Dear Nairalanders,

I seem to be stuck in making a decision between Nigerian used corolla 2003 and Tokunbo camry 2001.
I have a budget constraint of 1million naira and am not willing to go beyond that for any reason. I have always wanted a Tokunbo corolla 2003/2004 but my budget obviously can't get that, hence my decision to settle for a naija used corolla or better still go for a camry 2001. But i honestly feel a 2001 car is pretty too old also.

Kindly assist with your candid advices.

2001 Camry is old.


Go for first grade Nigerian used 2003 corrolla, you will love it.


Just make sure the interior is still like tokunbo. You can tell a car usage by the interior.


I bought my 2001 corrolla Nigerian used 3 years ago and I have being enjoying the car till date

laplace12:

2001 Camry is old.


Go for first grade Nigerian used 2003 corrolla, you will love it.


Just make sure the interior is still like tokunbo. You can tell a car usage by the interior.


I bought my 2001 corrolla Nigerian used 3 years ago and I have being enjoying the car till date

@Laplace, Thanks alot pal..... I really appreciate your advice.

My concern about Nigerian used cars is that you just cant predict what the car might have gone through, most especially when you do not have a personal relationship with the seller to enable your ascertain the car history.

Tokunbo camry 2001 except the owner of the corolla is your friend or neighbour.

Camry 2001 is better based on your budget. There is nothing like a direct tokunbo car. Don't go and buy a car you don't know how it was being used on our rugged roads and tomorrow u start regretting.

wizean:



@Laplace, Thanks alot pal..... I really appreciate your advice.

My concern about Nigerian used cars is that you just cant predict what the car might have gone through, most especially when you do not have a personal relationship with the seller to enable your ascertain the car history.

Let me explain something to you.

There are three major areas of concern in a car

1. The body(interior)

2. The engine

3. The transmision(gear system)


My car engine costs 140k, I know I would yank it off immediate if it misbehaves. Thank God it didn't


The transmission costs 40k. I was ready to give it the same treatment if it gives me wahala. But it didn't.


But if a car interior is already worn out, there is nothing you can do. You will forever hate the car. So I made sure I got a car with interior in the class of sound tokunbo.


Moreover, a car with sound interior is mostly likely to have sound engine and sound transmission. If the interior is worn out, the car is worn out. Don't let them deceive you.

Aside these three, every other issue in a car(Toyota precisely) is minor.

Above all, a good mechanic is most important. Nothing kills a car faster than a bad mechanic. If you sense the mechanic is doing guess work, avoid him fast

laplace12:


Let me explain something to you.

There are three major areas of concern in a car

1. The body(interior)

2. The engine

3. The transmision(gear system)


My car engine costs 140k, I know I would yank it off immediate if it misbehaves. Thank God it didn't


The transmission costs 40k. I was ready to give it the same treatment if it gives me wahala. But it didn't.


But if a car interior is already worn out, there is nothing you can do. You will forever hate the car. So I made sure I got a car with interior in the class of sound tokunbo.


Moreover, a car with sound interior is mostly likely to have sound engine and sound transmission. If the interior is worn out, the car is worn out. Don't let them deceive you.

Aside these three, every other issue on a car(Toyota precisely) is minor.

Above all, a good mechanic is most important. Nothing kills a car faster than bad mechanic. If you sense the mechanic is doing guess work, avoid him fast

Feeling you bro...... You are very much on point !

@ Laplace,

Please do you have an idea of what it wld cost to replace the engine and transmission for a corolla 2003?


I just want to factor that into my decision making process incase the undesired happens.

Both cars are boring, but a tokunbo 2001 camry is still better. In fact a tokunbo 2001 camry is still better than a tokunbo 2003 corolla not to talk of Nigerian used.

abatically:
Both cars are boring, but a tokunbo 2001 camry is still better. In fact a tokunbo 2001 camry is still better than a tokunbo 2003 corolla not to talk of Nigerian used.

