Trac:

Try harder! You've written but "said" nothing. Details and facts is what I am expecting not what you are giving. Fortunately, all the answers you need are in my initial response to you. Do some thinking and apply the information. You can quote all you want and resort to name-calling and school-yard bullying. Debunk all I have stated with facts and details. Counter all from my initial post and explain with facts where I did not make sense. I'm not swayed and you wouldn't last a minute with me with your crowd-mentality. You are wasting your time. Don't expect that I disclose further than I have explained. You did not understand; nothing will do! I'm not processing further for you to understand and be convinced. It is evident and clear that it is coherent; at the same time, it is NOT meant for everyone. Everything published post made by me on this thread is BIASED information but simple enough to convey. It is also dead-on with some rhetorical questions that reinforces the body of response and requires "reading-comprehension." If you are serious about the answer, you would leave your keyboard and interact with people.

Addressing your quote: I am puzzled to what inspired you to inappropriately make such references. It's misplaced. Apply things appropriately. I have exhibited absolutely NO violence but taken time to explain two concepts to you that requires deep thinking to be able to absorb it. It's also the simplest I can convey to you. It gets [far] complicated but will be out of scope (thread). Alternatively, the same cannot be spoken of you.

You cannot solve a problem with the same mentality that created it. Learn to see the world a-new.

Albert Einstein

"Wisdom-of-the-Crowd" is not true and tangible information. It's only survivable on the internet. It's intangible and unaccepted in the real-world. Hence, the emotional roller-coaster when confronted with facts based on core precepts. This is where the root of your problem is. Here is a quote from a book.

"In the Web 2.0 world, the crowd has become the authority on what is true and what is not. Search engines like Google, which run on algorithms that rank results according to the number of previous searches, answer our search queries not with what is most true or most reliable, but merely what is most popular. As a result, our knowledge—about everything from politics, to current affairs, to literature, to science—is being shaped by nothing but the aggregation of responses. The search engine is a quantitative historical record of previous requests. So all the search engine offers is a ranking system that feeds back to us the wisdom of the crowd. In terms of links clicked on and sites visited, Google is an electronic mirror of ourselves. But the problem is that the Web 2.0 generation is taking search-engine results as gospel."

----- Wisdom of the Crowd - How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture - Page 92-93

Don't feel entitled! If you are interested (beyond what I have stated), "Detroit" offers international professional seminars and trainings during it's annual conferences. Pick your concerned-module. When you are done paying the thousands of dollars for a three-day seminar, you will understand why information is not free.

As previously mentioned, ALL has been stated. No further simplification is needed. It is [to] my discretion on how my post will be conveyed and the associated narrative. Deal with it; you did not understand what I've stated so far and you started-off wrongly and you are too proud for a recourse. If it is unimportant, you wouldn't attack the content. You are just not the right "audience" to confront it. Stop seeking regurgitated information. Don't expect any more information than what I've given (that is core with conceptual references). There is a reason reading-comprehension is tested in standardised placement tests.

There is a 16 page pamphlet titled "Is Google Making Us Stupid" for less than $3.

http://www.amazon.com/Is-Google-Making-Us-Stupid-ebook/dp/B005BRENVE

You will do yourself a lot of good by considering this "second-opinion." No matter how much you spend online, you will NEVER equate to one that got tutored or trained or has paid some price or the other.

Frankly, I don't have time for your "perspective." Neither do I have time to beat on trivial matters; especially when all variables have been disclosed and the recipient fails to play his/her part in deductive-reasoning and critical-thinking. If you can't give facts and details that are intellectual-based, then bury it. You've gotten tangible responses plus a "depth" for you to view your "perception"; it's at least fair you respond in like-manner. If you have nothing, then forget it because you are wasting everybody's time and you are being a gate-keeper. That is besides the fact that the original post published was not addressed to or intended for you. I'm yet to figure what you are gaining. Nigerians will still make the intended modification if/when-need-be because they aren't driven by consumerism.

If you throw "mud" or have no fundamental reference(s) to base your facts upon, I will NOT honour but ignore it. Enough time has been spent and I've disclosed all and my objective accomplished (to create awareness). My original post still stands (that is https://www.nairaland.com/1489847/most-durable-reliable-family-car#19138453) and I appreciate your efforts detailing how displeased you are about it.

Trac:

Quote me where I stated it was "below your tuition"?

If you can't quote me on that, then there was no basis for insult. You just ensured you reinforced your utopian view with an insult. I wondered how you thought it would be of advantage to you or add credibility to your text. That's another clause you did not understand; got it twisted - hence your response. A tenth-of-a-minute of critical thinking (that is if you heard yourself) would have left you with a conclusion of compliment. That too was omitted! You can't hold a conversation - a logical conclusion for that matter.

