom and friends own them and they swear by it. 1.2 is surprisingly zippy up hills