Saving for a car

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ngoni615

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So here goes, i have started saving for my first car. I have several cars in mind and i know they are going to be very expensive but i figured i would try and save for a car that i really want in my heart, second hand of course 2010+ model. The cars i had in mind are Chevrolet cruze (i love this car and this one is priority 1), ford figo (hatch back), audi a4, kia picanto, kia rio Hyundai i20. My budget, that is, the amount i am hoping to save will be around 60 - 80k. I have several questions for you guys and i hope you can help me.

1. In terms of maintenance, which one would be more affordable?
2. Those that own any of these cars, how do they drive, fuel consumption etc?
3.What are some of the money savings tips and techniques you used?I would prefer not using finance.
4. What is the best place to go around checking for affordable second hand cars?
5. How did you stay motivated when you were saving for the car?
6. What kind of mileage is considered good for a second hand car?

I would appreciate any other tips.
 
This is just my opinion - I am not an expert, so please take my advice with a pinch of salt ....

1. In terms of maintenance, which one would be more affordable?
Maintenance should be the odd oil change, and tyres so much of a muchness - assuming nothing big happens.
2. Those that own any of these cars, how do they drive, fuel consumption etc?
Dunno, only had two - I20 1400 - was about 6l /100Km in Durban around town, Kio Rio S 1600 did around 30 miles /gallon in Orlando, mainly interstate
3.What are some of the money savings tips and techniques you used?I would prefer not using finance.
Eish, easier to finance first car, and good for credit rating
4. What is the best place to go around checking for affordable second hand cars?
dealers
5. How did you stay motivated when you were saving for the car?
Knew the car would hook me a girlfriend and a second class drive better than a first class walk ..... realistically, was doing national service and couldnt spend the cash, so saving was easy
6. What kind of mileage is considered good for a second hand car?
Depends on year, model, engine size area. Me, if I was buying a demo, 15 000Kms max, 5 year old 150 000 Kms max .. but depends. Mileage is important, buy with your head not your heart ....

Make sure the panels line up, look for gaps that arent straight, look for rust spots, listen for knocks and growls, look inside the engine for residue of leaks, check for oils spots under the car, check tyres for uneven wear, remember electronics can fail at any time so first car best to avoid the fancy electronics ..... take a mechanic friend or someone knowledgeable along with for a second opinion ...... Good luck and enjoy when you get it :)

 
TEXTILE GUY said:
This is just my opinion - I am not an expert, so please take my advice with a pinch of salt ....

1. In terms of maintenance, which one would be more affordable?
Maintenance should be the odd oil change, and tyres so much of a muchness - assuming nothing big happens.
2. Those that own any of these cars, how do they drive, fuel consumption etc?
Dunno, only had two - I20 1400 - was about 6l /100Km in Durban around town, Kio Rio S 1600 did around 30 miles /gallon in Orlando, mainly interstate
3.What are some of the money savings tips and techniques you used?I would prefer not using finance.
Eish, easier to finance first car, and good for credit rating
4. What is the best place to go around checking for affordable second hand cars?
dealers
5. How did you stay motivated when you were saving for the car?
Knew the car would hook me a girlfriend and a second class drive better than a first class walk ..... realistically, was doing national service and couldnt spend the cash, so saving was easy
6. What kind of mileage is considered good for a second hand car?
Depends on year, model, engine size area. Me, if I was buying a demo, 15 000Kms max, 5 year old 150 000 Kms max .. but depends. Mileage is important, buy with your head not your heart ....

Make sure the panels line up, look for gaps that arent straight, look for rust spots, listen for knocks and growls, look inside the engine for residue of leaks, check for oils spots under the car, check tyres for uneven wear, remember electronics can fail at any time so first car best to avoid the fancy electronics ..... take a mechanic friend or someone knowledgeable along with for a second opinion ...... Good luck and enjoy when you get it :)
Click to expand...
Thank you... you made me laugh about getting a cat would hook you a gf lol. It is true though. I have just been doing a lot of research and the thing with financing is it will tie me down to months of installments and i would prefer to just avoid the installments. I am open to other cars as well so long as they are comfortable and easy to maintain (wallet wise) bmw is a no for me. Costs a lot to maintain same as Mercedes benz.
 
