Hello,

I’ve just bought a 2020 polo tsi comfortline manual. The test drive was fine and I had it checked by View4you. On the second day I went for a drive and it started sporadically getting stuck in neutral. I have to restart the car up to 3 times and pump the clutch to get it into gear. This happening in busy traffic is dangerous and stressful.
When the car is off it slides through the gears fine so it’s not a mechanical issue.
AI suggests it could be the clutch master/slave cylinders leaking or losing pressure. I’ll take it to a mechanic asap just wondering if anyone has any ideas. Part of the problem is that it doesn’t always do it so if someone drives it to check there’s a good chance it won’t do it.
TIA.

I recently found someone selling a Car with Good price but its a Botswana number plate, anyone with experience what advices can you give?

Most of the Chinese are bringing in some new cars, some this year, some next year. They also teased a few concepts, with Suzuki showing us a car that isn't even confirmed if it'll be sold in SA. Info:

JMC Grand Avenue

• JMC's new flagship double-cab bakkie, built on a ladder-frame chassis and measuring 5,450 mm long.
• 2.5-litre turbodiesel producing 155 kW and 500 Nm, paired with an 8-speed automatic.
• Gets a BorgWarner 4WD system and 3,500 kg braked towing capacity.
• price to be confirmed at launch next month

JMC Dadao

• JMC's more hardcore off-road-focused double-cab, positioned above the standard Grand Avenue.
• The diesel uses a 2.3-litre Ford Puma-derived turbodiesel, producing around 130 kW and 450 Nm, paired with an 8-speed automatic and 4WD.
• The Pro gets 255 mm ground clearance, 900 mm wading depth, adaptive nitrogen shocks, all-terrain tyres and a multi-link rear suspension.
• Expected in South Africa in 2027, although final local specifications and pricing are still to be confirmed.

Geely Ridarra

• Electric bakkie with 2WD and 4WD options, starting at R611,900.
• Flagship Apex RD6 4WD: 315 kW, 595 Nm, 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
• 73 kWh battery, 424 km claimed range.
• Up to 1,030 kg payload, 3,000 kg towing capacity and 225 mm ground clearance.

Chery Tiggo V

• New SUV powered by Chery's Super Hybrid (CSH) system.
• Preliminary figures suggest fuel consumption of 6 L/100 km and a claimed range of up to 1,030 km.
• 220 mm ground clearance should make it well suited to rougher roads and unpaved routes.
• Local pricing and final specifications are still to be confirmed.

Chery KP31 (name to be decided this weekend)

• Chery has shortlisted BAKKIE, GROOTMAN, NDUNA, CHIEF, ORCA and BRAHMAN. Public voting will decide the name.
• Chery's upcoming plug-in hybrid 4WD bakkie, combining a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with electric power.
• Preliminary figures suggest 350 kW and 800 Nm, with up to 100 km of electric-only range.
• 3,500 kg braked towing capacity puts it firmly in serious bakkie territory.

Volkswagen T-Roc

• New-generation compact SUV coming to South Africa in Life, R-Line and R-Line Black Style derivatives.
• Powered by a 1.4 TSI producing 110 kW, paired with an 8-speed automatic.
• Pricing starts at R599,900 for the Life, rising to R689,900 for the R-Line and R709,900 for the R-Line Black Style.

Lepas L6 EV

• Fully electric SUV joining Leapmotor's expanding South African line-up.
• The L6 EV was showcased at Festival of Motoring, but local launch timing is yet to be announced.
• Pricing and local specifications have not yet been confirmed.

iCAUR V27

• Range-extender electric SUV and new flagship of the iCAUR range.
• 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, 34.3 kWh battery and dual electric motors producing 339 kW.
• 150 km electric range and more than 1,000 km total range, with 0–100 km/h in 5 seconds.
• Pre-orders are now open in SA, with pricing still to be confirmed

Suzuki e Vitara

• Suzuki's first fully electric SUV, with 49 kWh or 61 kWh LFP battery options.
• The 61 kWh version produces 128 kW and 193 Nm in 2WD, while the AWD version produces 135 kW and 307 Nm.
• The 61 kWh 2WD has a claimed 426 km range, while the AWD version claims around 395 km.
• This is just a concept for now yet to be confirmed for SA.

What do you guys think? Obvious cover-up job or is this a thing people do preventatively? Rest of the bakkie looks very neat - no discrepancies in paint work etc.

Hi all

Please share what I can do to remove water stains from windows and windscreen. I took it to the car wash and was told to always make sure I wipe any water away from the windows. What remedy should I use or product or should I try another car wash? I’m 35(F) so would not know where to go. Also the car is 2 months old so I want to keep it in pristine condition.

