₦airaland Forum

Mr Ivvie,

The 530i is more economical than the E320 so your point is moot. Go and comapre the figures and come back to me on that one.

Yes you like the Mecedes, everybody knows that. Your argument is emotional. Let's talk about dynamics, driving pleasure and even fuel economy. (Figures, reports from car testers)

At Okeyjazz, sadly the Bentley and the Maserati are in a different category.

Infiniti QX56 is not even worthy of a mention here.

Mr,

you keep contradicting yourself. Europeans can be quite smug about American knowledge of cars! You cannot begin to compare the A/B Class and the 1-Series or Mini or even the Audi A3. There is no contest. Mercedes redeemed itself with the new S-Class. I don't particularly like it but I think it's fantastic car. BMW launches a new 7 Series next year, so I'm waiting to see what happens when these cars are pitted against each other! I'm not a BMW fan but I give props when one is due. Like said before I drive a Mercedes CLK only because most of the people here drive a 3-Series and I wanted to be different. The BMW 3-Series coupe is more involving.

In Germany where these cars are made, BMW has a better image when it comes to driving pleasure and dynamics. There are more BMW company cars than Mercedes, even Audi is not far behind. I really don't know how else to put it. If I didn't live here, I might be arguing blindly. Mercedes is trying to appeal to the younger market with better designs and better dynamics. It is happening already. I believe the new E-class coming out end of next year will be more dynamic just like the new S-Class and the C-Class have been.


530i Vs E320 Vs Audi A6 3.2
When it comes down to it, victory does not go to the Mercedes. Even though it was launched just two years ago, in early 2002, the strong-selling E-class is already beginning to show its age. It is well packaged and terrific-looking and has a great overall image, but it is disappointing on the road. Compared with the 530i and the A6, the E320 has the most sluggish driveline, the least engaging steering, and the spongiest brakes. In addition, its chassis is neither particularly comfortable nor very sporty.

If the 530i is the best-handling car, then the Audi must be the most compelling all-arounder. The A6 wins by a nose-despite the choppy ride and the less than compelling steering. Its engine produces more midrange punch, it is fitted with the most intuitive transmission, and it has the best brakes, the nicest cabin, and the most appealing ergonomics. The A6 also eclipses its rivals in terms of traction and stability, and it is comprehensively equipped. It is the pragmatic and rational choice. Although the new A6 may not be the ultimate driving machine, it does offer a greater variety of talents than its esteemed rivals.

C350 Vs 330i Vs IS350
As it stands, the C350 looks identical to its entry-level stablemate, the C230. All said and done, the Benz came across as quick, capable, and subdued. A sleeper. Did it just not wake us up? When the ballots were submitted and the votes counted, there were two cars ahead of the Benz--the winner and the biggest threat to the winner. Guess which car won? The BMW 330i of course

Ivvie:
Theoretically, a well built 6 Cylinder should outperform an 8 Cylinder in a close circ. race track. I guarantee you that the cars you just mentioned will not be two corners behind the E500, though they are two cylinders shorter. No car eliminates dynamical mass as Mercedes and Porsche.

I'm sorry my friend, you talking from your backside on that one. If you have a soft spot for a Mercedes 500E or even any Mercedes for that matter, you can be forgiven for being so passionate about them. Let's call a spade a spade, Porsches being in a different class of their own because they are not bound by the 'Gentleman Agreement' in Germany to limit their cars to 250Km/h. Of course you cannot compare the handling of a Volvo 850R or a Fiat Coupe Turbo 20v to a Merc 500E but they can match the electronically limited top speed!

Agreed Porsche built the 500E, so I will cut you a little bit of slack on that one, but come on, even we in Germany know that for absolute driving pleasure, driving dynamics, you drive a BMW and not a Mercedes.

Perhaps the best cars in the world in terms of pure engineering for normal everyday cars.

Only of late are Mercedes challenging BMW for pure driving dynamics. The M-Badged versions consistently edge the AMGs. The new C63 AMG is the odd one out in this regard. It gave the new M3 a run for its money. The new M3 whilst powerful is not as torquey as the new 6.2 litre AMG engine.

But I will still bet my bottom dollar that a BMW M5 or M635CSi was/is more than match a Mercedes 500E.

