September 30, 2025 • 9 mins
Relebogile Mabotja speaks to Papi Mabele the Founding Editor of TWFLD.com about exploring the hidden coast of car ownership.
702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is broadcast live on Johannesburg based talk radio station 702 every weekday afternoon. Relebogile brings a lighter touch to some of the issues of the day as well as a mix of lifestyle topics and a peak into the worlds of entertainment and leisure.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Seven o two the Car Feature.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Twelve minutes two three o'clock time for the Car feature
and for today we're talking about the hidden costs of
car ownership and they are so many odible one A
three or seven oh two in the WhatsApp line oh
seven two, seven oh two and seven oh two. And
we are joined by Babby Mabaile, founding editor of twofold,
(00:23):
their website twfld dot com. Babby, Welcome to the show.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It's only a pleasure. How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I am doing really really well, and I'm excited for
this chat because, Yay, anything hidden when it comes to
money is a problem.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Is that right? Flag?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Definitely definitely, let's start with the obvious numbers that we
all need to know of when it comes to car ownership.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
No, definitely. I think first and foremost it's that.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Car payment or the finance repayment part, and then we
definitely have to look at ensuring. Secondly, it's fuel, and
then I want to say, lastly, would be.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Any maintenance or servicing of the vehicle.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I think the first one is pretty much obvious, right,
and then those other three are elements or items that
people really really do not think about up until it's
time for you to be gazzling up on that fuel,
to be paying that insurance, and to be considered all
the servicing and maintenance that comes with owning a vehicle.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Now, can I make a confession, Bobby, I have found
myself being the person who when I'm like, my cass
come from service, I'm like, but why am I paying
separately for this? And they have to explain your we're
and tear and then maintenance. So can we talk maintenance warranty?
So is because Yo, I'm like, how I thought?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Ha ha ha. No.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Look, when it comes to servicing, regardless of what it is,
it's oil changes, high rotations, brake pads, all the unglamorous
stuff that you don't think about on the daily. Also,
I think it's a human nature when you're buying your call,
whether it's your first call or an additional car or whatever.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
That you know.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
The instance may be, you're on this high, you're excited
about the purchase, you want to get driving. It's new,
you want to get into, you want to experience it,
But you forget about that service and all those things
that I mentioned at the end of the day or
count they cost money. And it's all stuff that not
included with your repayment on the vehicle, because that will change.
(02:25):
It costs money. The tires, you have to irritate them,
you're using them. Like you said, it's when tear brake pads,
they also the fail. So you need to be always
cognizant and make provision for these things. And what I
like to advise people to do that, especially when it
comes to maintenance.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Put put a little bit each.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And every month in all savings pockets so that you know,
when you know maintenance comes by, you know that whatever
the chance may be, either either periodically or when kilometers
reach a certain you know number, that you have that
little kitty for yourself that you can use to pay for,
you know, any maintenance cost and servicing.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Want to talk percentages, and I know it's going to
be extremely generic and thumb sucking, but I'm gonna rely
on your experience for what I'm gonna ask. If your
monthly repayments, let's use a round figure of one thousand rand,
what percentage is reasonable for you of what? Or let's
(03:23):
rather say your cars a one hundred thousand rand? What
percentage is reasonable of all these extra hidden costs for
you to then be able to say, this is not
a good idea to buy this car because obviously the
secondhand market is where many people go. But that might
that car might not be the right one because all
these extra things, you might as well have gone new.
(03:43):
So maybe guide us as to what we need to
look at in terms of looking at these numbers. And
then if you're saying, listen, if you're hidden costs are
not becoming more than ten percent, it's a problem.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
So typically financial experts, it myself included, I'm than financial expert,
though they typically recommend spending no more than fifteen to
twenty percent percent of your income on transportation. So that
should be your cost for the vehicle. This is including
the installment that you're paying the bank back, which is
the loan. Also looking at the field that you're spending
(04:17):
each month, also looking at insurance, and also looking at
this advice that I gave you about spending or putting
away a little bit of money into this you know,
savings pocket for whenever you need servicing on your vehicle.
