The Negative Side of Airbags

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Airbags have been highlighted for their safety qualities since they were made mandatory parts of American passenger car design in 1998. The figures are impressive as far as the number of deaths that have been prevented thanks to the use of airbags in the cars. Even in light of these figures there are critics of airbags who questioned exactly how safe they are to have in cars for sale. There is some validity to these claims and consumers seeking to buy affordable cars should be aware of them.

Airbags cannot prevent an accident and the cost of replacing a used airbag even in fairly used cars can be well over NGN100,000 in addition to the damaged dashboard. That may seem inconsequential if it’s a major car collision but if a minor bump triggers the sensors and causes the airbag to inflate then it is arguable whether the airbag actually prevented injury, but does present a serious cost, particularly to anyone who is a car seller. Such an incident certainly creates the expense of replacement. It’s also been noted that some people with shorter than average height have actually been harmed because of the use of an airbag.

Airbags are good for head-on collisions but that really is about the only utility for safety. Indeed, front seat airbags are of no value at all if the car is hit on its side or from the rear. The airbags are also not effective in accidents which send the car rolling head over bottom. Airbags cannot provide all the safety alone. Both the shoulder and lap straps of a standard seatbelt are needed to ensure that there is no injury to people in the front seat. The current design of airbags though is of no use to anybody who is sitting in the back of the car.

The greatest disadvantage involves children. The pressure and force coming from an activated airbag may be too much for such small bodies and can actually cause some very serious injury to a child or an infant. It is why placing children and infants in the backseat of the car is recommended. The airbags deploy at a speed that can be up to 200 miles/h and that can be dangerous all by itself. The driver and the passenger both need to be at a safe distance from the dashboard to avoid injury which may be caused by a suddenly exploding airbag. There’s also the chance that the airbag will not deploy at all, and thus enabling the severe injury which this auto component was designed to prevent.

All this having been said, the statistics still are in favor of the use of airbags as a safety device on the best selling cars and Nigerian cars ought to have them. Knowing about potential disadvantages serves to remind people looking to buy a car that airbags are not infallible and ought to be used in concert with the full seatbelt. It is important to take a few minutes just to read the owner’s manual about the car’s airbag and what needs to be done to guarantee that it does not cause accidents or injuries itself. Airbag design is constantly being updated and there are improvements currently being implemented that will increase the ability of airbags to protect both driver and passengers of a car. Certain common sense approaches, such as putting children in the backseat and not sitting extremely close to the dashboard will decrease the likelihood of an airbag becoming a dangerous part of the car

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The Importance of Proper Tire Pressure

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Car owners and those looking to buy a car are often very concerned about the condition of things underneath the hood. They will pay very close attention to the battery as well as the engine block and other internal workings of the automobile. That’s good, but it’s not complete attention to the overall condition of the automobile. What’s not underneath the hood can be just as important and the tires are a legitimate safety concern. The amount of air pressure in the tires particularly is important for fairly used cars

Proper maintenance and safety of car tires includes the amount of air pressure within the tire. Low-pressure is a very serious situation because it causes the sidewall of the tire to gradually fold until the rubber begins to be scraped off the tires and the cords are exposed. Fortunately for Nigerian cars which happen to be a 2007 or more recent American car model there is a low tire pressure light on the dashboard to warn of low pressures.

Conversely, excessive air pressure is just as bad. No one should think that putting the maximum amount in the tires of tokunbo cars will make the ride any safer, because it causes less of the tire to actually touch the road. It doesn’t mean the driver is flying on a magic carpet but instead the car is not getting sufficient traction on the road, and may tend to bounce. It’s plain to see that for the sake of safety of even the best selling cars a tire has to be something like the porridge Goldilocks would eat: not too low, not too high, but just right

So, what is the optimal level of air pressure for an automobile tire? That will depend on the model of the car, and the recommended air pressure can be found on the door or in the owner’s manual. A rule of thumb is to have the range within 1 or 2 pounds of the suggested level. A word of caution: do not consider the maximum pressure figure that is stamped on the tire itself. This is not the recommended operating pressure at all, but the maximum amount of the tire can resist. Weather changes can affect the air pressure in the tire and can cause the pressure to drop down to unacceptable levels with the possibility of air leaks happening. This means the tires should be checked periodically to make sure that the pressure remains at a satisfactory level.

