CARS 101

For most people a car is one of the biggest expenses in their lives. So we focus on all the expenses pertaining to your vehicle to see where you can get the best value and cover for your precious ride.

Petrol

Petrol prices have increased drastically therefore.........
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With petrol prices so high we all dream of getting a more fuel-efficient car. Here are some of the most fuel-efficient & least fuel-efficient cars in SA.

Most fuel-efficient

Fiat Tipo 1.3 Multijet Easy using 3.7 L/100 km
Toyota Aygo using 4.3 L/100 km
Renault Kwid Automatic using 4.4 L/100 km
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GA using 4.7 L/100 km
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GA using 4.9 L/100 km

Least fuel-efficient

Haval H9 2,0T AWD Luxury using 10.9 L/100 km
Nissan 370Z using 13.3 L/100 km
Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupé using 14.6 L/100 km
Nissan Patrol 5,6 V8 LE Premium using 15.1 L/100 km
Mercedes-AMG GT R Coupé using 18 L/100 km
Press the "Calculate" button to see if you could be saving money per month/year on petrol by having a more fuel-efficient vehicle

Car VS Ride-Service

Ever wondered if it's cheaper.........
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Is it cheaper to use a ride service compared to owning and driving your own car? This question is coming up more often as the costs of owning a car increase. We look at some of the factors to consider for both.

Your Own Vehicle VS Ride Services

Convenience: It's more convenient to just get in your own car if you need to go somewhere or if you want to go on a road-trip.
Cost: If you own your car outright then it's more likely it would be cheaper to use your own car than to use ride services for your commute. This is generally because financing a car is one of the biggest expenses of owning a vehicle.
Safety: You have to consider whether you are comfortable and safe using ride services compared to using your own vehicle.
Time Value: If you feel like you could be productive doing work or anything valuable to you using ride services compared to spending hours driving then Uber or Taxify might be for you.
Amount of driving: The total distance you travel each month is an important factor to consider because the fixed costs of having a car help even out the monthly expense as opposed to the steep price per KM for ride services. In essence there is a break even point - if you drive a lot then owning a car might very well be cheaper. If you just need to get around your town and suburb a couple times a week and nothing else, then ride services might likely be cheaper.
Press the "Calculate" button to see what makes more sense for your situation or have a peek out of interest.

Tips & Tricks

Details to keep in mind because.........
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We lay out some details to keep in mind that you might not think of when buying a car and provide you with some interesting tips you might not have heard of.
Press the "Tips" button to move through to our Pocket Tips area, where we take you through it in more detail.

Cover for your car

We look at the different types.........
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We have a look at the different types of ways to cover you from the possible unexpected expenses that come from owning and driving your car.

Scratch & Dent Cover

This is great for providing protection in case a run away trolley or fly away door hits your car. You don't always want to claim from your car insurance unless necessary. This cover is affordable & helps you keep your car in showroom shape. Check out the cover provided by Mccarthy.

Warranties,Service Plans & Maintenance Plans

Warranties cover your car in the case of mechanical failure within the limit of a certain amount of KM's. When you buy a new car, warranty is more than likely. Second hand dealers any also attach a limited warranty for a short period of time. Note that general wear & tear is not covered. Service plans cover the general servicing of your vehicle. Note that there are exclusions and that you should decide carefully what is best for you. A maintenance plan is the most comprehensive cover including cover for servicing & parts. This is a good idea if your budget allows - note that there always exclusions and that you need to choose the best value provider.

Car Insurance

Car Insurance is one of those things you think you might never need & we hope you never have to use it. You will kick yourself if you don't have this cover in case of the bigger breaks & bumps. The aim is to give you financial protection against damage or bodily injury and may also cover you in case of vehicle theft or damage to your vehicle due to natural disasters. It's not all bad, a few innovative insurers provide you with value added services and extra benefits making sure getting cover feels breezier.
Press the "Save" button for us to put you in touch with the top insurance companies to see if you could be getting better value insurance.

History of Cars

How did cars come about and progress over time

  • 1478 - Leonardo Da Vinci invents the self-propelled car.
  • 1863 - Jean-Joseph-Etienne Lenoir invents the first commercially successful internal combustion engine. Meaning the carriage no longer needs a horse
  • 1882 - The diesel engine is invented
  • 1886 - Karl Benz invents the first true vehicle powered by petrol.
  • 1886 - Henry Ford builds his first car
  • 1886 – Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach invented the first 4 wheeled 4 stroke engine
  • 1900 - The steering wheel replaces the steering tiller
  • 1908 - Henry Ford's Model T goes into production boasting 20 Horsepower
  • 1912 - Lester Wire invents the first electric traffic light
  • 1924 - The car radio is born
  • 1938 - Ferdinand Porsche invents the VW Beetle
  • 1939 - Air conditioners installed for the first time by Nash Motor company
  • 1940 - The first 4-wheel drive vehicle is invented for the US Army - enter the Jeep
  • 1951 - The first direct fuel injection cars hit the market - The Gutbrod Superior & Goliath GP 700 Sports Coupe
  • 1974- Airbags become a safety option
  • 1995 - GPS is introduced
  • 1996 - Electric vehicles start hitting the road
  • 2000 - Vehicle manufacturers starting focusing heavily on more fuel efficient vehicles with the race to save our planet

Car Facts

Read some facts about cars all around the world

1 Billion Cars

There are over 1 billion cars in use in the world.

30 000 Parts

The average car has 30 000 parts that put it together.

431 KM Per Hour

The fastest street car, Bugatti Veyron, reaches 431 km per hour.

95% Parked

95% of a car's lifetime is spent parked.