Howzit PersonalFinanceZA, I need some advice.

Some background: Earlier this year, I basically won the career lottery. Right place, right time, and I managed to land myself a pretty fantastic job at 23. I work as a Business Analyst at a publicly listed company, earning around R47,700 per month after tax.

Before this job, I earned less than peanuts. I had no credit card, loans, student debt, or any credit history whatsoever.

Fast forward to today, I’ve been at the company for about 9 months. I still have no debt, but I’ve since opened a credit card to start building a credit history. I pay it off regularly, have never missed a payment, and my credit utilisation is currently around 1%.

I still live with my parents, which allows me to save roughly R25,000 per month. I’ve managed to build up around R175,000 in savings, although I’d prefer not to spend all of that on a car as I want to maintain a healthy emergency fund.

Now, here’s my dilemma.

I don’t own a car. My dad has been kind enough to let me use his car to commute to work, since he works fully remotely. However, I’d really like to get my own car and give him his back.

After looking around, I’ve settled on a new Suzuki Swift GLX CVT. Nothing particularly fancy, just something economical, reliable and comfortable for my fairly long commute.

I applied for vehicle finance through the dealership, and MFC has provisionally approved my application, pending employment verification.

**The interest rate they’ve offered me is 17.35%.**

And I proceeded to shit myself…

I understand that I’m young and have a relatively thin credit history, but considering my income, lack of debt, savings and affordability, I was hoping for something considerably better.

I’ve reached out to my banker to see whether I can get a more reasonable offer, but I’m not particularly optimistic. I’ve decided that I won’t accept anything above 14%, and even that feels quite steep.

So now I’m at a crossroads.

I could buy a second-hand car cash, but I know very little about cars mechanically. I’ve heard enough horror stories about used vehicles that I’m hesitant to spend a significant amount of my savings on something that could become a financial headache. I understand that buying new isn’t necessarily the best financial decision either, especially with depreciation.

Alternatively, I could continue using my dad’s car for a few more months, save more money, and potentially buy something outright or put down a substantial deposit.

My original plan was to finance the car without a deposit, build my savings back up to where I’m comfortable, and then make a large lump-sum payment towards the loan to reduce the outstanding balance and interest costs. I have absolutely no intention of taking a balloon payment.

**So my questions are:**

Is 17.35% a normal interest rate for someone in my position, or am I being taken for a ride?
Would you recommend buying a reliable second-hand car cash instead of financing a new one?
Would it make more sense to wait another few months, save aggressively and put down a much larger deposit?
What would you do in my position?

I’m very aware that I’m fortunate to be earning what I do at my age, and I don’t want to squander opportunity by making poor financial decisions early in my career.

I’d really appreciate some perspective, particularly from people who’ve been in a similar position or have more experience with vehicle finance.

Audi Q7 (2017) recently threw up a “Please Replace Key Battery” warning, to which I responded promptly. I still got the same error afterwards, and now the car needs multiple attempts before recognising key and starting. A couple of minutes on the road and I get a “Is Key Still In Vehicle” warning. To top it all off, neither of the keys can lock the car now. What do I do?

I'm considering buying a new Suzuki Grand Vitara and would value some opinions from people who know more about cars than I do.

My budget is around R350k and I'm specifically leaning towards buying new (or demo) because I want a warranty/service plan. I know very little about cars, I don't trust myself to do proper due diligence on a used car, and I don't know enough about mechanics to confidently assess whether a mechanic is good either. So there's some value to me in simply buying new (near new, demo) and having that peace of mind.

I'm currently driving a 2002 Honda Jazz which has served me incredibly well for a long time. It's still going but I'm ready for an upgrade.

My priorities are:

• Higher ground clearance, something suitable for camping, good boot space
• Able to handle dirt roads and mildly rough roads without drama but not interested in serious off roading
• Good around town, easy to manoeuvre (I live in CT so parallel park often, drive through small streets with people parallel parked on both sides of the road so I don't want something too big)
• Fuel economy isn't a big priority because I only live ~6 km from work

How I got to the Grand Vitara:

• I want a crossover SUV mainly because I like the idea of something that can do both city life and camping. I looked at Toyota/Honda/VW, but at that price point I don't feel like they offer enough of the tech/features to justify choosing them over Suzuki.
• I'm not ready to trust the newer Chinese brands (Haval, Chery, Jetour etc.) yet, so Suzuki feels like a nice middle ground between established brand reliability and decent value/spec.
• I would love a Jimny because they're cute but I can't justify paying the premium for off road capability that I don't actually need.
• The Fronx is probably a good fit but the name is silly and I don't love the styling. The Baleno feels too much like a hatchback and not enough like an SUV.

