A new way to choose a vehicle

Carfind.co.za has introduced a first to the online buying and selling of vehicles in South Africa, with the 360° interior view. Along with a range of photographs, buyers now have the opportunity to view the interior of the vehicle they wish to buy.


“This is a massive leap forward in the world of online vehicle purchasing, as it is vitally important for buyers to know what they’re actually buying,” says Frank McDouall, co-founder and CIO of Carfind.

“The internet has played a massive and important role within the motor industry globally, but it’s not without its challenges. One of these is taking the conventional dealer showroom floor experience, where a buyer can view the inside of the car, and then replicating it,” says McDouall.

“Honestly, this is not easy to do. There are photographs of the vehicle online, but flat photographs have limitations. They are designed to portray the car’s finest features. Photographs are also better suited to displaying the exterior of a car,” McDouall explains.

“It is much harder to examine the interior of any car if one has only flat photographs in front of you, and there is no denying that the interior of a car is very important. After all, it’s where you spend your time,” he comments.

The 360° feature is a real bonus for buyers of both new and used vehicles. Want to compare the various interior options on a new car? You can do this easily – at the click of a button. This feature will negate the need to trawl through endless car showrooms, opening and closing car doors while searching for that perfect interior.

In seconds each and every different interior colour and trim option can be examined in detail. Incredibly, when visiting Carfind with a mobile device, you can inspect the vehicle’s interior by simply moving it around.

“It’s almost as good as sitting in the actual car. I say ‘almost’ because the only things that are missing are the smell and touch of the car. Otherwise, the experience is as close to the real thing that one can simulate in the online realm,” McDouall says. He notes that every internal view is specific to the particular vehicle.

“So, if there is a stain on the seat, or the upholstery is scuffed, the buyer will see this immediately,” he explains. Carfind is currently rolling out the concept nationally with the thousand-plus dealership showrooms that list their cars on the site. There are around 900 cars already boasting the 360° interior view feature.

“Many dealers have recognised the benefits of the 360° interior view, and the number of cars with this feature is growing daily,” McDouall comments.

Buyers can filter out cars without this feature – so they can view only those models that do have the 360° interior view. McDouall says that this new feature will further distinguish the Carfind website from all other vehicle listing websites.

“Buyers are understandably nervous, as a new or used car is a big investment. We believe that, with the 360° interior view, we are going a long way towards allaying their fears. We aim to ensure that we offer value to the consumer and enable them to make a well-informed decision before speaking to the dealer,” he concludes.

Buyers can now also view trucks and trailers for sale on Carfind.co.za from the FOCUS website! – ed.