₦airaland Forum

We all know modern vehicles usually come default with some level of tint, but this is usually met with some form of friction by authorities the world over due to one reason or the other. However, there are legitimate concerns from car manufacturers as to why they tint the glass in and around their vehicles. And with that said, let’s look at some of the merits and demerits of vehicle glass tint; beginning from the good:

Protection from UV Rays

UV (Ultra-Violet) rays are dangerous rays present in sunlight which can penetrate into the vehicle and are harmful to occupants’ skin (and eyes in some cases). Luckily those of us from these parts have been “greatly blessed” with excess melanin which protects our skin from possible damage that could be brought upon by said harmful rays (“Black Man Fit Dey Sufa, But E No Dey Die!”). However, the same can’t be said for others, especially Caucasians – who are predisposed to the malicious effects of prolonged exposure to the sun.

Protection from Solar Heat

Anyone who has gone out on super-shinny day under the hot sun, especially when you’re stuck in traffic and there isn’t any AC turned on; plus, it’s humid hot and not dry heat – so you’re just sweating all over… will easily attest to how rough that can make moving around be. These effects can be drastically reduced when you pair the AC (even when it’s on “Low”) with window tint. The vehicle remains cool and the atmosphere within the vehicle is quite comfortable, allowing you to arrive at your destination in a pleasant disposition.

On the other hand, less heat in the vehicle also means parts within the interior such as the dashboard, steering wheel, seats are better protected from cracks and bumps thereby making them aesthetically pleasing for an extended period of time. Preserving the value of the vehicle up until when you’re ready to sell. You can check out more about damages to a car from excessive sunlight here: https://www.nairaland.com/7846102/damages-car-excessive-sun-light

Security and Privacy

This is paramount and almost always at the centre of concern around vehicular ownership or commuting even. Nobody wants to drive about feeling unsafe, therefore, with some level of concealment – you can be rest assured that your privacy is upped to another level.

And if you can afford to, it is strongly advised that you also install an extra coat of film to harden the glass and allay yourself from future worries, so it doesn’t break open easily on the first 2 or 3 hits if and when in an unfortunate scenario of being mugged – especially in traffic which is more common these days, or if a person(s) is trying to expropriate your car. Also, tinted glass windows aid in securing one’s possession(s) within the vehicle; after all – potential thieves are less likely to break into a vehicle if they can’t see what is or who is on the inside in the first place.

Other non-functional reasons:

Improved Aesthetics

Yes, this is undoubtedly not as important as the other aforementioned reasons but damn almost any German coupè (the real “baddies”) looks so much better and more expensive as well when it’s all blacked out (down to the wheels) or even when it’s in other colours, but as long it’s fully tinted – it always looks awesome!

VIP Perception

We live in a world where perception matters a great deal and influences how we all relate with one another, moreso in this our immediate environment where driving even a “cheaper” vehicle but with tinted windows gives off some level of importance. And deep down we all wanna feel important, don’t we‽

Now, on to the bad:

Poses Security Risks

As the saying goes; for every solution – there’s always a new problem(s) to tackle. It’s no news that we’ve been battling intense security challenges for the better part of the last decade and darkened windows though bring some modest benefits such as those stated above, does pose a problem to officials of various Law Enforcement Agencies (of which most are already deficient in training and equipment if we’re being honest) who might not be able to properly detect threats being transported – such as weapons and or explosives, or persons in the case of a kidnapping.

Reduced Visibility at Night

Folks in first world countries have an enormous advantage here because if you reside in the city, everywhere is lit up nicely and you might not necessarily have the problem of reduction in visibility at night. However, in many places around the world such as ours – it might be a bit of a hassle to see properly through the darkened windows. As a matter of fact, I remember one fateful night when I had to repark a neighbour’s car and couldn’t see anything when I looked out back through the rear wind-shield neither could I see reflections on either side mirrors as even people and objects were barely visible when I looked out the window, talk more of reflections on mirrors as it was a very dark shade custom tint. Had to wind down both windows before reversing the car.

Honestly, I can’t imagine driving that vehicle on the express-way with the windows rolled up as it’s quite dangerously handicapping to driving safety and overall effectiveness.

After all has been said and done, the fair verdict is simply that vehicle glass tint solves more problems than it causes and there’s a serious case to be made for having it done. Thanks for reading.

https://autohub.ng/blog/vehicle-glass-tint-the-good-the-bad-and-the-in-between/

Traffic regulations are driving, or non-driving laws enacted by a government to regulate, control and guide the behaviour or action of road users in order to avoid accidents and have a free flow of traffic. These laws are enforced by the road safety agency of Nigeria – better known as “Federal Road Safety Commission Of Nigeria (FRSCN).

Rules and Regulations Guiding Road Users

Some rules and regulations guiding road users, i.e. the traffic rules. Such traffic rules are:

1. Obeying traffic lights, officials, and road signs.

2. Avoiding over-speeding. https://www.nairaland.com/7803959/dangers-consequences-over-speeding-while-driving

3. Being on road without light or faulty lights, without signs or reflector (for larger vehicles), or wrongful use of signals.

4. Obstructing any section of the road with vehicles or in any other way that may affect free flow of traffic.

5. Over-taking another vehicle wrongly.

6. Using a restricted road marked – “no entry”.

7. Driving a vehicle without a valid learner’s permit, driver’s licence, or any other permit required by law.

8. Driving a vehicle or a two-, or three-wheel cycle on any road in a negligent manner that will be dangerous to other road users.

9. Driving a vehicle with “forged” vehicle papers.

10. Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

11. Using a road that’s under construction.

12. Failing to move to the slow lane to free up traffic flow.

13. Loading a vehicle above the weight or number of passengers required by law.

14. Driving a vehicle with damaged/shattered wind screen.

15. Driving without a spare tyre.

16. Driving without a fire extinguisher.

17. Driving with one hand.

18. Smoking or eating while driving.

19. Using a mobile phone while driving.

20. Driving on the opposite lane (One-way).

Roles Of Individuals in Maintaining Traffic Regulations

Individuals have lots of roles to play in maintaining traffic regulations. Such roles are:

1. Engaging in defensive driving: This simply means driving to save lives, money, and time – in spite of the condition(s) around the individual and the provocative actions of other driver(s)/road users; he/she recognises hazards but promptly executes the necessary actions required to evade an impending accident.

2. Individuals need to study all the traffic offences and signs, and obey them judiciously.

3. Carry out the obligations of a responsible citizen in the event of road traffic crash such as:

i. Stop when there is crash.

ii. Check if the person(s) involved is hurt.

iii. Assist the person(s) to a safe location.

iv. State the fact of the case if asked by a law enforcement agent.

v. Report the crash at the nearest at the nearest Police Station or FRSC office, or call their phone lines.

4. Individuals should not claim right of way, for claiming such right may unfortunately claim lives.

5. Every driver as an individual should rest for 15 minutes after every 4 hours of driving, and avoid driving more than 10 hours in 24 hours (or a day).

6. Doctors, Nurses, and health workers should attend to accident victims promptly/immediately as each passing second can be extremely vital to saving lives.

Roles of Government in Maintaining Traffic Regulations

Like individuals, the government also has vital roles to play in maintaining traffic regulations. Those roles include:

1. Setting up an agency like FRSC that would implement traffic regulations.

2. Enacting traffic laws, regulations, and policies, and also ensuring that these regulations are fully executed; ensuring maximum compliance.

3. Guarantee the safety of lives and properties of road users.

4. Installing traffic lights, road sign-posts, and other appropriate traffic strategies.

5. Paying the road safety agents and officials their salaries on time, so that they will be motivated to make our roads safe by carrying out their duties responsibly.

6. Providing the needed vehicles to do road safety work and also providing towing vans that would evacuate a broken-down vehicle should the need arise.

7. Provision of ambulances to road safety agents and granting them speedy access to hospitals which in turn – enables them to provide vital assistance towards victims of road crashes.

8. Building and managing road infrastructure effectively.


We all have a role to play in ensuring the safety of our roads. Please let’s comply with the laid-out rules and regulations. And to our officials, please do the needful. Thanks for reading. Drive safely.

Through improved technology and higher safety standards these days – motor vehicles have never been safer. However, the safety of occupants is still heavily reliant on the proper use of a seat belt.

Unfortunately, many drivers and passengers choose to ignore this effective and proven safety device and this puts them at risk of injuries or even death.

Why is Wearing a Seat Belt Important?

1. Keeps vehicle occupants inside

This one should be pretty self-explanatory. People thrown from a vehicle are actually four times more likely to be killed than those who remain inside.

2. Restrains the strongest parts of the body

Seat belts contact the body at the hip and shoulder, providing optimum protection.

3. Spreads out the force of a collision

Using a seat belt can help spread the force of a crash over a wide area of the body.

4. Helps the body to slow down

Seat belts extend the time (you must have encountered the “pretensioners” in the past whereby the seat belt ceases when you forcefully try to pull it out) it takes for you to slow down in a collision. Inside the car, you are more protected from injury.

5. Protects your brain and spinal cord

Seat belts protect these two critical and vulnerable areas. Injuries to your brain and or spinal cord can be deadly.

6. Required by law

Wearing a seat belt is the law. If caught without one, you could face expensive fines.

It is of utmost importance for drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts. This can’t ever be overstated as seat belts can be the difference between life and death in the unfortunate event of an automobile crash.

Please always endeavour to properly put on your seat belt. Safe travels.

Electric vehicles are getting extremely popular these days. Major automakers are having big plans for electrical vehicles.

When we look at the plans of major auto makers, it could be safely predicted that most of the vehicles on the road by 2040 will be electric vehicles (albeit hydrogen is starting to make a serious case these days so it just might end up as the most popular vehicle choice cum energy source by the time we approach 2040 who knows).

What does EV actually mean?

EV stands for Electric Vehicle.

Electric Vehicles run on electricity so they don’t need Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs). This results in low emissions hence, less pollution; which is good for the environment.

Electric cars are powered by batteries. They are not powered by traditional methods like petrol/gasoline or diesel. They operate on electric motors which are powered by batteries, large batteries.

Let’s talk about how an Electric Vehicle (EV) Works

Electric vehicles work on electric motors. There is a power controller attached to the electric motor of an EV. When the driver of an electric vehicle accelerates or decreases the speed of the vehicle, this information is passed on to the controller then – the controller regulates the power and passes it on to the electric motor. The electric motor is completely operated by a controller.

The battery attached to the vehicle is rechargeable. You can recharge these batteries with the normal electricity in any household or with the charging points provided specifically for EVs.

Electric vehicles are like automated cars. They have two different modes: forward and reverse.

Difference between Electric Motor and Internal Combustion Engine

The electric motor and an Internal Combustion engine are doing the same thing – creating rotatory motion that in turn rotates the wheels of a car.

The important difference is that the energy operating them is different – one uses electric energy and the other uses thermal energy.

If you understand this difference, it will help you understand how an electric vehicle works?

Important Parts of an Electric Vehicle

Electric Traction Motor

The Electric traction motor is the part of the vehicle which uses the electricity and creates the rotatory motion used for propulsion of an Electric Vehicle.

Some vehicles use a motor generator. The motor-generator performs both functions of driving the vehicle and generating electricity. The most commonly used electric motor is the brushless DC motor.

Power Inverter

The power inverter changes the electric DC (Direct Current) into AC (Alternating Current). This AC is used by the electric motor to run the vehicle.

