charly24: Its really sounding educative here to hear dis from exp pple thanks all d way

charly24: Oga ikenna u ar right am kinda confused do u knw dat my friend am to go n get dis car with by week end was like saying I shud just go for Rover 620 today dats its very durable n fuel efficient dat his uncle recommended d car for all his friends and they ar not complaining @ all dat for me to get a used cam 2.2 dat I shud just tip it up a little and get a tokunbo of the rover it sound cool but dis car I see a lot of it but hw durable is this Rover 620 any ideal will be appreciated cos I intend to settle down soon n not to spend my little salary on cars parts thanks Gurus in d house exptn ur response let's than a week to be a car owner

charly24: If u were in my shoes u will understand am just trying to seek opinions from experienced pple ok? And dat was very has of u any I don't want any regrets dats y cos I get diff advise from pple pls more advice cos am here to knw n learn

Eyop:
Bro, is this going to be your first car?

Ikenna351: When seeked for an advice from an average Nigerian mechanic about a car you are interested in to purchase, he would tell you, "Don't buy car A, because the engine cost 200k to replace, while the auto gear cost 350k. Buy car B instead, because the gear cost 60k, while the engine cost 45k." It may not sound professional, since engine ought to last lifetime of the car. But in Nigeria and for most Nigeria used cars, this fear do come to pass.

You told us you are an "income earner", even though I still haven't understood what that means. But I would take it you meant "low income earner". Now, have you bothered to find out how much the tokunbo engines of these 3 costs? What about the cost of their auto transmissions? Which among the 3 can you afford to replace, with your income if one of them fails during the ownership of the car?

One of the 3 cars you mentioned, their engines are prone to oil sludge. Meaning, to own such a car, you have to be replacing the engine oil like the current owners do: every month, 2 months or at least 3 months and not more than that. Some people said on this very section that they made the attempt to wait till 6 months for oil change even with fully synthetic but their engines suffered dearly with sludge issue. Can you afford to be bringing out some thousands from your monthly income to be replacing your engine oil if you go for the car with this issue? But then, the 2nd car in the list, the oil change interval can last 6 months or more, without having to lose the engine from oil sludge.

One of the cars you mentioned, the owners said in this very section that their engine harness (wires) at some point or mileage will expire. And that the only solution is to replace the entire engine harness and the problem will be gone. Can you deal with that annoyance with your income?

One of the cars you mentioned is known for frequent shock absorbers failure. while another car in your list, the suspension last ages before they give up, even though they may be pricey. Which of them can you live with?

One the 3 brands you mentioned don't have much mechanics that understand their systems. Meaning, you will have to start learning how to do some of basic checks and repairs yourself. Are you willing to do that or pay higher at workshops each time the starts misbehaving?

If you stay in Abuja, visit APO mechanic village. Start from Benz line. Find out how many Benz engines and transmissions are sold from that line on "weekly" basis. Then, go to Japanese line, beside France line, find out how many Toyota engines and transmissions are sold on "daily" basis. Then, visit Honda line, the last line on that market. Find out how many transmissions they sell on "daily" basis.

At the end, which of them can you afford to keep on the road from your income? Which of them will have higher cost of maintenance at end of every 6 months for you?

I could go on and on, but it wont help you if I continue. So, have you considered the cons of each of those cars you listed or are you carried away with their pros? Have you asked the right questions that will help you know what you are getting yourself into?

If you were buying tokunbo, there would high probability that you wont meet any of the cars annoyances until after a long time of usage, depending on your maintenance culture. But for a Nigeria used car, hmm! Only very few were lucky to have gotten a well maintained ones that don't give them headaches. You may be that lucky, you may be not. But you need to be prepared for the worse. I won't sign up for any class that teaches "It's not my Portion". Its no ones portion. You only learn how to deal with one, when God says its your time to handle a situation or condition. Like Jim Rohn once said, " Don't wish for less problems, wish for more skills to deal with them. Don't wish for it was easier, wish it you were better. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom". My own school of thought is this, "Accept a challenge, because you cant grow without one". I am where i am today in Auto industry because I took up a challenge I encountered when I bought my 505 V6 and dealt with it. Now, people seek to tap the knowledge I acquired when I overcame that challenge. Like I said, you cant grow without one.

