₦airaland Forum

Emperoh: This knotty issue again!
But it will keep popping up, since people are not yet so informed as to what to do and where to look for what you want.
But i will, to the best of my ability, address this issue as i understand it.

Most people who will say Cotonou is better are those whose businesses are serviced from that end.
Hence, they might not reveal all the attendant factors to you. But it is always better to be in the right light and present issues as they are.
It is just like me telling you that direct import from Yankee is your best bet since that is where i feed from.
But the final decision lies with the buyer. What we owe them as dealers, is to present them with the true and exact picture.
I feel more satisfied laying my chips on the table and the buyer walking away cos it doesn't favour him, than carry the burden of
managing series of lies that you have told all in a big to win the business.

I will summarise what these two purchase avenues offer you.
Cotonou gives you an array of options to choose from. From the clean title to the downright ridiculous lemons, they all have it all.
The market is a case of shine your eyes and shine it well because once your money enters their hands, that is the end of it. If the car is sound, your luck
if it is not sound, na you sabi. All i know is that you have paid and there is no going back.
The Cotonou auto mart is very very large! Almost the size of Festac in Lagos. U will need the services of a motor bike to able to criss cross
its length and breadth. As big as it is, so are the choices you have. But like the proverbial lizards that are on their belly, you can never differentiate the one with belly ache.

On the cost aspect, Cotonou is only cheaper than Lagos because, they will NEVER pay a duty on the import. That is to say, they smuggle in the cars,
then go and conjure some customs documents for you at a cheap fee.
Reason: the moment duty is paid on it, the price is no better than the direct American imports found in Lagos. This is why, some of them run into trouble or why some of the dealers going through that route can be insincere. But be mindful that there are sincere and honest ones as well. But do not expect that duty is paid on any vehicle brought in from Cotonou, unless you are willing to pay the price as stated. Even in cases like this, they still pocket the money. So shine your eyes.
Advantages:
Wide array of choices to buy from
Often times cheap and reasonable prices
A good dealer will help you get a good deal and nice, neat car.

Disadvantages
Poor customer service. The moment you pay, that is the end of it. No refund of money.
No customs duty is paid on the unit making your car susceptible to being impounded by Customs
Insincere middlemen can ruin your transaction or sell you a bad car.
Smuggling will mean that there is no fixed arrival time for your car
Logistics can be very cumbersome and risky atimes.
It's a risky journey up until your car lands. But MOST dealers who know their onions scale through almost every time.

Verdict: If you can stand the troubles, go with a dealer who knows the business well and is open, straight forward and honest and i assure you, you will have a nice shopping experience. Above all, pray to pay for the right car.

Berger
In all honesty, Berger can be a nightmare and a wonderful experience as well.
But one thing to look out for is the fact that most Berger dealers source their cars from Cotonou
While a good number of others are accidented cars from USA or Europe. It is a large market but i reckon it is also an expensive place to buy a car from.
They had a reputation of stocking stolen cars and i wouldn't know if this is still the case. Their sales people can sell you a lemon as brand new so watch out.
Personally, i will only buy at Berger as a last resort. Other car lots in Lagos offer much better options. But one major advantage of Berger is that most high end cars are decent buys. Where you have issues is when buying low end cars. Touts can also be a nightmare there so beware.

Advantages
Gives you the luxury of pay and drive off. No awaiting arrivals and endless stories
High end cars are pretty much ok to buy there.
A wide array of options to choose from though not as big as Cotonou
Strategic location makes it easier to locate and assess.

Disadvantages
Touts can be a nightmare.
If you can find your way around Cotonou, why go to Berger? Most of them source their cars from Cotonou
A bad reputation of stolen cars and other auto vending vices
The most expensive auto centre known to me. This is in the sense that they can sell you a lemon at the price of a clean, decent, accident free vehicle.
Insincerity of sellers abound.
Almost no refund when you have paid.

Verdict
Only go to Berger on two grounds. When you have searched and can't find the car in other auto outlets and
if you have a trusted ally in Berger. That's the only way to avoid the sharks there.

On a general note, buying a car is not an activity you can pull off from your desk especially if you are not so much into cars.
Extensive desk research should keep you informed on the various variables that affect the quality and price of car you buy.
If you can wait, look for a trusted dealer or ally to help you import your cars from USA or Europe or go to Ikorodu Road. Most dealers there still stock
decent, accident free cars but at a price that will sound almost ridiculous. But that's quality speaking.

