Immune#1:
The signs are more than glaring, what Nigerian road transporters and maybe motorist as a whole should expect anytime soon is the enforcement of the use of speed limiting devices to tackle over-speeding. This process seems to be in top gear as we’ve witnessed various stakeholders forums on this issue (speed limiting device enforcement) in Nigeria held in Abuja and Lagos, which have been spearheaded by the F.R.S.C(federal road safety corps) and government officials.

With all these, it shouldn't come to anyone as a surprise if we wake up one morning to hear that it is now mandatory to install these devices in our vehicles. In the face of the path FRSC has chosen, I want to quickly ask one question; is this really the way out? Another question the people of Nigeria are asking now is whether this could be yet another money-making agenda to further milk Nigerians dry? Nigerians are still yet to recover from the new plate number and new driving license scheme, and now they might have to contend with this.

For now let’s leave the bickering aside and face the areas I feel the FRSC should be channeling their resources and energies to instead of simply laying the full blame -on the spate of road accidents- on Nigerians over-speeding.

More road/traffic signs needed:Rather than the Nigerian government whining about safe driving, the several levels of government should sit up! In one of my many visits to Ghana, I began a road trip from Accra to Kumasi around 11pm using one of their 24hrs bus services.

If there is anything I noticed during this late night drive, it had to be the heavy presence of pertinent road/traffic signs to guide both day and late night drivers; these roads signs are mostly made of reflective objects placed by strategic portions of the road.

But back here in Lagos, Nigeria, it’s a shame we still have to wake up to see trucks stuck along BRT paths and almost all BRT lanes concrete demarcations are shaved almost to the asphalt surface especially at the main entry points.

The simple point I am trying to make here is that government needs to invest more in road signs and other accompanying traffic effects which ideally should form integral components of a complete road design.

What about speed breakers/road cameras? More advanced and developed nations depend on infrastructures like these to punish traffic offenders and help reduce the likelihood of over-speeding on some portions of the road.

What incentives are in place for transport companies with low accident rates? If the FRSC is serious about its safe driving campaign; it won’t hurt anyone if companies with fewer or no crashes pay lower-income taxes and are exempted from some imposed payments and levies. This is an example of what they should be clamouring for which overtime will truly encourage various companies to set up independent safety programmes, better driver welfare and sufficient drivers training which indeed are the root causes of most road accidents incidents.

In conclusion, I’d like to state that government has a responsibility to the people and it shouldn't always be the people being solely responsible for themselves and the government too.
http://autobaseafrica.com/use-of-speed-limiters-the-way-out/

KA24DETT:

You are right . The German guys build amazing sedans but the reliability is horrible .
Can you imagine paying $110,000 for Mercedes s550 AMG and 3 years later, it is worth $65,000. Thats crazy. $85,000 Lexus is worth around 65,000 after 3 years . That's the power of reliability

JaaizTech:


If your Transmission fluid was already Black or dark brown before changing to the conoil ATF, you may need to get a good mechanic to flush the transmission before replacing it with another ATF. But if it wasn't very dark in color, it may be safe to assume that your transmission doesn't have a lot of sludge in it, so go ahead and replace it with OANDO DEXTRON III, but remember just as a temporary replacement. (This is what Honda suggests; it is inside the manual).

After doing that, ask around for where you can get original Honda ATF z1, if you can't find anyone that sells in Nigeria. order it from Amazon, you can easily use shippyme.com to send it down to Nigeria. It shouldn't cost more than 25k, but remember your car should work almost perfectly with the OANDO DEXTRON III, the only reason you are changing to HONDA ATF Z1, is because Honda used some peculiar materials in their transmission which may wear or eat up with other ATFs. Honda has gone ahead to add some other chemicals the ATF-Z1 to help you with that.

KA24DETT:

Bro, I said Hyundai Sonata and Mercedez S class. I brought it in as a comparism for how R"N" does not fully translate to relaibility.
http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/dependability.htm talked about the 3-year reliability of cars in different classes. Please click on the link, It proves my point. If you were following the automotive news in the early 2000s. Mercedes was berated for their poor reliabilty in the late 90s and early 2000s. You can also access April, 2004 and April 2005 editions of "Consumer Reports" for more details There is a reason you can pick up a 2009 Mercedez Benz S class for half its full price 4 years later. Word on the street here is " You dont buy an S class, you lease it".
Lets get back to the topic bro, we are digressing too much.

fili24: Check Mobile.de if you're in doubt

Ikenna351:

Can you please show us the proof where Peugeot stated that the ES9J4S, V6 engine in 406 V6 D9, gives 29 mpg on highway ? Because am staring at my owners manual that came with the car right now.

As for others who would like to know, the car owners manual states that for my 2000 406 V6 5-speed manual, 8BXFX, Saloon, the fuel consumption details is as below:

Urban driving: 20.6 mpg (13.7 L/100 km).