TEXTILE GUY said:
3.What are some of the money savings tips and techniques you used?I would prefer not using finance.
Eish, easier to finance first car, and good for credit rating
Click to expand...

Huh? Cash is almost always better than financing a depreciating asset like a car.

There are other easier and better ways to build up a credit score if OP needs credit in future.
 
I had a Chevy Cruze for 5 years, I loved the car, it's spacious, it's comfortable and it's really nice to drive, but here are the flaws.
1. Steering wheel and gear knob seem to wear very oddly and quickly, look at most second hand and you'll see the steering wheel and gear knob look like crap.
2. It has a 55l tank so it's got a big tank, it's not very fuel efficient though, on that tank I was lucky to get 550km a tank.
3. Maintenance isn't cheap as it's not in South Africa any more.
4. There were some recalls, the battery negative cable was too thin so it caused the car electrical system to act erractically so if you're considering this, look at that cable.
5. The steering pumps were recalled for a leak
6. The gearboxes have an erratic speed sensor so the speed can jump from 60 to 80 but you're only doing 60.


Once I had those things fixed under warranty I really did love the car, especially if you're going out on the open road, as this is where it shines and lives up to the Cruze part. I drive a Clio now and the Clio has a ton more features but it just doesn't have that stability and comfort of the Cruze at longer drives.

Positives.
1. It's really comfortable to drive, it really is one of the first cars I just sat in and didn't mind long drives, kicking in the cruise control down to Balito and enjoying it, once the car hits 120 it pretty much stays there.
2. It's big, back seats are nice and can fit 3 people in comfortably, it's also got an armrest in the back for the passengers to put their drinks in. The boot is deep rather than big so you can fit a lot in it, but more sideways.
3. It still looks good, even to this day it just has a certain look to it.
4. Dashboard is nicely laid out and everything is easily accessible.
5. There is decent enough power for the size of the body and weight, as I've said it's a surprisingly big compact car.
6. Really stable on the road, after some advanced driving courses I may have thrown it around a little too see and it did pretty well actually.
 
ngoni615 said:
So here goes, i have started saving for my first car. I have several cars in mind and i know they are going to be very expensive but i figured i would try and save for a car that i really want in my heart, second hand of course 2010+ model. The cars i had in mind are Chevrolet cruze (i love this car and this one is priority 1), ford figo (hatch back), audi a4, kia picanto, kia rio Hyundai i20. My budget, that is, the amount i am hoping to save will be around 60 - 80k. I have several questions for you guys and i hope you can help me.

1. In terms of maintenance, which one would be more affordable?
2. Those that own any of these cars, how do they drive, fuel consumption etc?
3.What are some of the money savings tips and techniques you used?I would prefer not using finance.
4. What is the best place to go around checking for affordable second hand cars?
5. How did you stay motivated when you were saving for the car?
6. What kind of mileage is considered good for a second hand car?

I would appreciate any other tips.
Click to expand...
Have a figo, gets around 8l/100km in CoCT traffic, if countryside around 6.5l/100km, nice car generally.
Drove an i20 for a while, around the same as the figo.

Ford figo maintenance should be fine at non-dealer, ford dealers are a rip-off, or at least the ones I went to, out of service was ~R4.5k for minor, luckily got that refunded as person dealing with us "misread" what the agreement was, assuming we started at 0 instead of the mileage we had when we got it, at least it warned us as to the price.

You don't want to take an older audi anymore, maintenance will be expensive.
 
Johnatan56 said:
Have a figo, gets around 8l/100km in CoCT traffic, if countryside around 6.5l/100km, nice car generally.
Drove an i20 for a while, around the same as the figo.

