₦airaland Forum

Car ownership is not a luxury but a necessity. Apart from daily commute from and to work, emergencies situations do require you have one. I can infer from your post that you are single. During a heavy rain fall, it becomes very difficult to go to work or leave your office.

Most often, you are at the mercy of other drivers (taxis & friends) to determine when you leave a particular place. A car also offers you a great measure of comfort. You decide what time you leave.

By the time you are married & kids start coming, it's a different experience. If you live in Europe where transportation system is well organized, then, it may not matter.

watchworldpro:
Hi Ikenna. I want to buy a volkswagen Jetta 2010. But everyone says I shud buy a muscle. Advice me . I love german cars. I used an audi a4 before and it was sweet. Though a lilbit more expensive to maintain than toyota. The interior of the full option Jetta makes me happy.

Apparently, you are not yet ready for car ownership. You want someone else to advise you on what vehicle to buy...Very unfortunate.

I have followed a similar argument/debate else where. It rages like burning fire. I think vehicles are targeted at different audience and markets. People buy cars for different purposes. For the enthusiasts; performance, handling & thrill are the primary aim. Anything less is unacceptable. Usually, individuals under this category have the financial strength to keep such vehicles for as long as they want. These group can afford the services of any competent automobile garage. Sometimes, they are the technicians themselves. Siena falls into this category. His advise or views is strictly from a professional perspective. There are not too many technical knowhow in this area in this part of the world. Those available are pricey. Most times, these vehicles are not used as a lone car. Most users here are elite who understand what a car manual means.

For the average, who basically commute from point A to B, they are concerned about cost of maintenance, parts availability, mechanics etc. Here, the concern is about durability, efficiency and economical & are mostly used as the only car by the owner, surviving daily heavy traffic, rough terrain, flood, bad roads and abuse with all manner of wrong ATF and engine oil. At this level, ignorance is predominant and if you like, bandwagon effect takes precedence. There are some elite here who desire performance and go for V6 & V8 just to avoid the stress associated with the German brands.

The onus is on the individual to identify where he belongs and follow accordingly. Someone made a good observation earlier, when you are stock in a certain village where you can hardly get a competent hand to diagnose a fault; what would you do if your vehicle is such that they are even afraid to come near?

Personally, I will do German cars as part of a fleet. All the people I know that use German vehicles have other Japmobiles as their routine vehicles.

kakameks:
Guy do you know that most people don't know that the RX330 and 350 have FWD and AWD model? Most just assume that all of them are AWD or more commonly called "JEEP" hence the all have "auxiliary".

It's very simple to identify AWD and FWD in the RX330/350. If the forth letter on your vin number is 'H' then you have an AWD but if it's a 'G' it is a FWD.

For reliability & ruggedness, I would not go for Honda Odyssey. My best bet will be outside the listed options; a Toyota Picnic with three rows of two seats. It looks smaller but has a relatively good head and leg rooms. The rear seats are removable, providing a good cargo space. It handles well and has good fuel economy with an average of 31 mpg.

Parts are readily available, cheap and so do mechanics. Since cost is a major concern, both in maintenance and fuelling, you will not go wrong. It comes in manual & auto trannies.

The Mazda MPV has a 4 cylinder variant but looks bland. We use one as an office vehicle, no rear a/c vents to keep rear passengers cool. It is not rugged & drives sluggishly and equally underpowered. It is as spacious as the Odyssey.

Another good option would have been Toyota Sienna 1998 - 2000 but for the rear window that does wind down, which is a concern to you.

It's usually the case when you are well-off to Carter for the need of others. You do not necessarily have to send money to friends & relatives on a monthly basis except your parents. Even those who reside in Nigeria face similar challenges but a greater expectations await those who live outside the shores of this country.

Have special budget for your immediate family; parents & siblings. But the best approach is to set them up with some initiative that will provide them with monthly income. This requires a relatively huge sum over a period. Let them know you are borrowing to fund that business. Give them a timeline for refund (though you will not take the money from them). This will drastically reduce or eliminate over reliance on you for financial needs.

For distance relations and friends, help when it's absolutely imperative. I have an incline you have flamboyant Facebook page that keeps attracting your old friends. You must not be on fb much less chat every time. You must also learn to avoid those who overtly ask for help on a frequent basis. I can assure you that on the flip of the coin, they will not help. But then, the much you can help that will not put a financial strain on you & your family is a good measure of His grace.

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.