Ikenna

Ikenna351: When seeked for an advice from an average Nigerian mechanic about a car you are interested in to purchase, he would tell you, "Don't buy car A, because the engine cost 200k to replace, while the auto gear cost 350k. Buy car B instead, because the gear cost 60k, while the engine cost 45k." It may not sound professional, since engine ought to last lifetime of the car. But in Nigeria and for most Nigeria used cars, this fear do come to pass.
You told us you are an "income earner", even though I still haven't understood what that means. But I would take it you meant "low income earner". Now, have you bothered to find out how much the tokunbo engines of these 3 costs? What about the cost of their auto transmissions? Which among the 3 can you afford to replace, with your income if one of them fails during the ownership of the car?
One of the 3 cars you mentioned, their engines are prone to oil sludge. Meaning, to own such a car, you have to be replacing the engine oil like the current owners do: every month, 2 months or at least 3 months and not more than that. Some people said on this very section that they made the attempt to wait till 6 months for oil change even with fully synthetic but their engines suffered dearly with sludge issue. Can you afford to be bringing out some thousands from your monthly income to be replacing your engine oil if you go for the car with this issue? But then, the 2nd car in the list, the oil change interval can last 6 months or more, without having to lose the engine from oil sludge.
One of the cars you mentioned, the owners said in this very section that their engine harness (wires) at some point or mileage will expire. And that the only solution is to replace the entire engine harness and the problem will be gone. Can you deal with that annoyance with your income?
One of the cars you mentioned is known for frequent shock absorbers failure. while another car in your list, the suspension last ages before they give up, even though they may be pricey. Which of them can you live with?
One the 3 brands you mentioned don't have much mechanics that understand their systems. Meaning, you will have to start learning how to do some of basic checks and repairs yourself. Are you willing to do that or pay higher at workshops each time the starts misbehaving?
If you stay in Abuja, visit APO mechanic village. Start from Benz line. Find out how many Benz engines and transmissions are sold from that line on "weekly" basis. Then, go to Japanese line, beside France line, find out how many Toyota engines and transmissions are sold on "daily" basis. Then, visit Honda line, the last line on that market. Find out how many transmissions they sell on "daily" basis.
At the end, which of them can you afford to keep on the road from your income? Which of them will have higher cost of maintenance at end of every 6 months for you?
I could go on and on, but it wont help you if I continue. So, have you considered the cons of each of those cars you listed or are you carried away with their pros? Have you asked the right questions that will help you know what you are getting yourself into?
If you were buying tokunbo, there would high probability that you wont meet any of the cars annoyances until after a long time of usage, depending on your maintenance culture. But for a Nigeria used car, hmm! Only very few were lucky to have gotten a well maintained ones that don't give them headaches. You may be that lucky, you may be not. But you need to be prepared for the worse. I won't sign up for any class that teaches "It's not my Portion". Its no ones portion. You only learn how to deal with one, when God says its your time to handle a situation or condition. Like Jim Rohn once said, " Don't wish for less problems, wish for more skills to deal with them. Don't wish for it was easier, wish it you were better. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom". My own school of thought is this, "Accept a challenge, because you cant grow without one". I am where i am today in Auto industry because I took up a challenge I encountered when I bought my 505 V6 and dealt with it. Now, people seek to tap the knowledge I acquired when I overcame that challenge. Like I said, you cant grow without one.
Ikenna

charly24: Hhmm 2 days to become a car owner hhmm can't wait Oooo

abatically:


Fuel economy is not only dependent on engine size. On paper the c180 w202 and Camry 1999 i4 with 2.2L engine have almost the same mpg even though the Camry's engine is bigger. But in reality the Camry has better fuel economy and easily managed than c180 w202.

chiebube:
I dont believe in the fact that some people say one car is better than another. For a used car, it entirely depends on the state of the car when you buy it. Though camry may have an edge over the benz, but it depends on the owner's use/abuse of the car, the mechanic who repairs your car and what kind of spare parts you buy. What is good for the goose may certainly not be good for the gander.

