True all-in cost, side by side

Compare Two Cars

The sticker price means nothing. Compare any two vehicles by their real monthly cost: finance, fuel, insurance, and running costs combined.

CAR A
R
R
R
R
R
CAR B
R
R
R
R
R
Monthly Cost Comparisoni
Car A ✓ CHEAPER
R 12 257
/month all-in
Car B
R 13 814
/month all-in
Finance instalmentR 6 754R 7 616
Admin feeR 69R 69
InsuranceR 1 550R 1 550
FuelR 2 984R 3 779
TrackerR 300R 300
MaintenanceR 600R 500
Total interest paidR 143 115R 211 173
Balloon due at endR 0R 96 000
TOTAL / monthR 12 257R 13 814
Car A is cheaper by R 1 558/month. Over 5 years that's R 93 451 in your pocket.
Total Cost Over Full Termi

Monthly figures only tell part of the story. This includes all running costs plus the balloon settlement for the full duration of each loan.

Car A · 72 months
R 882 502
total all-in incl. balloon
Car B · 72 months
R 1 090 643
total all-in incl. balloon
Car A costs R 208 141 less over the full term. That is the real difference between these two cars.
Advertisement

Why You Should Compare True Cost, Not Sticker Price

A R480,000 car with a 20% balloon and 9.5L/100km consumption can easily cost more per month than a R380,000 car bought without a balloon and doing 7L/100km. The sticker price gap is R100,000 but the monthly reality can flip.

This happens because South Africans typically compare: monthly instalment (ignoring balloon, fees, insurance, fuel). The compare tool calculates the true all-in monthly number for both vehicles so you can make an honest decision.

Factors That Affect Which Car is Cheaper

Interest Rate Difference

If you negotiate a better rate on Car B because it's new versus a used Car A at a higher spread, the gap can overcome a significant price difference. A 1.5% rate advantage on R400,000 over 72 months is worth R20,000+ in interest.

Fuel Consumption

At R21.95/L and 1,500km/month, the difference between a 7L/100km and a 9.5L/100km vehicle is approximately R825/month, which is R49,500 over 5 years. This is a major long-term cost that's invisible in standard instalment comparisons.

Insurance

Insurance scales with vehicle value, vehicle type (performance cars cost significantly more), your age, and suburb. A R680,000 Golf R can cost R500–R800/month more to insure than a R480,000 Golf GTI for a driver under 30.

Maintenance and Service Plans

A new vehicle with a manufacturer service plan costs R400–R600/month to maintain on average. An equivalent 3-year-old used vehicle without a plan can cost R1,200–R2,000/month. Factor this in when comparing new versus used.

Common South African Car Comparisons