If the golden rule of property buying is location, location, location, then the golden rule for buying a car must be research, research, research.
Cars are not cheap and if you don’t do the required homework — which, of course, includes finding out what you like and what you can afford — you may live to regret it.
Before you start, draw up a budget. Approach a variety of vehicle financing houses to learn what interest rate you qualify for and factor in insurance payments, and fuel and servicing costs to get a true picture of what your monthly expenditure will be. The next step is to decide if you are buying a new or a second-hand car.
If you’re thinking of buying a -second-hand vehicle, tread carefully as there are many unscrupulous dealers out there selling stolen vehicles. And, of course, if you are caught with a stolen vehicle, even though you have paid for it, the police will confiscate it and you will lose your money and your car.
Don’t be afraid to ask dealers or salespeople questions about the car you are interested in. Ask what the engine number is and check if it corresponds with the actual number on the engine. If the salesperson seems reluctant to answer your questions or tries to intimidate you into believing that all is well with the car and that you have nothing to worry about, move on to another dealership — don’t put up with bad service and don’t be bullied into doing anything you’re not sure of.
If you’re in the market for a new car, there are many to choose from, so shop around. We’ve reviewed three entry-level vehicles — the Ford Ka, the Nissan Micra diesel and the Palio Vibe — to give you an idea. While the Nissan Micra diesel is the most expensive and probably wouldn’t be considered entry-level, it is my pick. Other cars to look at in this segment are the Daihatsu Sirion, the Hyundai Atos, the Kia Picanto, the Tata Indica, the Toyota Tazz and the Volkswagen CitiGolf.
Ford Ka
Ford hopes this funky little newcomer will capture the hearts of people looking for a capable entry-level car. Launched internationally in 1997, the South African model has undergone a facelift and specification upgrade to make it a definite option in this hotly contested segment.
Available in 14 colours — everything from bright yellow to viola purple and apple green — it is a three-door hatch with ample room for two sizeable adults up front, but a rather small space for the rear occupants.
At R87 750, the Ka, which is currently available with a 1,3 litre RoCam engine, is equipped with anti-lock brakes, crumple zones, reinforced pillars, speed-sensitive power steering and a driver airbag. A front-loading CD/radio is an optional extra, but it doesn’t play MP3s — surprising, considering its target market is the 18 to 24 age group.
The five-speed manual gearbox made for smooth gear changes, and the 14-inch alloys with ventilated disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear ensured the stopping power was sufficient for a car of this size. The top speed is 167kph and Ford claims the Ka will do the 0-100kph sprint in 13,7 seconds.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, a heated rear window, a headlamp levelling switch and a lights-on warning chime. The Ka comes with a three-year/100 000km warranty and a five-year corrosion warranty with service intervals at 20 000km.
Fiat Palio Vibe
Fiat South Africa’s little contender in the entry-level segment is the Palio Vibe.
Priced at R89 000 for the three-door and R91 900 for the five-door, the Vibe features air conditioning, power steering, a radio/CD/MP3 player, 14-inch alloy wheels and a full-size spare.
The 1,2-litre engine proved capable enough to transport five adults around Johannesburg, despite the fact that it felt quite weighted down. I had to let the revs climb quite a bit before changing gears, as I worked hard to get any sense of agility out of the Vibe. But presumably you won’t be hauling five adults around all the time, so a lighter load should equate into a zippier performance.
Keeping in mind the Vibe’s small engine, it’s worth noting that, while there is a slight loss of power when the air con is on, the car still has sufficient pulling power. In-gear acceleration, however, is not very good at all.
While the transmission felt a bit sticky, and the steering didn’t give sufficient feedback and felt a bit light, in its class, the Vibe’s ride and power delivery is acceptable enough.
The new Vibe comes with a 24-month manufacturer warranty and 20 000km service intervals.
Nissan Micra diesel
The Micra 1,5 dCi Tekna is Nissan’s first diesel passenger vehicle in South Africa. As the first three-door Micra on our market, the reduction in size gives it a certain agility that the other models lack. But let’s not forget that it also has a turbo-diesel engine and is surprisingly one of the most drivable turbo-powered cars, without the usual lag one experiences on turbo-powered vehicles.
Included in a long list of standard features are 16-inch alloys, front fog lights, electric windows, air conditioning, central locking, and dual front and side airbags.
I didn’t expect much from the Micra and thought I would have to work hard to get any sort of performance out of it, but I was wrong. With the air con on full blast, it accelerated easily to its top speed of about 170kph and felt quite stable. In fact, it felt as if it might even be capable of more than its top speed, quite something for such a little car.
The interior is comfortable for the driver and front passenger, but there really isn’t much space for anything other than a garden gnome or two at the back.
Nissan claims this lively car averages about 5,4 litres/100km and to prove this, the company drove the car through four cities in four countries on one 42-litre tank of diesel. From Gaborone in Botswana, through Pretoria in South Africa, Mbabane in Swaziland and ending in Maputo in Mozambique, the Micra diesel completed the 963km trip averaging about 82kph and using only 31 litres of diesel with an overall consumption of 3,3 litres/100km. The Micra is priced at R139 000 and service intervals are at 10 000km.