Trac: I made it clear that it requires tuition and you don't have it. Not even the fundamentals to sustain the tuition in question. There is no appropriate expression in the context used as "below your tuition" Tuition means: training: cognitive-discipline: tutelage! Once again, you are seeking attention and it's not helping. The mere reason you do not know what I am talking about does not evade the fact that it exist. The fact google or your t.v. show(s) does not tell you doesn't mean there is no existence to it. I will reiterate it: you lack the tuition. You can't and will not understand what I'm saying. It requires 4 - 6 years of enrollment: fundamentally not to end up with your conclusions. It's what mainstream terms "boring and needless." If you think you got educated by watching an automotive show, then you are joking. There is more to discuss on this but this is not what the thread is about. You are trying to deviate the thread and you have resorted to name-calling; besides the fact that you've said nothing. That is outside of the fact that I challenged you to debunk me and you've made no logical/cognitive attempt so far. For your information, I haven't said anything [yet]: yet the issue isn't comprehended.

Trac: I wonder what occurs when I begin in context; with contextual narrative google will not be able to assist you with. Find another person to argue with.

Trac: Interesting! You must think people are gullible by the pragmatic (emotional) explanation given and you offer no scientific references. I made a simple example (of the many given - including rhetorical biomechanical references) relative to environmental science. Apples: why it grows at one end of the world and doesn't. You may not figure the mockery (at the moment) but regions experience the same temperature value(s). Yet, one is sustainable and the other isn't. Once again, the fundamentals and tuition aren't there and the context will mean nothing to you. Temperature is not the [principal] constraint. Nature also proves you wrong. There is more to this concept than meets the surface. There are legislative laws and standards to adhere to. There are consequences when you design void of standards. I've explained it all. The discussion is closed.

No further comments will do. Expect no response from me. It's getting nowhere. It's adding nothing to the thread and you are making obvious your utopian view to design and manufacturing. In a week or two, the thread will be dormant. Sheer vanity! Vanity!


Enjoy!

Trac:

People believe that behind the mask of a keyboard they can be anything and talk anyhow. No insults came from me; I just "straightened-him-out." His posts had insults in them. He had no reason in the first place to single me out and tell me what I have said was mute when he lacked the understanding roundabout. Thus rendering the content written as void of reasoning. I was serious when I put it together; I wasn't asleep. I am still wondering who he thought he was impressing.

I can call anybody on earth by their first name. When it comes to Nigerians (or neighbours with like-culture), it is conditionally true. Hierarchy is fundamental in Nigerian culture. Those within your peer and below, are addressed by name or pseudonyms. Those older are addressed via salutation (at least general salutation as a form of honour). I am not expecting salutations (I don't like them). There is no room to address any Nairalander as "negro." The word in that context has a lot of history behind it. Furthermore, he is trying to educate me on that slur as though I was born yesterday. It might be okay in def-comedy-jam, it is not in the real world. That is besides the fact that he violated rule#1, 2 & 3 of NL's posting rules. For every action, there will always be a negative reaction. There is only so much people will take.

Trac:

It doesn't make sense to you because you don't have the required tuition. What I presented to you is "product-design" in design-engineering perspective. Just as fashion-designing is not mainstream (even if you think you know it). You do not know where I am coming from nor the depth of the scope. There are legislative laws, international laws and codes that manufacturers must adhere to. There is no "one" standard; just as the world is not one. Furthermore, reaction-kinetics is different around the world. This is another engineering consideration that cannot be easily unified comprehensively due to trade-offs. You do not know MB very well neither do you know automotive as a broad, lest you would have understood in clear terms all I have expressed.



With all due respect: constructively criticise! Use facts for facts! I find it offensive when mud is given in response to analytical/detailed points. I gave you product-engineering (as a summary) and I expect to be responded-to in like terms; lest you shouldn't have discredited in the first place. I don't want your opinion; it's wrong and you are entitled to that. The CLA [or whatever] video you have watched is journalism or general entertainment. All you watched was an "activity" with commentary. If it were core in details, you will not be able to understand anything because it is subsidiary-tier information. It is unacceptable to base facts off a T.V. segment without fundamental references. There is more to product-design that you currently think.

As stated earlier, it requires tuition. You don't know (or cannot descry) what I'm putting to details; that's why it appears nonsense to you. There is nothing wrong with that perception; it is perfectly understood.