Cars are not that cheap unless you are buying an 'accidented' or high mileage car.

God bless us all!

@ Emperoh

thank you very much for all these, very insightful.
but pls i need further info.

i'm just so in luv with Peugeot 406 and wanted getting one, saw some here but almost all that i saw were converted from RHD to LHD, i have made up my mind not to buy a converted car no matter how gud it was done. The LHD i came across are not clean nd sound enough.
so i intend going to Cotonou soon but pls help me with answers to the following questions:
1. Is it possible for me to get a clean,sound LHD 406 EW10 engine over there?
2. What is the max age of cars to be imported into Naija, does a 2002 or 2003 406 fall withing the legal limit?
3. I intend to do everything the legal way and will not smuggle the car,but how do i ensure that the agent i'm using will not smuggle it?
4. How much will it cost me for custom duty of a 2002 or 2003 Peugeot 406 at the Nigerian border?

Pls i will be greatful if you provide me answers to the above questions and any further advise you can also offer.
thankx

What is the max age of cars that can be imported into Nigeria? i'm thinking its 10 but i'm not sure.
i intend getting a 2002 0r 2003 406,and will not smuggle it, but i want to know if i can legally clear it?
and how do i ensure that my agent does not smuggle the car to Nigeria?

Ndata: @Gloryland

Please can you explain the bolded clearly.This kind of confusing.Thanks.

you know most cars have a one touch power window for the driver's side,i'e, you can touch the power window button just once and it will lower or raise the diver side window.
so if a car is converted, the former passenger side becomes the new driver's side nd vice versa. so the old driver side which now becomes the new passenger side will hav one touch capability and the new driver side wudnt hav such capability.

how much last last, u wudnt expect any1 in this day and age to buy a tokumbo 406 for 1.8m,wud u?

@kenyguy
i wanted to get the engine for my brother who stays in abj, he was given same price in abj and he thought it might be cheaper in lagos

gloryland: Peugeot is European, it comes in both LHD and RHD for different european countries. France, Spain , Germany etc use LHD while UK use RHD. 406 is designed primarily to favour the LHD. Those RHD for th UK market are manufactured with special consideration for possible conversion to LHD one day. This you will observe during the conversion from RHD to LHD. The manufacturer has already marked/punched out the areas where u can fix LHD accessories eg steering rack, pedals, a/c evaporator and fan. 406 is one of the easiest cars to convert because the manufacturer has made it so easy because of europe market. The problem we have is our greedy Nigerian brothers who always like to cut corners so as to maximise profit. Imagine when the RHD pedals and steering rack are bent to fit into the LHD instead of buying the LHD pedal, dashboard, steering rack, A/C evaporator. The result is outright calamity on the road. The pressurized air in the ac pipes can even bust due to the wrong bending and forceful positioning of the system. My 406 was converted badly. The RHD steering was used in the LHD. The RHD pedals were also bent and forced to fit into the LHS. It looked so funny and very difficult to drive. It didnt give me the 'FOX' satisfaction so i took it to another workshop were all the LHD parts were fitted propery. I have used this same ride for about a year and six months without any problem. It still remains my best ride. 406 is so adorable. If converted properly with the right parts, you wont notice the difference with a factory LHD even in the performance.
Good conversion will cost about N220k but car dealers spend less than 100k for this same conversion to save cost and endanger the lives of their supposed esteemed customers.
My advise to anybody that wants to buy a UK used 406 which is always exceptionally clean and cheap is to buy it as RHD, then buy the LHD parts yourself and supervise closely the entire conversion process. Above get info of good workshops where it could be done. Most techicians can handle the conversion if they avoid the greed factor.

had to laugh at the bolded part.
Thanks for the above info, its very enlightening.
I now understand, RHD conversions are not as bad as i thought, they are even just as good if done properly, however i will still want to get a LHD.