Safety is a primary reason to keep the air pressure at acceptable levels but cost efficiency is definitely another reason. The right amount of air pressure in the tire can result in better fuel mileage and also extends the life of the tire longer than ordinarily would last. Tires don’t come cheap, so the extended life is reason enough to check tire pressure on monthly basis. It doesn’t take an awful lot and having an air gauge in the glove compartment makes things a whole lot easier. Having a firm control over the pressure in the tires means a safer ride for cars in Nigeria and anywhere else, and a trip that doesn’t gobble up excessive amounts of gasoline.

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Tread Carefully

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The condition of the treads on fairly used cars’ tires are ignored at the peril of the owners. Tires, whose treads have worn down to the point where they are bald, barely discernible at all, are prone to hydroplaning in wet conditions and have barely any traction whatsoever. The result can be accidents that have a possibility of being fatal. A car owner and those looking to buy affordable cars have to pay close attention to the condition of those treads because it really can be a matter of life or death on the road.

New tires ordinarily have a tread depth of 0.31 inches. The danger comes when one or more tread groups have worn down to the point where they are 0.06 inches deep. A rule of thumb for people owning Nigerian cars is to purchase new tires when the tread depth reaches 0.12 inches.

The traditional way of checking a tire tread is to use a small coin. The more of the head that is seen, the more worn the tread has become. However, that old rule is now being changed so that a larger coin needs to be used. The tread depth can also be determined by the tread wear indicator molded into the tire, and can be found in several areas on the tire itself. When a people are looking to buy used cars, should these bars become visibly flushed to the adjacent ribs of the tire, then warning flags should be flying and it’s time to get a new tire. The car seller needs to be made aware of this and lower the price accordingly

Tread depth should be checked on a routine basis, and there are ways to slow down the deterioration. Simply rotating the tires every 8000 – 10000 Km means that the tires will wear down at the same rate, and no one tire will bear the brunt. Taking a look at the inside and outside edge of the tire will determine if the tires are wearing down at an even rate, and whether or not an alignment is in order. Tread inspection can also be part of a routine checkup or oil change at the local maintenance center for cars in Benin or other places. The good thing about that is if excessive tread wear is noted new tires can immediately be placed on the car, saving the owner the inconvenience of having to schedule a separate appointment.

It is a fact of life the tires will wear down with use and eventually have to be replaced. Routine inspection of the tires can give a good indication of when the replacements have to be made. It is ordinarily recommended that a full set of tires be ordered at one time rather than just buying one tire only. If the tires are advertised as having a certain lifespan, perhaps 40,000 or even 60,000Km, the owner would be wise to note the number of miles on the odometer at purchase and use that to help determine when a new set of tires is needed. Tread safety habits are a means of being sure that the tires are dependable and that replacements are made when necessary, and not after a serious accident has tragically occurred

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The Importance of Proper Tire Pressure

http://www.motociti.com/blog/?p=62

Car owners and those looking to buy a car are often very concerned about the condition of things underneath the hood. They will pay very close attention to the battery as well as the engine block and other internal workings of the automobile. That’s good, but it’s not complete attention to the overall condition of the automobile. What’s not underneath the hood can be just as important and the tires are a legitimate safety concern. The amount of air pressure in the tires particularly is important for fairly used cars

Proper maintenance and safety of car tires includes the amount of air pressure within the tire. Low-pressure is a very serious situation because it causes the sidewall of the tire to gradually fold until the rubber begins to be scraped off the tires and the cords are exposed. Fortunately for Nigerian cars which happen to be a 2007 or more recent American car model there is a low tire pressure light on the dashboard to warn of low pressures.

Conversely, excessive air pressure is just as bad. No one should think that putting the maximum amount in the tires of tokunbo cars will make the ride any safer, because it causes less of the tire to actually touch the road. It doesn’t mean the driver is flying on a magic carpet but instead the car is not getting sufficient traction on the road, and may tend to bounce. It’s plain to see that for the sake of safety of even the best selling cars a tire has to be something like the porridge Goldilocks would eat: not too low, not too high, but just right

So, what is the optimal level of air pressure for an automobile tire? That will depend on the model of the car, and the recommended air pressure can be found on the door or in the owner’s manual. A rule of thumb is to have the range within 1 or 2 pounds of the suggested level. A word of caution: do not consider the maximum pressure figure that is stamped on the tire itself. This is not the recommended operating pressure at all, but the maximum amount of the tire can resist. Weather changes can affect the air pressure in the tire and can cause the pressure to drop down to unacceptable levels with the possibility of air leaks happening. This means the tires should be checked periodically to make sure that the pressure remains at a satisfactory level.

