We've been sifting through the Cars.co.za databank again and among all the logs and batch files, we've unearthed the following information. Want to know which vehicles South Africans are searching for the most on our site? Read on…
The statistics show us how many cars are viewed over a given month and which models people are looking at. If you look at a specific Audi A3 for example, we count that up as one search for the Audi A3 range. After all search queries have been tallied up at the end of the month, we can deduce which second-hand cars users consider buying most.
Here are the top 20 models that people viewed on Cars.co.za during December 2015. South Africa is mad about German cars; the fact that 12 out of the 20 vehicles are made by Teutonic brands certainly suggests so!
Top 20 most searched used cars on Cars.co.za
Manufacturer
Model
Views
BMW
3 Series
371 585
Volkswagen
Polo
329 013
Volkswagen
Golf
285 107
Mercedes-Benz
C-Class
264 026
Toyota
Hilux
149 418
Toyota
Corolla
147 922
Audi
A4
144 903
BMW
1 Series
131 302
Volkswagen
Polo Vivo
124 047
Audi
A3
117 975
Ford
Focus
96 113
Ford
Ranger
95 245
Isuzu
KB Series
84 109
Ford
Fiesta
79 251
Opel
Corsa
68 159
BMW
X5
54 838
Hyundai
i20
54 303
Volkswagen
Jetta
51 879
Volkswagen
CITI
50 171
Land Rover
Range Rover
49 019
Citroën C4 Picasso e-HDI Intensive – Best Family Car
The Citroen C4 Picasso was crowned the winner of the Family Car category in the first annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, announced on the 14th of January 2016 in Johannesburg.
The typical family car fulfils a wide variety of duties and needs to be a practical, safe all-rounder. The winner of this category should be ideal not only for the morning school run, but also the school holiday run to a distant location. In judging this category we’ve placed particular emphasis on interior flexibility, comfort and safety.
It should not cost more than R350 000 (at the time of semi-finalist shortlisting in June 2015) including the cost of all necessary optional extras. It must be packed with safety features such as ESP, have a minimum of six airbags, and have ABS braking. Another major prerequisite is the fitment of split/folding rear seats.
Why did the Citroen C4 Picasso e-HDI Intensive win?
The Citroën C4 Picasso is the oddball in this trio thanks to its quirky styling. It also goes up against the Nissan X-Trail and the Volkswagen Golf SV – both of which are formidable opponents. Powering the Citroën C4 Picasso is one of those sweet turbodiesels that the French marques are so famous for. It is only 1,6-litres in size, but still delivers 85 kW and a meaty 270 Nm of torque from 1 750 rpm, promising great flexibility. The big feather in its cap is the 4L/100km fuel economy consumption claim.
The C4 Picasso represents everything that is exceptional about MPV packaging. Not only is the boot big (537 L) with the rear seats moved all the way back, but it can grow to 630 L by pushing the seats forward if rear legroom is not that important. The rear seats are three individual chairs that can be folded in multiple ways to further boost flexibility. Folded out of the way, a total of 1 851 L storage space is on offer. There are also storage trays under both front seats as well as rear underfloor storage boxes.
Peugeot Citroën South Africa Public Relations Manager Toni Herbst receives the trophy from Cars.co.za co-founder Alastair McMurray.
Besides the benefits afforded by the spaciousness of the cabin, Citroën’s attention to detail and generous standard specification levels further contribute to all-round comfort levels. Both front seats offer height adjustment, while a raft of features including auto lights, rain-sensing wipers, satellite navigation and ventilation outlets for rear passengers make for a very pleasant cabin environment indeed. Hit the long road and there’s also an excellent info-tainment system on offer, boasting 8Gb of music storage.
The C4 Picasso benefits from most of the modern safety features. Besides six airbags, Isofix child seat anchors and electronic stability control, it also features hill-start assist, front/rear park sensors and a rear-view camera. Spend extra and you can also get Park Assist with a 360-degree camera.
