ChimaAdeoye:
[size=14pt]The problems isn't to move it 20 times, the big question is
[/size]
[size=21pt]When will construction start[/size]

Are you thinking at all?Whats the point starting only for it to fail?

CityNG:


I hold a different position than you do, with due respect.

There are many still useful vehicles overseas that can be imported into Nigeria. Not all "toks" are condemned derelicts and unsafe contraptions. The issue here is that our automotive dealers, some of them, choose to bring a lot of the less than stellar vehicles into Nigeria, perhaps this is to meet a stingy price point as set by Nigerian consumers. I've advertised a 2009 VW Jetta now for months with no interest. It's not because the car is not a good or well priced (in my opinion) but it's because it's competing at less than stellar vehicles that are priced at ridiculous price points.

I still think that you used the wrong example in this specific Austin Mini Cooper to make your point. The only error in this car is that the VIN was tampered with. It's to because it's not safe.

Should the Nigerian Customs be destroying cars that are impounded like the idiotic Americans? Absolutely not.

Instead they should sell it at a great discount to junk yards so that the parts can be harvested and used in other cars. Or offer the owner an opportunity to sell it to another country (Cameroon or Cotonue) or licensed for off road use only.

To counter smuggling, all Nigerian Customs needs to do is stop accepting bribes, impound all smuggled vehicles, impose a heavy fine or sell it to junkyards for parts. I assure you that it will stop overnight.

A shameful and pathetic public display of aggression by US Customs should not be our way.

PS: I am personally affected by this crushing and this is why I am very vocal about this issue. It's simply not the way to go.

Point noted!
Its good that we have both agreed on the need for smuggling to be stamped out by any means necessary. One of the reasons Late Dora Akunyili's campaign against fake drugs was successful was because of the very forceful approach under her directive as the head of Nafdac then; this gradually led to a reduction of these type of imports (which means that the volume of goods intended to be smuggled drastically reduced overtime then). Why i beleive this method of approach (backed by fairness and equity) will work is because unlike the Pharmaceutical drug barons with stacks of money to risk in such unholy venture on a repeated basis even after facing huge losses, vehicle importation isn't run by a few financially buoyant cartels- rather it is run by a collection of many small-scale businessmen. What this means is that if you publicly destroy a few cars (which will lead to losses accrued by many small scale businesses); it will serve as a strong deterrent which will ultimately make these individuals rethink the kinds of vehicles they choose to import into Nigeria.

Finally, sorry for how this Mini crushing may have affected you, at the end of the day rules are rules.

CityNG:
Here's a more balanced source http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/12/12/feds-crush-illegally-imported-car-to-send-message/?intcmp=features

Here's the specific reason why the car was crushed ""Since the vehicle's VIN was intentionally manipulated, destruction of the vehicle is our only recourse," Hayward says in the nj.com report. "We do not take such action lightly.""

So we shouldn't start celebrating the crush of this innocent and absolutely "safer" vehicle and this has absolutely nothing to do with the Nierian customs and makes a very bad comparison.

A 1967 Austin Mini is allowed to be imported into the US and especially California. It is a rather unsafe vehicle. It has single brake line, no safe bars in the doors, no airbags, no abs, etc

A 2000 Austin Mini on the other hand is a very safe car but it is not allowed to be imported into the USA. It is safe because it is a modern assembly with modern weldings, has airbags, ABS, safety bars in the doors and roof, etc

So what some people do is take the VIN from a condemned 1960s Mini and then slap it on a 2000 Mini to instantly turn the 2000 into a 1967.

This is a blatant criminal act under US laws BUT does it make the car less safe?

My 1967 Austin Mini Moke pictured below is completely legal, even on the freeway and was my daily driver in Los Angeles and Dallas for many years until I sold it. So tell me is my Moke more safer than this unfortunately crushed car?

Let's not celebrate a government agency that destroyed a perfectly good car just to do a show of force. The act is criminal, at least to us in the LBC (Little British Cars) community.

I wasn't suggesting that our Customs service here in Nigeria starts destroying cars for the exact same reasons. If you know much about the automotive industry here, you will be appalled by the level of decadence and how Nigeria has become 'scrapville' for salvage/very old vehicles. If we can't control the age of vehicles that come into Nigeria, how will we kick-start automobile recycling-which is a key component of any sustainable industry? Currently this doesn't seem viable because the cost of scrap cars in Nigeria is really high and because there are no stringent regulations/enforcement to topple this imbalance.

All i am clamouring for here is a firm and concerted effort to solve one problem we have in this Nigerian Automotive industry which is SMUGGLING. I am very sure our Customs service can burrow a leaf.

Some people just need to take time and read..........dont just depend on the headlines to understand the entire content.

Nice observation from a man honest about his flaws.

abatically:


Well said. I am not against made in Nigeria cars, neither am I in support of smuggling. I think the government already has a policy to prevent cars older than 15 years into the country which is a good development. I don't think importing accident cars into the country is that bad like u put it. As long as the chasis is not affected. Most of the accident cars still have very good powertrain. Maybe Government should create a body that examines and screen accident cars.

Let me ask u, an imported accident 2005 VW Passat with damaged fender, broken headlight and door vs baba Kafaya's 1982 Datsun kabukabu that was bought brand new in 1982.. which one will be safer on the road?

Salvage vehicles are called 'salvage' vehicles for a reason and are sold off at cheaper rates probably for the same reason. I may not exactly choose the 1982 Datsun but i wont go for the 2005 Passat either. From what i know about German cars, the obvious problem may be a broken light or door but trust German cars with all the automation, you may never know he bigger problem which will crop up 3months into the vehicle's use.

Accident vehicles are a TOTAL NO - NO.........coupled with the angle of deceit by some car dealers who mask these accident vehicles and sell them off as used cars with a clean title, i can never support the importation of accident vehicles. The only good importation of these type of vehicles has brought about in Nigeria is the positive changes i have witnessed in the vehicle spraying sub-set of our automotive service industry, as these guys have really raised standards and quality of output at very reasonable rates.

Personally i belong to the school of thought that will rather drive a used Mercedes Benz than driving a brand new Innoson; that's just me.

abatically:
This is a very good development, but is Nigeria really ripe for this? The answer is NO and I have my reasons.

