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It’s funny how love works! Imagining your ideal partner will have a certain hair colour, be a certain height or body shape – only to find the person you fall in love with has completely different attributes!
The same thing goes for finding your ideal car. You may have imagined a red convertible as the love of your life, but if you had to buy one, would the relationship last?
There are many aspects to consider when purchasing a vehicle, and one of the most important is choosing one that your budget will love. Especially now as we find ourselves in uncertain times and economic restraints.
In the excitement of falling in love and shopping for a new car, many people forget about this especially important thing! It's amazing how few take the time to actually figure out what they can comfortably afford.
Here are 5 important tips to consider before you buy your next car:
Before you start researching the latest models and test-driving vehicles, you first need to determine your budget and how you’ll pay for your new car.
Look at your recent bank statement and monthly bills to determine your budget. Add the trade-in value of your current vehicle to this budget — you can use this to make a larger deposit that will lower your monthly payment and interest.
The cost of purchasing a vehicle is more than just the price of the car itself, so make sure to plan for additional expenses such as the registration fee or add-ons you might want such as an extended warranty, as well as the monthly running costs like fuel and insurance.
Establish what you are willing and able to pay using our finance calculator.
Once you have figured out how much you can comfortably spend on your car, it is a good idea to assess what you want and need at this stage of your life. A single person in their twenties will have a vastly different checklist than that of a family of five.
Make a list of non-negotiables such as vehicle size, safety features and fuel economy to determine what kind of vehicle will best satisfy your needs. Then list everything you want but do not necessarily need, like technology, colour preference, conveniences, and style. Keep this list in mind when researching specific models.
Once you know what you need, you can choose the exact brand and model that best meets your requirements. Compare listings online to find vehicles that come with the specs you are looking for. Take a look at used and demo options before deciding what will be best for you.
Take your top two or three choices for a test drive. Pay attention to the car’s acceleration, comfort, and handling. This is also a great time to ask any questions you may have about the engineering or functionality of the vehicle.
You have found one or two cars you love, and you’re almost ready to make your decision. But before you sign the paperwork, make sure your budget will love it too by taking into consideration the ongoing costs. For example, some models have parts that cost more to repair, which means your maintenance costs will be higher. Others are not so efficient on fuel which will cost you more every time you fill up and some have a higher insurance price tag. Make sure you can afford the car you choose throughout its lifetime.
We would all like to pay cash for our new car , but most of us cannot afford it, so we have to finance the purchase of our car. Make sure that you shop around. Try and choose a short-term repayment plan with the lowest interest rate possible. Be wary of balloon payments, as they can make repayments seem small, but could leave you still owing quite a sizeable amount on your car by the end of your term. Try to make as big a deposit as you can (ideally anything from 10% to 20% of the purchase price), as this will help lower your monthly instalments.
If your battery is running out of time or you can’t remember when it was last replaced, it is a good idea to have it checked to ascertain if it still has some life left in it. Most battery retailers will perform this check free of charge.
Winter is not a great time for your car battery and if it is not in a good condition, it will probably fail during these colder months.
A vehicle’s engine requires more power to start when it is cold and at the same time the colder temperatures make it more difficult for a car battery to provide the power that it normally does.
Getting stranded with a flat battery is more serious than in years gone by. Cars these days are equipped with a myriad of electronics that all rely on the correct battery voltage to perform optimally. Automatic gearboxes found in most cars these days also mean that it is not possible to push start your car and sensitive electronics can be damaged by jump-starting vehicles incorrectly.
“In normal circumstances a car battery needs to be changed approximately every three years. With many people driving less or infrequently due to the on-going work-from-home trend, the normal three-year lifespan could be considerably shorter,” says the CEO of Motus Retail and Rental SA, Corné Venter.
As batteries get older they require a longer running time to fully recharge after the heavy load of starting a vehicle, so if you generally only travel short distances the battery will not have enough time to sufficiently recharge.
If your battery is running out of time or you can’t remember when it was last replaced, it is a good idea to have it checked to ascertain if it still has some life left in it. Most battery retailers will perform this check free of charge.
1. Keeping your car warm by parking it under cover or in a garage will lessen the strain on the battery as you try and start your car on cold mornings.
2. If your car is struggling to start, don't keep cranking it over for long periods of time. Rather take a break of a few minutes between starting attempts.
3. Ensure that all ancillaries including the lights, radio and heater are turned off to free up extra power for the starting process.
4. A well-serviced vehicle will start easier. Ensure that your vehicle is maintained and that the engine oil and belts are replaced in line with the manufacturers recommendations. A well-maintained car will place less strain on the battery, as the vehicle will start easily, no matter the temperature.
Find your nearest Motus dealer, and book a service here.
The best practice is to rather be safe than sorry, do an extra circle around the block or ask someone for assistance rather than regret it.
