Lexus IS200 | Honda Accord 2004 | Toyota Avensis 2004 Which is best for 9ja

Hello House.... Out of the cars listed above (All European specs) which is best for the Nigerian road and use please. Anyone with experiences out there? Please advice

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I post for wrong place or these cars are that bad? Anybody out there with any experience with these cars please share.... I dey beg.

i. Drive a 2k5 accord 4cyl (american Model) for 2years now.


No major issues whatsoever.


Just do the required maintenance @ d right time, n urr gud to go wt d honda.

#..my 2cents

Thanks for the below m8... appreciate your feedback. Anyone out there with European or converted UK models? Please lets hear from you.

lacasa: i. Drive a 2k5 accord 4cyl (american Model) for 2years now.


No major issues whatsoever.


Just do the required maintenance @ d right time, n urr gud to go wt d honda.

#..my 2cents

I can't speak for the Honda but the Avensis. The Avensis marketed for Nigeria is the best for Nigerian roads. That is if you bought it from the Nigerian Toyota franchise. It is not the same as the European version. I doubt if Lexus are built for the tropical regions. However, you get the same clone (carbon-copy) but with a Toyota badge.

Thanks... I didn't realise that there will be so much difference... but you have raised a great point with the tropical conditions of the cars. Just wish there was someone out there who use one to comment... thanks for your feedback m8.

Grown_Man: Thanks... I didn't realise that there will be so much difference... but you have raised a great point with the tropical conditions of the cars. Just wish there was someone out there who use one to comment... thanks for your feedback m8.

My parents own an Avensis and was bought new from Elizade or Briscoe (can't remember). I drove it and liked it (manual); uses a lot of gas for a 4-cylinder. It's not library-quiet like the Lexus (which makes me uneasy and uncomfortable) but more than a decent executive saloon that met my taste. I can remember it being longer interior-wise than its overall appearance. The ergonomics is above acceptable and I never had problems with the seats. What was impressive was how it performed on untarred pavements at moderate velocity. It's was not a floaty car and was relatively still new. I took note of all these plus a complete examination of the engine and the car round-a-bout with pictures. I am not sure if the options were my dad's (which I doubt) or there were more standards in the Avensis but some non-tropical options were included. This was the heater. The engine composition wasn't really as pronounced as the prior and subsequent Toyota's bought

The other tropicalised Toyota bought within the same period [new] were more purpose-built than the Avensis. The cooling was obvious and the suspension was specialised for the Nigerian roads. No heater, paddle shifter, windscreen instead of windshield, and a few others I cannot recall. The A/C unit is done differently to compensate for the hot heat. On the delivery note, it is categorically stated as "Hot and Climate Package"; it also stated for the Arabian market. This is what Toyota of Nigeria is selling.

Tropicalised and non-tropicalised models are not the same and will never be. From my family's experience down the years, you pay more for a a bit less in options but the drawbacks are not present; that is liners bubbling, "paint" peeling/fading, suspension reinforced and fine-tuned (most obvious) for Nigerian roads, proper cooling (engine and interior) and so on. The engine components are not the same as well. It cost more optioning a tropicalised vehicle but in the long-run, you save greatly on maintenance.

This is an eye opener for me with all these tropical issues you guys are raising.... something I did't really consider initially in getting a car... thanks so much for pointing them out. One now has to wonder if its worth importing cars from Europe anylonger Is it?

Grown_Man: This is an eye opener for me with all these tropical issues you guys are raising.... something I did't really consider initially in getting a car... thanks so much for pointing them out. One now has to wonder if its worth importing cars from Europe anylonger? Is it?

If you have the money, purchase from the dealerships in Nigeria. It won't have the needless bells-and-whistles but you will have more than a dependable vehicle. You don't risk the possibilities of purchasing quarantine cars that have been deemed non-road worthy (you know what I mean). A tropicalised car is of a different standard than a non-tropicalised. It is the same with an European car against an American. Standards! It will cost money for conversion to meet U.S. standards; lest you will have problem with regulatory bodies. In like and higher standards, it is a higher and expensive task making a tropicalised car out of a non-tropicalised model. It is too expensive. The variables are many and some variables differ fundamentally with no possibility of reconciliation.

Lexusgs: For utmost peace of mind, any of the above models would be fine for Nigerian roads, just buy a proper LHD !!!!!!

Nobody disputed that. The aforementioned was after the fact. The question is "which is best?" My understanding is that no Lexus is built for tropical regions. The Lexus' have Toyota badges (cloned) with flexible options that aren't premium-priced. That disqualified the Lexus relative to the question asked. In considering a Lexus, a trade-off has to be considered; hence the discussion.

@ Trac.... your analysis are very strong but one has to also look at affordability. And believe me I understand the risk in buying cars you almost don't know the history off (Accident write offs put back on the road for the African continent, mainly Nigeria) but is there not a case for affordability? Will the fact that these (made in Nigeria) cars are tropicalised really matter should one get an equally clean and good vehicle based on imported used car (tokunbo) for a fraction of the naija made car?

The idea I had was to get a tokunbo of any of the above but not from the US and I was thinking others would have done what I wanted to do before. I am now wondering if importing a good used car is a good idea at all although money to buy brand new is another matter entirely.

Grown_Man: @ Trac.... your analysis are very strong but one has to also look at affordability. And believe me I understand the risk in buying cars you almost don't know the history off (Accident write offs put back on the road for the African continent, mainly Nigeria) but is there not a case for affordability? Will the fact that these (made in Nigeria) cars are tropicalised really matter should one get an equally clean and good vehicle based on imported used car (tokunbo) for a fraction of the naija made car?

The idea I had was to get a tokunbo of any of the above but not from the US and I was thinking others would have done what I wanted to do before. I am now wondering if importing a good used car is a good idea at all although money to buy brand new is another matter entirely.

I understand the cost factor. My emphases are on the trade-offs. Getting a foreign-based vehicle will come with its trade-offs. A tropicalised car will never be a non-tropicalised car. A BMW 5 Series; no matter how customised (uprated in power) will never be an M5. It is two different product standards. There are lots of variables that differ fundamentally. It is a different subject [matter] in reference to condition. A poorly maintained tropicalised' is no match in scale for a well-maintained non-tropicalised vehicle. A vehicle in poor condition is a vehicle in poor condition.

As LexusGS implied, the purpose will still be served (as long as the car is good). Be sure to get one that will run on Nigerian fuel. That is, the octane rating.

Hmmm.... I understand. Thanks guys.