Dealerships Import the Lowest Quality Ex-Japan Vehicles

[Pseudonyms]

Kenyan dealerships, that is.

If you wish to buy a particular car, say a 2014 Toyota Ractics, you will be surprised by the stack differences between what they review on various YouTube channels, and what is available locally.

That was me last year when I was head over heels with the Ractis. I could tell where the last bolt was on a Ractis from the various videos and literature I had read on the same. Hadi nikapiga raundi kwa hizi showroom za Ganjoni! Shape ndio ni Ractis lakini specs jo! Interior, mbovu. Accessories, minimal. Comfort, Spartan.

That infatuation died. But next came the new generation Honda Fit. Za YouTube ziko fine. Za kwetu hapa ni matata tupu.

 

[shocks]

Sasa vile kuna very many agents, import yourself

 

[Denis Young]

I think people don't realize that most of these vehicles have base models which are just stripped down versions of the vehicle. I would venture a guess that was the case.

Edit: Do you mean second hand dealers?

 

[Luther12]

Kenyan dealerships, that is.

If you wish to buy a particular car, say a 2014 Toyota Ractics, you will be surprised by the stack differences between what they review on various YouTube channels, and what is available locally.

That was me last year when I was head over heels with the Ractis. I could tell where the last bolt was on a Ractis from the various videos and literature I had read on the same. Hadi nikapiga raundi kwa hizi showroom za Ganjoni! Shape ndio ni Ractis lakini specs jo! Interior, mbovu. Accessories, minimal. Comfort, Spartan.

That infatuation died. But next came the new generation Honda Fit. Za YouTube ziko fine. Za kwetu hapa ni matata tupu.

Self-importation?

 

[Pseudonyms]

Self-importation?

Nipee leads.

Zenye napata zinarecomend only "Kenya Quality".

 

[Amooti]

Happens everywhere. Even mercs, base model all the way to premium. And with that comes the price difference.
This is just an example
You might find a Mercedes E250 base model at say 3m. Has fabric upholstery, basic radio, no follow me home lights, no drl etc etc
You get the same but say mid range with leather seats, CD player, etc etc
And another with all the bells and whistles.

Mercedes though is a bit cleverer.
Within E class, they have different upgrades so you get E 250, E 300. Etc. In the past, the numbers denoted a bigger engine and better bells and whistles as the numbers go up. But within each number there's a base and premium.


The same is with japanese cars. Some caldina will arrive at the port with an original Toyota navigation system, some will come with a CD player from Toyota and others will come with a plain old boring radio.
The upholstery on the first will be different with that of the last
The interior will be different too.
Slight differences on the exterior too. Some might come with alloy rims with the Toyota logo still on, original, and some will come with those after market plastic slapons probably fitted by the yard guys to try confuse some fellows.
My advice, if you want it go get it, look for the specs you like right from Japan and have it brought here. Look for someone who has ever done it. People have been buying air since before the invention of the internet

 

[Luther12]

Nipee leads.

Zenye napata zinarecomend only "Kenya Quality".

I can only recommend someone who’d assist you.
One thing I’ve noticed though is that some of what we might come across in YouTube and other forums may not be JDM.

 

[Luther12]

The same is with japanese cars. Some caldina will arrive at the port with an original Toyota navigation system, some will come with a CD player from Toyota and others will come with a plain old boring radio.
The upholstery on the first will be different with that of the last
The interior will be different too.
Slight differences on the exterior too. Some might come with alloy rims with the Toyota logo still on, original, and some will come with those after market plastic slapons probably fitted by the yard guys to try confuse some fellows.
My advice, if you want it go get it, look for the specs you like right from Japan and have it brought here. Look for someone who has ever done it. People have been buying air since before the invention of the internet

The waters are muddied further if you start to look at units outside JDM, e.g Thailand.

 

[Ngimanene na Muchere]

The waters are muddied further if you start to look at units outside JDM, e.g Thailand.

Hata usinikumbushe Vigo Asia.... Nje gari ni supuu lakini ndani ni as basic as they come.

 

[Luther12]

Hata usinikumbushe Vigo Asia.... Nje gari ni supuu lakini ndani ni as basic as they come.

Body kit na ‘chrome’ rims.

 

[Ngimanene na Muchere]

Body kit na ‘chrome’ rims.

Terrible, halafu wanauza pesa yote

 

[Luther12]

Terrible, halafu wanauza pesa yote

Coz they know the only other alternative is RSA.

 

[Ngimanene na Muchere]

Coz they know the only other alternative is RSA.

And they can them REVOLUTION

 

[Jug]

I can only recommend someone who’d assist you.
One thing I’ve noticed though is that some of what we might come across in YouTube and other forums may not be JDM.

Fwata ii advice since most of our imports are JDM specs won't be similar to UK or US versions. @DESTRO leta mwaidha hapa. OP ongea na uyo jamaa uone ka utasaidika

 

[Masgwembe]

Know the trim level you desire and enquire of its availability in the local dealerships. Demand dictates the vehicles dealers will import.

 

[kingolonde]

Kenyan dealerships, that is.

If you wish to buy a particular car, say a 2014 Toyota Ractics, you will be surprised by the stack differences between what they review on various YouTube channels, and what is available locally.

That was me last year when I was head over heels with the Ractis. I could tell where the last bolt was on a Ractis from the various videos and literature I had read on the same. Hadi nikapiga raundi kwa hizi showroom za Ganjoni! Shape ndio ni Ractis lakini specs jo! Interior, mbovu. Accessories, minimal. Comfort, Spartan.

That infatuation died. But next came the new generation Honda Fit. Za YouTube ziko fine. Za kwetu hapa ni matata tupu.

I am tired of telling people this. Those cars in the showrooms are the lowest quality shiiet those Pakistanis can get in Japan. Grade 2 and occasionally "R". Next time enda hizo garage za hapo Railways uone gari KDC imepelekwa hapo iundwe/ bufing and polish ndio ipelekwe showroom. Cant, will never buy a showroom car.

 

[Amooti]

No worries though if you can manage, soon we will be importing brand new cars from china for half the price. Although quality was shit a few years ago, I have seen improvements and in a while they will be almost equal

 

[shocks]

I am tired of telling people this. Those cars in the showrooms are the lowest quality shiiet those Pakistanis can get in Japan. Grade 2 and occasionally "R". Next time enda hizo garage za hapo Railways uone gari KDC imepelekwa hapo iundwe/ bufing and polish ndio ipelekwe showroom. Cant, will never buy a showroom car.

wengine wetu tunakuwa confused ukisema showroom, tunadhani toyota kenya au dt dobie, sema gari ya za yard

 

[mzeiya]

INgia site ya SBT, look up what you want and chat with the guys on the other side. Self importation is key

 

[upepo]

The Kenyan consumer is too unsophisticated when it comes to gauging quality, even for very simple goods. Traders all over charge premium prices for third-rate goods. For the Kenyan consumer, price is always the dominating concern, and traders have learnt to take full advantage. I could bet 99% percent of vehicle owners cannot fully describe their models.