[imagesource: Car and Driver]

If you’re after that ‘new car wrapped in a bow on the showroom’ picture for social media, then you do you.

However, over the past 12 months or so, South Africa has seen a massive shift in consumer mindset, with new car sales numbers dropping, and the opposite true with pre-owned or used cars.

A recent AutoTrader Bi-Annual Car Industry Report showed that the top two models potential used car buyers searched for were the Toyota Hilux, and the Ford Ranger.

The Toyota Fortuner also featured in the top 10, as did the Isuzu KB.

The average price of Hilux, Ranger, and Fortuner sales ranged between R350 000 and R400 000, but there are some bakkies (or SUVs) on the market that go for a great more than that.

Earlier this month, Wheels24 picked out three listings for used bakkies with an asking price in excess of R2 million, with a 2019 Ford F150 Raptor listed for R3,6 million.

That listing is no longer active, so it’s either been sold or taken off the market.

Second on Wheels24’s list, a 2020 Dodge Ram 1500, is still on the market, with an asking price of a cool R2,35 million.

The third vehicle, a 2021 VW Amarok 3.0 V6, also appears to have been sold, which gives you a good idea of the demand for used bakkies at the moment:

When you pay more than R2 million for a used bakkie, you’ll expect peace of mind to be included, with the vehicles vetted to ensure that they’re not going to end up on one of those ‘horror story’ lists.

The same should be true for any price range, though, and both buyers and sellers of used vehicles in South Africa are looking at using companies that prioritise exactly this.

getWorth, which uses live market data to calculate a price that is fair to both parties, currently has a large number of pre-owned SUVs for sale, ranging in price from R155 000 right through to R870 000.

That seven-day / 700-kilometre guarantee is a grace period offered to buyers that allows you to drive and live with the car that you have purchased for seven days, or 700 kilometres, whichever comes first.

If you are not satisfied with the car, you can return it for a refund.

There is also the ’30-day promise’, with getWorth repairing any mechanical or electrical fault occurring within the first 30 days or 3 000 kilometres of you purchasing the car.

Sellers benefit from receiving an upfront cash amount when selling their vehicle to getWorth, with a bonus paid once the car is sold. The sales team doesn’t earn any commission, meaning they have the clients’ best interest in mind.

In a market where there has been a significant shift to used car purchases, it’s great to see guarantees in place which ensure that both parties are looked after.

[source:wheels24]