₦airaland Forum

Got the mail a couple of hours ago,I'd like to know the rationale behind this move.I felt they got re-certified after meeting certain criteria like new planes etc??Isn't this more like fg going back to their vomit?I just hope everything is sorted out because the last thing Nigeria needs now is fewer airlines and fewer jobs.

According to a recently published statement by Honda America, the recall of approximately 101,000 Honda Pilot vehicles, 60,000 Acura MDX vehicles, 21,000 Acura RL vehicles( from the 2005 model year) and approximately 800 Acura MDX vehicles (from the 2006 model year) will be conducted. The identified area of concern according to the report is the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system with its potential to malfunction. Honda affirms that no crashes or injuries have yet been recorded owing to this anomaly, however several complaints about such malfunctions were reported.

As stated by Honda America; ‘If an electrical capacitor on the VSA control unit was damaged during manufacture, the VSA system could malfunction and apply a small amount of brake force for a fraction of a second, without any input by the driver.’

What this means is that false and undesired braking can occur if the driver applies the brakes during a VSA system malfunction. To remedy this potential issue, Honda and Acura dealers will install a new electrical sub-harness, free of charge. As an added precautionary measure, approximately 51,000 of the included Pilot vehicles will also be inspected to make sure that an electrical ground bolt for the VSA system is properly tightened as a loosened ground bolt may cause similar short periods of unexpected brake activation.

This should serve as an alert for car owners that purchased and/or use the stated vehicles to take quick measures to avert any impending accident. As stated in the article, this recall applies only to American imported Honda and Acura vehicles; Honda vehicles that were bought from local dealers here in Nigeria (Japanese imports) are not included.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/honda-recalls-2005-honda-pilot-2005-2006-acura-mdx-and-2005-acura-rl/

Why are imported fairly used-cars in Nigeria referred to as ‘tokunbo’ cars in the first place? I guess that’s a million dollar question which unfortunately this article isn’t going to answer. But nonetheless, several angles of the topic will be well analyzed to inform both intending car buyers and current car owners about the gains of going the ‘tokunbo’ way. There are a truck load of reasons why Nigeria is flooded with imported used cars and why most Nigerians are literally forced to make do with these cars; the main factors that have driven up the demand for tokunbo cars are the current deficient state of our local automotive industry, unbelievably high burrowing rates and lack of innovation to drive real growth on several levels of the Nigerian automotive industry at large.
So back to the topic at hand which can be summarized in one question; what are the hidden and glaring advantages of purchasing tokunbo cars? The many answers to this question are enumerated below.

Unlimited access to car-specific data: the data and information you need to weigh your purchasing options and to carry out all sorts of pre/post purchase analysis and decision-making is readily available. It’s re-assuring to know that if your car develops a problem, you can further research, study trends and make decisions that might even help you save a few Naira bundles. Also taking cognizance of the kind of mechanics we have around, you can’t go wrong empowering yourself with useful practical knowledge about your kind of car and banking less on just what car manufacturers say about their products; besides its their ‘beloved’ hitch-free car product.
But: An 8year old car might have tons of data generated over the years, but in most cases that gives you 8more reasons to be prudent and cautious before purchasing such a car. Besides, you can make predictions and deductions from the performance and reliability of exiting models when considering buying a brand new car.

Pocket friendly price tags: Simply put, tokunbo cars are cheaper! This undoubtedly is the main driver behind the proliferation of these cars.
But: These cars are relatively cheaper for a reason or tons of reasons. Also burrowing rates of up to 25% isn’t something a nation like ours should brag about and quite a number of Japanese tokunbo cars don’t depreciate in real life as they ought to based on paper analysis.

Availability of Spare-parts: owning a tokunbo car means you have options when it comes to the kind of spare-part you might desire; it all depends on the quality and durability you require whether it’s a brand new OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or an aftermarket car product.
But: Having to chose from a range of options as you clearly have it might be an unavoidable source of head-aches; having to make do with extracted-tokunbo spare parts too is a bigger head-ache.

Technical Mastery: [/b]After years of mechanics having to maintain and repair certain model ranges, them becoming better at it is only natural and well expected. An example is here in Lagos where there is hardly any mechanic that can’t fix a 1999 Toyota Camry popularly known as ‘tiny light’.
[b]But: on the flipside, in-experienced crooks always think the stand a chance even with advanced and sophisticated car systems before them. Regrettably also, the very good auto-technicians seem to forget or downplay the fact that newer cars with better and more sophisticated systems are rolled out on a daily basis.

Collectors and enthusiast best bet: The exact opposite of how classic cars are valued in more modern societies exists here in Nigeria where old cars are either in junk-yards or used as taxis (the kabu-kabu type). This in fact is an enthusiast’s delight because one can purchase a world acclaimed ‘classic’ at a ridiculously low price within our well-beloved territorial enclave-Nigeria.
But: Nigerians largely perceive being a classic car enthusiast as a lame excuse for being broke or financially incapable; or do you disagree?
kindly share your thoughts here and on http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-beauty-of-tokunbo-cars/

Unknown Member: [size=16pt]FINALLY!!!!![/size]

Wow!! This is great News..

