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The Dupe Report
Range Rover taste with a Barina budget?
Carma reveals vehicle ‘dupes’ to save your wallet
With cost of living dominating headlines everywhere, “dupes” have found a special place in the heart of Aussie consumers. While it first started with the fashion and beauty industries, Carma, Australia’s fully digital pre-owned car platform, has today revealed the dupes now transforming the automotive industry.
In Australia, new car prices have skyrocketed nearly 20 percent since April 2020, which is well beyond the consumer price index. Yet the unfortunate reality is that salaries haven’t kept up, growing only 4.2 percent between 2022 and 2023. Coupled with inflation and rising rental costs, it’s no wonder dupes have entered the mainstream, with many turning to used cars and affordable equivalents when looking to purchase a vehicle.
“While we still see people buying premium vehicles, we understand that inflation and rising cost-of-living is undoubtedly having an impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions. Car buyers want quality vehicles that are going to provide the best value in the long-term, and this list of automotive dupes caters to those Aussies who are looking to gain access to premium-feeling items, at an affordable price tag,” said Yosuke Hall, Co-founder of Carma.
Advice for buyers
Buy a prestige vehicle that’s a couple of years old: New cars experience a sharp depreciation in value during the first few years of ownership - in fact, a new car can lose 10-15% of its value the moment you drive it off the lot and up to 40% over five years. Buying a dupe, or a high quality used vehicle, is equivalent to having your cake and eating it too.
Pay attention to new model roll-outs: When new models come out, there’s going to be a rush of previous models available on the market as people are selling to get the new version. This increase in supply is a great opportunity to buy, because there’s so much competition among sellers, turning it into a buyer’s market.
Review running costs: Some luxury and overseas models can have noticeably higher costs for parts and repairs, while particular makes and models can equally cost you in insurance premiums. It can be helpful to factor in these costs over time to help make your decision.