So if it's more than that, then we know that Listen.
Now you're in the red. You're spending more than you
should be, you know, on your monthly income, so about
fifteen between fifteen to twenty percent of your income should
(04:40):
go to transportation. And that's the total cost of ownership
of a vehicle. This is including everything else that you
spoke about, not just the loan repayment to the bank.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Thank you for clarifying, because I don't want somebody saying, okay,
I in ten thous then fifteen percent is one thous
five hundred, I can buy a one thousand, five hundred
in a month's past, because we need to clarify exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
So something that we did, especially on twofold and a
recent article that we did, we actually looked at one
of the most affordable hatchbags, which cost you about five
point five thousand round each month. With that vehicle on
an average, you'll be looking at insurance that's about one
point eight thousand round monthly. Fuel will cost you upwards
of about three point nine thousand round on a month,
(05:26):
so in total you're looking at about eleven k. And
this is for like the cheapest hatchback that you can
find in South Africa, the most affordable, so you see
already you have to be looking at about a salary
of you know, twenty five thousand round upwards on a
monthly Excuse me, I'm talking about thirty or so. We
can we can talk there, But if you really want
to make it sense, when will also look at the
(05:48):
secondhand market, Like we spoke, it's really really important that
people also. I think the secondhand market is a place
where people forget about or don't think about when they're
looking to buy a vehicle. There you can find, you know,
vehicles that are from thirty to forty percent cheaper than
a new vehicle. But also it makes owning a vehicle
so much more attainable than you would if you would
(06:10):
to buy a new car and you.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Find that you actually cannot afford that ornamentally.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I just had a thought, Now, how many people do
you know, Bobby, that actually go and see how much
it costs to renew a license disk every year and
added in their budget?
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Also that you see.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Those things that happened once a year. We never think
about them exactly. Okay, So in terms of how they
hidden costs that you think, we really need to dig
into the ones that catch us by surprise. What are those?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I think, more than anything, it has to be especially
if you're traveling for longer distances, it definitely has to
be you know, tolls considered with the vehicle when you're
traveling of that sort. I think that's one of the
other things that we really don't especially when you're planning again,
like I said, planning a long trips or you're really traveling,
traveling far and wide for business tools, it's something that
(07:08):
people don't or needglickt to think about. And also the
biggest one in the sense self servicing I want to
talk about especially all we have to be tires. Tires
tend to be really really expensive, and it's something that
people even with that little savings pocket, sometimes.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
It might be a little bit out of reach.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
But also be smart in the sense of how your
tag your tires and make it attendable to you in
your pocket so that you don't find just you know,
having to reach for that credit card or even you know,
that ad once or any other you know, wherever you
might be getting your money from in order to make
sure that you can actually afford any tire replacements or
rotations thereof.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Final thoughts from your side.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Buddy, Final thoughts from my side before I go, I
want to you know, you know, tell people or urge
them to actually calculate whether you can comfortably afford the
full monthly costs without stress. And then also so consider
like we mentioned, pre owned, certified pre owned vehicles and
also factor in your actual driving patterns.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
When you're looking at a vehicle.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
It's fine to say cool, I want that very expensive car,
but also look at that does it actually make sense
in the sense of fuel efficiency for you where you
need to drive on a daily for work or whatever
the instance may be, space orise does the vehicle speak
to you as well?
Speaker 1 (08:24):
And also shop around for insurance quotes.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I know we tend or people tend to think of
this at the last minute when you're about to drive
away with that vehicle, but make sure that as part
of your whole journey, you actually look at insurance codes
for the car that you're looking at and make sure
that it fits within your budget.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
These figures they do.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Increase on an annual basis, as insurance does or any policies.
