Price consideration is a vital factor in any purchasing decision, especially when it comes to a motor car, and careful planning can buy you a surprising amount of quality and specification.
There are several options for new, or first-time, car buyers on a tight budget to get the freedom of mobility for a monthly instalment payment of around R3 000 or less - and we look at four of these in this article.
The monthly repayment figure we are using is a straight Hire Purchase quote and buyers are urged to study all finance options carefully before putting pen to paper, ensuring they fully understand all the terms and conditions of the deal.
All the major finance houses have a range of packages on offer for car buyers that allow some ‘wiggle’ room in terms of being able to afford the monthly repayments over the desired period, which may be from three to five years.
Without going into massive detail on the finance packages, we would urge buyers to try and avoid the Residual Value (RV) trap. This allows buyers to determine the future value of their car in order to reduce the monthly payment.
Even without any major incident, the longer the car is out on the road, the more chance there is of general wear and tear, nicks and scrapes - all of which rapidly reduce that predicted Residual Value, leaving you with a growing final payment when you do trade in the car.
However, for the purposes of this comparison we are using a calculation based on a 15% RV(Residual Value) with the finance taken over 72 months and a 10% upfront deposit.
Increased concerns on a global scale about the standard levels of safety in modern motor cars means manufacturers need to keep pace with those demands or lose sales as buyers move to brands that do conform.
So, inexpensive does not mean cheap!
The five cars on our buyer’s list are:
Comparison of 3 vehicles below R 3000 per month
Price: R134 900
Repayment: R2 439
Engine Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 50 kW @ 5 500 r/min
Torque: 90 N-m/ 3500 rpm
Fuel Consumption (avg): 4.9 l/100 km
CO2 Emissions: 118 g/km
Powered by a three cylinder petrol engine driving through a five-speed manual gearbox the Suzuki S-Presso rides on 165/70 R14 tyres and comes with a full-size spare steel wheel.
Standard features include front electric window, front speakers with a 7-inch touch screen LCD display, power steering, front power socket, child-proof safety lock, immobiliser, rear screen wiper and rear parking sensors. It has a luggage capacity from 239 litres, depending on seat configuration.
Safety equipment comprises SRS front dual airbags and anti-lock braking with electronic brake distribution (EBD).
It has a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and service intervals are every 15 000 kilometres.
Price: R149 900
Repayment: R2 613
Engine Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 50 kW @ 6 000 r/min
Torque: 90 Nm @ 3 500 r/min
Fuel Consumption (avg): 4,7 l/100 km
CO2 Emissions: 110 g/km
Powered by a three cylinder petrol engine driving through a five-speed manual gearbox the Suzuki Celerio rides on 165/70 R14 tyres and comes with a full-size spare wheel.
Standard features include air-conditioning, power steering, multi-function display, front power socket, child-proof safety lock, rear screen wiper, ISOFIX child seat mounting, and a high-level third brake light. It has a luggage capacity of between 235 litres and 1 034 litres, depending on seat configuration.
Safety equipment comprises driver and passenger airbags and anti-lock braking with electronic brake distribution (EBD).
It has a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and service intervals are every 15 000 kilometres.
Price: R166 900
Repayment: R2 996
Engine Capacity: 1 197 cc
Power: 61 kW @ 6 000 r/min
Torque: 113 Nm @ 4 200 r/min
Fuel Consumption (avg): 4.9 l/100 km
CO2 Emissions: 117g
This five-speed manual transmission car comes with an impressive list of standard features that includes priority safety items such as anti-lock braking with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), driver and passenger crash bags, a full-size spare wheel, a third high-level brake light, ISOFIX child-seat anchors and child- proof locks.
Air-conditioning, power steering, and an on-board multi-function computer display are all standard. It has a maximum luggage capacity of 1 034 litres and comes with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty. Service intervals are every 15 000 kilometres.
Two additional Suzuki vehicles just above R 3000 per month
Price: R168 400
Repayment: R3 022
Engine Capacity: 1 197 cc
Power: 61 kW @ 6 000 r/min
Torque: 113 Nm @ 4 200 r/min
Fuel Consumption (avg): 4,9 l/100 km
CO2 Emissions: 116 g/km
The Dzire now stands on its own as a Suzuki derivative aimed at car owners who prefer, or need, a sedan body style. The five-speed manual has anti-lock braking with EBD standard as well as Brake Assist (BAS) and it has a space-saver spare wheel.
It comes with air-conditioning, variable assist power steering, an adjustable steering column, an on-board computer, and remote central locking as standard features.
A high-level brake light and daytime running lights add to the safety items and it has a 378 litre boot capacity. The warranty is 5-years/200 000 km and a 2-year/30 000 km service plan is included.
Price: R182 900
Repayment: R3 274
Engine Capacity: 1 197 cc
Power: 61 kW @ 6 000 r/min
Torque: 113 Nm @4 200 r/min
Fuel Consumption (avg): 5,1 l/100 km
CO2 Emissions: 119 g/km
Also a five-speed manual, the Ignis offers a slightly driving position along with creature comforts such as air-conditioning, an on-board computer, power windows front and rear, an adjustable steering column, Bluetooth, a USB port, and electrically operated side mirrors.
The variable load capacity ranges from 260 litres through 469 litres to 947 litres depending on how the seats are configured. It has a full-size spare wheel and comes with a 5-years/200 000 km warranty and a 2-year/30 000 km service plan.
Naturally, the buying decision will be driven by affordability. However, it is important to consider what you want from your Suzuki, what it will be used for, and the kind of mileage it is like to cover and finally – importantly – just how comfortable you feel in the driver’s seat.
Since there are many ways to finance a new car, it is worthwhile going online to look up or download a finance calculator that allows you to insert variables such as increases in interest rates. This will help you get a clear idea of how your monthly repayment could change and how this will affect your budget.
Buying a new Suzuki is an exciting adventure but, like most adventures, comes with risks for the unwary. It is always advisable to shop around and look at all the options such as those outlined in this comparison guide before making a final decision
Want more advice on how to get a great deal from your car dealer? Download our guide on questions you should be asking your car dealer when you plan to buy a car.
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