Cheapest car at WeBuyCars – What to look for

New car prices have gone up at a concerning rate in the last few years, as there are now only eight cars left in South Africa that retail for less than R200,000.

Consequently, it comes as little surprise that the majority of South Africans are now looking towards the pre-owned market with the hope of securing an affordable set of wheels, but this process can be difficult and time-consuming thanks to the thousands of options on offer.

WeBuyCars (WBC) is one of many second-hand car dealers that has seen a substantial increase in traffic in recent times thanks to this shift in the market, and its car prices can often seem like an incredible deal compared to the astronomical figures attached to the new autos entering the market.

Since purchasing a new car is a major financial decision, it’s important to keep an eye out for these details when browsing the site, as not every deal may be as desirable as it initially seems.

Reading between the lines

Thankfully, WeBuyCars provides two helpful metrics for assessing the quality of its models.

First, the site gives every listing either an A or B stamp, which is there to help customers easily distinguish between newer, low-mileage, and better-maintained options (A) from the less-desirable ones (B).

It’s also important to note that B-rated models cannot be bought on a finance plan.

Second, every auto comes with a technical report provided independently by Dekra Auto to assess the roadworthiness of the unit in question.

The Dekra report gives a detailed summary of the interior and exterior condition of the vehicle, as well as the state of its mechanical underpinnings like the gearbox, engine, brakes, tyres, and undercarriage.

Each component is then given a poor, average, or very good rating, as well as a short description as to why the rating was provided.

At the time of writing, the cheapest car for sale on WeBuyCars is a 2000 Renault Megane 1.6 RXE hatchback with 231,000km, pegged at just R9,900.

Of course, that incredibly low barrier to entry comes with a long list of asterisks pertaining to the vehicle’s condition, as it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that this Renault is not showroom-presentable.

Looking at the R10,000 Renault, it has a B rating and its Dekra summary highlights the following “Roadworthy relevant” issues:

• Engine oil leak
• Right front seat damaged
• Different size tyres on rear axle
• Both front outer cv boots broken
• Both front and left rear tyres smooth
• Both front inner door handles missing
• Power steering pump / electronic unit leak
• Brake and water level warning light illuminated
• Parking brake performance left / right difference out of legal range
• Service brake performance rear axle left / right difference out of legal range

These issues mean the Megane is flagged as being unroadworthy, meaning it will need extensive repairs before it can be let out onto the streets.

Roadworthy options

WeBuyCars also has another feature worth keeping an eye out for on your next vehicle search – its roadworthy indicator.

This icon, which is displayed in the bottom right corner of a model’s picture, indicates that the car does not require repairs to pass a roadworthy test, and it also includes a voucher covering the cost of a Dekra assessment at any of its centres.

Another important consideration is that “roadworthy included” vehicles can be financed immediately, as banks will not sign off on a car that has not passed a roadworthiness test.

With all this in mind, the cheapest roadworthy vehicle featured on WBC during our search was a 2013 Chevrolet Spark 1.2 Campus with 88,000km on the clock, which was selling for R71,900.

This model received an A rating and its Dekra report noted “no relevant issues.”

The “real” barrier to entry

Using these two cars as a benchmark paints a much clearer picture of just how much a person should realistically expect to pay for a working car.

Of course, these two cars are just an example of what can be found on the pre-owned market and shouldn’t be taken as a hard rule to follow, but it nonetheless illustrates that a safe, well-maintained vehicle will likely require a payment of at least R50,000, if not far more.