This also has the function of changing the AC into DC and recharging the battery. This is why the type of inverter used is of the bi-directional category.

Traction Battery Pack

The work of the battery pack is to store electricity in the form of direct current. When it gets a signal from the controller, it will transmit the DC electric current.

Power Electronics Controller

The power electronic converter is the combination of inverter and converter. This recharges the battery when there is braking of the electric vehicle. The kinetic energy is used to recharge the vehicle.

Some of the vehicles use electric AC controllers.

Battery

The battery provides the necessary power to required power up the different parts of an electric vehicle.

Charging Port

The charging port allows the vehicle to connect to an external supply.

DC/DC Converter

Yes, you read it right, it’s not an AC to DC or a DC to AC converter. Unlike an inverter, it’s something different.

This device converts the high voltage DC power into low voltage DC which runs the different accessories of the electric vehicle. Also aids in recharging the auxiliary battery.

Charger

The charger is the battery charging device. It uses the electricity from outside sources and transfers it to the battery.

There are two types of electric vehicle chargers:

On-board charger: These are inside the car and use the internal energy to charge the battery.

Off-Board charger: These are the external chargers.

Transmission

Transmission parts of the electric vehicle are responsible for transforming the rotatory power from the electric motor directly to the wheels of the car.

With this you’re probably now conversant with how an electric vehicle works. You can also check out our previous article on the Pros and Cons of Electric Vehicles here: https://www.nairaland.com/7854982/pros-cons-electric-vehicles. Thanks for reading.

https://autohub.ng/blog/how-electric-vehicles-ev-work/

MorataFC:
AutohubNg, the emboldened got me confused, does it mean it doesn't use engine oil to lubricate the engine?

The blender analogy in the other reply was perfect. There's very little need to lubricate various parts as an EV doesn't carry a conventional engine that needs constant lubrication.

Donedeal1:
This idea will bring down

The demand for crude oil.

This is inevitable; the major reason why "oil-rich" economies in the Middle-East are all scrambling to diversify and push other sectors massively! Bahrain and Oman adapted early, as far back as late 80s/early 90s after it was projected that they were vulnerable and would run out before the others.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzHuWw7mu0c

🙌🏽 Eje, which wan abeg?

ValarDoharis:
Electric vehicles have speed and tremendous acceleration. I know because i drive one!

😂

Chokehold:
Combustion engine anytime, any day and twice on a Sunday.

As humanity advances, so will our prime energy-sources. In another 2 centuries - it's very unlikely that we'd still be on the current "fuels".

being:
I don't know why people keep forgetting that this electricity to be used by EVs is going to come from mostly gas propelled power stations!! So oil & gas is not going anywhere just because of EVs except we are going to go to nuclear power.

olaztek:
The most difficult thing with electric vehicles is the battery management system. The car needs a special type of fire extinguisher to put out fire because of the battery chemistry.

Yes! A couple of years ago when Richard Hammond crashed the very first Rimac C1 from a Swiss mountain, it kept burning up in different sectors for almost 2 weeks.

The electric vehicle/car (EV) is a relatively new concept in the automotive industry. Although more and more companies have now based their entire model of cars around being proactively using electricity, it isn’t uncommon to find those that offer hybrid vehicles which work off both electricity and petrol. There are some that also use hydrogen as a power-source such as the award-winning Toyota Mirai.

An electric car such as the Tesla Model S Plaid (in the title graphic), is a great way for you to not only save money but also help contribute towards a healthy and stable environment. Cars produce a lot of carbon emissions that are ejected into our natural atmosphere, leaving us vulnerable to things like pollution and greenhouse gases. In order to positively help the environment we live in, an electric car is a great step forward.

Buying an electric car also enables you to receive government subsidies for being environmentally conscious. Although you may end up paying more for your vehicle, the positives greatly overshadow the negatives. These are the two sides to consider during the purchase of an electric vehicle.

EVs get their power from rechargeable batteries installed inside the car. These batteries are not only used to power the car but also used for the functioning of other parts of the car. Electric cars have more batteries than regular petrol/diesel engine cars. It’s the same kind of batteries that are commonly used when starting up an engine. The only difference comes in the fact that in electric vehicles, they have more of them which are used in powering up the entire vehicle.

Advantages of an Electric Car

An electric car can be a great way for you as a consumer to save a lot of money on fuel. However, there are so many different reasons why you should invest in an electric car in this modern-day age of technology. And with that, let’s take a look at some of them:

1. No fuel required

Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity you provide, meaning you don’t need to buy any fuel ever again! Driving fuel-based cars can burn a hole in your pocket as prices of fuel have gone up to an all-time high (it’s even more painful for us that have crude oil, yet – paying through the nose for refined petroleum products).

An average car owner pays quite a lot to drive a fuel-powered vehicle, whereas many electric cars run on lesser amounts when all costs are factored in as electricity is largely less expensive than petrol. And if most people charge their cars in the garage installing a few solar panels, that price can get cut even further, offering savings on powering your entire home as well.

With electric cars, this cost of petrol each year can be avoided.

2. More convenient

An electric vehicle is easy to recharge, and the best part is you will no longer need to run to the fuel station to recharge your car before hitting the road! Even a normal household socket could be used for charging an electric car.

3. Savings

These cars can be fuelled for very low prices, and many new cars will offer great incentives for you to get money back from the government for going green. Electric cars can also be a great way to save money in your own life.

4. No emissions

The biggest advantage of an electric vehicle is its green credential. Electric cars are eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered engines. They do not emit toxic gases or smoke into the environment as it runs on a clean energy source. They are even better than hybrid cars as hybrids running partly on fuel produce emissions. You’ll be contributing to a healthy and green climate.

5. Popularity

EVs are growing in popularity. It is nearly three times as efficient as a car with an internal combustion engine, therefore – owning one offers a lot more ‘efficiency”. With popularity comes all new types of cars being put on the market that are unique, providing you with a wealth of choices moving forward.

6. Safe to drive

Electric cars undergo the same fitness and procedures test as other fuel-powered cars. An electric car is safer to use, given their lower centre of gravity, which makes them much more stable on the road in case of a collision.

In case an accident occurs, one can expect airbags to open up, and electricity supply cut from the battery.

This can protect you and other passengers in the car from serious injuries. They are even less likely to explode in the absence of any combustible fuel or gas. Albeit we’ll need a different method to put out fires from EVs due to cell arrangement as it can still get hot, leading to another fire erupting days later as experienced with the few EVs that have been involved in crashes. Worthy of note.

7. Cost-effective

Earlier, owning an electric car would cost a bomb. But with more technological advancements, both cost and maintenance have gone down.

The mass production of batteries and available tax incentives further brought down the cost, thus, making it much more cost-effective to purchase and own one.

8. Low maintenance

Electric cars run on electrically powered engines, hence, there is no need to lubricate the engines, anything related to the combustion engine requires a ton of maintenance tasks that are usually associated with a petrol- or diesel-powered engine.

Other expensive engine work is a thing of the past when dealing with EVs. Therefore, the maintenance cost of these cars have come down substantially. You don’t need to send it to the service station as often as you do for a standard fuel-powered car.

9. Reduced noise pollution

Electric cars put a curb on noise pollution as they are much quieter. Electric motors are capable of providing a smooth drive with higher acceleration over longer distances. But as with all things in life, every solution creates more problems. The “lack” of noise has created its own special problem since pedestrians (who are now more distracted than they’ve ever been in history thanks to mobile phones and headsets) crossing can’t hear an oncoming EV leading the governments in these countries to enact new laws that require EVs to play sounds as they drive. Funny, isn’t it?

10. Battery life and cost

Batteries are an integral part of an electric vehicle. Most electric vehicle batteries are made up of lithium, and their costs are improving every year.

The full capacity of a lithium-ion battery cell should be good for 300 to 500 cycles. A good battery could last you up to ten years. And with improving technologies, the cost of these batteries is expected to come down even further.

11. Easy driving

In the world of automobiles, electric cars have the simplest driving method. Commercial electric cars come with a transmission comprising of only one really long gear, and also don’t suffer from the stalling problem as petrol cars do.

This effectively eliminates the need to add a clutch mechanism to prevent that from happening. Therefore, you can operate an electric car with just the accelerator pedal, brake pedal and steering wheel.

Another really useful feature is regenerative braking. In normal cars, the braking process is a total wastage of kinetic energy that gets released as frictional heat. However, in an electric vehicle, the same energy can be used to charge the batteries.

Considering the demand for oil will only be going up as the supplies run out, an electric car will most likely be the normal mode of transportation in the coming future. Companies like Tesla, Nissan and Hyundai offer great electric models with an outstanding number of benefits for people who decide to invest in them. You’ll be saving not only yourself but also your family a huge amount of money.

The environmental impact of an electric car is zero, meaning you’re reducing your carbon footprint and positively affecting the environment.

Although evidence of the positives have become very clear, there are also some downsides that each individual needs to consider before they decide to make an electric car their next big investment.

Disadvantages of an Electric Car include:

1. Recharge points

Electric recharging stations are still in the developmental stage. Not a lot of places you go to on a daily basis will have recharge stations for your vehicle, meaning that if you’re on a long trip or decide to visit family in a rural or suburban area and run out of charge, it may be harder to find a charging station. You might become stuck where you are.

However, until charging stations are more widespread, be sure to have a charging station installed where you live and where you so that you’re assured you’ll be able to charge your EV whenever you need to.

2. The initial investment is steep

As EVs are very new, you may be surprised when you take a look at the price for EVs. Even the more affordable brands can be quite expensive as its starting price. And if you’re looking for a luxury option, you’ll definitely be paying even more. Although technology is advancing and the price to produce electric cars continues to drop, you still have to pay slightly more for an EV than for a fuel-powered car.

3. Electricity isn’t free

Electric cars can also be a hassle on your energy bill if you’re not considering the options carefully. If you haven’t done your research into the electric car you want to purchase, then you may be making an unwise investment. We’ve all seen our people online tease the very few owners of Teslas’ in Naija that they’ll still have to turn on their diesel generators when they get home to charge their cars thereby defeating the entire aim of owning an EV.

Also, electric cars require a huge charge to function properly – which may reflect poorly on your electricity bill each month when you do use the services of an electricity provider. Which is why the best setup for now is to have your own source to derive electricity for charging of your EV(s), and there’s quite a plethora of alternatives that can be explored out there.

4. Short driving range and speed

Electric cars are limited by range and speed. Most of these cars have a limited range before they need to be recharged again. You just can’t use them for long journeys as of now, although it is expected to improve in the future. As matter of fact, from various surveys conducted in North America and in Europe – “Range Anxiety” as it has now been termed, is the biggest impediment to owning an EV for prospective buyers. However, as technology keeps on advancing, we’ll be sure to see improvements on all fronts.

5. Longer recharge time

While it only takes a couple of minutes to fuel your petrol-powered car, an electric car can take several hours to get fully charged. Therefore, you need dedicated power stations as the time taken to recharge them is quite long. Thus, the time investment and necessary planning puts some people off.

There are some specialised kits however, that can cut the charging time down. But again, that’s going to be an additional investment. So, consider that too. Also, as stated previously – with improvement in technology, the charging time will inevitably be cut short in future.

6. Silence as a disadvantage

Silence can be a bit disadvantage as people like to hear the noise if they are coming from behind them. An electric car is rather silent, and this can lead to accidents in some cases as mentioned before.

