I am an ardent reader of your motoring column on DN2 every Wednesday. I intend to get my first car — a used car — and your expert advise will help inform my decision. I’m considering either a Toyota Wish, 1800cc, Year 2004 or Nissan X-trail. 2000cc, Year 2003. The reason am looking at Toyota … Read more
After fixing the overheating, problem in my Toyota Caldina’s D4 engine, fuel consumption went from an average of 10-11km/l to an average of 7-8km/l. I would now like to replace the engine with a new 1.8 engine from a Toyota Caldina or Premio. My mechanic says that this change is not possible because the gearbox … Read more
Hello Baraza, I have previously owned a Toyota AE100 and 110. I now believe it is time for upgrade. I am looking for a used car that won’t cost more than Sh2m. Though I mostly drive in urban areas, I won’t mind a four-wheel drive (4WD). I am looking for stability, safety, comfort and manageable fuel cost. … Read more
Hi Baraza, I once overheard a former Toyota Prius owner lament about how much trouble the car had put him through when its photovoltaic cell broke down. Finding a competent mechanic to fix it was a nightmare. Toyota EA, the franchise holders, did not stock it too. Please comment on the whole hybrid car phenomenon … Read more
Hi Baraza, Congratulations for the excellent job you’re doing. I have two questions: 1. Please give a critical analysis of the following high-end 4X4s: Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7, BMW X6, Porshe Cayenne, VW Touareg and Mercedes M-class and G-Class. Comment on performance on and off road, intelligence, comfort, safety, longevity and fuel … Read more
Hello Baraza, I want to pick your brains on a couple of things: 1. Yana tyres: I recently replaced my tyres, one pair Yana and the other Chinese Marshall. The car started “bouncing” whenever I was at about 40kph. After checking, I zeroed in on one of the Yanas. On closer observation, however, we noticed … Read more
Hi Baraza, I have shipped in a Toyota Avensis from the UK and have been told of certain concerns regarding the car: 1. That parts are not locally available; I will have to get some spares, such as suspensions and ball joints, from Dubai. 2. That body parts can only be found upon placing a … Read more
There is a sudden spurt in the number of 190E Mercs on Nairobi roads. Kindly offer your thoughts on why this is so and review the car for safety, reliability, performance and maintenance. Pete The car is obsolete, very much so, seeing how it pre-dates and precedes the current line of C-Class Mercs. As such, … Read more
Hello Baraza, Kindly enlighten me on the difference between the ordinary super petrol and the V-Power fuel sold by Shell. I drive a supercharged Vitz — RS 1600cc — and have tried using both fuel types and experienced no difference at all in terms of speed, performance and kilometres per litre. Let me hear from … Read more
JM, Let me state from the get go that I’m an irredeemable petrolhead through and through. Having said that, I’ve made some observations that I suspect are not unique to Kenyan roads, such as the fact that most accidents are the handiwork of drivers with “unschooled” blood, you know, the kind that think they are … Read more