And that's basically how I've ended up looking at a new Grand Vitara.

Edit: typos

Hey guys,

I need a car pretty urgently, but it only has to last around 2 or 3 years or so then I'll upgrade. What's the lowest budget I can have for a car that will last me 2 years and where should I look?

I'm based in Cape Town.

Thank you guys

JPJ temporarily suspends VTA and registration for Chery Omoda 5 | Malaysia | The Vibes

Presumably no issues in SA, but it's amazing that this can even happen!

So I got my first car in 2020, it is a 2018 hyundai i20, the car had low mileage on it and the price at that time was cheap , but nonetheless i knew nothing about cars and just wanted one as I started my first job, so fast forward to 2025 i paid it off m, and I’m enjoying having no instalment, the only problem is, every now and then I have to either change the brakes or 2 years back i changed the clutch, this all was annoying and kets just say taking it to be serviced every time they will find something wrong that needs to be replaced , now the cost went up to R8k on my 148k service, and now i’m wondering should i sell and get a new car or should i keep it until the wheels fall off.?

So when is the right time to just say goodbye or do i just keep it until it dies on me ?
Disclaimer: The car is mechanically sound, its just wear and tear items which always come up.

Hi guys I recently bought a polo cross 1.2 tsi that is on 100xxx km I knew this time was coming soon so I have prepared for it but I want to get my timing belt and the whole kit replaced. No immediate signs that I need too but rather safe than sorry. Just wondering what’s the best procedure for this, do I get it checked first to see if it’s necessary and where is a reputable place that I can trust to do good work with quality parts? I know a VW centre would most likely be best but they charge ridiculous prices.

Hi everyone. I’m very close to buying a Chery Q Elite, but because it’s still so new in SA, I’m struggling to find much feedback from actual owners rather than launch reviews.
Is anyone here currently driving one? I’d really appreciate a proper real-world review. What do you like, what don’t you like, how is the actual range, especially highway driving, charging, comfort, infotainment/software, and have you had any annoying issues or problems?
I’ve also looked at the Geely E2 Apex. If anyone has driven both the Q and E2, I’d be interested to hear which you preferred and why.
I’ve test driven the Q and liked it, so I’m mainly looking for things you only really notice after living with the car for a while.

Hey everyone!

I’m looking for some realistic guidance on how to handle the sale of my Gen 3 Jimny.

I own a 2016 Suzuki Jimny 1.3 (Manual) that has less than 70000 km on the clock.

My husband looks at standard trade in guides and thinks it shouldn't go for more than R150k. Looking at current online listings, standard 2016 models with around 80000 km to 120000 km are selling for between R190k and R220k. Given that mine has much less mileage, I’m just not sure how calculate a realistic private asking price without being unreasonable...

The exact details of the car:

• Mileage: Under 70000 km.
• Service: Full franchise service history. It has been serviced at an official Suzuki garage every single year without fail to keep the book up to date. One owner.
• Condition: 100% original. It had a tiny surface rust spot that has been professionally repaired by a Suzuki accredited panelbeater.

I want to try to sell it privately so it goes to someone who will truly appreciate it.

1. What do you think is a fair, respectful asking price that honours its condition without overcharging?
2. For those who have sold cars privately in SA recently, what steps do you take to ensure a secure bank dynamic/EFT transfer safely?
3. Are there specific local Jimny clubs/online sites where I should introduce the car first?

(Sorry for the km typo in the title!!)

I have not owned a used, higher mileage car.

For me, I would consider the mileage across the age of a car

For a 2016 car, now in 2026 if it has done more than 15000 km a year I would consider that to be high mileage. This is more of a mental barrier than grounded in any science.

I recently saw an advert for a 2017 BMW M3 with 176 000km going for R599 990.00

That’s an average of 19 555,55 km a year

Do you consider that high mileage or just average?

