Safety should be your first concern when buying entry level
To buy or not is the question that many are asking themselves at this time.
The economy is in the doldrums, unemployment is skyrocketing and everyone has to compromise and consolidate their expenses.
Richard Green, the national director of the South African Motor Body Repair Association (Sambra), said, “Safety may be a consideration, but industry reports indicate factors like reliability, comfort, manufacturer’s reputation, warranty, fuel efficiency and purchase price all rank higher than safety features in the South African market.
The truth is, we buy what we can afford. Several motorists can only afford entry level cars which come with basic safety features”.
Journalist Martin Armstrong, based on a Statista’s Global Consumer Survey 2018, deducted that US car buyers “rank safety first, followed by fuel efficiency, high quality, good warranty and customer service, suitability for everyday use, high driving comfort, design, low price, spaciousness and whether it is their preferred make”.
Sambra encourages buyers to be mindful of the following: “Is it correct to assume a secondhand car is not as safe as a new car? No.
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A secondhand car which has not been involved in any major accidents, has a complete service record and has been well maintained is as safe as a new car, considering though that newer models to offer more advanced safety features.
It is important to note both the active and passive safety features can be compromised in a collision.” It is thus imperative to use reputable and accredited repairers to repair accident damage.
Sambra suggested that one request a written warranty on any repairs done on your vehicle and also ensure that you know to who you should direct any dissatisfaction queries.
For many buyers in the lower end of the market, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and driver and front passenger airbags are critical. Sambra suggests the following features as being the minimum – airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), traction control, automatic emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive headlights.
Although safety features on entry level cars under the R180 000 has improved, Green concluded that more can and should be done. Less luxury and more safety is required without comprising affordability.
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