South African motoring start-up, True Price, has released a new comparison focusing on the\u00a0Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus.<\/p>\n
The three cars are often top sellers within the C-Segment hatch\/sedan sector of the South African car market, and all three also have strong brand recognition in the country.<\/p>\n
True Price’s comparison was based on an analysis of cars that have driven set distances and then calculated the actual price achieved on auction as a percentage of the original retail price.<\/p>\n
In the zero to 100,000 km category, the Corolla achieved 66% of its original retail sales price versus the Golf at 61% and the Focus at 53%.<\/p>\n
In the 100,000 to 200,000 km category, the Corolla achieved 52% of its original retail sales price versus the Golf at 48% and the Focus at 42%.<\/p>\n
In the 200,000 km plus category, the Corolla achieved 46% of its original retail sales price versus the Golf at 41% and the Focus at 38%.<\/p>\n
“No matter which category you look at, the Corolla reigns supreme,” said Darryl Jacobson, MD of True Price.<\/p>\n
He attributes the domination of the Corolla to a variety of factors.<\/p>\n
“The Corolla, which has been manufactured for 43 years in South Africa, is somewhat of a motoring icon, with a huge following and a superior reputation.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s a massive success internationally too. It overtook Ford’s Model T and Volkswagen’s Beetle some time ago, becoming the best-selling car model ever sold. More than 45 million have been sold globally since the Corolla was introduced in 1966,” he said.<\/p>\n
Jacobson added that the old \u201ceverything keeps going right\u201d slogan of Toyota still resonates with many South Africans.<\/p>\n
“South Africans are comfortable with the Corolla. They perceive it as a very reliable vehicle that it supported by a massive dealer network,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“Whenever a Toyota Corolla comes up on the auction floor there is definitely a buzz from the auctioneer and the buyers. There\u2019s never a doubt that a Toyota Corolla will sell on auction, where as the Golf and more so the Focus can go unsold.”<\/p>\n
While sales of C-Segment hatch\/sedan models are declining in South Africa in favour of cheaper cars and sports utility vehicles, Jacobson says that the Corolla will always maintain its superb resale value.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s an iconic product that South Africans know and love. The same sentiments will apply to the new Corolla, when it is launched here in 2019,” he said.<\/p>\n