Vas1's Car of the Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It' s been a very eventful year, Stocks tumbling car sales plummeting, still a few Car manufacturers manage to make the magic of Car building go on.
The winner of this award must meet and exceed the following criteria:
1. It must be fun to drive (what's the point in driving, if the car's no fun)
2. It must be affordable (not costing some Zillion dollars)
3. Have Decent MPG value. Yes, as much as i am a petrol head, I'm also aware of the rising Fuel prices and damage to our dear planet green house gases cause)
4. Have at least 1 previous model (I'm not interested in some one off flukes)

And the award goes to the BMW 3 Series.
The 3 series spans through 5 generations, 34years and the current line up has at least 6 engine types (316i,318i,328i,335i, 335d &M3 combine that with all wheel drive, estate, coupe and convertible body forms and you have an almost infinite combination) available, ranging from 143Hp to a mind boggling 414Hp M3 which by the way now comes in 4 doors.
At a time quality is dropping with the likes of Toyota, and rising costs are causing a lot of Manufacturers to dilute the souls of their cars just to join the mainstream, the 3 series in what ever form you have still has the power to put a smile of your face.
Its a class leading and defining car. A class which includes some stiff competition in form of: Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, Lexus ES, Acura TL, Passat CC, Lexus HS (a Pumped up Toyota Avensis), Mercedes C Class. Every Car Manufacturer in the Class seeks only one thing to Topple the "king 3".
The 50:50 weight distribution is really what sets the 3 Series apart for me; if you were to place the 3 series on a knife edge it would not tilt forward or backward. it would lay still like 'Zoro' balancing his Knife on His tongue. Small wonder round a corner it feels so planted?
And for those who would be so quick to say how about the Fuel consumption? the 316 puts out an impressive 34MPG (BMW official figures) the corrola puts out 30MPG (fueleconomy.gov)
Please bear in mind also that the 3 Series channels its power to the rear wheels (as nature designed it) while the likes of Corrola sends power through the front wheels. (mechanically you cannot attain maximum balance this way). BMW however is the only car manufacturer in the world to do this exclusively!!!!!!!!!!!
For a company which started off by making Aircraft engines (the BMW Logo represents 2 propellers turning against the blue and white skyline), the 3 series still represents that pure engineering perfection.

Ohh now i'm really pissed off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its no news that there's scarcity in the land. i spent the whole of Saturday looking for this product which we readily produce the parent material, export it and then import just some of the finished products( Kerosene, Diesel,PMS are the main products imported at High prices... Wax and other products are some of the by products of crude which we don't bring back)law's of demand and supply infer that this doesn't make sense, No where else in the is this done!!!!
The reason for my anger, My Blog has been getting fewer hits due to the scarcity( how can anyone be interested in you telling 'em about Torque steer, when he doesn't know where the next drop of Fuel for his Car and Gen will come from)?
I don't get it, Nigeria's has basically one mode of transportation:Road, and everything on the road is fueled by Petroleum products( at least in Nigeria). So how can the Government (Old and present) keep on playing games with such an essential commodity? Fuel attendants, Station owners are all smiling to the bank due to the chaos the Government of the day is causing. It pains me dearly because i don't understand it... How can we have so much, yet suffer so much? how can we be suffering yet smiling? 5th Largest OPEC producer???? God have Mercy on us all (for the Govt. for being senseless to the plight of the people and for the rest of us being too weak and afraid or un-concerned to care).
The entire bit of the Holidays are almost completely ruined. The losses to the Economy will be incalculable. In the US, business owners look Fwd to the Xmas holidays. Here we're greeted always with Fuel Scarcity(it was the same thing last year). We now have a situation where fuel stations pray for Scarcity.
Yar-Adua, I advise you do what is necessary. Listen,look at Nigerians. We deserve better. Get your act right cuz if my blog suffers any more loss in Hits, I'm gonna come take your Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 Things!!!!!

Now lets see how many good reasons you can give for the "Whip" you're driving. I call my Car Slama and i came up with 10 reason why i love her easilly. How many can you come up with for yours?
1. She's German
2. She has a good power to weight ratio
3. People tend to underestimate her (being a Golf MK II) and as such i have embarrased some unsuspecting drivers
4. She's small and as such can be manoeuvred easilly
5. I feel safe driving at any time and in any part of lagos
6. She can breakdown and i aint afraid to leave her there for the night
7. She has a short wheel base and fitted to high profile tyres, becomes an SUV
8. She don't drink (she ain't a gas guzzler)
9. Hardly do i ever get stopped by the 'Popo' ( as a friend once said, they won't stop me for fear of not wanting me to obtain them)
10. Her lineage has been around for over 30 years. She has a current edition( she definatley has a scret recipe. i'm driving a well engineered car)
and yeah with the windows wound up and the doors not locked, there are only 3 people alive that can open her doors... talk about keyless entry!!!!

The Pagani F Roadster against the Bugatti Veyron

This has got to be one of the greatest duels of all Time.

Watch as both Cars fight for ultimate Glory!!!!!!

Drag Race between the Bugatti Veyron and the Pagani F Roadster.

Lap Race between the Bugatti Veyron and the Pagani F Roadster.

Only the Germans Can Conceive this!!!!!!

Driving a Estate (station wagon) is pretty much uncool in this part of the World. Probably because they're perceived as being slow and branded as a "family" vehicles.
However in Europe its not. Mercedes Benz has the E63 AMG Estate, BMW, the M5 tourer and Audi the RS6 Avant. the Audi being the most powerful Estate in the world. Packing a 580 Hp twin turbo V10 Engine.
The Clip here shows the E63 AMG taking on the Audi R8. ( the car used by Iron Man).

