How much bakkie can I buy for R9 000 a month?

By Stuart Johnston

For a  repayment budget of R9 000, you will certainly gain entry into the 4X4 double cab segment of the South African bakkie market. However, you will find that this repayment amount won’t buy you the top spec models of the major players here.

A glance at the latest new bakkie price lists reveals that the most expensive bakkie in South Africa  now sells for over R800 000, thanks to the recent launch of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class! And the Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 4MOTION is not far behind at R784 400.

For a R9 000 monthly repayment, the purchase price ceiling is R445 000.  For comparative purposes, AutoTrader’s standard repayment template for this sort of purchasing advice article assumes a 10 per cent deposit on the purchase price, a repayment period of 60 months, and an interest rate on the financed amount of 12 per cent.

We are aware, however that some  customers will be able to negotiate an interest rate  closer to the current prime interest rate of 10 per cent  but for most buyers, a rate of 12 per cent interest on the financed amount is par for the course.

A purchase price of R445 000 means a 10 per cent deposit of R44 700

We used Wesbank’s repayment calculator (easily available on-line) to work out the ceiling purchase price for SUVs. Using our standard repayment parameters ( as detailed above), the ceiling price for a repayment of 9 000 a month is a list price of just under  R445 000. The 10 per cent deposit works out at just under R44 700.

A wide choice of configurations

The R9 000 monthly  repayment puts you into an area where in the case of most major brands, you would could  choose between a  powerful single-cab with 4X4 or a double cab with rear-wheel-drive, and one of the lesser-spec engines.  However, working back from the R445 000 cut-off,  a vehicle that stands out at  R405 900 is the Nissan NP300 Hardbody 2.4 Double Cab 4X4. This is a petrol-engined model in a configuration that has been around a number of years. That is not a bad thing, as it is a well-proven model.

Another interesting example in the bang-for-buck stakes at R409 995 is the Foton Tunland 2.8 Double Cab 4X4 Luxury. We have a lot of admiration for the Tunland, despite it being  a marginal brand in this country, as it uses the excellent Cummins diesel engine and a ZF transmission. Its build-quality is good, although its ride is a bit unsophisticated by modern luxury bakkie standards.

And a very good buy, and just within the R9 000 a month budget,  is the Ford Ranger 2.2 Double Cab 4X4 XL at R438 900. The Ford Ranger is the toast of the town in bakkie brand names right now, and this medium-spec 118 kW turbodiesel model gets you in the club!

Right on the cusp of our R445 000 price limit is the Toyota Hilux 2,4 GD-6 Double Cab SRX, a two-wheel-drive model, but a blue chip double cab nevertheless, when it comes to resale values. This one costs R442 700.

The price cut-off just misses out on some major players

If you could scrape together a little more deposit, or negotiate a small discount, you could find yourself in two other  notable major-brand Double Cabs. These are the Isuzu KB 250D-Teq Double Cab 4X4 X-Rider at R450 100, and the Nissan Navara 2.3D Double Cab SE at R457 900. The last-mentioned model, it should be noted, is a rear-wheel-drive model.

Consider the used model option

Of course,  there is always the option of buying a low-mileage used model with significant price benefits, and  this is where AutoTrader plays  such a huge role in South African personal  mobility.  We suggest that once you have made your choice on a new bakkie, you key in those model details on our used car and bakkie  search engine, where currently over 70 000 used vehicles are listed!

Do you really need a 4X4?

In this market, there are plenty of options for choosing larger-engined two-wheel-drive versions, petrol or diesel versions, extended-cab versions in 4X2 configuration, and single-cabs with the most powerful petrol or diesel engines in the line-up. It all depends on what you need in a bakkie – a  powerful workhorse, an occasional workhorse, or a well-specced Double Cab model in rear-wheel-drive

Bakkies that caught our eye at R9 000 a month and under

The following is a list of bakkies that are definitely worth a second or third look at that R9 000 a month budget. And some of them are well under this budget!

Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 Xtra Cab SRX                                                R369 000

Ford Ranger 2.2 SuperCab Hi-Rider XL Automatic                  R371 900

JMC Vigus 2.4 TDCI Double Cab 4WD SLX                                  R375 990

Isuzu KB300D-Teq LX                                                                             R397 800

Nissan NP300 Harbody 2.4 Double Cab 4X4                              R405 900

Fiat Fullback 2.5Di-D Double Cab SX                                                R407 711

Foton Tunland 2.8 Double Cab 4X4 Luxury                                   R409 995

Toyota Hilux2.4 GD-6 4X4 SRX                                                           R423 400

Isuzu KB 300D-Teq Extended Cab LX                                              R426 700

Ford Ranger 2.2 Double Cab 4X4 XL                                                 R438 900

Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD-6 Double Cab SRX                                           R442 700