Ford figo maintenance should be fine at non-dealer, ford dealers are a rip-off, or at least the ones I went to, out of service was ~R4.5k for minor, luckily got that refunded as person dealing with us "misread" what the agreement was, assuming we started at 0 instead of the mileage we had when we got it, at least it warned us as to the price.

You don't want to take an older audi anymore, maintenance will be expensive.
Click to expand...
As long as it's not the first gen Figo, I drove one of those for a month, the most horrible car I've ever driven. Fuel consumption on that 1.4 was horrid as well.
 
ngoni615 said:
1. In terms of maintenance, which one would be more affordable?
Click to expand...

Definitely not the A4 when comparing it with the others which are in a completely different segment. I don't have any experience with the other cars though but would try get an idea of more than simply an oil change and new tyres like @TEXTILE GUY suggests. Take a look at brake pad/disc changes, full service costs including oil, filters, spark plugs, etc., cambelt/chain changes and any other regular interval maintenance items. I suggest finding a trustworthy independent mechanic as well as an independent parts supplier as dealerships that do good quality work for a reasonable price are few and far between.

ngoni615 said:
2. Those that own any of these cars, how do they drive, fuel consumption etc?
Click to expand...

Not a clue, I had an A4 many years ago which I loved but would not recommend as a first car.

ngoni615 said:
3.What are some of the money savings tips and techniques you used?I would prefer not using finance.
Click to expand...

For purchasing, cash, there are better and far cheaper ways to get a credit record. My suggestion of finding an independent mechanic and parts supplier will help keep costs down. Do not forget or ignore the need for insurance!

ngoni615 said:
4. What is the best place to go around checking for affordable second hand cars?
Click to expand...

Start on the internet to get an idea of what is out there, what mileage is available, what features, etc. Narrow down your choices based on your requirements and then got see a few in the flesh and drive them.

ngoni615 said:
6. What kind of mileage is considered good for a second hand car?
Click to expand...

How long is a piece of string? In the past I have tried to keep to under 100k km and 5 years based on my experience with Volkswagen/Audi's that I normally buy as my daily drives. Someone told me that 25k km's per year is an average for a car.

ngoni615 said:
I would appreciate any other tips.
Click to expand...

Take your time, research, test drive and do not buy the first car you jump in to.
 
As you are saving up for your first car and money is tight, I would recommend you focus on the fuel consumption and maintenance costs because they can add up quickly without you realising. And stay away from that Audi A4 if its almost ten years old. It might drive well and have cool features, but if something breaks its going to ruin you financially, well at least at this stage of your life. I personally don't know the Cruz, but have only heard good things about the Hyundai i20, Ford Figo and Kia Picanto. Buying any car second hand is always risky as you don't know the real history, but do your research and don't buy a car that max out your budget. There are always hidden costs or unforeseen expenses. And buy with your head, not your heart.
 
Lupus said:
As long as it's not the first gen Figo, I drove one of those for a month, the most horrible car I've ever driven. Fuel consumption on that 1.4 was horrid as well.
Click to expand...
No, talking about 2015 (so gen 2 ) onward. Don't get gen 1, they have the same fire hazard as the Kuga.
 
Also don't dwell too much on the 2010+ thing, older cars were well built compared to the plastic cheapness we see nowadays, look for a well cared for car with decent mileage, year model should not be a big factor, not like there's any big difference between a 2008 and a 2010 model.
 
Lupus said:
I had a Chevy Cruze for 5 years, I loved the car, it's spacious, it's comfortable and it's really nice to drive, but here are the flaws.
1. Steering wheel and gear knob seem to wear very oddly and quickly, look at most second hand and you'll see the steering wheel and gear knob look like crap.
2. It has a 55l tank so it's got a big tank, it's not very fuel efficient though, on that tank I was lucky to get 550km a tank.
3. Maintenance isn't cheap as it's not in South Africa any more.
4. There were some recalls, the battery negative cable was too thin so it caused the car electrical system to act erractically so if you're considering this, look at that cable.
5. The steering pumps were recalled for a leak
6. The gearboxes have an erratic speed sensor so the speed can jump from 60 to 80 but you're only doing 60.


