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 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.

Problem like this is very common in used car. For someone to forgone its car ; there must have been some reasons. I bought a sienna from Benin rep after three days of driving it the vehicle steering rack started linking oil ,few weeks after that the gear box had to be replaced etc. Another experience was last month when I recommend Honda Civic 2008 naija used ,advertised on Nairaland to a friend of mine ,he contacted the seller and they reach agreement after three days of driving the car the hybrid battery stopped working , like play like play he had to replace it and the cost of the battery is 400k Naira. I felt bad when he told me.

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 can't 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. ]

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

Simply put, those who have ears, let them hear. If you want to buy a used car, a tear down inspection is a prerequisite!!!!

NB: I was going to buy a newly imported car for my mum. Her pastor was the person brokering the deal, I insisted on my inspection prior to payment.
I plugged vehicle on my OBD scanner, few errors were detected, looking through the paint job, it looked uneven and patchy in places. I took all 4 tyres off, did my inspection.
I had my reservations, but was awaiting the vehicle history!!!
Lo and Behold, when report arrived a couple of minutes later, vehicle was sold via auction in America and was sold has scrap (vehicle had series of accident history).
My Mum had already written out the cheque for payment, prior to my arrival. After all was highlighted to her, she tore the cheque up!!!!

my very fear about 9ja used cars.

bro, please sell that crap better still dump it somewhere.
by the way how much did you buy the car, because you have spent over #400k changing one part to the other.

am not judging you, but I believe if yoou had thought off buying a lesser price but dependable car(toyota or honda).

the headache and wahala of buying a car and have not enjoyed it could be very disheartening

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.

Selling it now is not an option for me. And yes I agree with you, it seems the car, for the time being at least, would continue to give problems. I would just hang on and try to raise the funds for a replacement.

seunt4ut:
Problem like this is very common in used car. For someone to forgone its car ; there must have been some reasons. I bought a sienna from Benin rep after three days of driving it the vehicle steering rack started linking oil ,few weeks after that the gear box had to be replaced etc. Another experience was last month when I recommend Honda Civic 2008 naija used ,advertised on Nairaland to a friend of mine ,he contacted the seller and they reach agreement after three days of driving the car the hybrid battery stopped working , like play like play he had to replace it and the cost of the battery is 400k Naira. I felt bad when he told me.

That's painful. 400k after 3 days of driving. Damn.

Lexusgs430:
Simply put, those who have ears, let them hear. If you want to buy a used car, a tear down inspection is a prerequisite!!!!

A prerequisite my brother. If the seller is uncomfortable with such detailed inspection, walk away.

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

It was after these problems and speaking with VW specialists that I got to know this. Volkswagen build cars (the modern ones that is) in a way that makes them very susceptible to failure. The cars require experts only to fix and OEM replacement parts.

But in an attempt to get such expertise and original parts, I learnt something new and shocking. I spoke with the VW Service Centres in Port Harcourt and Owerri regarding bringing the vehicle for a fix and all they wanted to know was if it was the American version of the Passat. Tell them yes and they say no, we dont work on that. It's a Passat for chrissake! I'll see how the pad coming in from Onitsha goes and call them again to claim it's a Nigerian Passat. Maybe that's what they want to hear.

DGD1:
my very fear about 9ja used cars.

bro, please sell that crap better still dump it somewhere.
by the way how much did you buy the car, because you have spent over #400k changing one part to the other.

am not judging you, but I believe if yoou had thought off buying a lesser price but dependable car(toyota or honda).

the headache and wahala of buying a car and have not enjoyed it could be very disheartening

You're right. I did consider buying another Accord, even an 07 Camry, but the allure of the Passat's 3.6l V6 engine and four wheel drive was too great to ignore. Now it's put me in this mess, the very same thing that made me purchase the car. If it hadn't been a four wheeler, the problems it's giving now wouldn't exist.

I guess in life we live to learn. My first experience of the all powerful 'German car' has been negative. Would switch to a much reliable Japanese once I raise enough cash. If I ever have to buy a German car again, it has to be brand new. Save me some headache.

Your bad bro, you could have arranged a professional PPI and that would not cost too much

koluray:
Your bad bro, you could have arranged a professional PPI and that would not cost too much

What's a PPI? I know PPE.

Rumin8:


You're right. I did consider buying another Accord, even an 07 Camry, but the allure of the Passat's 3.6l V6 engine and four wheel drive was too great to ignore. Now it's put me in this mess, the very same thing that made me purchase the car. If it hadn't been a four wheeler, the problems it's giving now wouldn't exist.

I guess in life we live to learn. My first experience of the all powerful 'German car' has been negative. Would switch to a much reliable Japanese once I raise enough cash. If I ever have to buy a German car again, it has to be brand new. Save me some headache.

that's it,
when buying anything other than Japanese, if you can't afford brand new, just lock up and double your hustle.