1. The US automotive industry has come a long way and it is one of the biggest automotive industry in the world. They started producing cars from the early 1920s, Nigeria just started in 2013 and it is still in its infancy. It is easy to buy a $1,000 used car in the USA with sound engine, good luck finding a used Nigeria made car here.

2. The USA is an advanced country with everything already planned our for its citizens. They don't even pay outright for a car, they have functioning loan system and everybody can afford a car loan so far u have a job. Back here in Nigeria what is the minimum wage again? You want a car in Nigeria u have to cough out millions just to buy a car that u like. This means only the rich can afford a car while the poor will suffer. What about students? In the states a student can buy a used car for as low as $1,000 because the cars are made in the US hence no clearing and shipping fees. The only way to help Nigerian citizens is the importation of used cars that are affordable while our automotive industry grows (trust me it is going to take a really long time to get there ).

3. The USA have good roads and engineers, hence a car used for 15 years in the states is equivalent to a 2 years used naija car. So buying a naija used made in Nigeria car for now is out of the equation. Have u seen one of those innoson cars that have been used for 1+ year? Trust me everything falls apart from door handle to the upholstry. They can't stand the test of time... At least for now.

Let's say I'm a student or a small business owner and need a car to run my business. Do I have to cough out 1.2 million naira to buy a Hyundai i10 or KIA picanto or any of the newly made innoson sedans (that are not even available yet)? Those cars can't even carry 5 passengers with ease and yet I have to pay over 1 million naira. What if I need a truck for my farm business? Do I need to pay millions just to get one? What if I need a car for taxi? With 500,000 naira or less I can get a used car that will serve me more than anything made or assembled in Nigeria (for now ).

We don't have functional regulatory laws on automobiles, no emmision test. having emmision test is a waste of time anyway because it will be a waste of time. I mean if we perform emmision test on vehicles, are we also going to perform emmision test on generators? Because every house has at least one power generating set, so the air is already polluted. The government needs to fix all these things before talking about crushing imported cars that don't meet the standard. They need to fix the power sector so people won't need to buy generators, they need to fix the roads so Nigerian made cars can stand the test of time.

All these things will take years and by then the automotive industry would have grown . by then people with low income can afford to buy a used made in Nigeria car. Americans have no reason to import cars into their country because they have a very functional automotive industry, DO WE HAVE A FUNCTIONAL AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA?

Well said,most of what you said is very true but the plain fact here is that its only Nigerians that will develop the Nigerian automotive industry!It wont be easy but significant steps can be made,one of which is strongly detering smuggling across our borders.A few benefits that follow are better data collation and more revenue for both Customs and Nac as stated.

You spoke about us not being mature for this,but i think we are because we have to reduce the volumes of scrap that passes through our borders into Nigeria. Talking about Nigerians having access to funding and long term vehicle financing,government has plans in place to support this type of financing through special low interest rates which will be possible through NAC equity stake to make this possible in affiliation with a few known African banks,especially a bank in South Africa. So NAc is hoping to raise funds through this higher tarrif regimes;the morr reason smuggling must be curbed.

Our automotive industry began in the 70's andbwe allowed it languish,but thank God the current FG has made reviving the industry one of their priorities.

PERSONALLY,i wish the new automotive policy was focused on commercial vehicles and aftermarket products,but since the government of the day has chosen this path, i feel we should lend our support as much as we can.

This Austin Mini Cooper worth $20,000 was publicly crushed as a warning to illegal importers.Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security confiscated this Mini which has not been tested under US emissions and crash requirements. It was seized from the owners, who were awaiting delivery .

Back here in Nigeria, our ailing automotive industry needs more aggressive actions like this to combat smuggling of old vehicles which have been prohibited by Nigerian laws. In addition dissuading Nigerian automobile importers from this foul practice, the government needs to be firm in combating smuggling of vehicles which so far has contributed in suffocating the new automotive policy which was introduced by the Federal government in 2013.

Asides, raising more revenue for the Nigerian Customs and NAC(National Automotive council), a more stringent prohibition of smuggling can help truly energize our automotive industry which will contribute in making our economy more robust, hence creating more avenues for employment.

But cap up my suggestion, i will like to ask; who clears accident vehicles and allows them leave Nigerian ports?


Follow link to watch video: http://autobaseafrica.com/the-nigerian-custom-service-should-take-a-cue/

sunnshyn:


You guys are giving that guy more attention than he deserves...someone that sees light but chooses to walk in darkness because he was given a stick of lit candle to find his way around does not sound to me like someone who truly has brains..

And what's your definition of the light?

TeskyMan:


Young man,

I don't know your age but I respect your thought. If you listen to yourself - "clear reluctance to act proactively as significant northern leader on this bokoharam issue. I expected much more from him to support the current government regardless of their political differences".

This is a poor guy (At least, we all can attest to the fact that he his not wealthy compared to ex-presidents). Buhari is not a public office holder. He his no Senator nor HOR member. He his not the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces. He gets no monthly allocation neither does he retain a monthly pay with the current government, aside his monthly stipend as an ex-president. He his only a former Military President.

Cut me this slack brother! Why are you not holding our political office holder accountable? Why are we not sincere with ourselves? There is a PRESIDENT presiding over the affairs of this country, why can't we all hold him accountable? Don't forget that we elected the PRESIDENT for this same reason. Did you elect Buhari to have expected so much from him and ignore someone whose primary responsibility left unattended to?

Let us do away with sentiments and tribal differences. Lets face the issue and tackle it head on.

Just my humble thought.

Cheers!

The army seem to be making some progress because of the help they are getting from the locals in these Nothern hot-spots; truth is if my brother is a bokoharam member, its only me that can identify him quickly. The point am making here basically is that Nigerians are begining to see that the fight one that can only be won if more people are involved.

Buhari is one of the persons who ordinarily- if he truly has Nigeria at heart as he says he does- should be constantly canvassing for more people support for the soldiers and FG......but he didnt ....thats my point.

1stCitizen:


Tell the truth. Even you laughed when you read again the baloney you wrote above.