The E63 AMG Estate against the R8
The outcome of this race will surprise many!!!
happy viewing!!!!

Slama!!!!!!

If You're an ardent reader of my blog, you might have me mention that name before. yeah, that's what i named my Car. A Golf Mark II, Black in color, Aze Alloy Wheels, A/C'ed( though the gas is empty now), 3 speed Auto, power mirrors (on one side), green Tinted windows (not like your plain Hyundai Elantra windows, men those korean's piss me off!!), big bumper-ed beauty of a baby.
In the eyes of many she isn't much, but i have learnt how to thrust her hard and make her seem more capable, especially since her heart surgery ( i recently changed the engine).
I once mentioned that there are only three people alive that can open her ( the doors), yours trully, jigga and the CEO of LAY records( he had to learn how to, when his car Bumble Bee got bashed on Lekki - Epe expressway).
It was during the recent Eid -el Kabir holidays. I had gone to see my boo and on leaving her plcae, i called jigga up who was as expected was doing some 1759ing. i decided to stop over and join em at 40's bar. In attendance was D. Adisa of Real Madrid, Okuffi and Jigga. After i had 1 bottle, we hit the road. Jigga suggested that we don't drive all the way to lekki that night. i concurred as anytime with D. Adisa was always a "High" time. We made one last stop in Yaba for ' 1 for the road'. The boys wanted more but i couldn't take another after "1 for the road" as my baby was soon gonna call and i had better be in bed by the time she did. so i encouraged the boys not to take more than " 1 for d road". we briskly drove to the Bernabeu'( Adisa's house), we got in at 12.30am.
At dawn, Jigga got up and headed to lekki, i got out of Bed and headed to the nearest Aboki's shop. I met Jigga outside, looking in Awe at His Camry. The boys Had tried to open his Camry!!!! the locks had been tampered with. I told him to be grateful to the most High it wasn't more than that.
At 12.45pm when i tried to open the boot to load up some items my boo and i had been shopping for, i realized the same bastards that tried to open Jigga's car, tried to open mine. We parked side by side at the Bernabeu'.
Those fools. As i said before, only 3 people can open her. That night as is with all other nights i didnt't lock the doors. I haven't in almost a year, but you're welcome to try and open her. Those Numbskulls tried and failed.
The bloody thick-witted loosers, jacked both doors and the boot in frustration at Slama's impregnable status, not knowing that she wasn't actually locked!!!!
As it is with all German made stuff, they have a way of Standing their own!!!! Slama i love you. Thanks for keeping the code!!!!

Shot Down!!!!!

Its a Nissan Sunny, 1986 model in Dollar bill color. Rickety, nothing special about it and definitely not worth writing about. its 5.30 am. I'm on y way to my Boo's place as we have some where on the other side of town that we have to be. I'm at Orile, there's a bit of traffic building up. I sight 'em, "the boys in blue". my heart begins to palpitate faster as i still have not made another set of Complete vehicle papers( in case i have to drive off again,"Guts and Glory").
The 'Sunny' guy honks for a Bus trying to get in on his lane and that catches the attention of the "Popo" constable who then Flags him to pull over, apparently sighting something in the back seat of the 'Sunny'. The Sunny guy refuses and the constable shouts and calls on his Armed colleague on watch who jumps right in front of the slowly moving Sunny pointing an AK 47 right at him. screaming and shouting "Park... Park!!!!! The constable reaches for the back door trying to open it, he succeeds. The "Sunny" guy while driving.. reaches back and Slams shut the door. The Armed "Popo" probably frustrated by the back and forth game corks the AK 47, at this point i have since caused a long traffic Jam as i have stopped following the 'Sunny' guy Bumper to Bumper, creating a distance of about a trailers length between myself and Him.
I thought i was going to witness an un-warranted and unprovoked Police shooting.
I hear "Clunk- Clunk" the sound of the AK 47 trigger. Yes, He fires right at the "Sunny" guy!!!!
He, myself, the Sunny guy and all who witnessed it were amazed as the rifle didn't release its lethal bullets.... the Sunny guy revs up his engine and aims right for his legs... Of course he leaps right out of the Sunny guy's path as he screeches off( the move was similar to Usain Bolt's Leap), while the constable tries to Baton down his Side mirrors and his rear windows( Naija Police!!!)
It was not the sighting all who were present thought it would be, either due to Gun Jam or there being no bullets in the Rifle( maybe even Jazz). As the Sunny guy made a move that could have rendered his day anything but Sunny......

Guts and Glory!!!!!

Arriving at an intersection, slowing down, I see the reflective jackets of 1,2,3,4 it’s a complete squad of the “popo” (the boys in blue, or black as the case may be). I pull up to them, I’m flagged down and they request for my “papers”. I reach into the glove compartment and hand the papers over to Emmanuel. (I could tell from his name tag on his uniform). He flips through the mount of papers and asks “where is your road worthiness paper”? I begin to loose my cool at that point and I ask what the F**K is Road worthiness? Is that not the F**KN same as MOT? (My huge eye balls were already flaming red at that point). He eye balls me, flips back and forth through the papers and locates the ‘expired’ MOT papers.

Yes’ they were expired, they had been for over a year. He then puts the mount of papers in my face and says ‘they’re expired’. He follows with the very familiar statement, ‘you need to follow me back to the station’. (I knew the game was up so I started to think fast). I said in a really harsh tone, the expired papers must be a mistake, (I quickly look around and identify that none of them are armed). He then insists we go to the station. I Hiss really loudly, I start Slama (she refuses to start the 1^st time) I slap her into drive and zoom off ever so lazily.

Yeah, I did, I left all the papers with Emmanuel. I had a secret of my own though, I have two sets of papers in my car at all times. I knew such a day would come and I was prepared.

