22 – AUTONEWS - AA CLUB OF KENYA MAGAZINE
USED VEHICLE
REVIEW
Will my next vehicle be
Asian or European?
Used vehicles will be with us for years to come. Michael Mwai looks at two
options and wonders if his next car will be from the east or the west.
Driving a good car obviously brings forth
great pleasure. It might be as a result
of its handling, creature comforts or a
combination of both. That said, what
really makes a good car great? For me,
it is one that gets me from point A to B
safely and efficiently. A great vehicle is
an experience, not an event. Getting me
to my destination consistently throughout
the year means it did not break down.
Doing so safely means I did not crash,
or almost crash because the brakes were
not advanced. I never once arrived at an
unintended destination like a hospital
or a ditch. Its efficiency boils down to
cost of ownership. The overall price per
kilometer is vital. Low wear and tear plus,
affordable fuel consumption and manage-
able running costs.
My search for a good used saloon car
continues and this year, I am looking at
two great vehicles, The Mercedes E Class
and the Toyota Camry. A car’s comfort for
me is determined by my state of mind and
body when I finally arrive. The driver’s
seat, as well as the rear, should be able
to accommodate people of varying sizes
over long journeys. What comes to mind
in the Toyota Camry is reliability. This is
an award-winning car that offers space,
pace and has an ace up its sleeve. It is a
Toyota with proven performance. The
Mercedes, on the other hand, has been
around for almost 130 years and they
have, somewhat mastered the art of pas-
senger and goods delivery.
Aspirational
The Mercedes E Class is an aspirational
vehicle that signals one’s progression
from the ‘hustlers club’ to that of the high
achievers. Driving the E Class means you
are a few steps away from fully achieving
self-actualization.
With a Benz, you have no intention of be-
ing discreet. You want to stand out as you
enjoy the plush interior, stylish exterior
and powerful engines. When I tested the
E220 CDI a couple of years ago, what
impressed the most was the urgent power
delivery from the diesel-powered engine.
It was quick and purposeful. Via its five-
speed gearbox it made hasty progress on
an open road devouring the competition
with little effort. Mercedes Benz offers a
great well-rounded package with sumptu-
ous leather interiors. Everything in this
vehicle is premium, from the plastics,
fluffy floor mats to the soft headlining.
While this vehicle is the top pick for
people in search of an affordable pre-
mium vehicle, the new 2017 E class made
its entry into to the market late last year.
What makes Mercedes so attractive to
both used and new car buyers is the wide
choice of engines and trim. You get eve-
rything from high-performance V6 and
V8 engines to fuel sipping four-cylinder
units. The model I am considering has a