Cheap cars are really a relative phrase. What is inexpensive to my neighbour, an Arabian oil prince, may be too expensive to me. So, cheap cars need to be put into perspective to make any genuine sense. To the standard South African home, an affordable vehicle could mean any car drastically less pricey than a new luxury German four door with a star on its bonnet. That means the term “cheap car” means an inexpensive car for the purpose and financial means of the individual looking at such car. Cheap cars could therefore be seen as either a pre-owned car much less expensive than its new derivative, or else a new car of a smallish design without any stars beautifying its bonnet.

In the context of Africa, particularly sub Saharan Africa, cheap cars would mean something different to a large number of men and women than it would to their wealthier counter parts elsewhere in the world, who may accept the above definition. To these people who would mostly be non-urban dwellers and often be subsistence farmers, a cheap car would mean an affordable motor vehicle with great reliability and which might run on the smell of an oil rag. The vehicle would also need to be multi-purpose and drivers friendly. So, what would these cheap cars look like and would be their objective? To answer this one would want to look at the environment the car would be employed in as well as the application areas of such a motor vehicle. Let’s look at a subsistence farmer in the Transkei area, who for many years labored on the mines and saved some money to go “farming”. Although he might have a bit of money to buy seed etc. and also have a few oxen he could in span to plough with, he has no means to transport production goods, nor any transportation to sell his produce at any reasonable market. He further more has no means to reach his local medical center 80 kilometer away on a dirt road or visit his kids in Umtata.

This means the person’s requirement of a cheap car, might look something like: A durable vehicle, with a load area on the top, if possible a dish like device, able to carry some 300 kilo’s. A great suspension system to manage the roads, very good brakes, a smallish motor which is effortlessly and economically maintainable, light on petrol , roomy inside and devoid of any splendid luxuries like radios, air-conditioning and leather seats (a real pig may from time to time share the seating, after all). Your vehicle, nonetheless, would need to have front lights and windscreen wipers. The petrol tank would need to be substantial enough to carry enough petrol as the nearest filling station is 80 kilo’s away, but he should be able to service the vehicle himself. Overall the requirement would thus be a simple, strong and easy to run car, not something to boast with at church or the local headman’s indaba. The Pricewell not more than 10-15 cows worth when new

Now – how does your objectives of cheap cars compare with that of our Transkei friend?

For more information about the Tata motors cheap cars or car, click the relevant link!