Let’s start this off with a disclaimer. AI is not perfect (...yet), so any information or advice should be taken with a grain of salt. Always try to verify the information given before making your car purchase final.
Artificial Intelligence might also give the best answer for most people, but many buyers are unique and have specific requirements. Good options are not necessarily the best option. This is to say, also do your own research about other potential alternatives that might suit you or your circumstances even better.
Conventional resources
Possibly the easiest and most favoured way to research vehicles is by video. YouTube provides both the informational and visual aspects of car research, all without having to travel to a physical dealership.
Online comparison tools, such as the compare tool on ChangeCars, can help you compare the basic specs of various cars such as price, power, and monthly payment.
How to utilise AI to gather information and make sense of it
In the South African market, we have more choices of brands and vehicle types than ever before. So the first step in the new-car search is usually to narrow down the list of potential cars you should consider.
This is one step where AI can come in handy. There are many factors to consider when creating your shortlist of possible purchases, such as price, fuel type, number of seats, etc. One of the most important factors is likely price. A simple prompt to an AI assistant, such as “best car under R400 000 in South Africa”, will generate a list of great choices. This prompt can be expanded upon based on your needs, such as refining the question to include “diesel fuel type” or “manual transmission.”
Other useful AI tools
AI is not only useful for information on the car itself. It’s particularly helpful for answering questions and can also highlight things you might have missed or didn’t even know you should consider. This includes price negotiation tips, understanding unfamiliar jargon, and general things to be aware of that might be unknown to the average buyer.
These tools can be especially useful when buying second-hand, where the risk of purchasing a vehicle is even trickier. Reliability and maintenance information is valuable when looking at older cars, especially where common issues have already been identified.
The importance of the physical dealership and your experience there
In this digital age, we can experience almost everything online, but the final purchase should always be done in person, where possible. The experience you receive at the dealership — and the car’s actual condition — will ultimately influence your purchasing decision.
At the end of the day, what separates us from machines is our emotions. We choose a certain car because it speaks to our personal values and evokes some kind of feeling. The right car on paper might not give you that special feeling when seeing or experiencing it in person.
Finally, and most importantly, always inspect the car in person before buying. Alternatively, use a service like SCREAN, which can inspect the car on your behalf and provide a detailed report on its condition.
By Hanno Mostert, in association with CHANGECARS.
