Eco-Optimize Your Existing Car — Save Money and The Environment

Almost everywhere you go, cars are a pretty big thing. Cars enable us to move from place to place, whether for work, school, or play. Cars also enable us to carry things from place to place, such as moving to another town or country, or bringing back the day’s haul from the market. This convenience, however, comes with a complicated price.

Not only do you need to buy and insure the car, but you also have to refuel it. Depending on vehicle age, type, and condition, refueling can be an expensive proposition. For example, let’s compare a new Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle, which gets over 50 miles per gallon, with an older model Toyota HiLux, which may get less than 20 miles per gallon.

The average person, driving 15,000 miles per year, might spend $750 per year in fuel to run the Prius, while it would cost over $2,000 per year to run the HiLux. In addition to this, however, is the uncounted cost to the environment. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, transportation emissions account for about one-third of national emissions, another third generated by power production, and another third by industry, agriculture, and other business sectors. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide (CO₂), is directly related to amount of fuel burned. In other words, better fuel economy equals fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The eco-friendly Toyota Prius generates, on average, 179 g CO₂/mi (grams carbon dioxide per mile), 2.7 tonnes per year, while the Toyota HiLux generates nearly 500 g CO₂/mi, or 7.5 tonnes per year.

Save money and the environment by taking these simple steps to maintain your car

We would all love to do something to save on fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but not all of us have the means to purchase the latest in fuel-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid electric vehicles or even battery electric vehicles. Working with what we have, however, we can maximize the fuel economy potential of the vehicle we already own, and  it all boils down to common sense.

 

To start with, let’s keep up with car maintenance. We already know that proper car maintenance saves money in the long run, especially in repairs. On the other hand, did you know that proper car maintenance also keeps your vehicle running at its most efficient? Like any machine, your car, which is a complex construction of moving parts, needs proper maintenance to keep running smoothly. Keep up with these maintenance points to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions:

• Change the engine oil and oil filter regularly.

• If applicable, change the transmission fluid and filter.

• Keep tires inflated to the specified pressure in the owner’s manual.

• Have your brakes inspected to make sure they aren’t dragging.

• If your check engine light comes on, have the fault repaired immediately.

Aside from keeping the car in shape, we also need to keep ourselves in shape, that is, we need to learn to drive eco-friendly. To further reduce the impact on our wallets and on the environment, follow these simple steps:

• Drive calm – Aggressive driving wastes gas!

• Stick to the speed limit – The faster you go, the worse your fuel economy.

• Lose weight – Well, of course having a healthy body weight is great for your health, but removing excess weight from your vehicle is better for your fuel economy.

  • On the highway, use cruise control – The better you can maintain speed, the less you have to accelerate and decelerate, which wastes fuel.

• In the city, if you expect to idle for more than thirty seconds, shut off your car – Running the engine, while going nowhere, is an effective zero-miles-per-gallon waste of fuel.

• Unless absolutely necessary, keep cargo inside your vehicle – Roof racks and cargo boxes seriously disrupt the aerodynamic flow of air over your vehicle, reducing your fuel economy.

• If driving a pickup, install a bed cover – This helps improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, improving fuel economy slightly.

• Consider opening your windows – Using air conditioning burns slightly more fuel than just using the fan.

• Park inside or in the shade – On hot days, it’s very tempting to crank up the air conditioning to cool off a car that’s been sitting in the sun all day long, which uses more fuel than necessary.

• Resist the urge to “warm up the car” – On cold days, it’s tempting to “warm up the car” before leaving. The car will warm up faster if you’re driving it, anyway.

• Combine trips – If you have a number of small errands, try combining them into one day of errands, instead of short trips every day. Long trips allow the engine to heat up fully, so it runs at its most efficient.

Protect your wallet and the environment. Eco-optimize your car today and save.

In addition to eco-optimizing the vehicle you’re already driving, there are also a number of things that you can do to reduce your environmental impact. For example, the next time you have your oil changed, consider making the switching oils. Synthetic oils are not dependent on petroleum deposits and their inherent environmental problems (Think: Deepwater Horizon). Certain synthetic oils may also last longer in your engine than conventional oils, which means you may be able to change your oil less often. Recycled oils are also independent of petroleum deposits, and is a great way to give conventional oil a second life.