7. Battery replacement

Depending on the type and usage of battery, batteries of almost all electric cars are required to be changed every 3-10 years and this can be extremely costly when the time comes. As a matter of fact, a man from Finland was told an outrageous amount to change his Tesla batteries and out of anger he opted to purchase some dynamite then proceeded to blow the vehicle up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp0tGI1KUVU

8. Not suitable for cities facing shortage of power

As electric cars need the power to charge up, the cities (we all know of a certain supposedly overpopulated “modern” city at the heart of Western Africa *winks) that are already facing acute power shortages are not suitable for electric cars. And the consumption of more power would greatly hamper their daily power needs.

9. Lower amount of choices

The market today for electric cars is expanding, with no signs of slowing down. However, the truth is that there are still fewer options to customise and choose from when it comes to EV as at this moment.

At the same time, there exists a vast amount of customisation that is already available with traditional cars. This is likely to change over time, but for many people this is going to be a disadvantage.

10. Minimal amount of pollution

Electric vehicles are also not 100% emission-free; they cause a little amount of pollution indirectly. The batteries and electricity needed for charging are not necessarily generated from renewable energy sources. Don’t even get me started on the numerous problems the mining of Lithium Ore, Nickel and Cobalt, which are the major components of an EV’s battery – creates on a daily basis especially in countries like Congo where its far-reaching devastating effect is being felt, but little to none of the humongous EV wealth being generated is.

It is also worth noting that some governments do not provide any form of money saving initiative to encourage you to buy an electric car. And just because there is a variety of factors doesn’t mean they have to be overwhelming. Doing a fair bit of research into different models, and maybe even hybrids will help you make an accurate decision moving forward. Thanks for reading.

https://autohub.ng/blog/pros-and-cons-of-electric-vehicles/

Among the many, many things you’ll have to consider when buying a car, its colour happens to be atop the list. With such a dizzying array of colours available on the open market – it can be quite a difficult task knowing where to start. We might eventually become somewhat exhausted by the numerous options to choose from.

Aside from the cost, how do these various types of paint differ and are there any benefits to picking one over the other? To help you choose from the options, we’ll briefly explain the different types of finishes, along with their pros and cons on the way to making that all-important decision. They are as follows:

Waterborne and Solvent Paint

Before we get into the various finishes, it is worth noting the difference in the material from which automobile paint is made – with regards to waterborne and solvent-based types.

Solvent-borne: Traditionally the auto paint type that has been used for many years. Solvent-borne types are primarily comprised of a solvent base like a lacquer, urethane, or enamel. They contain a vast amount of volatile organic compounds, which has raised both health and environmental concerns as a result.

Waterborne: Because of the aforementioned concerns, the focus is increasingly turning towards the waterborne type since they’re primarily comprised of water and contain around 10% solvent.

So, which one is better? Some shops and garages have noted that waterborne paint doesn’t adhere as well as the usual solvent-based paint. However, modern advances in technology have meant that auto paint manufacturers can now produce high-performance water-based paints that adhere as much as the solvent-based kind – leading to mass adoption these days.

1. Solid Paint

The majority of cars apart from the pricier ones – are available in a no-cost basic solid colour, usually in white, red, blue, or black. It’s often the case that if a paint colour doesn’t add to the cost of the car, then it’s a solid paint.

Cars with solid paint undergo a single application of the colour, followed by a lacquer coat (called a clear coat) above it, protecting it from chips, scratches and poor weather conditions. Many manufacturers use what’s called ‘two-pack’ paint, where the acrylic paint is mixed with an isocyanate hardening agent to form a superglue-type consistency, removing the need for a separate clear coat.

Pros

- Solid paints are often inexpensive.
- They come with several maintenance benefits: minor stone chips can be repaired with a touch-up of the same colour. These are available at
your local market and don’t cost too much. More serious damage can be taken care of at a repair shop at little cost in minimal time.

Cons

- Since they’re cheap and quick to apply, a lot of solid colours tend to have that “orange peel” finish on closer inspection, which isn’t ideal.
- Their limited colour palette (white, red, blue, and black) means they’re a little boring.

2. Metallic Paint

Pretty much the same as solid paints, metallic varieties differ thanks to the addition of a small quantity of powdered metal added. The size and type of metal added varies, depending on manufacturer choices but it’s usually about 1 part in 50 of aluminium powder. The metal particles in the paint pick up and reflect more incident light than the basic paint colours, adding a sleek look that’s undeniably cool.

Pros

- It hides very minor damage from a distance in a much more effective way than solid paint.
- Provided it’s kept clean, metallic paint holds up better than solid paint.

Cons

- When damaged, it’s much harder to get metallic paint to match properly. Even professional repair shops can’t guarantee a match, and poor polish jobs will make swirl marks more noticeable.

3. Pearlescent Paint

Rather than metal particles, pearlescent paints are made with ceramic crystals which don’t just reflect light but refract it too. This splits the finish into different colours by allowing some light in and slowing it down as it passes through, giving the paint a sparkle that varies depending on how you look at the car.

Pros

- Pearlescent paints can disguise scuffs and minor damage to the bodywork.
- Unusual stand out variations add a unique finish.

Cons

- Pearlescent paints don’t come cheap and are quite expensive.
- Not exactly inconspicuous, so if you are one to shy away from attention then pearlescent paint isn’t for you.
- Hard to replace, expensive as mentioned, and time-consuming to replace any damage.

4. Matte Finishes

The most uncommon type, matte finishes tend to come in grey or black, adding a premium high-end look to any car. Sometimes, they have a more reflective satin or silk finish than a proper matte look, but they’re broadly the same. The finish prevents the paint coat from reflecting light, which gives the car a hazy, flat quality that’s becoming increasingly popular.

Pros

- Has an undeniable prestige to it.
- If it’s applied as a vinyl wrap – literally where the car is wrapped in vinyl to give it a different appearance, it can be easily removed.

Cons

- Unsurprisingly, matte finishes are expensive.
- Damage to the paint shows up more than it would in other varieties.
- It’s hard to maintain and look after properly as polishing matte paint with a normal abrasion polish could leave gloss patches on your car.

Shopping for Car Paint?

Whenever you’re looking for your new car colour, keep the following in mind:

Colour match: If you’re just doing a touch-up, then make sure the paint you’re buying is factory matched to the vehicle. There should be a colour code on the driver’s side door or in the car’s manual for reference.

Compliance: Make sure any paint you buy is in compliance with environmental rules and regulations.

Preparation: A clean, well-prepared car will save you time, money and effort whether you decide to do the job yourself or take it to a repair shop. Thanks for reading.

Several things can happen to your car when it gets exposed to the sun for too long. Car paint damage, no matter how small or big, is the last thing that any owner would want to happen to their vehicle. This problem means dealing with some stressful outcomes, including a costly repainting and repair job. It is therefore important to protect your car against things that you can have control over.

Homes located in the areas where there’s constantly harsh sunshine need carports or shades to ensure that their cars are always safe from the sun’s damaging rays. But what would happen if you do not have one in your house? Here are some of the most common damages that your vehicle may sustain if you let it sit under direct sunlight for an extended period of time:

Cracks on the interior

Among the damaging effects that constant sun exposure are the cracks that form in the dashboard and on the seats. Automotive care specialists always advise that the steering wheel is also prone to damage caused by prolonged heat exposure, so you should do well to use a cover if you’re going to leave your car out in the sun for a while. Other than being unsightly, these damages can affect the overall aesthetics of your ride – as well as lowering its value should you decide to sell it in the future.

Fading car paint

Another harmful effect that prolonged sun exposure can do to a car is paint chips. Experts point out that whilst paint chips are unavoidable, there are ways to protect your car against it. One is by applying a layer of car paint protection film or an even layer of glass coating. This can go a long way towards keeping your ride protected, and its paint smooth for as long as possible.

Damages on its safety features

Another major problem that constant exposure to the sun can bring to any vehicle is the damage to its safety features. Constant exposure to extreme heat can affect the car’s safety system, especially the airbags and this can be fatal due to shrapnel being released as a result of defective or premature deployment (due to overheating in some cases) which can puncture blood vessels in the head, chest and neck.

When not detected and resolved immediately, these problems can put the car owner at risk. This can be dangerous, especially when the driver is always on the road.

Damage to tyres

Tyres are among the most important parts of your vehicle and these become at risk when they are overtly exposed to direct sunlight for a long period. The tread may crack or show some signs of damage in no time. The rubber can become brittle, causing it to break and expose the interior part or air tube. This can pose a serious risk to the driver as the tyres may explode whilst on the road. It is best to keep your car in a shaded area when you are not driving it. Having a covered garage or carport is likewise a worthwhile investment.

Knowing the effects of prolonged heat exposure to your car can help you make the right decision when choosing car protection strategies or products. You may want to build a garage, carport or even a shade within your property so that your vehicle can stay beautiful for as long as possible.

https://autohub.ng/blog/damages-to-a-car-from-excessive-sun-light/

The automobile industry in Nigeria offers a huge market for the sale of used cars to choose from. The sale of Foreign Used cars – “Tokunbo” or “Toks” for short as they are predominantly called down here, has existed in Nigeria for a long time now (a couple of decades). There is however, a great deal of disparity between a Nigerian used car and a foreign used car.

One major difference though is that foreign used cars are imported used cars whilst Nigerian used cars are those previously imported and have been used here for a while, or a small percentage that were bought brand new and the owner has eventually decided to put it up for sale. Therefore, the fact that one has obviously been flogged more than the other (in most cases) clears any doubt as to why buyers might often prefer foreign used. This article enumerates some of the reasons why people choose foreign used cars over the Nigerian used counterparts.

Advantages of Foreign Used Cars

1. Better Condition of Foreign Used Cars

The condition of foreign used car more often than not far exceeds that of Nigerian used cars because foreign used cars are usually more neatly used and well maintained than Nigerian used cars. This is mostly as a result of the bad roads existing in Nigeria; poor maintenance culture or it could be so expensive (due to rising inflation, abominable cost of living, and outrageous exchange rates lately) that it’s avoided altogether; also, the serious lack of technical know-how (it’s no news that there’s a dearth of proper auto-technicians, especially in rural areas) especially as regards to more recent models, just to mention a few reasons.

So, whether foreign used cars were purchased with a high mileage or not, the case remains that they have better usage life than what is mostly obtainable with Nigerian used. Also, there’s a wider range of different types of foreign used vehicles to choose from than Nigerian used options. There are undoubtedly a few cars that you may never find in the Nigerian used market. E.g., sport cars, coupes, EVs (Electric Vehicle) and ultra-luxury vehicles.

2. The Availability of Car Reports/Information

Car reports/information provides valuable insight into the history of the car which enables a prospective buyer to determine if the car has a clean title, was salvaged or reconstructed.

The availability of car information on foreign used cars makes it preferable than Nigerian used cars especially in a society like ours where the issue of trust is controversial.

For example, with foreign used cars, there is a high chance that the car one is buying hasn’t been repainted or had its body worked on (that’s with clean title O abeg not salvage or one that was involved in an accident & has now been fixed up). So what you see, is most likely – what you get!