Safety is a primary reason to keep the air pressure at acceptable levels but cost efficiency is definitely another reason. The right amount of air pressure in the tire can result in better fuel mileage and also extends the life of the tire longer than ordinarily would last. Tires don’t come cheap, so the extended life is reason enough to check tire pressure on monthly basis. It doesn’t take an awful lot and having an air gauge in the glove compartment makes things a whole lot easier. Having a firm control over the pressure in the tires means a safer ride for cars in Nigeria and anywhere else, and a trip that doesn’t gobble up excessive amounts of gasoline.

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The Safest Tires

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It’s only natural for a consumer seeking to buy a car in Lagos to want to know which are the safest tires to place on his or her automobile. Safety is important whether people want to buy used cars or best selling cars, and they want the very best value for all of the money spent. There are numerous brands of tires being sold on the market these days, and finding the one that is the safest is not a very easy search. However, in looking for safe tires there are few things to consider when shopping around.

First of all, is the type of car or truck being driven. Passenger cars, minivans, light trucks, and other models found at the car dealers have different requirements given their respective weight and size. It’s also important to determine whether or not the tire being purchased is going to be a new or a one that has been used before. There is a government sponsored website in the United States, Safer Car, that consumers seeking to buy new cars in Nigeria or just looking to buy fairly used cars can visit to get a better idea of the safety factors of given tires.

Safer Car uses a grading system known as the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS). This permits a comparison of tread wear, traction performance, and temperature resistance. Before evaluating a given tire, the consumer should take a look at how safer car does its evaluation. For example, when comes to treadwear, the higher the number assigned to a given tire indicates the longer it will take for the tire to wear down. With the control grade of 100, a tire that has a treadwear grade of 200 will take twice as long to wear down. As a general piece of information, in the treadwear area the highest grade is 600 and only 2% tires manufactured are that grade or above. Approximately 77% of all tires fall within the grade range of 201 – 500.

The other evaluation areas of UTQGS include traction with ratings of “AA”, “A”, “B”, and “C”. Most tires rated “A”. Temperature, the ability of a tire’s resistance to heat has grades of “A”, “B”, or “C”. As of this writing the website didn’t indicate where most tires are in this category but the highest ability to resist heat is in the “A” grade. Safer Car does allow for queries, but an attempt to get a car tire with the highest possible grade in all categories is impossible. However, a consumer can get a pretty good guess which are the safest tires with just a couple of queries. It is important to remember that safest does not necessarily mean the cheapest. Some of these highly dependable tires will cost more than the average.

To be perfectly frank, tires are as safe as the owner allows them to be. A sensible car owner sees to it that the tires have the right amount of air pressure, the treads are inspected on a routine basis, alignments are made whenever necessary, and tire rotations are done on a periodic basis. This permits whatever tire product used to perform at optimal efficiency and safety. Tires will of course wear out and that is a fact of automobile life. Attention to safety details assures that the life of a particular tire last far longer than it ordinarily would.

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Overall Tire Maintenance

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The tires on a car are every bit as important to the safety of the vehicle as the engine block or the electric system under the hood. As matter of fact, the relationship of the tires to safety is even greater if the roads being traveled are susceptible to wet conditions, or debris. Those who own best selling cars or fairly used cars need to be observant of the tires and do routine checks to make sure that they are in operable, safe condition. When taking a look at the important things to be considered in the proper maintenance of tires, there are few very important things to keep in mind.

Rotating tires on Nigerian cars permits the treads to wear out more evenly and should be done at least every 5000 or so kilometers. This can be a do-it-yourself project and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website of the United States offers guidance on how to best rotate tires. Pressure in the tires has maintained properly, because too much or too little can be hazardous. Tires will have printed on their side the maximum operating pressure, but that doesn’t mean it is safe to have the tires inflated to that pressure. It’s better to have the amount of pressure that is noted on the door in the glove compartment of the car instead. Inspecting that information is a good idea when looking to buy a car and car dealers ordinarily refer to it when making a sales demonstration.

The alignment of the car can sometimes be off the proper setting and that can affect the wear on the tires. The same goes for any noticeable vibrations, which can also wreak havoc on the rubber, and may require that the wheels be balanced properly (those doing a test drives of a used cars for sale ought to pay attention to any vibration). When it comes to assessing the wear on tire treads, tires have indicator bars at 2/32 inches of remaining tread. If the bar should note that the tread has worn down to that level, it means the tire is now unsafe and needs to be changed as quickly as possible. A final way of maintaining tires is simply to adhere to good driving practices. Speeding is rarely necessary and fast turns on curves only serve to wear of tires. The final thing to remember is not to ride over the edges of pavements and avoid potholes whenever they appear. Fast starts really do nothing more than harm the tires.