When you wash your car, look for eco-friendly car care products. Today, natural products can do just as good a job cleaning and shining your car as competitive chemical products, but aren’t nearly as toxic to the environment. Look for waterless car wash solution to reduce the amount of water used for washing. If using a car wash facility, look for one that uses solar water heaters and biodegradable soaps, which generate fewer emissions in themselves and fewer water and soil contaminants.

Fuel Economy, Emissions, and The Environment

By making just a few simple changes in our way of thinking, we can each make small reductions in refueling costs. Additionally, the less fuel we burn, the fewer CO₂ emissions we generate, which is better for the environment.

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5 Cheap Cars that Look Expensive

Africa’s is a fledgling economy in which virtually everyone is in the middle and lower classes. This means, among other things, that almost everyone is looking for value for their money, and any opportunity where you can get more for less is highly appreciated. AfroAutos and BE FORWARD presents you a list of cheap cars that look expensive and that will surely make you look rich! Some of these come for as low as $15000! Check this list.

Mazda CX-7

Mazda CX-7
Image Source: www.edmunds.com

If you are looking for a modest and cheap car that appears as both sedan and compact, this is the car to look for. Reportedly, the car, produced from 2006 and 2012, had difficulties settling in the market and finding buyers. You can have one for $15000 in the market.

Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac CTS-V
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

Cadillac is known for producing luxury cars, and you can ride on this name and positive reputation by acquiring the Cadillac CTS-V at only $15000. This car is not only flashy and appealing, it promises to provide good performance too.

Nissan 350Z

Nissan 350Z
Image Source: kenrockwell.com

You can always bet that Nissan will produce a good quality car at cheap prices. The Nissan 350Z is exactly that, coming with a flashy appearance this car has been in the production line of Nissan for a couple of years now until 2009. That means the produced stock is still in perfect condition to serve on the African roads. A used Nissan 350Z can be found for as little as $13000.

KIA Soul

KIA Soul
Image Source: www.kia.com

KIA has not quite succeeded in capturing the African market with the stiff competition unleashed by the Japanese giants, Nissan and Toyota. Perhaps, cheap pricing can be a worthwhile bet in penetrating the African market. This pushes the advantage to you as you can get a KIA Soul 2010 at $13900.

Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

These are many on the African roads. This is perhaps an indication that the pricing and the class of the car have favored the “African Pocket”. This car is a sporty one whose performance and endurance has been tried and tested on African roads for many years now. The most recent models date from 2009 to 2014 and they have also remained true to the brand status.

There you have a list of cheap cars that look expensive and that are associated with the rich. In Africa, these will suit the pocket as the economies continue to grow. Get one of these and look expensive.

Kenya’s Mobius vs. Uganda’s Kiira

Kenya has her own car and so does Uganda! Well, for Kenya, this is not exactly her first homemade car because there was the Nyayo Pioneer car that never saw mass production, However, as to the question of which is better… we can only leave that to you to decide. Both cars are not very new, because we covered them a year or so back here. However, despite the fact that they are both made in Africa, there are so many differences between the two. If you look at things closely, you will get the idea that if both are destined for the local market, then the Kenyan Mobius will sell faster than the Ugandan Kiira.

This is the Kiira Smack concept car
Image source: http://crtt.mak.ac.ug

What is so good about the Kiira Smack? One, it is a hybrid car, meaning that it uses a combination of combustion engine power and electric power for locomotion. This makes Uganda the very first country in Africa to produce a hybrid car, coming several years after they launched the smaller Kiira EV, which still remains a concept.

Kiira Smack is a very expensive 5 seater compact sedan, but you have to agree that the car is a good looker. It is the kind of car that turns heads wherever it goes. Being priced at UGSHS 78 Million, one cannot help wondering just how people will opt for this car when there are cheaper Nissans, Toyotas and Suzukis, considering the fact that there is no age limit for secondhand car imports to Uganda.