However, I think the government needs to also do something about re-routing vessels into other ports in the Nation. We have cases where vessels sit on the water for weeks waiting to berth in Apapa or Tin Can when Calabar ports & Port Harcourt ports are waiting for even canoe sef to come.

Market forces will naturally make that happen;the simple idea is to decongest these Lagos ports and all these unnecessary trucks on our roads.

[quote author=Omo_Tier1]I am sure you have not seen EKO Atlantic project With the way Lagos State is going, if another government like that of Fashola takes root in Lagos for another 15years, those human wonders you are witnessing in China will be evident in Lagos![/quote]Lagos can't be there in the next 30years even with 3more Fasholas

Today I watched a documentary on the construction of the hong-kong international airport which was built on a man-made island created by sand-filling the space between two natural mountains.When you see stuffs like these you literally weep for this country!I haven't been to China or most foreign nations but am sure Fashola and the rest of them have;its very funny and equally appalling that they will do miniature projects and be fanning themselves.With the clear knowledge of what's happening outhere you should just work,find better ways to work and most importantly keep quiet!

Ladipo was largely built by ibo men with little government support;instead of government to think up creative ways like monetizing auto-waste,they are busy creating impressions.1billion naira is too much to set things right rather than create all these media attention to show you are working.

When it comes to achieving and enjoying lower mileage and fuel consumption(comparatively with similar vehicle configuration),FWD is the way to go.But personally I'd go for RWD any day because of better stability and weight distribution.

If you ask me,the only reason these dudes have come this far is because we allowed them equalise in our first meeting and we gave them some sort of mental momentum.This evening the Super Eagles will clear their head and put them in their place.They had a chance in the first game because Yobo had a terrible game;they might be very physical but their finishing is poor.

The need for Nigerians to be safeguarded in the best way possible creates a vacuum which should be filled, not at the detriment of the same Nigerians supposedly safeguarded. Below is a brief appraisal of how all involved parties are affected by the existence of roadblocks or more appropriately, checkpoints. Without doubt, we know as a fact the corruption that ensues at these points and the level of abuse of the purpose for which these checkpoints were put in place in the first instance.
On the Roads[/i]

The drift causing curves

The spiral effect of cars getting past mounted checkpoints on roads by negotiating contrived bends is the speedy degradation of that portion of the road stretch in comparison with other road portions. According to Brett Neal (Pavemanpro.com), abnormal road deterioration can be caused by different reasons, which might be natural causes like sunlight and rainfall. Others include human error in construction like, insufficient or improperly compacted base below the asphalt, over and under compaction of asphalt, improper temperature of asphalt when applied and poor drainage.

This class of road-user induced deterioration of road portions owing to certain kinds of checkpoints is simply avoidable. As it shortens the life span of roads expected to last at least up to 25years. Roads intended to accommodate bends and turns are designed and built differently.

Heated spots

Just like in sport, any weak link can endanger the whole team. Heated spots on roads are known to buckle overtime. The seepage that follow can cause water to penetrate the top laid asphalt when the binding glue wears off, and this goes further to wash off the base which can induce cracks even on other nearby portions. Concentrated heated spots which rapidly weaken road surfaces come about at night because, most road blocks are lit up via crude methods like burnt tyres or wood. A more natural cause that can induce this over a longer space of time is sunlight, which however, isn’t unevenly concentrated on spots. These spot can degenerate to becoming portholes.

Uneven road deformation

Cars are lighter in motion, forcing these heavy weights on certain spots too frequently on portions of road surfaces creates different kinds of pressure and impact points. As hypothetical as this might sound, I will urge you take note of the state of road surfaces close to or on which these checkpoints are mounted. You will agree that these points that force vehicles to stay stationery for extended periods are more prone to deteriorating quickly; at a rate more than that of surfaces that enjoy free traffic flow. As experts will agree, high friction surfaces like road surfaces close to traffic lights, road intersections and all anticipated stoppage points are taken account of in road design. In comparison with regular road construction, better materials and thicker asphalt coatings are employed on these high friction surfaces, so when road blocks are randomly created on regular roads, it accelerates aging of such road surfaces.

[i]On the cars[/b]

[b]Higher levels of fuel consumption

Stopping too frequently for several road blocks doesn’t happen without downshifting to lower gears, which takes up more power from your engine. The outcome of this is spending relatively more fuel to get around due to spending more time than you averagely should, fiddling with lower gears. For automatic transmission(especially older models) cars, the case is worse as the torque converters of their gearboxes are constantly connected with the engine. This particular reason is why vehicles with automatic transmission are less economical than their manual counterparts with the same engine capacity.

Also with brakes, as one is most likely driving up levels of his/her brake pad’s wear rate when around these checkpoints mostly due to harsh or frequent braking. The combination of these two is the main culprit behind accelerated pad wear and that’s what happens most of the time around these blocks. Most drivers don’t anticipate these blocks, thereby forcing them to come to a halt. This equally doesn’t happen without increasing suspension work and affecting other components with abrasive surfaces like; clutch discs in manual transmission cars, which can wear harshly too at these points.