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. ]

thanks for sharing.

Rumin8:


Selling it now is not an option for me. And yes I agree with you, it seems the car, for the time being at least, would continue to give problems. I would just hang on and try to raise the funds for a replacement.



That's painful. 400k after 3 days of driving. Damn.



A prerequisite my brother. If the seller is uncomfortable with such detailed inspection, walk away.

If the seller has nothing to hide, they should be happy with a thorough inspection!!!

Rumin8:


What's a PPI? I know PPE.

Paddy Paddy Inspection or in the financial world, Personal Payment Insurance.

seunt4ut:



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

You know nothing about vw then!

redcliff:


You know nothing about vw then!

I Loved my B5 passat. The good old VW days!!!

Rumin8:


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[/b]

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


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. ]

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.

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

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

See marketing and packaging

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.

Thank you sincerely, for these kind words of encouragement. I was touched by your prayer.

Per my friend, he has only come out recently to admit he should not have done the inspection. I was stunned when, telling him about the steering rack problem and the propeller, he expressed surprise, asking if the car was actually a 4WD. So I get what you mean man. My payment for this 'expert' advice? A lunch at some fancy place and 5000 for his transport.

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

how much do you charge?

And can you do delivery too?

I bought a naija used suv last year and had to sell it when it started giving problems.Lost abt 800k in the process but so happy today that I sold it and moved one.
Just sell it and buy a tokunbo Japanese car.

OP sorry for your travails. I can imagine the frustration, I've been through something like that before.

From experience, I've come to the conclusion that there is no point in buying Naija used cars, it's just a one-way ticket to heart ache and palpitations and constant spending.

If you don't mind those, then you can go ahead and buy them.

Of course I'm not saying you can't have issues with tokunbo and new cars, horror tales also exist from them, and in fact if you frequent car forums online, you'll also hear tales of woe from owners of brand new cars.

But the difference is the proportion of horror tales. For brand new cars, it may be less than 1%, but for Naija used cars, it's like 99%.

But of course, if that is the only thing within your budget, then you'll just have to go along and pray fervently every morning when you approach the car.
That was my case with my first car.

Inception:


how much do you charge?

And can you do delivery too?

08033910382.

I intend to get a Nigeria-used car. But with what Op have experienced, am having a second thought about it. Though my budget is not much.

Divinehenrich:
I intend to get a Nigeria-used car. But with what Op have experienced, am having a second thought about it. Though my budget is not much.

Not all Nigerian used cars are bad.

I hate the term because it should be unregistered tokunbo cars/unregistered tokunbo cars bought for resale in Nigeria versus Nigerian registered cars, and where is why? If it has been driven on Nigerian soil, it is Nigerian used, including tokunbo, unless it was brought in a flatbed truck and never started, and never driven on Nigerian soil, but if it has been driven on Nigerian soil, then for God's sake it has been used in Nigerian and so is Nigerian used.

I personally got one that rocks.

Truth be told, age does things to cars, things often need to be changed, (sometimes minor sometimes major) many users are not ready to replace worn components, and want to pass the bill on.

Which is why it is extremely unreasonable to buy a car at say 1,000,000.00 and then want to sell it at the same price after using it for 3 to 5 to 7 years instead of selling it at say 300,000 to 500,000.00 so that the new owner can use his funds to replace what needs to be replaced. But you know that never happens, as several testimonies on nairaland can testify.

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

The point am trying to make is this, several components (major and minor) have a service life. Even if you engage a specialist mechanic and he does not have a checklist, you are in big trouble. And if you do engage a specialist mechanic, you still need to troll the forums for the vehicle of your choice and create your own checklist, so you can query the professional intelligently.

He is not God for goodness sake. He can overlook, he can ignore, and he will not give your project all the time in the world, when he has lots of jobs waiting for him. The only way to be sure he has done a good job is to do your own homework, so the issue is this, trust but verify. Acts 17:11 as contained in the New International Version reads: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

And unless no one else has used that vehicle, its issues should be somewhere on the internet waiting for you to find them.

Should I blame the former owner? No, I got the vehicle at 80,000 miles, it is now 180,000 miles. That is quiet a distance and things have got to break, and someone has got to fix them, so please don't buy a used car in Nigeria at a price that does not make provisions for replacing all the above and more if it is a 4wd.

Now imagine that it is a luxury vehicle that I bought, I will pay luxury prices for all the above.

And there is nothing to prove that you cannot buy a unregistered tokunbo cars/unregistered tokunbo cars bought for resale with a bad maintenance history and still have to go through hell.

MPVGoddess:


Not all Nigerian used cars are bad.

I hate the term because it should be unregistered tokunbo cars/unregistered tokunbo cars bought for resale in Nigeria versus Nigerian registered cars, and where is why? If it has been driven on Nigerian soil, it is Nigerian used, including tokunbo, unless it was brought in a flatbed truck and never started, and never driven on Nigerian soil, but if it has been driven on Nigerian soil, then for God's sake it has been used in Nigerian and so is Nigerian used.