While nobody wants to be in a hijacking situation, it is an unfortunately a very real threat for motorists in South Africa.
Recent crime statistics reveal that the amount of hijacking has increased by 3.5% quarter on quarter.
In the light of this, drivers need to increase their awareness and do whatever they can to prevent it from happening.
The following tips and rules can go a long way in keeping you safe:
If you are travelling from a shopping centre or airport and are being followed, do not turn into your driveway. Rather drive to a safe place such as a petrol station or the nearest police station.
If you are a client of such a company it is a good idea to make use of this service.
Tip: The best practice is to rather be safe than sorry, do an extra circle around the block or ask someone for assistance rather than regret it.
These tips can go a long way to help you be aware of your surroundings and to protect yourself as far as possible, but it is not always preventable. Drivers should learn what they should do to increase their chances to safely remove themselves from that situation:
Crossovers offer the best of both worlds. They are comfortable to drive and are fitted with the latest technology and engines. In addition, they offer many of the SUV benefits without any of the drawbacks.
Crossovers are a fairly new segment in the South African market but are some of the most popular vehicles sold today. But what exactly makes a crossover, a crossover?
In short, crossovers are small to medium sized vehicles that offer increased ground clearance, but which are based on passenger car underpinnings.
Examples of crossovers include models like the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen T-Cross and T-Roc and Toyota Urban Cruiser.
As opposed to SUVs or 4x4s that utilise a ladder frame design crossovers are based on the monocoque design common for most passenger vehicles sold today.
Crossovers offer the best of both worlds. They are comfortable to drive and are fitted with the latest technology and engines. In addition, they offer many of the SUV benefits without any of the drawbacks.
Increased ground clearance affords crossovers the ability to traverse gravel roads and in combination with higher profile tyres makes them a popular choice in South Africa where the quality of the road surface is not always ideal. This higher stance also means a command driving position, which has proven safety benefits such as offering a better view of the traffic and your surroundings.
The benefits of increased ground clearance and a higher stance are well known and crossovers are able to offer these while still retaining the handling characteristics of a passenger vehicle.
Crossover vehicles are exclusively two-wheel drive and are mostly front-wheel drive like the passenger cars they are based on. This sets them apart from SUVs, which are very often four-wheel drive. This configuration gives crossovers an advantage in terms of fuel consumption.
As crossovers are very often based on a hatchback concept they offer the practicality of that concept in the fact that the rear seats can fold down to create a large loading space for luggage or leisure items like bicycles and surfboards.
Browse our range of quality, Motus-certified used and demo crossover vehicles for sale here.
What to know when buying your first car.
Come up with a realistic budget. If you don’t have the cash upfront to purchase a car outright, you will need to finance your purchase. You will need to save up for a deposit because most banks will not grant you 100% finance for your first car.
Work out your transportation needs. Everyone wants a BMW M3, Golf GTi or some fancy cabriolet as their first car, unfortunately this is not always possible and when purchasing your first car needs always outweigh your wants. If you only need to get from home to school and back through the suburbs, then a small hatchback is what you need. If you are doing lots of highway driving, a medium hatchback would be a better option and so on.
Google. Once you have found a style of car you need, start researching the cars in that segment. The more you educate yourself about any future purchases, means you will be able to make a more informed purchase. After you have identified two car models, research common issues on the cars and familiarise yourself with the car.
Get an insurance quote on the two car models you selected. This will affect your budget, you might end up paying the same for insurance as your car repayment. Also ensure you understand exactly what your insurance quotes will cover, and that both quotes match in terms of their level of coverage.
The test drive. Get into the car, adjust your seat, steering column and mirrors. Take your time. Feel the steering wheel and press the pedals. Get comfortable. If you don’t get comfortable then don’t force it rather walk away. Once you are comfortable then take the car for a drive. Explain to the sales person the type of driving you will be doing everyday and get the salesperson to take you on a route that matches that type of driving. I personally like to take all cars I test out on a back route and on the highway to get the best idea of the car as a whole.
The finance. After your successful test drive, you have decided to purchase the car. Let your salesperson know. You will be taken to a Finance and Insurance person known as a F&I who will take you through the process. You will need to complete a few forms and get a final insurance quote. Submit to the banks and look at the options that you get in return. Once you have accepted the banking finance, you will need to accept the insurance quote and get a proof of insurance letter before the car can be released.
Taking delivery. The sales person will contact you and give you a date for you to collect the car, this is normally a few days after signing the paperwork. The car will have to go through a road worthy test and licensing. When you get to the dealership to take delivery of your car, Take lots of photos with you and your car. Buying your first car is s once in a life time event. Drive out the dealership and enjoy the ride.
My one rule in buying a car. If you can’t afford to replace all the tyres on your car in one go,
then you can’t afford the car.