Ultimately on the people[/b]

[b]Increased levels of driving induced stress

Hold-ups traditionally induce ‘erupting emotions’ in most cases, especially when unforeseen delays like checkpoints cause a hindrance in traffic flow. Flowing traffic induces the least stress. Clutching down and changing gears in conventional manual cars, ceases to be fun when you have to do that too often in a short space of time or when one has to hold the clutch down to idle. At such moments the only thing moving swiftly are signals to and fro your brain, which ultimately raises an average human’s stress and fatigue level. These effects come to live in form of hurting knees, muscle cramps and painful body joints.

Its pocket deep

The frequent brake pad change and extra fuel consumed for example, drives up spending and extra cash commitments depending on your daily route. However, other aspects of this financial involvement you might not quite be taking account of are; the extra time you spend in getting things straight and repeated labour cost.

YES! The Government too[/b]

It doesn’t make much sense to kill a rat with a sledge hammer. Our roads are already under enormous pressure, which have naturally driven up their maintenance cost. With roadblocks in place as well, it means more money has to be spent. Another angle to this is the cost of mounting personnel on highways, monitoring and deploring them isn’t without extra cost too.

Let’s quickly examine the pros, do these checkpoints thwart crime?

It is common belief that when travelling across states in Nigeria, if you don’t see these men (policemen) on the road especially on spots they normally would be found, you have a reason to be bothered. These men actually put their lives at risk for rewards which ideally, might not materialize immediately.

In conclusion[b]

Establishing checkpoints on Nigeria’s roads was government’s reaction to the phenomenal increase in the activities of robbers on the roads. A pro-active measure that initially yielded desired results but over the years, we have seen streaks of unparalleled abuse and unprecedented proliferation of these supposed critical points of security. It’s clearly time for other methods of achieving safer roads to be exploited, especially effective use of available technology which ultimately cuts down cost overtime.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/analyzing-the-effects-of-road-blocks-in-nigeria/

outrage: That guy own na beans, compaired to the refereeing of togo-tunisia

Omo, that refree go get award..


Refereing in afcon is mediocre!

That refree's agenda was to put Tunisia in the quarter finals.

FXKing2012: Truth of the matter is the OP is possessed for the following reasons:
1)She was so uncomfotable as the preaching started.
2) She started shouting at the man because the demon in her could not stand the preaching.
3) The demon in her wanted to use her to deter others from hearing the Word.

The cab driver is a true MOG for the following reasons:
1) He was ready for God's work anywhere and anytime and in the presence of anybody.
2) When the devil tried using the OP to stop him from preaching, the Spirit in him fought back by preaching even louder.
3) The devil wanted to use the accident to disrupt the preaching because the devil knew the man was preaching the truth which was capable of saving souls.

@OP, what you are unaware of is that probably you were supposed to die that day but the strong MOG (cab driver) saved you because you entered his cab. The devil attempted to take your life that morning but the presence of the man actually saved you.

Repent of your sins OP, ask for forgiveness, give your life to Christ and preach the Word to others.

Stay blessed!

Why won't things remain the way they are in this Nigeria;when people are blinded by their religious sentiments?Its funny that most support the driver!!!We are talking about driving here;you need full concentration and utmost alertness.Preaching behind the wheels is PLAIN STUPID if you ask me.Am a christian and I beleieve in God,don't get it confused.If you wanna win souls for Christ get creative;record your preaching on a tape and urge your passengers to listen.
Its a shame that most support this,on the other hand the poster should have let go cos he/she worsened the situation and endangered others even more.

A new year has just began, which can also be seen as an opportunity to look into areas of your car. Most people begin the year by trying to adhere to their earlier drafted ‘New Year resolutions’; while some subscribe to the psychological exercise of ‘turning a new leaf’. Either way, what these two similar approaches tend to achieve is helping individuals make 2013 better than last year for them by taking proactive measures and adopting better ways of living and doing things. In that same light, when it comes your car, consider the few points stated below a ‘resolution list’ which can help in generating your next plan of action to ensure you have a blissful motoring year ahead.