Hmmmmmmmm, wldnt wanna ride in dat vehicle called "Big 4 nothing"

abatically:
Both cars are boring, but a tokunbo 2001 camry is still better. In fact a tokunbo 2001 camry is still better than a tokunbo 2003 corolla not to talk of Nigerian used.

True talk. More space, more power, more everything. Only downside is more fuel

Specialist900:
True talk. More space, more power, more everything. Only downside is more fuel

Did u just say more fuel? Dats pretty discouraging !

wizean:



Did u just say more fuel? Dats pretty discouraging !

Ofcourse, a corolla is 1.8l max while the least camry of the said year is 2.2l.

The corolla uses less fuel when compared to the camry

wizean:



Did u just say more fuel? Dats pretty discouraging !

U don't expect a 2.2L car to have the same fuel economy like a 1.8L. Ok it might be possible with technologies available on new generation cars, both for 2001 camry and 2003 corolla, no way. A camry will use more fuel.

the fuel difference is very small, don't deprive your self the Camry because of that. even a V6 variant of the Camry is nt a fuel guzzler.
bt Pls make sure the Nigeria used corrola has not been *tropicalized*

I use a toyota camry 2001 v6. I can tell you that i would never use any other vehicle apart from a v6. People will keep tell you they chop fuel this chop that.. the fact is this.. the fuel it consume is just a few drops. In fact my friend who use I4 and still row down there glass..haha..As long as the vechcile you are buying is in top condition. Never trust a nigerian used car except you know the person personally .. apart from that, people sell of there car because they have foreseen a problem. Let me assume i visit the mechanic workshop and the guy tells me the engine don they go.. i will just tell him to help me ring it and put it for sale sharply..would you ever know the vehicle has been ringed? Nigerian cars don't have history.. Toks is till better.. i would never buy a Nigerian used vehicle. BAD ROADS everywhere!!! even in lekki and ajah too oo..

DGD1:
the fuel difference is very small, don't deprive your self the Camry because of that. even a V6 variant of the Camry is nt a fuel guzzler.
bt Pls make sure the Nigeria used corrola has not been *tropicalized*

Tropicalized as in tropically abused?

DGD1:
the fuel difference is very small, don't deprive your self the Camry because of that. even a V6 variant of the Camry is nt a fuel guzzler.
bt Pls make sure the Nigeria used corrola has not been *tropicalized*

Don't be deceived. Fuel difference might be small on long distance journey, but where the corolla shines is within city and stop and go traffic. A camry v6 in stop and go traffic and short distance will consume a significant amount of fuel more than a corolla.

abatically:


Don't be deceived. Fuel difference might be small on long distance journey, but where the corolla shines is within city and stop and go traffic. A camry v6 in stop and go traffic and short distance will consume a significant amount of fuel more than a corolla.

you are right, I just used the V6 as example, of course the V6 is far outta league for someone considering a corolla.

wizean:



Tropicalized as in tropically abused?

all I meant was that you avoid an abused car, so u don't think the car didn't last because you didn't give some people liberation *shinapps*

lanrexdo:
I use a toyota camry 2001 v6. I can tell you that i would never use any other vehicle apart from a v6. People will keep tell you they chop fuel this chop that.. the fact is this.. the fuel it consume is just a few drops. In fact my friend who use I4 and still row down there glass..haha..As long as the vechcile you are buying is in top condition. Never trust a nigerian used car except you know the person personally .. apart from that, people sell of there car because they have foreseen a problem. Let me assume i visit the mechanic workshop and the guy tells me the engine don they go.. i will just tell him to help me ring it and put it for sale sharply..would you ever know the vehicle has been ringed? Nigerian cars don't have history.. Toks is till better.. i would never buy a Nigerian used vehicle. BAD ROADS everywhere!!! even in lekki and ajah too oo..

you got the right picture am trying to paint about the V6, as for the naija used car.... you were also on point

DGD1:


all I meant was that you avoid an abused car, so u don't think the car didn't last because you didn't give some people liberation *shinapps*

Lol..... I wan laugh die. Liberation indeed !