BusterG:


Is this a “Legal Opinion”?

BusterG:

It’s really crazy when you save up or get a loan and end up buying a car you really wish you hadn’t most likely after driving it for a short period.

Okay so far I have personally purchased 6 vehicles over the years and I only regret buying 1.

My wife’s birthday was coming up back in 2012 and I had about 600k to buy her a present. Since she didn’t have a car yet, I decided to go buy a Nigerian used car.

I searched online and found a car I think here on Nairaland. A brown Toyota Corolla 2001. It was looking neat and all and was being used by a lady banker at eco bank, akin adesola. So since my office was close by I went to check and it looked “okay”. I checked out some basics, did a test drive and left. I paid I think the second day.

First two months the car was smooth as I went to Ibadan twice from Lagos with it. My wife used it lightly too as she wasn’t working at that time. Regular maintenance was done and all until one day I think around the 3 months after purchase.
I started the car and saw plenty white smoke behind. When my mechanic came he said the engine was previously ringed and plenty stories that didn’t touch.

I remember selling it off for 400k.

Share yours?

Bestinstinct:


It's now something to laugh about o. That car gave me the phobia I have for driving till date. Like, I'm always scared of something coming up. My fuel doesn't go below half tank just because of fear. My Nissan will disgrace me when I don baff-up and decide to go show off to friends. Na push dem go help me push am for road after e don cause hold-up. The day the engine finally knocked is a story on its own.

BusterG:


Try add like 200 and look for a non-abused Corolla.

Do all due diligence oooo. Engine first.

Also ensure it’s not stolen ooo.

BusterG:


Waw

My brother you see that engine washing of a thing is a No No for me ooo.

I can’t come and use my hand to buy problem o

Greystone:


I had a similar experience some years ago.

It was my 4th car.

There was this model i had always wanted. I was still saving up to get one from Cotonou then, when i saw the exact type parked at a car dealership on
my way to work. I couldn’t resist. I came down and had a look. Everything looked ok. Naija used for about one and half years.

Few days later, i brought my mechanic who inspected it. I test drove it and it felt good.

We settled on a price and deducted it from my trade in car. Rushed to the bank and transferred the balance.

Came back, signed the necessary documents and drove my “new” car home.

All was well till about 2 months later when the car refused to acknowlege the gear shift. Put the car in drive but car was like it was in “park”.
Na so i climb bike go work that day.

Got a mechanic to come look at it. Bottom line, automatic transmission (gearbox) had gone. Another 3 months of climbing bike up an down while 2 auto gearboxes wer sent up from Lagos (both wer fixed, didn’t work and returned back to Lagos).

Cut the long story short, I barely managed to sell that junk for 150k.

I will never buy Naija used car in my life again.

odimbannamdi:


What advantages does a washed engine bring?

latestmodel:
Most times Tokunbo vehicles are not better ooo.

My friend bought a Tokunbo car and ended up spending close to 400k to fix different issues.

From shocks to brakes, to tyrod to censor this and that.

Not always easy anywhere. Toks or Registered.

promotervickky:
Lol, before buying any car, ensure you get your mechanic to go with you, and also run a VINCheck on it

Greystone:


I had a similar experience some years ago.

It was my 4th car.

There was this model i had always wanted. I was still saving up to get one from Cotonou then, when i saw the exact type parked at a car dealership on
my way to work. I couldn’t resist. I came down and had a look. Everything looked ok. Naija used for about one and half years.

Few days later, i brought my mechanic who inspected it. I test drove it and it felt good.

We settled on a price and deducted it from my trade in car. Rushed to the bank and transferred the balance.

Came back, signed the necessary documents and drove my “new” car home.

All was well till about 2 months later when the car refused to acknowlege the gear shift. Put the car in drive but car was like it was in “park”.
Na so i climb bike go work that day.

Got a mechanic to come look at it. Bottom line, automatic transmission (gearbox) had gone. Another 3 months of climbing bike up an down while 2 auto gearboxes wer sent up from Lagos (both wer fixed, didn’t work and returned back to Lagos).

Cut the long story short, I barely managed to sell that junk for 150k.

I will never buy Naija used car in my life again.