Check your vehicle papers: It’s very possible to forget how vital your vehicle documents are until you get reminded by relevant authorities during their random checks. Depending on the driver class you fall under, some of the necessary vehicle documents that must be complete and up to date are your driver’s license, vehicle license, insurance etc. Also have in mind new developments like plate number swapping and the new driver’s license as directed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (F.R.S.C).
Check your car’s vitals: When referring to the vitals of the human body, you could consider features like the human heart, brain, sensory organs etc. In the case of cars you have the power-train consisting of the engine right under the bonnet and transmission; you can then go further to include principal engine attachments like the cooling system, brakes, fueling system and exterior lightening on your check-list. The idea here is not to focus on a few features of your car, but to concretely ascertain the true state of your car.
Re-access your mechanic/spare-part supplies: If for some time now you’ve been having doubts about the effectiveness of your current auto-technician, now is the time to step aside and truly appraise his/her services provided. In doing this consider the following; level of expertise, workshop client traffic, sophistication/maximization of tools, limits of diversity (the more limited the better), division of labour, general working conditions and most importantly, security. With regards to spare-part dealers, you should consider the average life of spare-parts you procure, value-added services (logistics, customer care), amongst other considerations.
Kick-start personal documentation of your maintenance history: As an effective way to keep track of activities carried out on your car and to fill the gap created by poor mechanic practices (as we largely have it here in Nigeria), it is highly advisable to record these activities as they are carried out. You could take it up a notch by setting reminders using your handy gadgets like mobile phones and tablet PCs to notify you on when next certain activities are to be carried out based on the specified intervals as stated on your car’s manual for various processes/procedures.
Study yourself, how and where you drive: First and foremost, you might have to re-consider your daily route; having in mind that the surest way to cut fueling cost to the barest minimum is to take shortest routes with free flow of traffic. It is also possible that the seemingly shorter route you ply daily is partly responsible for your frequent visits to the mechanic to fix suspension issues. With that taken care of, also consider how safe the normal routes you ply are at different times of the day. Finally, take note of your personal driving flaws and how your personality and work routine affects your driving. Truly being cautious about how these little factors affect the way we drive helps avoid accidents and unforeseen negative road incidents.
Cultivate a reading attitude: an average Nigerian barely reads! They prefer getting stunned by the vocal description of the capabilities of the car they own, just to marvel over such. The same goes to being embarrassed by an avoidable anomaly. Basically, embrace your car manual and learn more about your car features and requirements; then go further hook up with an interesting online blog, magazine or news site that provides information on recalls, new car trends and probably information on the next car to buy. An informed mind is free, independent and insightful; these are just a few benefits of reading more.
Shop for a new car: Yes! A fresh start might require having a fresh car and trading-in your current car. Some cars are simply not worth fixing, while some have been ‘over-fixed’. Cars barely have a definite life-span as it largely depends on the history of its various users. So if the cost of replacing that engine is enough to start a huge piggy-bank for your next car, you might consider a replacement; do the maths and be decisive.

Interestingly, resolutions are hardly followed through like failed projects without an end; this should serve as a challenge to every car owner. Your vehicle is your property, which makes up part of your immediate environment. What this means is that there is hardly any positive or negative action or in-action on your part which doesn't impact on others. Always have this in mind; wishing you happy motoring this year.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/give-your-car-a-fresh-start/

For early electronic fuel systems with larger injectors,that old system of using carburator cleaners really worked (especially in benz products).Most cases of backfiring in modern cars is somehow linked with injectors problems,so when mechanics suggest servicing injectors they might not always be trying to rip you off.Here in Nigeria injectors can easily get clogged,so one has to be careful.Very crucial points have been raised here with regards to how the process should be done;just that Nigerians will always try to find to cheaper and more 'feasible' alternatives.

It might seem very logical and sensible to rely on expert
opinions for highly technical subject areas like our cars, and
when things go wrong you simply look up to mechanics. But
unfortunately as we have it here in Nigeria, questioning or
double checking a technical advice from a practitioner is the
sensible way to go. The logical reasons behind this trend is
due to situations where you find advises twisted to a certain
mechanic’s favour or may be just totally being wrong; in
some instances you find car owners receiving re-cycled advice
which come from very limited and myopic experiences.
So why does one have to worry about even the little advice
from a typical auto-technical personnel? The kinds of advice
car owners receive affect their cars on a daily basis, as well as
capital expenses, actions and procedures to be performed on a
car.
Hammering on the need to question mechanic advice you get
doesn’t mean there are no good and experienced mechanics.
As observed over here, a fair chunk of mechanics-even the
seemingly sophisticated ones-tow the same line of being
untrustworthy with poor expertise.
All these factors make it necessary to weigh opinions you get
from mechanics by considering the nuggets below.
Cross-reference User experiences : Your most formidable
tool to carry this out is the internet which allows you to
connect with as many car owners (with the same brand and
model as yours).
What does your car manual say? It’s that simple; consult
your owners’ manual and find out what your car manufacturer
has to say.
Your direct experiences: your past experiences with the
auto-technician plays an important role which builds up what
most might refer to as ‘gut feelings’. So based on the little or
plenty experiences, what does your gut feeling say about
anchoring your actions on a mere opinion from that
mechanic?
Perceived skill level of technician: it might take another
expert in automobile repair and maintenance to accurately
ascertain the true level of your mechanics’ expertise. However
you could still come up with a sketchy evaluation based on
your perceptive level and understanding of how cars work and
how they ought to be repaired.
Equipment-Expertise assessment: does your mechanic have
sophisticated and necessary tools observed to be commonly
used by other mechanics? How long have they had these tools
and equipment? Do they get to use these equipment? How
well do they employ these tools to solve car problems? These
questions should help to examine another angle of their
expertise level.
Evaluating auto-mechanics can be a daunting task, but the
above pointers can help in making a quick judgement during
instances that might require being decisive. These occasions
span from decisions like the type of car to buy to even
procedures to perform at different times on your car.
www.autobaseafrica.com/how-to-weigh-mechanic-opinions/

As you explore factors and features which can help you create that car interior haven you desire, one advice you shouldn't fail to heed to is that,‘for your car interior to even come close to being your haven, it has to be an extension of your home’. This means creating a haven in your car cabin entails re-creating a home in your car; hence making it a mobile home. Below is just how to go about this.