Disclaimer: It may appear as a rant but it isn't neither am I belittling. We are wasting the time of others in this thread if we continue and I'll rather not - plus it is not profitable to you. Let's not make this deviate the thread.

Trac:

This is incorrect. In 2008, there was - to some level - a unitary move. It was cost efficient for the auto-companies. It was and has never been comprehensive. Unitarily, certain variable were considered and not every automotive manufacturer adopted this move. In engineering creativity, you will always have trade-offs.

To satisfy your question: you [very well] know Texas, New York and Florida is not Africa. What differentiates both zones? Definitely, it is not temperature. Temperature is a scaler quantity. That body of science is called "climate" which is a summation of diverse factors; hence a branch called "Environmental Science." If it's pointless to you, why don't you have apples and strawberries growing in Lagos?! Why is the complexion of your skin the colour it is? Why is your hair texture and structure the way it is? No creation has the texture of the sub-Saharan race. For your own race, why was extra precautions to heat-transfer (or thermodynamics for layman's sake) on your head taken? Why does your hair grow upwards - as oppose to every other race? Sincerely, the answer is not on the surface.

Permit me on this: in design-engineering, there are two fundamental pillars that can never be overlooked in the "planning" phase. These factors are regional and socio-economical. These are considerations. The next step cannot be birthed until these criteria has been resolved (along with the others). It is complex in the automotive sector. This is also why certain cars are not sold to neighbouring or distant market under the same name; though they look identical. The adaption for specific purposes are not the same.

It is true that it is cost-efficient to unify parts for all market but getting the best of both "worlds" is not possible in many designs. In addition, legislative and international laws will forbid certain possibilities. It is easier said to unify standards than done (especially when the numbers are high, high cost and the variables are dynamically complex).

This is furthest I can discuss to avoid being irrelevant to the topic.

Trac:

The design considerations specified integrally for a 4-cylinder arrangement intended for van application is not relative to the application of a compact or alternative. If design considerations are side-stepped for van application - in this case - such a manufacturer is practicing out of scope. It is not as noticeable to you but try engineering one and executing the field-analysis-test (F.A.T) at prototype phase. For example: the '93 S Class had the 280 motor as the tamest engine. It powers the 4 tonne vehicle and performance thereof is adequate. The same 280 powered the Baby Benz of that era (C Class). From your logic, would it make sense to transplant a C-Class-designated-280 into an S Class and expect the same results??! There are 4-cylinder trucks as well designed to haul payload heavier than 7 adults. Fundamentally, they don't share the same approach to an economy compact but it is a 4-cylinder arrangement. Considerations are made to attain objectives. If my point wasn't sunk, I'll refer to the ultimate standard: the dictionary. I will use this as an approach to knock two "birds" with this single stone.

Specifications [ENG] An organized listing of basic requirements for materials of construction, product compositions, dimensions, or test conditions; a number of organizations publish standards (for example, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Petroleum Institute, and American Society for Testing and Materials), and many companies have their own specifications.

Also known as specs. [IND ENG] A quantitative description of the required characteristics of a device, machine, structure, product, or process.

S.E. Dictionary of Engineering, page 518

Rightly apply the above dictionary disclosure to tropicalised and non-tropicalised standards. If your justification of Nigeria and Las Vegas is the temperature variable, then no explanation will do. There is a lot more to manufacturing [background-wise] than you have conveyed. A point of notion to address: MB's designed for the United States is inherently not the same as MB designed for Africa. The term is called "identical." The engineering explanation to this is called "designation." Why would manufacturers invest billions of Euros to properly ( "unitarily" ) attain standards? Why don't they take your approach and save cost? The answer is simple: your logic doesn't work because it lacks a fundamentally vital attribute: "understanding." Rightly appropriating design considerations in the planning and conceptual phase [all through] to production will ultimately yield a product built to "standard." Nothing is done anyhow; you have precepts/laws and rules are placed to help adhere to precepts.

kanny1: Bros no update? U dey sell laptop?

olumide4christ: Hi everyone,

I'm considering getting my first car, in making enquiries about the Nissan Maxima 2002, someone told me that the Maxima was one of the worst models produced by Nissan. I'm a bit confused now, pls someone should please clarify this issues - is the Nissan Maxima 2002 a good model in terms of reliability, fuel efficiency, availability of parts? Hoping to hear from you.

eluquenson: Did you know the average lifetime of a tire was 4 years? Every 6months, a wheel alignment is recommended. At 9 months, rotate your tires by swapping the front tires to the back.

To avoid any drama on the road, get into the habit of doing the "morning parade" around your vehicle and inspect your tires.

NOTE: The best way to dispose of a tire is to cut it into pieces and destroy it.