BusterG:


Thats why you should do a scan and physical check especially for undercarriage rust, linkages, shocks etc

madgoat:


Quick question, will the sellers allow a VIN check to be run? Especially if its a Tokunbo car?
I have this morbid fear of buying a car that has been badly accidented and then repaired.

madgoat:


How can one go about scanning a car at a dealer's outlet? Will it be allowed and who will bring the scanner?
Just asking this questions because i am about to get a Toks car.

BusterG:


Most dealers will allow it but if some start to show concern, just move to the next one.

I sell cars too and I expect you to do all necessary checks before payment.

promotervickky:


It is your right as a buyer to request for it, if they disagree, look somewhere else.

madgoat:

Oh thats nice.
One more question, are cars cheaper in Ibadan or Ijebu-Ode compared to Lagos (Berger)??
Do you advise i go to Berger for Toks?

andycom:
Nissan sentra, I loved the interior and the headlights plus the shinning alloyed rims, na so I buy problems give myself. The car was driving fine after 9months I decided to wash the engine and boom that was the end of that car. After spending thousands of naira on it with no positive results, I decided it was time to cut my losses. I no drive Nissan again Biko

BusterG:


It depends what you want to buy.

I will suggest you do an online check first to streamline your choices before going to check physically.

Also ensure you go with a trusted mechanic to check all the checkables (VIN, Custom Papers, Scan, Undercarriage rust etc) before payment.

madgoat:

Oh thats nice.
One more question, are cars cheaper in Ibadan or Ijebu-Ode compared to Lagos (Berger)??
Do you advise i go to Berger for Toks?

madgoat:


Thats the problem. How will those mechanics know genuine custom papers. I am also a novice in that respect

BusterG:


Interesting..

What baffles me is how those hidden faults decide to hide until after 2/3 months before showing up. Scary stuff.

honda001:
if u drive a car for 2 months b4 a major fault start coming up,then is lack of maintenance or mis- use

BusterG:


My brother u go laff tire when people tell u their experience ooo.

One guy buy car, drive go watch match.
Na reverse he take go back house as car no enter gear again.

annford:



That was my experience with my Nissan Murano in 2011. I drove to the market with my cousins. I had parked the car behind another car. when the owner of the car I had parked behind wanted to leave, I engaged the gear in reverse, after the moving back for the guy to drive out, my gear wouldn't shift to 'Drive'. I did all I could but all to no avail. The idiot wouldn't even go back to ' Park'. I reversed back home with my cousins. A journey of about 20 Minutes, took my more than 3 hours because of the mad traffic back home and to make matters worse, the Air-conditioner wasn't working so I was just sweating like a criminal that had just been caught. It was that very week I vowed never to have anything to do with a Nissan or Infiniti product. That same Murano always had problems ranging from Gearbox problem to Fuel pump to timing chain. Nissan is a flop abeg.

BusterG:


Very funny but painful bro.

Just imagine

BusterG:


You don’t seem to be on our “same page”.

The cars were not lacking maintenance and were not misused by the new owner but had underlying issues that were initially patched up for quick sale. Issues like previously ringed engine, failing transmission etc

So you end up buying a melon, a packaged motor that starts to gradually deteriorate and drain your finances.

Las las na to sell am off remain.

annford:




To think that the said vehicle was my first car... I was scared for years, to buy a car after the horrible experience that Nissan Murano gave me. I took it to Zuba spare parts market here in Abuja and sold it for N350k. A vehicle I bought just 8 months before for N930k. That was a very "bad market" for me. I only was moved by the shape and the brown interior of that vehicle. I never researched of the engine, gearbox and electrical components.

Adeoyem:


This got me cracked up ������

Like say u take two legs Waka comot for house then returned with one

Or you left the house a light complexion fellow and returned dark complexion

annford:



That was my experience with my Nissan Murano in 2011. I drove to the market with my cousins. I had parked the car behind another car. when the owner of the car I had parked behind wanted to leave, I engaged the gear in reverse, after the moving back for the guy to drive out, my gear wouldn't shift to 'Drive'. I did all I could but all to no avail. The idiot wouldn't even go back to ' Park'. I reversed back home with my cousins. A journey of about 20 Minutes, took my more than 3 hours because of the mad traffic back home and to make matters worse, the Air-conditioner wasn't working so I was just sweating like a criminal that had just been caught. It was that very week I vowed never to have anything to do with a Nissan or Infiniti product. That same Murano always had problems ranging from Gearbox problem to Fuel pump to timing chain. Nissan is a flop abeg.

promotervickky:


Lol how you take drive with reverse?