Buy the right car: the easiest way to achieve this is to shop for cars with key features that appeal to you. Factors to have in mind are adequate leg-room, standard gadgets, condition of seats, etc. With all these taken care you have very few things to worry about. Recent cars are built for best passenger comfort in mind, hence you can’t go wrong taking out time to sort out the right kind of car to buy with your key features and needs in mind.

Use wind shield covers: ideally these UV (ultra-violent)-rays protectors are meant for extended parking, but if where you park your car on a daily basis leaves your car vulnerable to excessive sunlight and heat penetration, you might want to consider these protectors. The commonly available ones are made of aluminium foils and can be clipped unto the inner portion of your wind-screen. It can save you a whole lot of issues which were brought up in this article: http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-use-of-air-conditioners-a-health-hazard/.

Use air-conditioners: make sure you take advantage of your car’s air-conditioner to maintain favourable cabin temperatures and better filtration of the air that finds its way into your car. To ensure optimum operation of this HVAC (heat, ventilation and air-conditioning) device, get your air vents cleaned up on a regular basis, check your air-filter condition (and replace if more than 2 years) ; before you look into more complex technical areas like refrigerant level, compressor or condenser state if need be.
Use air-fresheners: the most affordable and the most practical way to create a haven in your car interior is to ensure you drive away odour and unpleasant smell; with the right air-freshener, this is very possible. If you opt for air-fresheners attachable to air-vents, ensure you power-up your air-conditioners or else the nice fragrance won’t diffuse at the rate it should for your car to stay freshened up.

Get a Vacuum cleaner and use it:the underlying moral here is to keep your car interior clean at all cost using these electric-powered suction cleaners which are capable of accessing very intricate portions of your car interior; especially the floor area. There are different kinds of vacuum cleaners with a range of capabilities and methods of powering them, hence be sure you get the best value for your money.

Park your vehicle around well tarred or on concrete floors: as a way of avoiding moist you have to be very careful about where you pack your vehicle. Shoes easily pick up dirt/moist when stepped on muddy grounds, it becomes a problem when these same shoes stay put for hours in your car. If a good parking spot isn't quite an option you might consider frequently cleaning and drying you car floor and don’t fail to use floor mats.

Unleash your Cravings: for me its music. The moment you get to appreciate how much you need to create a great cabin ambiance is when you are hopelessly stuck in traffic-a conditions that is almost inevitable these days in densely populated cities like Lagos and Abuja. So what are your real cravings? For some it might be watching movies, getting a seat massage or maybe setting up a mini-office space; whatever the case might be, ensure you have it well figured out to make driving or being in the car less boring.

Have specific arrangements: avoid scattering things all over the place. There isn't much to say here, if you have a messy car interior you would always be looking forward to moments away from your car.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/8-ways-to-make-your-car-interior-a-haven/

As we all might know, properly functioning air conditioners do more than merely reducing our car’s inner cabin temperature. These devices offer substantial protection of car occupants by supplying better purified air. This is as a result of the different filtration processes draught air from the environment undergoes before being conditioned to desired temperatures. These processes ideally prevent pollen grains and dust from finding their way right into our cars via the air vents. Hence it’s safe to say most occupants of air-conditioned cars breathe in cleaner air, which has favourable health benefits.

In highly humid and tropical regions like Nigeria with intense sunlight, these HVAC (heat ventilation and air conditioning) devices offer comfort by maintaining favourably low temperatures relative to our average environment’s temperature. During very common cases of intense sunlight (which have indeed worsened lately), air conditioners provide a safe haven for car occupants. This even goes a very long way in reducing levels of driving induced stress by relaxing our nerves and muscles.
There equally have been a number of speculations that car cabin components like dashboard, sofa, and air-fresheners emit benzene (a cancer causing toxin) when a typical car is left heated up on the inside, especially, due to extended parking. If these findings are near factual, measures should be taken because according to WHO (World health Organization), no level of carcinogen is safe for the human body. This is why it is advisable to park your vehicle in areas that are preferably cool and safe. But if that isn’t an option, power on your A/C with your windows down for at least 5minutes before you wind up completely after re-entering your vehicle (after parking it for sometime). Asides the favourable health effects, this process purges built up heat very quickly, which then makes your air-conditioning more effective. For extended parking, you might consider using wind-shield protectors (mostly made of aluminium foils) to reduce penetration of sunlight into your car interior.


Clean car interior and frequent cleaning of dashboards and other areas of your car can really help in making your air-conditioner use, less of a health hazard. For older air-conditioning systems with compressors which are directly driven by car engines, the associated effect is higher fuel consumption (which is relative) and hence more emission to the environment. This creates a ripple effect on the environment which somehow, still affects you directly or indirectly.