I was guilty of driving with expired MOT papers, but Emmanuel as is the case with most Law enforcement agents in Nigeria are guilty of playing on the fact that most Nigerians don’t know what the law says regarding most traffic offences. A few weeks earlier, Fashola gave an order that no 1 should be arrested on any MOT related issue. (Because most MOT certificates were being faked). Instead, such a person should be ordered to visit a genuine test centre to obtain a new certificate. I knew this so I knew Emmanuel was just “boboin”. He knew from the beginning that my MOT papers were expired, but just to obtain more money from me (MOT certificates are obtained for a mere 1grand) he called it Road worthiness!!!! What he didn’t know was that I knew all the names of all papers a car is supposed to have. I knew from having been caught by road safety, VIO, Lastma, Highway patrol, traffic warden a.k.a yellow fever when I was still driving ‘Lord Lugard’ (my Dad’s old 520 Bmer, that car didn’t have 1 registered paper).

Yeah, I was experienced and Emmanuel didn’t see that coming!!!!!

What's This????

Honda Released images of its 2010 Accord Crosstour 4WD. Having a SOHC V6, Churning out 271Bhp. All wheel drive 5 Speed Automatic gearbox.

2010 Accord Crosstour 4WD


2010 Accord Crosstour 4WD Front view
its supposed to cater for the family that travels heavy. (i thought the CRV was doing a good job of catering to this category?)

2010 Accord Crosstour 4WD Rear View


2010 Accord Crosstour 4WD Side view

2010 Accord Crosstour 4WD Trunk
This hideous vehicle is supposed to tackle the Toyota venza

Toyota Venza

No no no no Honda this is a no winner!!!!!!!!!

DUI

Driving under the influence: A very serious offence in the US and Uk. An offence we get off so easily all the time in Nigeria. I’m getting set for a major event in a couple of weeks and as such I need to see my Boo every Saturday. To beat Traffic in Lekki, I leave home before 7am. I’ve noticed that at jakande and Chevron roundabout’s there’s always some ‘new’ car that’s had an accident from the previous Friday night every Saturday when I’m driving out. It never occurred to me what might have been the cause( though it follows a pattern, every Friday-Sat) until recently.

I was at an Ex-room mate’s baby(s) naming Ceremony. A lot of old friends turned up, and there was a lot to eat and “DRINK”, good music was also in abundance. (Ingredients for a great party, and recipe for DUI’ing). By the time I was about leaving, I noticed a friend of mine was ‘unusually’ happy. I walked up to him and said dude how many bottles you got? He responded, 5. Woooooo!!!! This guy normally takes 2 bottles and he’s done. Today he’d done 5 and he’s going to be driving home. I wished him well, got into Slama and drove home.

The following Monday, we were chatting online and he tells me of how he almost crashes in Maryland and how he eventually crashed into a kerb somewhere (he doesn’t recollect where till this time), damaging his Tie Rod and wheel in the process. Total repair cost stood at 7500. (He swore never to drink after this incident) It was at that point it occurred to me. All the accidents I’d seen every Saturday were caused by the bottle!!!! (too much flexing from ‘Friday’ night).

I’ve often wondered why alcohol always makes you feel like you’re Michael Schumacher when you’re under the influence and you’re behind the wheel? It’s a good feeling, it takes you to another level and gives you a connection to the car that you might otherwise not have. At the least when things go wrong due to the ‘influence’ it can cost you a Hangover. Going up the ladder, it can cost you your hard earned cash, further up the ladder it can cost a life.

It’s a serious issue that best be not toyed with not unless you’re "2 lips", the "CEO of L.A.Y Records" or "Ogunmodede a.k.a Bullet head". These three gentle men have mastered the rare ART of drinking and driving (their Livers, Kidneys have no connection to their brain cells once they’re going to drive after drinking). They are unique. They’re ‘gods’. For mere mortals like you and I, if you’re going to drink, don’t drive and if you’re going to drive, don’t drink!!!!!!!

The Joker

With every chance in the world of fuel hitting a 100+ Naira in only a few weeks, you’ll be making more stops to the Fuel station, or you’ll review what you spend weekly on fuel or you’ll just go out less.

Either way, it’s an unwelcome development. There are a few ways to ensure you reduce the frequency with which you’ll be making stops at the fuel station and they’re listed below:

1. Loose Weight: I don’t mean you: your car. Take out anything of no Mechanical importance. i.e. your wheel covers, floor mats, CD pack, umbrella, newspapers, shoes etc. Any additional weight to the weight of the car affects the fuel consumption. If you offer lift to people, STOP!!!
2. Use the AC less: Factory fitted or not, the use of AC increases fuel consumption. The reason simply being the engine is made to do more work when the AC is turned on. Its not a question of that “the manufacturers would have factored that value in”. it’s a case of you can lift two buckets up a stair case, if you lift one and another instance you lift two, which would you have spent more energy?
3. Keep those windows wound up: on hot days this is near impossible, but on cold mornings and evenings, you’d save some fuel by keeping your windows up. Especially when you’re cruising on the highway. Wind drag causes the car to do more work. When the windows are up, the vehicle cuts through air with less drag doing less work and consuming less fuel in the process.
4. Cruise control: what this does is to ensure your car maintains a constant speed. Fluctuating between speed values makes the engine work harder. It’s like an early morning road walk where you run, walk, and jog as against one where you maintain a constant jogging pace. You’ll achieve a longer distance without tiring yourself out. Ensure you keep the car fixed at a certain speed as much as possible.
5. Go slower: the more you open the Taps (throttle) the more fuel gets sent to the engine, the more you burn, the more you visit the petrol station. You’ll get to your destination a bit later but you’ll save up that time by visiting the fuel station less.
6. Have regular Service: that engine will definitely not give you the kind of economy you seek if the car is poorly maintained. Ensure you make scheduled trips to the Service garage.
7. Tyres: under inflated tyres are a means by which you’ll loose out on the fuel game. Under inflated tyres cause excessive drag causing more fuel to be burnt. However, do ensure that your tyres are not over inflated as this can lead to a noticeably harsher ride and cause excessive thread wear.