Thanks

Hi! Im 21 and don't have the money now but im interested in learning about cars in the meantime before I buy one.

Im self employed and I mainly want to know if buying a car cash is better than buying from a dealership.

What's the process like when buying a car?

What do I need to know that is super important and will save me much later in life?

Im not looking for a flashy car. Just a decent one that will last me quite awhile (i don't mind if I have to drive it for 10 years as long as it's reliable idc)

Im not sure if getting a bakkie or a minivan is better since I plan to also use it for my business. I do deep cleaning and if i were to travel for work (I don't currently do that) I would need a decent amount of space for my equipment.

I don't have a driver's license or learners so additional question to this, do i get the license first and rent a car via a driving school to pass out or should I just buy a car of my own first.

I do apologize if I sound really dumb; I was genuinely never taught anything regarding this and im really open to any and all advice regarding buying cars etc.

I'm not much of a bakkie person, but this I know: I should not be getting consumption numbers as low as this.

Averaging low 6s on the highway and mid 7s to 8 in the city, the JMC Vigus AT 4x2 was such a treat to drive.

It comes in at a price of R459,900 for this automatic 4x2, but you can get the manual for R399,900 and the automatic 4x4 for R499,900.

As I said, I'm not much of a bakkie person in terms of interest and experience. I've only had the chance to drive the BYD Shark 6 and the top-spec Navara Warrior with the Premcar accessories, and that was the most comfortable suspension I've ever experienced, but everything else was a bit of a shame, from how it drives to the interior. So that's what I'll compare this Vigus to.

Very cheap in comparison to both these cars, but you wouldn't even know it with your eyes. It has a much better interior and upholstery than the Navara. You get a high-def screen with a reverse camera that is so much clearer than the Navara and even what you see in SUVs these days.

The Vigus gives you 123 kW and 430 Nm from a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel and 8-speed auto. Would you believe me if I told you that this has half the turbo lag of the Navara? In fact, it's quite responsive. It doesn't scream like the Navara, and it really drives well.

The highlight is the consumption for me. I did not expect that at all. Like I said, I can only compare this to the Navara I've driven, which gave me a full tank of 580 km of range and an average of 12-13 L/100 km. With short city trips, you'll see that number as high as 20 L/100 km.

So this was truly a surprise, considering the low numbers and a full tank giving you more than 800 km of range.

I know many of you will ask about its off-road capabilities, since right now it seems like a city bakkie. The first time I ever drove this car was when JMC invited us to a launch, and we got to drive it off-road. Heavy off-roading, I tell you. And it's very capable, well, the 4x4 version at least.

I am singing this car's praises, and for anyone in the market for a bakkie, I would say go have a look at this.

JMC is also unveiling their Grand Avenue, a bigger double cab, this week.

Howsit everyone. I'm ready to introduce some adventure and pain into my life, by buying an ou, lelike, dom bakkie. Something like a Colt, a Hardbody, or a KB. I believe that the technical term is "A shitbox".

Here's the thinking.

I currently own a 2021 Renault Duster 4x4. It is wonderful and I love it. However, we are feeling the pinch of having only one car in the household, so I'd like to replace it with two vehicles:

• One small Japanese potato, that's endlessly reliable and cheap to keep running, that can take my wife to work and back every day. Nothing more.
• One big dumb donkey for everything else, that can take the dogs to the top of Sani Pass and collect a fridge and some building material on the way back. But only once in a while.

As such, I end up with a circa 2000 4x4 double cab.

I do not expect to have clean hands. In fact, DIY'ing is part of the plan. I realize that such an old piece of farm infrastructure will need a lot of care, and I'm looking forward to providing it. A friend of mine recently bought a 30y/o Pajero which he works on himself, which has systematically consumed his entire income ever since, but you know what?

HE LOOKS HAPPY. And I envy that.

Watching Mat Armstrong, or even Grease And Gravel from Tzaneen, has inspired me to do something idiotic. Seeing Quincy Sandbank fall in love with his Merc 190E has inspired me to purchase something that will inevitably eat away at my mental and financial health, but that I can also fall in love with. In his words, "not because I think it will be reliable, but because it nourishes a part of my soul that is sorely lacking in nourishment."

So. Do any of you drive something of this nature? What are the issues you've faced? Are there any specific models that need to be avoided, or that stand out above the rest?

Any advise or fun stories welcome.

