My Prado is raised, I travel in comfort

For these three motorists, driving a Toyota Prado gives them peace of mind since with its high ground clearance, one does not have to worry about getting stuck or being unable to drive on bumpy roads, writes David S. Mukooza

Douglas Lwanga 

I drive a Toyota Prado TX Model 2001 but before I bought this car, I owned a Subaru Forester cross sport. I bought the Prado because I love big and raised cars and on a lighter note, the name Prado sounds good as well.

I love this car because of its high ground clearance. Since my nature of work calls for constant travelling, this car is ideal because it is easy to manoeuver on bumpy bad roads, especially since I travel a lot upcountry during the purple party events. 

It is also comfortable, and a four wheel drive, which makes it an all-weather ride. I also love the sunroof, which allows fresh air into the car.
However, being a 3000cc, its fuel consumption is not that friendly. I spend about Shs20,000 to and from work daily. 

Also, although it has been on the Ugandan market for a while, its spare parts are quite expensive compared to the Subaru Forester I  had. 

For service and maintenance, I spend Shs180,000 for half service which includes oil and oil filter changes. However, this will only last for about two months since a diesel engine requires regular service compared to a petrol engine.

I love big cars and the Prado is one of them. Although it is not my dream car, it is a good start.

Nasser Mutebi

I bought this car when I returned from Dubai where I had worked for some time. A friend had told me about a car hire business where people loved the TX, especially for upcountry trips and other areas where they were not sure about the roads. 

So, I made a decision to buy a second hand TX. I also loved it because it is raised and a four wheel drive. Therefore, I would easily drive it to any place, including those with bumpy roads. 

Although I have heard other owners complain about its fuel consumption, to me, it is manageable because diesel is cheaper.

Although, it is a strong and resistant car, I have had issues with the ball joint suspension, a major complaint from most users. 

Because I use it for upcountry trips, I service it before starting any journey. This costs between Shs200,000 and Shs250,000. A word of advice to any person who wants to own a diesel car: Always service it since without service, it will break down.

Spare parts are readily available but expensive and because they are expensive, there are a lot of counterfeits on the market. Therefore, you have to be very careful while procuring them.

All in all, this car is reliable and good if you want to run a transport business. Its plus is ample boot space that can also carry a lot of luggage, leaving your passengers to travel in comfort. If managed well, one can drive this car for ages.

Deogratious Mukasa

My Prado has a 3000cc engine. I use about Shs20,000 from my home on Salama Road in Kampala to the central business district every day. To me, this is manageable because my home is near my workplace but those who work outside Kampala might feel the fuel pinch.

I bought this car because of its high ground clearance that enables me to maneuver on all roads and in all-weather because it has full time four wheel drive.

As far as its service and maintenance are concerned, when I am driving I pay attention to the sounds that the car makes. By the time I go to the garage for service, I have an idea of what might be wrong. This way, I avoid being cheated. 

For the time I have owned this car, I have not had major mechanical problems although I monitor my suspension closely since my mechanic says it is the biggest problem with this car. 

I make sure my rubber boots are checked because when torn, they allow in dust, which spoils the ball joints with time.

On a normal day, half service costs me around Shs180,000 but full service will cost between Shs250,000 and Shs280,000. This involves extracting old engine oil for a seven-litre air cleaner, oil filter and fuel filter and other parts such as the plugs.

This car gives me comfort and I can carry sizable luggage. It is an averagely expensive car but you need to love it to own it.

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