On a last note, discretion is the key. Hence, alternate the use of air conditioners to favour both you and the environment. If it gets too cold, turn it off. Personally, after any rainfall, you can’t catch me in an air-conditioned car; unless there are still road splashes to contend with. The fact I am pointing out here is that your health is in your hands, guard it well!
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-use-of-air-conditioners-a-health-hazard/

Stuck in an airplane for close to 30minutes now because he is about landing;this really should stop.

Akshow: @ poster stop the propaganda. This govt is the most inept and backward administration of all time.

What have you done for Nigeria today?Were they supposed to start with high-speed trains?

Well I think the A-Class is the new kid on the block,and can be described as the first of the new breed of Benz products.When it comes to aesthetic designs of cars;Benz over the years have been way too conservative and the figures are telling it all.I am just folding my hands in wait of the new C-Class and E-Class eventual re-design.The recent E-class face-lift is quite applaudable.Another area Benz should look into is platforms sharing to cut cost,they might need to buy companies and cut down on all their tiny tiny mergers all over the place.I think they are big enough to comfortably do that.

The Christmas season is here again; this time of the year is characterized by a lot of road/vehicular movements across the nation. If you happen to plan on going on one of these interstate swings, here is just how to have fun while at it:

Carry out the regular checks on your car before you leave: ensure everything mechanical and electrical about your car is in order. Here is a quick checklist of some of the areas you (not entirely by yourself, get a mechanic too) shouldn’t fail to pay attention to: your car’s cooling system, suspension, steering; also your tyres, wheel-hubs/bearing, your brakes, lights, wiper blades (fluid level too), battery, basic electricals. For Auto-gearboxes, get it right with the dare-devil transmission fluid, don’t forget the biggest boy of them all; your engine which literally calls the shots. You will do well to be honest and thorough enough to check yourself!

Get a Camera or use your phone well: always remember the golden rule: snap and share; the fun is more in the sharing than in the snapping. Hence, take advantage of the internet and the available social networks like facebook, twitter and the rest of them to get the word out, you can take it a notch higher by sharing it across interested groups over the internet. On a very shallow level, this happens to be the easiest way to get your friends that flew very envious because they definitely are missing out on something. Capture as much as you can, make new friends and capture even more; ensure the elements of the background of your images scream road-trip!

Money, money and again, money: As much as you might be tech-savvy with all the ‘switches’, the ‘visas’ and the ‘masters’; nothing beats the appearance of raw cash. I personally remember sleeping in a filling station once with all my virtual moneybags. As a precautionary measure, add an extra 20-30% to your budget to account for fuelling; spontaneous shopping, hotels (you just can’t tell) and emergencies which can range from common tyre purchases to unfortunate vehicle towing. On the flipside, don’t bring all your life-savings along all in the name of emergency.

Are you comfortable enough? To be frank its not all cars that can make a memorable road trip; I have to be literally out of options to find myself(6ft+) in a Kia Picanto (no hard feelings). Ensure your vehicle is road trip compliant with soft seats, enough head and leg room; basically with enough space to comfortably accommodate everyone you intend to carry. Get rid of any element or factor that might pose a threat to your outmost comfort; because to be sincere, an average Nigerian road trip is so much fun with countless bumpy actions to keep you alert. Don’t overuse your air-conditioning system and try to maintain low stress levels.

Make Unusual stops and be Democratic as much as you can: The key is to stay flexible, don’t make your road trip which is supposed to be fun another chore or office work which must strictly go according to a mapped out plan; be spontaneous, but still keep your eyes on the price. Endeavour to consider the cravings of others which might be kids or friends, because at the end of the day everyone should have fun.

Be Mindful of what you eat: On a typical road trip from Lagos to far South-Eastern Nigeria where I am from, you have to pass through 7states with tons of local meals you just might want to give a shot at. But I’d rather be safe than sorry, so I stick with my ‘snacks and fruits only’ golden rule which has worked for me on several occasions. However, if you chose to be a nutritional tourist, you might not escape the adventures of ‘squat and bush’.

Bond and share stories: Don’t kill the spontaneity with just your kind of music or with music throughout the entire trip. It can be so surprising how certain road events or features can spark up very interesting conversations which might just create an opportunity to learn new things or even bond better. If you have children do well to indulge them as much as you can, besides you easily would have flown. This is an assured way to keep things light and fun.

Don’t Bank on the ‘Commercial bus’ trick: If you are not conversant with the road you intend plying, make conscious efforts to ensure you have a clearer picture of where you are headed. I personally don’t cram maps; I rather stick with taking note of some landmark features which represent certain areas along my road trip route. This is not to say maps are not the ultimate guides. Before the trip ensure you know the exact route to take as your primary assurance of not getting lost, if that doesn’t work out, you then can tail a commercial bus or buses you are sure they are headed your direction.

Track your actual fuel consumption rate and fill up at projected intervals: this is very important! After the first hour of your trip you should be able to tell how much fuel your car consumes over a certain period of time. With this data at hand you can make projections and stop to re-fuel at the right intervals to avoid stopping too frequently or getting stranded along the road.

Avoid Night trips and weird Hotels: when you have to get off the road because the night is drawing near and you are nowhere close to your destination, avoid creepy hotels; there are specific reasons they are that cheap and you shouldn’t fall for such. You might not know exactly how a road trip will turnout, so at this point you have to rely on your discretion.