Yes, tire maintenance does have safety in mind but there’s money involved as well. Well-kept tires have a positive effect on a car’s fuel mileage, reducing the cost of petrol at the pump. The life of the tire can stretch out longer than should if the owner continues to follow a practice of routine tire rotation and making sure that the air pressure is maintained at an optimal level. It means the tires don’t wear out as quickly, and that saves the expense of having to buy new tires. It simply is smart consumer practice to keep an eye on what moves the vehicle along. Cars are meant to last at least 10 years if not more and while tires rarely endure for that long a period of time, good maintenance can keep those tires rolling for quite a number of years.

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It’s the Brakes

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An automobile is a large investment as anyone looking at cars for sale will agree, and it’s bigger after the car dealers hand over the keys. When a person considers the monthly payments, insurance, and routine purchases such as petrol, the amount of money tied up in an automobile can be substantial. Protecting that investment is the reason why safety maintenance should be on every car owner’s to-do list. The brakes rank at the top of the list of auto parts that require attention.

Brake safety centers on three major components of any vehicle brake system: the discs, the pads, and the brake lining. The discs of the brakes appear shiny when they are new and lines do form on the surface due to continual use. The problem arises when there are noticeable grooves in the discs and as a warning sign that perhaps replacements are necessary. This is not a replacement that can be done one at a time. The discs on the brakes need to be replaced in pairs for the sake of safety, especially on fairly used cars.

Brake pads are what actually slow the car down. These are parts that grip the brake rotor and by use of friction slow the wheel down when the brake pedal is pushed. These are critical for safety because worn out brake pads will not be able to bring the vehicle to a crawl. There is a wear indicator which is part of a disc brake system and the squealing noise from the wear indicator alerts the driver to the need for a brake inspection. Nigerian car dealers will tell prospective buyers that replacing brake pads is actually something that a car owner can do without the help of a professional auto mechanic. Of course, it does require proper tools and an area that has been cleared and prepared for the job.

Brake linings are vulnerable to corrosive material on the road and can deteriorate over time, even on the best selling cars. Either sections of the brake lining or those areas where extensive corrosion have occurred ought to be replaced. This may be something that will require going to the auto shop because the replacement of entire brake lining is a rather complicated activity.

This leads to a rather serious question of whether or not a car owner should ever attempt to do brake repairs as a do-it-yourself project. Local improvements such as the pads can be done by a car owner who has some knowledge of automobiles, but the owner has to remember that brake safety is critical, and mistakes made in repairing worn out parts can lead to extremely serious consequences on the road. If a person is not sure of his or her expertise, this may be a job that is best handled by an automotive repair center. Such places have trained professionals and the proper tools to do the needed repair work on Nigerian cars.

Brakes are something that cannot be ignored at all. Fortunately for a car owner, the wear indicator is an effective warning bell of problems in the brake system. Car owners are urged to do routine inspections of their car after several thousand miles and a full inspection of the brakes ought to be a part of the process. Brakes can last for literally tens of thousands of miles. However, when the warning signals are heard the sound means that there is a serious problem and should not be ignored at all.

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Keeping the Brake Pads Operating Smoothly

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Professional auto mechanics inspecting cars for sale will all agree that the brake pads are probably the most critical part of any cars braking system. These will facilitate the friction that is used to decrease the speed of the car as the brake pedal is applied. Danger happens when the brake pads become worn down because it means the ability to stop the car quickly is no longer there. It is therefore critical to make certain that the brake pads of any car are in good working order at all times and those wanting to buy used cars should check those pads before purchase.

Like the proverbial canary in the coal mine, the wear indicator alerts the driver to problems. If the brake pads on Nigerian cars are worn down to a certain point, the wear indicators will produce a squealing noise that warns of potential problems. The noise emitted cannot be ignored because it is evidence that the brakes may soon no longer be able to control the car’s speed. Action has to be taken quickly to replace the worn pads with new ones.

The good news for consumer is that car owners can replace the brake pads and it doesn’t need to be done by an auto mechanic. It does require certain tools like a lug wrench and a C – clamp and approximately one hour of time. Buying a set of brake pads from the original manufacturer does cost some money but the final results are pads that are more compatible with the model of the car itself. Replacing the brake pads is a one thing at a time project. It means that the pads on one side should be completely replaced before attempting the other side of the car. The proper type of brake fluid can easily be determined by checking the owner’s manual of the vehicle; something that ought to be read by all consumers wishing to buy new cars in Nigeria.