The only visible grin here is yours.......check the facts Jonathan is really trying.If you ask me Nigeria's biggest problem isn't corruption rather its our Insatiable greed. I think we should focus more on capacity building as a nation and right now Buhari isn't that guy; he is too much of a point-prover. We Nigerians are largely corrupt, even Buhari himself is corrupt by virtue of this his APC platform.......you need to stay in Lagos to understand what i mean

I strongly believe Jonathan should be allowed and supported to complete some of his laudable agendas. Buhari may be a real change agent when it comes to curbing corruption but truth is we need a Jonathan-kinda system with better foreign direct investments and re-investment of some of our looted funds. One of the reasons it seems Jonathan isn't quite working is because he has been doing massive FIXING.

Nigeria is so deeply entrenched in corruption so badly that there is no way we can significantly tackle corruption without many of our big businesses going down and our growing economy heavily affected.

The main reason am against Buhari at this moment is his clear desperation to curb corruption at all costs. Voting buhari will slow down our economy no doubt!As much as we have to progress via abating corrupt practices, we have to be tactful because if you study some big economies you will discover there are some corrupt underpinnings on which their big businesses thrive on......

Another pointer that make me averse to this Buhari idea is because of his clear reluctance to act proactively as significant northern leader on this bokoharam issue. I expected much more from him to support the current government regardless of their political differences.

......just my 2nairas....

Nigerians be wise.

DRealGeesam:
This is classic should be on front page.

How about drivers buying fuel in kegs and passing a hose from the keg to the tank. So they can actively monitor the amount of fuel being used. I have even seen drivers put the keg in the front passenger's leg room area.

*i have seen drivers put camfo (those white balls used in killing cockroaches) inside the fuel tank.
believing that it reduces the car's fuel consumption

hope it eventually does after so long!!

clemz85:


mehn you chop concrete o, though I have tried it once, what I discovered was that without engaging the break pedal the gear shift button doesn't work and without the button the shift stick doesn't move, may be it depends on design, I tryed it on tinny light camry, only movements like N to D or N to R can work without the gear shift lock (bottun).

I dont suggest trying to engage such because suchan abrupt gear change can wreck an automatic gearbox

In reality who will really want to wreck his or her gearbox? I guess no one, unless you plan running an expensive experiment with some bizarre targets or objectives in mind. With that said, automatic gearboxes are more sensitive than the less heavier, stick driven manual gearboxes which give more room for internal part replacements. If your automatic gearbox gets bad, there is every likelihood that you may require a total unit swap as opposed to a less expensive conventional fix. The reason behind this is the more complex design of automatic gearboxes with more internal gears which are subjected to significantly higher operating temperatures. Other reasons for this complexity is the profound use sensors and actuators which communicate with the E.C.U(electronic control unit).

So basically to avoid and totally forestall high expenses on a gearbox swap, below are a few gearbox wreckers you should have in mind. Worth mentioning also is the fact that over here in Nigeria there are very few technicians with the competency to correctly rebuild gearboxes- which is more like trying to fix it rather than have it replaced.

Excessive heat:

Generation of excessive heat by this unit is one of the major culprits behind its speedy damage. There are permissible levels of heat this enclosed unit can tolerate. The common cause of the gearbox’s overheating is stunted cooling which can be induced by low transmission oil level, transmission oil contamination-either by debris from worn out gearbox components/ fibre or aged oil that might have lost some useful properties and is overdue for servicing. Other likely causes of immense heat generation are; towing vehicles with your automatic transmission car (towing trucks with automatic transmission systems are specially designed to withstand and manage resulting heat inevitably generated) and going up against a high gradient with too much engine load.

However, extended idling can cause speedy wear of some inner gearbox components. Hence during traffic, try as much as you can not to keep your vehicle idling for an extended time frame. Also, just leaving the engine functional whilst the vehicle is idle just to facilitate the use of air-conditioners is a bad move, which affects both the engine and the gearbox.

Low suspension/ground clearance

Apart from ensuring the ride comfort of occupants and dynamic stability of a typical car, active suspension components help maintain substantial ground clearance in line with the manufacturer’s specifications. So if for any reason, adequate ground clearance isn’t maintained, the resulting effect amongst others is the closeness of a typical car’s gearbox to the ground(depending on the way the gearbox is mounted). This makes it prone to different kinds of impacts owing to uneven road surfaces which are very common here in Nigeria. These impacts can seriously affect the input and output shaft seals and other joints around the entire gearbox. This will eventually induce oil leakages over time and when there isn’t enough oil in the gearbox, the days of the gearbox are literally numbered.

Wrong transmission oil

Servicing your automatic gearbox in due time is well recommended. But it’s even more imperative to use the recommended transmission oil as stipulated by your car’s manufacturer, not just your mechanic! SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) ratings differ for a wide range of oil products, including transmission oil products. Some oil products with viscosity levels and properties close to some manufacturer-specified products for some cars might be tolerable. But the resulting negative effects play out overtime and you might just be caught off-guard.

Bad engine

Engines are permanently mechanically linked with gearboxes and in recent times, even electronically linked as well. So the chances of a complete malfunction of either one of these independently functioning units not affecting the other are very slim or even non-existent. The real issue is always how badly either the gearbox or engine gets as a result of either of these units stalling abruptly. So as much as you pay close attention to your gearbox, do same to your engine which equally plays a vital role, as either units not working well can indeed render your vehicle almost useless.

Wrong driving practices

Wrong towing- There are certain precautionary measures which must be taken before towing, and these vary according to different live-axle positioning of the vehicle to be towed. So if in very dire cases you have to tow, take precautionary measures seriously in an adaptive sense and drive as slowly as possible. Also don't do the ridiculous by towing a vehicle whose weight is higher than your car's weight/towing rating- its plain ridiculous.

Not using parking brakes when needed-Like accelerating against gradient to stabilize your car or using just your brake in tight traffic situations.

Shifting levers with vehicle in motion-Not quite an issue in more recent cars with design-incorporated restraints to ensure shifting only when the vehicle is idle or safely close to idle.

