A typical South African household will need to have an income of at least R59,000 per month to be able to afford the new VW Amarok.
The highly-anticipated bakkie is finally going on sale this month, having been revealed to the public almost a year ago, and it’s bringing with a host of different trim levels and engines to choose from.
The entry-level model, which simply bears the Amarok name, is a double cab with a starting price of R599,000. Single cab variants are planned to release at a later date, though Volkswagen has yet to say exactly when this will be or what the pricing will look like.
Therefore, the current beginner model in the bakkie family is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 110kW and 350Nm under its belt at an average fuel consumption of 6.9l/100km.
In fact, it is the only unit in the line-up to feature this drivetrain, combining a five-speed manual gearbox with rear-wheel drive.
The configuration lets the bakkie tow up to 3,500kg and it also supports 966kg in the rear bed. Moreover, the high-rider has a wheelbase of 3,270mm, a ground clearance of 198mm, and a water wading depth of 800mm.
Despite being the base specification, the Amarok provides generous equipment for a model often described as a “workhorse” as it comes with 16-inch wheels, a full-size spare wheel, automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, cargo lights for the rear tray, traction control, ABS, and Normal, Eco and Slippery driving profiles.
Inside, there is cloth upholstery with woven inserts, a multifunction steering wheel, manual air conditioning, four speakers, an 8-inch digital driver display, and a vertical 10-inch infotainment screen with voice commands.
Monthly payments
We can use the following template to work out what the monthly payments will be on the entry-level Amarok.
- Car price – R599,000
- Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
- Interest – 10.75%
- Deposit – 10%
- Balloon – No balloon payment
- Extras – No optional extras
From this, we can work out that the bakkie will require a minimum payment of R11,749.34 per month.
Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.
This means that motorists looking to take home the double cab will need to be earning least R58,745.70 per month to be able to afford the vehicle.
It is important to note, however, that insurance, fuel, and maintenance are not included in this initial figure and need to be accounted for.
Keyword: What you need to earn to afford the cheapest new VW Amarok in South Africa