Replacing the brake pads is also a good time to check the entire brake system for any other possible problems. There can be fluid leaks from the brake lines and the rotor itself may be in poor shape. Once the brake pads have been replaced it doesn’t mean that the vehicle can be driven immediately on the highway. A little bit of caution once the pads are placed is in good order for the sake of safety. The car owners of any fairly used cars should take some time to test drive the car around the block and then gradually drive further distances, testing the brakes to see if they are holding properly and listen carefully for any possible sound coming from the wear indicator.

New pads on Nigerian cars can last for considerable amount of time but a car owner has to understand his or her limits when it comes to auto repair. If it looks as if the deterioration is more than just the brake pads themselves, it may be a good idea to bring in a professional to do the work. Granted, this is a little bit more expensive than a do-it-yourself project but there is very little room for error when it comes to brake repair. Mistakes have the potential for terrible consequences. While removing brake pads and replace them with new ones can be done by the owner, it should be done by someone who’s comfortable with doing the job. In other words, this really isn’t a situation for beginner’s lesson.

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Maintaining the Brake Discs

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It is an honest statement to say that all parts of a car’s brake system are important for their own reasons. The overall intention of any automobile brake is to slow the car down to a stop when necessary, and even to make an abrupt stop in the event of emergency. To be able to do either Nigerian car dealers know it requires a brake system that is in good operating order and defects can lead to very serious accidents. The brake discs are part of the system that do not receive the great attention that the brake pads get, but they are important.

Brake discs are also referred to as performance brake rotors and is that section of the brakes where the pads come down to cause the car to go slower once the brake pedal has been pushed. The rotors can either be drilled brake rotors or slotted brake rotors. Car dealers will tell customers the drilled brake rotors make it easy for heat or water to be quickly moved off the rotor surface and keep the brake performance at optimal level. Slotted brake rotors on Nigerian cars are ordinarily used by performance car drivers but are known to have a tendency to wear down the brake pads. Car sellers should be certain the rotors are in good working order especially when they are dealing with online car buyers who can’t do close inspections

It does happen that through use the brake rotors will wear down. As a matter fact, if there are noticeable grooves in the discs it is a warning that replacements are needed as soon as possible. Unlike tires, performance brake rotors cannot be rotated. Old brake rotors that endured considerable amount of heat can warp and then vibrate, which is a problem for some cars in Nigeria. This can cause serious problems for not just the tires but the suspension system as well. In addition, performance brake rotors have to be replaced in pairs not separately. Zinc coating is recommended for performance brake rotors because the zinc plating can give longer protection to brake calipers and have higher temperature tolerance.

Replacing performance brake rotors should be done with measured speed, since a rushed job can result in serious problems afterwards. There are few things to do to be certain that things are moving smoothly and that would include driving the car over low road braking periodically. Replacing the rotors is something either a very experienced amateur or an auto mechanic ought to do. Anyone who is not familiar with specifications of a good performance brake motor shouldn’t take the risk of replacing worn ones.

It is definitely true that using an experienced auto mechanic is going to cost some money but in the long run the expense is worth it. Rotors that are in poor condition are dangerous to have on a car, but an amateur replacement can be even more of a hazard to the vehicle and the driver. This is a situation where experience and professional certification is worth the cost, the car owner ought to be willing for the sake of safety to spend a few extra Naira

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Overall Brake Safety

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Brakes are a major part of the car’s safety and can often prevent accidents that could result in fatalities. Automobile maintenance centers for tokunbo cars or cars in Lagos among other places will promote all kinds of necessities to create safer brakes, including performance brake rotors with zinc coatings or brake pads with acceptable thickness. Perhaps the greatest factor in maintaining safe and usable breaks is the very person who drives a car. Whether the vehicle is one of the best selling cars or among the fairly used cars, it is the owner’s driving habits which will determine if the brakes perform well in a real emergency.

It is important to remember that breaks are like any other manufactured piece of equipment and will wear down with continuous use. The key to seeing to it that breaks are in good shape are the braking techniques which the driver uses on the road. Most of these driving maneuvers are simple common sense. A driver has to realize that driving at lower speed is recommended if the road is wet from a recent storm. Using the brakes while driving downhill can cause brake to fade, which means that the brakes are overheated and losing their efficiency. This would require the driver to pull the car over to the side of the road for a few minutes and allow the brakes to cool down. Curves in the highway are not the best places for the use of breaks. Again, it is better to simply drive slower when going into a turn and not worry about putting on the brakes at all.

Cars for sale that have been manufactured in the last few years to have an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), which prevents the wheels locking up as the brakes are applied. The ABS ought to be inspected when negotiating with car dealers. Emergency stops are performed with the brake pedal being pressed down as hard as possible until the stop finally occurs. Emergencies excepted, a good safety rule of thumb is to only use the brake when driving in a straight line.