Depressing your gas pedal too much whilst the vehicle is idling-It’s simply uncalled for. What ensues is intense wear in both engine and gearbox, especially when the vehicle is barely warmed up.

http://autobaseafrica.com/are-you-an-automatic-gearbox-wrecker/

Saving up to buy a vehicle may take time and paying off a car loan requires a good level of self-discipline; these point straight to the fact that planning is a critical aspect of vehicle ownership. Before the actual purchase of your car, most of your planning activities will revolve around financing or saving up for your eventual purchase; after you buy the car you then begin to concern yourself with vehicle maintenance issues.

However, before you kick-start this vehicle ownership process, it will pay you to be clear about certain considerations which should serve as a guide in your pre/post vehicle planning. These considerations are what we will be discussing. With a heightened emphasis on planning, every prospective vehicle owner or actual vehicle owners must act with the practical awareness of these tips.

Decide whether your car is for ‘keeps’ or to be ‘traded-in’: and if you plan trading your car in(after use), how long do you intend using your car and what is the projected resale value of the vehicle after this period of use? A smarter way to go about this is deciding the number of years you intend using a vehicle based on your local market projections, taking account of the best time (number of years) to sell the car off to get most value for your used car.

Modern cars are hardly built for keeps and cars made by premium luxury brands even require more spending as time goes by, so you have to be smart and clear about the reasons you want/need a vehicle for the long haul.

A car is hardly an investment: however owning a car could be seen as an investment from a personal finance standpoint if owning a car truly offsets your convenient transportation cost. A car is a liability not an asset, as you spend more money in fixing and maintenance even as the vehicle depreciates further. So if there is a slim chance your vehicle will be a classic in the future and you hope to make money off selling it, you should consider parking and not using the vehicle till then.

If you don’t spend little you risk spending more: this even applies to vehicle purchasing because if you don’t spend time and a little money to do your due diligence before choosing which car to buy, there is every likelihood you will face challenges you are not ready or prepared for. An example is not spending a paltry #5,000 in testing a tokunbo #1,200,000 car only to discover a month down the line that your #250,000 gearbox is bad. The list is endless and even trickles down to simple vehicle maintenance activities which should be treated quickly to forestall bigger problems.

The type of mechanic you stick with reflects the type of person you are: the reason baba Mechanic’s shop down the road-type-of-mechanics have become a problem in the Nigerian automobile industry today is because inspite of all their crappy economical suggestions and low-level expertise in fixing cars, they still have returning customers. The mechanic you choose to stick with heavily impacts on vehicle ownership. Some mechanics will literally dissuade you from buying a car you really want simply because it comes with a more complex V6 engine he is still yet to understand how to fix properly.

Simply put, invest time into selecting the right mechanic for your car.

Drive carefully; but not too carefully: I was really surprised when I was speaking with a lady friend who owns a 2004 Audi A4 and she told me that after driving for an extended time-frame within the city, she takes the car out for a spin on the interstate express to ‘open the valves’. But why is this even necessary? City driving can be a potential engine killer! As you face the double risk of sludge formation in your engine or poor lubrication of mating metal engine parts- which eventually leads to heavy internal wear. Engines are more efficient when well heated up (close to its peak operating temperatures) and oil within it circulates properly.

So with this few tips I wish you a blissful vehicle ownership.
http://autobaseafrica.com/5-smart-vehicle-ownership-tips/

When compared with the French Peugeot or the German Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, the loved and well embraced Toyota, Nissan and Honda of our time are late comers to the Nigerian automobile market. This is a fact people barely remember owing to the current wave of Japmobiles-Japanese cars-in Nigeria. The shift in the demand for more Japanese cars in Nigeria instead of more European cars is very much in line with the global shift to light-weight vehicles with better fuel economy and reliability.

According to vehicle sales data at the end of 2013, Toyota still held the top spot in total vehicle sales, followed by a strong European contender-Volkswagen. In this article, I will go beyond justifying the current market shift to Japanese vehicles solely from a global market perspective. In line with what obtains in the Nigerian vehicle market and general transport trends in this region, I have observed a few collective trends which may have led to this local market shift beyond key global or western influence. I will go further to try and explain why Nigerians have come to love Japanese cars so much and why this may be a very difficult trend to reverse.

Initial low price required for vehicle and spare-parts purchase: as many people have a very wrong notion about European car spare-parts pricing, for instance Mercedes Benz parts are traditionally tagged ‘too expensive’. But the truth here is the seemingly higher initial expense required to purchase a Mercedes car part is relative to the expected time it will serve you. A Nissan shock-absorber may cost half the price of that of a Mercedes but would hardly match serving half the life-span of the Mercedes spare-part; it’s not a question of durability, it’s just the clear strategies adopted by these distinct vehicle makers. In a cash-based society like ours with a struggling number of the middle-class individuals, without a doubt, the Japanese strategy suits us very well. A significant chunk of individuals are not after owning super vehicles as they need a simple transporter capable of moving them from point A to point B. They want the car with the lowest price tag and lowest spare-part cost regardless of the long-term durability prospects or frequency of repairs owing to more frequent spare-part replacements or maintenance procedures.

Nigerians are largely ‘safe followers’ and poor researchers: this is very glaring in our purchasing attitude. Some just love Toyota cars owing to the safety in numbers. However, in the real sense of it, you can’t rule out popularity of a particular brand when choosing which to spend your money on but, there a several other factors to consider. A typical Nigerian will land at his/her conclusion based on the facts that many people use Japanese cars and many mechanics know their way around these cars- which is hardly true for newer models.

Japanese cars have good 3rd hand value: when it comes to reselling vehicles in Nigeria, European cars are seen as ‘bad market’, as Japanese cars are the ones that ‘move well’ in the market. But why is this the case? Japanese cars have lighter weight and fewer automation making them more reliable even to non-attentive owners, but European cars with more automation require that extra attention most Nigerian buyers are not willing to give.

Fuel economy is the king: over here in Nigeria, the true test of how fuel thirsty a vehicle is happens to be a measure of its fuel consumption when something is wrong with the engine or drivetrain. Nigerians don’t want a car that will consume excess fuel just because a few sensors or an injector is bad, as they will rather manage. If a vehicle can’t maintain reasonable fuel economy levels while they are ‘managing’, it simply means the vehicle is a true fuel guzzler.

