r/CarTalkZA

Driving home... A we buy cars ad came onto the radio. In their jingle they state that they are trustworthy, anyone with a brain knows otherwise. This got me to thinking about dealerships in general.

What are the general dealerships that can be trusted in various aspects according to your opinions or experiences? Im not talking about smaller private individual dealerships which are hit or miss. More like franchise ( imperial, etc) and name brands (bmw, suzuki, etc).

Hi everyone.

I’m planning to finance a car, but before I do I’d like some guidance when it comes to what cars to stay away from and what cars are good to go for.

I am planning on financing a NEW car with a budget of R4500PM, at this time I like a 1.4 Polo, currently going for around R3000PM on the VW website. I’m not a guy that cares about power or racing the car so just a modern car which is reliable and can get me from A to B.

Thank you.

The car is a 2017 BMW 118i with 150,000km on the clock for R180,000. Automatic with full service history.

I did some research, and this car has the BMW
B38 engine which is supposedly quite reliable.
It does not have the old Peugeot engine that used to cause problems.

At this mileage, will the car still be reliable, or will it start having issues? Would you buy and use as your daily car?

Howzit mense, I am currently residing in Saudi Arabia and looking into purchasing my first car. My question for this subreddit is what kind of expenses should I expect to incur if I ever decide to bring a car back to South Africa from abroad.

Are there any clever ways to avoid these expense or are they inevitable.

Any information and advice on this query would be greatly appreciated. This information will effect which type of car I will purchase.

I have a Clio 4, had it for almost 9 years, sole owner, paid off, low miles, never given me an issue. Love the car so Id like to mod it instead of getting an suv.

But my god does it feel like every speed bump, pothole or dip in the road scrapes my car.

Polo boys are dropping their cars, mine came from the factory this way, we are not the same. /s
(Im stoned sorry)

What can I do to raise it and get some more ground clearance. Ive got 185/65 15s on. Do i need different tyres? Wheels? Shocks? Is it gonna cost an arm and leg?

As the title suggests I am looking to put together a group for people who are interested in socializing around lunch and a few drinks each and every month. There are already bike groups that do this, but I have not come across car groups that do the same. My casual friend group does not partake anymore and I am just looking to get out there, drive to some lekker places and experience lekker food with like minded people. I am based out of PTA.

Would anyone else be interested in such a group/community?

Bit of a rant, but people rolling back mileage are absolute scum.

I was about to buy a Toyota 86. Friend test drove it, car seemed good, and it even had “full franchise service history”. Before paying for an inspection, I did a R150 VIN check on FirstCheck.

Turns out it had two insurance claims for front-end damage. Worse, a 2022 claim showed mileage about 30,000 km higher than the car’s listed mileage in 2026.

So yeah, “full service history” doesn’t mean much anymore. Get the VIN checked, get the vehicle inspected by view4you or Screan. Can save you from buying a lemon.

I'm pretty much settled on getting myself a Suzuki swift... Most probably a demo model by the end of the year

Tbh I'm leaning towards getting myself an auto but ...

1. the auto is more expensive - is it worth the extra bucks? And if you wouldn't mind sharing how much is your monthly repayments?

2. every car I've owned has been manual - should I spoil myself with an automatic for once so I don't have to clutch control and inshallah my way through traffic?

3. I saw someone say that the auto is less enjoyable than the manual. Can someone elaborate?

Thoughts?

Which is a better buy between the Suzuki Swift and the Citroën C3 for a daily work commute of less than 20 km a day, 5 days a week? Looking for advice on:
Fuel economy
Reliability & maintenance costs
Comfort for city driving
Long-term ownership value
Parts/service availability
Overall value for money

Would appreciate insights from owners or anyone who has driven both. Especially interested in real-world experiences rather than just specs on paper.

I need to buy two new tyres for my Corolla Cross Xs 2022. The size is 215/60R17

This my first time ever buying tyres. I was hoping not to spend more than 6k total including installation etc. Is this a realistic price for 2 good tyres? Any other general advice and brand recommendations would be appreciated.

Edit: corrected the tyre size

Hey guys, i just wanted to get some advice on car trackers. My sister recently bought a 23’ Polo and as you guys know Polo/Polo Vivo are one of the most stolen and high jacked cars in the country. She’s checked a few but i’d like to get your guys opinion too with people who have trackers or Polos specifically. Thanks

Car Advice🙏

New car purchase advice

Any advice on what car i should get? and the whole process etc

Salary is 10 000 net excluding commission. Don't want to include commission because it can be unpredictable and i want to be safe.

Total budget for all car costs is 6k max

I'm spending 3k+ on transport already and really need my own car for work because having a car can really help me a lot with earning more.

Need something reliable and low consumption.

I don't mind getting 2nd hand at all but it must be a very reliable simple maintenance vehicle

Hey lads/ladies.

So im buying a new car, very excited. But it is in desperate need of a double din head unit. Something with CarPlay would be nice.

Now Ive seen many units online etc but I would like to get it professionally installed to ensure my steering wheel control still work. Nobody advertises their install prices…

Any of ya’ll have feedback on prices? (Im in CPT)

Any advice on what car i should get? and the whole process etc

Salary is 10 000 net excluding commission. Don't want to include commission because it can be unpredictable and i want to be safe.

Total budget for all car costs is 5k

I'm spending 3k+ on transport already and really need my own car for work and having a car can help a lot with earning more

Need something reliable and low consumption

Got 3 secondhand rims sitting in my garage — a VW OEM, an Audi, and what I think is a Mercedes (one has a slight bend on the inner lip). Already tried All Wheel and Tyre but they’re not taking anything right now.
Not trying to make a business out of it, just need the space back. Does anyone know of a place in the Northern Suburbs that accepts old rims, or someone who might actually want them?

Hey Guys,

Wanted to get your thoughts on this:

I drive a 2024 1.5 TSI T-Cross which i bought on finance in October last year.

The dealership wants to potentially buy my car back - reason unclear at this stage.

And either exchange for another car.

Wanted to get the community's thoughts on this? I have asked to for more information.
I do love the T-cross but is it worth holding on to or depending on the figures do the exchange so to speak.

I have done a fair bit of mileage on it since getting it.

Happy to clarify any questions and appreciate any feedback.

What are your thoughts?

I am looking at a A5 as I am a dad. I wish I could afford the RS6 station wagon. If they do have a station wagon that's cheaper please let me know.