Will it be possible for me to get a clean factory LHD in Cotonu? cos i'm looking at going there by the end of the month.

gloryland: 1. The wipers. No matter how hard they tried during the conversion, the wiper stick/blade looks weird. It curves in a very unprofessional manner.
2. The power window buttons on the drivers side after conversion to LHD has the one touch'AUTO' button controlling the front passenger window which was originally designed as the drivers side in RHD instead of the drivers window in LHD.
3. The pedals are badly positioned sometimes and u can easily identify the absence of the foot rest beside the clutch pedal. This foot rest is seen on the front passengers side indicating that it's converted from RHD.
4. The a/c vents do not channel the air properly. You will observe that air comes from almost all the openings in the dashboard, beneath it and from the gear lever region. The ac fan/blower under the dash is usually inverted and blows downwards instead of upwards, therefore giving no direction to the chillers. The passenger in the front seat may have his feet frozen in a long journey because that is where majority of the chilled air is directed.
5. Look out for over long throtle cable.
6. The pedal compartment on RHS will be covered after transfering the pedals to the LHS and it can be see when you open the engine compartment. It is either welded or coverec with black plastic.

these are enough reasons to discourage a person from converting or buying a converted car if he/she truly wants to enjoy his/her driving.

I also hear cos the tie-rod, steering, shaft have to be changed,and are badly done in most conversion then the much sought after sability of d 406 and other converted cars is lost. imagine not being able to accelerate beyond 100km/hr cos the car will start vibrating like hell if u do so.

Pls i want to know if Tom ford black orchid is for men or women?
thanx

please where in lagos can i get F1 shirts like these below?

thank you as you help

Euroclydon: This thread has been very helpful...Thanks for all ya contribution. Am also interested in a 406 too. Could someone pls tell me how to know d difference btw a convered LHD and the original LHD?
Thanks!

here are some few that i know of,
1. If you leave the key in the ignition and open d passenger side the car will make a sound cos that was the original driver side and those doing the conversion hardly change that wiring.
2. To minimise cos they might not change the seats so the driver's seat becomes the passenger's seat and vice-versa. hence u'll be able to raise and lower the passenger seat but not the driver's seat.
3. Cos of the new wiring they had to do, you'll see a bunch of wires beneath the dashboard on the new driver's side.
there are other ways to know which i dnt know,other ppl can add.

I dnt advise ppl to go for the converted cars cos

kenyguy: The price is 250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira)

thank you very much, i called you earlier with a glo line but u ddnt answer,
pls wats the last price?

@kenyguy

pls how much does a Toyota Avensis Engine cost 1AZ-FSE?
that is avensis 2004-2005, pls give me good price
thank you.

please where in lagos can i get F1 shirts like these?

thank you as you help

how much does a Toyota Avensis Engine cost 1AZ-FSE
what is the price?
that is the engins for Avensis 2003-2005.

thanks

pls who knows anything about 406 in Cotonou?
i'm planning to go there and get one soon, pls does any1 know anything about the models in Cotonuo,hope they are clean and LHD too?

pls who can help with this?

nitrogen: Are you sure?

witout a doubt

pls when will you get something like dis again?

havent been able to come across a clean non-converted 406, will just have to visit Cotonou by month end when i'm free.
Thats the only place i think i will get a clean LHD 406 dat i will enjoy for sometime.

no amount will ever be enough, the more u get the more you want

too expensive for that mileage,
is the engine an EW10 or EW12,looks more like EW10, and looks very clean though

Andro Blaze: I have, I emailed you. The drive is converted.

sorry about dat,i ddnt get d mail.
sorry i want one dat is not converted

wats the mileage and for how much?

u havnt answered my question.

bambash: But is it all kinds of tint that requires a permit or just those that are really dark and prevent people from seeing the inside of a vehicle.
I am asking this because I just had a very light tint applied to my car and if I get stopped for it I plan to give the police hell.

Lmao,u plan to give d police hell?
Goodluck

2.2L (136bhp) HDi - DW12TED4 - 4HX

3.0L V6 (194bhp) - ES9J4 - XFZ

3.0L V6 (210bhp) - ES9J4S - XFX

2.2L (160bhp)- EW12J4 - 3FZ
heard that this engine comes only as a manual trans
Like other engines introduced with the D9 model change, the EW12J4 was provided with a fully ECU monitored catalyser with both upstream and downstream lambda oxygen sensors.

2.0L (137bhp) - EW10J4 - RFN
the EW10J4 was given a multiplexed electrical wiring system and an ECU monitored catalyser with lambda sensors both upstream and downstream of the unit.

2.0L (135bhp) - XU10J4R - RFV
The engine was fitted with a single non monitored catalyser and combustion gas levels were monitored by a single upstream lambda oxygen sensor.

i hope to get something that looks like dis.