Trust me; odds are, that 'thing' is probably faster than any car you've driven. Not that I'd sit in it though

273km is very possible with one litre in the tank.... Push car for 263km, use engine for 10km. Genius!!

CityNG:


Any death trap rust bucket will be seized and crushed.

The owner will also get a nice hefty bill for making the government do all that.

Let's see how many rust buckets will be on the road in a month.

You do notice that will include a whooole lotta public transport- the Danfos etc etc

FlyboyZee:

I watch Xhbit's P1mp my Ride like every other day on MTV and I made bold to say that rickety and rusty death trap cars are not limited to Nigeria alone. If they could be found in the almighty, great, never-do-wrong, all-is-working-well, fantastic US of A, why won't they be found in Nigeria. Besides, that not even my point. Is it because the man in your example couldn't afford to upgrade his car, the others shouldn't buy new cars? I have dealt with this issue in the past on NL here and I still hold on to my stand that we have to change certain policies to move on as a nation. Even in the US, there is restriction on the importation of certain goods in order to encourage local production.

As you rightly said in your post, if the imported cars become so exorbitant in price and we are yet to start producing locally, I bet you our craftsmanship would improve. Even right now, many educated people are moving into car maintenance/repairs in Nigeria and trying hard to keep up with advanced/advancing technology. We have so many here on NL. I keep reiterating it that, in our bid to move on or advance, we've got to change and this involves some adjustments and sacrifices.

We can't continue being a second hand country, while aspiring to break into the ranks of the BRIC nations. No way, that's never ever gonna be possible.

FlyboyZee:

Hey! Mind you that even people who could buy/own certain cars in the most advanced countries take public transport. Its not a must to own a car. Always live within your means and stop trying to force yourself to levels you ain't attain yet. That's the best way to keep off driving a rust bucket...

Let me be quick to say that the policy in itself is not a bad one-to achieve an industrial status some of these must be done. South Africa did it and I gotta say its a hell of a hard time finding an import there. However, my beef here is how developed the automotive industry in Nigeria is. You gotta admit, the industry is a bit-immature. The Nigerian auto manufacturing industry has a second hand market of almost.....nil. To kill the import second hand market without allowing your own to grow will be basically a stab in the foot. As at the time of the implementation of South Africa's policy they had a large local manufacturing market so the change did not affect them much.

But in Nigeria? This is not the case. Stuck between a rock and a hard place; people will definitely hold on to their cars much, much longer, the definition of a totaled car will be stretched beyond its already exaggerated definition in Naija. Look at what happened to Cuba when the US put an embargo on imports there.

Oh and another thing. Not everyone can take public transport. Since you used the 'developed' transport system in the US, I'd use that. I used to live in the suburbs and the system just did not extend there. Considering the city centre where I worked was a whooping 45 minutes drive from where I live you'd quickly understand why a car was more or less essential. I bet such situations exist in Nigeria- imagine how you'd manage without a car.

Bottom line. Good policy. Bad timing.

mayor2013:
@ OP. Do you know that the shelf life for a conventional battery is 4months after this it should be subjected to electrical charge. Nigerians are not aware of this. Now let me explain it. Your altenator cannot give your battery the optimum charge it requires. Basically because you have a voltage regulator inside your alternator which helps to regulate e.m.f . Its just advisable you subject a conventional type of battery to a more powerful charging system every 4 months so as to last more. If you need a battery that can last you for 20 years it is available but won't come cheap. Its called a "GEL" type battery. I would recommend the one made from BOSCH

I must admit ...i never knew...is there a way i can charge my battery at home or must i take it to those 'charging ports' in town?

Another thing: Are gel batteries available in Nigeria? They seem too good to be true!!

cocoduck:
do not assume, test
first use logic to solve the problem
first test the battery voltage use a DVOM If u have a battery load tester use it to test the battery general condition then note the voltage an a peice of paper quick reminder
then search online the average amp draw of a car stereo if possible get the amp draw of your car radio then use your DVOM to test the radio amp draw if it is higher than normal then buy another radio. uf it is normal then perform a starter motor voltage drop test the video guides are all over youtube
Don't guess just TEST

Thanks alot! my battery presently reads around 12 v. How do i check the amp draw of my radio?

I'd like to take this from a different perspective. Its all good and fine Nigeria wants to encourage its local car industry. But then as a non-nigerian observer, I see some aspects that may turn this well-intentioned plan into a nightmare.