I personally got one that rocks.

Truth be told, age does things to cars, things often need to be changed, (sometimes minor sometimes major) many users are not ready to replace worn components, and want to pass the bill on.

Which is why it is extremely unreasonable to buy a car at say 1,000,000.00 and then want to sell it at the same price after using it for 3 to 5 to 7 years instead of selling it at say 300,000 to 500,000.00 so that the new owner can use his funds to replace what needs to be replaced. But you know that never happens, as several testimonies on nairaland can testify.

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

The point am trying to make is this, several components (major and minor) have a service life. Even if you engage a specialist mechanic and he does not have a checklist, you are in big trouble. And if you do engage a specialist mechanic, you still need to troll the forums for the vehicle of your choice and create your own checklist, so you can query the professional intelligently.

He is not God for goodness sake. He can overlook, he can ignore, and he will not give your project all the time in the world, when he has lots of jobs waiting for him. The only way to be sure he has done a good job is to do your own homework, so the issue is this, trust but verify. Acts 17:11 as contained in the New International Version reads: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

And unless no one else has used that vehicle, its issues should be somewhere on the internet waiting for you to find them.

Should I blame the former owner? No, I got the vehicle at 80,000 miles, it is now 180,000 miles. That is quiet a distance and things have got to break, and someone has got to fix them, so please don't buy a used car in Nigeria at a price that does not make provisions for replacing all the above and more if it is a 4wd.

Now imagine that it is a luxury vehicle that I bought, I will pay luxury prices for all the above.

And there is nothing to prove that you cannot buy a unregistered tokunbo cars/unregistered tokunbo cars bought for resale with a bad maintenance history and still have to go through hell.

Brilliant thesis, bravo.

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

Wonderful analysis, I think I will contact you when I needed to get the ride.Hope you will be transparent.

MPVGoddess:


Not all Nigerian used cars are bad.

I hate the term because it should be unregistered tokunbo cars/unregistered tokunbo cars bought for resale in Nigeria versus Nigerian registered cars, and where is why? If it has been driven on Nigerian soil, it is Nigerian used, including tokunbo, unless it was brought in a flatbed truck and never started, and never driven on Nigerian soil, but if it has been driven on Nigerian soil, then for God's sake it has been used in Nigerian and so is Nigerian used.

I personally got one that rocks.

Truth be told, age does things to cars, things often need to be changed, (sometimes minor sometimes major) many users are not ready to replace worn components, and want to pass the bill on.

Which is why it is extremely unreasonable to buy a car at say 1,000,000.00 and then want to sell it at the same price after using it for 3 to 5 to 7 years instead of selling it at say 300,000 to 500,000.00 so that the new owner can use his funds to replace what needs to be replaced. But you know that never happens, as several testimonies on nairaland can testify.

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

The point am trying to make is this, several components (major and minor) have a service life. Even if you engage a specialist mechanic and he does not have a checklist, you are in big trouble. And if you do engage a specialist mechanic, you still need to troll the forums for the vehicle of your choice and create your own checklist, so you can query the professional intelligently.

He is not God for goodness sake. He can overlook, he can ignore, and he will not give your project all the time in the world, when he has lots of jobs waiting for him. The only way to be sure he has done a good job is to do your own homework, so the issue is this, trust but verify. Acts 17:11 as contained in the New International Version reads: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

And unless no one else has used that vehicle, its issues should be somewhere on the internet waiting for you to find them.

Should I blame the former owner? No, I got the vehicle at 80,000 miles, it is now 180,000 miles. That is quiet a distance and things have got to break, and someone has got to fix them, so please don't buy a used car in Nigeria at a price that does not make provisions for replacing all the above and more if it is a 4wd.

Now imagine that it is a luxury vehicle that I bought, I will pay luxury prices for all the above.

And there is nothing to prove that you cannot buy a unregistered tokunbo cars/unregistered tokunbo cars bought for resale with a bad maintenance history and still have to go through hell.

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.

Rumin8:


What's a PPI? I know PPE.

pre purchase inspection

DonX001:
OP sorry for your travails. I can imagine the frustration, I've been through something like that before.
From experience, I've come to the conclusion that there is no point in buying Naija used cars, it's just a one-way ticket to heart ache and palpitations and constant spending.
If you don't mind those, then you can go ahead and buy them.
Of course I'm not saying you can't have issues with tokunbo and new cars, horror tales also exist from them, and in fact if you frequent car forums online, you'll also hear tales of woe from owners of brand new cars.
But the difference is the proportion of horror tales. For brand new cars, it may be less than 1%, but for Naija used cars, it's like 99%.
But of course, if that is the only thing within your budget, then you'll just have to go along and pray fervently every morning when you approach the car.
That was my case with my first car.

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.