Buying Used Cars

It’s essential to know the pros and cons of buying a used car, specifically which year and model of a vehicle will deliver the best long-term ownership experience. We discuss, in detail, when a particular model range was launched, updated and discontinued. We also delve into which engines provide the best performance and fuel consumption, as well as insights to the suspension, brakes, wheels and build quality.

Buying Used: Hyundai Tiburon (2003 to 2010)

THE first Tiburon (the word means shark in Spanish) tested by CAR in April 1997 had odd, bulbous styling. The second generation, launched in 2003, had everyone agreeing that this superb looker was worthy of greater sales success than its predecessor. It was offered with a 2,0-litre petrol engine and ...

Buying used: Renault Laguna (2001 – 2008)

LAUNCHED locally in November 2001, the second-generation Laguna that was offered in our market had style and comfort for those who wanted a break from the usual German offerings. Renault made great strides in interior quality with this model, while good interior space plus the versatility of a hatchback ...

Buying used: Mazda MX-5 (1990 – 2011)

DESIGNED in California, the MX-5 was just what Americans wanted. And, as it turned out, the rest of the world was quite happy to join in on the fun. Also known as the Miata, this name was dropped with the introduction of the third generation but many owners still use the quaint title.The soft top has ...

Buying used: Toyota Condor (2000-2005)

THE origins of the Toyota Condor can be traced to the Asia Pacific region in the mid-Seventies, which partly explains its robust body-on-ladder construction, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that it was a massively popular vehicle in its day. It replaced the Venture, a local development of the ...

Buying used: Kia Rio (2005-2011)

THE second-generation Rio was launched in South Africa in October 2005 with a complete moderni sation of styling and 1,4- and 1,6-litre engines replacing the outgoing 1,3- and 1,5-litre units.The 1,4 produces 70 kW and 127 N.m and the 1,6, which was introduced in 2008, delivers 82 kW and 146 N.m of torque. ...

Buying used: Nissan Micra (2004 - 2011)

HAVING missed out on the first two generations of Micra, South Africa received the third iteration in 2004, two years after its international launch. The styling was very different to the small-car norm and admired/loathed in equal measure for its quirkiness. Unusual for a light car, it featured a sliding ...

Buying used: Hyundai Sonata (2006 – 2010)

THE design team at Hyundai certainly started from scratch when it penned the fifth-generation (NF) Sonata: it’s the most elegant and understated of the first five generations, which ensures that it has long-term appeal. Because Hyundai got the design just right, it remained relatively unchanged in ...

Buying used: VW T5 Kombi (2004 – 2010)

The Volkswagen Transporter/Microbus/ Kombi has a storied history and remains highly popular as transport for people and goods (or as converted campers). Examples from the ‘50s, ‘60s and even the ‘70s are much sought after and prices are rising as they become rarer. As the years sped by, so the ...

Buying used: Mazda3 (2004-2009)

Mazda has always impressed with the reliability of its vehicles, a fact that stands them in good stead when there are so many choices available compared with the days when the 323 was one of a few good cars around.WHICH MAZDA3 MODEL?You have a choice between five-door hatch or four-door saloon, while ...

Buying used: Subaru Forester (2002-2008)

WHICH MODELThis generation of Forester had strong crossover appeal and offered a versatile blend of all-wheel drive ability and utility. The “cooking” models are the X and XS, which use a non-turbo 2,5-litre flat-four engine delivering 121 kW mated with a five-speed manual transmission with high ...