NewStats: 3,262,324 , 8,176,811 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 07:34 PM j6d5f

Following,

I pray for peace on this thread

Please kindly torchlight the Venza and 2010 RX 350 menace too. The Venza is just like a taxi these days and it’s not cheap. Looking to get one naija used but the price is far leaving my budget behind.

If you can talk about the es330 too, I will appreciate.

RuneKingThor:
If you can talk about the es330 too, I will appreciate.

Awesome Vehicle , sturdy 3mz Engine , transmission is however very sensitive to abuse. The air-conditioning is manual, so any t dick and Kazeem can reasonably handle it.

Once the body and Interior is fine, and no rust, transmission will set you back ₦450,000, Engine ₦350,000.

banky3w:
Please kindly torchlight the Venza and 2010 RX 350 menace too. The Venza is just like a taxi these days and it’s not cheap. Looking to get one naija used but the price is far leaving my budget behind.

Usually just 2 setbacks

Transmission and air-conditioning.

The transmission will set you back over 1m on either vehicle, airconditioning is almost always abused once the VDC compressor packs up. You are better off with the front wheel drive version of either vehicle is you don't live in ikorodu

Kewtt:
Interesting thread. But I have no contribution since OP is majorly talking about Toyota vehicles.....

Ask and you shall receive

Any thoughts on Renault?

Duster and Logan

Thanks

GAZZUZZ:
There's this good feeling of pride, accomplishment, security, prestige and closure when an individual buys a foreign used vehicle. Usually the assumption is he/she has gotten a vehicle that was well maintained by the previous owner/owners, under satisfactory automotive industry standards.

Foreign used vehicles come in from a lot geographical locations across the world, e.g South Africa , China, Japan, Europe, middle East, USA , and Canada. These are top on the list for vehicles frequently imported into Nigeria.

I will comment from background in vehicle maintenance and sales about observations I have made in this regard. I may not be able to cover topics as it is very broad, but I am sure before the end of page 1 you will get to the heart of the matter.

Let's start with Trucks and proper SUVs (non ajebo)


The Toyota Hilux , Prado, Fortuner, Lexus LX series are very popular within government circles as utility and operational vehicles, also in the private sector mostly used by the site engineers , security operatives, and VIPs . No doubt these are very reliable brands, and they command a lot of prestige and respect among other road s as they are usually accompanied by armed security agents.

Unfortunately you would seldom ever find them in the American market, they are usually bought brand new and shipped in from Japan or the middle East or South Africa.

Nigerian Used versions of these models are very popular, although most are upgraded and many do not have custom duty, but the foreign used are not so popular reason why the Nigerian used is heavily patronised.

https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/5842062/upgrade-toyota-hilux-latest-models

Getting brand new units would cost about ₦36m - ₦50m So the industry diversified Into upgrades. Suddenly All the abandoned rundown 4x4 Hilux suddenly became valuable the engines were rebuilt / replaced, Interiors upgraded and redone, fresh paintwork and a modern body kit installed. Prices between 8-15m and now more affordable. It was a win win for buyers and sellers, buyers didn't have to spend so much getting a basic utility vehicle , while sellers, and spare part dealers smiled to the bank. At the end the pride, and prestige was intact

The Prados a d Lexus's of same category followed same pattern.

GAZZUZZ:


Awesome Vehicle , sturdy 3mz Engine , transmission is however very sensitive to abuse. The air-conditioning is manual, so any t dick and Kazeem can reasonably handle it.

Once the body and Interior is fine, and no rust, transmission will set you back ₦450,000, Engine ₦350,000.

davizfx:
Please add es330 to the list, what are the deal breakers for a Nigerian used one? Thanks

What about Hondas and Acura cars please.

Acura MDX, Honda Crosstour.

GAZZUZZ:


Ask and you shall receive

Acura Sedans! They are always cheaper in the Nigerian used market. Do enlighten why they aren’t that popular amongst Nigerian s and what advice to be given when getting one

selfmadeOLX:


Acura Sedans! They are always cheaper in the Nigerian used market. Do enlighten why they aren’t that popular amongst Nigerian s and what advice to be given when getting one

The yeye Gearbox is always misbehaving.

Engine Does not recover from overheating.

petrusevents:
Nice thread Sir,

I was discussing with a friend who is keen on buying tokunba 2006 Corolla
Told him to get naija used for 1.6m
Used around 600k to upgrade it instead of spending about 3.5m to get a tokunbo one with about 150km millage

Bro forget. I had that mindset before but when Nigeria used show me pepper..I had no choice but to close eyes buy tokumbo. One great thing about toks is dat if the owner maintains it very well via regular oil change, shocks replacement as at when due, decent driving style etc, the vehicle will in the long run save money that you would have continually spend on a Nigerian used car

GAZZUZZ:


The yeye Gearbox is always misbehaving.

Engine Does not recover from overheating.

Anything on Hyundai elantra?
I noticed that it is cheaper than Toyota or Honda of same year, at least judging by nairaland ads.

You mind to educate us on hyundai and its possible wahalas?

Boss please your analysis on Honda crv 2008 and honda accord 2005. If thanks sir

dicksonadams:
Boss please your analysis on Honda crv 2008 and honda accord 2005. If thanks sir

dicksonadams:
Vawulence

GAZZUZZ:

Me keh, never exchanged a vawulence post with anyone oh

DOMINO001:

Anything on Hyundai elantra?
I noticed that it is cheaper than Toyota or Honda of same year, at least judging by nairaland ads.