Super cool Avensis

What you have here, is Lexus’s interpretation of the dismal looking 09 Toyota Avensis. Called Lexus HS250h. The h representing Hybrid: it’s basically an Avensis with an electric motor. It does have the usual Lexus plush ness. A cool gizmo which it has the mouse like control feature in the centre stack.

It achieves a real world 35mpg. Its one Lexus I wouldn’t mind owning

2 hot 4 u

Time is 7.45am, venue, mobil filling station lekki. I had a beautiful night of 1759ing. I got up early to be at my boo’s place. (We’re planning an important occasion coming up soon). I’d stopped over to re-fuel Slama. The attendant seemed to be taking forever. (Thank goodness he did). The station wasn’t packed with many cars; there were a few early risers who’d stopped over for breakfast. It was looking like it was going to be an ordinary day.
I’d gone back into Slama to pick up my wallet and from a distance I heard something just so beautiful, the only thing more beautiful was hearing Slk perform on stage. I gently got out of the car, looked out and there it was, an SL 55 AMG. I’d watched an episode of Topgear where Jeremy Clarkson reviewed his very own SL 55 AMG but nothing prepared me for what it looked like in real life!!! It was stunningly beautiful, painted in chrome blue; the licence plates bore “2 hot 4 u”.
The SL 55 AMG is a lot of car, it has a supercharged V8 churning out 500BHP and 700 Nm of torque, with an asking price of $122,000. Standard features include airconditioned seats that massage you, Radar guided cruise control, voice controlled stereo system and a retractable hard top that folds at the touch of a button. The guy behind the wheel was a middle aged man. I asked Him if I could admire his car, he obliged, grinning from ear to ear as if this was the 1st time someone truly understood and appreciated just what kind of a monster lay beneath the hood of this beauty.
Sitting behind the wheel for me was in simplest terms, heavenly. It had leather sewn dashboard and the seats had the softest kind of leather that gripped you and said “Mamamia, you are going no wia”!!! Cranking up the engine and revving it only told me one thing. I now know what car to use on my wedding day. Yes, some may use Suv’s, Limo’s. Hell no, not me. The SL 55 has to be it for me. I’m sure a whole lot of people would say it doesn’t make any logical sense to use such a car for such an event, but I don’t care!!!
So for all you dude’s that want to make a statement on your wedding day, get the Sl 55, she’ll love you for it.
There you have it, anyone who knows Mr. “2 hot 4 u” please tell him I need to borrow his car… I need to borrow his car!!!!

Naija Repping!!!!!

On a Friday note, we'll be having the 'Sighting for the week'. the Picture here is a Stretch Humvee, sighted on Ajose Adeogun. ( Same Type used in Lil Waynes Lollipop video). it was so long i could not get the full lenght with one shot.
You'll are encouraged to be armed with your Cell phones and Cameras with an Eye out for the Coolest ride you'll see as we go into the weekend. Send your sightings to biodunb3000@yahoo.com and all cool sightings will be posted next week friday and we'll have a vote on the coolest ride for the week. ( maybe we'll get sightings of a Ferrari or a Lambo).
(no web images please, thank you).

Hybrids vs. Diesels

Ever increasing global costs for fuel and stricter Govt. regulations on emissions have lead Car manufacturers to look at various means of getting their cars to attain better MPG values and lower emissions. The most common has been a combination (hybrid) of different engines (electric and mechanical engines). The most popular hybrid is the Toyota Prius. The prius now in its 3^rd generation was originally released in 1997. The prius uses a 1.5L (76Hp) engine in conjunction with a 67Hp electric motor, inco-orporating a start stop system and running only on electric when light footed with the gas pedal. Thus ensuring the gas engine remains turned off and consuming no fuel. When more power is needed, the 1.5L petrol engine comes on seamlessly without the driver ever being aware.

Diesel as a fuel is less volatile than petrol, therefore it burns slower. Previous diesel engines were coarse, harsh and un-refined. However, recent advances in technology led to more powerful, refined and very economical diesel engines. Chief amongst this is the common rail injection perfected by Mercedes Benz.

The Prius, the definition for “hybrids” achieves 50MPG. (That’s an incredible 4.6L per100KM). Even more astonishing, is Volkswagen Polo Blue motion concept (diesel) achieves a mind boggling 71.3MPG (an insane 3.3L per 100KM). Mile for mile these vehicles are closely matched. The diesels however have an advantage in being less complex than a hybrid and often always have more torque (torque is what you need when overtaking).

Another advantage with modern diesels is that they release less C02 into the atmosphere, so if you were in the UK where you pay vehicle tax, not on the size or age of your vehicle (like Nigeria) but on the amount of harmful materials your vehicle lets in the atmosphere. The Polo Blue motion emits just 87g/Km of C02. The Prius emits 89g/KM of C02.

Another point worth mentioning is, Hybrids are more expensive than non hybrid cars (a Civic hybrid will cost more than a regular Civic), and so to make sense out of buying a hybrid, you’d probably have to drive for many years before covering up the difference.

From the foregoing, we now know diesels attain better MPG values, and release less pollutants into the atmosphere, with the threat of perol going up to 93 naira in a few weeks, getting a diesel should be a no brainer?

