Freedom means nothing without freedom of movement, to go where you like, when you like and with who you like. It’s what we dream of when we’re young and it’s what we all crave more than anything else as we reach adulthood.
At some point, we take a good look at the ridiculously long taxi queue we’re standing in and we realise that we need to get up and get moving to achieve our goals. Now more than ever before, young South Africans are making their mark. They’re leading the entrepreneurial space in several sectors from technology to farming, and they’re working hard to make their dreams come true.
The idea of buying a car when you’ve just started your first job is something we all experience, but you need to be careful. Buying a car is an exciting experience because it allows you to take charge of your life, but there are many costs in addition to your monthly car repayments that you need to be aware of.
Servicing costs, spare parts costs, insurance, fuel, and wear and tear items such as tires, are just a few of the costs you need to cover when you become a car owner. You should also do a great deal of research before buying your first car and if you’re doing a good job investigating the many cars out there, you will undoubtedly come across the Datsun GO as it’s perfect for first-time buyers.
In 2017, the annual Kinsey Report found for the third year in a row that the Datsun GO was South Africa’s most affordable car. The Kinsey Report is regarded as the most comprehensive survey of motoring costs and covers vehicles available locally. The report surveyed parts pricing of 69 vehicles across nine segments during July 2017 and highlighted the true cost of vehicle ownership. It has become the benchmark independent parts pricing survey in the South African motoring industry.
Under the category of City Cars — entry level cars for first time buyers — the Datsun GO was named the best overall in the service, repair and crash parts sections respectively. The affordability of parts together with class-leading fuel consumption makes the total cost of ownership of the GO one of the best in South Africa. The Datsun GO is also a great option for entrepreneurs as it comes with 1 year free insurance and a service plan.
In South Africa, there are so many opportunities for the youth. Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled the YES (Youth Employment Service), initiative to address youth unemployment and he committed to attracting foreign investment to help tackle this problem, particularly among matriculants and young graduates.
The initiative aims to place 1-million people between the ages of 18 and 35 in a job for at least a year to ensure that young people are being exposed to the job market. The YES initiative will also be supporting young entrepreneurs in need of seed funding.
All these signs are pointing in the direction of your first new car, not only because of the freedom a car provides, but because of the endless possibilities to improve your life and those around you. As you celebrate Youth Month and you remember the sacrifices that were made for our freedom as a country, take that leap, get into your first car and remember what Nelson Mandela said: “There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