You mind to educate us on hyundai and its possible wahalas?

I will assume the 2007- 2009.

Comes in 2 variants. The ones that were bought brand new in Nigeria and those that were imported from usa and Canada.


The Nigerian used ones usually come in the 1.6L gamma engine with a timing chain. The engine is common in the 2014-2016 accent and rio vehicles a very sturdy engine design but didn’t recover well from overheating . To counter overheating every one rushed to remove thermostats and by fans , next problem was sludge filled engines all over the place .

Back to the Elantra they all came in electronic assisted steering wheels, and as usual our kazeem’s didn’t know how to handle the technology at the time.

Engines were also not found in the American market and were usually shipped in from Europe. Middle east and Korea (their parts cost die!) engines started from about 500k back in the days, don’t know how much it is now.

Transmissions are sturdy. The air conditioning came in a Vdc compressor that had a clutch, the piping had very tight tolerances in diameter and immediately cutting and welding is done, compressor dies in a short time (they still don’t understand lol) the front frame holding the radiator and condenser is made out of plastic fiber. It was very common to see it cracked and parts sitting in very funny angles after minor impact.



Overall it is an average car once cared for properly .


The American and Canadian models usually came in a 2.0 timing belt driven engine. It was common for s to forget timing belts do not last forever, ac had same issues with tolerance in piping, transmission was the same.

Only major issue was sludge, for some reason a lot of the Korean vehicles imported were not so clean on the inside citing poor or extended oil drain intervals, most foreign owners used mineral oils to service (expected it is a cheap utility vehicle mostly used by students) sadly many poured in full synthetic oils when these vehicles landed and paid heavily for that. Engine is about 300k

GAZZUZZ:


These models will literarily send you back to the village the BMW's and abuse are 5&6, technical know how is limited, spares are not so popular once the electricals are messed up in most German vehicles, putting it together can be Herculean. I have a friend who buys 2 models of every German vehicle (foreign used) one to use, the other for parts, he litterarily strips anything he needs from the organ donor .

Weirdos...unparalleled loyalty to the Germans.

Aakanbi:
Any thoughts on Renault?

Duster and Logan

Thanks

They are not popular in the southern parts of Nigeria, technical know-how seems to be their greatest challenge.

These french cars are built with very tight tolerances for abuse, things you would naturally get away with in a Japanese car (sparking wires and using bulbs to test fuel pumps and circuits ) in these cars you will end up with a fried module straight ! Uninformed Mechanics were always getting Into trouble with these brands and as such they washed their hands off most french vehicles, also their engines were by design built to run really hot! I have seen live data stream of 103deg Celcius on a French car and it was normal , things like this don't sit well with local mechanics and you know the drill......

Finally these vehicles are not found in the American market, and sadly that's where our ipob brothers do the bulk of their shopping .

Summary Awesome builds, sensitive electricals, used parts not very common.

HOTARIO:
Nice thread. Let me add the Mitsubishi Pajero to the list and its interestingly the most affordable to scoop up, while holding up nicely. It's an underrated champion and a solid work horse with nice manners and street credibility.

This doesn't come cheap at all

Awesome thread, anything on the C and E Class Benz? 2003-2009.

Dear Gazzuz,I want to know the advantage a corolla has over Matrix..as they both have same engine..corolla too expensive for my liking..am thinking of going for matrix..what do u think

DARLINGTON869:


Bro forget. I had that mindset before but when Nigeria used show me pepper..I had no choice but to close eyes buy tokumbo. One great thing about toks is dat if the owner maintains it very well via regular oil change, shocks replacement as at when due, decent driving style etc, the vehicle will in the long run save money that you would have continually spend on a Nigerian used car

But knowing this can be hard, there are tokunbo cars with bad maintainance too.

GAZZUZZ:


The yeye Gearbox is always misbehaving.

Engine Does not recover from overheating.

is this only on the Acura sedan, or it goes on all Acura lines including the mdx?

Please talk about LEXUS GS 300 (2006 and 2007) and the the GS 350 2009

GAZZUZZ:


Ask and you shall receive

I feel like binding you whenever you used the phrase " set you back"

There is a mad great feeling in buying a good tokunbo car

kunki90:
Please talk about LEXUS GS 300 (2006 and 2007) and the the GS 350 2009

I have someone whose engine knocked gs350

Bizzyliss:
There is a mad great feeling in buying a good tokunbo car

There is a great feeling in buying a grade A naija used car, especially when the owner just dash you at a give away price and after one year no still issues, check engine light apart from routine maintenance

PresEmeka:


I have someone whose engine knocked gs350

Okay?

dicksonadams:


There is a great feeling in buying a grade A naija used car, especially when the owner just dash you at a give away price and after one year no still issues, check engine light apart from routine maintenance

well na as person pocket be sha

Thanks

So a no no

GAZZUZZ:


They are not popular in the southern parts of Nigeria, technical know-how seems to be their greatest challenge.

These french cars are built with very tight tolerances for abuse, things you would naturally get away with in a Japanese car (sparking wires and using bulbs to test fuel pumps and circuits ) in these cars you will end up with a fried module straight ! Uninformed Mechanics were always getting Into trouble with these brands and as such they washed their hands off most french vehicles, also their engines were by design built to run really hot! I have seen live data stream of 103deg Celcius on a French car and it was normal , things like this don't sit well with local mechanics and you know the drill......

Finally these vehicles are not found in the American market, and sadly that's where our ipob brothers do the bulk of their shopping .

Summary Awesome builds, sensitive electricals, used parts not very common.