Personally I’d recommend a diesel. Audi produced 3 straight wins in Le-Mans with a diesel burner.They’re less complex, cheaper and would not be in threat of breaking down every time in Nigeria (imagine driving a Prius and you live in Lekki, you’d probably get electrocuted 1 day when it rains very heavily).

As we look forward to finding a trully ''eco'' vehicle, you'd do well to look in the direction of the diesel engine!!!!!!!!

Men vs. women Drivers

It’s amazing how men tend to fall in love with cars. They treat them as an extended part of themselves, cleaning, tweaking all the time ensuring the car is in its most graceful state.
Women on the other hand tend to feel such passion for shoes, clothes and bags. Small wonder men tend to start driving at a much earlier age than women and as such become better drivers. Sharp contrasts when you consider women attain puberty earlier than men.
Personally I believe that there are a lot of bad drivers in Nigeria. The reasons are numerous and diverse. One being that many people aren’t taught properly at the start. Another being the nasty habit of many drivers not reading the Highway Code; you also have fear (of what I can’t really tell). Don’t also forget bad eye sight; hearing etc. the list is endless.
By default, men are better drivers but occasionally you find a few exceptional women that can take it to the men, anytime, anyplace. An awesome example is Dana Patrick who became the 1st woman to win the Indy 500. As my Dad once told me in Primary school, there are two categories of women drivers. 1st the ones you never, ever want to be behind (either in traffic or on the free way) and the “killer kind” whom you never see coming and will embarrass you as you try to show off your driving skills to your buddies. (My brother has fallen victim to such an unsuspecting woman).
I clearly recollect following a colleague home one evening from work. We were leaving the car park, her car was deep behind several cars, and so being a gentleman I offered to drive all 6 cars and hers out. On getting her car out, I handed the keys back to her. We left the Marina and we headed towards Lekki. On getting to VI, we got off Ozumba (I figured we were avoiding traffic) when we got to Oniru, I was a bit confused when we didn’t get back on the expressway. At that point, I asked why we were not joining the highway. She then told me we were taking the “Jeep Route”( the shoreline from VI to Epe). She drives a Jeep Liberty. On the Jeep Route, she brought that “killer side” I mentioned earlier. Her driving was simply flawless. The Liberty ate everything that was thrown at it. There were SUV’s falling by the way side, ohhh nooo not us. Ada would not permit that. She conquered the tracks and dropped me off at Alpha Beach, yes on the shore line. It was simply the most brilliant piece of driving I had seen. I was more than impressed at her driving and I must say she had done excellently to curb my bias for women drivers.

What the Japanese have done for us!!!!

The internal Combustion engine was made by Carl Benz (German), the revolution in the automobile industry came with the Ford Model T. These cars were made in large numbers thus ensuring many people could afford them: Thus the start of the modern auto age.
The American dominance of the Auto industry continued for many decades. The Germans concentrated on precision engineering; developing brands that were so detailed they became an engineering marvel (most Heads of States ride in Mercedes Benz). The British were responsible for cars meant for speed because of their winding back country roads (jaguars and Astons) but the Italians took it upon themselves to perfect this act. Today they make some of the best super cars in the world. The French have never really been good at anything (the only thing they made that ever made sense was the 504, and that’s hugely debatable if you’re not Nigerian).
It wasn’t until after the 2nd world war that the Japanese started making cars. Their country was so torn apart that right from the start, the emphasis could only be to make light, efficient cars. This paid off after almost 60 years when Toyota surpassed GM to become the number 1 car manufacturer in the World!!!
The Germans had as far back as the 60’s made performance models of base brands (AMG of Mercedes). Japanese however joined the league of extra ordinary cars in the 90’s with launch of the Lexus. Nissan’s infinity following. Honda’s Acura and Mitsubishi’s Ralliart having come in the late 80’s but failed to make the kind of impact that Lexus made with the LS 400.
Let me give you a clearer picture of the Japanese presence, 4 out of every 5 visitors who read this blog and own cars will own a Japanese car!!! On your way home today, look around you; I’m sure the vehicle to your left, right, front and back at some point will all be Japanese.
The Japanese found an efficient way to make mass produced, hugely reliable cars that were so miserly on fuel when other car manufacturers made guzzlers thinking fuel like beer was always going to be cheap.
For everyone who has driven a German equivalent of a Japanese car (say a camry against a Passat, or a 316 BMER against a full optioned corolla) I’m sure you’d give it to the Germans everytime. But how come these Japanese cars are everywhere? I’ll tell you why; because they’re cheap and reliable. A modern Japanese car can guarantee you three things
1. It will start in the morinig
2. It will take you out
3. It will bring you back
( it doesn’t always guarantee any form of driving excitement though)
In a world as crazy as the one we live in, what more can you demand from your car on a regular basis? This is ofcourse if you’re not a Petrol head that doesn’t care about how much Horse Power his car has or its weight, or how well its planted while cornering at hair raising speeds.
Nope, the vast majority of the populace don’t care about all that, and until they do which I don’t foresee in the near future, the Japs still have the winning formula.
Way to go Japs!!!!

Your Dream Car…. No, the Car you really dreamt of buying!!!!!

