Chipper: Cars are my life

Chipper Adams owns a Toyota Land Cruiser 100 series. He loves cars and never lets anyone drive him. PHOTO BY Edgar R Batte.

What you need to know:

Chipper Adams is a name synonymous with rally driving in Uganda. He won a number of trophies and enjoyed the limelight in motor sport. The former rally driver occasionally drives to boost morale. He is utilising much of his time as a private mechanic at his company- Pro Ride, a private garage on Gayaza Road. He talked to Edgar R Batte about his love for cars.

What car do you drive?
I drive a Toyota Land Cruiser from the 100 series. I also own a fleet of buses that do airport runs. Those are driven by other people though.

Whatmodel is it?
It is a 2002 model

What prompted you to buy this particular car?
Good question. I like the 80 series. That is what I have been dealing with for the last couple of years. I still like them but I decided to buy the 100 series mainly because of the finances.
When you have a company (Pro Ride) like this, you trade in cars. So I cannot keep one at a time, so I sold my 80s series that I liked so much and bought this of the 100 series.

How much did you sell the 80s series to buy the 100 series?
I never lose money when I sell a car. Not that they are that expensive but the first car had about 4,000 kilometres on it only.
It was a 1992 model, with little mileage, and I had a choice to buy from many because I have been buying and selling them so I acquired the best for myself.
I drove it for five years and I sold it for what I paid for it, which is good. Of course I did a lot to it.
I did no tinclude the money I spent for the suspensions, the tyres, roof racks and all that, but it is pretty neat that you drive a car for five years and still get your money out of it. I bought it at $20,000 (about Shs60m) and sold it for the same amount.

And how much did you buy your Land Cruiser?
For the new one, I spent about $31,000 (about Shs90m).

Why did you choose to buy a petrol car?
I did so because it is more available and it is cheaper than a diesel car.

When you bought it, did you make any enhancements?
As usual, I always do the suspension and the vulva and the system so that I can get some fresh air because of our dusty roads.

Do you share your car?
Never, I do not share my car because it is personal property.

Where do you drive your car from?
When I go to check up on my vehicles in Murchison Fall sNational Park and around Lake Albert.

How much fuel do you spend on such journeys on averagely?
I try not to count it. When I do my route, it is almost 1,000 kilometres. It does four kilometres per litre.

How many cars have you driven?
How many cars? My friend, cars are my life. I cannot answer that. They are very many.

Do you ever share your car?
No. I am never driven. I always have to drive no matter what. Actually, the only time I was driven was when I had a car accident. My elder brother was driving but generally everyone knows I drive myself. Even when I take a boda boda, I make the rider get on the back.

What do you like about your car’s interior?
It is spacious and I like the electronics. If they donnot go wrong, they are very good. They are so convenient.

Does it have music?
It was a little tricky because it is a 2002 model. It is integrated with the air conditioning and everything. That is why I still miss my 80s series which had it all. It came with the radio and other cool accessories.
What do you think of Ugandan drivers?
It is the speed and changes that Kampala is going through.
Ugandan drivers across the board comprise people who have not had their licences for long so they are not that experienced and that inexperience makes them a bit aggressive.

LAND CRUISER

Many 100 Series have been modified to suit towing or bush work, with tyres and suspension being the most common changes.
The original Grandtreks were marginal performers on and off road and ground clearance was always an issue, but particularly so in the case of IFS models.
Vehicles used off road or for towing are likely to have suspension upgrades that incorporate a lift. Avoid 100 Series with high lifts, over 50mm, or you may have registration issues.
The 100 Series is infamous for the problem of freight in the back moving and locking the rear door latch. The latch is there as an emergency exit from the cargo area, but if you’ve fitted a cargo barrier you can’t get into the back to open the latch.
The 100 Series LandCruiser has been a reliable workhorse, but the front differential was a weak link throughout its entire 10-year lifespan, in both live-axle and IFS models.
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