I have followed this thread right from the outset. I have read the intrigues, politickings, complications, contrivance and if you you like, the trickery nature of some people here. First, I admire the confidence & sincerity of some some car dealers who boldly condemned inspired autos action albeit the effect of his action to the pre-order business style, while some other prominent car dealers have been neutral & spoke with extreme caution. It leaves an impression that they might even do the worse if they are in inspired autos shoes. That also leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

That has strongly reinforced my stance that pre-order is not the best approach to vehicle acquisition & ownership. I have owned 8-9 different cars in the last 10 years or so but have never had any problem issue with them. I have also bought these cars car stands or order them myself. This suffice it to say that paying for what you can see is always the way to go. Giving out funds to someone based on what you read online will be overflogging the issue. Some have also justified pre-order as the best route in getting good cars equipped with state of the art technology other than base models; this is a debate for another day.

Again, people are free to express their opinion on issues but in doing that, rationality, wisdom, circumspection and judgement as to their actions should guide them when expressing such views. Such views help us make all manner of conjecture about them & classify, size up and place them in accordance with such opinions.

For the op to have fully paid for a vehicle over 5 months ago yet inspired autos has failed in all aspects of the agreement and still has the moral justification & guts to decline calls and avoid any form of communication with her while holding onto her money & the car shows how bad Nigeria as a nation has degenerated. It's even terribly bottoms-out that some have come in his defence. Big shame.

@naijadeyhia, be mindful of the fact that you are not helping those people that are generating incoherent questions & logic of your assistance to the op aimed at recovering her money. Personally, I don't respond to every jibe thrown at me provided I'm on the right course. But then and again, different strokes for different folks. You rightly pointed out that one of them is below 20 years of age yet you have gone ahead to respond to his jibes. I think you should be a lot more mature than that. You were not forced to render help; it came from a wilful desire to assist & ensure justice. I also believe that those who want help will do so offline.

Remember, written discussions are bookmarked and kept for future reference. those who support evil will definitely reap it at some point.

AutoG:


Hello Sir, it has a V6 engine

You don't seem to understand the question...No doubt it's a V6 engine but the tailgate light is that of 2010 model but your advert says 2008. There's a discrepancy here.

chukel:
strut mounts? stabilizer bar bushing?

I have changed stabiliser bar bushing but will also look at the strut mount on the driver's front wheel.
Thanks a bunch.

sharpsharp:

Thanks a lot for your response.
Discussed this issue with an auto electrician and also a mech. They advised it's okay that way because of our weather, to me it's how far they understand these modern cars, checked earlier for any other wiring issues no visible broken wire. Next step to check is to see if the thermostat is still in this ride.

most likely you thermostat has been removed or stuck open/close. Check that as well. It will require you to buy more coolant if you don't already have.

sharpsharp:
Am left with P0125 error code, cleared it but it comes up occasionally. Found a loop in my wires for both radiator fans to run at the same time, disconnected the loop wire, 1 fan runs now and 2nd fan comes up when AC is switched on. Is the thermostat the culprit for this P0125 error code that pops up?

Check your wire connections properly. None of the fans ought to spin continuously. P0125 relates to insufficient coolant temperature. They only spin when the engine has attained certain temperature & stop when coolant has circulated to cool the engine. In the same way the a/c thermostat works.

lomomike:


My highlander use the KYB rear trunk struts. Very durable.

Thanks Mike.

chukel:
r u sure it is your strut that is bad?

Checks did not reveal any other problem. Other parts around the area of the noise seem ok. More so, I have changed stabiliser linkage and camber bushings to original ones.

Thank you so very immensely Gazzuzz. Reviews on club lexis.com classified it as OEM. I will go for it then.

Has anybody used KYB strut assembly before...how reliable are they? One of the front shocks of my RX330 is making some clunking sound when I turn the steering wheel to the left or climb a pavement of sidewalk. The sound suggests it's weak thus requiring replacement. I want to use KYB. From online reviews on clublexus, it appears as a popular and good OEM brand.

Please share your experiences if you have used this product.

Thank you innticipation of your comments.

waley007:
I want to buy a camry but i saw that odometer reading.i dont know how to calculate the mileage,pls help

The car has covered 224,560km. Quite high though but if properly maintained with good service record, you could get a good bargain. You are also likely to spend more on maintenance at this mileage.

themodernman:


And what happens if you find out the full custom duty wasn't paid nko?

My own question is how to know how to pay the full custom duty & avoid any hassles afterwards.

That's the beginning of your problem when you discover that duty was not paid for a car & you go ahead to buy.

Some weeks ago, I was driving behind a Honda Accord, suddenly, I saw something like a balloon popping up in front with the driver struggling to control the car. Thankfully, he was not on speed. When he stopped, I packed to check what the problem was! Alas, it was the passenger's side airbag that deployed.