Drivers have to be sensitive to what their car is telling them. Sharp squeaking noises as brakes are being applied or a certain vibration sensed in the car suggests that there may be some problems with the brakes. These sadly can’t be ignored but must be dealt with immediately. If the brakes require replacements a driver should spend as much as he or she can afford for the new break item. This is not the kind of thing to cut corners on and cheap brake products could result in expensive car accidents. Being too tight with the money is simply not a good idea when it comes to the brakes.

Being a mature and sensible driver helps enormously. Slamming on the brakes while going into a curve doesn’t do any good, and start and stop driving isn’t as safe as the car owner imagines it to be. The brakes ought to be a part of any checkup at the automobile maintenance center, and if replacements are recommended by a professional mechanic the suggestion ought to be given careful consideration. Brakes are meant to last a while but ought to be effective for every day of their life span. Simply using some common sense while driving and paying attention to signs of trouble will assure that the brakes will last a considerable period of time, perhaps even longer than originally anticipated.

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Foreign Models in 2013

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Foreign cars certainly tickle the imagination of consumers, not to mention online car buyers. There’s a certain joie de vivre of these models that sums up images of Brigitte Bardot and all those foreign films which are so popular in the 1950s and 60s. Foreign carmakers seem to produce masterpieces and the 2013 line of cars coming from overseas certainly lives up to the specifications, creating serious interest among those who want to buy new cars in Nigeria.

BMW has a well-deserved reputation for style and that’s obvious in the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. This model moves confidently with the 640i version’s turbocharged six-cylinder engine sporting 315 hp and the 650i moving along at 445 hp. A good chassis control system permits this model to respond easily to tough situations. BM W also has a subcompact crossover SUV, the BMW X1 that has either a turbocharged four-cylinder with 240 hp, or the turbo line – six which can go at about 300 hp. The all-wheel-drive system of this model makes it easy to maneuver on any condition of roads. This company consistently produces the best selling cars.



Audi makes the scene with the Audi Allroad. It doesn’t have the power of the BMW models mentioned above, with a turbocharged four – cylinder engine that moves to 211 hp, but it does have attractive features such as active cruise control and connection to Google maps. There’s also the capability of customizing the steering and throttle response to better adjust the overall ride. Mazda has the CX – 5 that gets an estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. This is a cross over SUV that is considered to be a bit sportier than the typical family SUV, with the options of six-speed manual or automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive is an option that people can select.

Some of the foreign cars are very moderately priced such as the Toyota Corolla, which costs around N3,000,000 and gets 43 Km per gallon in the city and 54 Km per gallon on the highway. Others are in the “you have got to be kidding me!” price range such as the 2013 Lamborghini Aventador, which has a base sticker price from NGN63,000,000 to just over NGN70,000,000. The Aventador is of course a luxury model but the gas mileage is ridiculously low, with a range of between 16 Km per gallon and 28 Km per gallon depending on whether or not the purchase is the Coupe or the Convertible. It’s definitely not something for the middle class buyer or for those who want to buy affordable cars. Fortunately, not all foreign cars are in the high price stratosphere because if they were there would be no buyers at all for them and Nigerian car dealers wouldn’t be able to stock them



None of the above suggests that other cars are inferior in quality and American made automobiles are improving in style and performance, but there’s still the fascination with the other foreign models and the reputation built up over the years. There will no doubt always be a market for these types of vehicles and Nigerian auto sales will include a number of international models.

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Nice thread, great writing. now following.

The China Cars

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There is a sleeping auto giant who is well known among Nigerian car dealers. Its name is China and it is starting to wake up and the world of automobile manufacturing is starting to take notice. Like Japan decades ago, China is moving into the car industry and is poised to be the next Asian giant on the highways. American automakers in the past few years made serious headway in the People’s Republic of China, and now China is looking carefully at the American market as well as others, including those who buy and sell cars in Nigeria.

Among the models that may soon be seen include the Brilliance BS4, the BYD (Build Your Dreams) F3/F3R, and the Chengfeng Liebao CS6. Great Wall Motors is one of China’s automakers and is moving ahead with production of small cars to complement the line of SUVs it already is making. People perceive China as being a fairly insular country, but Great Walls has sold its products in the Australian market and a factory has been opened in Bulgaria. It may only be a matter of time before Great Wall Motors, like Honda 30 odd years ago, will have a factory buiilding a product in the United States, and take a serious market share in Nigerian auto sales.

