Almost all the vehicle manufacturers increased their prices on Monday, and another hike this year cannot be ruled out. Are you in the market for a new car? CARtoday.com takes a look at some of the prices.
Almost all the vehicle manufacturers increased their prices on Monday as a result of the fall in the rand earlier this year, and another increase later in the year cannot be ruled out.
Increases range from two to four per cent among the lower range products, and about six to eight per cent higher up the price list.
Many of the manufacturers raised their prices earlier this year, so this is a further blow for consumers who also have to contend with a third interest rate jump in 2002 to 16 per cent.
The vehicles sales figures for June reflected a fairly sharp decline of 13,3 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa statistics released on Tuesday. The figure of 28 374 units was 4 365 below the 32 739 units sold in June last year. A further price hike is likely to see car sales fall further.
A Nissan spokesman said the average price increase across the range of Nissan passenger and light commercial vehicles was 3,3 per cent. He said there would probably be a further price increase at the end of the third quarter.
The new Nissan Hardbody 2,4-litre Hi-Rider 4×2 has increased from R198 086 to R206 008, while the 4×4 version has gone from R253 449 to R262 320. In Nissan’s popular X-Trail range, the 2,2-litre has increased from R266 900 to R274 950.
Ford has pushed up its prices by three per cent across the board, and also said another price hike before the end of the year was likely.
But one manufacturer has actually dropped the pricing on two vehicles. In confirming the reduction, Ian Nicholls, Delta director of sales and marketing, said, “The recent recovery of the rand exchange rate versus other currencies, in addition to a level of marketing support from our source plants, has enabled a review of the pricing of the Opel Zafira and Astra Coupé,” he said. “We are pleased to be in a position to make this adjustment in a time of ever-increasing vehicle prices,” said Nicholls.
The Coupé Turbo drops R13 100 from R238 100 to R225 000, while the Zafira MPV goes down from R229 600 to R195 000. Delta’s other vehicle prices have increased by between 1,5 and 3 per cent.
At entry level, a first-time car buyer will now be paying R68 990 for a new 1,3 Toyota Tazz, up from R67 305 last month. The Volkswagen CitiGolf Chico has been increased from R60 270 to R61 900, but now has a 1,4- rather than a 1,3-litre engine. However, another first-time car favourite, the Opel Corsa Lite, has remained at R68 600.
Higher up the market, the Opel Corsa 1,4iS has increased from R92 400 to R96 600. The Volkswagen Golf 2,0 Highline is now R177 530, compared with R172 360 last month, whereas the Opel Astra Classic 2,0 CDX goes from R172 470 to R177 650.
The base Toyota Corolla 1,3-litre has gone up from R92 210 to R94 980, and the 1,6 GL has increased from R116 215 to R130 575.
In the SUV market, the three-door Toyota RAV4 has jumped from R265 390 to R268 045.
Anyone in the market for an Audi A4 will be paying R208 000 for the standard two-litre model, up from R196 000, while the South African 2002 Car of the Year, the 1,9 TDI has gone up from R224 500 to R238 000.
Among the other Audi models, the A6 3,0 Multitronic increases from R366 000 to R383 500, a jump of R17 500, and the A8 4,2 quattro Tiptronic goes up R24 000 from R577 000 to R601 000. And you will be paying just over R10 000 more for an Audi TT Coupé, which is up from R347 500 to R358 000.
Korean manufacturer Kia has increased its Pregio van by a whopping R29 000 – it went up from R125 995 to R154 995. Among the other Kia vehicles, the Sportage 4×4 has gone from R189 995 to R194 995, while the Shuma II has increased from R136 800 to R142 980.
Fiat prices went up on June 12. The Uno Mia three-door will now cost R53 900, up from R52 059 and the Seicento Sporting went from R74 142 to R79 300. The Palio 1,2 five-door increased from R85 791 to R88 900. Some Alfa Romeo prices increased on June 1 (the 147 1,6 remained at R165 000), including the 147 2,0 Selespeed, up from R191 780 to R199 252, and the 156 2,0 Twin Spark, from R191 780 to R202 629.
Mercedes-Benz increased its prices for some of its models in June, and CARtoday.com reported last week that BMW South Africa announced its increases for July on Friday with the prices of its models going up by between 5 and 8,5 per cent.
Do you think these increases are fair?