Colin Windell

For the true private buyer, the major element of a new car purchase is the finance. With most people focusing on the monthly repayment, they rarely calculate or appreciate how much interest they pay overall. For all but a privileged minority, the leasing option is not a viable route to car ownership, argues Colin Windell in his second article on car prices.

"Car prices will not come down in the short to medium term, whatever the findings of the car price probe by the Competition Commission. No magic wand can be waved to enable everyone to rush out and buy new vehicles," reckons <i>Autonews</i> editor Colin Windell. In the first of a two-part feature, we looks at the issues surrounding new vehicle pricing in South Africa.