₦airaland Forum

Rumin8:
I found the bolded as amusing as it is true. Just a few days with this vehicle and I'm apprehensive every time I approach it, wondering what new problem it would throw up. Driving it is equally a nerve wracking experience. Every bump, every thud, every rattle and your heart stops, fearing the worst. It's a very stressful situation to be in.

Lol, yeah. You capture the exact picture, lol.

inihood:
How unfortunate.

Summary: if you want to buy a luxury vehicle, get a luxury vehicle specialist. If you want to buy an everyday beater, any mechanic "can" in theory do the inspection, but never vice versa.

God will turn your pain into joy very soon when you can afford to get a replacement.

How sad that so many here on nairaland often advise those with lemon vehicles to sell it to the unsuspecting, instead of declaring a loss and selling to the wreckyard at a loss and moving on. I want to believe that you would not wish your enemy the sort of pain you have passed through which is why you wrote all the above.



The parts I have highlighted is because while I respect professionals a lot. I believe that if you are indeed a professional, you should be able to answer the question why, to defend why you hold a position, and never say, take it from me, take or leave it, but don't why, or I cannot explain.If indeed you know it that well, you should be able to tell. As it turns out, many believe that you should trust them just because they are professionals and when things go wrong like now, they are in no position to mitigate your losses or share your losses, they might even be unable to say sorry, and will stupidly and foolishly defend the untenable. Professional opinions have been later discovered to be wrong or to have arisen from unreasonably held biases, which only dispassionate analysis has unearthed.

Many mechanics are specialists in a particular brand and rather than being humble enough to admit that they do not know about the other brand, will mis-advise based on their insecurities and biases and in order to milk some more cash from the unsuspecting.

Here was a clear case of lack of humility, because he should as an expert have given you sensible advice, go and meet someone who specializes in that type of vehicle. He should have told you to give him time to make contacts and introduce you to someone. But by being proud and arrogant, he has to an extend destroyed your trust, and caused you immeasurable loss. While it is possible to remain friends with him, the friendship will change because relying on his expert advice has caused you pain, the loss of money which can be regained, time which cannot and extreme discomfort. By the way, did you pay him for this advice that has caused you much grieve?

Here is another consideration, even after meeting an expert, it never hurts to seek a second opinion from another expert. When a window regulator failed, one expert told me I needed to buy another. So I went somewhere else and I was told, something fell out, I will fabricate it and it will return to normal. It never hurts to seek a second opinion.

May God bless your heart, sweep your pains away and make you smile again.

First off, i cannot use a mechanic that cannot guarantee free repairs if the new replacement doesn't work out fine. that's the new standard for choosing mechanics. Mechanics with excuses are the worst. And one last thing, learned mechanics are always advisable.

[quote author=GAZZUZZ post=41321092]Want to buy a used car? Just pay me for an inspection. And go to rest.

[/quot

How much do u charge for inspection?

Rumin8:
This is a story about my experience following the purchase of a used car from a Nairalander. I made costly mistakes and have learnt the hard way and wish to enlighten other buyers interested in used vehicles.

I had bought two vehicles in the past, both being tokunbos. First car was an 04 Accord, second, an 08 Acura TL. Both cars performed flawlessly for several months after buying them and somehow, this created in me, a false sense of safety going into the purchase of this used car, a 2008 VW Passat V6 4Motion. My Acura TL got stolen and I needed a replacement quickly as my work involve a lot of road trips. My budget wasn't high enough to replace the Acura so when I saw this used V6 Passat, I was intrigued. For me, it represented power and comfort and I decided to buy it.

Naturally it was advertised as first body, no fixes to be made, bla bla bla. I had a long phone conversation with the seller and we extended our communication to Whatsapp, where he sent me more images of the vehicle. We settled on a price and that weekend I went to see it. This is the point where my trust in the seller and in the car itself had me commit my first big blunder.

When going to inspect a used vehicle, go with an auto technician that specializes in that brand of vehicle, not just any mechanic

I went to inspect the vehicle with a mechanic friend who sadly, is a Honda specialist. He had worked with me in my Honda and Acura days and I wrongly assumed he was qualified enough to perform routine checks on this VW Passat in other to certify the car worthy. Of course he drove it, over rough and smooth roads, tested horns, wipers, lights and checked tires briefly. He told me the only thing he noticed was that the shocks needed replacement, said engine was okay and transmission was smooth. Shocks weren't major issues I felt, and concluded it was safe enough to buy.

Always, always, get a used car raised and get that specialist mechanic to go underneath for a thorough inspection. Where possible, remove the front tyres and check the suspension and engine bay extensively. Know what components are bad, what would need instant replacements so you know just how much more money you'd be putting in after buying it (if you'd still be buying it). A TEST DRIVE IS NOT ENOUGH

My friend said shocks were bad. If only he knew.

