Discount Vehicles

10 11th, 2007

Sales momentum drops in new car industry
Author: admin

Sales of new vehicles plunged over the past month, says the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

Association members reported 50 084 new vehicles sold during September this year, compared to 57 599 sold during the same month the year before.

The 13-percent drop was a “significant decline”, the association said in a statement on Tuesday.

Breaking down the sales figures, NAAMSA said the new passenger car market had not only dropped significantly year on year, but also since the previous month.

“New passenger car sales [during September 2007] at 32 432 units reflected a significant decline of 5 343 units, or 14.1 percent, compared to the 37 775 new cars sold during September, 2006.
“Compared to the previous month of August, 2007, which was recorded to be the best performing month for passenger cars sales in 2007, and during which 37 712 new cars had been sold, the new car market had also shown a significant decline of 5 280 units, or 14 percent.”

NAAMSA said demand for new commercial vehicles “remained fundamentally strong”.

“Sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses at 14 739 units during September, 2007 reflected a decline of 11.3 percent compared to the unit sales of the corresponding month last year.

“Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry reflected a mixed picture and the September 2007 sales, at 1 181 units and 1 732 units, respectively, had recorded a decline of 321 units, or 21.4 percent in the case of medium commercials, and an increase of 33 units, or 1.9 percent, in the case of heavy trucks and buses, compared to the corresponding month last year.”

Exports had also shown a “significant” year on year decline of 6 642 vehicles, or 43.4 percent.

“For the remainder of 2007, the industry’s performance would depend on the overall momentum of the South African economy, the direction of interest rates and new vehicle price trends.

“New car sales would benefit from purchases by car rental companies over the next few months but further consolidation is expected due to moderate consumer demand.

read comments (0)

10 10th, 2007

Tips on how to bid for a car at an auction
Author: Riaan

At auctions, it’s every man for himself
Although laws in this country may have been intended to protect the consumer, they really do not protect consumers like you and me, they protect the guy who rips off the consumer. Powerful 2 word phrases like “As Is”, make an excellent defense lawyer for some sellers. At some auctions, you can pay a fee to guarantee the engine, frame, and body for 30 days. But the phrase “Buyer Beware” is most important at auctions, because you don’t have time to take the car to a mechanic, the cars are usually sold “As Is” with no warranty, and the deal is final unless the title turns out to be fraudulent. Sellers are free to make all sorts of verbal promises, without putting it in writing. Without a written contract, it’s your word against theirs, and they always win. So especially at auctions, assume the worst case. If you get bad vibes about something, go with your instinct. Don’t be stupid and think that the pillars of justice will undo any scams that are unleashed upon you, that’s a pipe dream. You need to be proactive, not reactive, and take all necessary steps to up front to protect yourself, so that you won’t end up in the position where you’ll need legal help. Lawyers won’t talk to you, a used car is not worth their trouble. The state attorney could care less about you. Please don’t let this happen to you: Read the rest of this entry »

read comments (0)

10 10th, 2007

What is a double wishbone suspension?
Author: Riaan

Double wishbone (or “upper and lower A-arm”) suspension suspension design using two parallel is an independent wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control vertical movement. Double wishbone designs allow the engineer to carefully control the motion of the wheel throughout suspension travel, controlling such parameters as camber angle, caster angle, toe pattern, roll center height, scrub radius, scuff and more. Read the rest of this entry »

read comments (0)

10 10th, 2007

Best tyres for your vehicle
Author: Riaan

The only outward difference between most types of tyre is the tread pattern (and the name and specification markings on the sidewalls). Just looking at the tread pattern won’t tell you which ones perform best or last longest – but our unique tyre tests will. Read the rest of this entry »

read comments (0)

10 8th, 2007

2006 BMW 3 Series 320i review
Author: Riaan

What things have gone wrong with the car?

The only thing that has gone wrong was the window washer jammed, because when I put the fluid in it, there were some particles that found their way in there. I still don’t know how, but yep. Read the rest of this entry »

read comments (0)