In 1991, this second generation of the M5 got competition from the Mercedes Benz 500E and less important the Opel Lotus Omega with it’s twin turbo charged 3.6 litre engine. Despite the fact that the 500E was not as fast as an E34 M5 3.6 litre in sheer performance, the 500E with it’s 5,0 litre V8 and automatic gearbox was the better autobahn performer. But on twisty of the autobahns or on the track, the E34 M5 was the better performing car. In 1992, BMW enlarged the engine of the E34 M5 to 3795cc. Not in the first place to yield more power, but to improve fuel consumption and tractability. The new 3.8 litre engine yielded 347 DIN hp at 6900RPM and 409NM (295 lb.ft) from 4750RPM. Acceleration for 0 to 100km/h improved to 5.9sec and if not the top speed was electronically limited, the E34 M5 could reach more than 270km/h (170mp/h). Other improvements for the 1992 European M5 was a new adaptive suspension with gas filled Boge shock absorbers. Sensors located at different parts of the car measures the body roll and when necessary the shock absorbers became stiffer to improve handling. As an option, the so called Nurburgring option was available which allowed the driver to play with the stiffness of the suspension. From 1992, BMW also offered the M5 also as touring. With only 891 M5 tourings built, this is quite a rare car.

Autos are perhaps better in start/stop traffic. A Double Sequential Gearbox (DSG) for instance is quicker than any manual gearchange will ever be and even more economical because it has 2 clutches. The gearchanges are faster keeping revs to a minimum. Even CVT boxes are more economical than manual boxes. You can read up on DSG especially if you don't believe me. The VW group pioneered it and a lot of car manufacturers are now introducing some dual clutch gearboxes in their product offerings

Modern Automatics have tiptronic function so you don't have floor the throttle to downshift. Even those without tiptronic function have 3,2,1 on them. You can downshift manually if you want.

I don't know about the Mr. Goodwrench gearboxes but the Autoboxes here especially for the European cars, once you keep them serviced, they run forever.

@Ivvie,

You guys must really be suffering in the US. FYI even VW Golfs and Passats in Germany can park themselves. Obviously you have to specify it as an optional extra but the technology is available to the cheaper alternatives.

I'm sure you know more cars can switch lanes at 150mph not just the 500E. Any BMW with the twin-turbo straight six can do that even the Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo is more than capable of 150mph

I know you're in love with the 500E but I'm sure you know there are also more than a few cars that can match the speed and agility of the Merc. Actually too many to mention in this day and age.

I give it to you, the 500E was a cracker when it came out (it still is). A BMW M635CSi can also breeze through traffic at 150mph and that came before the 500E!

The 190E 2.5 16v was based on the Merc the ran in the touring car series. A road going version o fthe car must be created before you can race you creation. Reason why we have the likes of the BMW M3 and the Audi RS series as well Volvo 850R (Terminator)

My first hunch will be to tell the woman to walk away with her kids. She is in a position to look after herself. After taking time out and assessed situation from all angles, one can say let there be counselling and mediation between the couple to see if they can work things out. If only and if both want to. You cannot force anyone to be with you.

If ever that happens, what needs to precede that is that, the woman needs to leave the famiy home and be by herself with her kids. Without that you can never take yourself out of the scenario and be objective. The mere sight of your husband irritates you. How are you supposed to be affectionate and be his 'soulmate'?

You don't try and be someone's soulmate. You either are or are not.

Why did I go this route? (This is just my opinion) I believe a lot of the African/Nigerian men feel it is their right to have as many women as possible and the women should remain pure. They have the last word. Afterall their wives should submit themselves to the husbands and what not. You should be able to take what you dish out. I'm not advocating a free for all shag fest. Some men should realise that a woman might have had a past before you started dating her.

I'm not a very strong christian, but yes the Bible says the woman should submit themselves to the husbands. The Bible also says the husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. If you want to decipher that properly, the husband shouldn't have been unfaithful and thereafter been violent towards his wife. It doesn't work like that.

In the spirit of forgiveness, the wife should forgive her husband and the husband so 'sin no more'. If not, then reconcilation is out of the question. The woman shouldn't have to suffer in this manner even if she's become more successful over the years and her husband resents her for it. She shouldn't have to suffer for her ambitiousness.

You can forgive but it takes a while to forget if you ever forget anyway.

Now to the guys who are flaying the woman because she is upset her husband cheated on her twice and said that is nothing. Answer these questions in all honesty. Would you be able to handle your wife cheating on you once? Would you be able to look her in the eye? Would society forgive her? Would you stay with her because you have kids.

Perhaps I'm too westernised but I believe you should dish only what you can take.

3 million Nigerians unemployed!

Right, then I'm the Pope!!! Germany, a country of 82 million has around 5 million people unemployed and Nigeria, a nation of 140+ million has 3 million people unemployed. The country has no thriving middle class, the industries are not functioning, infrastructure is non-existent.

I think we all know that a whole load of nonsense. With the amount of graduates from the various Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and the rest of them without jobs, we have only 3 million people unemployed? Then Nigeria is doing really well

The NDE should do a proper survey and review their figures and I'm sure it will be found that the figures are significantly higher.

I wouldn't be surprised if one of our 'looters' has this in his garage but cannot drive it around. More money than sense,

Depends on how you were brought up. I think if you grew up with your siblings in the same household then you are more likely to be closer than if you grew up in different households.

