₦airaland Forum

diportivo:
U av ur mind set on d second gen already

Dont waste any more time then


Do the 04/05...2MZ-FE fwd

Avoid the 06/07 2gr-fe

LE trim is okay...aslong as u avoid the AWD

While AWD isnt bad,i feel its not needed since u want to use it for transportation

replied you, can you respond?

RollingFellas:
Drivers will always want a beautiful vehicle but never really care much on how the investors will recoup. 2nd generation siennas are excellent. Since that's what its preferred, its cool.

Thanks for the compliments and all the best in the business.

Can I meet you offline? So we can discuss one or to issues about this business

stevedre:
I am in Cairo Egypt at the moment not the U.S and i live with my wife and daughter so sharing is not an option.

Cash flow aint like it was for now and as for the investment part, that was 2 years ago and youre absolutely spot on because i was convinced it would be well handled even when i go back to base but i learnt the hard way. I tried real estate afterwards and i was scammed into buying some ones land which even almost went spiritual when i saw charms in the land. Now, vacation brings me back home and real estate is the main cuz im wiser now. Home will always have feeling money can never buy

I'd love to talk to you because I am investing in the transport business as well.

So i don't get it wrong

How much does it cost to clear a 2005 Toyota Sienna?

I have noticed auto importers tend to load the vehicle to the brim before shipping it from the US to Nigeria.

How does that affect clearing charges? How does one ensure safety of all the items loaded in the car from wharf rates?

Any ideas any one? it is via RORO or container?

nurey:
Congratulations, there are many of this cars available in Lagos the issue is they are not concentrated in one location. Maybe my next interstate trip would be with your company

Thanks

nurey (special mention)
diportivo (special mention)
Kingreign
bravolad (special mention)
Originalsly
RollingFellas (special mention)
Mili3kid

Thank you to all the above.

I just got the first machine in the fleet a 2005 Toyota Sienna LE FWD 8 Seater without DVD, the vehicle purrs like a lion and all that needs to be replaced is the front struts, mileage is 145,000.

Clean title and passed mechanical acid LOL test.

Moving on to looking for its sisters or na brothers i suppose call am?

Next thing na to do naming ceremony like the guy with the three Hondas including Samantha, Amanda and one other I cannot recall LOL


Your guys made it painless, am now officially a member of the Toyota fan club

How are the drivers that work for established transportation firms remunerated?

What compensation plan ensures that the driver is fairly treated and the company is not a charity? Or even run aground?

Am not sure that they do drive to own or hire purchase, because the vehicles are workhorses for the firm that purchased them.

The principle of maximizing profit does not seem to find appropriate applicability in raising x1 or x1.5 of the cost of the vehicle and then turning over the vehicle to the driver, so exactly how do we pay the driver but keep the company afloat?

I would appreciate some advice from drivers and transporters.

So the story that the drivers brought down the firm can be averted before it even has a chance to rear its ugly head.

We are talking of 7/8 seater Siennas not 18 seater buses, unless the same model applies.

Thanks

how much does Mansard total package cost?


Any specials for fleets? from how many vehicles?

What is the remuneration package for the driver?

is there a standard or one can set it as he deems fit?

How much are we looking at for maintenance per 10,000km or 50,000km?

Any other costs that I need to be aware of?

How does one buying a car for export to Nigeria from the U.S avoid having to do registration of the vehicle? Which further increases costs.

with a dealer's license, and hence dealer plates, this should be a no-brainer but without a dealer's license, how does one go about it?

Any advice anyone to a first-timer...

Lexusgs430:
My coolant level gets checked probably every 6 months and it never requires topping up.

I did some reading, some check it every 2 years.

BUT

your radiator must be in tiptop shape, coolant pipes/hoses also, radiator cap as well, but if this isn't the case, then woe betide whoever waits that long.

With most guys here driving 10 to 20 year old cars and trying to keep servicing costs as low as possible, not renewing hoses etc... I would not recommend.

If all is good, your schedule makes sense

Lexusgs430:
Check coolant levels daily? If your cooling system is working correctly, checking the coolant levels daily is not required.

Some don't, I just cannot help but check daily personally.

Some check once a week (ideal) or two weeks or once a month.

But i trained myself to check daily(paranoid/anal retentive).

The idea is to do it regularly on a schedule that suites you!

And i recall one more reason, not tightening the radiator cap or even putting it back has caused many a bad case of overheating and head gasket change

godwinasky:
Thanks, please what could be the common causes of over heating in Toyota and Mazda cars , and how could they be prevented and allayed when they happen?

