Tiida parts cheapest: Kinsey Report

This year the survey included 32 vehicle models and the Nissan Tiida came out on top with its parts parcel amounting to R26 140.57, which is 17.07% of its R153 150 purchase price.

This year's line up excluded last year's winner, the Toyota Corolla as the parts supply for the new range of Toyota models, released in August, were not fully in place to meet the deadline. But the full report, which is published exclusively in the Spring edition of the AA Traveller magazine, does contain some interesting findings.

Compiled by veteran motoring researcher Malcolm Kinsey, the report was initiated 17 years ago as a study on selected parts prices. It is a comprehensive survey of car parts prices as quoted by recognised dealer networks across the country, and it measures the cost of a basket of 32 parts commonly replaced on a car such as oil filters, spark plugs, repair parts, and crash parts. The outcome of the evaluation then reflects that cost as a percentage of the vehicle's selling price.

The Kinsey Report has since grown to become the measure of parts affordability. An average motorist seldom deliberates much about the cost of maintaining or repairing a vehicle, but parts pricing and parts availability are crucial to the cost effectiveness and economical running of any vehicle.

The rising fuel price generally also makes motoring more expensive and should be considered in the purchase decision, as should the pricing and availability of parts.

The report is divided into four categories, from the entry level VW Citi Golf, Opel Corsa Lite and Ford KA, to the B-segment Hyundai Getz 1.6 and VW Polo 1.4, the C-segment that includes the Nissan Tiida 1.6 Visia, Mazda 3 and Honda Civic and lastly, family sedans such as the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.

The report shows the least expensive parts basket among the four categories are:

Entry level - VW CitiGolf at R 13 183.52
(18.87% of asking price of 69 850.00)

B-segment - Hyundai Getz 1.6 at R 19 570.22
(21.94% of asking price of R126 900.00)

C-segment - Nissan Tiida 1.6 Visia at R 26 140.57
(17.07% of asking price of R153 150.00)

Family sedan - BMW 320i at R49 662.76
(18.33% of asking price of R271 000.00)

Kinsey said: “If you are buying within a specific budget, it still pays to shop with your head rather than your heart. Always shop around and get two or three quotes if possible. This is even more important when buying used cars, where warranty and service plans are often no longer applicable.”