As a kid, growing up in my house playtime for us was in the garage learning of tales of timing combination, the awesome power of V8 engines which at the time, were present mostly in American Cars. Our Dad was a trained and practicing Automobile Engr. As such, our knowledge of Cars was vast and practical in every word.
Now, I’ll ask, how many of us while growing up dreamt of driving/ owning cars with wings that could fly (back to the future) or propellers with which could submerge in water (the spy who loved me) or engines so powerful that made the ground shake when started? But today, global warming, High Fuel prices and the almighty “global recession” has left us living our dreams short. For most, we basically drive cars that are as interesting as toast machines.
Please get me correctly, I don’t expect you go out and buy a car made in Mars: no, no, no ,no. what I’m saying is if you loved the Citreon CX pallass (it had Pneumatic suspension which lowered once the car was parked) go out now and look for the C5 and buy it. Period. If you loved the pointed star from Stuttgart, buy one. I can’t understand why on earth someone will for the sake of wanting to buy a new car will go on and buy a QQ??? Buy a Golf instead!!!!!! A used golf has more value than a brand new QQ!!!!!
I have a friend who drives a jeep liberty, full optioned and all the works, to beat traffic home, we’d take the “Jeep” route (the beach line that goes from oniru all the way to Alpha beach. It’s as close as you’ll ever come to driving the Rubicon trail in Nigeria. It’s a massive adrenaline rush). And so on a faithful day,on our way home, we hit a ditch, punctured the radiator. Total repair costs were over 350,000. Once repaired, I said, I now understand why people buy Toyota’s. I bet you can’t guess what she said, “life is short do not dilute your dreams”. The liberty offered her an off road driving experience the likes no Japanese 4x4 in that class could. At that point, I realized even I was guilty of cutting short my dreams.
So there it is, I charge you. Be brave, be bold be different and even if it costs you a fortune be sure to buy the car you’d seen in your dreams!!!!!

German Supremacy!!!!!

Friday night, time is 10.45PM, venue Lekki Expressway and the participants, my bro and a flat mate and I. We were done with a good night of beautiful 1759ing. We were on our way home. I was in a hurry because I wanted to speak to my boo before she slept for the night. There was mild traffic around Mobil. As suddenly as traffic builds up in Lagos, there was a repeated buzzing of a uniquely sounding horn right behind us and it refused to go away. At that point the ‘Horn” caught our attention, I turned around and it was a Volkswagen Passat( made in 2000, 130Hp) 2.0T, we were in a 99 Camry V6, (194 Hp,3.0L engine), we didn’t pay attention to the “white” driver in the passat until he drove right beside us and waved a bottle of Henessy at us and beckoned that we come get it. At that point we’d been “Served” and it was on!!! Pedal to the metal, we attempted to catch up with the “white” guy and as he was teasing us, he’d let us pass and then turn the heat on. Driving the Camry was my Bro, who in our circle, was a seasoned driver, time tested, “high” tested (he could always handle his high and still drive excellently well).
Now if you know the V6 Camry, by Nigerian road standards it’s a pretty fast car. Behind the wheel you feel like you can take any, any car on! We had done this repeatedly and seemed to get away with it every time and we thought tonight was going to be a similar case. The Passat guy was hot on our heels, for us it was Pedal to the Metal, yet we never seemed to pull so far away from Him. He was right there behind us!!!
By the time we got to the 2nd round about, the brakes in the Camry was Squealing and singing. You could perceive the smell. Now let me put this in perspective, we were in “the more” powerful car, V6 vs. 4 cylinder, a 3.0L vs. a 2.0L engine. Driver competency wasn’t a question as I had mentioned before, Jigga my bro who was driving, was capable!!! So basically the competition here was between the Cars!!! As was in the case of JayZ’s video, “Money aint a thang, the Chase was full of Lane Changes. As we approached Jakande estate, there was little traffic building up, Jigga was slow in making up His mind, (wrong move) the passat blew right passed, He’d guessed right, he got into the other lane and it was our turn to play catch up. At this point I have to re-emphasize that this wasn’t a fair fight. We were in a more powerful of two similar cars, and even at that the passat seemed to have the upper hand. The futile catch up game ended when we got to Jakande round about due screams from me and my flat mate on what would have been an embarrassing loss in the battle. At this point my bro overtook dangerously and the dude in the passat surrendered his lead. We knew victory was certain because our branch off point was just around the corner.
At our branch off point, we slowed down, our new found friend drove right beside us screaming in very poor pidgin English “Una try” “Una try”, in response both cars honked violently in respect of what just went down, fingers in the air, not flipping the dude in the passat off but in respect, hazard lights on, our brakes at this time was singing a tune in Pavarotti. We all jumped out of the car as we got off the expressway, barely able to catch a breath after an exhilarating adrenaline filled race.
At that point, it was a unanimous verdict that if we couldn’t beat the Germans in an unfair fight, it was best not only to join them but convert others!!!!!
Germans Cars I love you!!!!!!!!

Official Photo's of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Not bad you'd say?

Here's what the 2011 Hyundai Sonata wil look like.

Powerplant for the US model will be a 190Hp 2.4L while Japan will have to settle with a 163Hp 2.0L engine.

And another 1!!!!!!

I'm short of words.....
The picture you behold are previews Hyundai relaeased ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show taking place later on this month.....
Thats an idea of what the next Tucson will look like!!!!!
Get your Cheque books ready cuz this thing is a stunning beauty!!!!!

Spy shots from the 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Yes let your Eyes bleed!!!!!
These are spy shots of the upcoming 2011 hyundai Sonata......
All you camry and Accord faithfulls... keep your eyes wide open.
Final model may however be tuned down, but i have to say, this is an aggressive approach by the Boys from Korea.

My 1st Bash!