Due diligence

Care and concern

- Check coolant levels daily
-Observe temperature gauge from time to time while driving
-If it shoots up, stop the car immediately and find out why
-Do not manage a leaking radiator or water pump or leaking coolant hoses
-use coolant not water
-do cooling fans work as designed from the factory
- is the thermostat in order

Those are what come to mind right now

If you do not care, you will do the reverse and will sufer a bout of overheating

TokyoBulls:
I am a partner on Uber Lagos with 12 cars on the road. Uber Black is operational in Lagos but not yet in Abuja. The demand for Uber Black is low compared to Uber X. My advice is that you inform Uber that you will prefer the Merc on X rather than Black. I have cars on both X and Black and the numbers are miles apart when it comes to demand. Most of the people who use Uber Black are expats, celebs, musicians, etc and some regular drivers who (in error) do not know the difference and when they end up paying more, they get upset and rate your drivers low.

I appreciate your response.

Am sure you meant to say: Most of the people who use Uber Black are expats, celebs, musicians, etc and some regular [b]users [/b]who (in error) do not know the difference and when they end up paying more, they get upset and rate your drivers low.

RollingFellas:
2004 and 2005 are ok. What will 2006 do for you in transport business that 2004 and 2005 can not do? Why spend extra cash getting 2006? Does 2006 guarantee you getting more customers than when using 2004 and 2005? Personally, I think you should settle for 2004 and 2005.

Just by the way, I used a 2000 model sienna in my fleet before and within one year, I was able to buy a 2004 sienna from the money generated by the 2000 model sienna. The 2000 model sienna is still in use on short routes. So, it goes beyond vehicle cosmetics. Its more on being strategic, practical thinking and package.

You speak like a practitioner.

I am doing this business with my partners who want the new model Sienna.

We have had discussions with some drivers, on some routes e.g., Port Harcourt they tend to discriminate against the 2000 Sienna, hence we were looking at the new model which to us newcomers to the business is 2004-2006, so we haven't really zeroed in on the 2006.

Now if I may ask, so long as the ride is technically sound, and given Toyota's legendary reliability, mileage shouldn't really matter, right.

Thanks for throwing in your experience into this discussion.

kingreign:
They're not too difficult to find. Locate a sienna CE. That's an 8 seater.

Thanks a million!

One Orijin for you!!!

is it possible to retrofit a 7 seater Sienna to become an 8 seater Sienna with factory seating including seat belts.

Asking because 7 seater Siennas are the rage, and 8 seater Siennas are as difficult to find as a needle in a haystack!

0rex:
You are on point. I have observed that our mechanics are the cause of majority of car problems we have by bypassing or removing stuffs they don't know anything about.
The ultimate test of a good car therefore is being able to withstand these abuses & still function relatively fine.

There is a limit to how much any car Mazda or non-Mazda can withstand abuse, as the guy with the light green Toyota Camry that had his head gasket destroyed and subsequently changed his engine and the color of his ride to black found out.

Especially when the engine is built from aluminum and not cast -iron, overheating will certainly destroy the engine irrespective of manufacturer!

godwinasky:
Actually, SOME mechanics deliberately do things to keep ppl coming back to them, and worse still, dey r not even sincere enough to admit their limitations.

Corrected !


Some others also help you sort out issues before they become crises, or warn you to act on perceived issues before they escalate!!

But you cannot tell without having interacted with them for a while who is who.

princemillla:
Thanks my ogaz, master mayor if you are here pls ur contact is needed.

Oga GAZZUZZ appreciate...
Mpvgo... The guy is my trusted rewire and he had worked on virtually all my vehicle but this one is really annoying.

One chance u say. ? I knew that yestday nite wen I was meant to put my car in Drive but put my car in reverse in traffic. Only God saved my ass.

How far?

Any update on this matter??

Macmilla:
So many bad testimonies on this ride.
Me, I don tear race o

I don laugh no be small... anyway carcomplaints website proves if it is less a case of bad mechanics but rather factory mistake.

If you still want a maxima, get a model year that had resolved most of the issues which means not a 2004-5

GAZZUZZ:
master mayor sabi this one pass me.....

OP next time try to stay around or observe an car electrician at work before engaging him, if he is not neat and painstaking, forget him!

he will fix problem 1 and create 5 more problems

Electrical work requires carefulness of the highest degree or things very costly things could burn out, and it is not easy to trace electrical faults, good luck

Na one chance you enter

sorry oooo

Hmmm... you dey lagos? nna talk to oga GAZZUZZ or master mayor2013

0rex:
I just hope it doesn't have overheating issues like the MPV.

Observe the car well. Any signs of tampering on electrical or mechanical systems, you better fly away. Infact, it's better you engage a Mazda expert.

MPV does not have overheating issues. bad mechanic or negligence or a lack of understanding of how the cooling system in this vehicle works and is designed causes overheat issues in this vehicle

However suffers from overheating issues had either :

1. changed the fan wiring to direct and set the speed to the lowest
2. put coolant in the reservoir thinking it had gotten into the radiator and the engine but it did not especially after running low on coolant or after an engine rebuild
3. failed to fix the rusty/leaky steel coolant pipes
4. failed thermostat

On the other hand, if

1. cooling fans are run by relays (2000-2001) or bad fan modules are replaced (2002 - 2006)
2. a thermostat is installed
3. degraded factory fitted steel coolant pipes are replaced with either quality rubber hoses or aluminum cooler pipes so the van doesn't suffer from high pressure coolant leaks

your MPV will never overheat.