Example the you have wives having their own apartments/houses away from each other and the kids never meet. You know about each other (not in every case) and you always percieve the other family spending more time with your Dad and getting more off him. You grow up with some resentment.

The other situation of living together in the same household. You will be closer (not saying it's always going to be good). There is less resentment only if your mothers do not fill your minds with hatred of your siblings. You grow up becomng really close.

I am a product of that and i am really close to some of my half brothers and sisters but not all of them. Some I have not to spoken to in years and some we speak every week

$100 for guessing who I'm closer to,

My half brothers and sisters that I grew up in the same household.

@Almondjoy,

Why would you come out with such drivel? If you have had bad experiences with some African or some Nigerian men doesn't mean they cannot love Nigerian women or white women.

All men are dogs, all they want is sex. All men cheat! All African/Nigerian men cheat on their wives and what not!
All African women are golddiggers, horrible in bed and cannot flirt or seduce their men to save their lives, All women nag!,

Generalizations on above statements.

Next time you choose your mate wisely.


Women and men come in different colours, some are good and some are bad. Some white men have really pointy noses and some black have really flat noses.

Some men will cheat on you and have a family with another woman, some women will cheat on you and pass off someone else child as yours. It happens with both black and white people so please enough of the crap about African men, 

Choose your mate wisely and pray for the best and you'll be fine.

Please please make sure you buy a new helmet! You cannot afford to buy a used one because you don't know if it's been dropped or not.

Once it's dropped once your head will not be adequately protected and you might as well be riding without protection.

@femi4love, no worries.

I will never advice anybody i know to travel to Germany in search of greener pastures, Germany was good 10 years ago but today the German economy is no longer what it was some years back, many people even Germans are leaving Germany for other countries, the German police hates all black people and they can stop you anywhere to ask for your documents even in their departure halls (not arrival hall) and your flight ready to take off to Nigeria. They are world number one in phone tapping (illegally)

I wouldn't say that if I were you. You will the find the US eavesdropping more than Germany or even UK. Because of the war, laws had to be changed to stop things like these happening. People were extremely skeptical of the Government as well as their neighbours. It's not a Police state like people assume it is. I had the same thoughts when i was moving here. You cannot even eavesdrop in your own house. If someone is on the phone and you pick the extension, you cannot hear what the next person is saying. Your phone system has to support conferencing for that to happen (All these just stop the feeling of mistrust that built up during the Nazi regime) when people were shopping their families for having different ideologies.

I'm sure you know fuel is more expensive in Europe than in the US, reason why there are breakthroughs all the time. Diesels will always sell in higher number than in the US. It doesn't help that the US has some ridiculous emissions laws regarding diesels.

Think about BlueTec for Mercedes and BlueMotion for Volkswagen. OK Maybe in California. BMW are also working on a cleaner diesel technology because i think once Mercedes are able to sell the E320 CDI BlueTec in the US, they will clean up in the premium sector.

I somehow disagree with some of the things you wrote about Germany. German Assylum system is far more better than UK. I don't think their is any illegal immigrant in Germany because you must take asylum and once you did that, go to their asylum camp between 1-3 months they will give you a place to leave, pay you monthly, give you foodstuff every wenesday. Coming to getting papers its again easier than UK because once you get a child in Germany your problem of immigration is almost solved because they will give you resident permit to look for work and take care of your child. After 5 years you become a permenant resident looking forward for a german passport. Now in Germany if you have worked for 7 good years as an asylum seeker they give you pasport straight away. Good economy, Good environment, Good House, Better transportation system and on time as well. Recist but then you know they are not in UK everybody is recist but pretend to be your friend.

@Doncaster. I suppose you do not live in Germany like I do at present. Of course there are illegal immigrants in Germany and there are those who are asylum seekers. Yes, you are given a place to live and given a few Euros a month to live on and they bring foodstuff for you every Wednesday. It doesn't matter if you have a child now (i'm sure that used to be the case) but a friend of mine has 2 kids all born here. The second child is 3 months old. He has a 2 year old daughter, his wife is also an asylum seeker. He's still fighting to get a work/permit permit to provide for his family. By the way he's been here about 5 years too so that throws your argument in the water. He's been told leave but he's appealing the judgement.

Of course the economy is good and the country has fantastic transport system. There is racism in every country, at least here if no one likes you, you know no one likes you and vice versa. No pretence like the UK.

The German passport is not automatic. Without adequate language skills, you will not get it. You will take a citizenship test, language test. The most you will get is a permanent residency permit which is more than adequate in most cases. Ask the Turks who have been here for over 40 years if they have German passports. Granted a lot of them don't want it. At the end of the day, you're still an 'Auslander' (foreigner) or the best case scenario 'A Nigerian with a German passport'.

