Brands like VW have an excellent reputation in South Africa and their cars sell well.
In December 2020, for example, VW sold over 6,000 new vehicles in South Africa – taking second spot for most sales by a brand behind Toyota.
One of VW’s most popular models in its lineup is the Polo.
The hatchback is large enough to drive your friends around, while offering comfort, safety, and modern features.
It is because of these reasons that the VW Polo is in demand and results in them having a good resale value in South Africa.
Typically, when a new car is purchased and leaves a dealership it loses a chunk of its value as it becomes “second-hand”.
This value gap then continues to grow as the car gets older and puts more kilometres on the clock.
Not all brands and models “devalue” at the same rate, however.
Cars from the likes of VW and Toyota often retain their value for longer than vehicles from competing brands.
Additional elements which help a car retain its value once it becomes “second-hand” is the availability of parts and support infrastructure (i.e. lots of dealerships across the country which can service your car).
The VW Polo
The new VW Polo is available in four models locally:
- Polo Trendline – R284,200
- Polo Comfortline – R322,400
- Polo Highline – R367,200
- Polo GTI – R437,300
The entry-level Trendline includes basic features as standard: electronic stability control, curtain airbags, and electric windows at the front.
The range-topping Polo GTI then adds more power – coming in at 147kW – DSG transmission, LED headlights, and a sporty body kit.
To see how well the top-of-the-line Polo retains its value, we will look at the GTI model and what its resale pricing is once it goes on sale in the used market.
Polo GTI – Option 1
The first used Polo GTI model selected is a 2020 vehicle with 8,500km on the clock, one previous owner, and the balance of a 3-year/45,000km service plan and 3-year/120,000km warranty.
The price: R449,900.
It comes in red and features a range of optional extras, including
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Active Info Display
- Park Distance Control
- Leather Heated Seats
- 18-inch Wheels
The price of buying a new Polo GTI with the extras listed above is R478,250.
This translates into a saving of R28,350.
Polo GTI – Option 2
The second option selected is another red rocket: a 2019 model with 27,000km on the clock.
Like the option above, it has had one previous owner, a full service history, and the balance of its warranty.
The price: R399,900.
For this you receive a VW Polo GTI in red with several extras:
- Park Distance Control
- Leather Heated Seats
- 18-inch Wheels
The price of buying a new Polo GTI with these extras is R456,950.
This translates into a saving of R57,050 by going the second-hand route.
Retaining value
The examples above show that there is a bit of money to be saved by buying a Polo GTI second-hand.
The savings are not enormous, however, especially for someone who is budgeting between R400,000 to R500,000 for their next vehicle.
What the used options do offer is quick availability, for those who want their car as soon as possible if they find a model kitted to their needs.
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