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The Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger – the two most popular vehicles in South Africa by far – have long had a fierce battle in the local bakkie market.
Some motorists swear that the Hilux will remain SA's bakkie king forever while die-hard Ford fans believe it's only a matter of time until Toyota's top vehicle is knocked off its perch.
How do these top bakkie fare in terms of resale value?
According to Darryl Jacobson, managing director of True Price, the Hilux has the best resale value of the two: "This is especially the case when considering high-mileage models.
READ: SA's best-selling vehicles: Here's why the Toyota Hilux reigns supreme as SA's bakkie king
"We analysed 2015 and 2016 Hilux and Ranger models in three different mileage categories: 0 to 100 000km, 100 000 to 200 000km and more than 200 000km. The Hilux outperforms the Ranger in all three categories."
Image: Quickpic
True Price has data pertaining to thousands of vehicles sold on auction on its system.
Key findings: Hilux vs Ranger at auctions
• In the zero to 100 000km category, the Hilux retains 73% of its original price while the Ranger sells for 69% of its original price.
• In the 100 000 to 200 000km category, the Hilux retains 62% of its original price while the Ranger sells for 56% of its original price.
• In the over 200 000km category, the Hilux sells off 68% of its original price while the Ranger delivers a 53% return.
Bakkie battle
But why does the Hilux have better resale value than the Ranger? After all, both are great bakkies, surely? "They are. The vehicle sales statistics confirm this. Well over 30 000 Hilux and Ranger derivatives were sold in South Africa last year (36 422 and 32 811 to be exact).
"Buyers are spoilt for choice in South Africa, meaning that these bakkies are both terrific buys – because purchasers certainly can go elsewhere. However, the Hilux outperforms the Ranger in the resale stakes for a number of reasons."
Image: Quickpic
Two major factors will influence the sales of these bakkie titans. The first is brand image. "The Toyota brand is one of the most loved and trusted in South Africa. Motorists believe that they are purchasing reliability and peace of mind when they opt for Toyota," says Jacobson.
The second is aftersales service. "Toyota dealers have an outstanding reputation for delivering good service at fair prices. Furthermore, the dealer network is vast, meaning that you don´t have to look long and hard to locate a dealer. Spare parts are also readily available," Jacobson points out.
These factors mean that it will be hard for the Ranger to outperform the Hilux – when it comes to sales and also when it comes to resale value. "The Ranger has been widely praised – both by members of the motoring media and by the buying public in this country.
"But Toyota's long-standing legacy and reputation will be difficult – if not impossible – to usurp in the near future. Accordingly, I predict that the Hilux will reign supreme in the resale stakes for the conceivable future," he concludes.
'Majority are depreciating assets'
According to Jacobson, resale value should be one of the single most important factors to consider before purchasing any vehicle. "The majority of vehicles are depreciating assets. The exception to this rule is a classic or collector's car.
"The longer you own a vehicle, the less it will be worth. In fact, depreciation is the single biggest cost factor when it comes to vehicle ownership. It is far more significant than the cost of servicing and maintenance, for instance. Yet some car buyers forget about this important aspect of vehicle ownership when making their choice."
The consequences of ignoring vehicle resale values can be dire: "You will get a much lower trade-in price when the time comes to sell. That much is obvious. However, consider also the fact that the vehicle could be stolen or written off. Your insurers will pay you a market-related value… and resale value plays an important role here!"
Image: Motorpress
