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From plumbers to
electricians to garden services, every business-on-wheels owner needs to transport the
tools of their trade.
Times are tough.
Nationally, fibre and Netflix are putting DSTV installers out of work, and;
fast-disappearing water in the Western Cape is doing the same to plumbers. The
point? Five years ago, these were bread-and-butter Hilux
and Ranger single-cab buyers, but today by choice or circumstance, one-man
businesses on a cents-saving mission are only buying in one direction – and
that means bargain hunting for a budget-balancing used bakkie on the
double-digit side of R100 000. Here are some examples:
1. Chevrolet Utility (from R75 900)
The once much-loved Opel Corsa bakkie’s Brazilian-built cousin can’t match its forebear for looks, but the good news is: now that parent company General Motors (GM) is about to do a runner from SA, these should be getting cheaper by the day, as the realisation sinks in that official spares and aftersales support might be more difficult to come by - unless Williams Hunt dealerships can deliver in its place.
2. Nissan NP200 (from R69 900)
GM’s pain is Nissan’s gain. When the Chevy Ute will finally disappear off the market, those looking for a half-tonner need to look no further than Nissan. Proudly built in South Africa and featuring extensive componentry use from sister companies Renault and Dacia, the NP200 is cheap to run, handles well and offers several practical solutions, such as 16 anchor points in its load box and an extended cab as standard. It could even double as a lifestyle vehicle over weekends.
3. Tata Super Ace (from R68 000)
Things are about to get serious as we step up to the one-tonner brigade. The Super Ace really is the worker’s workhorse, featuring a generously-sized 1.5m x 2.6m load deck, complemented by uber-practical dropsides when having to stuff heavy, hard-to-lift items into its load box. Add a canopy and it becomes as cavernous as an airplane hanger.
4. GWM Steed 5 (from R83 000)
Chinese bakkies aren’t necessarily the first choice for the average South African bakkie buyer, but no-one can argue that they make great utility vehicles. Great Wall Motors is the most convincing – and longest lasting – of the barrage of Chinese bakkie brands that have flooded the local market over the last decade. That has to mean something.
5. Isuzu KB250D (from R89 900)
The pick of the bunch. While GM may have packed its bags, its Isuzu subsidiary isn’t going anywhere. The locally manufactured KB is something of a legend - they’ve churned more than 500 000 of them out in Port Elizabeth since 1972 - and in 250D guise its naturally-aspirated engine trades performance for durability – just what you want when buying used. It just keeps keeping on.
Get your own budget bakkie at AutoTrader South Africa, they have a wide range of new and used cars to suit any price range. For the past 25 years, AutoTrader South Africa has been the leading media marketplace for the buying and selling of cars, bikes, boats, and commercial vehicles. Whether you are looking for a brand new car or are in the market for a pre-loved model, you’re sure to find your ideal set of wheels on AutoTrader.