3. Less Chances of The Vehicle Having Underlying Issues

When you import a foreign used car from abroad, the probability of said car having an underlying issue is slim to none. You’re almost guaranteed peace of mind as opposed to when you purchase a Nigerian used vehicle; even when there’s nothing wrong, you’ll still be continually tensed up about something breaking down at any moment. Anyone who’s just bought a Nigerian used car recently can testify; no jus lie – e dey dey ya mind constanta, abi‽ *Winks

Disadvantages of Foreign Used Cars

1. The process and or procedures of getting a foreign used car usable for the Nigerian roads and to comply with the Nigerian laws may be a little more tedious than buying a Nigerian used car. Such as changing to left-hand drive, getting the necessary licences and registrations done, then port clearance.

2. It is also more expensive to get a foreign used car whether you import yourself or when you buy from someone when it is being resold in Nigeria. Especially with the “outrageous exchange rate” lately, it has become nothing short of a hassle purchasing a foreign used vehicle in the current clime.

That’s about it for foreign used cars. Now, let’s touch on the merits and demerits of Nigerian used cars.

Advantages of Nigerian Used Cars

1. The cost of procuring a Nigerian used car is way cheaper when compared to a foreign used car.

2. Also, the cost of registration of the vehicle is saved. For example, if you wish to change the existing licence number, you’ll have to pay a token but if you wish to retain it, you save the cost.

Disadvantages of Nigerian Used Cars

1. Buying a Nigerian used car means there is a high probability that you are not the first user of the car, also neither the second nor the third – or more even! Like in the case of the 2007 – 2011 Camry (Spider) where some buyers have now ended up being the 12th or 13th “hand”, when you factor in how many times said car has changed ownership especially during its specific cycle in Nigeria, and when it was abroad. So, it apparently means that you are buying a car with great risk and quite possibly – a shorter life span.

2. Considering the risk factor and the poor state of roads in Nigeria, it therefore means that you are very likely going to pay more to fix a Nigerian used car after purchase.

3. Many Nigerian used cars with neat body and interior are deceptive. Buying them at face value portends great danger as there is usually an above 60% probability of the car being refurbished, and generally would require more serious repairs than is depicted by its neat appearance which is usually common with European vehicles. On the other hand, Japanese cars especially – Toyota, has stood the test of time so have little to no fear when you venture towards one.

4. As of now, Nigerian used cars don’t have any open and reliable database for vehicle history (Car Reports). Hence, there is little or no possible means of identifying the true condition of the car except by relying on what the selling owner or intermediary is telling you at the point of purchase. Which is why it is important to always go with a trusted mechanic to properly verify the actual state of the vehicle in real time.

5. There is limited choice to make when selecting from a pool of Nigerian used cars for sale as briefly touched upon earlier.

How Then Do You Make Your Selection?

As there are thousands of foreign used cars being imported every year; coupled with more and more Nigerian used cars also entering the market simultaneously, how then will you manage to find the right one for you‽ Many car buyers have sort for possible answers to this question for ages. The choice of a car is a tough decision to make no doubt, hence the need to conduct a proper appraisal of the type of car one desires and IS ABLE TO AFFORD should always be first and foremost – the major theme that pervades your thinking.

This article provides some necessary steps to follow:

1. Identify your needs

This means identifying the type of car and the desired features. There are no two similar car buyers. Seek first to proffer possible answers to the following questions:

a. What number of passengers will your car usually have to carry?

b. Do you desire to drive long distances and save money on fuel as well?

c. Are the weather conditions suitable in the region where you reside?

d. Do you drive through muddy/bad roads and difficult terrains often?

e. Would you need to carry heavy load frequently, or not?

f. Is your garage large enough or too small to accommodate your car? Is your garage or parking space near your home?

g. Do you desire safety features in the car?

h. Do you desire lots of cutting-edge technology for the car?

The ability to provide answers to the above questions should determine the type of vehicle you’ll be in search of.

2. State a budget for the car

Stating outrightly a budget is quite important as it provides a suitable guide to locating the car that falls within the stipulated budget and saves you the time of unnecessarily searching through a multitude of options.

3. Ensure it’s in a good location

Choosing a good location and seller is also important when acquiring the best used cars. You ideally don’t want to expend your precious resources – time and money, on a proper search then conclude on the finer details with the prospective seller and undergo an arduous journey out of town or state – only to discover that you don’t like the vehicle in front of you when you eventually lay your eyes on it.

5. Find legitimate sellers

Find credible car dealers where you can experience safe shopping and reach a deal with a genuine person. Of course, you can count on us at Autohub Nigeria, to deliver a top-notch hassle-free buying experience.

6. Low prices

Seek to locate sellers who offer the best but affordable prices still. However, one small caveat you should be wary of is to not base the entire purchase solely on price because being cheap or extremely cheap as the case may be – might not necessarily be the best deal, and could probably come with a lot of baggage. So, make sure to shine ya eye well well! https://autohub.ng/blog/choosing-your-first-car/

It is believed that adhering to these processes will serve as the perfect guide for helping you choose a better used car in Nigeria. You can also go through another buyers’ guide of ours – https://autohub.ng/blog/9-mistakes-car-buyers-in-nigeria-usually-make/ Best wishes…

As we all know, there are different parts that make up a car but we’ll only be looking at just the external parts in this article. They are:

1. Headlights

Headlights are an important part of a car, often referred to as “headlamps” as well – are situated at the front sides of a car and aids the driver’s visibility by eliminating the darkness in front. Headlights of a vehicle produce different types of lights including – full beam light, dipped light, fog light, indicator, hazard warning light, etc.

Generally, headlights are powered by the battery of the vehicle to light up the way and show you the road properly. Halogen, Xenon and LED, are some main types of headlamps which are being used nowadays and sometimes they even add to the beauty of the car by way of aesthetically pleasing DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) designs cum fancy LED displays upon start-up and or switch-off.

2. Mirrors

A car comes with three mirrors which help you to watch your back – a rearview mirror and two side/wing mirrors. The rearview mirror is a flat mirror inside the car. It shows you what’s happening behind you. Due to improvements in technology some rearview mirrors can calculate the distance between the back of the vehicle and other vehicles or objects behind.

As it is a flat mirror, it shows the actual size and distance of the vehicles behind. Two side/wing mirrors are situated on the two sides of a car. These are convex mirrors to ensure that you catch a wider vision. Also, these mirrors show the vehicles further than where they are. They have a short coming though as there are “blind spots” which are positions around the side of the car where an object or a person might not be seen due to the angle it/he or she is in. That’s why it’s often advisable to always ensure you can see YOUR OWN VEHICLE in full-view on either one of the wing-mirror of a trailer/large truck when overtaking. Albeit advances in technology have helped reduce its effect with Blind-Spot Monitoring Technology where either a red line blinks/stays on the mirror or on the dashboard to serve as a warning that something or someone is around you.

3. Boot (Trunk)

This is the main place where you store your belongings which you are carrying with you. The cover that allows or denies access to the trunk is called a lid. In most cases, the boot (trunk) is the only storage area of your car which is designed to store items or bags and luggage.

Generally, a car’s boot is situated at the back of it. In some vehicles where the engine is situated at the rear (middle), you’ll find boots in both the front and inside, or behind the seats in some instances. And in the case of an EV (Electric Vehicle) where a conventional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) is non-existent such as the Tesla Model X – there are “trunk spaces” both in the front, and in the rear (space jus boku, e be lyk e be…*winks) because the batteries which power up said EV are lined-up/embedded within its chassis underneath the vehicle thereby leaving lots of room elsewhere.

4. Wheels

Wheels are the parts of the car which help it to move either forwards or backwards; each wheel is covered by a tyre to ensure it’s smoothly running.

A wheel has different parts – barrel, lug holes, centre cap, centre bore, centre disc, outer lip, spoke (kind of obsolete these days) and valve stem. These are the major parts of a wheel. All these together make up a wheel that functions as one.

Wheels of a car are controlled through a complex system. To understand wheels properly, you’ll have to know about a lot of things especially wheel size measurements, but these concepts might also drastically change in the future as discussed here: https://autohub.ng/blog/wheels-of-the-future/

5. Tail light (Rear Light)

Tail lights are the lights at the rear side of the car that light up when you brake (or when reversing). Thus, alerting the vehicles behind you that you are stopping or reversing. Also, it works as an indicator(s) when you are either taking a left or right turn (or at night when your headlights are turned on).

Usually, you’ll find three colours in tail lights – red to indicate braking or at night for visibility in the rear; yellow to indicate turning towards the left or right; and white to indicate that the vehicle is in reverse. Having tail light is important because if you don’t signal the vehicles behind that you’re stopping, they may end up hitting your car from the rear which might dangerously lead to whiplash.

6. Bumper

This is the part of a car which keeps your car body safe from the impact of minor bumps or collision. Bumpers are usually made up of metal, plastic or carbon fibre to absorb minor shock from low-speed crashes.

Though the main use of bumper is for avoiding physical damages to a car, it is often used to enhance the look of the car and it is also aerodynamically functional in some high-end sport cars because they are designed to manipulate air-flow – greatly reducing drag coefficient, thereby making the car go faster or to have a better grip on the road (down-force). You’ll find a lot of stylish bumpers out there in the market for this purpose. There are many types of bumpers available. Among those; step bumper, standard bumper, cowboy bumper and tube bumper are some of the common types.

7. Doors

A car door is there to let you access the car and keep you safe whilst you’re inside. Depending on the model, you’ll find 2 to 4 doors (or 2 that slide forwards & backwards in People-carriers/Mini-vans) in a car. Typically, it is hinged with the car body. In most cases, doors are opened manually, but it isn’t uncommon to see a door that can be controlled from a distance too. A car door has different parts, for example – door lock, door handle, door panel, storage compartment, etc. The window of the car is also a part of the door. You’ll find the window glass controller within the door as well.

8. Bonnet (Hood)

The Bonnet or Hood is the part of a car which allows you access to the engine of a car. Typically, it is situated in the front side of the vehicle where the engine is placed. In some old car models where engines were spotted at the rear, the bonnet was in the rear side as well. The main purpose of the bonnet is to save the engine and other related components from outside hazards like dust, rain, snow, and so on. You can easily gain access to your engine when needed by way of simply just opening up the bonnet.

9. Roof

The name says it all. The roof is the protective layer above the passenger compartment which keeps everything inside safe from external elements like wind, rain, snow, hail, sleet, sun, and others. In some cars, roofs are fixed, while others come with roofs that can be opened. Sometimes roofs come with a small window that can be opened when needed, called a sunroof. In some cases, large sections of the roof could be made out of glass called a panoramic roof – which can completely change the lighting inside the car when activated.

The car roof can be converted into an external storage as well. There are carriers (roof racks) available on the market which can be installed on the roof top to make the attachment of items such as luggage or bicycles, so much easier – hence the name “carrier”, simple (again, subtle jab at those across the Atlantic whom we’ve had to carter for all through this article)!

10. Windshield

This is the big glass in the front and at the rear, that allows the driver and front seat passenger to see the road. However, the main task of a windshield is to protect the driver (and passengers) from the explosive surge of wind created by moving swiftly forward. That’s why it is called windshield. Preceding that in like the 20s and 30s, drivers would put on a Leather Flying Helmet or Aviator Hat as it was wildly known back then – in combination with Large Goggles for protection. It was basically the same apparel worn by pilots that flew Bi-planes back in the day…

Nowadays, windshields are more than that. It is a safety component too for the driver as well as the front seat passenger. In previous days, windshields were made of a piece of glass only. But in recent times, manufacturers now use laminated glass to make the windshield so that the broken pieces of glass don’t end up harming the people inside in the unfortunate event of an accident.