‘You don hit my car, Oyibo repete, as you don bash my car gbese repete’. The once famous Naija Hit song. And one not so loved by anyone who’s hit or been hit before. ‘Bashing’ a fairly regular occurrence on Lagos roads where you’re considered a ‘real’ driver for just driving there. In the city of Lagos, God help you if you ever ‘bash’ someone’s car. There’ll you’ll hear all kinds of grammar (Ikoyi and V.I) or when the parties involved are from areas such as okoko, iyana-paja, Ebutte-meta, they instinctively start fighting before they even say a word. Talk/ fight for as long as you like and block the free flow of the already dense traffic and no one seems to bother.
Everyone at some point in time will always have a bash every now and then. ‘If you no bash person, person go bash you’, as the popular saying goes in Lagos. As a reference point, I drove for 14years before ever ‘Bashing’ anything. Mine was simply a case of break failure (truthfully, I remember the brakes were bad). Facing a trailer head on at 30Km/H with absolutely no brakes (in my BMW 5 series), I opted to swerve away from the trailer that made no attempt to slow down. In the process, I brushed the side of my car violently against the side of a ‘Vanagon’ picking passengers at the bus stop which slowed me down before finally hitting an ‘Okada’ man who’d remain stuck to his seat from shock ( I guess) .Due to experience and some luck, my car suffered most of the damage, breaking off an already broken pointer light on the Vanagon. The bus driver being so kind as to let me go (after telling him I had no money of course?). I got back into my car with my friend who was visibly in shock and headed off to our original location (it was almost 1759) and I am never late.
Unlike my 1st bash, my bother’s 1st bash happened at the onset on his driving days. Luckily for him, our dad was very understanding and rather than reprise him for making an honest mistake, he was given all the encouragement needed and today he is a far better driver than I am. That seems to be the fatal mistake most parents make. I have friends who are in or close to their 30’s who cant drive because their parents were either too scared of them damaging their cars or stopped them out rightly from touching their cars for fear of ‘Bashing’ it. This long term effect of ‘leave my car’ has left these ‘Men’ not wanting to drive even after buying their own cars.
Be careful, be vigilant and be patient so that when your 1st ‘Bash’ happens, it can be something you can talk about. (With pride).

Slush Box

Most kids while growing up get to hear tales of the ‘cunning’ tortoise. In my house we heard tales of cars that could change gears by themselves. In 1986 when my aunty brought back a Peugeot 504 GL auto from the US, I saw this ‘imaginary’ miracle for the first time. Unfortunately, it had brain box problems and it never worked. In 1993, when my dad told me he was buying a Mercedes Benz 200 aka Regular which was automatic transmission, I knew there was a God that answered prayers and dreams. The following year he bought a BMW 520 auto, I became uncontrollable with joy!
At that time (early 90’s), it was so un-cool to own a ‘slush box’ (derogatory term used to describe cars with automatic transmission). People had all sorts reasons for not buying them; like ‘what if the battery runs flat how do I push it?’ you get a good battery and ensure the car is always in top shape that’s how! Why buy a car hoping to push it when it brakes down? Till this very minute that perception beats me.
In 1997 I told a friend that one day ‘all cars’ will be automatic. I was just a kid at the time, but like martin Luther king and barrack Obama that were motivated to say the ‘unthinkable’ at some point in time, my comments were likened to theirs. It drew strong criticisms from my peers. The basis of my comments hinged on the fact that F1 cars (the ultimate devices on 4 wheels) were not manual transmission. I believed that it was only a matter of time before the gains and advantages in F1 technology trickled down to every day cars and for a fact I knew that auto’s had been around since the early 1900’s.
One of such numerous advantages is the shift time between gears. In modern auto’s transition between gears takes place in mere milliseconds. What this means is that you can quickly accelerate through gears much faster than an equivalent manual box would. My fathers Benz 200 had a 3 speed box, today Mercedes has cars having 7 speed auto, Lexus has an 8 speed box. Gear change is seamless in these cars when compared to my dad’s jerky and violently hard changes in the Benz 200. In addition to their seamless shift, this new auto’s also incorporate a manual mode into its normal shift gate or via paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, as is the case in the Golf Mark V GTI. Fuel economy may arguably be another advantage. In theory, manuals will always achieve better mileage when compared with a similar model auto. The reason being in the way these boxes are built. The manual has a direct link from the engine to the engine to the wheels, while the auto relies on oil pressure and a fluid connection between the engine and the transmission to supply the drive. This causes a loss of energy leading to observed difference in economy between the two boxes. In the real world however, most auto’s achieve better milage numbers. The reason being that in large number of people, most do not shift their manual cars at the right time, they either shift too early or too late. A classical example is 2 exact Honda 2002 models (baby boy) in traffic on 3rd mainland bridge for over 3hours. After a while both drivers will get tired and may not pay complete attention to what they are doing. While in the auto this will not have an effect, as the car is preprogrammed to shift at specific conditions, the manual will suffer economy if the driver accelerates from stop say in gear 2.
Take a personal survey, how many of your friends still drive manuals? It’s likely you own an auto or plan to buy one pretty soon. Die hard manual ‘freaks’ will always argue over the advantages of driving a ‘manual’ that its fun, its fast, its economical etc. in response I ask is the bugatti veyron not fun? Is the bugatti veyron not fast? Ok maybe it’s not economical but who cares? It’s capable of doing 252MPh, 400Kmh! and its an auto.

Thinking about buying a new car!!!!!!

Newer doesn't always mean better....

nothing will exemplify this more than this review where Jeremy Clarkson compares the new Honda Civic Type R against its predecessor....

Hope you find it as entertaining as i do....

Lagos and its Ideal vehicle!!!!!!

