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: 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 ...

Buying used: Pre-owned champs

ALTHOUGH buying a new car is undoubtedly filled with a sense of occasion and joy, it is always done with the knowledge that at least 15 per cent of a new car’s value falls away as soon as you drive it off the showroom floor. That is why so many shrewd shoppers go for a nearly-new pre-owned vehicle. ...

Buying guide: Toyota Avensis (2006 – 2009)

PERHAPS it was the combination of a new name and new styling, or maybe it was the premium price that made the Avensis sell in smaller quantities than it deserved. Answers on a postcard, but it does make for an excellent used purchase as it has a compact body that suits the needs of the vast majority ...

Buying used: Porsche Boxster 986 (1996 – 2005)

THE first-generation Porsche Boxster was introduced in South Africa as long ago as 1996 and the launch was covered in that year’s September issue of CAR. The model had a long nine-year lifespan before the introduction of the 987 version in 2005.WHICH MODEL?The original Boxster used a 2,5-litre flat-six ...

Buying used: Alfa Romeo 156 (1998–2007)

SUPERSEDED by the 159 only towards the end of 2006, the Alfa Romeo 156 was well received due to its stunning styling and sporty powertrains and enjoyed a long production run of nine years. Clever design characteristics include hidden rear door handles that make the four-door saloon look like a coupé. ...

Buying used: Kia Sportage (2005-2010)

KIA has been marketed in South Africa since 1998 and since then the manufacturer has become a sister company to Hyundai following a major downturn in the Korean economy. Fortunes have changed and the brand is now a well-respected member of the motoring establishment, helped in no small way by the success ...