Also, like with many other sectors and aspects – as technology keeps on improving so will everything else considering the “smart” windshield today in some modern cars that provide you with HUD (Heads Up Display) which could be any info that you would normally get on your gauge cluster such as the speedometer or map. Some are even touch sensitive.

Hopefully, we’ll try to catch up at some point because omo, dis pipu don leave us go abeg…

Thanks for reading and do have a safe drive out there.

https://autohub.ng/blog/external-parts-of-a-car/

Thanks... We aim to please.

Dogalmighty17:
Thank you for your great post over again. Your content makes niaraland worth visiting. Outside your posts and that of a few others, nairaland has become an empty seriously irritating madhouse where the dumbest of the dumb igbo and yoruba throw shades and unintelligent diatribes at each other.

Exactly! Different trims in a model year. It will likely lead to further confusion listing any. Oil dey ya head abeg. 🙌🏽

Kaycee9242:
He might not be able to do that because most times you will see a particular brand of car same year and all but different cylinders, i have seen 08 accords, 2.4 camry with some having 4 cylinder and some 6 cylinder

Confam Leggedis Benz NM<Naija Man> 250 (DOB is model year) 1.2Hp😁💪🏽

jojothaiv:
4, 6, 8 or 12 cylinders, na my leg dey carry me go where I wan go o.

Thank you. 🙏🏽

NSNO:
He did talk about this.

Thinking about rolling with a 2.0 turbo diesel myself. Petrol nor be anybodi mate nowadays O... 😜

shiki:
in this current Nigeria, I'm even looking for a car with 2 cylinders

You probably understand the importance of your car’s engine because without a working engine, you won’t get very far, but most of us don’t know much about how vehicle engines work. When identifying your car’s engine type, it usually comes down to the cylinders. So, what exactly is a cylinder? We’ll go over this, as well as some other engine parts you should know about.

Cylinders are an important part of your car’s engine. Whenever you look at the engine bay of either a newer or an older car, you’ll see the configuration as it’s usually quite noticeable even if it’s only just a quick glance. The cylinders are usually located in front and at the centre. Most of us associate the number of cylinders with power, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, that isn’t always the case.

Car cylinders are a lot like the pot you use to cook your food. It’s not the cylinder itself that is powerful, but what it holds. Car cylinders contain fuel; the more cylinders you have, the more fuel you can use at one time. It’s the same with cooking pots and pans. You can’t cook 2 litres of soup in a 1-litre pot.

Now with that said, let’s briefly touch on a few parts:

The cylinders – are made of durable metal and are sealed at one end. The other end opens and closes. The cylinder has a tight-fitting piston that slides up and down, and two valves that open and close to let something in or shut everything out.

Intake valve – lets fuel and air into the cylinder (from the carburetor or injector).

Exhaust valve – allows exhaust gases to escape.

Spark plug – sits at the top of the cylinder and it creates a spark that ignites the fuel.

Piston – is located at the bottom of the cylinder and is attached to a shaft called the crankshaft.

Crankshaft – provides power to the car’s transmission and drives the wheels.


The real difference between 4, 6, 8, 12… cylinders

If you should only know one thing about car engines, it should be the difference between a 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, 8-cylinder, & a 12-cylinder engine (could be more – it was intentional to use the image of a W-16 Bugatti engine in the title-graphic). Since cylinders are like cooking utensils that hold fuel, the more you have, the more fuel you burn. When you have more cylinders, you create more motion to turn the crankshaft, which provides more power to the car. But as you may have discovered by now, more cylinders also mean you’ll burn a lot more fuel, and faster.

That’s why faster or more powerful cars are almost always less fuel-efficient than most economy cars. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that more cylinders equals a faster car. Again, that is not always the case. In fact, most trucks and pick-ups use 6, 8, 10 or even 12-cylinder engines in some cases – but you won’t see an F150 winning a race against a regular sized 6-cylinder sports car. More cylinders mean more power, period. The design of the car, however – dictates how that power is distributed. And modern technology to add to that, has usurped “size” – redefining how much power can be gotten out of “smaller” engines via the manipulation of air – “forced induction” through a modified air intake contrivance based on the principle that more air in the combustion process greatly creates a higher of output of power, and they are usually called Turbochargers or Superchargers. Slight variation in how they operate, however, they both carry out similar functions nonetheless.

Also, pistons matter a lot during this stage – as you might imagine (or not imagine), pistons are subjected to a lot of heat and pressure during all combustion processes. When the pistons are able to move with more force, the combustion will be more powerful, and the car will in turn move with more force.

Conclusion

When choosing between a 4, 6, 8, 10, or a 12-cylinder engine, it’s all about personal preference. If fuel economy is most important to you, you’ll want an inline 4-cylinder engine. If you want to balance fuel economy and speed, then I strongly urge you to consider a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine which can be found in many German sub-compact, compact and mid-size luxury category of vehicles post 2015. To get pure power, a 6-cylinder turbocharged engine may be right for you. Then if you’ve got the means and fuelling (especially now that a sizeable chunk of our income goes into this – God abeg O) isn’t really a problem for you, and you really really long for that your dream powerful ultra-high performance V8 car – then by all measure go for it! There are few pleasures in life; driving the ultimate behemoth is definitely amongst that list…

And as you may know, the best way to determine which car is best for you is to carry out research on it first then take it out for a test drive to see if its performance on an open road will fulfill your heart’s desire but please don’t forget your pocket level O at the end of the day.

Do have yourself a pleasant drive. And as always, thanks for taking out your precious time to read this piece.


https://autohub.ng/blog/the-differences-between-4-6-8-12-cylinders/

A car is composed of hundreds of electrical and mechanical components and it might not be easy to know which part is likely to cause problems. However, before a breakdown occurs, your car’s onboard computer tries as much as possible to communicate any impending problem(s) to you. There are numerous reasons why car breakdowns occur so it would be wise to not depend entirely on assumptions and get the professionals involved.

Most car owners assume every part functions properly and do not necessarily bother looking at any possible causes of problems. This short article aims to take a look at the top reasons why car breakdown happens.

Fuelling

A common cause of car breakdown is linked to running out of fuel, yet this is an issue that can easily be prevented. Most people forget to fuel their cars while others ignore the red fuel sign displayed on a dashboard (which indicates that a car needs to be refuelled) until their car totally runs out of fuel and stops on the way. Another thing associated with fuelling is filling a car with the wrong fuel or bad/bush fuel. Also, putting petrol in a diesel engine is a serious problem that can lead to serious damage.

The moment you notice your car has been filled with the wrong fuel, do not start the car. Instead, have it towed to a mechanic who will empty and clean the fuel tank properly. But if you’ve already started the engine in the case of filling up a diesel engine with petrol, do not switch it off then add more diesel (depending on the amount of petrol you’ve put in initially), this is so as to reduce lasting damage to the engine because petrol is more combustible than diesel and will instantly increase the friction between the parts of your engine but diesel vehicles can run on up to 75% petrol as long as you do not switch off the engine.

On the other hand, filling your petrol car with diesel is less dangerous as your engine will only splutter, cough and misfire because diesel is thicker and will clog up the fuel-system and the spark-plugs until the diesel is completely drained out – rarely damaging any major component.

Flat Battery

A flat battery is one of the leading causes of car breakdowns. Drivers who use their cars for a short trip are at high risk of experiencing a flat battery. This is because short trips do not give a car battery sufficient time to recharge. If you have to do short trips at all time, ensure that you invest in a smart charger to connect the battery to. Better still, you can idle (warm) the car every once in a while.

Electrical Issues

Electrical issues are becoming a common cause of car breakdowns today. This is especially true with the increasing number of complex controls and switches that today’s vehicles have. And as much as it’s difficult to admit, we really do not have enough of the technical know-how to deal with this issues or as the case may be – we like to simply nip-it-in-the-bud by connecting a diagnostic tool then clearing off the errors being displayed, instead of dealing with issue(s) properly (the normal Naija way).

When an electrical issue has been detected by the onboard computer; it is very important to ensure that it is addressed as soon as possible, and more importantly – PROPERLY!

Overheating

Overheating is a serious cause of car breakdown and can be caused by a number of reasons. It is very important to check the levels of car coolant to avoid possible overheating especially when you consider the high-level temperature we usually experience in this part of the world. So please, it is strongly suggested that you’re always alert and consistently monitor the gauge whilst driving.

The coolant used in your car should also have antifreeze abilities for those who reside in parts of the world where winter is experienced to protect it during the season.

Flat Tyre

A damaged tyre can easily become flat and become a major inconvenience to you after a breakdown. You need to ensure you do regular tyre checks. The tyre pressure should always be checked and it has to be at recommended levels.

Even if you don’t use your car frequently, for every use; the car tyres should be visually inspected to ensure they have the right threads, are properly balanced and aligned, as well as having the right pressure.

Other Causes

Other causes of car breakdowns could include clutch problems, overheating of the engine, starter motor issues, and distributor cap failure. There are also mechanical issues that can make a car to break down. These may range from broken or worn-out spark plugs to other components being glitchy or defective. As stated previously, always be alert to notice minor changes in the sound and performance of your vehicle. Wishing you a happy driving experience.

Whether it’s brand new or second-hand, a car is usually quite a sizeable investment. It isn’t like any other material stuff you buy and replace anytime you feel like it (albeit this is not the reality for a certain “class” if you catch my drift *winks). And since a vehicle can be considered a prized possession, it’s imperative that regular car care is observed to avoid serious problems in the future. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you shouldn’t take car care for granted.

It ensures your safety

Safety is paramount in driving and proper car care is one of the keys to ensure road safety. By regularly maintaining your car, you can avoid serious issues. It can also help avoid potential problems from developing, and small/minor ones from becoming big issues later on. It also reduces the risk of dealing with a malfunctioning and unsafe vehicle altogether.

It ensures your car’s optimum performance

Cars that are well-maintained tend to perform better on the road than those that skip maintenance procedures. Just imagine how great it would be to hit the road with a reliable engine, more stable steering and better tyre traction. Wouldn’t that be a better driving experience‽

It helps you save money

In the long run, taking good care of a vehicle helps save money. Without regular inspection and maintenance, costly repairs and issues become inevitable. So, would you rather spend a little now to keep your car healthy or skip maintenance – then pay for a hefty repair down the road?

It increases fuel efficiency

Taking good care of a vehicle means increased fuel efficiency. However, taking car care for granted may mean having to refill the tank more often than not which is a waste of money and time plus; dis period dem nor dey tell persin say water don pass garri O.

It saves you time

We all know the hassle and stress people who encounter car problems have to deal with. Not only is it expensive to spend on car repairs but it’s also a huge waste of time, especially when it happens in the middle of a busy week. Not only that, having a car repaired doesn’t always get done in a day. Some repairs can take weeks or months in some cases even. You can imagine not being able to drive your car for weeks.

It helps keep the vehicle’s value high

Some people opt to invest in a car then sell it later down the line. If you plan on selling your car in the future, one of the key ways to keep its value high is to stay on top of its maintenance schedule. Whether you got your ride used or brand new, it’ll undoubtedly be a lot easier to sell it off at a good rate when it’s been properly taken care of.

So, what are the best car care tips for used cars?

1. Check your owner’s manual: If there’s one important tool you must always keep by your side, it’s your owner’s manual. It contains the model-specific information you need.

2. Keep your tyres properly inflated: It’s not safe to drive with underinflated tyres. At the same time, it’s also important that your tyres aren’t overinflated. Please refer to your manufacturer’s specifications and follow the recommendation indicated for the correct tyre pressure.