Since buying the vehicle, the following parts have had to be replaced: shocks (all four), two front brake discs (each costs 15,000), ball joints, hubs, linkage, tyre rods, shafts, camber, the beam (a 25,000 component) and being a four wheel drive, the propeller pad. Total cost? N158,000 including labour.

But my worries were far from over.

Never, never ignore any warning lights on a used vehicle. NEVER.

In the pictures the seller provided, there was a warning light for the steering. When I saw the vehicle too, it always flashed after ignition and disappeared after a few seconds. Seller said it was because the battery was removed (oh, I changed the battery too, 20,000 aside the 158k). That the Passat works like that. I went online but couldn't find anything definitive. He convinced me a simple scan would clear it if I was too concerned.

But just two days after paying for the vehicle, on my way home the car broke down. That warning light turned red and gear refused to move from P to D. Not even N. It was embarrassing because it happened at a narrow, but busy corner and I'd blocked off the road completely. Car finally entered N briefly and was then pushed to a corner. It happened around 10:20 pm and there was little I could do except pay some guys 5,000 to secure it till day break.

I contacted some guys the next day who charged 15,000 to run a scan and clear the error. But the error could not be cleared. That's because the car had a much deeper problem. The steering rack had a hole, caused by the propeller, caused by broken pads. And so a search for a steering rack began.

It was not found in Port Harcourt and the only one seen in Aba was not a direct match for the car. It had to be ordered from Lagos. The guy who had it in Aba set a price of N60,000 for it but the 'ordered' one from Lagos, according to the men doing the ordering, cost 95,000. According to them, the rack itself costs 80,000. Cost of delivery, 5,000. Cost of 'programming' the new steering, 10,000. I did my best to bring the price down without success. When a parts dealer knows you've got no choice and your car can't move without his part, you're in trouble.

Above all, the mechanic who would install the new steering rack said he'd charge nothing less than 20,000. "Oga this car na big car, the work na big work. Na one full day I go use loose the steering comot, then put the new one. I no go take 10,000. No, I no go take 15,000."

So I paid 80,000. The steering came in after 4 days of stories, was installed and I paid the balance of 15,000. Then paid stubborn mechanic his 20,000.

Add this 115 to the 158 and the 20 and its about 300,000 spent already. If anyone had used all of his money to buy a used vehicle and discovered these problems, certainly you'll be parking that 'new' car for a long, long time.

But there's a reason I am posting this this morning. Yesterday was when I regained possession of the car. Drove it briefly. Everything seemed fine. On my way to the office, it broke down again. Luckily it wasn't far from a garage where VW cars are repaired. Mechanic checked. "Oga, your propeller pad don scatter." So the propeller pad that cost 8000 didn't last a full day of use. Called stubborn mechanic. "Oga, no be my fault. Na the boy wey bring the part. Where you dey? I go come tomorrow," (even though the time was around 1pm).

This morning, someone has proceeded to Onitsha with 14,000 to look for the pad because it too wasn't found in PH and Aba.

If only I had gone with a VW specialist for inspection, raised the car and done a thorough assessment. If I hadn't perceived that warning light as insignificantly as the seller made it seem, I wouldn't be in this position. Of course, I regret buying the car but it's too late.

So if you are in the market for a used car, take these precautions and save yourself the expense and arguments with stubborn mechanics and spare parts dealers.

[Note: This post is for the purpose of informing others, not eliciting sympathy for my misfortune. It already contains admission of my naivete in the purchase of a used car. It would be unwise to abuse or insult me further. ]

I sympatise with u,nxt time anybody wanna buy used car,also do a review of d common problems of that car model on public forums,google?seek expert opinion,d seller has successfully offload his problems on d head of another man.

Like having a sickler as child.

seunt4ut:
With my vast experience in tokunbo automobile VW products are not advisable to buy in tokunbo.

When i stumbled on the thread, as i saw VW, i said to my self, 'no wonder'.

I have said before on this forum, german cars are good but you cant manage them. They easily break down for something so little.

Anyways, my 2003 accord bought naija used was better than the 3 tokumbo vehicles i bought in my life. Infact, it was the first time i bought a car and change was left to upgrade the car. Other times, the car certainly goes beyond budget.

Both my parents want to change cars. I plan to save alot by going the Naija used way.

My friend wasnt so lucky with his 08 accord but it wasnt all bad as the car is back to shape after he bought the engine. I know we didnt make our homework well and my friend wasnt all patient. Naija used needs alot of patience. Unfamiliar cars should be a no go area for Naija used purchase.