A city of 16 million people and a whole lot of cars: a lot of noise is often made about being able to drive in the state of New York. I’m sure a lot of people who have that opinion will change their minds just after driving for five minutes in Lagos. Here you have to worry about bad driving, bad roads, Armed robbers with AK47 riffles, area boys etc etc. I dare say if you can drive in Lagos, you can drive anywhere in the world.
Lagos, a city where most people do not go to driving schools, they learn on the job. A city where right of way at a round about is almost never obeyed. A city, where traffic officials do not even know the contents of the High way code. A City where when changing lanes on the freeway, the right of way belongs to the bigger vehicle, the more daring driver or the guy in a uniform. A city where not understanding traffic rules is deemed cool. Lagos, a city where the bigger vehicle always wins!!!!
So we go on, what is the ideal vehicle in a city where the size of what you drive matters? It’s clear a bigger vehicle intimidates the next guy. However, this presents a draw back of its own because almost always the city is locked down in traffic and as Lagos drivers are known for their impatience, Lane change is the order of the day. Any small space, even the side walk is not spared. Going against traffic used to be the order of the day before the introduction of LASTMA (I hate those guys)! A problem now arises when driving around in a very big car. The smaller, nimbler cars, Kia Picanto, Nissan sunny, VW Golf, out- maneuver the SUV’s. A slight variation to this rule is would be the Bus drivers (especially the Vanagon drivers, officially known as the Volkswagen Transporter) that’s a topic for another day though!
It goes without saying that the ideal car for Lagos has to able to 1. Maneuver in traffic, 2. Be medium sized, 3. Withstand mad traffic, 4. Go off-road* yes, driving on paved roads is very much similar to off-road driving in Lagos, 5. Have good ground clearance, be able to get unto sidewalks and wade through water, and finally have outstanding MPG values. .
Starting with the process of elimination, large SUV’s are good, they intimidate other drivers but are not easily maneuverable. Smaller cars are maneuverable but they don’t intimidate other drivers. So the answer lies in a combination of car like and SUV like features. No other segment better personifies this than the Cross over utility vehicle segment (CUV). Some models come with all wheel drive, though not real auxiliary gears and do very well on sandy roads. A prominent member, arguably the founding member, the Toyota RAV4 posses’ car like and SUV like features in near perfect combinations. High ground clearance, medium sized and relatively priced. A 1998 model is just around 1.4 million naira about the price of a Baby boy (Honda Accord). A classic example of their utilitarian prowess can be seen on the Oniru Bye Pass in V.I, you’re stuck in the sand while trying to beat traffic in your baby boy, and a RAV4 breezes past with ease while you ponder how you’ll pay money to the ‘Boy’s already lurking and hovering like vultures who’ll push your car out from the sand you’re stuck in, I’ll bet it’d make you wonder why you didn’t buy the RAV4 since they’re almost identical in pricing?
So for a city with mad traffic, de-ranged bus drivers and potholes large enough to be seen from outer space( like the Palm beaches in Dubai), the ideal vehicle is a Toyota Rav4( any of the 3 generations will do). Though I will recommend a BMW X3, a Mercedes GLK or an Audi Q3 just because I love German Engineered cars.

I dread that car!

Reliability! Defined as the quality of bring dependable or reliable. Reliable itself is defined as being worthy of trust.
Trust a word which must’ve been un-synonymous with at least ‘one’ car you’ve own, your dad’s own or you’ve known someone whose own 1 in the not too distant past. A car that has the “Penchant” to misbehave just when you need it the most. A fitting synonym would be “embarrassment”. Just like gravity, that pulls all matter to earth, these cars pull embarrassment to you. They have no shame, no fear, at any time, they can choose to disappoint.
Tales of such story(s) are plenty from my past, Yes even as much as my Dad, my brother and I fixed the cars in the house by ourselves, they still knew 1 thing more than anything else; choose the right time to “embarrass” you. My Dad’s BMW 520 was so good at it. I remember one very clear instance, this full optioned kokolet I had just met through a friend. I went to her hostel to see her, and after forming ’PAPA’s it was time to leave. I got in the car, kicked the engine, it rolled but never started. I had to beg the guys that lived close by to help me push the car into the kokolet’s compound (In a very sandy, sandy place). I came back the next day after she had gone to school and towed the car away. It cost me 7500(It was a faulty fuel pump that just suddenly went bad and I was a corp. member at the time).
My brother was not so lucky either, he once went to check on a shortie that was in his class, he drove my Dad’s Regular Benz (200) there. He was in 100L at the time and after getting to her hostel, it was time to leave, as women are always known to always show off. She called more than half the hostel to see my brother as he left. And as the trend seems to go, the car refused to start (now let me add, both cars are automatics(520+Regular)so pushing it to start was not an option). In Retrospect, most times these cars choose to be bad were times that women were involved! How strange!
To put things in clear perspective, I’m in no way saying that, neither the BMW 520 nor the Benz were bad cars, the BMW up until we sold it off still clocked 180km/H, EFFORTLESSLY, without any rattles, no vibration, and no un-necessary feedback from the steering wheels etc. On a day it performed, it outclassed even a baby boy! But this was a car manufactured in 1978! Yes the 1st generation 5 series. My friends nicknamed it “LORD LUGARD”. They say it was so old that Lord Lugard rode in it during the Amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914! If you know anything about BMers it’s the fact that they are like women; they need immediate, precise and capable attention. At the time, I could not afford to maintain it and as such , it chose to let me know that I was not caring. As any woman would!
Today, such stories as your car”messing” up are not too common. The reason being as a senior colleague ‘Debo’ told me that the cars people buy is much newer. Averagely around 8yrs. That’s one of the few things to have come out of the FG of late that I consider good. That and the fact that the banks are stronger and as such can empower people to buy newer cars. Even today’s mechanics are better equipped to handle these cars, and do not immediately blame every ‘start’ related problem on relays like they once did.
The Japanese cars ‘seem’ to have won the perception battle; the battle that their cars are dependable and reliable. Please do not get irritated at this point; I believe that Germans make the best cars in the world. I also believe that all other car manufacturers do not exist. Even when I chose to go for the ‘reliable’ car, I opted for a golf. I can’t be seen owning or driving a Japanese!