I was surprise how that could happen. I doubt it's peculiar to Honda. Perhaps, a malfunction in the system, factory defect or someone tampered with the sensors.

Most of these comments are based on assumption. I use the XLE Limited of the same model Sienna. It came standard with leather interior. It is still very neat, no tears, marks or stains. Heat absorption; yes but you feel comfortable as soon as you get in or use your air conditioner. More so the tinted glasses also reduces the effect of sun on it.

Stains don't stick to it. But those who are careless about its usage often condemn leather seats. A friend bought an ML350 sometime in the past with a terribly looking interior leather seats - would you blame the manufacturer for that? The answer is no because the owner abused it.

The choice to buy a leather seat has to do with personal taste and preference. Any car that comes with a leather seat is more expensive than its fabric variant.

Space booked.

I have always loved BMW but for the associated cost of keeping it & lack of technical know how in Nigeria due to the advanced/extreme engineering design.

However, this is a job for the experts you have engaged in. Pls endeavour to share more pictures.

benzmatic:
Though I am a benz man and will always remain a benz man because benzes last forever, I have been intrigued by the 2002 - 2007 accord popularly called end of discussion in Naija.
The eod came with a radically different engine and chasis from its predecessor. Regular 2.4l 4cyl made 160hp fair enough, but the v6 was the enthusiast's reference spec making an impressive 240hp, and 287nm torque @5000rpm.
For its price I honestly believe this is one of the best cars on the road today. The car has something of everything. It has elegant lines, and is appropriately sized inside and outside, the chasis also seems to hold up well with time.
The cream of the matter is however on its driving, thumbs up to the engineers at honda for this engine. I'm yet to see another 6cyl engine give 240hp stock, acceleration is instant and smooth, this car seems to accelerate when you think it has peaked, and you start wondering just how many gears are in there. The car tends to idle impatiently when you sit inside it, the 6cylinders waiting to fire fully as you depress the throttle.
The ride is comfortable to the point of luxury, steering is precise and weighted. The car was very stable at speeds of up to 140km/hr. Yet the suspension is taut and sporty and it takes the hard big bumps of our naija roads well. Torque steer is almost imperceptible and you almost forget you are driving a front wheeled car. Even the interior is up to standard and materials used seem to be of very high quality.
Now I have driven a couple of more recent cars: sedans and SUVs, but overall to score chasis, engine characteristics, steering, and braking and of course price and fuel economy, I would call this the best all round car I have driven yet, and I hear the coupe is even quicker.
So that sums up my impression of the eod. Even though for some curious reason unknown to myself, I don't see myself buying this car, I show proper respect when it passes me on the highway or otherwise.
I would love for owners of the eod to tell of their firsthand experiences with this car, the good, and the bad.

The production of EOD as its popularly called in Nigeria stopped in 2005 with a redesigned accord in 2006, which also was redesigned in 2008. The model you test drove was 2003 to 2005.

sultaan:
In limbo land where skin cancer from the Sun UV Ray is killing people like malaria the car manufacturers started adding a small tint to the front glass and more to the back from factory so that your car will be cooler when parked in the Sun fewer damage to interior trim degradation. But in the mind of our people it is illegal

The practice of obtaining permit for the use of a tinted vehicle is not peculiar to Nigeria but a common practice all over the world. Prior to the proliferation of kidnapping, robbery with sophisticated weapons, boko haram menace & all forms of social aberrations, it was permissible to use a vehicle with tinted glass without being harassed.

If not corruption, tinted permit ought to be free but requires a strict process of approval. Every police officer & even none officers now offer to facilitate the issuance of such permits with the sole aim of making money out of it.

GAZZUZZ:


No point replacing disks, I always fix them ant works out fine.

Boss @Gazzuzz, I'm interested. How do you acchieve this to ensure they are evenly resurfaced especially for those of us in Abuja?

@believer01, I will advise you from a man's perspective. Your current relationship does not worth the wait. You have dated a man for 7 solid years yet he has not said anything tangible and you still remain in it. I must be blunt; those years are wasted. I make bold to say it. Most of the time, serious guys who want something out of a relationship reveal their intentions in less than one year. Anything more is deceit and fun. No real marriage intent. Take it or leave it.

At 26, this is your peak and prime time to attract a man for marriage. Once you are upto 28 to 29, most men will date you for fun, not for marriage. Quote me anywhere. That guy has no plan for you. I can assure you that he will dump you when you least expect. It's better you feel bad now for leaving him than regret all your life.

By the way, he has already shown signs he's not interested in any marriage discussions with you by picking quarrels when you raise such issues. I think you should be wiser than being stupidly in love with someone who is nurturing another relationship. The saying "a word is enough for the wise" is particularly handy in this situation.

But again, it's your choice. He can sweet talk you to wait for eternity.

sultaan:


Chrysler makes the SRT brand

Cadillac make SRX suv a good looking one if I may add.

