Hi Baraza, You are doing a great job to demystify cars for us, lay people. I’m in a bit of a quandary; I have been driving a superb, go-anywhere-anytime Toyota Prado with an indestructible 1KZ power plant. In the seven years I have driven “the beast”, it has never let me down! Unfortunately, with 250,000km … Read more
Hello, First off let me start by saying I am not to sure my question is going to the intended recipient. Still, I seem to have stumbled upon a quagmire of a situation in picking the right luxury SUV for myself, and I’m split between a BMW X5, a Volkswagen Touareg and an Audi Q7, … Read more
Baraza, Your columns are very enlightening. I am looking to owning an old school Land Rover and I am interested in the Land Rover Discovery 1. I am inclined towards the Tdi of between 2500 and 3000cc. According to my research, I can get one that fits my budget of Sh500,000 to 1m. I have … Read more
Hi Baraza I’m looking for a fancy, low-maintenance, hardy, four-wheel-drive mainly for use in city roads but with an occasional off-road run on not-so-rough terrain. My budget is below Sh3 million. I have narrowed my attention to the VW Touareg, Toyota Lexus/Harrier RX3000, Nissan Murano, Subaru Tribeca and a Hyundai (can’t remember the series). I’m, … Read more
Hi Baraza, I read your article (Why do Touareg Common Rail Engines Require More Care?) and learned some facts. But I could not help but notice that on some of the questions you were asked, you reduced your answers to things like “it will conflict with my neutrality”, “I cannot do product endorsements…”, “grin and … Read more
Hi Baraza, Thanks for your informative page in DN2. Two quick questions: 1. What is the meaning of “common rail engine” in VW Touareg? 2. Why do vehicles with a common rail engine require more care than other engine types? Thanks in advance, Charles 1. The common rail feature in an engine is a type … Read more
Hello Baraza, I drive a Mercedes Benz G Wagen while my husband drives an Audi Q7. We will be in Iten for six weeks, during which I will have to drive 12 kilometres off road every morning down and up the Kerio Valley as I trail him on his running track. I would like your … Read more
Hi Baraza,I recently bought a second-hand VW Touareg with a five-cylinder TDI engine from the UK. While I love the car (after replacing the shocks), I fear I may have not done my pre-purchase selection well enough as I have been informed that local agents refused to stock diesel Touaregs due to a potential mismatch … Read more
Dear Baraza, Thanks for the incisive analyses. I want to upgrade to a 4X4 but I am wondering which, between the Toyota Fortuner, the Toyota Surf and the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, I should go for. I have not driven any of them but they look quite capable. Kindly give me your views in terms of … Read more
Hi JM, I have a motoring question, but not about cars. It’s about drivers, road safety and accident reduction. To exhort drivers to change behaviour has as much a chance of success as a snowball in hell. But one move which will certainly have positive results is be to launch a highway patrol division of … Read more