Could be due to S.A having a fairly old fleet of cars......The coppers seem to have a blitz every 6 months or so, where they set up defect stations and defect cars left right and centre....
Then you could combine in, cars are fairly cheap in this state, so if something expensive goes wrong, eg a trans or motor, people just take the car to the wreckers and buy another car......
Personally, with that cheap wagon you can get, with the difficultity you seem to have buying parts, I'd be paying the coin to get it. Whilst it may seem "expensive" at this stage, down the track you'll be happy you did spend the coin, with the savings you'd make with the parts it offers up.....The only problem would be where you'd store it.....Maybe throw a starter in it, with a permit, drive it to your home, with your wife following to collect you at the other end?
Worth thinking about