Lift gate might have water in the module see if it can be dried out check fuses too and you can open it manually through the inside and check its operation Mechanic in Nigeria are not used to the modern cars everything now is electronic

You are correct, SRX it is; my mistake. A washing liquid spilled in the lift gate requiring that all modules including the pump was replaced yet there's no visible remedies. It also requires programming to sync but no garage seem to be upto date Cadillac software.

It's an SUV

nurey:


That's like a second term agenda.

You should see the miracle the sienna performed lately I took it where the hilux would thread softly and it performed.

But am still a VW fan, toyota is just my first real ride.

Some arguments are unimaginable. You use the first generation of Toyota Sienna yet you condemn the product. Try what you do with your Sienna with a VW, come back and tell us your experience.

I think we need to be real and understand issues in perspective. Those Toyota models being discussed here may not be exquisite in design but are solidly rugged & reliable. There's also a difference between aesthetics & reliability. This discussion is about the later. Most dudes here show overt hatred for Toyota and offer advise based strictly on the personal preferences. Their yardstick for comparison is faulty. All over the world, it is not debatable that Toyota is a reliable brand. They may not necessarily present the best aesthetic designs but you can't beat the reliability of their cars.

An average Nigerian user rooted in ignorance about car maintenance can keep a Toyota brand running for several years with all kinds of abuse & lack of care which other brands cannot survive. I think this is the crux of this discussion and not personal prejudice @ preference.

My first car was a Honda product but I switched to Toyota due to constant visit to mechanics while using the Honda. In the last 8 years, I have had peace of mind using my Toyota cars. I have friends and neighbours who use other brands, our stories and experiences are not the same. A neighbour of my mine has a Cadillac SRT 2011 model, the boot of that SUV has been faulty and no mechanic has been able to fix it. She cannot open the boot. We have tried so many workshops yet, no hope.

Reliability and technical know how are a major consideration when purchasing a car.

100ksalescom:


My advice: Never buy a car with loan.

What is your reason for this conclusion? There's nothing wrong in taking a loan to purchase a vehicle if he has a good job. Depending on the terms and conditions for the loan, the juice is worth the squeeze. My only reservation is the Renault. If other brands of cars are included in the package, you may need to look at a different brand for ease of maintenance, spare parts availability & technical competence of auto garages here in Nigeria.

There's nothing wrong with the transmission of the 07/08 & 09 Camry. The only problem I see is when owners use wrong ATF, they are not likely to use them for a long time before the transmissions begin to fail. Wrong choice of this fluid and not changing the fluid when it's due account for the majority of the failures.

Concerning a V6 engine, it is durable better and offers a better performance & driver experience. Depending on your financial in flow, fuel consumption is negligible to the over all drive experience.

Most Nigerians have poor maintenance culture hence, the level of transmission failure. More so, people are unrealistic about V6 fuel consumption. Buy what you will enjoy not what others want.

Goodluck with your choice.

2 has right of way, 3 would cause traffic on the expressway and should go then 1 because it does not cause any traffic.

Webbullion:
PLEASE HOUSE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW How to detect if a car Custom Duty has been paid, i want to buy a car and they told me the custom duties has been paid that its in custom system . Please is their a way for me to check.. i welcome your opinions.. thank you

Request for the C-No & take it to custom's office & pay N3000. They would give u a print out of the duty paid.

olojuede01:
I really need advice. I intend to purchase my first car later this year. I want to buy a camry/Avalon 2008/09 which costs between 1.9 and 2.3 million. I want to know if it is too much. I told a friend who said its too much for a first car. I earn about 300k monthly. ..

I am not exactly sure that someone else can advice you appropriately on how much you need to spend for your first car. Car ownership is a personal choice that requires personal conviction. Having said that, the amount of money you spend on a car also depends on a number of things; such as but not limited to the following:
1. how much you earn, which you have mentioned
2. How much you save out of your earnings
3. Other responsibilities which can further be sub-categorized into primary & secondary
4. How much you are realistically willing to spend for such acquisition
5. Personal taste and Choice
6. Your priorities

The bulk of your expenditure for car ownership actually comes at the time of initial purchase. Although, there are occasions people buy cars and spend more than the initial purchase cost to rehabilitate such vehicles but that's a rare incident. But you need to factor in cost of maintenance when buying a car. Over a long time of usage, you are likely going to spend more than your initial cost of purchase via fuelling and maintenance. So it's important you understand this cost whilst contemplating buying a car.

Considering your stated monthly earnings, I do not think it's to much to spend for a car. I believe you will also be looking at a long time usage of up to three years or thereabouts. But as I said earlier, it's your call based on certain parameters only you can set.

Good luck with your decision.

Some men are worse than most women in driving, poor decision making, slow in thinking, driving slowly on fast lane, improper parking in parking lots, unable to reverse properly, tyres not properly aligned after parking etc. I can go on and on. The point is, not just women some men have no business being behind the wheel.