Buying a Car in South Africa
Despite an expansive and efficient public transportation system, most working South African adults consider buying a car a necessity. Particularly those residing outside metropolitan areas. While most view buying a car as a milestone in their personal success, it’s still essential to understand the car-buying process. So, whether you’re buying a new or used car, you have to consider multiple factors. Perhaps as a result, it’s so easy to let the present overshadow careful research. In this article, eKomi has explored a few essential tips to help you make the right decision.
Identify your basic needs
Keep in mind that a car is primarily a tool that should make life easier. Before even starting your search, decide precisely what your top car-related needs are for your individual situation. From the start, defining the type of car that suits your practical needs immediately eliminates a lot of the “noise” and narrows down your search parameters. Just as in any retail experience, shopping for something specific without a defined focus often leads to impulsive, budget-busting decisions.
How and Where Can I Find a Car?
After determining the type of vehicle that fits your needs (new or used). There are typically two types of car dealerships to choose from: online and offline. Online dealerships offer the opportunity to narrow down a search based on preferences, budget, and mileage. While offline, it similarly offers the same, but there is an added advantage. One has the ability to see the vehicle in person, ask questions, and receive guidance from knowledgeable salespeople.
In view of the fact that SA is a massive country with endless options, each of the aforementioned has advantages and disadvantages, so doing your research is vital in finding the solution that works for you. Besides, shopping between car dealerships without first narrowing down options through initial research isn’t advised. So, the question that remains is, how do you select the best car dealership?
Selecting the Best Car Dealership
It’s better to take expert advice before directly dealing with private sellers or local dealers. Unless you’re buying a car from a close friend or a family member. eKomi, a well-known online review platform, has added a new StarInsights category to their business evaluation and rating forum.
The StarInsights are a recurring series based on conducting research into a specific sector’s market research data and evaluating leading companies and businesses with a decent number of favourable user ratings and reviews. Consequently, in this fast-paced digital world, most purchases are made online, and if you are to buy a car from a dealership, you need to consider the following:
Reviews
Reviews are a great tool to distinguish trustworthy dealerships from those that are less reliable. There are several websites to choose from if you are looking for local auto dealerships. Everyone will claim to be the best. Nonetheless, you may view ratings from actual customers just like yourself by reading real reviews from real individuals. This has the merit of giving you the whole picture and enabling you to identify any potential problems.
Checking local car review websites will give you the lowdown on the features, performance, strengths, and weaknesses of different models of car. The car dealerships listed online are arranged according to Star Rating, Trust Index, and Net Promoter score, offering you the most important information about which dealerships to take into consideration. Overall reviews can help answer any important factors to consider when purchasing a car, including:
- Reputation of the dealership: Reviews can give you an idea of the dealership’s reputation, which can help you determine if they are trustworthy and reliable.
- Quality of the cars: Reviews can give you insights into the quality and performance of the cars sold by the dealership. This information can help you determine if the cars meet your needs and expectations.
- Buying process: Reviews can help you understand the buying process and what to expect, such as how long it takes, the level of customer service, and the negotiation process.
- After-sales service: provided by the dealership, such as the quality of repairs, maintenance, and customer support.
Get the best car deal
When purchasing a new or used car, the best advice is to always take your time and “DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!”. Now you’re ready to choose your dealership and drive off with a new car. Remember to pick your dealership with care and keep your eye on the prize. And, let’s face it, who doesn’t love landing a good deal?
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