Opinion From The Judges
“I like what Citroën has done here – true individualism married with great practicality.” Hannes Oosthuizen
“This C4 Picasso has to be one of the most fun cars to look at and play around with once you sit in it. There’s loads of useful tech, comfort and roominess.” Ashley Oldfield
“If there was an award for most futuristic-looking car, this would win. There’s nothing quite like it and the rest of the package is pretty decent too. There’s a lot of tech in here, as well as plenty of interior space. It’s a fantastic interpretation of a family car.” David Taylor
The Mercedes-Benz S500 was recently recognised as the best First Class offering in South Africa.
In order to compete in the First Class category of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, vehicles in this category must have a list price exceeding R1-million at the time of semi-finalist voting (In this case, June 22, 2015).
More than this, vehicles in this category are judged according to the following Pillars of Success: Powertrain technology, luxury and on-board technology, brand prestige and exclusivity, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics, ride comfort and overall refinement.
Why did the Mercedes-Benz S500 Win?
For a very long time the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been the world’s first choice when it comes to ultra-luxurious sedans. The current generation proudly continues in this tradition. While there are more performance-oriented versions on offer, we think it is the S500’s marriage of traditional sedan comfort and luxury with modern tech that presents the sweet spot in the range and makes it a worthy winner in the First Class category.
The S500 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4,7-litre petrol V8. It develops a very strong 335 kW and a colossal 700 Nm of torque is already available at 1 500 rpm, and remains so until 3 500. For such a big, heavy car, the performance is enough to make sports cars scurry with fear. How does 0-100 km/h in 4,8 seconds grab you? And yet, seated in those plush chairs, the performance is pretty much only evident in the blur of the scenery. This is a very quiet car.
In terms of driving dynamics, the S-Class has always prided itself on its ride suppleness, and the adaptive air suspension fitted to this model carries on in the same tradition. The S-Class rides fluidly, with very little of the bumps and gruffness of the world infiltrating the cabin. NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) control is excellent, with double-glazing adding another layer to the already cocoon-like properties of the cabin. For an extra R65 200 you can get the Magic Body Control system that scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension accordingly. It works very well indeed. Also extra is a Driving Assistance package (R37 000) that adds items such as Distronic plus cruise control, steering control and active lane keep assist.
Marcel Perez from Mercedes-Benz receives the First Class trophy from Cars.co.za's Operations Manager, Chris Barter.
The S500 is big on luxury and most of the expected luxury features are standard. You get safety technologies such as high beam assist and collision prevention assist as standard, while inside there are heated and ventilated front seats as well as the COMAND on-line navigation and info-tainment system. For rear passengers there is a separate climate control system. So, even in standard form there is precious little reason to complain. There are, however, loads of options to choose from… Want individual, electrically adjustable rear seats? That’ll be R25 000 and at the cost of some boot space. For R15 600 you can even get a refrigerator in the rear. A cool safety feature is Night View Assist (R30 500). If in-car entertainment is what you’re after, an entry-level Burmester system costs R16 300 while a top-end system is an eye-watering R93 400. An individual rear entertainment system is a further R35 900.
Is there a stronger premium brand than Mercedes-Benz? Probably not… The S-Class is still considered the most desirable large luxury sedan, and arriving in one brings with it loads of prestige. There are flashier alternatives, but this is still seen as the wise choice. The 2 years/unlimited km warranty is backed by a 6 years/100 000 km maintenance plan.
Presence and Elegance
The current S-Class is an imposing, yet elegant machine. Like most modern Mercedes models, its exterior styling is dominated by bold body sculpting, and at the front the huge chrome grille is flanked by beautifully detailed headlamps with LED “eyeshadows”. The rounded rear end features lights with LED detailing, too. The standard 19-inch alloy wheels already fill the wheelarches nicely, but you can pay R18 500 extra for 20-inch AMG wheels if you want more visual muscle.