So also talk to you ever as insuring you your
insurance house to make sure you can try that or
means to keep these carts at a the lowest and
make sure that you try to avoid those increases that
come by with it, so be smart and clever with
how and when you spend your money.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Bobby, thank you so so much for your time founding
editor of twofold that is t w f l D
dot com
Seven o two the Car Feature.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Twelve minutes two three o'clock time for the Car feature
and for today we're talking about the hidden costs of
car ownership and they are so many odible one A
three or seven oh two in the WhatsApp line oh
seven two, seven oh two and seven oh two. And
we are joined by Babby Mabaile, founding editor of twofold,
(00:23):
their website twfld dot com. Babby, Welcome to the show.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It's only a pleasure. How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I am doing really really well, and I'm excited for
this chat because, Yay, anything hidden when it comes to
money is a problem.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Is that right? Flag?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Definitely definitely, let's start with the obvious numbers that we
all need to know of when it comes to car ownership.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
No, definitely. I think first and foremost it's that.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Car payment or the finance repayment part, and then we
definitely have to look at ensuring. Secondly, it's fuel, and
then I want to say, lastly, would be.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Any maintenance or servicing of the vehicle.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I think the first one is pretty much obvious, right,
and then those other three are elements or items that
people really really do not think about up until it's
time for you to be gazzling up on that fuel,
to be paying that insurance, and to be considered all
the servicing and maintenance that comes with owning a vehicle.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Now, can I make a confession, Bobby, I have found
myself being the person who when I'm like, my cass
come from service, I'm like, but why am I paying
separately for this? And they have to explain your we're
and tear and then maintenance. So can we talk maintenance warranty?
So is because Yo, I'm like, how I thought?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Ha ha ha. No.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Look, when it comes to servicing, regardless of what it is,
it's oil changes, high rotations, brake pads, all the unglamorous
stuff that you don't think about on the daily. Also,
I think it's a human nature when you're buying your call,
whether it's your first call or an additional car or whatever.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
That you know.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
The instance may be, you're on this high, you're excited
about the purchase, you want to get driving. It's new,
you want to get into, you want to experience it,
But you forget about that service and all those things
that I mentioned at the end of the day or
count they cost money. And it's all stuff that not
included with your repayment on the vehicle, because that will change.
(02:25):
It costs money. The tires, you have to irritate them,
you're using them. Like you said, it's when tear brake pads,
they also the fail. So you need to be always
cognizant and make provision for these things. And what I
like to advise people to do that, especially when it
comes to maintenance.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Put put a little bit each.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And every month in all savings pockets so that you know,
when you know maintenance comes by, you know that whatever
the chance may be, either either periodically or when kilometers
reach a certain you know number, that you have that
little kitty for yourself that you can use to pay for,
you know, any maintenance cost and servicing.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Want to talk percentages, and I know it's going to
be extremely generic and thumb sucking, but I'm gonna rely
on your experience for what I'm gonna ask. If your
monthly repayments, let's use a round figure of one thousand rand,
what percentage is reasonable for you of what? Or let's
(03:23):
rather say your cars a one hundred thousand rand? What
percentage is reasonable of all these extra hidden costs for
you to then be able to say, this is not
a good idea to buy this car because obviously the
secondhand market is where many people go. But that might
that car might not be the right one because all
these extra things, you might as well have gone new.
(03:43):
So maybe guide us as to what we need to
look at in terms of looking at these numbers. And
then if you're saying, listen, if you're hidden costs are
not becoming more than ten percent, it's a problem.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
So typically financial experts, it myself included, I'm than financial expert,
though they typically recommend spending no more than fifteen to
twenty percent percent of your income on transportation. So that
should be your cost for the vehicle. This is including
the installment that you're paying the bank back, which is
the loan. Also looking at the field that you're spending
(04:17):
each month, also looking at insurance, and also looking at
this advice that I gave you about spending or putting
away a little bit of money into this you know,
savings pocket for whenever you need servicing on your vehicle.
So if it's more than that, then we know that Listen.
