“Happy Millage”: American Man Buys First Car in SA, Left Stunned by Prices
- American TikToker Peterson Toscano shared his used car buying experience in South Africa, saying it was both hectic and eye-opening
- He ended up purchasing a 2020 Renault Duster at a dealership in Mpumalanga after dismissing discounted options that failed to impress him
- South Africans flooded the comments with mixed reactions to his choice of vehicle
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Source: TikTok
An American living in Mpumalanga discovered just how different buying a car in South Africa can be. Peterson Toscano, who goes by @petersontoscano on TikTok, posted a video on 11 September 2026 sharing his experience navigating the local used car market for the first time.
“South Africans, it’s official, we bought a car,” he told his followers. “Actually, the biggest and most expensive car I ever bought in my life.”
Car prices caught him off guard
Toscano said the sticker shock was real. Cars in South Africa cost significantly more than what he was used to back in the United States, and the process of finding the right one took time and patience. He admitted to visiting multiple dealerships and testing the patience of quite a few dealers along the way.
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His search eventually led him to a 2020 Renault Duster, a used 4x4 he picked up from a proper dealership after ruling out cheaper, less convincing options. Living in Mpumalanga played a big part in the decision.
“You gotta four-wheel your way through,” he said, explaining why a 4x4 made practical sense for his lifestyle. The purchase was completed via EFT, something he found surprising enough to highlight on screen.
Toscano also joked that a fellow South African had advised him not to show off the new vehicle online.
“I’d show it to you, but I was told that is not what people are supposed to do in South Africa,” he wrote in his caption.
Watch Peterson share his South African car-buying story below:
Mzansi weighs in on the Duster
South Africans had plenty to say in the comments section:
@Paws, Claws & ChaosZA said:
“2020 old car? Dude, the newest car I have ever owned is 2014.”
@Hassner wrote:
“A French car? Not too popular here.”
@SaltwaterSpirit noted:
“Duster, you say. They’re good, yeah.”
@Brandon_Bowers added:
“Lekker cars.”
@not-your-average-primate pointed out:
"It’s not a Hilux? 🤨”
@Mariëtte wished him well:
“Many happy and safe kilometres. 🥰”
@Maki72 simply said:
“Oh, good luck.”
3 more stories involving Americans in SA
- An American tourist named Coco shared a TikTok series introducing viewers to the Khoisan people living in Cape Town’s mountains.
- American tourist Natasha Harvey doubled down on her Cape Town criticism in an Instagram video on 10 May 2026.
- An American visitor has shared a video showcasing his surprise and admiration for the quality and amenities of a South African petrol station.
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Source: Briefly News
