Cheap cars are really a relative phrase. What is inexpensive to my neighbour, an Arabian oil prince, may be unaffordable to me. So, cheap cars need to be put into perspective to make any genuine sense. To the typical South African household, a low priced car could imply any motor vehicle significantly less pricey than a brand new luxury German sedan with a star on its bonnet. This means the term "cheap car" means an inexpensive motor vehicle for the purpose and financial means of the person looking at such motor vehicle. Cheap cars could therefore be seen as either a pre-owned car considerably less costly than its new derivative, or else a new motor vehicle of a smallish design without any stars enhancing its bonnet.
In the context of Africa, especially sub Saharan Africa, cheap cars would mean something different to a great many people than it would to their wealthier counter parts elsewhere in the world, who may acknowledge the above definition. To such people who would mostly be non-urban dwellers and often be subsistence farmers, an inexpensive car would mean a cost-effective car with great reliability and which may run on the smell of an oil rag. The car would also need to be multi-purpose and drivers friendly. So, what would these cheap cars look like and would be their function? To answer this one would need to look at the environment the vehicle would be employed in as well as the application areas of such a vehicle. Let's consider a subsistence farmer in the Transkei area, who for several years labored on the mines and saved some money to go "farming". Although he might have a bit of funds to buy seed etc. and 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 additionally 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 man's requirement of a cheap car, might look something like: A durable vehicle, with a load area on the roof, if possible a dish like device, able to carry some 300 kilo's. A great suspension system to handle the roads, very good brakes, a smallish motor which is easily and economically maintainable, light on gas , roomy inside and lacking any luxuries like radios, air-conditioning and leather seats (a real pig may from time to time share the seating, after all). The vehicle, on the other hand, would need to have front lights and windscreen wipers. The petrol tank would have to be large enough to carry enough petrol as the nearest filling station is 80 kilo's away, but he should be able to service the car himself. Overall the need would thus be a basic, solid and easy to run car, not something to brag 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 stack up with that of our Transkei companion?
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For more information about the Tata motors cheap cars or competitors in the market like the Spark, click the relevant link!
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