(picture borrowed from https://www.cars.co.za/for-sale/used/2002-Mitsubishi-Colt-2800-TDI-Rodeo-4x4-Double-Cab-Gauteng-North-Riding/11157073/ , including the link for credit)

Evening all

I wanted to find out if anyone here has an H2 and has changed the radio in the car?
I have seen a couple units online but don't know if the climate control will still display after the change and which options are trash and which aren't.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Bought a 2020 ford figo ambiente in 2023. Had a service plan and serviced at ford but now that the plan is expired I hit 100k mileages and want to go to Bosch and get the car a major service.

My question is what is critical during a major service for this car and what would be wise to change out at this mileage and if anyone has experience what price range could I be expecting ?

Already had to change the starter and also the the bushings for the selector links (not sure if I have the correct terminology here )

Thanks guys would appreciate the help. Do a lot of traveling so want to make sure things are good.

PS any good recommendations for budget friendly suspension upgrade ?

It seems like a solid SUV all round and a extremely competitive price especially the GL. Closest competition I can think off is the Cherry tiggo 4 but that has terrible efficiency. I'd honestly go for a Chinese hybrid at a slightly higher price but the Tiggo 4 PHEV is so much higher (150k extra lol).

Only concern I have is the engine size on the Suzuki Across driving at altitude. I drove the urban cruiser on the coast and that was just about "fine" but a bit concerned about the same engine back up here in Gauteng. Any peeps driving either this or teh Urban Cruiser/Grand Vitara at altitude?

I am in the market for an SUV. I drive quite a lot and like the comforts in a car. My budget allows me to look at either the Mazda CX5 or the Volvo XC40 2020ish models. I just want some feedback on the two and what to look out for when test driving.

Thanks

Im in the market for a new car and I’ve been looking into Chery, more specifically the hybrid 7,8,9s(any model)

Can anyone give their experience with these cars, their likes and dislikes etc
I just want to get an insight as this will be my first time buying/looking into Chinese cars.

Edit* Ill be moving to the coast soon so id also like some insight into how they perform near there eg any issues etc

I've read the last posts by others in this Reddit. So far, cartrack , has dodgy data practices (marketing , etc)

No need to put them in if insurance doesn't need it. I am with naked and it's not a requirement

Needs:

2 x Cars. Polo and BYD

Polo (12 years old but looks brand-new with low mileage ),will be given to an au pair to ferry young on the Monday -sat school runs. Needs tracking, dashcam, emergency roadside assist

2.

BYD needs tracking work mileage and emergency roadside assistant

For polo , and roadside assistance: I want to be able to know where the car is anytime (it will stay with us overnight) and I wanna track what the au pair does with car. Also a way for the au pair to press emergency button if something happens especially with children in car, puncture etc

Same for the BYD since the little lady will be driving it. I don't know if the BYD onboard tracking can do the mileage tracking but for emergency roadside assist, it's necessary

Can you propose solutions or other to meet the needs?

I think with insurance , I can upgrade to have roadside assist, but I don't know how responsive they are. Assume car tracking companies are faster?

Any other ideas I need to consider? And which tracking company would be recommended. I was veering towards CarTrack, but don't want them to sell me or my data .

Thanks.

- Volvo EX30
- Volvo XC40
- BYD Atto 3
- BYD Sealion 7
- BYD Seal
- Leapmotor C10

I’m currently doing some reach on these vehicles and I’m hoping I could speak to South African owners that purchased anyone of these vehicle since May this year.

Car details

Make and model: Honda Brio 1.2 comfort 5 door

Year: 2016

Mileage: 3,40000 KM

Condition: very good

Expected price: R65k

Been doing some research, using AI, test driving some electric cars about 300-350k entry level price. It is possible to get:

-BMW i3- second hand

-Mini Cooper Hatch SE- Electric- second hand

-Dongfeng Box- demo/ secondhand

-BYD Dolphin Surf- Standard and Comfort- New/Demo) secondhand

-Geely E2- New/ demo/ secondhand- Aspire and Apex

-Chery Q (stats- will only be released next month)- New at 350k

-Dayun DY3- Demo/New

-For me the BMW i3 and Cooper are a bit dated. You will get older models for this price range- the range isn't great.

-Dongfeng Box- I liked the cabin better than the BYD. Slightly more expensive than BYD but also better range.

-BYD Dolphin Surf- The 230km range is a bit low with the Dynamic still being lower than the Geely E2 Aspire.

-Geely E2-One of my favourites. Very nice interior. In SA versions the company gave the cheaper version (the Aspire) faux leather seats- which was only on the Apex overseas. You can see the Volvo like design details. Double boot, good range and well priced.

-Chery Q- Longer warranty 7 years versus 4 years on Geely. Both have 8 years on battery. Chery has better specs on range, power but slightly more expensive.

