- Nissan scores well in annual parts pricing survey
- Micra 1.2 Acenta comes out tops in City Car category
- Cost-effective parts pricing often overlooked by consumers
The annual Kinsey Report, which surveys parts pricing across the country's new vehicle selection, has returned great results for Nissan in South Africa in 2012.
Created and managed by Malcolm Kinsey, the Kinsey Report evaluates a number of important vehicle parts in varying areas – from frequently-damaged body panels to wear-and-tear gearbox parts – and compiles a parts basket for each vehicle. The results are then shown as the basket as a percentage of the vehicle's purchase price. In 2012, the Kinsey Report reflected its biggest test yet, evaluating 64 different vehicles across eight categories.
Nissan Micra comes out top
Besides the Micra's aggressive pricing and superior space for its segment, Nissan's budget-friendly entry-level hatch has outperformed five other competitors in the Kinsey Report's City Car category. The Micra 1.2 Acenta reflected a 24.15% parts basket, in relation to its purchase price of R132 900.
Janico Dannhauser, Product Manager for Passenger Vehicles at Nissan South Africa, is delighted by the Micra's performance. "Nissan SA is very proud to have maintained the launch promise we made to the market of supplying a vehicle which is not only affordable to buy, but coupled to its great fuel economy and low running costs, has affordable parts too. The Micra's parts basket cost is not only phenomenally low as a percentage of the purchase price, but also as a rand value of only R32 094."
Not only did the Micra do well but in the Family Favourites category, the Nissan Tiida also fended off ten competitors to come out on top with a parts basket of 22.31%.
Invaluable information for consumers
While consumers might be well aware of fuel efficiency, price discounts and value-added extras like a service plan when purchasing a new vehicle, the cost of parts when the times comes down the line is often overlooked. Of particular importance to consumers who keep their cars for many years or for those who prefer to buy second-hand, the cost of parts can often be a deal-breaker.
This is where the Kinsey Report comes in to serve as an independent evaluation based on real dealer pricing and covering 34 genuine parts, from oil filters and flywheels to doors and bonnets.
The resulting information is invaluable to the consumer and eye-opening, where a seemingly attractive low purchase price may be met by high parts pricing after the fact.
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