Inter-Urban: 39.2 mpg (7.2 L/100km ).

Mixed driving: 29.4 mpg (9.6 L/100 km).


Note that the above is mpg for the car when the engine has not run-in or break in. Meaning, the mpg could improve more than stated above when broken-in, since the engine has loosen up.

Now electra80, since when did mixed driving becomes inter-urban driving? So are you the one to tell me how my car consumes fuel, irrespective of what the computer says? So am so daft that i don't know how i fill up and how the fuel gauge drops with distance i cover with it? Why do you find it so had to believe ? Because it's not Toyota and its a French car? If your car manufacturer deceives you about what they stated about your car fuel consumption figures, does it mean every other car manufacturer does?

Meanwhile, your orientation about old cars is not encouraging. So to you, as car ages, the fuel consumption increases? Unbelievable !

By the way, that engine in 406 V6 D9, ES9J4S, was co-produced by Peugeot, Renault & Porsche. So, you need to know what is under that hood before you comment on it.

Probably, you thought i was the only one that drives 406 V6 D9? And you thought Nairaland Car Talk is the only Arena Peugeots are discussed? As luck would have it, this 406 V6 fuel economy was recently discussed in aussiefrogs last month by other 406 V6 owners like myself in Australia. Find the discussion in the link below:

http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/peugeot-forum/106597-v6-economy.html



Ikenna.

Ikenna351: Hmm!

Some people fail to realise that am one of those that wouldn't mind the low resale value of Euro cars, because i benefit from it. Ask me why? Guess how much i bought my tokunbo 406 V6 SV D9 early this year? A lot of Nairaland members have visited me and when i show them the car and tell them how much i bought her, none of them would believe me. I bought her almost the amount i bought my Baby in 2010. This car was shipped from Hamburg and arrived Lagos port in November last year. According to the importer, everyone looked the other way as soon as they see the V6 badge and secondary, because it's not Toyota. I was the only one indicated interest months later and he had no option than to not let me pass him by. Yet, this is a car i can tell you some I4 Japs can't match in fuel economy. On my way back from Church on Sunday, on Expressway, i used Cruise control for the first time. I first tried 120 km/h, the car at that speed averaged about 7.7 L/100km (39+ mpg). I couldn't believe it. Again, i cancelled the speed control and set it at 100 km/h, the car was getting about 6.4 L/100km. And this is a 2000 production. How many Japs of the same year model can boast of that consumption ? Note that i got the car at mileage 166,000 km. Now the mileae is over 170k km, yet the engine still drives like new. I don't even accelerate to move from stand still. All i do is gradually relaese the clutch and the car moves smoothly, no jecking or loss of power. Doubt me? Come over and test.

I recall when some members posted negatively about 406 electrics, claiming that as soon as the cross 100k km, their electrics become nightmares to their owners. They will start falling apart. Mine is 170k km, everything still function as new. I wonder who is to be blamed. The abused poor car, the owner or the clown that did that omen on the poor car?

For those that stay in Abuja, you will bear me witness that Peugeot cars are increasing on Abuja road on daily basis. Parastatal, other govt agencies and paramilitaries are now ditching their Toyotas and switching to Peugeots (408 & 508) as official cars. Privates are not lef out. Even Peugeot Crossovers ( 3008 & 4008) are increasing on the road. People don dey sabi beta thing!

So, the low resale value favours me abeg. After all, i don't buy to resale tomorrow. But buy to drive till it falls apart. Who knows, the low resale value fit make me become 508 owner sooner than i expect. Who knows!

Ikenna.

fili24: The poster is really confused, those camry you listed are American specs, meaning they were produced either in USA or Canada.
I live in Germany and most of Toyota camry's comes from Yankee and Canada, That is why they're expensive.
Toyota is not in the same league with Mercedes benz or Bmw. These are luxury cars and they're very expensive to maintain.
Used Mercedes Benz, BMW or Porsche with low mileage will surely buy 2 camry's, even more

ihimami:

I have looked at used car prices online and there is no way a 2003 Toyota Camry prices can be compared with 2003 E class or C class Mercedes. It is still cheaper to buy used 2003 Toyota Camry than to buy Audi A6 or Mercedes E class of the same year, and don't forget that even in US majority are not of the rich class, so it is expected that those car meant for average citizen such as Toyota and Honda brands will attract more patronage than the luxury brands.

ihimami:

I could not have put it better, the fact is that most Nigerian mechanics are responsible for the sentiments attached to Japanese cars in Nigeria. This is because of the fact that German technology is way too advance for them to handle, as compare to Japanese cars. Even among the Japanese brands in Nigeria, you will equally noticed that most Nigerians shy away from buying the high end luxury brands such as Acura, Infiniti and Lexus. One is bound to ask those who believe the Japanese cars are more reliable, to take time to observe the oldest cars on our roads, you will be shocked to discovered that they are mostly German cars such as Mercedes 200 flat boot, Golf 1, VW beetle, Audi 80, and 1980 VW Passat which are still being used for commercial taxis. Most of these German cars have put in 30 years plus. In terms of cost of maintenance, the number of times you see a Toyota or Honda owners going to see a mechanics is more frequents than those with German cars except in some rare cases where mechanics may have done a wrong diagnosis on those German cars thereby making the owner to frequents workshops and end up spending so much to fix.

fckyourman: When did Toyota and Honda Become American? My friend park well jor there are Japanese owned companies, simple do a google research.

icemann: From my research (My personal opinion shouldn't be taken seriously), Replacement parts for most German cars cos more because they are made in Germany with high labor cost. Second had owners would rather pay less for replacement parts on a 130k mile car

German car makers are 3 years ahead in car technology, Making most mechanics scared to work on them and the few that can would ask for a lot.

Just my 2 cents

lomomike:


Sir, I disagree with u on the age related problem associated with Euro and American cars especially German cars. There are many Volkswagen Golf MK1, volkswagen transporters, Volkswagen Passat, ford motors, Mercedes 190 series, Mercedes Benz W123, Mercedes Benz W124, Peugeot J5, Peugeot 404, Peugeot 405, peugeot 505, Volvo 470, Volvo 200, Landrover series, Mercedes Benz Gelandewagen (G Class). ETC which are at least 20 years and some even 30 years and they are still doing very great. While some new models of Japanese cars such as Camrys, Accords, Corollas, Civics etc I've come across are either total failures in some mechanic garages or In some junk yard. I know some other vehicles may not be reliable due to design process or other underlying factors (which also affects JAP mobiles as well as Euro and American car makers) hence necessitating class action law suits and/or recalls or extension of insurance; But to a great extent the issue of longevity of a car lies in the maintenance attitude of the owner/user.

icemann:

First of all you need to learn and apply the term called humility
Second you said honda "can never build a reliable transmission". Like you know the future of the car company. Do you even know how a transmission works?

Thirdly you dont even know when honda switched the accord transmission to a CVT.

And lastly you dont have a singe idea how a CVT works. If you knew you would be saying all this.

KA24DETT: Altima is cheaper, no timing belt to replace.

Digriz:
frm my own experience,d cost diff might nt be much bt U wl get a more clean car and lots of option to choose frm.

Numero uuuno: ^^^^^^^^^^
U can say that again bro.
This is an example of a country bing steered by visionary leaders.
But i still think some drivers can smoke this cop ride,i mean the real bad guys like dominic toretto and co!!!

saintjoel:

Sir,that's the reason you've to make research before you purchase from Cotonou,you mistake on some issues which are open to both buyer and agent.

Now a camry 99 model will cost you 720K from cotonou(this amount covers every documentation and actual purchase price)+130K custom duty charges which makes it 850K.

Let me now state reasons why some Nigerians will always be scammed.There are two sets of people travelling to cotonou,those who want next to free things and those who know what they want.

The first set are those Nigerians who believe any agent who comes to tell them it's possible they can go into Cotonou to buy 08 camry for 1.2M and they are those who know what these cars are worth and have money to buy them.

You are free to walk up to any money changer along the border or outside the banks to make inquiries about exchange rates but you need to take note of something,CFA against Naira fluctuates,so you may change for 330naira to 1,000CFA in the morning and in the evening,change fopr 333naira to 1,000CFA,so dot be alarmed.

On the issue of car battery,park fee etc,these are fees you pay in cotonou but don't be alarmed,everything is fixed into your purchase price,see the example of the 99camry I illustrated earlier and you pay the same charge for every car irrespective of manufacture year.Which means the same 500K CFA you pay on a 99camry car is the same you pay on 2013 range rover but like I said earlier,even if you are buying a golf 3 for 600-650K(auto+AC),it means everything you pay in Cotonou is 470K+130K custom duty charges(assuming you strike a good bargain and you can ghet it for 470K),so you can why you don't need to be scared.

All you need to do when next you're buying from cotonou is that you never allow your agent to make bargains for you and always make sure you're physically present in all transactions,some agents take advantage just because the customers just sit in the comfort of their homes and expect him to do wonders.Also don't believe all agents who qoute ridiculous prices e.g 08 camry for 1.7M,it's just a trick to lure you into cotonou,immediately you get there,story will change.

As you can see from pictures below,not all cars sold in cotonou are accidented all you need is a credible agent.

Lord_Reed:

The guy no wan speed. Trust me if it were me you for no see my brake light again.

yungboss: 200km/h, 1993 bmw 320i 6cyl. Out-ran a 2009 toyota Camry in a race...