Lets say this levy is put on every single car coming in. Import car prices will jerk up, especially the used cars. Last time i checked, new cars also aren't particularly cheap to get- odds are that a well made new sedan has an msrp of well over 2 million naira.

So imagine..joe everyday man who could have upgraded his 1991 405 to a 2009 camry finds its price out of reach. Buying a 2015 naija made model is just as impossible- even the stripped down ones. Joe's only option is to hold on to his old 405.....even after it becomes a rusty deathtrap. Heck- he'll even fix it up when it gets run over by a caterpillar D9.!

So what you'll get are a whole lot more rickety deathtraps puttering along the road....that will. definitely be linked to alot of unnecesssary deaths....Survivors wont have it easy either...they will live with a cocktail of repiratory diseases.!..

But hey, more folks might just walk....win!!

Hmmm...cant tell if the 39m csada is coming or going...chai!

themodernman:


I wanna believe Buhari will CHANGE/scrap the Policy implementation joor!

P.S: thats d main reason I voted him*whispers*

DelTel:
U need a replacement battery.

98% of automotive batteries (and other car components) imported into Nigeria are sub-standard.

You even lucky the battery lasted over 12months!

Im in Ghana but come to think of it...did thay oyibo guy rip me off?

GAZZUZZ:
Get a new battery sir.

****hands on head***
Daris Godoooo!!

DGD1:
if you bought the battery brand new in Nigeria at about 11-13k, bro u are using extra-life on the battery. don't b deceived by the green indicator.
After careful examination, I discover diz batteries last a little over a year.
BT batteries from abroad lasts years.
since its auto, go buy another battery bro, so u won't b embarrassed by d car.

I'm not in Nigeria- i'm actually in Ghana: I bought the battery from Bosch's official outlet here- sealed in both cardboard and that horrible packing foam. Ridiculously expensive but recommended quite as much. Does the temparature kinda affect battery life here? Or did that oyibo guy rip me off?

I forgot to add, this same problem came up almost a month ago but then on examination, I noticed the negative terminal was so frayed that only 2 or 3 filaments from the principal wire actually touched the terminal. I changed that terminal and the problem disappeared- or so i thought. I noticed the car couldnt start when i wanted to put it in the garage this morning.

Hello there! I drive a 2003 ford focus wagon. with an automatic tranny. Its been quite wahala free until recently. After leaving my radio on for say 20 minutes with the car off- it later cannot start. Instead you'll hear a continous clicking sound most likely from the starter. However when i hotwire it starts up with no issues and runs good- right until i leave the radio on again.

The battery: a Bosch is hardly a year and a half old and the indicator on it is still green. Car throws no codes and the charging system light goes off with the other idiot lights on starting. She has never died on the road before.

So guys ( and gals! ) dis be my small wahala. Please Help!!

themodernman:


Duties blowing up due to d dollar OR d proposed automotive policy implementation?

More from the latter.

themodernman:


I will answer your questions one by one:

1. Yes I need a car badly.

2. I will be using it a lot, infact I need a V6 as I'll be doing interstate travelling.

3. Accommodation is not an issue.

4. I'm not in a hurry to buy a land as I do my things slow & steady with long lasting quality instead of cheap-cheap things that I'll av to manage-manage, hence I'll

like to get a CPO (certified pre owned).

So what do you say with dse answers?

2 million should be sufficient enough to get you a great pre used car,thats if import duties in Naija have not blown up yet. Keeping such a car should also fall within your paycheck; but then that depends on para meters such as the brand you are interested in.

I'm glad you are not penny wise, pound foolish though.

I guess that will kinda depend on factors mostly determined by you. Do you need a car? How often will you use it? Is accommodation an issue for you? You may have to answer these questions to make an informed decision.

I would have advised you go for a certified preused car that could last you years over a cheap naija used car that may blow up the second you buy it- but then the issues of accomodation/land comes up.

In short, your parameters are not sufficient enough to make an informed decision.

DGD1:


kazeem is that mechanic that claims to know more than the car manufacturer, and talks authoritatively in his folly.

Best kazeem definition.
Ever.

lomomike:


This mirai's thorough interior and exterior wash, clean dry, wax and polish is the absolute best punishment for evil doers.

Chai!! We dun want to kill dem na!

Raymie:
The Toyota Mirai

If there is any car solely designed to induce convulsions or more kindly vomitting, this 2015 Mirai has to take the cake. Powered by hydrogen, this car is definitely designed to punish those running from the costs of petrol under the pretence of going green. If you think the exterior is awful, the interior is simply..... like a confused spaceship.

