Father’s Day and Youth Day special – the best cars for Dad and Junior

This year, Father’s Day and Youth Day fall on the same day, June 16. This begs the question: could fathers and young South Africans also fall for the same vehicle?

June 16, 2024

Supplied content 2 minutes read

Let’s consider South Africa’s top-selling used bakkie and hatchback on AutoTrader – the Ford Ranger and the Volkswagen Polo. On the used car market, it’s possible to find a model that suits Dad and Junior (and their pockets too) within these two vehicle ranges.

An analysis of used car sales data¹ reveals that the Raptor is the most expensive used Ford Ranger bakkie sold (the average price is R1 307 555 and the average mileage is 4 184km). And there is no doubt that the rip-roaring Raptor is the perfect vehicle for Dad.

Dad will love the almost 27cm minimum ground clearance, the ability to lock the front differential, the 32-degree approach angle, and the fun he will have when he’s behind the wheel of this beast of a bakkie.

Junior would no doubt love all those features too – but he or she would need to settle for the far more economical Ford Ranger 2.2TDCi, which costs much less (R905 266 on average). With a fuel consumption figure of just 6.5 litres/100km, the 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine also consumes approximately half the fuel of the Raptor.

Turning to hatchbacks, the Volkswagen Polo GTI is the most expensive model while the Volkswagen Polo 1.0TSI is the cheapest. And, once again, these two vehicles are great for Dad and Junior.

Why is the GTI great for Dad? This compact hot hatch is a spirited performer that delivers thrilling acceleration, making it a joy to drive. Dad will love the sport-tuned suspension, sharp handling, and refined six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which deliver a truly dynamic driving experience.

Once again, Junior would, of course, love the same. But he or she would probably find the price tag of the Volkswagen Polo 1.0TSI somewhat more palatable. Sold at an average used price of R343 012, it is R218 907 cheaper than the GTI, and it only has 2 795km more mileage. While it doesn’t offer the same performance as the GTI, its 1.0-litre turbocharged engine does deliver a balanced mix of performance and fuel economy (5.4 litres/100km). And it offers build quality that’s right up there with the GTI, with lots of safety features.

So, there you have it. Dad may prefer Olivia Newton-John. Junior may prefer Olivia Rodrigo. But, their tastes can be the same when it comes to cars.