Buy Used Cars in Pretoria at the Professionals

As recently as March 2017, the cheapest locally available passenger car still cost less than R100 000. At the end of 2019, there are only six vehicles on the South African car market still retailing for less than R150 000. Two of those are light commercial vehicles, leaving just four passenger cars. The steep prices of new cars have meant that an increasing number of South Africans are opting to buy used cars instead. It has also caused the average age of cars to increase, as people are keeping their cars longer and longer before selling them.

Second-Hand is not Second-Rate

Some people still unfairly believe that to buy used cars is a second-rate choice that they are only forced into if they cannot afford a new car. In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth. This is amply demonstrated by the scores of people with the wherewithal to afford a new vehicle – yet that buy pre-owned instead. You see, financially, it can be a very smart move to buy second-hand instead of new. You stand to enjoy a handsome discount compared to purchasing new, which means lower instalments that are easier on your cashflow. Because the vehicle is worth less, it is also cheaper to insure. If you opt for a 1- to 3-year-old vehicle, you also usually get one that still has some of its factory guarantee left.

Mitigating the Risks

There are several ways people can go about it when they buy used cars. Some prefer to keep it simple and go for basic transport in order to get the lowest possible mileage for their money. Others take advantage of the steep depreciation of certain classes of car to get a whole lot of car for that same money; this is especially true for niche and certain luxury vehicles, as well as mid-size saloons – a market that has become unpopular since the rise of the SUV. Unpopular means steep depreciation and excellent second-hand value. However, when people buy used cars, they tend to think it inevitably goes with reduced reliability and higher running costs. What they fail to realise is that they pay dearly for their new-car peace of mind and, even if their second-hand car requires more maintenance, it probably never comes close to that new-car price premium.

What is more, there are several ways to mitigate the risk of increased running cost when you purchase a used car, like opting for that basic transport with low mileage mentioned earlier. Another way is to simply buy warranty cover for your used car at a fraction of what a new vehicle would have cost you more. There are several insurance and warranty products out there to help people look after their pre-owned vehicles. These usually cover all the major mechanical failures, as long as the vehicle’s service record is up to date and it has been maintained responsibly.

Get all this and more when you buy used cars from Atterbury Motors in Pretoria. Have a look at our expansive range at our showroom in Wonderboom South and get your finance, insurance, and warranty cover sorted on site. Contact us today.