Child molesters can be punished by driving this car on a dusty rural road with the windows down and then thoroughly cleaning its interior

A 2002!!

Those mandated bumpers kinda spoil the look though.

but still....

0rex:
Wow... That's serious. Thank God your tyres didn't blow out on you.

Yes, really serious. One of the tires warped so bad it actually split open on. the road, revealing the metallic mesh......I didnt notice till i washed my car the next day. I replaced it with my spare, which had been also inflated by the same vulcanizer.

The rest is history .

edozie04:
Thanks again you rock, went to the vulcanizer today and I did tire rotation, the back ones went to the front and the front to the back then I test drive it, it did not shake nor even vibrate, went as high as 120km nothing nothing, that means that I will have to change the two front ones because they are my weaker tires . Thanks again brothers if you people stay in lagos will love to share a drink with you people

Glad to help a fellow nairalander! Unfortunately I'm in Ghana but then knowing your car is back to its old self is reward enough for me. Good luck with your ride!

CityNG:
Just to close out the thread.

Tessie was adopted by a fellow car nut who just had to save her from my evil and unwashed thoughts

For anyone curious, she sold for $5,000 = N1,200,000

Hmmm...evil and unwashed? Can:t quite remember but i'm quite positive you're the guy with a couple of restored mercs under your belt. A real pity we won't get to see what she turns into though. Any pics before she left?

Has a vulcanizer pumped your tires lately? I had a similiar situation with my Ford where a stopped by a local vulcanizer to pump my aging tires. I then had my car vibrating like mad around 70kmph.

It was when I finally bit the bullet to change my tires that the tire techician told me my vulcanizer had pumped my rubbers to a whooping 50 psi + instead of 32psi as advertised. The vibration disappeared after that.

Mmmmmmmm....taurus SHO. ...

chuka5000:






That car sold like mad in spain and some other European countries. Dont judge with naija market pls.

I never said it sold badly. I'm not even in Nigeria! For instance, in the US several folks consider the design of the Prius to be a bit--obnoxious or daresay homely but then its sells pretty well there. Cars are not sold on looks alone, else we'd all be driving Mercedes, Beamers and Audis!

emperorizzy:
wow, it's really to be feared, just read the article. Funny enough, the Aztec owners I see feel proud and rich, omg, their poison, our meat.

Thought i was the only one to notice that. This side of the world, everyone loves a car with some ground clearance- a "jeep"

Lets hope the truck driver is insured! Anyways, i think that's a corolla though

***spreads mat***

remember to take pics of any 15 suburban/yukon/escalade you come accross!

emperorizzy:
#1 this car should've been used in Ninja turtles, ionno but they have something in common. Eyes close to the WINDSCREEN.
#2 I don't think it's that bad, but the eyes are awful, and the body work, ewww, seeing it on ground is much worse
#3 suv or sedan? automobile designer you had just one job, and this was the best you could come up with.
#4 I'll always say this, "bringing lights too close to the windscreen is not wisdom". But I can drive one of this anyways
#5 I don't think it should be on the list. If it came out before datsun I'm sure my yoruba peeps would have immortalised it
#6 They should've added wings so we'll know it's a space shuttle. I know you guys wanted a crazy car, but we didn't ask for a car that's villain-themed. Don't mind them, I still love you
#7 add a cage on top and this car will pass as a safari truck. I don't think it's ugly, it's just it's era, look at vw golf cars across the street, savvy?
#8 Arrrrgh! This picture is hurting my eyes. This enters my top 3 ugliest from the 10
#9 yugo first, no you go first, they all scared to enter that live snake. $3000+? Hahahahaha, it ain't ugly, it's a 70's car I guess
#10 Pontiac Aztec hmm, personally I like the car. I don't think it's ugly, it's unique, I guess this is a cross over.

Nice one there. The yugo was actually made from 1985or so to 2008....so it was ugleee for its time- both in form and at heart ...read this article posted by lomomike and fear the Yugo, fear it! www.nairaland.com/2213794/5-worst-selling-cars-all-time

Victoriousvic:

That stuff was actually a real car?

Hehehe...sure is! You know of that term 'hit by the ugly stick?' I think the stick was made from a Reliants fender .

Anyways, u gotta check out former Top Gear host, Jeremy Clarkson's review on this car...so funny.