Transporters choice: many transporters prefer Japanese vehicles like Mazda buses/cars, Nissan vehicles, Toyota vehicles and the new wave of Chinese vehicles generally. A good example of this shift from European to Asian vehicles is the fleet history of Cross Country transport which operates across West-Africa. They first began in 2002 with Volkswagen buses but today they have a fleet which comprises majorly of Asian brands like Toyota, Nissan, President Hiace , Foton and our locally made Innoson. Preferences of this kind go a long way to cement the motoring public’s perception about the reliability of Japanese vehicles as these inter-state commuter buses are subjected to repeated stresses and road impact more than any city car, hence why they are used as a perfect yard-stick in passenger vehicle selection.

Vehicle dealerships/car sale centers in Nigeria are largely uncreative: every dealer hopes to get a market share and very few really think about a long-term strategy to go up against well embraced and loved Japanese cars. A few notable efforts have been made by dealers like Cosharis, Dana, amongst others in the past to lure Nigerians to try out European, Koreans and American marques but, for there to be a true market shift, there has to be a more sustained and collective approach backed by better after-sales services and better post-warranty policies.

Our average mechanics are lazy and non-progressive, but street smart: the same mechanics that will worship the 1999 ‘tiny light’ Toyota Camry will out rightly regard the 2008 ‘muscle’ Toyota Camry as a problematic car. This is simply because the tiptronic gear system (which is electronically mated to the engine) is any average mechanic’s nightmare. A typical Nigerian mechanic isn’t conscious of technological advancement around him/her. Rather than trying to learn new things, they will rather justify their love for the old technologies, just as they did with the injector system when manufacturers began phasing out carburetors. These same mechanics are however, smart enough to influence purchasing decisions of their clients to enable them remain relevant.

So if you happen to be a Japanese-crazy Nigerian vehicle owner, please share why you love your car so much.

http://autobaseafrica.com/amazing-facts-why-nigerians-love-japanese-cars/

lonelydora:
Using Natural gas condensate as fuell instead of the normal petrol. My neighbour, a banker, always begging me to bring condensate for him whenever I'm about to go back to work.

Thats interesting,how do you go about storing this condensate?

oweniwe:


says who? I do with it auto jor.

If am low on fuel, i rev up my sienna, take foot off the accelerator and shift the gear to Neutral...... When the car slows down, i shift it back to D, rev up, back to Neutral again.

Don't try this on a busy road o....

na wah ooooo........Nigerians!!Am sure there are more tricks ti find out

9icetoo:
U forgot to add "turning off ignition on slopes to save fuel".

thats a classic example which manual car owners enjoy!noted.

As confirmed by several individuals I have engaged that reside outside Nigeria, our roads hold a real potential for a new niche which should be rightly termed as ‘road tourism’. There is hardly ever a dull moment whilst driving on Nigerian roads as you would be kept amazed by several stunning road acts. However, beyond these unusual motoring behavior collectively, there are a few underpinning funny acts and thought processes that are truly behind motoring trends in Nigeria.

Below are some funny and unfunny motoring acts which are significantly aimed at driving costs down and spending less by Nigerian motorists.

Studying police, VIO, FRSC and LASTMA movements and modus operandi: Ojota exit after 7up, Ogunnisi road (after grammar school bus-top Ojodu berger), Ojodu-berger bus-stop, Anthony bus-stop (close to Oshodi exit), the list goes on and on; rings a bell? Some Lagosians literally have in their heads the map of Lagos with markings of VIO,FRSC and LASTMA hot-spots; rather than invest in complete vehicle documents they will rather study the trends of the law enforcement officers. Some even make it a habit to leave early for work and return late at night to beat these law enforcement officers at their own game.

Buying ‘Tokunbo’ tyres: this one beats me! Tyres take up road induced stresses and are subject to wear and tear, yet people go ahead to spend monies on non-retreaded used tyres. This particular funny act is not entirely funny as many lives can be as stake, but yet people still patronize these kind of tyre sellers. I don’t know who to blame; SON (standard organization of Nigeria) or the motoring mass?

Complaining bitterly; yet sticking with economic mechanics and their sickening ideas: you know it is wrong to even try managing that vehicle component due for replacement, but you just seek that cunny backing from these guys whom you know very well are desperate to sniff out the littlest Naira notes from your pocket. Like I keep saying, Nigerians are largely responsible for the type of mechanics we have today because instead of encouraging these guys to think progressively, we fuel their economizing thoughts which come with consequences like poor service quality.

Buying ‘Tokunbo’ cars and spare-parts with the notion that these cars and components are stronger: unfortunately most Nigerians have grown accustomed to the notion that imported 2nd hand products generally come with relatively better quality standards. This is hardly true in recent times, as some ‘fresh Tokunbo’ cars you will find today are freshly baked in Nigerian car spraying ovens; ever wondered why you see lots of imported and unregistered scraps being driven around Lagos roads especially at night? Also, car parts may be extracted from locally used vehicles or may be locally re-manufactured with no standards. Why not invest in new parts and cars with warranties after your exhaustive research?

Living in low-budget areas with bad roads and buying expensive cars: [/b]the line of thinking of individuals like this may just be captured thus, ‘I don’t drive my home around with me’. Imagine owning a 2013 Toyota Camry and living in an area that frustrates even Mack trucks during intense rainfall?!

[b]Reducing fan speed to minimize fuel consumption during A/C(air-conditioner) operation: Once your A/C is on, your compressor is engaged and engine load is increased. It is this increment in engine load that leads to the higher fuel consumption you may experience. Altering fan-speed in no way affects fuel consumption; it may speed up use of your refrigerant by a little fraction, but it doesn’t affect fuel consumption.

Picking up officers to avoid penalties: I was in a danfo bus a few months ago and right in the front seat was a F.R.S.C official who sat beside a driver that was busy climbing all the pavements, driving on all possible road shoulders and literally flaunting the fundamental rules of sensible driving. Clearly because the official who was tagged as a ‘staff’ didn’t pay the fare for the trip; hence, wasn’t obliged or in a position to take punitive actions against the danfo driver. The funny irony here is a few months down the line if the same official is on duty along the road, he will chase the same driver for the same offence he overlooked right under his nose.

