Drive a new car deal crashes

[caption id="attachment_39652" align="alignright" width="405"] PANIC TIME: A motorist realises her dream R699-a-month deal is now a nightmare. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI[/caption]

THOUSANDS of motorists who were lured into buying new cars by an attractive offer meant to see them paying as little as R699 a month are up in arms after the international company managing the deals cut its losses with its Hong Kong-based holding company.

Many car owners who bought into the "Drive a new car for R699 a month" deal will now have to pay up to nearly five times more than that.

The deal saw them driving cars branded with advertisements publicising the offer and paid out monthly fees that went towards covering instalments.

But they were shocked and some plunged into financial crisis this week when their rebates were not paid.

Frustrated drivers in Nelson Mandela Bay, like others around the country, said they received the shock of their lives when they logged on to the Satinsky website.

They were to upload pictures of their cars and odometer readings to qualify for up to 100% of their monthly instalment paid back – but, instead, found a notice that the company was no longer part of the deal. - Zandile Mbabela