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.