The Cost

And this… on the price tag… is where the Kenyan beast Mobius beats the Smack ten to one, hands down. You see, Mobius costs a meager kshs 950,000. Now, compare that to the UGSHS 78 million, which translates to KSHS2.6 million, give or take a little depending on the forex trends for a given day. Kenyans are a clever lot and they know that with KSHS2.6 million, they can get a very good European car, and even have some money left over.

This is the Kenyan Mobius, already under production
Image source: http://www.buzzmoja.com/

Kiira Smack is made for innovation, Mobius is a workhorse

Kiira is a good looker, very sexy, very polished with sleek and well pronounced lines. However, for the best you pay the most, so Smack is expensive. Going by the current secondhand car import policy of Uganda, was this car really made for business? Because Kiira has been and still is a project of Makerere University, we can assume that it was made for innovation only, maybe it will go to mass production in 2018, or like the Nyayo Pioneer car of Kenya, remain just that; a prototype.

Mobius on the other hand is an ideal workhorse for Africa. First, it can be fitted with size 15, 16 or 17 inch wheels, depending on the terrain. It has high ground clearance, making it the kind of vehicle that would compete with Landrover Discovery if it would have more panache. Mobius is made for farm work most likely, and if it holds its own in the market at that price, it may just dislodge the Probox and Toyota Succeed from their position of the flexible workhorses doubling as family wagons.

Here are a few reasons to buy Mobius and avoid Kiira Smack

First, you will have to charge the Smack battery, which takes 50 amps for four hours, yes, four full hours waiting patiently. In Africa, we were renowned for our patience where we could wait for a bus a full day, sitting under a tree. But those days are long gone now. If patience is not your strongest of virtues, don’t buy Kiira. Those 50 amps will take you for 80km and then you will have to recharge.

Kiira can carry five people, while the Mobius can carry 8 people and has cargo capacity for more than 600kg. It is can do a top speed of 160km/h on a 5-speed gear box, manual transmission.

Kiira Smack front interior looks very appealing and luxurious
Image source: http://www.buzzmoja.com

While Mobius doesn’t have the looks that turn heads, it is not the kind of truck/SUV that you would try to dent. But come to think of it…. If you love a rugged, stripped and sturdy car such as those that you see in Rhino Charge, you will love Mobius.

10 Best Interior Car Hacks

Cars are made with different specifications according to the needs of the buyers. However, the interior designs will never present you with all the facilities and/ or space you need for comfortable driving experience. Consequently, these interior car hacks will be invaluable in improving the quality of your driving time.

Electronics’ Storage

Storing electronics on the road?
Image Source: www.popularmechanics.com

Electronic components are fast becoming necessities in virtually all of human activities-driving included. The storage of these devices becomes a necessity, where sticky mats come in handy. To keep these gadgets, and the GPS, together on the dashboard, sticky mats are an inexpensive way to achieve order even as the car negotiates sharp bends.

Charge Challenges?

More charging ports.
Image Source: www.pinterest.com

The aforementioned devices are gross power consumers, meaning that more than one charging port may be necessary for long journeys or when friends join in. To go round this, a plugin unit with two USB ports can be added to the cigarette lighter socket, thus providing extra charging points.

Tired of Suction-cups?

Suction-cup mounts often fall off the windscreen. To mount the electronics in your view as you drive, the RAM-type of ball-and-clamp mounts can be used.

Improved Cup Holders

Tired of the lowly placed door-pocket cup holders of your car? Make use of the gimbaled marine drink holders that can be mounted high on the door panels. Higher positioning is better for safe driving.

Need a Rack to Hold Extra Clothes?

Many a time, you take off your coat as you drive. Hanging the extra clothe on the coat hooks may not be very comfortable especially with accompanying passengers. A mesh bungee is thus useful as it creates a rack on which such extra clothes can be stored.

Creating more storage space.
Image Source: www.popularmechanics.com

Convenient Phone Holder

Keeping your phone at a convenient position while driving is crucial in enhancing safety on the journey. A phone mount on a gooseneck serves this purpose very well, with some having plastic conduits to cover the wires.

Improved Door Pouches

If you carry many pens, cameras, pens and such stuff, cordura tool belt pouches can be used to organize all these. The only thing to mind is how to fasten them to the door sleeves.

