5 Things You Need To Know When Buying Used Cars For Sale In Gauteng

1. When is the best time to buy a used car? 

Yousef - “I would probably say at the beginning of the new year or the beginning of the month. When the new books come out, and perhaps a little more depreciation has come down.” 

2. How many miles is too high for purchasing a used car? 

“That would depend on what you're looking for and what the purpose of the vehicle is.

Bakkies, for example, can generally put on a lot of mileage. But, if you're looking for something mid-range I would say 100,000 km and over you should be wary and do your necessary checks.

 Don't not buy it, but start doing more checks...be a little bit more vigilant and scrutinize the vehicle before purchasing it.”

3. Is mileage more important than age, or is age more important than mileage when purchasing a used car? 

 

“That is a tricky question, I would be answering this on a personal level, but I would say look at mileage first. 

I’d look at how long it took to do that mileage and how the car was driven, a BMW could do 60,000 km but the owner doing that has done it in a very abrupt and rushed way, stopping very hard, keeping the pumps very hot, all of that is very hostile on a car. You might be able to see that from the road test. 

Ideally, for me, I would suggest looking more at the condition of the car. ”

4. Is it true that it’s cheaper to buy a car with cash? 

“No, not today with how things work with the banks. If you finance a deal you will get a better discount on the sales price.

You do get a better discount from doing financing because it allows the dealership to make a little bit more money from the banks.”

 

5. What are your final tips for anyone looking to buy a used car in Gauteng? 

 

“Do your homework on the dealer site itself, check the reviews, look at the negative reviews and see how they've replied to those and how they've handled the situation. I always say don't judge someone by their winning, look at their losses and how they've come back from those losses.

Customer service at the end of the day is what sells, so look at the way the dealership deals with the after-sale service and what comes next. If you’ve got an issue with the car a month later, how is the dealer principal going to react to it?

Reviews are good because it gives you a chance to look at what customers praise them for and what they criticize them for, and how long it takes for them to reply.

Another thing to think about, especially in our country is fraudsters and scammers. There are a lot of them out there, never pay money without seeing the vehicle first, don't pay any deposit until you've seen it with your own eyes.

If you start off with finding a reputable dealer, my other points just kind of follow so make sure, your safety and security is a priority, always speak and go through the checks whether it be on the vehicle or dealership.” 

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