09/07/2019
POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN GOING ON THE HUNT FOR A PRE-OWNED (PRE-LOVED) VEHICLE:
Ake-sifundisaneni, on how to smartly buy a used car.
Remember buying a car is a big step nganeyakwethu, so you need to do your homework - more so with pre-owned cars.
Always remember mntanasekhaya, asking is free - getting out of the contract isn't!
Budget, budget, budget:
Be realistic about what you can afford and stick to your budget.
If you are doing a trade-in, find out what your car's trade-in value is and never accept the first price. Different dealers offer different incentives like cash back.
The ideal car to buy will be a demo model of 6 months to 1 year old, with mileage of 10 000 - 15 000km.
Ensure you make an excellent choice to prevent headaches for years.
Car history.
It is vital to ask about the history of the car. Questions like, has the car has been in any sort of accidents before?
Has the car ever been blacklisted or a tool of any criminal activity?
Should the car have been in an accident - big or small - you will need a certificate from the company that did the repairs so as to get a comprehensive report of the issues, what was fixed and the quality of service provided.
This certificate is also going to come in handy for insurance purposes as your insurer may ask about accident history.
Investigate the car.
Walk around the car and inspect each and every part, the tires, the paintwork, the rubbers between the doors, the hinges and, if you can live with the imperfections or issues, use them to negotiate the price before you make an offer to purchase. If the dealership or salesman can't sort out the issues, let them drop the price!
Be wary of modified car's:
The modification "ikahle futhi ay'sikahle."
If you consider a modified car, request to be connected with the mechanic who has done the modifications for maintenance purposes. It is also very important to note that modifications may have insurance implecations and affect your premiums.
Thank you and good luck, but
please, please, don't be shy to ask the questions that will ensure that you are getting your money's worth.