3. Change your oil: Though you may not really need this service that frequently, be sure to take note of the schedule for oil changes. Again, endeavour to check your owner’s manual because it usually depends on the make and model of your vehicle.

4. Check your battery: It’s not fun to deal with a dead battery when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere. Therefore, make it a habit to check your battery regularly.

5. Be mindful of your driving habits: You can minimise the wear and tear on your vehicle when you practise sound driving habits. Overtly reckless driving or as we say in our local parlance – Wa wa wa, not only endangers your life and that of others but is usually not needed.

6. Change your timing belt: Driving with damaged timing belts can take its toll on other components in your vehicle. Be sure to have it changed whenever necessary.

Anyone who invests in a car has one goal and that is to make the most of their vehicle. This is where proper car care and maintenance culture come in. Follow these tips to help you enjoy your car and extend its life for as long as possible. Thanks for reading.

https://autohub.ng/blog/importance-of-regular-car-care-and-tips-to-maintain-your-used-car/

😁😁

Timagex:
My own is that, if corrola comes back to this life again in the after life, it will avoid Nigeria and Nigerians!!😁😁

Yeah, it's inevitable at this point. Check number 11 again. It was hinted there.

JASONjnr:
Also, electric cars will likely take over petroleum cars.....

It's more efficient and durable especially if you have upto two batteries as a reserve for emergencies.

In most countries, they've created charge stations around the cities where you drive around and change your battery with a fully charged one and continue with the journey!

Cars have lots of features that could be totally replaced by something entirely different in both the near and distant future. Some of these features are still lurking around in some vintage cars or in some brand’s cheapest variants. However, some of them are already becoming alien to those who have driven only recent and premium editions of vehicles.

Now, let’s jump right in and take a look at these 11 car features that will become extinct in the near future.

1. Manual window winders

Before the advent of electric/power windows, there were manual window winders. These plastic or sometimes metal fittings were used to take the windows up and down manually. It was stressful and whenever it got damaged, you had to resort to alternative means like using a plier instead. However, these days, most cars now come with electric windows that kids love to play with indiscriminately. Just think about all the time saved pushing down a button instead of manually winding up/down windows globally.

It’s worth noting that there are still a few vehicles post 2010; where you still have to crank the windows up via a small work-out session.

2. Manual gearbox

This is an obvious one as many car brands are dropping the manual transmission (or stick shift as our friends across the Atlantic like to call it) – by the day. Although, they can still be found in basic models or in some high-profile sports cars. Despite the love petrol heads have for manual transmission, they are fast becoming an endangered species. Automatic transmissions have taken over. Some manufacturers claim that their Gear systems such as CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission), DSG (Direct-Shift Gearbox) and a host of others are fuel efficient (which is true) but their durability long-term remains questionable.

3. Cassette/CD player

Back in the mid-90s, during the early- and all through the noughties (2000s) – any car with a CD player was termed a luxury car. Now both cassette (completely obsolete) and CD players have long become “old school” these days. Lately, more and more cars are integrating USB, Bluetooth audio, Android Auto and Apple Car Play into their in-dash infotainment system. USB connection, hard drive storage and smartphones can now be connected to cars instantly to play music and do other stuff. Some manufacturers are already next level in their thinking by building a wireless charging pad into the console so all you need do is place the phone on the pad and your phone charges whilst you drive in peace without having to fiddle with any charging cables. Easy!

4. Side mirrors

Although this feature will likely remain in the distant future; one can’t rule out its extinction. With some manufacturers already thinking of replacing this with side cameras to be viewed in the in-dash screens for better access to the road. They claim it will be fitted with AI abilities to detect movement.

The 2019 Lexus ES was the first production car to come fitted with this feature albeit, newer ES models now come with conventional side mirrors. The digital mirrors however, remains optional.

5. Conventional car keys

The demise of this feature is mostly due to the rise of tech. Gone are the days when people used to flick keys to indicate that they have a car. Now most modern cars use push-to-start buttons to turn on their engines. In some cases, the cars are opened via the remote sensor on the key fob. The fob also acts as an information hub to show the status of the car.

Some manufacturers also use cards and allow the ability to use fingerprint, facial, and other forms of recognition in order to conveniently gain access to the car. Others are operated via apps on smartphones that are linked to the cars alongside the key fobs – which may or may not have a traditional key embedded within. This feature is not yet widespread but it will, eventually. BMW are even thinking along the lines of getting rid of the key fobs entirely and just focusing on owners making use of an app on mobile phones to connect to their cars in future.

6. Hand brake

The reason for the gradual disappearance of this feature can be directly traced to the decline in the production of manual transmission in modern cars. The manual gearbox and the hand brake work together to bring the car to a grinding halt or to prevent it from rolling when parked on an incline. With automatic transmission leading the way these days, the hand brake is now somewhat redundant as an automatic transmission has this feature integrated within.

7. Physical/Analogue gauges

This feature is gradually going away but not yet gone. Automobile manufacturers are making the transition to digital gauges, which offer more versatility and customisability over traditional gauges.

Some manufacturers have taken this a step further and have gone as far as including a large dynamic map screen with dual mode (both gauge and navigation system), making navigation a breeze or a nightmare; depending on whichever camp you’re representing.

8. Dashboard buttons

The advent of touchscreens and voice commands in some cases, have taken away the need for physical buttons and knobs in cars; especially for media, climate control and related functions.

Luxury cars have already started to use these features; a few regular cars too, and in the near future it – will be a common occurrence. A good example of this is Tesla’s infotainment system that uses a fully touch-sensitive screen completely free of buttons and or knobs.
(See the fully touch-operational dashboard of a Benz ECQ model. Or better still visit our website for the "images" version)

9. AM/FM radio

This one is debatable as technically; a greater number of people listen to the radio now due to population expansion, but young people rarely listen anymore because they prefer to get all the latest buzz from social media and with traditional media being less trendy and mostly bureaucratic – you wouldn’t want to bet on radio being as big as it was in its heyday.

With infotainment systems and real time information on board amidst other modern features that have been integrated into the dashboard recently, more and more people now have lots of freedom and options to choose from but more importantly; they want to be completely able to control whatever they consume (most young people are normally on – just pass me di aux abeg – levuulz).

Personally, I’d like to think manufacturers will simply leave this feature and not bother about usage just like our mobile phones that come with a million and one features that we barely ever use or care for even.

10. Steering wheel

This feature will remain with us for a very long time but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t become obsolete at some point in the distant future. The reason the steering wheel will phase out in the future is the advent of autonomous cars. These are cars that can drive themselves and take you from point A to B by just telling it your location, or inputting it into its onboard navigation system and with its advance programming, it will take you there while you do other things or simply just relax.

There’s a good chance in future that a steering wheel may be present for drivers to take over with in the case of an emergency or just for a plain old joy-ride! A manual override control/command of some sort will more than likely exist, which should prompt a retractable steering. Anyone who has seen the movie iRobot will understand this scenario perfectly.

11. Internal Combustion Engines

This is a deep one because of how emissions are spiking on a daily basis and this is one of the major threats to not just us, but basically all life-forms on our dear planet earth. This has made the auto and all other manufacturers alike to go green.

With electric cars popping up everywhere on various roads nowadays, it will most likely cause a decline in the production of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles in the future. Many countries, especially in the EU are now enacting stiffer emission laws and or calling for an end to combustion engines altogether within set timeframes; this in turn may force car manufacturers to turn completely towards alternative means of supplying power which could either be electric, hydrogen, or solar power. Who knows, humankind might eventually discover a new source of unbridled energy in future.

What do you think of the list? Is there any feature you think that’s missing on it?


For a full visually interactive post please visit https://autohub.ng/blog/11-car-features-that-will-become-extinct-in-future/

For a more concise version, please visit any one these links below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwGJBnyoyBr/
https://twitter.com/autohub_nigeria/status/1692827478304194768?s=20

It is illegal to drive over the speed limit as deemed “safe” by way of reasonable regard to traffic conditions. Driving over the speed limit at any rate can be extremely dangerous to the driver, passenger(s), and other road users. Although it may not always be at the top of your mind on a routine outing, it is however, important to always pay attention to your speed on the road. Over-speeding can not only result in crashes, but the driver or responsible party can also face serious legal consequences.

Why is over-speeding dangerous?

Over-speeding not only refers to driving over the posted speed limit, it can also include other behaviours such as driving too fast for road conditions such as in rainy conditions or any other inclement weather, driving carelessly through construction zones, or very bad roads.

The most common dangers caused by over-speeding include but are not limited to the following:

• Increased occurrence of rollover accidents.
• Increased potential for loss of control as a driver.
• Higher severity of the crash, if an accident does occur.
• Reduction in the amount of distance needed to safely stop a vehicle.
• Reduced reaction time.
• Over-speeding can also lead to frequent speeding tickets and increased fines from the authorities.
• Increased wear and tear on your vehicle, and increased fuel costs as well.

Why do drivers over-speed?

Many people over-speed, often for reasons unrelated to aggressive behaviour. Certain reasons that play into why drivers over-speed include traffic congestion, running late, youthful exuberance, as well as simple disregard for the law.

Traffic

Frustration while driving through traffic can increase a driver’s aggressiveness and result in over-speeding. Drivers frustrated by traffic tend to change lanes frequently or express road rage toward other drivers.

Running Late

Running late for work, meetings, school, appointments, or other activities is common and can be a big factor in why drivers over-speed. However, it is better to arrive late and in one piece than early and otherwise. Besides, you are already late; moving around speedily when late in a highly congested city like Lagos for example – with the hope of arriving at your intended destination on time – is akin to planting today and expecting to harvest the very next day! No matter what you do, once you’re late – YOU’RE LATE! Nothing you do matters, and nothing can either salvage or change your situation. And this begs the question – why are you in a hurry to be late?

Disobeying the law

Many drivers over-speed without showing any signs of aggressiveness or road rage. Over-speeding might simply be a result of one’s personal driving style or what’s commonly referred to as “having a heavy foot”, or not wanting to drive according to the law due to one’s own personal agenda and not really the desire to get somewhere quicker.

Accidents Caused By Speeding

In the world, nearly a third of all car crashes are a result of over-speeding. When speeding excessively, the driver has less time to react to other drivers on the road and or road conditions. There are many common accidents related to high speed, which includes:

• Head-on collisions.
• Failing to yield.
• Failure to stop.
• Side collisions.
• Rear-end collisions.
• Intersection crashes.
• Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists.
• High speeds also increase the severity of injury and fatality rates and cause excessive property damage compared to accidents where speed may not have been a factor.

Safety Tips To Avoid Crashes Caused by Speeding

It is easy to mindlessly forget the speed limit, or to become frustrated and aggressive while on the road. To avoid accidents or other dangers caused by over-speeding, please keep the following tips in mind:

Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. It is better to commence your journey or regular commute earlier than later, so you’ll have extra time to get to places. This would undoubtedly reduce your inclination/need to speed.

Be patient; while other drivers on the road may frustrate or even infuriate you, actively focus on keeping your cool so that you and others can arrive at your, and their destinations safely.

Legal Consequences of Over-speeding

The consequences of over-speeding vary widely depending on the circumstance. He or she may incur fines by way of receiving speeding ticket(s) or could even lead to one’s licence being revoked especially in first-world countries where there’s more of an in-depth speed-monitoring of the general public via the use technology.