Cockpit Cargo Carriers

The truck cargo bins are usually too big for the area under the knees in your car. Therefore, cargo carriers meant for small airplanes’ cockpits are safe bets to enable carrying of more gadgets, snacks, etc.

More luggage?
Image Source: www.popularmechanics.com

CB and Radar Detectors

CB radios and radar detectors are no longer fashionable, although their services remain essential. Instead, small handheld units that provide clear and quality sound can be mounted out of the sight of law enforcers. The same applies for radar detectors.

Shade in the Car?

Covering more space.
Image Source: www.popularmechanics.com

During sunset or sunrise, the visors in your car will leave out a gap where sunlight penetrates. To save the situation, tinted plastic sheets can be placed on different positions on the windscreen or windows.

AfroAutos.com hopes that the above DIY interior car hacks will be useful to you. Put them to use!

Car Repairs You Should Never Try To Do On Your Own

It is funny how sometimes we believe that we can do just about anything especially in this era where you don’t need to know everything, you just need the Google. Well as efficient as cars are, sophistication levels are on the rise and this means that even though you could make some repairs on the old school vehicles, the new machines are a bit complex. There is a thin line between expert mechanic repairs and a weekend disaster. It is important to know there are some car repairs you should leave for the professional mechanics.

This is an auto transmission system of a car
Image source: www.buckeyetriumphs.org

Transmission repairs or maintenance

Unlike the manual transmission systems, which were still complex on their own level, the new automatic transmission systems are several notches higher in sophistication. It’s not that there is rocket science kind of sophistication; it’s just that the systems have multiple small parts that can be easy to take apart and a real headache to put back together. Minor mistakes can spell doom for your transmission system and a small grain of sand can be the end of your car’s mobility. This is the reason why you should leave the transmission maintenance and repairs to experts who understand them well.

Error codes and drive-ability issues

If your car is showing the check engine light, having surges, hard starts, hesitating or stalling, you need not look further for signs that you are facing a real problem. Of course it is in our nature to try and solve a problem before taking it to a professional. Well, don’t try solving any issue because at the end of the day, you will have tried dealing with a small issue but ended up causing damages worth a lot more. The modern vehicles need computer diagnosis and it is just wise to let professional do their thing.

Overheating

With some training and the proper tools maintaining your cooling system is something you can do at home and not risk messing anything up. However, if your engine has already overheated, do not try to solve any problem because it is highly possible that you will not know where to start and what to do. Instead of playing gambler with your engine, just take it to a professional repair shop and let the experts do what they know how to do best.

An artist’s illustration of an overheating car
Image source: cashtodayforcars.wordpress.com

Suspension Components Replacement

Arms, bushing, and struts are suspension components that appear easy to replace but the truth is that there are a lot of ways the replacement can go terribly wrong. If you are not an expert or you are a beginner who does not understand the order of the components, it can be tricky and you might turn a few dollars worth of repairs into thousands of dollars damages.

The components of a suspension system
Image source: www.buckeyetriumphs.org

If you own a car, especially the modern automatic and computerized vehicles, it is crucial that you recognize the line separating repairs you can handle and repairs you should leave for a professional mechanic and your vehicle and pocket will be safe.

How to Inspect a Used Car before Buying

You will have a lot of assurance when buying a brand new car, but it is a different thing altogether when you are purchasing a used car from BEFORWARD and elsewhere. Some used car buyers have made costly mistakes when selecting used cars. However, this does not mean that you cannot find a high quality used car, and they are so affordable anyway! You only require to do some research to know a few inspection skills to ensure you get good value for your money. Remember; the car has already been on the road. If you want it to serve you for a long time, you must choose right.

Buying a used car is tricky and calls for more than just common sense
Image source: slant.investorplace.com

What to look for in a used car

You can inspect the car on your own or hire a mechanic. Whichever path you choose to take, there are fundamental things you should look out for. Although different car models will demand a more specific assessment, a general used car inspection should encompass the following components:

Car body

Look for dents, rust and scratches on the body of the vehicle. Check also any signs for gaps between doors and fenders.  Such misaligned panels may point out poor assembly in the manufacturing plant or repair. Ensure also that the finish or the color is the same throughout the body panel. Minor scratches may not be a concern but rusty surfaces should tell you to continue looking.

