The year is almost over, and it’s now time for the big rush
to get the licenses, and get that independence your young’un has been craving,
and for that sense of freedom, there is no better way of getting this than
having your very own car.
I have put together a list of the top 5 student cars I would
recommend, all of which can be bought second hand for under R50 000. The cars
were selected by the following criteria.
Value for money, build quality, performance, reliability, and
running costs. Here then is the list in no particular order.
2000 Ford Ka
Yes, you most likely have to give birth to it before you can
say it is a good looking car, but it is extremely fun and very easy to drive.
It is light, nippy, has good fuel economy, and surprisingly spacious. It is
almost 15 years old now, so expect some rattles. Expect to pay roughly R50 000
2008 Kia Picanto
Another one in the line-up who does not look as good, but,
value for money nothing will beat this little gem. It takes getting used to the
clutch, but the build quality I would recon is better than any car I will
mention here. Services are dirt cheap, and it’s extremely light on fuel. It’s
not fast, but its little 1100 cc engine is no slouch either. With some shopping
you will be able to pick one up for about R45 000
2005 Opel Corsa Lite
With its radical styling they do offer a sense of fun,
although I find them tiresome to drive. Constant fighting with the heavy clutch,
and the forceful nature of having to operate the control just makes this a car
a bit heavy. But nonetheless, it is a very good option with the ability to
exite. It is nippy, spacious, and when driven properly can be very fuel
economical. Services though is a bit on the high side. Expect to pay around R45
000
2004 Hyundai Getz
This car shows its age on the inside, clad with plastic and
big buttons, and offering the bare basics, however it is by far the most spacious
in this lineup, and services are also affordable. It gets you from A to B
without much fuss, an easy driver in general. It has a tendency to rattle, but
it will do so still looking good on the outside. With a bit of haggling, you
should be able to pick up one in a good condition for around R43 000
2005 Mazda 323
The least refined car in this list, but the one with the
most soul. This is the ultimate in motoring. Parts are cheap, it is easy to
work on, reliable, easy to drive, very spacious, and very fuel economic. They
are also well priced, with a good one for around R35 000. It is still a risky
vehicle to drive, but the pros outweigh the cons.
Then, there are those who came in just over the price, but it has one or two issues I am concerend about.
2004 VW Polo
The 2004 VW polo to be precise. They are extremely reliable,
parts are abundant, and it is very easy to drive. I find them lacking in the
driving experience area, but that is my personal opinion. They are fast,
spacious, and aged rather well. The only thing to consider is the insurance, as
they are liked by Hi-Jackers, and because of this, I most likely will not be
advising this car as a viable option.
2004 Ford Fiesta
It is a fantastic car, light on fuel, average build quality,
spacious, but it was disqualified as they are still very expensive, so much so
you can get a much newer ford Figo for the same price.
VW Citi Golf
Again, it is the ultimate student car, but, sadly, because
they are no longer in production, the theft and insurance costs makes them non-viable,
and very susceptible to theft and hijacking
0 comments:
Post a Comment