Inside, the S-Class looks a bit intimidating at first, courtesy of an abundance of technology. The facia features huge TFT instrument screens, with most of the usual features controlled via the COMAND interface. This means there aren’t too many buttons around. Freed from having to find homes for too many controls, Mercedes’s designers let rip and came up with a flamboyant design finished in lots of chrome and piano black surfaces as well as beautiful ambient lighting. Of course, you can have more traditional trim as well if you want – dark brown eucalyptus is standard. For R6 600 you can get high gloss burr walnut.
Opinion from the Judges
“The big Mercedes-Benz has become symbolic for elegance, sophistication and intelligence. In fact, so strong is its grip on this market segment that it is called the S-Class class…” Hannes Oosthuizen
A big part of the appeal of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the effortless way in which it does everything so brilliantly well.” David Taylor
Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports Best Business Class Car
The Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports came out on top in the Business Class category in the first annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, announced on 14 January in Johannesburg.
In order to compete in the Business Class category certain entry criteria had to be met. The judges looked for an aspirational vehicle that appealed to the image-conscious driver who places a priority on performance, dynamics, technology and design. Eligibility into the Business Class meant that the cars had to be priced between R400 000 and R700 000 including extras. Other defining criteria were a minimum of six airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESP).
Once the criteria were met, certain ‘pillars of success’ led the judging process. These included engine technology, luxury, brand strength, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics and advanced technologies.
Why did the Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports Win?
Since its launch, the C-Class has notched up multiple awards and boasts a World Car of the Year title under its belt, so can’t be ignored in this segment. The competition in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards came in the form of perennial rivals Audi, in S3 Sedan guise and BMW, with 428i Gran Coupe. Once the judging panel completed the comprehensive scoring sheets, the C250 AMG Sports emerged as the winner. At this final voting phase judges also had to consider consumer data collected through our Ownership Satisfaction survey, developed in partnership with Lightstone Consumer.
The C250 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that delivers 155 kW and 350 Nm of torque. The C250 is respectably quick with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.6 sec and still very frugal with a claimed consumption figure of 5.9L/100km. Mercedes-Benz’s smooth seven-speed automatic does shifting duties. Manual gear changes can be effected by using standard gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel.
As is the case with most German premium vehicles, the standard specification is decent, but for the really tasty technology you have to spend extra. It is thus in the C250 – PreSafe is standard, as is a comprehensive audio system with Bluetooth support and even two USB ports. There’s also that very attractive TFT control screen that is nearly 18 cm wide. But then there are the options and there are some great items to choose from like a Parking Package that includes rear view camera and active park assist (R14 900). A heads-up display system costs R15 000. The COMAND on-line navigation system that also includes 10Gb of music storage space is priced at R24 500. And Driving Assistance Plus, which includes Distronic Plus, Lane Keep Assist and Cross Traffic Assist costs R29 900.
Vivendren Patchiappen from Mercedes-Benz accepts the Business Class trophy from Cars.co.za co-founder, Alastair MacMurray.
With the Agility Control system as standard, the driver can select a driving mode to suit his/her mood. Left in its default settings the C-Class is an agile handler, and beautifully composed on a wide variety of surfaces. It also feels considerably nimbler than its predecessors, and there’s certainly good entertainment on offer here. This model also offers a lowered (by 15 mm) and recalibrated suspension set-up that further sharpens dynamic responses.
It is often said that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class takes what is best about the S-Class, and makes it available to a broader public. Indeed, step into the C-Class interior and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re inside something much more expensive. The sweeping facia centre section and the obvious focus on technology is what dominates. Still, although the design is far sportier than Mercedes models of the past, comfort levels are among the best in class.
Lastly, Mercedes-Benz’s brand strength was taken into account. The C-Class itself is one of the most desirable buys in the local market, so resale value should be good.