In some cases, you may be asked to attend mandatory Psychological Evaluation to ascertain the reason as to why you were over-speeding (just pray make Road-Safety no ever do you strong tin I swear).

As discussed, please always bear in mind that it is better to arrive late than never. Do drive carefully and safely. Thanks for reading.

https://autohub.ng/blog/the-dangers-and-consequences-of-over-speeding-while-driving/

If you’re thinking of buying a car in Nigeria, whether foreign or Nigerian used; you need to be careful not to make any of the mistakes listed in this article.


1. Buying in a haste
Buying a car is totally different from buying toy cars at a shopping mall’s toy section where kids spot the toy of their choice, point a finger and it’s theirs in a minute or under. And as we all know; the kid might even end up damaging the toy before the next day.

Now, we are talking about buying a real car with your hard-earned money. So don’t rush, take your time, compare prices and do all the necessary checks before making the purchase.

2. Thinking the cheapest car is the always the best deal
Awoof has purged many car buyers on several occasions. I always tell people “the cheapest car is not necessarily the best deal”. It is a bad idea to save ₦500,000 only to buy a car that has just been rebuilt from a terrible accident with deployed airbags and damaged suspensions not properly repaired. The sad news is some people buy these cars only to end up spending a lot more on further or recurring repairs. Worst still, they could end up being involved in ghastly motor accidents. Some others end up in jail for buying ridiculously cheap cars which happened to be stolen vehicles.

We all know there’s always a strong urge to maximise profit(s) by any means necessary, but we should more often than not, try our possible best to resist said urge as it will serve us well in the long run. As the adage goes – “Penny wise, Pound foolish.”

3. Falling in love with the clean exterior of the car alone
Many of us are guilty of this. We buy a car because it has a clean exterior and beautiful aesthetics (maybe from a slick paint job and or customised bumpers/grills/wheels/side sills/spoilers etc.). I fell victim to this when I bought my first car and it started dealing with me severely after 6 months. A friend of mine bought a Toyota SUV in Lagos but by the time he got to Uyo with the car, he realised he had bought a vehicle with a faulty engine and said engine of the SUV broke down completely within the first 3 months. To add salt to injury, Nigerian Customs seized the SUV immediately after he eventually changed the engine. Wahala Wahala Wahala...

4. Showing desperation to the seller
If you show that you are desperately in love or in need of a car to a seller, then you may have just signed a “one chance” certificate. The next thing they will tell you is, someone else is coming to pay for the car this evening. So, you won’t have a choice but to pay hurriedly. You may end up paying more for the car and you may not have sufficient time to carry out a thorough inspection of the vehicle.

5. Not doing proper checks
Proper checks include test driving, VIN check, diagnostic scan, verifying customs and vehicle papers, etc. Endeavour you thoroughly inspect any- and every- aspect of the vehicle to save yourself from future headaches. “A stich in time, saves nine” as they say.

6. Wanting only the most recent version
Most buyers, more often than not - want the more recent version of a particular model/brand.

Take for example the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla 2005/2006 model (irrefutable as at the time of citing this example), the last version of that model - 2008, has the same design and most of the features from the earliest version – 2003, but the preference is much higher for the former despite costing more. So, if you are particular about saving cost, you may be better off with the 2003 model instead of buying a refurbished 2008 model.

The difference in both cars may not be commensurate to the difference in pricing and this also applies to many other brands and models alike.

7. Buying a particular car because someone else is driving it
Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. I have seen people make the mistake of buying cars because they’ve seen a few people driving it or their neighbour has one. So, they just conclude that for that person to be able to maintain it, they too can also maintain it. On the contrary, you don’t know if that person you are admiring is suffering (going through Premium Shegé – Pro Max) and smiling with that car. You also don’t know his/her financial capacity and source(s) of income. So please always take your car research beyond the fact that someone else is able to maintain a car because you might not know exactly what he/she is actually going through as stated.

8. I want my car to be one in town
There is nothing as satisfying as driving a one in town car with your car being so unique that it turns heads wherever you go. However, don’t forget our common saying - “one in town car, one in town problem”. Therefore, you should tread with caution.

You need to research a reliable site/car repair centre and availability of parts. You also need a sure contact that can help you get the parts abroad when needed, as well as a Bureau De Change guy that will be giving you good dollar exchange rate. Albeit there is a way to play safe with using a unique car; what some people do is, they buy a regular car like a Toyota Camry or a Benz E-Class then they modify (love-vendor) it by changing some components such as the lights, bumpers, grills etc. However, you have to do this with care so as to not overdo it and eventually mess the car up, making it look somewhat ugly.

9. Using all your last kobo to buy a car
This problem speaks for itself. Always remember, the car will need some care after purchase especially if it is Nigerian used as you’re most likely going to be using up money for whatever procedure that may arise. I am sure you’ve seen people who buy a car and start to ask around for money to do basic things after only a couple of weeks. Some buyers may even start depending on other people for food to eat and declare bankruptcy after they get the first repair bill from their mechanic.

Do tell us. Have you experienced any of the aforementioned in the past, or present?

https://autohub.ng/blog/%ef%bb%bf9-mistakes-car-buyers-in-nigeria-usually-make/

6. Toyota RAV4

This entry has always had a special place in the hearts of many Nigerians. Touted as a fun-to-drive offroad vehicle during its unveiling in 1994, it became an instant hit and the numbers have remained decent over the years as with all products Toyota; they have a Midas touch there, undoubtedly!

Handling was nimble and always felt car-like, along with its compact size – made it quite popular here especially amongst women. Then you factor in the reliability that comes with the Toyota badge and you’ve got yourself a mini monster. Even the older models are still on our roadways, and are more than capable when it comes to doing long distance journeys.

The RAV4 which stands for “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive” – single-handedly paved the way for compact and sub-compact SUV category which is widely accessible today but believe me, this wasn’t the case in the 90s. We’ve come a long way in how our demands when it comes to vehicles have altered over the last two decades, and I’m eagerly looking forward to what’ll happen in the next two with all the innumerable automobile changes taking place currently, and those yet to come.


7. Mercedes C-Class/E-Class

The double-barrel that is both models figuratively shot at Nigerians from the get-go! The way I see it; it is reasonably a continuity of the love story between us and the 80s/90s models which were, the 230 E regularly referred to as flat boot, and the subsequent generation 300 E widely referred to as V-boot. You could also lump in the 190 E there as well – affectionately called baby Benz due to its compact nature, a gross deviation from the other models that Mercedes churned out almost effortlessly at the time. Today on our road-ways – we do not have those Benzes anymore, but their prestige and great spirits continue to live on… I am grateful for my time because of the ability to witness the transition and or birth of certain technologies which is why you have to give massive respect to Mercedes Benz who have always been the pioneer – leading the way.

There’s a long list of those achievements and the implementation of said innovation which can still be found in today’s models on our road ways and this easily makes them go-to brand when it comes to luxury and comfort – with the more popular models being the C-class C 300/350 between 2008 and 2012 specifically, and then the E-class E 350 within the same time period. Coincidentally, both models happen to be the third-generation (yes, the third time is a charm *winks) and have been proven to be reliable; plus the ability to brave our unfriendly terrain which is why there’s a growing patronage towards the more ‘’beefed-up” ML-class SUVs (the ML 350 is mentioned towards the latter part of this article), and this is profoundly understandable because who wouldn’t want the high performance of a sports car fused remarkably with the extra insurance of a pick-up truck’s reliability, not to mention the comfort and luxury that these vehicles come pumped with!

All in all, even the Benz non-admirers have a deep respect for the allure of the three-pointed-star. Hopefully, they’ll still find a way to distinguish themselves amongst other manufacturers in the incoming era of electric vehicles nonetheless.


8. Toyota Highlander

Already mentioned that this list was not necessarily in any particular order because a lot of folks reading might have some grouse as to why the famously first-rate Highlander is coming in at number 8. Abeg no vex O! (both hands in the air).

Taking inspiration from the market and its other SUV models, Toyota went all in – making the Highlander one of the few vehicles with exceptional first-generation entry models. Oh, they’re very well made. From aesthetics to functionality, everything’s just so well put. And for the umpteenth time the word reliability has come up again! The Highlander is undoubtedly one of the most reliable vehicles ever manufactured and this isn’t just from a Toyota-badged-vehicle point of view.

Also, the few models that came with 3-row seating added even more practicality to an already outstanding set-up which meant you didn’t have to go the route of “full-size SUV” to get what the Highlander a mid-size SUV offered. There were also hybrid models on offer from the very first generation. And having sang tediously all through this article about the numerous advantages of high-ground-clearance vehicles such as SUVs and pick-up trucks especially on our challenging roads, I don’t think there’s any need to reiterate and harp on it once more, here.

Maybe it’s the difficult economy lately that has been forcing our hands to choose older models or maybe it’s just nostalgia, but whatever it is; the first- and second-generation Highlander (2005 and 2011) models will forever reign supreme in our hearts and minds.


9. Toyota Venza/Matrix

Yet another Toyota entry! Just like I’ve been hammering on throughout this article – they have completely dominated the market, especially in the foreign and Nigerian used segments. These two are clumped together but not necessarily like the C- and the E- Class. However, they are indeed popular, and I didn’t want to place them individually.

Again, we’re back to this word – reliability. Toyota undoubtedly is the leader here, plus; it may interest you to know that we are sort of back to number 1 and 2 on this list considering the Matrix is a whittled-down Corolla, and the Venza – a beefed-up Camry, which is quite humorously ironical, as further down the list we’re back to basically the same set of cars! Well, you can’t really blame Toyota; why change a winning formular? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” – like our American friends would say.

Both vehicles spot similar engines as the aforementioned but the “body type” is where the difference lies. As you know, a Venza sits higher than a Camry and ideally can fit in more stuff as well. However, in the case of a Corolla – albeit having its own branded “Corolla” hatchback, the Matrix is still technically a Corolla. Afterall, during its inception, Toyota marketed it as the all new “Toyota Corolla Matrix”. Also, technically one feature also separates the first two versions from the last two and that’s – AWD (All Wheel Drive). Both the Venza and the Matrix had AWD offered on some variants whilst the Camry and Corolla didn’t.

To reiterate, both models offer the same level of reliability and efficiency as the top Toyota brands. They also promise fantastically exceptional resale value as well maintained Nigerian used versions could probably fetch you just about the same amount (or more in some cases) with which you got it for when you factor in inflation – 3, 4, or 5 years down the line even. You almost don’t miss with Toyota!


10. Mercedes ML Class

The ML 350 has already been spoken about; basically being a sports car that sits higher but then again – the same could be said for most SUVs as that is its major appeal as stated previously. However, carrying a Mercedes Benz badge means that there’s certainly the presence of a higher level of comfort, performance and refinement unlike many others.

What’s interesting is despite the fact that the ML 350 comes nicely spec’d up, Mercedes unrelentingly went ahead to manufacture a couple more powerful variants – the ML 500/550 and the ML 63 AMG, all heavy-hitting V8s! The more common ML 350s in Nigeria are second and third generation models and you can easily sight them on our roadways as they are just about the most popular SUV originating from Germany albeit in high-brow areas around Lagos and Abuja, you’re more likely to spot G-Wagon.


Bonus Entries

There are of course a few cars that didn’t make the list but these four namely; Lexus ES Class, Mercedes Benz GLK Class, Toyota Hiace and Hilux, all deserve a special mention due to their commonality.