The Chinese understand the importance of being green, and a number of electric cars made in China, including the Chery Riich M1 are electric cars. The Chery Riich M1is interesting in that charging time takes approximately 6 to 8 hours and it has a top speed of 120 km/h. It has a fast mode charging time of 30 minutes for 80% with a range of 120 – 150 km. Other electric Chinese cars include the JAC J3 EV (iev), the SAIC Roewe E50, and the Shanghai GM Springo EV (Chevy Sail EV). Given the media stories about the troubles China has with carbon emissions and industrial air pollution, it’s refreshing to see that the automobile industry has a serious commitment to leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible on the planet.

Mass introduction of Chinese models on international markets may still be a few years in the future for those looking to buy a car. The waters are still being tested in the United States to see if there’s a strong interest and there is good reason to be cautious. The last thing China wants is a Yugo disaster and Nigerian car dealers are sensitive to that possibility. Moreover, there still are a few quality bugs to be worked out. China still has to meet the standards that are set by the competition to avoid a crash that could possibly jeopardize the entire reputation of Chinese auto manufacturing.

But improvements have been made and are continuing to be made as Chinese fine tune the products to be offered to the general public. Other automobile manufacturers should not take this possible new competition lightly. They laughed at the Japanese when Toyota and Honda models came to the showcase windows in the United States, and now the American auto manufacturers are scrambling to try to regain market share. The Chinese could be the next wave of the Asian auto invasion that may include cheap cars for sale in Nigeria, requiring other automakers step up their respective games to keep pace.

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Where is Japan Going?

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Talk to any of the Nigerian car dealers and that person will agree it wasn’t too long ago when Japan was the Asian auto colossus, straddling the globe with automobile products coming from Toyota and Honda that sent American and European car manufacturers scurrying back into the design room to think up ways to compete. Those days of being Numero Uno among Asian auto makers are starting to fade, as Korea’s Hyundai and China’s Great Wall Motors are beginning to slowly move into the picture and cut into the market share. Other auto manufacturers are starting to wake up and are creating products that becoming more popular with buyers, again chipping away at Japan’s market share. These developments can make people, including online buyers, wonder just exactly how Japanese auto manufacturers are coping with the conditions that are nowhere near as friendly as they once were.

Things currently don’t look too rosy as Japanese auto manufacturers deal with circumstances that are sometimes beyond their control. There is still the residue from the 2008 financial crisis and the yen strengthening is harming price competitiveness of cars for sale. The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan created problems in the parts supply chain that seriously affected the ability to get products to market in a timely fashion. This is on top of trade agreements whose negotiations are going over rough patches. A very serious development has recently happened in which Suzuki Motor Corporation has stopped producing automobiles for sale and distribution in Canada. While expected due to the bankruptcy filing of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, it is still quite a shock. What is even more disturbing is that young car buyers in America who are looking for cheap cars for sale no longer have confidence in Japanese car products, and are switching over to the Korean Hyundai and Kia brands.

The Japanese auto manufacturing industry has its work cut out for it in restoring confidence and market share. There are some problems though in rising to new developments in the automotive industry. Green and low carbon emission have captured the fancy of the auto buying public. Japan’s domestic market is currently dissatisfied with the electric car models produced and that is certainly not a good sign. Honda has recently been forced to recall 250,000 of its vehicles due to potential braking problems. This is a very, very serious development for a company that has prided itself on top quality and the best selling cars. It casts a dark shadow on the Japanese auto companies and is not going to be very easy to eliminate. Suffice it to say, Japanese automobile manufacturing industry is facing a threefold crisis of increasing competition in its own backyard (China and South Korea), erosion of price competitiveness, and dissatisfaction with the quality of product. All of this can spell a crushing disaster if not attended to and corrected.

Most car dealers are convinced the Japanese automakers should be able to rise to the challenge and weather the storm. However, is going require some fairly quick action that may be a little bit faster than the ordinary consensus building mindset of the Japanese business culture. Nevertheless, accurate decision-making has to be forthcoming. The automobile industry in Japan faces a tsunami of its own and it may be one for which the recovery time could be quite lengthy.

Car Emissions in Nigeria

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Anyone looking to buy a car has to be aware of the vehicle emission standards that became mandatory for Nigerian cars in 2012. This includes foreign imports which must have the approved emission reduction system or else the cars cannot be imported. Even more strict Euro II standards will come into effect in 2015 to put firm controls on vehicle emission. The move to regulate vehicle emissions is the example of common sense becoming a part of public policy. Nigeria is no longer just a rural country but has major metropolitan areas in Lagos and Abuja among other cities. Excessive vehicle emission creates air pollution that causes health problems such as asthma and sleeplessness. Smog is beginning to become a very serious problem in Lagos and car dealers know that vehicle emission is going to be something that those seeking to buy new cars in Nigeria will question about.