Are you guilty of committing any of these funny acts? Share your thoughts and stop clowning!
http://autobaseafrica.com/funny-things-nigerian-motorist-do-to-save-money/

bimbor:


You got mail.

Just replied.

bimbor:
Thanks for the advice, handy they are I must say.
But let me ask, are you an automobile engineer? Where is you workshop located? Can you drop your contact details for ease of reach?
Can you scan vehicles and fix the error codes?
Which cars do you specialise in?

@bimbor, thanks for your feedback. By training i am an automotive engineer but i don't own a workshop or get directly involved in fixing cars, however, by virtue of being an automobile writer and researcher, i get involved in a lot of vehicle maintenance and fixing activities in Nigeria. If you own an automobile business and you require professional business services like business development, business planning etc, i can help. As for real car maintenance for a few brands i can give you referrals that can deliver. email:info@penandcrank.com or call 07035010529. Hope this helps, thanks.

Do you know your driving and maintenance basics well? You don’t need to be an encyclopedia of all the technical jargons with regards to automobiles for you to adequately take care of your car. All you really need are basic details to forestall vehicle breakdown and significantly cut down expenses in the course of owning a vehicle. This e-book is a very handy tool in accomplishing a good level of comprehension of why cars are made the way they are and also the right way to drive and maintain them.

Before you dig deeper into specific vehicle brands or your car make, you need a holistic overview of what cars are really about; this e-book series will help you do just that. Representation of basic and complex details couldn’t come easier than in A, B, C………

Read on and stay glued to our automotive-IQ series; one e-book for every month!

Follow this link to download :http://autobaseafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/motoring-essentials-e-book.pdf

Do you know your driving and maintenance basics well? You don’t need to be an encyclopedia of all the technical jargons with regards to automobiles for you to adequately take care of your car. All you really need are basic details to forestall vehicle breakdown and significantly cut down expenses in the course of owning a vehicle. This e-book is a very handy tool in accomplishing a good level of comprehension of why cars are made the way they are and also the right way to drive and maintain them.

Before you dig deeper into specific vehicle brands or your car make, you need a holistic overview of what cars are really about; this e-book series will help you do just that. Representation of basic and complex details couldn’t come easier than in A, B, C………

Read on and stay glued to our automotive-IQ series; one e-book for every month!

Follow this link to download : [url]http://ow.ly/CUHrz [/url]

oblo:
When we say German machines are the best some go dey throw used oil ..i dey come..





.m....

you can say that again and again.

How good is your engine and gearbox? That’s always the first question that springs up in ascertaining the current state of any vehicle, because replacing vehicle engines or gearboxes are relatively expensive and tasking procedures. Selection of the best auto-technician for such a complex activity isn’t merely about how experienced a mechanic might be, as one has to consider several other factors before taking the next step to cash-in on these replacement automobile systems.

If you find yourself in this dilemma, the earlier you work/walk your way out of the situation the better for you and your vehicle. In doing this you need to keep an open mind in considering various options or alternatives because fixing the vehicle may not always be the right decision, just as trading in your vehicle without any fix may just be ill-advised. However the case may be, ensure you digest these spelt out rules which I have coined from my years of involvement in several engine and gearbox swaps.

Establish the need: A faulty or improperly matched spark plug for instance, can frustrate a vehicle owner to the point that he/she will rather hit the road to get by with public transportation. Such a seemingly minute engine anomaly is enough to trigger thoughts of swapping your engine especially if your current mechanic isn’t helping out in correctly diagnosing the real problem- making the possibility of your engine’s revival seem hopeless. Bottom-line, if it ever gets to the point where all fingers point in the direction of changing relatively expensive engines or gearboxes, endeavor to carry-out an independent verification process. In doing this be on the look-out for very specific problem areas and/or faulty components which form part of your entire engine or gearbox. Also ensure exhaustive analysis and tests our carried out with the right tools and methodologies in arriving at these conclusions.

Identify the cause of component failure: after confirming the faulty engine or gearbox component that necessitates a total engine or gearbox swap, you have to find out and understand what first led to this component(s) damage. There are several reasons why this is necessary; however the most important reason you need this information handy is to ensure you don’t find yourself back in the same situation a few months down the line. The commonest reason most mechanics recommend an engine swap is because of damaged engine blocks while in the case of automatic gearboxes, bad internal gears tops the list of defects capable of damaging the entire system. In these cases mentioned above, the underlying cause of failure is most likely plain neglect or age-related issues. So beneath all the mechanic jargons, you need to understand your actions or inactions that may have led to the damage of such a significant vehicle system.

Asides gathering relevant information to forestall a reoccurrence, you need this piece if information for the next step.

Do the math: should I fix the vehicle or sell it off?

[Average market value of your car (Nigerian used) – True value of your car] = X

If the cost of fixing this vehicle or carrying out the capital replacement is close to or is more than the derived value of X, it is advisable to sell off the vehicle the way it is to salvage as much as you can. The only reason you should go ahead to fix is only if there is a slight chance of you selling the vehicle off at a fair price with all systems functional or if you need the vehicle for keeps.

Research and carry out independent price comparison: don’t just rely on the pricing from one dealer or mechanic even if you have made up your mind about who to buy from (because you trust their products or have a strong referral), having this information helps in bargaining the final price of the engine or gearbox. So don’t hesitate to head to the market.

Trust your chosen mechanic/dealer (you have no choice): don’t make the grave mistake of buying from A and fixing with mechanic B. If you buy from dealer A, ask for him to suggest a trusted hand for you. But if u choose to go through a mechanic, simply don’t concern yourself about where and how he gets the engine or gearbox.

Negotiate well: try to get some form of guarantee for the post-fix condition of your vehicle. Some mechanics/dealers give between a 2week to a 6month guarantee. Also try and establish the mechanisms by which such guarantees will hold.

After the fix test EXTENSIVELY!!!

Re-schedule/plan your vehicle maintenance: after all the tests, if your vehicle is certified okay, proceed to planning your vehicle maintenance; get your mechanic involved in this planning as much as possible.