I know because I used to run one and I have very fond memories of the ride, which is why i hate it that MAZDA refused to bring the new MPV to the US

kingreign:
Not the Toyota Sienna AWD systems I know.

You are right, was misdirected by a comment on a forum I cannot remember while trying to understand one or two things about Toyota Sienna's.

The true position is this:

Full-Time 4WD/AWD All Wheel Drive (Sienna and Highlander gas System)

This systems sends variable power to both axles. It incorporates the front differential, center differential and transfer case into one compact unit. Rear differential is located at rear axle.

Operation

AWD system relies on a specialized Eletronic Control Unit (ECU) to control wheel spin by applying the brakes to that wheel therefore directing power to other wheels with traction.

Benefits
This is a light duty system that allows a vehicle exceptional traction at all times while utilizing all the features of VSC and TRAC.

Thanks for spotting the error and calling it out

Any positive or negative experiences with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)+ Traction Control (TRAC) on the 2004 to 2006 Sienna in Nigeria

Originalsly:
Interesting. I think Op should focus on considering the purpose of the vehicle and which is best to maximize his profit. Like someone pointed out earlier....stuff like rare entertainment...a later model bus...leather seats..... these are the stuff that would attract passengers. FWD or AWD?....decision should be made on road condition....if is all good paved road...FWD....less fuel..less expensive maintenance. If the roads are poor and do get like off road condition....then AWD is the way to go...with tow bar attached as suggested earlier....while others get stuck you just keep cruising on....and that would bring you even more riders.So take all these stuffs into consideration...including roof rack....afterall....this is about business.

Toyota AWD on the Sienna is part-time, only works when it senses loss of traction at the rear.

Van is really heavy, with careful driving on the FWD one can still manage without and avoid unnecessary expense and complexity.

Without all of these issues one can get a sienna for around $2,000 to $2,500, with this long shopping list, we are looking at $5,000 and more per vehicle, great deal for a $35,000 vehicle when brand new

If the vehicle was going to be bought for personal or family usage, then we would have aimed for the XLE or XLE Limited.

But because are are aiming at commercial utilization, the trims that have the best advantage with respect to seating capacity are CE and LE.

it is worthy to note that all the trims come with 7 seater as standard, but the 8 seats were an option available for just the CE and the LE, while the option could not be fitted to the XLE or XLE Limited.

Like the 5th post suggested, why go for the base edition, if you can get better? So we are getting the LE with as many options as possible.

VOTE: LE carries the day! Thanks diportivo and bravolad!!

FWD has better MPG than AWD but AWD is a big issue in slippery roads, the five negatives of the AWD higher repair/maintenance costs, lower fuel economy, no space for a spare tire, 7 passenger instead of 8 and tires will require replacement sooner. One can safely do without the AWD for this application.

VOTE: FWD wins!

A minus for the AWD:

all-wheel-drive versions of the Sienna lose the center seat in the second row and the second-row tip feature (though the seats still slide), and have a seven-passenger capacity. Cargo capacity is unchanged on all-wheel-drive models.
Read more at https://www.cars.com/articles/2014/02/do-you-need-an-all-wheel-drive-minivan/#05su8sGRI0kqLsZ0.99

bravolad:
Vehicle Stability Control just as the name implies ensures that your vehicle goes in the direction that you steer it. Tranction Control keeps wheel spinning when power is applied. Day time running light provides visibility for on coming traffic during severe wheather conditions especially in Europe & countries with constant snow. The Windshield de-icer grid is a heater for the windshield wiper that prevents ice build up on the windshield. Not much of usefulness in this part of the world.

Day time running lights and Windshield de-icer are attachments of the VSC+TRAC package. So one cannot get the VSC+TRAC without getting them.

My question is more of how critical is VSC+TRAC to the Sienna driving experience or how does a Sienna without this package compare to one with it?

Or simply put, can I ignore this option when creating my list of must-haves or it must be there?

Seems like a nice to have, what I do not get yet, is if it is a must-have.

Read horror stories of the VSC+TRAC turning on when it shouldn't (on absolutely dry roads, and drivers feeling that the vehicle is taking over the driving from them), I think the feature is a good to have feature, but should it break down, how easy is it to fix in Nigeria, I guess it is controlled by two sensors, the yaw sensor and the steering angle sensor.

Has anyone got a run-in with this issue and successfully fixed it here?

Remember I am entering uncharted territory but I am trying my very best not to make a purchase just because nearly every agrees it should be a Sienna but am trying to buy a Sienna that I know will be good for me and my business because I did my homework.

Yea, am not buying one, am buying a fleet, so all this homework becomes all the more important, so the fleet can stay online and not offline because of things I should have prepared for, but did not.

Thanks again!!