My wheels: Dolibondo, ‘I learnt driving in five days’

What you need to know:

Dolibondo, real name, Felix Jesero, is a stand-up comedian and manager of Laftaz Comedy Lounge. He recently ordered for a car online and shares more about that experience and more.

What car do you drive?
Toyota Will VS, made in 2002.

How much did you buy it?
$9,500 (about Sh24m),minus taxes.

Why did you choose online buying?
Whatever I went through is what car dealers go through, as businessmen they will put a profit so it is expensive here.

How much money did you save?
About Shs10m

When did you buy it?
I ordered for it on March 10, 2014.

How big is the engine of your car?
It is a 1.8cc VVT-i engine.

What do you like about this car?
It is comfortable, runs fast and it is unique. Basically I love to unique. I love the Ford Explorer mode 2010 but I cannot afford it now so I decided to get this one.

Have you been stuck on the road before?
Yes. Jonah, my manager, had to pick some things from the airport and needed a big car so I gave him the Ipsum I had by then and used his Toyota Premio. I did not give the fuel gauge attention. Luckily enough, I was not spotted by journalists but some fans saw me.

Are you particular with the colour of the car when buying?
Yes, for small cars I love silver and pearl white and black for big cars.

Where did you learn driving from?
My late uncle taught me.

How long did you take learning how to drive?
I learnt for about five days. I did not want to borrow cars since I had vowed to learn and perfect driving with my own car and not a borrowed one. It was the reason I bought an Ipsum.

What is the furthest you have driven this car?
Mbale.

How much fuel did you spend on this journey?
About Shs140,000

How much do you spend on fuel per day or in a week?
If I am driving from home to Laftaz Comedy Lounge (in Kampala) where I work and back home, I spend about Shs80,000 but if I have to move around town then the amount could be double.

How often do you go to service your car and how much do you spend on servicing?
Every after 30 to 40 days.

Where do you service your car from?
I strictly go to Shell or Total fuel stations.

How much care do you give to your car?
100 per cent.

Does your car have a nickname?
Yes. I call it Bugatti.

What was your first car?
Toyota Ipsum, made in 1999.

Did you have to save a lot for it?
No, I got a gig with an NGO about domestic violence.
What is your dream car?
Ford Explorer made in 2010

What do you like about this car?
I love its shape.

How do you compare your current car and your dream car?
Ford Explorer is majestic and runs much faster than my Will VS.

What has been your worst experience on the road as a driver?
In 2012, a policeman who was not in police uniform driving a Toyota Premio knocked my car while negotiating a corner and he started intimidating me. He went to the extent of calling fellow police officers. Luckily enough, I knew my rights so he ended up paying. But at first, the officers supported him. Had it not been for the mob around, I was finished.

What things do you hate about Ugandan drivers?
Recklessness.

Do you ever share your car?
I do, but I must have seen you drive before and also you must have a satisfying reason why I should lend you my car.

ABOUT THE WILL
The WiLL brand was a marketing approach shared from a small group of Japanese companies who decided to offer products and services that focused on a younger demographic from 1999 until 2004. This selective marketing experiment reflected a Japanese engineering philosophy called Kansei engineering, which was used by other Japanese companies.

In spite of its success in the Japanese market, where the WiLL VS had a cult following, the model was never exported. Production of the WiLL VS stopped in 2004 and a replacement model was never announced, much to the disappointment of its fans. The WiLL VS will probably be remembered as one of the few concept vehicles that went into production, albeit only in small numbers, only 4,000 were ever produced.