Ask the mechanic: Which car can I buy at Shs8m

I am undecided about buying a 2006 Toyota Raum or a Toyota Sienta. Please advise me about both cars.
The 2006 Toyota Raum and Toyota Sienta both have a fuel efficient 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE 16 valve DOHC petrol engine. The Raum is spacious enough for a family of four but the Sienta is much more spacious because it is longer, wider and has a higher roof. Passengers in the Sienta will have better leg-room, shoulder-room as well as head room. On the other hand, the Sienta’s cube shaped body is not as aero dynamic as the Raum.
This should have an impact on fuel economy however, the CVT (Continous Velocity Transmission) gearbox on the Sienta mitigates that problem by creating a fuel efficient mating of the transmission and engine. You may have a little difficulty finding the costly head and tail lights of the Sienta when you get bumped into by a boda boda.

Which car can I buy AT Shs8m

What kind of car can I buy at Shs8m? And what do they mean by this car is this cc? Ian

With Shs8m, you can buy any car from a locally pre-used Toyota Vitz to a Toyota Ipsum or even a Nissan Mistral. The only catch will be the technical condition you inherit with these cars in.
The lower the budget, the more likely a used car will have issues its current owner is trying to run away from. It’s up to you and your mechanic to work through the maze and determine whether it’s a worthy buy.
Do the due diligence. Confirm the vehicle ownership, ensure that there are no liabilities or dues (taxes, parking fines or outstanding debts), get a technical assessment and carry out a test drive.
Be ready to identify and cost what you need to fix when you buy this car. This will help you determine whether you are getting value for money or not.

Can I buy a Toyota Noah at Shs10m?

Shs10m will get you a locally pre-used 1998/1999 Toyota Noah with the UAJ / UAM series. A 1998/99 Noah from the bonded warehouse costs Shs27m.
What you need to look out for is the possibility that the previous owner of the pre-used Noah is not offloading a vehicle with a bad engine and transmission. Occasionally, you will get lucky to find a pre-used one on the market in a reasonable working condition because the owner wants to upgrade to the newer 2000 - 2002 Noah Voxy. In which case you should expect to spend about Shs2m overhauling suspension and renewing fluids, belts, filters and dealing with any squeaks and rattles. Basically, the lower the budget, the more the work you may need to put in for mileage issues in terms of repairs. To mitigate or limit the risk of getting a bad Noah, inspect it with a mechanic.

I have gained a lot from reading your column in the Daily Monitor every week. Thank you for your effort in making us knowledgeable about cars, especially when making decisions on what to buy. With Shs10m will I be able to get a good Toyota Noah?

Ask the mechanic / By Paul Kaganzi (0772316145)