There are currently nearly 90,000 cars for sale on AutoTrader, and the cheapest one is a 1996 Daewoo Cielo 150i L Sedan with a price tag of only R19,900.
Its price means the average South African non-agricultural employee should be able to afford the sedan for around R10,000 less than their R29 ,690 monthly paycheck.
This figure is based on Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) for the final quarter of 2025.
When the Korean sedan was launched in 1994, it was essentially a restyled previous-generation Opel Kadett, which Daewoo named the Cielo in some markets, and the Nexia in others, due to copyright issues.
At the time, the L trimline was the middle-of-the-range manual offering, with this specific second-generation model ending production in 2000.
The Korean automaker was declared bankrupt in November 1999, split up into three separate businesses, and is known today as Daewoo Electronics, focusing on electronics manufacturing instead of cars.
What you get for R19,900
Main features on the Cielo, which the seller EBK Auto Dealers highlighted, include reliable motoring with a spacious cabin and comfortable cloth seats.
The listing notes its straightforward, easy-to-maintain 1.5-litre petrol engine, which keeps running and service costs low.
Furthermore, the sedan features large windows, practical boot space and user-friendly controls.
Measuring 4,482mm long and 1,662mm wide, the sedan boasts a 2,520mm wheelbase, and 13-inch wheels as standard – though these appear to have been replaced by one of the previous owners.
In terms of ride comfort, the Cielo was fitted with a McPherson strut and coil-spring front suspension with a torsion beam axle at the back.
It also features disc brakes in the front and drums in the back, with no anti-lock brakes or traction control to assist.
When it was new, the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol motor produced 55kW and 127Nm, which was distributed to its front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.
This configuration allowed the Daewoo to maintain an average fuel consumption ranging between 6.3 and 8.5l/100km, which, thanks to its 50-litre fuel tank, enabled a range of up to 700km.
In 1996, the sedan could accelerate from 0-100km/h in around 14 seconds, and reach a claimed top speed of up to 177km/h.
It must be noted that this was true 30 years and 356,000km ago, meaning performance and specifications would have deteriorated over time.
Besides the cloth seats highlighted by the seller, the Cielo also features a tiltable steering wheel, power steering, electric windows and door locks, electronically adjustable windows, and manual air conditioning.
In terms of entertainment, buyers in 1996 could expect an AM/FM radio with a cassette player and four speakers, but the model on sale appears to have a modern radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
Drivers and passengers will also have to rely on their seatbelts as the only safety feature, with the sedan not fitted with any airbags. It also features no alarm or keyless entry.
1996 Daewoo Cielo 150i L
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