Plan for breakdowns or road mishaps: Help yourself and even others. I remember once along Umuahia, just a couple of minutes after we took off on that road trip, we unfortunately got stuck in a small ditch. After close to an hour we were lucky to have gotten a towing rope from a 911-tipper; what this means is that when you plan ahead for possible odd events, you might end up helping someone else. Also, when you proactively engage in planning for mishaps you unconsciously remind yourself how important it is to drive safely and obey traffic rules in a bid to stay alive and get to your destination in one piece. Hence, travel along with your torch-light in place, jerry-can, first-aid kit, towing ropes, traffic triangles and the best possible road-attitude.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/how-to-have-fun-on-a-road-trip/

1)      If you ever want to drink and drive, simply take a cab to an arcade center.

2)      In Warri (Delta state, Nigeria) cars are referred to as ‘iron’.

3)      90% of Mobile offices in Nigeria are owned by driving schools.

4)      An average policeman wants to be feared and ‘appreciated’.

5)      An average FRSC marshal wants to be respected and acknowledged.

6)      Smoking and driving is against the law in Lagos, but it doesn’t mean you can’t drive and smoke the whole place.

7)      If you are a couple and both your licences are expired, be wise enough to let the lady take the wheel.

      Driving your own car can be expensive; but so is spending a quarter of your salary on laundry.

9)      In Nigeria a fairly used imported car is referred to as ‘tokunbo’, while locally used tokunbo cars are referred to as ‘cabs’.

10)   The only 2 objects visible to the driver of an unloaded trailer are the truck’s accelerator pedal and the black asphalt road surface.

11)   You can as well hand-down your bag and mobile phone if you are hell bent on buying gala beyond 8pm in traffic.

12)   The only type of mechanic to trust is the one that smiles and acknowledges the fact that you outsmarted him whenever he plays dirty.

13)   An average car wash management in Nigeria hires and fires incessantly because of how easy it is to steal when you leave your car to be washed.

14)   The surest way to save fuel in a congested city like Lagos is to invest in good car batteries or great hang-out spots.

15)   Before you decide to take alternative routes at anytime, make sure you find at least 2 commercial buses and at least a cab headed in that direction, else the road is blocked as well.

16)   From Monday to Fridays you are the ‘oga’ to mechanics, but on Saturdays they become the ogas.

17)  In Nigeria every car is a potential towing vehicle; it all depends on how far the owner is willing to go.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/17-funny-driving-facts/

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Our single problem is the common black man's problem;we didn't go through the normal phases of development which involves acquiring knowledge and turning it to a useful source of wealth.All most know is that oil is money;a fact that still overwhelms and intoxicates most of us!That's why we are stuck where we are.This is partly due to are disrupted history by the whites that enslaved us.........Just my take on this.

Eltonluigi: Is this news? And are we 'spose to be celebrating? How many Nigerians is the airport serving? Smh!

2words: stay mute

Have you ever had to change your 2.4litres 2AZ-FE aluminium Toyota engine made for Toyota car models like the XV30 Toyota Camry ‘Big Daddy’ (2002-2006), 2003 Highlander, 2002 Avalon, Avensis, RAV4 and so on? Chances are that half your engine is actually made of cast iron engine block (5S-FE) extracted from older models(less than 2001). It recently came to my notice that these engines are rebuilt locally and sold to unsuspecting customers as full aluminium engines.

One question you will begin to ask is why would one go through the stress of rebuilding these engines? Well to answer that let me start by saying that it is only of recent that these aluminium Toyota engines go for about #250,000-#280,000; before now these engines went for a non-bargainable price of #350,000. However on the other hand, 5S-FE cast-iron engines are relatively cheaper at #120,000; which means if one can find a way to combine the working cylinder head of a 2AZ-FE engine with the lower cast-iron engine block, you are in business!

How it is done

The Toyota 2AZ-FE and 5S-FE engines share a whole lot in common, even the dimensions as well, but as confirmed by my Ladipo source, 5S-FE engines can’t power cars originally made to operate with 2AZ-FE engines. However if you combine an extracted cylinder head from a 2AZ-FE engine and couple it with the lower engine block portion of a 5S-FE engine, the vehicle will start and operate normally. But to achieve this there are barriers, first of which is the name-tag on the engine, secondly, the appearance-as aluminium engines are quite easy to spot-and the coupling.

Hence to solve this problem in Ladipo auto-market(in Lagos,Nigeria) for example, they stamp the name-tag/engine code using very special machines which are rare to come-as disclosed by my source. The business of swapping the tags is a highly discreet one. As for the coupling, you may think that the commonly used blue adhesive would give these guys away, but in putting these engines together, they use an adhesives referred to as ‘factory gum’ which are colourless and barely noticeable .

Then the final finishing is performed by them spraying the external body of the lower portion (cast-iron) of the new engine coupling so as to make it blend with the upper aluminium cylinder head. After all these processes, these engines are sold as original tokunbo 2AZ-FE engines.

