Carter is taking convenience in buying cars to a whole new level. On its website, customers can browse through its entire inventory, book a test drive, apply for financing aid, and even complete the purchase without setting foot in the dealership.

The website is actually pretty comprehensive, providing almost all the information you’ll need. There’s clear information about the vehicle and its history, if it’s used, the price, the financing options available, the requirements for the aid, and even recommendations for similar cars.

The search filters on the website, though, sometimes get laggy, making browsing quite challenging. Although it does get better after a few refreshes, it’s one thing that they have to address to make browsing more convenient.

On the bright side, they don’t play when it comes to customer service, so they’re probably working on it already. They get back to customers quickly after a car enquiry is sent and are thorough when explaining the car and the finance application process.

If you’re buying a used car, though, don’t just rely on the salespeople’s words and the description on the website. It’s best to book a test drive and inspect the car personally, as there are a few instances of customers receiving used cars with problems.

Excellent service; car delivered within three days

“I am a happy client. The service was excellent. My car was delivered within three working days from application. Themba Dlamini, thanks for the amazing experience.”

Mathapelo Masete | Collect, Google Review

Easy to close a deal without driving to the dealership

“Thank you very much Tumelo Seopa. Your patience is on another level. You made it easy for me to close this deal without driving to the dealership. You’re the best !!!”

Tshepcide Mlk | Collect, Google Review

Johannesburg has no shortage of Toyota dealerships, but Bidvest McCarthy Toyota Bruma is one of the most trusted in the city. Offering both new and used Toyota cars, the dealership ensures customers have a wide selection to choose from.

Beyond its extensive inventory, what really stood out to us about this dealership is its excellent customer service, from initial enquiries to after-sales support. They go into detail about the cars and answer every question the customers have, even when it’s past office hours.

The excellent customer service also extends to the car servicing staff. They’re efficient in fixing problems and communicate with the customer regularly to keep them updated about the repair.

Then again, when you’re charging quite a premium for the service, excellent and professional customer service is a must for any dealership.

One thing that might steer you away from them, though, is, as expected, they mostly sell Toyota cars. They sometimes have one or two cars from other brands, but they’re always pre-owned.

Fast and efficient service

“Fantastic service received from Sumeet and Odessa at McCarthy Toyota Bruma today – fast, efficient and made the entire process of buying the car painless. Thank you for making our purchase such a special occasion.”

Jackie | Collect, Google Review

Knowledgeable and helpful salespeople 

“#Larisha from Toyota Bruma gave me a 5 star experience as this was my first car I did not know much about Finance, insurance and stuff. And Larisha made it all easy for me and took me through the process from day 1 until the last day. She was assisting even after her normal working hours through the phone. Also a special thank you to the Manager Odessa who was also adding an extra hand to making it easy for me. I got my Toyota Vitz XR and I am excited and feel so much at ease because I know Larisha is a text away.”

Lehlogonolo Tshabalala | Collect, Google Review

Offering a range of pre-owned cars, including BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and Land Rover, Car Mania JHB is a hot spot for high-end car brand lovers who don’t have enough budget for a brand-new one.

What really struck us was their pricing. Of course, their Porsche Cayenne isn’t as cheap as a Toyota Corolla, but it’s still impressive that they’re able to offer luxury cars at a price suitable for the specs and relatively lower than other car dealers.

Car Mania JHB also works with IEMAS, WesBank, MFC, and Absa to offer various financing options to their customers, making the cars more accessible. 

On top of that, they accept trade-ins at a pretty fair price. This gives some customers the chance to even lower the price of the car they want.

Their after-sale service is just a bit lacking, as they’re pretty slow in responding to customers. As a used car dealership, one should quickly respond to concerns after the sales, as you can’t 100% guarantee the quality of the car.

Great service; reasonable price

“Great service from Ismail and the guys. Got myself a great car for a very reasonable price. Would definitely recommend them they have very good cars.”

Katlego Selesho | Collect, Google Review

Great customer service; best prices on the market

“Purchased my Mercedes Benz C-class. Ismail and the sales team really went the extra mile, great customer service, best prices on the market, keep up the good work. Definitely recommend purchasing your car from car mania jhb.”

Chris Van Zyl | Collect, Google Review

Boasting an inventory of over a thousand cars, Carzuka in Eastgate Shopping Centre probably has the biggest used car inventory in Johannesburg. It’s the perfect car dealership to go to if you have no idea what to get and need as many options as possible.

What really impressed us about Carzuka is its wide network of insurance agencies. They can easily provide up to 14 insurance quotes to their customers, making it easier to find one that will match their needs and budget.

Their staff are also pretty well-versed when it comes to insurance policies and can go into detail about them. This is especially important for first-time car owners since they’re probably not very knowledgeable about auto insurance requirements.

We just hope they’re as fast in responding to calls and emails as they are when answering questions in person. It sometimes takes multiple follow-ups before they reply, which can get really frustrating, especially when you’re reporting a faulty car.

Nice car; good service

“Thank you Mr Ruan… You help me alot easy to buy from them nice car with good service good luck brother you going to sell plenty I will come buy from you again”

Alex Moabi | Collect, Google Review

Simple and smooth process; fair pricing

“The service was great! They were honest about the car and offered a very fair price. Was great dealing with them, simple process with no noise! Thanks Byron for making what I thought would be very painful very smooth!! RECOMMEND!”

Kelly Smith | Collect, Google Review

First Car Sales’ inventory may not be as huge as other car dealerships in Johannesburg, but it still offers a decent range, with used cars ranging from sedans to SUVs. They even have a couple of high-end cars.

Plus, what they lack in inventory, they make up in customer service. Their salespeople are great with recommending cars that would suit customers and provide helpful answers.

It’s also pretty common for some salespeople to be quite pushy since they’re trying to sell cars, but the ones in First Cars Sales aren’t. It makes it easier for customers to actually browse through the cars without being uncomfortable.

We also noticed that their cars are priced lower than other car dealerships in Johannesburg, even those with the same model and make. This might be because they aren’t as established as other dealers yet.

Now, while the cheaper price may be enticing, make sure to still do a thorough inspection of the cars. There have been a few reports of customers experiencing problems with cars they bought here.

Excellent service

“Excellent service, would recommend this place if you looking to buy a second hand car.”

Imraan Salijee | Collect, Google Review

Great cats at great prices

“Great cars @ great prices.. Great service from the owners and staff”

Shahid Hajat | Collect, Google Review