Glass

Identify any cracks or scratches on the glass parts of the car. If there are only minor chips, they should not prevent you from buying the used car. However, you can bring it up, when negotiating the price.

Tires

The wheels of a car can speak volumes about its condition. For instance, a used car, which registers about 20000 miles on the odometer, should still be having its original tires. If you find a vehicle, which feature a low mileage but with new wheels, it should tell you that the odometer is faulty. You should also inspect that all the tires on the car are the same.

Although the windshield of a used car for sale wont be this bad, it is best to look closely for small cracks.
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield

Suspension

Bounce the car up and down, to test its shock absorbers. It should bounce just once. In addition, lift up the front tire, to gauge the condition of the suspension or wheel bearings. If you here a ticking sound, the suspension could well have eaten into most of its life.

Lenses and lights

Ensure the lights are in perfect condition. Make sure that the reflectors are not fogged with moisture or cracked.

Pedals

When inspecting a used car’s interior, start with the pedals. Look at the rubber on the clutch, gas and brake pedals.

Seats

Inspect the seats to ensure the upholstery is not torn and is of good quality. Check the condition of the rear seats too for the good of your passengers.

Dashboard instruments and controls

Check all the warning lights, to see whether they are working properly. All the indicator lights should go on for some time after you start the engine.

Inspect the dashboard of your old car closely to ensure everything is in good working order
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard

Check all the engine components

You will need a mechanic for this operation. They should inspect the belts and hoses, fluids, radiator and battery.

If you are considering buying a used car, you should inspect the above parts to ensure they are in great condition, to avoid getting a raw deal. You may conduct the inspection on your own or with a friend. You can also hire a mechanic; just to be sure you do not leave anything to chance.

When to Change Your Tires

Have you ever wondered when to replace your worn out car tires? Just like your feet get sore after a walking a long journey, the car tires take a beat every time you drive. Well, this isn’t a sign of bad driving. Rather, it is an inevitable fact of life. Tire failure while driving can be catastrophic and may result to loss of control. That is to say that the performance of the car tires is critical to its efficiency and the safety of the occupants. Here are a few tips that should guide you if it is the right time to shop for a new set of tires.

Recommended Thread Depth

When the treads are worn out, it is time to replace.\
Image Source: www.carcomplaints.com

The primary function of the tire threads is to divert water from underneath the tire so as to avoid hydroplaning and improve traction on wet roads. Once the tire thread is down to 1/16th of an inch, it means that they are worn out hence no longer safe for use.

Thread Pattern

All tires sold have “thread wear ball” which are small bridges like bars that form between the tire threads. As the tires get worn out, the bars tend to level with the tire’s thread. It is advisable to shop for new tiers if they have reached this point.

Be aware of the Legal Requirement

As a matter commonsense, worn out car tiers should be replaced for safety purposes. Actually, there are legal requirements in some jurisdictions to replace worn out tires. For instance, in the United States, the minimum depth of the thread on tiers is 1.6 millimeters.

Lincoln Penny Tread-Depth Test

Is it time to buy a new set? Use a coin to measure the depth of the treads
Image Source: www.wikihow.com

This test involves taking a penny and placing it upside down with Lincoln facing you in the center of the tire thread. If it happens that you see the top of Lincoln’s head, replace the tire immediately. Also, If Lincolns hair on top of the head is partially visible, go shop for new tires. Otherwise, if it happens that you can’t see the hair on top of his head, the tiers don’t need be replaced.

Abnormal Bulges

Check for any odd bubble or bulge in the sidewall of the tires. A bubble or sidewall bulge signifies that the rigid internal frame of the tire is either cracked or totally damaged. Consequently, this allows the air pressure to reach the flexible outer layers of the car tires. Regardless of the thread status, any tire with abnormal bulges should be replaced immediately.

Bulges such as this indicate a weakness on a tire.
Image Source: www.consumeraffairs.com

Replace the Tires at least Every 6 Years

Finally, replace the tires at least after every 6 years. This is the minimum time period recommended by the NHTSA. In addition, check the specification recommendation in the manual that relates to your vehicle.