Lexus ES 350

The Lexus ES model, be it the ES 330 or 350 variants over the years are Camry adjacent. It’s actually clever marketing from Toyota (who owns Lexus as we already established in the earlier section about the Lexus RX 350); bridging the gap between, and tapping into the potent market that is buyers who want a bit of luxury, yet – the reliability of Toyota. And there are several awards won by the fifth generation (2009 -2012) after it debuted in North America to prove that brilliant move.

Back home in Nigeria, there was also a surge in demand for these vehicles as well (albeit mostly used), and they still run smoothly as ever on our roads today; there isn’t any evidence to the contrary suggesting that that trend wouldn’t continue well into the future.

Mercedes Benz GLK Class

Prior to Mercedes’ entrant – the GLK Class into the compact luxury crossover SUV segment, no other manufacturer really distinguished themselves in that category as some models either sat in-between compact and mid-size SUVs, or were outrightly “compact” but did not offer luxury. No mistakes were made, the intention was clearly outlined and that reflected profoundly in the segment the GLK 350 managed to enthral. You can easily come across one as they are quite affordable when compared with other models from Mercedes.

Toyota Hiace and Hilux

Toyota Hiace and Hilux are the go-to for both private and government parastatals, especially in various divisions of our Armed Forces in the case of the latter. And then the Hiace is a preferred choice for inter-state shuttles (alongside the Sienna as mentioned above) for transporters across the nation. Although it is rare to see either vehicle being privately owned, it isn’t uncommon to encounter them during your commute around town or on a long-distance trip. Again, reliability comes up once more as they are Toyota badged vehicles – you really can’t expect anything less. These vehicles will easily do kilometre upon kilometre, year after year, besting various inhibiting factors such as; our difficult terrain, poor fuel quality, and below par maintenance.


You just can’t help but draw forth deference, ineluctably. And as we say in our local parlance – “Twale for who sabi!”. We just have to give props to Toyota because truly truly, dem sabi nor be small…

Hopefully, this was an enjoyable read for you. Thanks for reading, and see you on the next one.

For a more visually stimulating post, please visit: https://autohub.ng/blog/10-most-common-cars-in-nigeria/

Cars have become an important part of our daily lives all over the world and especially here in Nigeria where alternative means of transportation aren’t as readily available. And without any shred of doubt, we would cease to function optimally as the apex species if it weren’t for these machines aiding our intended tasks.

It is easily noticeable that most of the cars enumerated are from the ubiquitous brand from Japan – Toyota; founded in 1937 by the great Kiichiro Toyoda. An automotive behemoth these days considering the sheer number of cars being produced and sold by them globally. It really is nothing short of astonishing what they’ve managed to achieve in the last 50 odd years.

Please note that this list is by no means an exhaustive one and apart from the first two, the order might not be entirely accurate. Now with that out of the way, let’s dive right in!


1. Toyota Corolla

As mentioned, Toyota enjoys a large market-share all around the world but it’s also interesting how they’ve also got a strong foothold in the second/third hand (used) market as well. A testament to the durability of their cars and how well they hold their value, even well after a decade.

No other car expresses this fact more than the Toyota Corolla. This model (with the Camry) is simply just a cash cow for the company. It is utterly incredible how there’s still massive demand, and not just for the recent models but also those of the yesteryears as well.

One thing that seriously fuelled all that was the rise of ride-sharing apps which had their drivers mostly trotting around in Corolla models. These cars were flogged on our roads frequently but hardly ever broke down, they just kept on going; kilometre after kilometre yet – only consuming a fraction of the petrol other cars would make use of when travelling or regularly commuting similar distances. Companies also purchased this model en masse as it was the go-to model for fleet set-up due to its numerous selling points and some companies still do, to this very day (factual as at the time of writing this piece). Speaking of selling points, it is widely believed its nigh ultimate fuel efficiency was probably its biggest as a full tank would suffice commuting for a week, with a little left over for the weekend before refilling on a Monday. Also, if these cars were to drive through a flood; they rarely ever had any issues afterwards, coming out unscathed time and time again, season after season. It’s no wonder there’s a plethora of units on our roads across the entire country. Honestly, its ubiquity is reminiscent of the how the Peugeot 504 was back in its heyday.


2. Toyota Camry

Another juggernaut when it comes to sales for Toyota. The Camry has often posted good numbers over the years due its reliability and longevity – just like the Corolla (well, most Toyotas have similar engines so no surprises there), and it’s a model that is just as ubiquitous as the Corolla. If you went out right now; in almost every place in Nigeria, there’s a very high probability that for every 20 cars that pass – at least 2 to 5 of them would be a Camry.

And just like the Corolla, the Camry is another model that’s quite popular within the ride-sharing community. Breakdowns are few as mentioned, maintenance is relatively cheap, fuel consumption (especially on the inline-4-cylinder engines) is fantastic, so what more could you want‽

Also, the 6-cylinder models come with almost the same level of reliability but pack a better punch, coming in with more power than the base models and are ideal for long distance journeys. Still on this category, it is worth noting that in the more recent models there’s a noticeable trend – the shift from “commuter” to “luxury”, I mean if you gaze upon some of them, you start to question yourself and doubt your own eyes because how can you tell me that this sexy car (Special edition 2021 TRD model) with this exquisite interior and slightly high-performance engine is also a Camry‽


3. Toyota Sienna

There’s a small back story here and I’ll digress a little bit, like I keep telling my good friend – inspiration oftentimes comes from the unlikeliest of places. So, a couple of years ago I read a book titled “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries, it’s about entrepreneurship which I highly recommend by the way regardless of whether you’re towing the line to be an entrepreneur or not; and within its pages was a story about the famous Sienna model – the 2004/2005 to 2009/2010.

During its redesign after the also successful 1997/1998 to 2002/2003 models were going out of production, the manager in charge at the time who was to oversee the entire production phase from concept, to design, to completion, Yuji Yokoya – had very little experience in North America which was the primary target (Soccer Moms) and sort of the major market as at then. He proposed an audacious trip spanning over 53,000 miles (84,800 kilometres – for those of us on the side of the Atlantic *winks) across the 50 US states, the 13 Provinces and Territories of Canada, and every state in Mexico – renting and driving the current model of Sienna across small towns and large cities, also getting first-hand feedback from people as he went by.

He discovered that though the parents and grand-parents may own the minivan (“People-carrier” to us again), it was the kids who stayed in the rear two-thirds and were most appreciative of their environment. Yuji then went on to expend a sizeable chunk of the production budget on a lot of comfort and accessibility features which made long-distance roads trips (as they are usually called) somewhat pleasurable, such trips were more common in America than in his native Japan.

Not only that, upon further research I discovered he made several adjustments with what he learnt whilst traversing across the vast North American landscape such as All-Wheel Drive (AWD) which came standard across several Sienna trims because during a family vacation, you could encounter some mountainous terrain and to get to the summit for sights to behold and the best “Vacay Pictures” – AWD did the job best. He reduced wind resistance after his Sienna was blown into another lane whilst crossing the Mississippi from Tennessee to Arkansas by narrowing the gaps between the panels and adding plastic shields under the wheel wells (the space above the tyres) to redirect air. Thickened the bumpers so that they won’t dent in 5 mph (8 km/hr) crashes, which was double the government standard at the time. Stiffened the undercarriage reducing scraping and added sound-dampening material to the frame underneath and above, drastically bringing down road noises. Parallel parking was an arduous chore, so he ensured a reduction in the turning circle by 3 feet. Improved the navigation system, reshaped the windshield, redesigned the wipers. The glare from the sun was a little too much in some instances, so he added sun protection in the rear – just to mention a few…

And what was the outcome of all these improvements you might ask – well, the results were impressive. Sienna’s market share boosted dramatically! The 2004 model sales were a whopping 60% higher than the previous model. Further consolidating Toyota’s claim as the quintessential minivan manufacturer in North America. Us Nigerians also benefitted from all that research as the Sienna’s appeal heightened greatly which is why it is easily the go-to shuttle for transporters offering inter-state journey services and it’s usually more pleasurable than not – as you’re hardly ever enfeebled after undergoing a trip. Honestly, the Sienna was always revered especially when you watch how they load them up with humans, luggage, and other items alike – then going up and down the country successfully with barely any hitch despite encountering challenging roads, but learning about how Yuji Yokoya painstakingly travelled across North America, and the implementation of new and improved features only deepened my respect for the Sienna; I haven’t looked at that particular model the same again ever since.


4. Honda Accord

It’s no news that the Honda Accord makes it atop this list as this model has been popular since the 80’s especially in the northern part of Nigeria. Albeit it gained notoriety for having recurring front axle shaft problems especially in its 2003 to 2008 models, the appeal hasn’t been dampened regardless – as these models offer far too much to be bothered about that. And said problem was properly tackled in the next iterations after; that is from the 2009 model upwards.

Speaking of what it offers, the Accord is well known for having a reliable engine, decent cooling, spacious cabin, relatively cheap maintenance, respectable fuel economy, and the handling is quite nimble – with its power steering system which comes standard, even on older models like on the 1992 version.

This wouldn’t be a “proper Honda Accord article” if there isn’t any mention of the nicknames being given to the different models over the years:


1992 – Hala

1995 – Bulldog (Japan, North America, and Asia-Pacific)

1995 – Bullet (European-spec)

1999 – Baby Boy

2003 – End of Discussion

2007 – Discussion Continues

2010 – Evil Spirit

And just like the Camry, there’s also a serious push for luxury here as well -judging by the recent Accord models.

These are the last two generations (2019 and 2023), and the coterminous theme is clearly evident. The average person wouldn’t even realise the Accord is supposed to be a commuter model but as the saying goes “The only constant in life is change.”, perhaps we should expect bigger changes in future as long this trajectory is maintained.


5. Lexus RX 350

The appeal for this vehicle grew proportionally, as with a few other SUVs (or “Jeeps” as they are colloquially expressed) that are now in demand – out of the need for high ground clearance firstly, then engine reliability secondly, and thirdly – decent fuel consumption. The RX 350 just so happens to tick all those boxes and more seeing is how Lexus is the luxurious version of Toyota, so you get all the reliability associated with Toyota but this time around – some (yes some, it’s not biased – German is German, full stop) of the luxury and refinement usually associated with European brands; especially those originating from Germany.

You can almost liken Toyota Corporation’s cornering of the entry-level luxury market through Lexus to that of FaceBook, now Meta – in the social media space. These cars offered almost everything their European counterparts offered but came in at a lesser price, and if there was any category of vehicles that started gaining market share – you can always trust Toyota to aggressively throw in a couple of models whether under its main “Toyota” flagship brand, or via others such as Lexus or its other lesser-known subsidiaries.

Now let’s touch on the need for high ground clearance for a bit. For some time now we’ve been battling bad roads or having to wade through risen levels of murky water after it rains across the country. This is when and where most SUVs shine as opposed to smaller vehicles. There’s just that soothing feeling knowing you have extra layers of insurance when you’re driving one and it rains because more often than not – you’ll most likely conquer and come out the other side victoriously… You might have noticed that this paragraph isn’t restricted to just the RX 350 or the RX 330/300 – its predecessor alone, but is more of an ode to SUVs in general, especially on our “special” roads.

Another factor that raised its appeal greatly is how well it holds its value. You’ll always revel in the fact that if you purchase an RX 350; even when it’s an older model, you’ll ultimately sell for a good amount down the line, more so when you’ve maintained it well.