Opinion From The Judges
“The C-Class is the king of the compact executive cars, and in C250 AMG Sport guise the desirability is really heightened. Beware the options list, though!” Hannes Oosthuizen
“Mercedes’s C-Class has really moved the segment forward. The engine is superb, the tech is unbelievable and the entire package offers so much. It’s a really difficult car to fault and it is a class act all round.” David Taylor
“This is a car that takes refinement, luxury and comfort to the next level. The C-Class ticks all the right boxes a premium sedan needs.” Ashley Oldfield
During September last year we published an article that attempted to preview the effect that the sliding Rand would have on new car prices. At the time, it read like a horror story. Seems as if the sequel will be even more horrifying…
At the time of the original article, the Rand had devalued to the Dollar by just over 20% in a year, and most manufacturers/exporters predicted quarterly price increases of between 2,0 and 5,0%, while some importers expected short-term increases of closer to 8%. With the benefit of hindsight, these predicted increases now seem conservative. At the time, most global predictions were that the Rand would stay in the R13,50-to-R13,80 band to the Dollar.
Instead… the wheels came off.
Since September last year the Rand has been thumped by numerous developments including, of course, the controversial decision to replace a respected Finance Minister with a relative unknown, albeit briefly… Whereas the Rand was hovering around R13,30 to the Dollar late in September 2015, it is currently sitting at around R16,80.
The impact on new car prices will therefore be heightened and accelerated. We spoke to several senior representatives from leading South African car companies, and increases of up to 20% for the remainder of the year is not out of the question. One importer says increases of 5% per quarter are likely, a sentiment echoed by others in the industry as well.
Those that manufacture locally and have healthy export programmes, however, believe that the market won’t be able to stomach such a big increase and that increases of around 10%, just a few points above real inflation, are to be expected. Even so, the same manufacturer/exporter believes that the market would decline by about 8%. Bigger price increases and a further weakening of the Rand will cause further serious damage.
What does this mean for the consumer?
Manufacturers and importers have already started the year with several price increases, and more is to be expected in the coming months. If you were planning to buy a new car during 2016, then keep in mind that you may no longer be able to buy exactly the same model/specification that you had in mind. Several other economic factors are impacting household spend, and the interest rate is likely to move by several percentage points this year, according to motor industry insiders and economists. Consumers are cautioned to not over-extend themselves debt-wise.
So, shop carefully and consider buying trusted, more affordable products that will be cheaper to fuel, insure and maintain. The used car route is another consideration. Already used-car dealers are in a scramble for good-quality used vehicle stock, and judging by the growth in leads on Cars.co.za, demand is certainly on the up.
As always, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for advice. It’s what we’re here for…
While not much is known about the replacement for the BMW Z4, its mooted successor has been spotted undergoing winter testing in the snow.
The BMW Z5 Roadster is believed to be a collaboration between BMW and Toyota, and both car makers will be sharing this platform for an all-new mid-sized sportscar. BMW appears first out of the gate with a prototype as Toyota's example still lurking in the depths of the brand's Research and Development centre.
From these photos we can see that it'll have a soft top, which will keep the weight down. Expect it to have typical Z4-like design cues such as a long bonnet and you can bet it'll have a mixed assortment of engines such as the rather good 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder seen in the Mini Cooper S JCW as well as the mighty 3.0-litre straight six turbo unit which is used in multiple applications. You can't rule out hybrid technology (as seen in the i8 hybrid sportscar) either.
If you look at BMW's Five Year plan here, it's safe to say that the earliest we'll get to see this vehicle in production trim will be 2018.
Fuel prices at mercy of sliding Rand
The sliding Rand and weak international oil price has dampened the fuel price forecast in South Africa.
The opening weeks of 2016 have been tough for the Rand, which has lost as much as 30% of its value against the US Dollar. Had the Rand remained stable, the current weakness in the international oil price would have translated into significant reductions in fuel prices. The significant weakening of the Rand, however, is having the opposite effect.