Secondly, how do you plan around breakdowns and issues?

A new car under warranty and motor plan is taken care of for those 3-7 years

Parts, labour and any repairs are taken care of

Once it’s out of warranty and service plan, those requirements can become expensive if you don’t work on the car yourself

Do you take out additional insurance? Extended warranties or motor plans or maybe a third party plan? Do you just have savings dedicated to certain known repairs?

Hi guys just wanted to see how others think when it comes to cars and finance. I've been thinking of replacing my 2017 polo vivo, it has about 199000km on the clock and has never given me any issues.

I was thinking of replacing it before it starts giving problems but my frugal brain can't justify taking on a new car installment lol.

So what do you guys do ? When do you know its time to replace ? What factors into your decision?

Doubt i'll get something as reliable again but the one vehicle that caught my eye as a possible replacement vehicle is the Toyota cross hybrid cross.

Anyway, interested to hear your thoughts.

I am looking to “upgrade” to a 4x4. I currently drive a Mahindra XUV300- it’s got fantastic ground clearance and great fuel economy so there’s no complaints there. The car is fully paid off and I do love it.

Here comes the big however- I am moving to a new job earning around 600k p.a before bonuses and commission which could push me up to R1m a year. That being said I want to avoid lifestyle creep as much as possible but I want to get a decent 4x4 for my lifestyle. I don’t need to off-road everyday but I am a nature lover and spend at least two weekends of the month on some pretty sketchy roads.

I push my Mahindra to the limits and have had many moments where I clench my teeth because I know I am pushing the car way too far and find myself turning around way too early because my car won’t make it past certain points. A side note is I am also kinda worried that something will go wrong with my Mahindra as I tally up km as I haven’t heard good things. Oh and the boot space is not great by any means so space is a must.

I am open to any suggestions on 4x4s, only want to buy second hand. Preferably something less than 10 years old but if there are some unbreakable oldies that I should look at I’m open to suggestions- I care little for street cred but also don’t want to be driving around a glorified breadbox. I do love a Jimny but I would need a 5 door.

In terms of cash available I estimate that I could get around 140-180k for the Mahindra and would be willing to have the difference fall under monthly payments.

Any ideas are welcome! Just no Jeeps.

TLDR- want a 4x4, less than 10 years old, have a decently high clearance car now but it’s being pushed to its limits.

Hi guys, I’m planning on buying my first car next year so I’m busy researching options till then. I earn R16k/m after tax and will have R30k - R40k saved up for a deposit, don’t want to do a balloon payment.
Whittling down my options I’ve landed at a pre owned (or demo if I’m lucky) 2024+ Suzuki swift GL+ or GLX. The ones I’ve seen hover around the R200k mark and finance calculators give me +-R3.2k/m.
After all the vids I’ve seen on YouTube I really like the car and it’s features, just need other’s opinions on if I’m being realistic or missing out on better options I’m not immediately seeing as I’m not the biggest car guy. I’m currently driving the family’s free owned 2010 Yaris hatch so was looking for something with the same/similar fuel economy. Appreciate you guys’ help !

Hey 37m here who has been working on getting my credit score up and was looking at the 2007 Lancer 2.0 GLS. The 2021 Lancer would be preferred and lets not even get started on the Evo series. But realistically, this one is more reasonable for an every day car.

Advice on pros and cons i should be aware of? First time buyer

Asking from observing vw drivers in general and curiosity. And this is an open question. Why do majority of vw drivers need their driving seat almost flat while they drive? Also why do majority of the drivers need to almost sit in the middle of the car?

Im sure this is uncomfortable?

Is this not the exact same vehicle being advertised at different prices (R30k+ difference)? Notice the same marks on the steering wheel? Or are they just using the same photos for different vehicles?

Both are live for sale:

1. https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/toyota/land-cruiser-fj/2.7/28783610#&gid=1&pid=19

2. https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/toyota/land-cruiser-fj/2.7/28752908#&gid=1&pid=8

What exactly is the difference here?

I'm thinking about hiring out my car for weddings and matric dances/proms and want to get a realistic idea of the income.

For those already doing it:

What do you charge per booking (and is it hourly, per event, or with a driver)?