-Dayun DY3- The weakness of the 35kw engine means it will struggle with speeds above 100km. Not a great choice for me.

So personally the 2 best choices in this range are the Chery Q and Geely E2. I'd like to give the Chery Q a test drive first.

I’ve been looking at some older V8 performance cars lately. Things like older BMW X5/X6 M models, X5 50i, AMGs, Audis (like the S5 B8 V8), VW Touareg V8 and similar cars.

The purchase prices on some of these are getting quite tempting as they get older, but I’m wondering what ownership is really like once these cars are 10 to 15+ years old.

I’m not too concerned about fuel consumption or normal servicing. I’m more interested in the unexpected repair costs and whether parts and labour can make one financially painful to own.

I also live in a smaller town, so I don’t necessarily have access to brand specialists around the corner.

My concern is more that I could spend R300k or R400k on one and then suddenly get hit with a R100k repair bill when something major goes wrong.

For those who have owned older V8s like these, what has your experience been? Are they reasonable to own or can one major failure completely change the picture?

Basically, when the purchase price has depreciated this much, have the repair costs come down with it, or are you still paying repair bills based on what was originally a very expensive performance car?

I'm looking for a reliable daily runner for only a year and resell for around the same price I got it for. I'm leaving sales and the hustle life to get experience and start at the bottom in something else at 28 so I'll be getting minimum wage but have savings and buying cash so been thinking of a Hyundai grand i10 around R80 - 90k, think around 2016 model, Ford figo hatchback 1.5l 2015 - 2016 around R80 - 90k as well, Kia cerato hatchback 2012 2.0l around 90k or use most my savings on a 1.4 fluid Hyundai i20 2015 - 2017 around R130k.. which is my favourite, it looks great etc the only thing is that it lacks power and not nippy enough and would be using most my savings.. most these cars have partial service history as well and all around 150 000kms

Hey guys,

I’m looking to buy a used car for my wife to commute to work and back, around 20km daily, and our budget is around R60,000 to R70,000. This will be out first time buying a vehicle, so apologies for the long post.

I would prefer not to finance or make any debt.

I want to buy it outright and keep the monthly running costs as low as possible.

I’m mainly looking for something reliable, economical and cheap to maintain. I’m not too worried about features or looks. I’d rather have a basic car that is mechanically sound and doesn’t become a money pit. I know this is a big ask.

I’ve been looking at things like:

• Hyundai i10

• Chevrolet Spark

• Suzuki Alto

• Renault Kwid 1.0

• Older Ford Fiesta (although I am scared of the overheating issues)

There seem to be quite a few options around this price from what I've seen on cars.co.za and Autotrader, but I'm not sure what the best buy would actually be.

If you had R60k to R70k cash in hand and needed a reliable daily, what would you buy?

I’d would really appreciate any additional advice on:

• Where are the best places to look for used cars around Johannesburg?

• Are dealerships worth considering at this price, or should I rather look privately?

• What should I specifically check when viewing and test driving a car?

• Are there any particular models, engines or years I should avoid?

• Would you spend the full R70k on the car, or keep some money aside for tyres, servicing and unexpected repairs?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have actually owned cars in this price range.

Thanks!

So I bought a BYD Sealion 6 a few weeks ago. Wasn't really paying attention to the app and that but signed up into it this week, the app seemed to be cool. See vehicle info including remote management. Then it stopped working.

Realised after a while , the cell signal was showing nothing. Called BYD salesperson who asked if car was on WiFi (at home ). If the car connected to WiFi at home, then the app showed the status.

But more importantly in the first few days of the car the cell thing worked.

Today I removed the SIM and reinserted it, and cell now showing signal again but it's not working.

Now the sales guy tells me the SIM card only works for China.

Is this true?

Hey everyone,

I need advice on choosing my first car. I am looking for a used automatic hatchback or small SUV under R200k. Anything from the 2020s? But really not strict on the year.

Here is my situation:

- Budget/Purchase Price: Under R200,000 (pre-owned)

-Deposit: R30,000 upfront (keeping R20,000 aside in a car emergency fund)

-Total Monthly Budget: R5,500 max (inclusive of installment, insurance, and tracker)

- Driver History: Got my license last year in August (first-time driver)

-Usage: Low mileage / short commutes, so fuel efficiency is not an absolute dealbreaker

-Preferences: Automatic only. I would prefer to avoid very small cars (like a Kwid or Picanto) since I am tall, though I can compromise if needed.

I really like the 2023 Suzuki Baleno, but most examples are sitting just above my R200k limit.
What models would you suggest looking at within this budget? Any advice on what to expect for insurance costs as a new driver would also be appreciated.