Based on unaudited mid-month data released by the Central Energy Fund, the Automobile Association (AA) said: "Had the exchange rate remained flat in 2015, South Africans would currently have been paying, on average, 45 cents a litre less at the pumps. This deficit has widened by another 32 to 40 cents in the first two weeks of January 2016, turning what would have been a 24 cents-a-litre drop in petrol at the end of the month into a potential rise of up to 16 cents."
The situation is much the same for the price of diesel, which should have refelected an oil-price benefit of 90 cents per litre, but instead, the effect has been reduced to only around 58 cents per litre thanks to the weak Rand.
"The exchange rate's ongoing weakness might mean trouble for the fuel price if oil prices begin to rise again," warns the AA. "At the current Rand/US dollar exchange rate, a return to oil's highs of 2013 and 2014 would result in the fuel price approaching R20 a litre, putting yet more pressure on South Africa's already strained economy."
The spectacular Cars.co.za Consumer Awards trophy is more than just a hunk of metal and glass thrown together in the shape of a key. A lot of time and thought went into designing something with meaning that was worth showing off in a display cabinet.
Meaning behind the key
The key itself signifies the concept of unlocking the motor industry and helping buyers sift through their new and used car-buying options. The base of the key is honed from a solid chunk of high-quality stainless steel representing the heart of the car industry, much like an engine block is the heart of a car. The stainless steel is of such a high quality that the tool that fashions the base has to be replaced after just two trophies.
The clear side of the key is made from A-grade acrylic instead of glass. Acrylic does not fade or discolour like glass when cut into this shape. It represents the consumer looking for transparency and clearer sight into the market. The other side of the key is made from aeronautic-grade aluminium with a carbonfibre-inspired wrap to represent the automotive industry and car manufacturers.
Straight through the middle of the key runs a red strip of anodised Titanium. This red strip represents Cars.co.za – the link between the consumer and the car industry.
The trophy weighs in at a hefty 3.5kg and stands around 45cm tall. They have been painstakingly built by David Bolam, who has been creating and designing jewellery and trophies for decades. Each one is individually acid-etched with the winner and category details. Each trophy is also individually numbered, much like a special edition vehicle. The CarsAwards trophy is not of the floating variety, meaning that the winners can keep and display their achievements forever.
The Ford Focus 1.0T Trend emerged victorious in the Compact Car Category in the first annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, announced on 14 January in Johannesburg.
Eligibility to compete in the Compact Car category is guided by several factors, including price, which in this case could not exceed R250 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (June 22, 2015) and includes the cost of the following items (if they were optional): ABS, electronic stability control, dual front airbags, air-conditioning, USB/auxiliary audio support, Bluetooth compatibility and a service plan.
Numerous Pillars of Success also guided the judging process and these included the following: balance of fuel economy and performance, value for money, brand strength, design and quality appeal, ride/handling and safety features.
Why did the Ford Focus 1.0T Trend win?
The Ford Focus 1.0T Trend offers exceptional value for buyers, making it a worthy winner in the Compact Car category. In the recent Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, the Ford Focus 1.0T came up against some stiff competition in the form of the Opel Corsa 1.0T Enjoy and Honda Jazz 1.5 Elegance. After a rigorous judging process, the Focus clearly established itself as the best Compact Car available in South Africa.
In terms of fuel economy, Ford’s 1,0-litre EcoBoost engine has received considerable acclaim since it was first introduced. With 92 kW of power and a wide torque spread, it is one of the most powerful engines of its type. In the Focus, however, it needs to pull along a fairly large and heavy body, so performance is acceptable rather than brisk. Ford claims an excellent combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 5,0 L/100 km.