In conclusion, this is one situation no one would love to be in- unless you are an automobile enthusiast who loves reviving old vehicles. This stamps the need to invest time and efforts into proper vehicle maintenance.

http://autobaseafrica.com/8-rules-for-replacing-engines-or-gearboxes-in-nigeria/

still waiting for other diverse views on this matter #hornfreeday

it is rather unfortunate that instead of the Lagos state government to focus its energies to address other key issues surrounding vehicle pollution, they would rather spend resources on shallow campaigns that have little developmental effects.

So much rave has surrounded this remarkable German machine as it hits a tremendous milestone of undiluted class and ruggedness. Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the rugged G-Class wagon with a limited-edition model dubbed 35 Edition. The unveiling of this new stunner comes just a few days after Gunther Holtorf –a former manager at Lufthansa-wrapped up his world-wide adventure which began in 1988 with the same G-Wagon and the same engine which reads 890,000km. This feat will go down in history as his vehicle will be displayed in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

According to leftlanenews.com, 2014 35 Edition G-wagon will be offered exclusively in black, white or gray with gloss black bumpers on both ends, blacked out headlights and five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. Also, all models will come.

Other mouthwatering features will include a four-spoke AMG sport multi-function steering wheel, black Nappa leather on seats (also on door panels and the dashboard), Mercedes COMAND infotainment system and a standard Chrome Package.

Options for what you can get under the hood are the 3.0-liter diesel-burning V6 G350 BlueTEC which churns out 211 horsepower and 398 lb-ft. of torque or the more powerful G500 which packs a 5.5-liter V8 tuned powerhouse with top speed of 255km/hr capable of producing 387 hp and 390 lb-ft. torque. The diesel powered V6 engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and is capable of hitting 100km/hr in 9.1seconds.

The G350 BlueTEC will cost €101,031 (approximately $130,000) and the G500 will retail for €112,812 (roughly $145,000).

http://autobaseafrica.com/benz-celebrates-35th-anniversary-of-the-g-wagon-as-gunther-holtorf-completes-a-26year-world-tour-with-the-same-g-wagon/

According to several news reports and publicity efforts of the Lagos state ministry of information and strategy, today, October 15th has been set aside as ‘horn free day’. An effort aimed at sensitizing Lagosians on the need to reduce noise pollution from blaring of vehicle horns, as well as improving lane discipline (while driving) and fundamentally, drawing motorists’ attention to the importance of road discipline and mutual respect for other road users.

This is a highly welcome move to address an apparent issue Lagos faces owing to its high population of over 20million people and its reoccurring vehicular congestion along major roads across the city. But from a more holistic stand-point, this is an untidy effort to address just one of the few issues that has resulted from the root cause of noise pollution, which is a fusion of several societal problems and the failure of a few existing institutions and regulatory systems.

The irony of noise pollution in Lagos: Have you sat down at the last row of the popular ‘Danfo’ bus in motion? If you have, you will agree with me that blaring horns is hardly the crux of the matter when it comes to noise pollution by vehicles. Industrial and domestic generators are also more profound sources of noise pollution than vehicles. But how can we truly ascertain this when our regulatory bodies do little in actively and accurately capturing environmental pollution (by vehicles) data in Nigeria? Where there is no clear and fool-proof mechanism to capture key vehicle use data it seems very much misplaced to try spearheading a campaign to curb noise just from vehicle horns, when in reality more noise is generated from dozens of poorly maintained vehicle engines that contribute to air and noise pollution in Lagos.

Also, If only adequate measures are taken to monitor and control the kind of drivers that find their way unto Nigerian roads, maybe horn blaring would not have been too much of an issue in the first instance. This further elevates the need for the driver licensure system to be re-addressed and improved on.

Emissions (owing to burning fossil fuels) and solid waste mismanagement are the real threats not noise: as poor waste management (especially having clogged drainage paths) affects the quality and life span of roads. When you have horrendous traffic conditions owing to light showers earlier in the day, it’s only natural and very humanly to let some steam off by exerting the remaining energy in you on your steering wheel at the slightest provocation- hence, why road rage in Lagos is quite a normal occurrence. Not to mention the current wave of floods in Asia and Europe which shows how badly hit economies can be if averting flood isn't made a priority.

What the Lagos state government should however be commended for is spearheading an annual initiative, which amongst other things has gotten writers like myself to research and make meaningful suggestions based on the reality in Lagos and what the masses rightly expect of the government. Based on the challenges the state government clearly faces in managing the various forms of pollution owing to vehicle use, rather than spending resources on the campaign for reduction of noise pollution from vehicle horns ,other campaigns worth considering that will have far-reaching effects are:

-Clear your car error codes/check engine notification day

-Vehicle emission control day

-Don’t Lither Lagos roads campaign day

Basically, we should be a lot more creative in seeking lasting solutions and supporting campaigns of these kind with the necessary legislations and feasible plans with profound private sector participation. A remarkable example of this is the successfully implemented and fairly sustained BRT bus system in Lagos which clearly in several ways has reduced the number of vehicles on Lagos roads; hence the pollution (noise and air) levels from vehicles collectively.

[b]On a final note, [/b]I am not trying to stamp the impression that noise pollution isn't an issue that needs to be addressed; rather the glaring point made here is that government really should participate in campaigns aimed at addressing what affects the larger chunk of the masses the most; such that can truly make a change. Also in question here are the mechanisms for coming up with public campaigns of these kind and why government should desist from shallow efforts all to make Lagos Metropolis seem more like a global and modern city.

http://autobaseafrica.com/why-the-october-15th-horn-free-day-in-lagos-may-not-be-memorable/

Nigeria is one country that hugely depends on imported spare-parts (more than 95% of automobile spare-parts are imported according to the Standard organization of Nigeria, SON), hence the volume of locally manufactured car parts is almost negligible owing(partly) to the highly vibrant automobile retail market here in this West-African business hub. The Nigerian automobile spare-part market could be categorized into 6 firm sub-divisions which comprises of O.E.M (Original equipment manufacturer) parts, Fake O.E.M parts, Original After-market parts, Fake After-market parts, Foreign-used/salvaged parts and locally(illegally)re-manufactured parts.