Once I had those things fixed under warranty I really did love the car, especially if you're going out on the open road, as this is where it shines and lives up to the Cruze part. I drive a Clio now and the Clio has a ton more features but it just doesn't have that stability and comfort of the Cruze at longer drives.

Positives.
1. It's really comfortable to drive, it really is one of the first cars I just sat in and didn't mind long drives, kicking in the cruise control down to Balito and enjoying it, once the car hits 120 it pretty much stays there.
2. It's big, back seats are nice and can fit 3 people in comfortably, it's also got an armrest in the back for the passengers to put their drinks in. The boot is deep rather than big so you can fit a lot in it, but more sideways.
3. It still looks good, even to this day it just has a certain look to it.
4. Dashboard is nicely laid out and everything is easily accessible.
5. There is decent enough power for the size of the body and weight, as I've said it's a surprisingly big compact car.
6. Really stable on the road, after some advanced driving courses I may have thrown it around a little too see and it did pretty well actually.
Click to expand...
Wow thank you so much. My brother had this car and it was very fast hence why i fell in love with it... but at the same time i was looking at maintenance costs should anything happen to it lol.
 
thechamp said:
Also don't dwell too much on the 2010+ thing, older cars were well built compared to the plastic cheapness we see nowadays, look for a well cared for car with decent mileage, year model should not be a big factor, not like there's any big difference between a 2008 and a 2010 model.
Click to expand...

This, but if you're interested in Cruzes, there will be wear on the steering wheel and gear knobs, the one I had it was like my hands acid ate into the wheel over 6 years, everyone else I've seen this is a problem. The gear knob also doesn't come off the gear lever it's like one integrated piece or something as I could never get that changed and it too is made of the same odd plastic as the wheel.
Everything else on the interior was great, actually far better than the 2005 Polo I had, nothing wore out, the seats were tough yet comfortable. Whereas the Polo looked better at first and had soft touch dash and such it just wore out too quickly.
 
thechamp said:
I would eliminate the Audi at once, since you look like you have nothing against sedans I would add a Honda Civic plus an Astra NA 1.6 and the Mazda 3. All normally aspirated reliability that you need for a first car.
Click to expand...
Wow thank you. and those appear to be more affordable than the audi.
 
ngoni615 said:
Wow thank you so much. My brother had this car and it was very fast hence why i fell in love with it... but at the same time i was looking at maintenance costs should anything happen to it lol.
Click to expand...
Look in the 5/6 years I had it, besides the recalled stuff it was great, little to no maintenance besides the normal servicing, but when things do start to break they can be pricey as the parts aren't easy to come by. I was looking at coil packs cause I thought mine was packing in and it wasn't cheap. Turns out it was a dodgy spark plug thankfully.
 
Johnatan56 said:
Have a figo, gets around 8l/100km in CoCT traffic, if countryside around 6.5l/100km, nice car generally.
Drove an i20 for a while, around the same as the figo.

Ford figo maintenance should be fine at non-dealer, ford dealers are a rip-off, or at least the ones I went to, out of service was ~R4.5k for minor, luckily got that refunded as person dealing with us "misread" what the agreement was, assuming we started at 0 instead of the mileage we had when we got it, at least it warned us as to the price.

You don't want to take an older audi anymore, maintenance will be expensive.
Click to expand...
I will rule out an audi since the general consensus is maintenance is generally expensive
 
I would rather go for Toyota Auris. High mileage is fine as they last forever, can maybe even get high end spec with leather etc.

Toyota just make very good cars, build to last!
 
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