Value for money is where the Focus 1.0T Trend excels and given the fact that the Focus is a large hatch offered for compact car money, it’s off to a very good start in this department. But ultimately it’s not only its size that translates into value for money. It still offers a spread of comfort, info-tainment and safety features that compares well with the smaller, similarly priced cars it competes with here. Included is an excellent audio system, rake/reach-adjustable steering and cruise control. What’s more, by spending R11 940 extra for the Driver Assistance Pack you get a whole raft of desirable features, including Active Park Assist, rear view camera, Lane Departure Warning, Active City Stop, auto lights, auto wipers and a TFT colour screen for the audio system. And you’re still under the price barrier of R250 000 (at the time of judging)!
The Focus 1.0T Trend is also big on practicality and thanks to its bigger body, it holds an immediate practicality advantage. It offers considerably more rear legroom and boot space than the cars priced around it (barring the Honda Jazz). The rear seats are split 60/40 and fold down to make quite a large loading area available, too.
The Ford brand has been on the up for a few years now, and the Focus has been one of its most successful products – it’s a top seller worldwide. Locally it is seen as a very viable alternative to the likes of Volkswagen and Toyota. This model is backed with a four-years/120 000 km warranty and offers a four-years/80 000 km service plan.
Minesh Bhagaloo from Ford receives the Compact Car of the Year trophy from Cars.co.za's co-founder, Alastair MacMurray.
Following its recent facelift, the Focus has matured into a stylish offering that sits on the conservative side of the design spectrum. This gives it broad appeal. Available for R14 810 is a Styling Pack that, through different wheels and a tailgate spoiler, adds some sporty style to the package.
The Focus 1.0T Trend offers excellent ride and handling, something Ford has excelled in for some time already. At this price level the Focus’s combination of ride suppleness and dynamic sharpness is very, very hard to beat. It’s also quite a practical long-distance cruiser, which is not something that can be said of all its rivals, especially at this price.
Lastly, the Focus’s combination of space and features may lead you to expect that Ford must have compromised on specification elsewhere, but it’s certainly not done so on the safety side. The Focus features six airbags, ESP, Isofix child seat mountings and more. As mentioned before, the Driver Assistance Pack (R11 940) is a really good option as it brings safety focused features such as Active City Stop, Active Park Assist, Lane Departure Warning and smaller items such an auto-dimming rear-view mirrors and auto lights/wipers to the party, too.
Opinion From The Judges
“Ford must have sharpened its pencils an awful lot to offer this much car at this low a price. The Focus offers a very strong spread of talents. I’m not sure this price can last very long!” Hannes Oosthuizen
“Right now the Focus is an outright steal. It’s amazing that so much car is available at the same price as smaller cars in the segment below.” Ashley Oldfield
“The Focus has snuck in here purely on its price. It blasts the others out the water in terms of pricing as you’re getting a big car for small car money. That engine is just lovely too.” David Taylor
Volkswagen has introduced the special-edition Amarok Ultimate in South Africa.
If you are looking for a double-cab bakkie with a bit more road presence over standard offerings, then you may be interested in the special edition Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate. The Amarok Ultimate is based on the top-spec 4Motion Highline derivative and comes fitted with LED-integrated bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights.
The appearance of the Amarok Ultimate is further enhanced with silver side mirror-covers, darkened rear light lenses, LED number plate illumination, ‘Ultimate’ lettering and a silver-coloured underbody guard. The bakkie is further enhanced by a styling bar as well as side-sill bars finished in silver. The Ultimate rides on 19-inch Cantera alloy wheels.
Other standard features include park distance control with a rear-assist camera and the side mirrors are heated and electrically adjustable. The front seats are heated and upholstery options include either Vienna or Alcantara leather. The Amarok Ultimate is also fitted with a radio/CD player with mobile phone integration and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and velour floor mats are also included. An integrated navigation system with six speakers is optional.
Engine power
The Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate is powered by a 2.0-litre BiTDI engine that delivers 132 kW and 420 Nm of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.3L/100km.
Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate price in South Africa
The VW Amarok Ultimate 4Motion retails for R600 200. The price includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty and five-year/90 000 km service plan with service intervals at every 15 000 km.