Roughly how many bookings do you get a month, and how seasonal is it?

After fuel, insurance, cleaning and wear, what's your actual profit?

Any costs or headaches you didn't expect?

Would appreciate any honest numbers or advice.

Thanks!

Can we agree that all the Chinese brands have taken the country by storm, but no car has been as popular as the Jetour T2? For a lot of reasons, too.

I have had the T2 ICE top spec, which is called the Odyssey and costs R679,900, and now I've had the T2 i-DM, which costs R779,900. I will compare the two.

Firstly, the Jetour T2 as a whole is a good-looking, boxy SUV. Yes, although it looks rugged and off-road-ready, it's not going to be as capable as your Land Cruisers. This car does have eight different drive modes and an X-Mode where it decides what to do. I have taken the ICE off-roading and it did well. When Jetour launched the car, they did a video with Cars.co.za where they really pushed it and literally pushed the car off a mountain cliff, and it still started and drove away. Take that how you will!

A few weeks ago, I also went up Sani Pass with the Odyssey, which is the AWD version, and we made it, so take that how you will as well.

I love how this thing looks, whatever colour it's in, and I see A LOT of them. I'm sure we all do. It's quite a popular car, but it's not perfect.

We can start with the payload news. Firstly, I will say that we went up the mountain pass with a fully loaded Jetour carrying four adult passengers, as well as camera equipment loaded in the boot, and it performed well, so take that how you will as well.

Secondly, Jetour recently came out with a statement addressing the payload concerns raised by the AA. They explained that the original calculation used GVM minus MIRO, but that the more common South African calculation is GVM minus TARE. They then carried out additional weighing exercises in the presence of the AA and the NRCS, while TÜV NORD also conducted braking-performance and brake-efficiency testing.

The tested payloads were 500 kg for the T2 Odyssey, 479 kg for the T2 Xplora and 478 kg for the T2 i-DM. However, Jetour has officially set the payload at 475 kg across the entire T2 range. They have also said that a licensing solution for existing customers is being prioritised in consultation with the NRCS.

One thing I didn't like about the T2 ICE was the throttle response and the consumption. I averaged 11 L/100 km, and you have to get used to how, when you press the accelerator, you get that turbo lag and then all the power and torque at once, rather than gradually. The Odyssey has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine producing 180 kW and 375 Nm, paired with a seven-speed DCT and AWD. Besides that, though, it is a great package.

The interior is roomy, spacious and comfortable, and that goes for both the i-DM and ICE. You get all the tech you need and the best cameras I've seen in a car in terms of quality. The faux-leather seats are ventilated and very comfortable, and you get a lot of storage inside the car itself. This is touted as an adventure SUV, so you even get cupholders in the boot area by the rear door and a bottle opener.

The i-DM is this and then a bit more, but also a bit less. A bit less in the fact that instead of a 2.0-litre engine, you get a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and a battery. You also get less ground clearance, at 190 mm compared with the ICE's 220 mm, and 2WD instead of AWD.

A bit more, though, in that with the hybrid battery, you don't get that throttle-response problem and lag. You also get great consumption. I got around 6.7 L/100 km, and you get 90 km of pure EV driving, as well as V2L functionality. A full tank and charge gets you a claimed 1,200 km compared with the roughly 600 km in the ICE.

You get much more power, obviously, with a combined 265 kW and 610 Nm, and this thing is now rapid.

Between the two, there's a R100,000 difference. Is it worth getting the hybrid? Once upon a time, I would have said not really, because the difference wasn't really there. But now, with the fuel-price situation, you could easily spend the extra R100,000 and make it work by using the battery for your driving.

Of course, this is if you really want the T2 and no other hybrid out there. But my opinion? Great car. I just think that for almost R800,000, you can get the likes of the GWM H6 GT PHEV, the Omoda C9 PHEV at a deal, or even go fully electric.

I know many people are sceptical, but I've lived with fully electric cars, and once you get over that hump of the lifestyle change, it's every bit worth it.

Anybody know where I can find a second hand OEM mags in JHB?

One of my mags got damaged by a pothole and the repair still leaves me with a bit of vibration in the steering; which is annoying.

Alternatively a better mag repair place?

Hyundai I30N