bUYING ADVICE

You’ve scoured the newspapers and internet for your dream ride and are ready to lay down money for that shiny hatchback which has been carefully driven by one elderly owner.But before you commit to that ‘deal of a lifetime’, make sure you’re thoroughly informed about the car’s condition and ensure you don’t end up buying a real skorokoro.

Most of us have heard a few horror stories about unsuspecting buyers who thought they got an excellent deal, only to discover the car they just paid good money for is actually worth less than the key holder. Sadly, dodgy car deals are still a frequent occurrence, especially for those who are looking to save a bit of money and opt for a used vehicle.

In spite of a small uptick in April, the South African new car market remains on the back foot.This is according to Jeff Osborne of Gumtree Autos who said that for every new vehicle sold in South Africa, finance houses are funding 2.13 second-hand vehicle sales in the quarter.In real terms that number is an under-reporting as it covers formal financing arrangements only and does not include the many private used car trades for cash, he said.“In the second-hand vehicle market, 35% of sales recorded by Transunion were for vehicles under two years old, and 10% were demo models, which indicates consumers are continuing to opt for “newer” previously owned cars.“This is the contested space between the new and used car markets. In more bullish times, someone looking at a vehicle less than 24 months old would potentially be disposed towards an upsell into a brand new vehicle.”