Source: The Nigerian Gazette

adejide2: I appreciated the opinion all contributors on this thread. I have asked my mechanic. He gave me only three brands to stick to namely toyota, honda and nissan. I am not really concern with bogus car but only that which will serve me well with little or no trouble and also available in US because somebody wants to send one to one to me

Trac:

I will not recommend the Sienna V6 on Nigerian roads except modifications are made. I want to believe the Honda variant to the Sienna is the same philosophical (planning) embedded approach. A vehicle you cannot find the fuel to refill should not be an option unless the required modification is done. Anyone that tells you the 4-cylinder variant is underpowered should not be taken seriously. Don’t go by the kilowatt figures because you’ll be wasting your time.

Frankly, your approach to this objective (that is your inquiry) is somewhat wrong. Retracing, your inquiries will begin at the mechanic to whom will work on your choice of vehicle for the next decade. It is what he says that you will do/follow. If what you are told to get is a Mazda (for example), then that is what you will get. They are the ones that will eventually have an affair with the vehicle for the extended duration of time in ownership. I had a client mid-year; he gave his requirements and I looked at it as a bad option of a deal. My recommendations were given in response with official documents; giving no room for doubts. He did a wise thing, he consulted with his mechanics and they couldn’t sustain my recommendations and I could justify why: socio-economical factors.

You will be importing a non-tropicalised car to a non-tropicalised region. You will have trade-offs in reliability. This is due to the principles of optimizations in the overall design/product of the vehicle. In certain aspects, it may not be noticeable. In some areas, it will. Further explanation will derail the topic as it is manufacturing-biased rather than the discussion, thus leaving the thread topic void. So, the reliability gotten in non-tropicalised regions should not be expected in Nigeria. Vehicles are built to two international standards. There is a way around this [however]. In the United States, you can purchase cars for any price if time is not a factor. At a lower purchase price, the rest of the intended purchase amount should be used to do extensive service on the vehicle. Two approaches to this: a Nigerian works on it with the forecept that it’d be taken to Nigeria or a the white man is briefed that the vehicle will be taken to regions like Haiti or Jamaica. What to be done is understood and a mini-project is begun. An impedance to this will be the type of transaction with your friend. If it’s profit-oriented, cost becomes higher because of the engulfed profit. Nevertheless, over a decade period, it details the cheapest approach than plain purchase-and-shipping.

I intentionally left a lot out due to discretion. Overall, you should have an idea of what I’ve made sketchy and ponder upon it to unravel. Above all, your mechanic will have the golden-say on what you may or mayn’t get. It is their duty to maintain it for your entire duration of ownership. Never argue with them (even if you are smarter). They work on numerous cars in all kinds of state and there are certain x-factors that aren’t widely known that they encounter.

Chynx: The cost varies from brand to brand and again is a function of rim size. I got my Bridgestone (Japan) rim 16 tyres in 2011 for 26k each (104k in total).
Tyres u can trust:
1. Michelin
2. Bridgestone (Japan)
3. Pirelli
4. Continental Contour
5. Goodyear
6. Yokohama
6. Hankook isn't bad too
If uve got d pay, settle for original Michelin or Bridgestone (Japan).

IdaraCHODB:

Ka24dett, herein lies the dilemma.

Some older cars state 3000 miles in their manual, and then the owners get confused because the manual says 3000 miles or 3 months and although the manual may specify synthetic, but the synthetic manufacturer says 10,000 miles or even 15,000. To make matters even more confusing, the oil manufacturer might even say follow the recommended OCI of your car manufacturer!

While some users even boast of 25,000 mile OCI with the same synthetic!

SO who is saying the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

And who do I side with the manufacturer of the car who knows more about the car OR the manufacturer of the oil who knows more about the oil.

One of my older cars specifies synthetic (Mobil1) and 3000 miles/3 months

But i have been following the schedule but using conventional oil and an economy oil filter

Now am switching to synthetic oil (Mobil1 ) and a high performance oil filter (Bosch DistancePlus to be precise) and 9,000 mile OCI. ( it appears that if your car uses timing chains, has overhead camshafts, has roller lifters, synthetic is the way to go, so am converting after suffering from the need to do an engine overhaul from sustained/extreme high speed driving with conventional oil in the engine)

After conducting extensive research, am damning the manufacturer OCI but others might remain in a quandary

Ka24dett, are you running extended OCI on specialized oil filters or an economy oil filter?

http://www.boschautoparts.com/filters/pages/distanceplusoilfilters.aspx

Ikenna351:

And I told you I was not wearing seat belt?

Ikenna

Grendel: Made in China don't last ;