Handy Tips for Driving In the Fog

Fog chooses the most ridiculous times to appear… in the morning when you are in a rush to get to work and in the evening when you are dead beat and you just want to go home and unwind. Not every area experiences fog, but again, with the global warming phenomena et al… who knows? If you live in low lying areas, near rivers and lakes, you could experience fog more often than, say, a person who lives in low humidity areas.

Mildly foggy conditions on the road
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog

Driving in the fog is dangerous. In fact, you are advised to let the fog dissipate rather than drive in it, but then, there is that job to attend to. With caution, you can drive in the fog and arrive alive. How?

Tips for driving in the fog

Be alert and check the speedometer regularly. Dense fog creates an optical illusion in most drivers and in any case you cannot be able to judge the distance between you and the vehicle ahead, since you can’t see far enough. It is better to drive at a crawl and arrive safely. Be safe!

Ensure that you are visible. In the fog, visibility goes down. It is difficult to detect a vehicle that is a few meters behind or in front of you. Most vehicles from BEFOWARD come with factory installed fog lights that give a yellow or clear light. They are set low down and their beam is directed to illuminate the distance but as low as possible. This enables you to see a couple of meters ahead of you even in the thickest of fogs.

Check the Highway Code in your country. There must be something to this effect, that headlights must be kept on at all times when visibility is less than 100 meters.

Do not use high beams. High beam headlights reflect on the water vapor, eventually decreasing your visibility or playing tricks on your eyes. Keep your beams low so that other road users can see you.

Always stay on your lane. It is almost difficult to do so, when there is fog, but it is not as if you have a choice. Preferably, keep your eyes on the lines to ensure you do not veer off the lane and cause an accident.

Keep a safe distance. Most likely, it will be wet, and so the usual stopping distance will not be enough. Keep as long a distance as you can because. If you can only see a few meters ahead, driver slowly, even at a crawl if you must drive. It is also important to switch off the radio or music so that you can listen out for other vehicles, especially at junctions.

Rear fog lights will keep you visible to other drivers behind you
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting

Don’t follow the taillights of the car ahead of you. This is one way for you to clobber their rear bumper nice and clear. If visibility is very poor and you are following the taillights ahead of you, tailgating is inevitable and eventually, there will be no distance between you and the car ahead. This is a recipe for a pile up.

We could go on and on about this, but the best advice is… if the fog is too dense and you don’t feel confident, don’t drive. It won’t last forever. You can wait or hog a bus or train. If you have to drive, ensure you have enough fuel, your car is in excellent condition and that your defrosters are working. When it is foggy, you don’t want your car to die on you on the road.

Tips for Buying a Used Car

The used car market has done incredible lately. When the economy goes down, used car sales go up. This is for good reason too. I am a firm believer that purchasing a used vehicle is smarter than buying new 99% of the time. Is it risky? Sure it is. Most things that could potentially provide huge benefits are. But if done the right way, risk can be minimized and rewards can be maximized.  Buying used instead of new can literally save you thousands of dollars. And I don’t know about you, but I could use thousands of dollars for all sorts of things, like buying another motorcycle, or maybe a snowmobile, or a four-wheeler or some other fun toy. Or maybe to pay rent. Anyways, the point is, if you’re willing to put in a little bit of effort and follow these simple tips, you’ll be driving a very reliable used car before you know it.

Tip #1- Do your research! Decide what kind of car you want before you just go out and buy what seems like a good deal. I don’t just mean what type of car either, like compact car, or minivan, I’m talking make and model such as Ford Taurus or Toyota Camry. If you don’t know exactly what make and model you want then go test drive a few and figure out which one fits your wants, needs, and budget best. If you can’t narrow it down to one then narrow it down to two or three.

Tip #2- Look online! There’s an endless supply of websites devoted to selling cars. Some of the bigger ones are cars.com and beforward.jp. While these are great they’re typically flooded with dealers trying to sell cars. Try to find a website that caters to your local area. Usually the smaller more local websites will let sellers list their cars for free so there are many more private sellers, which means better deals.  For instance, here in Utah ksl.com is very well known for their classifieds section, and I personally have purchased 5 vehicles that I found on their website. All of which I got a great deal on.

Tip #3- Ask a million questions. Ok, maybe not a million, but a lot. For example, some good questions to ask include:

Why are you selling the car?