This is all a consequence of urbanization. Carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria have increased significantly in the last 30 years and the transportation industry bears most of the responsibility. While some will point out that industry has added to a growing carbon footprint there been too many studies, particularly one in Abuja, which points to the automobiles on the road as the primary culprit. Anyone who is been caught in a traffic jam in the Lagos metropolitan area can attest to the choking fog of emissions coming out of the tailpipe of thousands of new and fairly used cars. These problems will not go away by themselves.

Other countries have cracked down on the carbon dioxide pollution caused by automobiles. Australia in particular has been able to make significant strides in controlling the level of carbon coming into the atmosphere. Automobiles are an increasingly common sight everywhere in Nigeria, and the pollution created by these vehicles can reach beyond the city limits into the countryside. Putting a control on the auto emissions allows Nigeria to create an ever smaller carbon footprint that is something that is good both of the health of Nigerians and the environment as well.

It doesn’t matter if a person owns a car that has been used or one that is brand-new; it is possible for this person to become more aware of what is expected regarding vehicle emission. Anyone investigating car deals on the on the Internet websites or seeking used cars for sale should be aware of how the car matches up to the emission standards that are in place. It makes no sense at all to purchase any car that cannot meet those emission standards, since there are serious consequences involved. Nigeria is a growing country both economically and in population. Vehicle emission standards are result of a nation that is becoming more and more urban with each day. The health of its citizens can be placed at risk by the carbon emissions from automobiles and the government has correctly intervened to offer protection in the form of emission guidelines. While there may be a few difficulties in adjusting to lower auto emissions, long-range benefit is worth any inconvenience.

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South Korea’s Auto Tiger Pounces

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A Chinese proverb says “there is chaos under heaven, the situation is excellent”. That may be exactly the situation for Korean automobile manufacturers. The tsunami that hit Japan disrupted the supply chain for auto parts, and caused some problems that were not planned for in the Japanese auto industry. This resulted in an inability to get Japanese products to market quickly, and when coupled with other events it appears that the Koreans received a major opportunity among consumers looking to buy affordable cars which was definitely exploited.

A development that is quite alarming for the Japanese is the erosion of consumer support for Japanese automobiles among young American car buyers. It dropped nearly 10 percentage points in the last four years, while market share for Hyundai and Kia jumped to a combined 12.6% market share of young buyers in the 2008 – 2012, and to 10.1% among those looking to buy a car in the 25 – 34 age bracket. These figures are obviously disturbing to the Japanese who may have thought that the American market was safe territory for them as far as any possible Asian competitor. If left unanswered, the Korean demographic market share can expand into older brackets while maintaining a clear advantage in the younger ones. The decline can also hit other markets, including Nigerian auto sales. The Japanese have every reason to be concerned.

Granted, part of success is that the Korean offerings are primarily cheap cars for sale. However, there’s been a noticeable change in quality both in design and perception of the public and the car dealers. Higher-quality is one of the reasons why overseas sales of the best selling cars surged in January 2013, with expansion of approximately 24.8% from the year before. Hyundai motor saw an increase of 11.1% in sales and GM registered global sales that increased 24.7% in the 12 month cycle. SsangYong Motor scores the biggest hit with an increase of 43.9% in sales in January. Even the most skeptical analyst would conclude that these were very enviable increases.

Korean car companies are moving quickly to keep this momentum going. Those Americans who are keen on the environment will be taken a close look at the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which has a 35 kW electric motor and a 47 kW Lithium Polymer battery pack. The Kia Optima for 2013 is a midsized sedan with a powerful four-cylinder engine and has features such as Bluetooth, satellite radio, and the Kia Uvo infotainment system. The Korean car manufacturers are obviously trying to stay with state-of-the-art technology innovation, and if this results in Korean cars being more of an accessory to a smart phone then additional sales surges should occur in the near future.

It has to be remembered that conditions were fairly opportune for Korean cars to gobble up so much of the market. Yet, the increased interest in the Korean models by American consumers took place over a period of years and brand loyalty may be rapidly developing in United States. This interest is also being replicated in Nigeria. Japan will eventually shake off its bad luck and be a serious competitor in automobile sales. When that happens Japan will find that its neighbor to the northwest has become a very serious threat to the market share the Japanese auto industry once owned almost uncontested.

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