Check the stars before you sign

Before you buy a car, look up how it performed in a crash test. Global NCAP has been crash testing cars sold in South Africa for years and the results are free on its website. The gap between models is enormous. Two cars that look alike and cost almost the same can stars apart when it comes to passenger protection. The dealership won't raise it. The advertising certainly won't. Search the model and year before you commit, and check what's standard rather than optional: how many airbags, whether it has electronic stability control, and whether the back seats have three-point belts. Be aware though that the same car sold in different markets as different spec. An NCAP rating in another region does not apply to the car as sold in SA.