A friend that travels a lot for work had to exchange his Naija passport for a German one after all the embarrassment of being detained a few times abroad and he'd been here 17 years at the time. Some immigration officials couldn't comprehend that a Nigerian can represent a Germany company abroad. There is no dual nationality and he didn't want to give up his Nigerian passport.

I live here and yes i do not know all the cases but having a child does not guarantee residency. Some illegals survive by using someone elses green card. As an EU citizen in Germany, you get an automatic 5 years residency permit. After 5 years it becomes permanent. You can decide to go back to your home country before 5 years of after 5 years. This is not revoked except of course you decide to deregister completely. You can pass on your green card to an 'illegal immigrant' so far your friend promises not to abuse it. That is how a few survive. Funny enough I just heard about this a few days ago because i used to wonder myself how these illegals survive.

Extremely difficult but it's been done,

Hey Mr Viperman, I know someone in PH looking for exactly this colour for an ML. I will let you know. DOn't forget about my CLK please. What year is this may I ask?

Regards

How low is low mileage?

Hey Viperman, I have a CLK320 convertible that i drive right now in Germany. Full dealer serviced here. AMG alloys, telephone in hand rest that is controlled via the streering wheel. It also has the COMAND system, Navigation, controls tel and CD and everything else.

Basically fully loaded. I hate to let it go but I have had it for 4 years. It's time for a change. How much can i get for it in Lagos?

Do you want to buy in Naija or abroad? I live in Germany and I can help you source one. I wouldn't charge you anything.

Maybe i should hmmm. Because they are plentiful here it shouldn't be hard to find a decent one so i wouldn't even charge finders fee.

@Monsieur

I think you will find that Toronto is actually in Ontario. Just wanted to point that out. No offence intended.

As one who actually lives in Germany (7 years now). I used to live in the UK. I have visited some of these countries you mentioned. There are black people (Nigerians) in Czech Republic (Prague). I know! I met a few of them when I visited once for a weekend three years ago. It is not a hustling country and like you said, you cannot disappear within a big immigrant population. Those guys are suffering. I would assume you will need to be married to a citizen/resident to be able to get any kind of employment (if you find any). Last time I checked a good few of them move westwards for a better future. (Very beautiful city like someone pointed out)

Hungary(Budapest) - I met a few Nigerians who are doing well but a good few also are suffering simply because the economy is not as dynamic as the West is. To study is great, a few Nigerians are studying in a University affiliated to University of Hertfordshire. (Also a very beautiful city)

Greece(Athens) - Those guys are suffering too. I once saw these guys fighting in a square over loose change including girls too. I felt really bad as a fellow black person. Granted I don't know the background of the fight but the situation was just not pleasant. The girls were practically 'throwing' it in your face for a few euros.

The same goes for the former eastern bloc countries including Poland. I would not even advice going to countries like Moldova, Albania, and the likes of them.

Germany on the hand can also be very frustrating if you do not have a good job. With a good job it's fantastic! I will not advice going to some places in the East (former Eastern Germany). Your safety cannot be guaranteed. I know what I am talking about. These people were more or less locked up for years before the wall came down. It's been 10 years but attitudes will take a while before they change. It doesn't help that the economic miracle promised for the east hasn't happened and there is a lot resentment.

The west is definitely better than the east but at the same time you still cannot hustle per se. The country is very structured and there are checks and balances every 5 minutes. Up until 7-8 years ago, a black man on the street can be and most likely be stopped by the police and 'controlled' (Basically they want to see your papers). I get stopped a few times a year. I was even handcuffed last year because i didn't have anything on me. I dress smartly to work but that didn't mean anything to the police.

You can get away with living in the country illegally but it is extremely difficult getting a work permit. I know a lot of people who have gone back to Nigeria because of the frustration. One is going back next month. After 5 years of nothing to show for it, he's had enough. I feel really sorry for him. There are tons of them like that who are in refugee camps waiting for the police to say their time is up. I would not advice my enemy to come here and disappear. Even the immigration laws are tighter. Now you have to go Nigeria to get married to a German woman that 'loves' you or agrees to marry you for papers. You visa to come back might not be granted. I know, it's happened to people i know.

They were stuck in Nigeria for months before they could come back. When that happens, you have to be married for 5 years before you get a residence permit (formerly 3 years). If the lady decides not to want you anymore after 4 years and 364 days, you get nothing. Besides every year you have to renew for 5 years. Imagine marrying a woman or man that you will never in your wildest dream marry and 'act' for 5 years playing husband and wife

If you come as a professional, Germany has a perhaps the highest quality of life in Europe. The Scandinavian countries are very nice too and I have travelled widely mostly in Europe and North America

Out of all of these, all the hustling that goes on in Greece, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia cannot happen in Germany so the guys really keep a low profile or else you will be deported straightaway.

Sad but reality.