Are you a novice, amateur or professional in car maintenance?

redcliff:



My exact same thoughts. I wont come here to see advice on the kind of car to buy. because whatever you get here is more of a personal opinion rather than rational one. If you like a car and you think you can maintain it then go ahead and buy it. Simple!!!

FlyboyZee:

This is the exact reason I have always refused to buy a Toyota. Everyone's shouting Toyota! Toyota!! so Irefused to buy any of it to see if the other brands I bought would kill me but so far they've all been wrong. In my motoring life, I have owned 4 Hondas (EOD, '88 Prelude, '02 Acura TL & '10 Civic Coupé), 2 Nissans ('00 2.0l Primera & '05 Almera Tino) and a Mercedes Benz 190E, but no Toyota and I have not had any regrets with any of these cars. I had friends who scolded me for my choice and for hating anything Toyota that owned Toyotas who had made mechanics their besties and neighbours just to transit from A to B.

What I have come to notice is that people who are scared of other brands of vehicles other than Toyotas are those that drive very old vehicles, as in 1999 and below. for most guys who buy vehicles made from 2003 to date, they rarely bother themselves about what make to get because even the mechanics that would insist you buy tiny light camry are usually at lost on what to do even on the 2003 Camry. Most cars these days are mechatronical or at worst electrically controlled and maintained and as such those mechanics have little or no input to make in car maintenance as most of them have refused to update their skills.

redcliff:


I hate the way nigerians think. And its poverty causing it. My first car was a volkswagen and any problem it had i was the one that caused it.. the only problem that car gave me was the fuel pump and when i found out what to do to it the problem stopped for good and i fixed it myself even after mechanics under my watchful eyes tried their best.. i really felt good having that car and it make me believe that our mechanics are very stewpid ay their jobs. Because with full time research, i dictated to them what to do because they have the tools but i knew what i was expecting as a result so all energies were channeled towards that direction.. the only cars i may not buy in nigeria are those brand names i may not find their parts in the market at all. But for the normal 5 star car companies in the world, i would use any brand, model and year that pleases me.

FlyboyZee:

They said the Acura is a no-go area, yet I own a 2002 TL that makes the '08 Toyota Camry look like a toy both in performance and facilities. All I do is scan the car, get the codes, go online and do more research on the codes just to be sure of what I am doing. Then call a mechanic and tell him exactly what to do while supervising him. Each time I go to my mechanic, he waits for me to give him step by step instructions.

shortgun:
Buy d C class it's durable, forget about all these Japanese toys they call cars.

FlyboyZee:

They said the Acura is a no-go area, yet I own a 2002 TL that makes the '08 Toyota Camry look like a toy both in performance and facilities. All I do is scan the car, get the codes, go online and do more research on the codes just to be sure of what I am doing. Then call a mechanic and tell him exactly what to do while supervising him. Each time I go to my mechanic, he wqits for me to give him step by step instructions.

blakky97:

You will warm the car everyday with half tank

FlyboyZee:

Haba! Do you even know what an MB C-Class is?
In case you don't know anyway, it is still Benz 190. Try and check its review, its all over the net. Its in the same class as the Toyota Corolla, Kia Optima, Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic. I am trying to tell you all of these so that you will understand that the MPG of the C class ain't as bad as you make out. Lest you forget, it also has very good fuel economy.

blakky97:

You'll replace the head lamp for 100k

Eyop:


Replace which headlamp for 100k? Did you replace one yourself and if yes,state the model of the C class you replaced headlamp for 100k. Your previous post you stated that C class consumes fuel or in your own language "warming the car with half tank of fuel. Do you drive a C class to ascertain the level at which it consumes fuel?

Awaiting answers.

blakky97:

You dey carry the matter for head bros? Na ur senior sister make c class? Abeg free me oh!

Ikenna351:


It appears you really don't get the message.

Conformity sucks! That's the message they were trying to pass across to to you. You have no first hand experience with the Benz C-class , yet you know all about the car. How does that sound, even to you? It make sense?

Ikenna

Eyop:


Replace which headlamp for 100k? Did you replace one yourself and if yes,state the model of the C class you replaced headlamp for 100k. Your previous post you stated that C class consumes fuel or in your own language "warming the car with half tank of fuel. Do you drive a C class to ascertain the level at which it consumes fuel?

Awaiting answers.