@wote

true,the environment is very much polluted. but is not because of using 'used' cars,its because the cars,new or not,are not well maintained,hence a smoking exhaust. africa as a whole has the least emissions when it comes to contribution to environmental pollution yet as the figures may show,has the most number of secondhand driven cars... Japan,we would say is among the countries where brand new cars are driven,and the pollution there is incomparable to anywhere else i can imagine - cars being one of the major contributors.

i also stand to be collected....

Some deals are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together.

@Obi,
May i join you in basking in this glory.....That surprised me too...!!.....am sure Kenyans would buy far much better cars were it not for the taxman and his obscene duty on used cars......BTW,how do we rate in duty taxation compared to other countries??

Old man about town....

Wendz,you may wish to read up on ezone depletion and you will be suprised as i was that Nairobi is one of the most polluted cities in the world.Reasons for that was given as importantion of second hand cars and refrigrators(second hand as well)

Wellington NewZeland without substantial industry also ranked very high,why would that be? and yet they use mostly Goethermal energy.Reason given was,fuff from sheep accounted for high levels of pollution.

Njung'e you are right on taxation,its actually punitive and against W.T.O regulations but no Kenyan has ever bothered to take up the issue with W.T.O.

Kaza- is actually right when he states that Nigeria and Egypt import far more cars both new and used than Kenya,Lagos alone has probably ten times more cars than the whole of Kenya.However,they import mostly European cars as opposed to Japanese cars.

Kenya is also the biggest importer of 'mitumba' clothes from the UK in the world.To me guys i do not know whether the two aspects here are meant to make enjoy a moment of pride or shame. That we are only good at getting used stuff.


wote

@obi & co... to pour more rain on your parade... SA does not feature in those stats coz they have banned import of mitumba... that does not mean they dont have a 2nd hand market... by trading in their own inventory... gains remain within their economy...

@Halfempty

Check out Adepts list,its got SA,it also has UK,Russia,UAE (prob for resale),NZ,Singapore,Malaysia etc. So you haven't rained on my parade,the flag's still flying. Besides SA buying or not buying used cars has nothing to do with Kenya,in any case,the country is falling apart with strike after strike for whichever reason.

@Wote

All this countries above are on the list of countries importing 000's of used cars from Japan,so its not like we are commiting some criminal act. Why don't you look at the financing model for cars in EU and US so you can understand why purchasing even the used cars for Kenya is such a big deal.

If the environment was the only issue here then can assure you that its much more environmentally friendly to keep a 7 year old car than to buy a new one which uses up large quantities of raw materials that put pressure on the world resources. The reason this vehicles are sold is because they are serviceable and the reason Japan puts all those environmental regulations is to keep their car plants churning new cars. If Japan cared so much about the environment,they would have stopped whaling etc.

I also have issues with Kenya,but I apply them selectively. Not everything about Kenya is bad.


I've noticed the youth in particular coming in to a workplace with a completely outsized notion of their own value and importance... just a thinly-veiled arrogance. May be the credit crunch induced recession is whats needed to remind us all about the value of hard work.... By Anonymous

@Obi do not get worked up for no reason.

All am saying is that the benefits of driving a new car far much out weighs those of buying used cars all aspects considered including but not limted to the environment,and that to me and a few like myself there is no pride gained in buying used car.


wote

And exports problems

The Hague...or Local Triburnal ama TJRC.

@Wote

You are implying that buying used cars is a national problem,and I am saying its not. If you want a real problem,there is a post running on power rationing,now thats a national disaster,that should give you enough genuine material to rant about our poor country Kenya.


I've noticed the youth in particular coming in to a workplace with a completely outsized notion of their own value and importance... just a thinly-veiled arrogance. May be the credit crunch induced recession is whats needed to remind us all about the value of hard work.... By Anonymous

...and the story about used cars and environment is..misguided...maybe lets talk safety. A brand new car used without engine oil change will smoke to high heaven in a very very short time - under a year!!!! A smoky exhaust just needs oil rings...a 30 minute job by jua kali costing under 8k...may be 20k if pistons are to be replaced...equivalent to new engine/car? So where does environment issues come from - that are hard to fix? But if car is too old such that other mechanicals are failing...we've got safety issues...danger.

Playing the stock market without insider info...is like buying a cow in the moonlight.

oh' ofcourse power and water rationing is a national shame,that should not happen in any country with working institutions.

wote