Now you're in the red. You're spending more than you
should be, you know, on your monthly income, so about
fifteen between fifteen to twenty percent of your income should
(04:40):
go to transportation. And that's the total cost of ownership
of a vehicle. This is including everything else that you
spoke about, not just the loan repayment to the bank.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Thank you for clarifying, because I don't want somebody saying, okay,
I in ten thous then fifteen percent is one thous
five hundred, I can buy a one thousand, five hundred
in a month's past, because we need to clarify exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
So something that we did, especially on twofold and a
recent article that we did, we actually looked at one
of the most affordable hatchbags, which cost you about five
point five thousand round each month. With that vehicle on
an average, you'll be looking at insurance that's about one
point eight thousand round monthly. Fuel will cost you upwards
of about three point nine thousand round on a month,
(05:26):
so in total you're looking at about eleven k. And
this is for like the cheapest hatchback that you can
find in South Africa, the most affordable, so you see
already you have to be looking at about a salary
of you know, twenty five thousand round upwards on a
monthly Excuse me, I'm talking about thirty or so. We
can we can talk there, But if you really want
to make it sense, when will also look at the
(05:48):
secondhand market, Like we spoke, it's really really important that
people also. I think the secondhand market is a place
where people forget about or don't think about when they're
looking to buy a vehicle. There you can find, you know,
vehicles that are from thirty to forty percent cheaper than
a new vehicle. But also it makes owning a vehicle
so much more attainable than you would if you would
(06:10):
to buy a new car and you.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Find that you actually cannot afford that ornamentally.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I just had a thought, Now, how many people do
you know, Bobby, that actually go and see how much
it costs to renew a license disk every year and
added in their budget?
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Also that you see.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Those things that happened once a year. We never think
about them exactly. Okay, So in terms of how they
hidden costs that you think, we really need to dig
into the ones that catch us by surprise. What are those?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I think, more than anything, it has to be especially
if you're traveling for longer distances, it definitely has to
be you know, tolls considered with the vehicle when you're
traveling of that sort. I think that's one of the
other things that we really don't especially when you're planning again,
like I said, planning a long trips or you're really traveling,
traveling far and wide for business tools, it's something that
(07:08):
people don't or needglickt to think about. And also the
biggest one in the sense self servicing I want to
talk about especially all we have to be tires. Tires
tend to be really really expensive, and it's something that
people even with that little savings pocket, sometimes.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
It might be a little bit out of reach.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
But also be smart in the sense of how your
tag your tires and make it attendable to you in
your pocket so that you don't find just you know,
having to reach for that credit card or even you know,
that ad once or any other you know, wherever you
might be getting your money from in order to make
sure that you can actually afford any tire replacements or
rotations thereof.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Final thoughts from your side.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Buddy, Final thoughts from my side before I go, I
want to you know, you know, tell people or urge
them to actually calculate whether you can comfortably afford the
full monthly costs without stress. And then also so consider
like we mentioned, pre owned, certified pre owned vehicles and
also factor in your actual driving patterns.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
When you're looking at a vehicle.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
It's fine to say cool, I want that very expensive car,
but also look at that does it actually make sense
in the sense of fuel efficiency for you where you
need to drive on a daily for work or whatever
the instance may be, space orise does the vehicle speak
to you as well?
Speaker 1 (08:24):
And also shop around for insurance quotes.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I know we tend or people tend to think of
this at the last minute when you're about to drive
away with that vehicle, but make sure that as part
of your whole journey, you actually look at insurance codes
for the car that you're looking at and make sure
that it fits within your budget.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
These figures they do.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Increase on an annual basis, as insurance does or any policies.
So also talk to you ever as insuring you your
insurance house to make sure you can try that or
means to keep these carts at a the lowest and
make sure that you try to avoid those increases that
come by with it, so be smart and clever with
how and when you spend your money.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Bobby, thank you so so much for your time founding
editor of twofold that is t w f l D
dot com
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