by The Kinsey Report Kinsey Report is to those in the know, the most up to date look at the price of car parts in South Africa. Started by veteran motoring journalist, Malcolm Kinsey – the report covers the price of car parts of 74 vehicles in nine categories.
The informative report also shows a list of prices of 35 parts, as well as the cost of each “parts basket” as a percentage of a car’s price.
Data was collected within the same calendar month, including VAT. While prices are sourced almost exclusively from franchise dealers around Durban. This is in order “to replicate as closely as possible what the customer would experience”.
“Shopping around can still pay dividends. Manufacturers are only allowed to set a ‘recommended selling price’. While individual dealerships may charge whatever they feel is fair and reasonable. Large volume sellers are competitively easy to compare prices, but the lower volume brands may only have a single franchise and getting a ‘second quote’ may involve considerable travelling,” said Kinsey.
The 2015 edition of the Kinsey Report shows some ‘alarmingly high prices’ which Kinsey accredits to the deteriorating rand.
The analyst pointed out that there are cases where ‘we are not comparing like for like’. An example of this is the rear fender, which may be just that, or a complete side with door apertures.
In making up the list, Kinsey said that consideration is given to the NAAMSA monthly sales figures which indicate the volume of sales for each vehicle.
Kinsey also comments that the area of crash parts is probably the most important in the study and is certainly the most costly.
“Vehicles with aluminium body panels and chassis components, for example, are complicated and very expensive to repair. Some are even written off when the repair costs reach 50% of the resale value of the vehicle.”
Other items that show big discrepancies include fan belts and flywheels, the report said.
Highlighted Results (by Category):
City Cars and Entry Level: 11 Cars
Winner: Datsun GO
The Datsun GO is a winner in this category with a parts basket of R37 631 (selling price R102 500).
“It’s a great first-time purchase, making owning a new car affordable. It may lack a few refinements like ABS brakes and airbags, but it’s a solid little vehicle for basic transport.”
Second overall in parts is the Nissan Micra at R44 479 (both these two sourced from India). While third is the Polo Vivo at R49 805.
Best for servicing parts is the fourth placed Ford Figo followed by the Micra and Chevrolet Spark.
The GO shines in repair parts and crash parts with Micra second and Figo third in repair parts and GO, Micra and Polo Vivo taking the top three spots in crash parts.
Super Mini: 10 Cars
Winner: Renault Sandero
The Renault Sandero (R65 517) beats the Fiat 500 (R65 738) with the Peugeot in third with a parts basket of R67 463.
The least expensive car to service is the seventh placed Polo, some R250 less than the Sandero in second place, followed by the Fiat.
“In the repair portion, you are better off with a Fiat 500 while accident parts costs are lowest for the Sandero, followed by the Peugeot 208 and Fiat.”
Family Favourites: 9 Cars
Winner: Toyota Corolla
Two Toyota Corollas take first and second – the Prestige just edging out the Quest at R67 078 and R69 466. Surprisingly, the Italian car, the Alfa Giulietta, is third.
Most economical to service is the VW Golf 7, (sixth overall) followed by the Hyundai Elantra.
In the repair section the Elantra and Kia Cerato shine, with the Golf in third place.
The Corollas come into their own with substantially less expensive crash parts, over R15 000 better than the third placed Alfa.
Compact Crossover: 4 Cars
Winner: Toyota Avanza
The Toyota Avanza wins this class with a parts basket of R67 786, ahead of the Ford Eco Sport, and the Renault Duster.
The Duster is the least expensive vehicle to service followed by the Avanza and new Citroen Cactus 1.2.(fourth).
The Avanza is cheapest for both repair and crash parts. Followed by the Renault Duster in repair parts and the Eco Sport second in crash parts.
Crossover: 10 Cars
Winner: Toyota Fortuner
The Toyoya Fortuner wins in this class with a parts basket of R77 413, followed by Kia Sportage at R92 992 and the Toyota Rav 4 at R97 708.
The Mitsubishi ASX is the most economical crossover to service, followed by the Hyundai iX 35 and the Nissan X Trail.
Fortuner wins for repair costs, ahead of the Chev Trailblazer (fourth overall).
Fortuner is also the most economical in the crash parts section by close to R14 000, followed by the Sportage and Rav 4.
Executive Crossover: 7 Cars
Winner: Vovlo XC90
The Volvo XC 90 wins this class with a total parts basket price of R164 508, followed by the Audi Q7 and Toyota Prado.
Volvo has the lowest service parts cost at R4810, followed by the Range Rover Evoque (fourth) and the Prado.
In the repair section the Evoque has the least expensive basket ahead of the Quattro and the Volvo.
Double Cabs: 8 Vehicles
Winner: Tata Xenon
The report notes that three countries of origin compete for the top position.
India wins with the Tata Xenon (basket price of R58 527) followed by Japan with the Toyota Hilux Raider (R85 986) and China’s GWM Steed 6 (R89 437).
The GWM has the most competitive service costs at R2269 ahead of the Tata and Isuzu KB300 (fourth overall).
Repair parts winner is the VW Amarok – though it must be noted here that most Amarok D/C sales are with automatic gearboxes.
Tata Xenon beats out the Toyota Raider for crash parts.
Single Cabs: 8 Cars
Winner: Nissan NP 200
“We are not exactly comparing apples with apples here, since we are have included two half-tonne bakkies in with six full tonners.”
The Nissan NP 200, with a parts basket of R47 026, beats out the NP 300 Hardbody for first spot. The Chev Utility 1.4 Club takes third.
The Nissan Hardbody seeks out first place for servicing a mere R23 less than the Np 200 with the Chev Utility in third.
The Chev Utility has best repair parts basket ahead of the two Nissans, which are best for crash parts.
Among the one tonners – the Isuzu 250 leads the Toyota Hilux, Mazda BT 50, Ford Ranger 2.2 and VW Amarok.
Executive Saloons: 7 Cars
Winner: BMW 320
Leader is the BMW 320, followed by the Audi A4 and The Infiniti Q50.
Audi comes out top in the servicing section ahead of the Infiniti, “and all the cars are within a thousand rand or so”.
The repair portion has the Infiniti in front, while crash parts costs has BMW first, Audi second, and the Infinity third.
