There are many things for differently-abled drivers to consider when choosing an adaptive vehicle. We’ve listed the different types of adaptations drivers can get, as well as some tips for what to look for when choosing the best car to suit your needs.

Navigate the thrill and uncertainty of choosing a new vehicle wisely. Our guide empowers you to prioritize needs over peer pressure, map out driving habits, identify must-have features, and understand true value for money. Take control of your car-buying journey with practical insights tailored to your lifestyle and budget

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 37 seconds

Choosing a new vehicle is thrilling and also a little terrifying. It’s a big decision and, for those who can afford it, the options are endless! Even if you’re working within a budget, there can be enough choices to leave your head spinning. We have a few tricks to help you narrow it down.

The first tip is to ignore peer pressure. Almost everyone has a favourite brand, favourite vehicle, and favourite vehicle features. We love that people are so passionate about cars - but when you're committing to a finance agreement, you want to make sure you’re getting what you want - not what everyone else wants.

Many people get talked into purchasing a vehicle that doesn’t completely suit them because they followed the well-intended advice of others. Worse, many people commit to expensive vehicles when a more affordable vehicle is even better suited. The value of a vehicle lies in its ability to complement your lifestyle at a price you can afford.

Take a step back from all the chatter and map out the following:

1)Why am I buying a car

Aside from the obvious, which is transport, people need vehicles for different things. For example:

Is it mainly for your daily work commute in traffic?
Will you regularly have passengers?
Do you need it to transport children?
Do you need packing space for sport or work equipment?
Do you often travel long distances?
Are you likely to travel off-road (farms, plots, gravel roads etc)

Once you have an idea of the basics, you can narrow down your search to vehicle size. If, for example, you need a vehicle for a family of three who don’t lug around bicycles or other equipment, a Suzuki Swift or Jimny are perfect. If you want a little more space, the Suzuki Fronx is well worth a second look.

SUVs are all the rage and everyone loves their versatility. But if you don’t need to fit a small horse in the back on a regular basis, why spend money on extra space you don’t need? For the same price as a competitor vehicle at R637 995, you could buy:

A Suzuki Jimny (R390 900) + the small horse we mentioned…
A Suzuki Jimny (R390 900) + a Suzuki S-Presso (R174 900) + have some money left for a lovely road trip.

Spend some time on your checklist and make sure you’re looking at vehicles that suit your needs.

2) What are my must-haves

Everyone has different must-have vehicle features. These should not be confused with your wish list (because that would never end). Use the above-mentioned list to map out your driving habits and take note of the features that you absolutely need in a vehicle. For example:

Automatic transmission if you spend all your time in traffic.
Safety features like airbags and well-designed crumple zones
Bluetooth / Handsfree if you spend a lot of time in the car and need to take calls.
Low risk cars (cars that are unlikely to be hijacked, for example)
Isofix anchor points if you have infants / young children.
Various USB charge points (teenagers with phones or tablets)
Fuel efficiency (this could save you hundreds of Rands each month when you calculate your running costs)

Think about what you will add value to your driving life and make a list of features that are non-negotiable. This will help you narrow down what specification or trim level to look at.

A popular German competitor vehicle for R656 500 and the Suzuki XL6 (R336 900) both have the below features:

Bluetooth®
Touchscreen
Smartphone connectivity
Cruise control

The Suzuki XL6, however, is almost half the price of the VW Tiguan Allspace. For the same price as the Tiguan, you could buy:

A Suzuki Suzuki XL6 (R336 900) + a Suzuki Swift (R205 900)
Three Suzuki S-Presso’s
Two Suzuki Fronx’s + over R70 000 worth of accessories

Granted, these are different vehicles with different specification levels, but the point of this exercise is to identify your must-have features. See which vehicles are equipped with your must-haves and further narrow down your list of options.

3) What is value for money?

When it comes to vehicles, value for money isn’t the same for everyone. Some buyers need space or off-road capability while others need connectivity or fuel efficiency - or myriad other options. Value is when a vehicle offers you exactly what you need at a better price than others.

The evolution in vehicle technology means there are thousands of incredible vehicle features, but they only add value if they significantly improve your daily driving experience. Don’t get caught up in all the frills and end up spending too much on a vehicle that doesn’t perfectly suit your life. Use your checklists!

Note: pricing and specification of all vehicles are subject to change. Examples used in this post are intended to illustrate the need for customer research and test drives.