South Africans will need to earn a minimum of R26,000 per month in order to take home the new Citroen C3 on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.
The new model is one of the country’s cheapest crossovers, clocking in at a starting price of just R229,900, making it significantly more attainable than the old C3.
Those who opt for the French car can expect a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspired petrol engine that generates a total of 61kW and 115Nm, all while consuming 5.6l/100km on an average fuel cycle.
For now, the Citroen is only available in a single “Feel” specification, meaning it gets a five-speed manual gearbox, but the company has confirmed it has plans to introduce an automatic version in the near future.
The crossover additionally features an eye-catching two-tone exterior with a set of new “Y-form” LED headlights, paired with 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers.
The cabin is styled in much the same way as the outside, and the dashboard is textured with a unique chevron pattern.
Furthermore, the Citroen comes with a 7-inch digital driver display, a 10-inch infotainment screen, a multifunction steering wheel, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, central locking, reverse parking sensors, dual airbags, ABS, and manual air conditioning.
Each purchase comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.
What you need to earn
We can use the following formula to calculate the monthly payments on the new Citroen C3 Feel:
- Car price – R229,900
- Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
- Interest – 11.75%
- Deposit – 0%
- Balloon – No balloon payment
- Extras – No optional extras
According to this, the C3 will require a minimum payment of R5,180 per month.
Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.
This means anyone looking to take home the crossover will need to earn at least R25,900 per month to “afford” the vehicle.
Note that this figure does not account for insurance, fuel, and maintenance, which must all be factored into your budget.
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