At the close of 2014, I took a brief look at the goings-on within the local automotive industry — and in Uganda — but, unknown to me, things were happening on a much grander scale in West Africa. Ghana and Nigeria also have homegrown motoring scenes. Unlike the Ugandans, they are not dealing in futuristic, … Read more
Dear Baraza, Thank you for the good work you are doing. Every Wednesday I am very eager to learn new things about the motoring industry. Now, I am looking forward to buying a medium-size lorry that I can use to transport cement from Athi River to Meru comfortably, doing approximately 10 trips a week. I … Read more
Dear Baraza, I am an ardent reader of your informative column and I thank you for the great work and research. I am planning to buy my first car and I plan to use it to travel approximately 140km to Nairobi every Saturday and Monday. I am a fan of sports cars, so when I … Read more
Hallo Baraza, I want to purchase my first car and I’m in love with the Subaru Impreza (LA-GG3, 1500cc). Some of my friends are advising me to instead opt for a Toyota 100, 110, G-Touring or Allion, based on the following arguments; 1. The Subaru Impreza 1500cc consumes more fuel than a Toyota of the … Read more
Hi Barasa, I have owned a Toyota Mark X, 2005 model for six months. Last week, it started showing the check engine light. A diagnostic revealed one of its oxygen sensors had stopped functioning. Is it ok to still drive it? A lot of Mark X have these problems. Also, when I press on the … Read more
Hello Baraza For years, people have always had different issues on petrol and diesel engines. Some say diesel cars do not perform like petrol ones, they do not last long and are more expensive to maintain. Please clarify this issue for me in respect to the questions below: 1: I’ve always thought that car performance … Read more
Dear Baraza, Thanks for your entertaining and informative column. After seeing your low opinion of electric cars and their potential in Kenya (Daily Nation, June 27, 2012), I want to offer an alternative view. It is clear that electric cars are the future, with oil supplies peaking and air pollution reaching critical levels in most … Read more
Hi Baraza, I am currently in the process of acquiring a saloon Subaru Leone, 1500 cc. It’s an old model as far as I can see, with a carburettor boxer engine, (the one that fits a spare tyre in the hood) and is a 4-speed manual. Please give me details of the car’s history and … 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
Dear Baraza, In your column last week, you mentioned that the Nissan Pathfinder is a dressed-up Navara. I could not agree more, and this remark reminded me of an experience I had with traffic police officers out to nab motorists exceeding the speed limit just before Naivasha on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway a while back. I … Read more