How long does the process of buying a car take?

S

Sly21C

Expert Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
4,632
I have just got an offer to work for another in Centurion, and I don't have a car and the company I will (hopefully) work for says (in not so many words) that I need to have my own transport. So let's say I have desided to buy a very cheap secondhand car from AA Autobay for R30 000, how long does the process of buying a car take? From registration to bank finance and everything else that i have left out.
 
xrapidx

xrapidx

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
40,362
Can be done in a day - but usually takes about 3-days.

I've never waited longer than that.
 
Fazda

Fazda

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
11,414
My fastest ever buy was the Thursday before Easter in 1988. My dad asked me to go to town and buy some hot cross buns at 2 pm...I drove past the VW garage on the way, and fell in love with the car on the floor...they gave me a very good offer on my car, and Wesbank cleared me in about 15 minutes, and I arrived home at 4:30 complete with new car AND hot cross buns!! :D

Nowadays, unfortunately the banks turn into koeksusters when you want finance, and they will make it doubly hard for you if you want to buy a cheapie on finance...they are either going to insist on a massive deposit and a short repayment, or totally ignore you.

The new Credit act also comes into play, because they are going to want to speak to your present employer and have proof of salary and rates and taxes.

Basically the only way to buy a 30 k car is to buy it for cash, I'm afraid...:(
 
J

JK8

Banned
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
14,105
It can be done very fast, I suggest you buy it cash if its 30k.

I take a while, fight for a better price, then play dealers against each other then fight for accessories etc etc:eek:
 
R

rotto

Active Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
32
If your paying cash it will be quick. I saw the car I wanted the one morning and that afternoon I drove it home, but I did pay cash.
 
Fazda

Fazda

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
11,414
rotto said:
If your paying cash it will be quick. I saw the car I wanted the one morning and that afternoon I drove it home, but I did pay cash.
Click to expand...

I think that is the crucial thing in this whole equation. The banks are going to screw you round from here to next week over a 30 k car....:(
 
J

Jabberwocky

Expert Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
3,615
traffic department is the limiting factor
car was ready, but it took 2 days for them to register it in my name
 
Pitbull

Pitbull

Verboten
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
64,308
Registration takes a few days, but the banks sort out finance pretty quick. I had the dealer come show me a car on the Thursday, Friday morning I phoned to say I want it. Friday afternoon the finance was done and I was told to come collect the car the Saturday because of the service they need to do first.

Got the car the Saturday morning and got the new license disc and what not Wednesday the following week.
 
Fazda

Fazda

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
11,414
Pitbull said:
Registration takes a few days, but the banks sort out finance pretty quick. I had the dealer come show me a car on the Thursday, Friday morning I phoned to say I want it. Friday afternoon the finance was done and I was told to come collect the car the Saturday because of the service they need to do first.

Got the car the Saturday morning and got the new license disc and what not Wednesday the following week.
Click to expand...

That is interesting, and it possibly changes depending on the area in which you live. When I was selling VW's we had that rent a queue crowd do all of our registrations for us, and provided we got the papers to them by 10 in the morning, we got papers and numberplates back before 4 that afternoon.

Personally I always take delivery on paper plates and do the registration myself, as I refuse to pay the crazy "Administration" fee charged by dealers. Having been in the game, I know that the fee is a total thumbsuck by the Dealer Principal, and has nothing to do with actual costs.
 
K

kingmonty

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
4,268
JK8 said:
It can be done very fast, I suggest you buy it cash if its 30k.

I take a while, fight for a better price, then play dealers against each other then fight for accessories etc etc:eek:
Click to expand...
You buy polos and *****i golfs... what can you possibly fight about (besides with the demons in your head)?
 
J

JK8

Banned
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
14,105
kingmonty said:
You buy polos and *****i golfs... what can you possibly fight about (besides with the demons in your head)?
Click to expand...

Regardless, sunroof and leather are options to fight for...
10 - 15 000 discount is worth it.
Im fighting VW at the moment for a Sciroco DSG for my mum... using the same skills (demons) I learnt from buying my Shiiiiti golfs and Polos...
 
S

Sly21C

Expert Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
4,632
I just saw a tazz selling for R34 K and I think I will buy it in cash :(, there goes some of my savings. But I will have it insured and fit it with a tracking device, which tracking device or company would you guys recommend?
 
Fazda

Fazda

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
11,414
Sly21C said:
I just saw a tazz selling for R34 K and I think I will buy it in cash :(, there goes some of my savings. But I will have it insured and fit it with a tracking device, which tracking device or company would you guys recommend?
Click to expand...

Clever child ;)

I had Netstar in my Polo, but when I asked them to tell me where the car was, when it was parked outside my office, and I could see it, they couldn't initially find it, then finally told me that it was somewhere between the docks and University in Durban...I worked a couple of k's from the varsity...I was not impressed.
 
xrapidx

xrapidx

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
40,362
I was with Tracker, they once phoned me to tell me my car was stolen, but they had tracked it to somewhere in Pietersburg, this was 5min after I parked my car in the garage, Pietersburg was also 1800km away. They also sent lawyers after me over a period of six months, over a paid-up account, that I was still actively paying each month.

Currently with Matrix, only costs me R111 a month. And last time I checked, they knew where my car was.
 
B

Bondizzo

Expert Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
1,336
Fazda said:
Clever child ;)

I had Netstar in my Polo, but when I asked them to tell me where the car was, when it was parked outside my office, and I could see it, they couldn't initially find it, then finally told me that it was somewhere between the docks and University in Durban...I worked a couple of k's from the varsity...I was not impressed.
Click to expand...

They all crap, netstar couldnt find a signal after 15 minutes when one of our cars was stolen 2 weeks ago. We decided to test the tracking systems on 3 of our cars the following day.

a) Car 1 was parked at work, it took 3 hours for them to find it. (netstar)

b) Car 2, my car was parked at work gave them a call and they said they couldnt pick up a signal unless my car is moving ? So I left work gave them a call and they struggeled to find my car but they were a suburb or two away. The guy told me they use towers to do the tracking so if you not close to any of their towers they wont pick up your car. (netstar)

c) Car 3 was parked at home and they said the car was moving somehwere in Polokwane while my Dad was standing right next to it, they failed to find the exact location. (skytrack)

A tracking device is hardly worth it I've come to realise, get yourself an immobilezer, internal gearlock, and if you extra paranoid a steering lock. Just be cautious of where you park, without a gearlock your car can be gone within 10 minutes even though you have an immobilser and a tracking system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top