How to guard against purchasing these engines

>> Maintain your engine properly and ensure water/coolant levels in your radiator is always sufficient, also change your engine oil and filter when due. The most assured way to avoid finding yourself contending with swapping your engines hinges on this.

>>If inspite of your efforts you find yourself unfortunate, gets a good mechanic with experience in dealing with engine swapping. Unless you are totally the careless one, you might even have to change your current mechanic.

>>Keep track of your cylinder head and don’t be cajoled by anyone telling you it is useless, unless the reason behind the need to change the engine has to do with bad valve train, expanded or warped cylinder heads.

>>Get involved! If you were nonchalant enough to get your engine ruined in the first place, don’t fail to get involved this time. Engage in some market research prior to contracting any mechanic; assert you new awareness and don’t fail to carry out the above checks which where earlier enumerated.


Source: www.autobaseafrica.com/exposedhow-toyota-engines-are-re-built-in-ladipo/

The facts: The business of car parking globally can be described as a lucrative one; according to IPI (International Parking Institute), the U.S. parking industry generates more than $25-30 billion in gross parking revenues; also in South Africa it is said that the parking industry contributes to their gross domestic product, GDP(more than 8%). Also according to recent statistics by FRSC (Federal Road safety commission), there are more than 13million active vehicles plying Nigerian roads today, of which more than 2million alone are here in Lagos. What all these data point to is the fact there of course exists a market hugely untapped here in Lagos with regards to Car/vehicle parking.

Without a doubt, more organized parking facilities within Lagos state will not only prove to be an income generator but it could also help to reduce traffic congestion which is partly caused by indiscriminate parking along the largely congested streets. Even though LASTMA (Lagos State Transport Management Authority) officials have tried to put this practice in check, it seems there will never be enough towing vans to address this issue on a long term basis; this stamps the need for a more sustainable approach. There are quite a few great parking spots in Lagos; a notable example worth mentioning is the recently commissioned Ikeja city mall where proper parking services helps accommodates quite a number of cars with little obstruction of traffic along the Alausa vicinity. This is a clear demonstration of how infusion of technology and better planning in delivery of parking services can help improve the local parking Industry here in Lagos. Good car parking affords vehicle owners peace of mind as a better and more secured option.

The Potential: Vicinity of Churches and Mosques, close to port areas/areas with high density of tank farms, poorly organized/planned market spaces, array of small offices. But to set your business apart, emphasis should be on better optimization of space, infusion of technology and better security for cars in an organized and friendly environment. Added services too can set your business apart, especially if your parking services allow for extended parking at fairly cheap rates.

The Common Threats

>>Omonile/area boys collecting parking fees (as purported Local Government fees) on roads where parking should be illegal – e.g, on Medical road, Ikeja, around the vicinity of the Computer Village.
>>Government not enforcing no-parking zones and shying away from looking into more areas that will open more doors of investment into the parking industry.
>>Parking spaces already provided in large company buildings.
>>and poorly organized car parking spaces already established in very strategic business zones with high vehicular traffic.
>>Huge Initial capital: because high target areas are already saturated and real estate costs are high.
picture:Autostadt Car Towers in Wolfsburg, Germany
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-untapped-business-of-car-parking-lots-in-lagos/

Subtext: I don't think there's anything wrong with names like Honda and Toyota really. People didn't just start recommending them for nothing. They make reasonably good cars. Before it came time to buy my car, I used to 'make mouth' that I'll go for a rare make like those exotic German and Italian brands. When the time really came, no be person tell me to arrange myself. A friend of mine inherited a car that was bought brand new some 4 years earlier from his mom. A volkswagen Polo. Ordinary volks Polo oh!. You need to see issues! Yet no parts. The last time I saw him he was swearing 'never again!' Trust me you are safer with brands with readily available parts and mechanics. Even Americans done ditch 'em oldsmobile and GMs etc. for Toyotas and Hondas, so what you sayin?

Anyway, check out this link for a general feel of reviews and complaints per brands http://www.carsurvey.org/

The only point you raised which I readily agree with and which I'm trying, God help me, not to fall into presently, is envy related emotions

Toyota makes the most reliable cars in the world;that fact is quite indisputable-at least for now.But if look deeper you would find out that cost of spare parts generally are just relative.The initial cost of procuring a toyota spare-part might be cheaper than that of a VW but trust me,you can't compare the intervals.You buy a Benz shock and use it for 3years and buy a cheaper Toyota shock and use it for 1yr+(which means you have to change your shock twice).When you calculate the cost of time driving to the mechanics,labour cost and other small inconveniences who becomes the real winner?So like I said its relative,toyota just adopted a better 'low initial cost' strategy!Another example is engine overhauling;how long does an overhauled Toyota engine last when compared to a Benz or VW or even some American products?So I still stand by what I posted;proper research is the key.

Chynx: Good thread...but not completely on point. In every molecule of rumor, there, resides an atom of truth. Most cars termed "problematic" often fail to surprise us. Same thing goes by the leopard and its spots.

Certain rumours are ofcourse true,but when you entirely base your purchase decision on such;its either you are just lazy or allowing yourself remain in the trap.