How long have you owned the car?

How many owners has the car had?

Has the car had regular maintenance?

Do you have proof of the maintenance?

The more questions you ask the better idea you’ll have as to the car’s history and how well it’s actually been taken care of. This will greatly reduce your chances of buying a “lemon”.

Tip #4- Find a mechanic. One of the best ways to prevent buying a car that will break down 5 minutes after you purchased it is to have a mechanic look at it before you buy it. Many places will charge a minor fee to do a quick overview of the car and make sure there are no major problems with it. This may seem like a bad idea to spend money on a car you don’t even own yet, but in the long run you’ll be happy you did.

Tip #5- Last but not least, negotiate, negotiate, negotiate! When you finally do find that “perfect” car don’t simply pay what the seller is asking. One of the best ways to get a great deal on a used car is to negotiate! Sellers always ask more than they’re actually willing to take. They do this on purpose to leave a little room for negotiation. So don’t just hand them your hard earned money without trying to bargain for a better price. When you finally do come to an agreement you’ll be happy you got a good deal and the seller will be glad the car is sold.

I’ve bought my fair share of used cars and by following these simple yet effective tips I’ve been able to save thousands of dollars and drive good reliable used vehicles. So next time you go to purchase a car remember these tips and you’ll be able to spend the money you saved on that toy you’ve been dreaming of lately. Or rent, of course.

What the Future Holds for Africa’s Roads

Growth in the infrastructure, in the road networks in Africa means a larger market for cars. Could this be why most of the foreign donor aid received from is directed to developing the infrastructure? Africa needs many cars, trucks, vans and buses to keep mobile. Transport, as we know, is the life and blood of the economies of the world.

The twilight years of the 20^th century saw the economy of Africa grow enormously. Today, there are more resources in the continent and with the era of the dictators coming to a close end; she is investing her time in the exploitation of the resources. Recent discoveries of billions of barrels of oil in Northern Kenya, Uganda and elsewhere attest to this. However, even with all reasons for Africa to smile, she isn’t out of the woods yet, but she will be, eventually.

The auto industry in Africa has fuelled this growth! It takes a road to drive a car, much as it takes the driver. Therefore, what promises can the African roads expect from the future? Look around you everywhere and you can see the slumbering giant is waking up, and there is a frenzy of road construction activities everywhere you turn around.

African roads

 

In 20 years time, all of Africa will be connected via paved roads. Let me demonstrate how this is going to happen. Today, it is cheaper and fast to travel via road from Kenya to Tanzania. The Pearl of Africa (Uganda) clears her imports through the Port of Mombasa and then most of the cargo is transported via road to Uganda. That means that three countries are now very well connected. In addition, Uganda is further connected to Rwanda and Burundi, and the connections are growing! Ok, let us now consider what this kind of connection this means for a carmaker, in marketing terms.
In 2012, Kenya had a record 43 million people, Uganda had 36 million and Tanzania had 47 million. Rwanda had 11 million people and Burundi had 9 million people. If you add up all these figures, you will get a ripe 146 million people. Do you know what this means? More hungry mouths to feed? You are right and wrong at the same time. It means a market for manufactured products, a ready market for cars.
 
Japan is the number one supplier of used and new cars to Africa, selling hundreds of thousands of units every year. Our bet is that it will stay at the top for a long time. Quality, affordability and fuel efficiency are the three things on the mind of an African buyer. Japanese brands like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Isuzu, Hino and Mitsubishi have so far have been able to offer these and so far, they remain unbeaten, at the top of the list of used and new car suppliers to Africa.

Paved roads in Africa

 

The kilometers keep growing. Thanks to all parties that have brought the dream of the Trans-African Highway network to reality, Africa may be connected sooner than anyone expected. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Development Bank (ADB) and the African Union (AU) are sponsoring road networks across Africa to help alleviate poverty through trade. A good example of this great ideal is the Mombasa-Nairobi-Kampala road.  Many others have been constructed elsewhere.
So far, South Africa leads in the African countries with the longest paved roads, followed by Nigeria, Libya and many others. The ball is rolling and it will not stop until all kilometers of road can be paved.

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