GAZZUZZ:
Want to buy a used car? Just pay me for an inspection. And go to rest.

this guy is actually good.. I haven't used him before.. But I have heard his stories

Rumin8:
What's a PPI? I know PPE.

PPI means Pre Purchase Inspection.


Click on the link below for more information.

https://www.nairaland.com/3244787/before-buy-used-car-look

just reading this, I can see that one big lesson is, don't equate your past experience with Japanese cars to an expected experience with a european car, especially when it comes to maintenance and replacement parts.

I looked at an ad for a used infiniti G35, and as soon as my aunt saw it, she said "No, not that one, you will be paying a ton for repairs"... of course Infiniti is Japanese too, but you hardly see them here compared to all the people driving Toyota and Honda so when it comes to replacement parts and experienced mechanics... hmm, I have to trust her advice on that despite the decent price and nice looking pics

GAZZUZZ:
Want to buy a used car? Just pay me for an inspection. And go to rest.

...i want to buy Toyota Sienna 2008/2009/2010 XLE. Please what's the cost of your inspection? How readily available are you? Please advise me on which one to buy from Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Camry of the above year and edition. It's very urgent. Thank you. The car is for personal purposes .

MPVGoddess:
Not all Nigerian used cars are bad.

Have I replaced minor components? Yes. E.g., engine mounts, radiator hoses, cooling lines, window regulators, door handles, spark plugs, tires, ignition coils, brake pads, brake disks, brake fluid hoses due to wear and tear or leakage or mechanic failure to secure from abrasion, tie rods, tie rod ends, radiator fans both the blades and the motors, strut and shocks, hubs, distributor, rear springs that work with shocks, shafts, air filters, belts, speed sensors, MAF, oxygen sensors, wiper blades, strut mount and bearings, lower control arms, thermostat, water pump, alternator, belt tensioner assembly, sway bay links, sway bar bushings, power steering pump, A/C condenser, fuel pump assembly , muffler

Have I replaced major components? Yes. E.g., transmission, engine, catalytic converter, suspension sub-frame is a pending replacement which I will do early in the near year

Pls what is suspension sub-frame?

Originalsly:
Nice sharing. I think the most important point is to get a certified mechanic who is very knowledgeable of the brand car you want to buy. But there is always a risk....faults can be covered and only surface with time. Not a mechanic.. but from observations... toks VW is unreliable... even when pretty new... they shut down for one reason or other... same with LR. Then to find parts and on spot competent mechanics add to the mess. There is a reason why they depreciate in value so fast...yet look in pristine condition. @Op... you have spent too much on that car.... and would be spending a whole lot more if you continue to depend on it. Most likely you cannot regain your money if you sell it as is...I suggest you try arrange having it parted out....you would make back your money and a lot more.

Sincerely I can relate to this. I have seen a number of them break down on the road despite looking modern and sleek and will be wondering what went wrong.

I once assisted a guy in towing his sleek looking VW. The car just disappointed him in a workday morning on the bridge heading to Muson centre and VI.

Based on the lamentation of the gentleman about the car and what he has faced in the hand of mechanics, I made the decision never to buy a VW.

EgunMogaji:
Brilliant thesis, bravo.

I'm looking to buy a 9ja used Landrover 110.

3yrs after, this search is still on

mrsage:
I have been able to learn from you. Maybe you should just sell it and cut your losses. It's difficult though.
I believe that a problematic car will always be problematic.

All the best.

.
he has done the repairs for the new buyer.

Make the new owner just dey cruise they go

Milito:
Pls what is suspension sub-frame?

except u r a mechanic, I suggest u pray never to know what it is

obekediamondfuto:
except u r a mechanic, I suggest u pray never to know what it is

Do tell. I am curious. I have changed a lot of things in my 1998 Accord including shocks, linkages, bushings, etc but I'm still hearing strange sounds.

VW..hmmm

adanny01:
When i stumbled on the thread, as i saw VW, i said to my self, 'no wonder'.

I have said before on this forum, german cars are good but you cant manage them. They easily break down for something so little.

Anyways, my 2003 accord bought naija used was better than the 3 tokumbo vehicles i bought in my life. Infact, it was the first time i bought a car and change was left to upgrade the car. Other times, the car certainly goes beyond budget.

Both my parents want to change cars. I plan to save alot by going the Naija used way.

My friend wasnt so lucky with his 08 accord but it wasnt all bad as the car is back to shape after he bought the engine. I know we didnt make our homework well and my friend wasnt all patient. Naija used needs alot of patience. Unfamiliar cars should be a no go area for Naija used purchase.

Lies