This broad categorization of the automobile spare-part sub-set of the Nigerian automobile industry is the regrettable condition which local motorists find themselves today which not only is a bane to the automobile industry but also to the Nigerian government at large.

But on a deeper thought, the demand for these products and the sustainability of this poorly structured spare-parts retail industry sub-set is a direct evidence of common economics of demand and supply; meaning the importation or re-manufacturing of the parts must have been prompted by a clear demand or a summation of factors which makes it profitable business for these ugly classes of spare-parts dealers and even more difficult for honest dealers that do business the right way.

The options we have today didn’t just spring up overnight! It took years to evolve to becoming the complex industry as we have today; but who is to blame? As expected we know it is the responsibility of the government and its agencies to combat this type of menace and to put in place proper moderation of this vibrant industry, but let’s not shy away from the root cause of the problem which is the demand for sub-standard car products by a substantial chunk of the Nigerian motoring populace. This points back to you and me, as we must have knowingly or unknowingly instigated an ugly norm which will take years to fix; but for the time being, how have you been part of the problem? Below are how you may have been part of the problem especially in relation to mechanics.

Ripping off mechanics: many motorists fail to recognize that these hard-working individuals depend on their daily income from getting under the hood, getting dirty under sun, tinkering with complex mechanisms or providing timely solutions etc, to feed their families and stay in business. So when you fail to pay them what they feel they rightly deserve, it’s only natural for them to come up with fraudulent means of raking in their money. One easy way they achieve this is by charging you a marked-up value of the estimated price(s) of original spare-parts and eventually buying the sub-standard product(s)-meaning they end up making money from the mark-up and the balance from the purchased fake part. A dissatisfied mechanic can go to any length to get his money back so be wise and considerate when bargaining.

Unrealistic economy:which leads to under-budgeting for certain procedures to be carried out on your car. An example is budgeting #50,000 for the complete replacement of your tyre set (4pieces) and expecting good tyres at the end of the day or blaming the mechanic for being a rip-off 12months down-the-line. The number 7 nugget will further elaborate on the importance of prior investigation before carrying out car maintenance procedures.

Outright suggestions: some of us are masters when it comes to cutting to the chase. A typical Nigerian mechanic village is one funny place where you will find weird operations like ‘welding drive-shafts’ or ‘welding broken suspension components’; if in doubt why not ask a road-side mechanic for a quick fix on any car issue and see the many overwhelming options he/she will come up with-but that I wouldn't advice, just saying! Some motorist have their wonder mechanics which they came about via their friendship network, so when a problem comes up is an issue of suggesting to the mechanic to simply ‘do with he did to Andrew’s car’.

Not following up claims: most of us are too busy to pay attention to details that concern our cars. A speed-thirsty friend of mine surprisingly changed the way he drives and maintained moderate speeds on this particular short-trip. This prompted me asking why he switched his driving style, in response he said, ‘when you get a bill of #24,000 for replacement of shock-absorbers one just has to pipe-low’. I went further to ask him if he got a new or used set of shock-absorbers, and to my amazement he said he couldn't tell; but then I remembered its Christmas! Most Nigerians can be overly trusting, lazy and laid-back, this makes it easy for them to be ripped off. If mechanics know for sure that their clients don’t double-check, it means its business as usual and they can purchase any type of spare-parts and fix it.

No prior investigation: very few take out time to investigate the true prices of quality spare-parts, the right vendors, the expected life-span of spare-parts and other associated factors which could help avert buying the wrong products or paying high for fake products. Most of us don't even know when we have been cheated months down the line, but the truth is when motorist take out time to be informed, they make it difficult for fraudulent retailers to thrive and this will definitely discourage this awful trend.

No or little Vehicle knowledge: it may come as a surprise but some city dwellers feel it’s normal to swap brake-pads on a monthly basis. The need for enough motoring knowledge can never be overemphasized as this serves as the basis for choosing the right mechanic, selecting the correct spare-parts to use and how best to extend the useful lives of our car parts(also easily identifying a fake part). Having fair vehicle knowledge hugely depends on your level of interest about cars.

Not double-checking referrals: some of us stick with mechanics or spare-part vendors because we got the link from our trusted friends or colleague. It’s no news that depending solely on referrals isn't fool-proof when it comes to avoiding rip-offs. Ensure you use the information you gather from your prior (independent) investigations to serve as a basis for the assessment of the set of individuals you intend entrusting your vehicle to.

To wrap up this article, take note of the fact that it took a misguided collective effort to get to where we are today; hence the only way forward to reverse this imbalance is to collectively tackle the root problem by changing the way we take care of our cars and deal with issues concerning our cars.

http://autobaseafrica.com/how-nigerians-encourage-sub-standard-car-spare-parts/

The luxury battle in the U.S. has always been between BMW, Lexus, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Up until 2011, Lexus was the top selling luxury brand in the U.S before being displaced by BMW. However, according to recent sales data, Mercedes’ U.S. sales increased by as much as 14% representing a total of 312,534 units in 2013 beating BMW to first place by as much as 3,254 units.

From all indications this trend is here to stay for a while as Mercedes-Benz has not been relenting in their efforts to clinch substantial market share by introducing completely new vehicle models like the all-new A-Class, CLA Class, GLA Class etc, with relatively lower price tags and more appeal to younger buyers. In addition to the recent strategic moves by Mercedes-Benz, we are still expecting the all-new 2015 C-Class this year and also the impressive sales record of the all-new entry-level CLA sedan which racked up a respectable 12,000 units during its four months in the market are clear indicators.

According to leftlanenews.com, the President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA affirmed that 2013 was an incredible year for Mercedes-Benz in every way and he went further to add that, ”we saw record sales, flexed our muscles across the entire product line from top to bottom and brought the customer experience to an all-time high. With the help of our dealer partners and the entire organization behind us, we expect this beautifully choreographed series of product debuts to lead us to another phenomenal year in 2014.”

Other sales data include; Toyota’s Lexus brand selling 273,847units and Audi hitting 158,061 vehicles in 2013.

http://autobaseafrica.com/mercedes-benz-is-winning-the-luxury-battle/