Beware of costly extras when buying a vehicle
Times Media consumer writer Wendy Knowler writes a weekly column on issues affecting consumers. If you have something you would like her to investigate, send your queries to: consumer@knowler.co.za Follow her on Twitter: @wendyknowler
IF you’re thinking about buying a car, especially a used car, this story should motivate you to pay very close attention to the paperwork.
Sithembile Lembethe’s experience in purchasing a Nissan NP200 bakkie from Renault Pinetown Multifranchise dealership in June last year is an example of what can happen if you don’t assertively interrogate the contract before you sign.
The advertised cash price for the bakkie was R70 000. But when Lembethe signed the deal, financing it over five years, a whopping R30 000 in extras had been loaded on to it, among them a service plan and warranty totalling more than R13 000, despite the fact that the bakkie’s service book was missing stamps for the last two services – 75 000km and 90 000km – meaning she had no hope of a successful claim on either.
Six months later the bakkie lost power and wouldn’t re-start. It was towed to Nissan Pinetown, where mechanics found the cambelt – which should have been replaced at the 90 000 service – was loose and worn out.
She was told that the repairs – cambelt, new battery and spark plugs – were for her account.
She was charged R3 000 for a tow bar. The bakkie didn’t have a tow bar. Lembethe says when she queried this she was told it was for reinforcement at the front of the vehicle, allowing it to be towed. When I asked Tammy Maddox, dealer principal of the Pinetown Multifranchise (who was not involved in the deal), she said, in fact, that was a mistake – the R3 000 was for the bin lining.
Lembethe was also charged an extra R3 000 for an old, pre-existing cover on the load area.
Surely long-standing extras should not be added and should be included in the purchase price?
Maddox said: “My only explanation is the sales exec broke the price down to highlight these extras on the car.”
With the extras added, the price of the bakkie was still in line with the market value, she said.
Then there was a R4 500 “service and delivery” fee and R1 899 under “other extras”, which she didn’t ask for, she says.
A tracking device added another R3 613 to the deal, plus she’s paying R200 a month for the tracking service.
It seems she was arbitrarily given Matrix’s premium product. And then there’s the interest rate – she’s been saddled with Prime Plus 5 – 16.5%.
ý CONSUMER TIP: Letting the dealership fit extras and arrange finance will invariably cost you more. Source your own finance deal – you are sure to get a lower interest rate.
If you are buying a car, find out the going values at www.carvalue.co.za