Prime
Should I buy the Mazda Axela?
The Mazda Axela is available in both sedan and hatchback versions.
Is it okay for me to buy a Mazda Axela. Is it strong enough to withstand Ugandan standards?
Kaggwa. S
The Mazda Axela (Mazda 3) replaced the Mazda Demio in 2003, when it was launched in Japan. The Axela is a stylish and well-designed compact sports car which comes as a sedan or hatchback. The design and construction of this vehicle is backed by Mazda and Ford’s strong reputation for reliability and durability. This car has a sporty response to throttle and is fun to drive. The most ideal engine for our Ugandan mixed terrain and dual purpose driving (city and highway) is the 2.0 litre (1993cc). This power plant with multi point fuel injection and variable valve timing provides reasonable power (150 horse power) to guarantee quick acceleration (0-100kph in 9 seconds) and good fuel economy ( highway: 15.8 km per litre / city 9km per litre). The front wheel drive guarantees good steering on wet muddy terrain during the November rains. The front MacPherson strut independent suspension and the rear Ford designed multi-link suspension guarantee a stiff but firm road holding when you drive fast through potholes on the Ugandan highways and can traverse the portholes when you drive in the city outskirts. The regular engine service filters may be found with the universal parts sellers, however the lack of a reliable Mazda parts dealer means that you have to order the headlight or door panel from abroad when its broken.
Godfrey Kalikwira
There are a couple of factors that can cause a ‘hot engine hard start’ condition in your Toyota Corolla AE110 and they all have something to do with the engine ignition system. You need to suggest the following checks to your mechanic. Evaluate the tuning of the secondary ignition system: establish the condition of the ignition wires, the igniter, distributor cap and rotor. In case the car only makes a clicking sound without cranking (turning the engine) it will be necessary to establish the condition of the starter solenoid which uses a high voltage magnetic relay which fails to start when the engine is hot due to age or wear. Test the engine management system crankshaft position (CKP) sensor which uses a magnetic hall effect to read the engine speed and helps regulate the engine computer’s delivery of fuel. Due to wear or reduced magnetism, the CKP sensor sometimes fails to work when the engine is hot. This should catch the cause of the hard hot start.
Over time I developed interest in Harriers but my puzzle is that the ones I have come across have two types of engines thus 1MZ and 2AZ. So can you kindly advise me on which car to give me value for money in terms of reliability, durability and general performance?
Kauke
The popular first generation Toyota Harrier (1999-2003) comes with two engines. The bigger 1MZ-FE V shaped 3.0 litre (2,994cc) engine has six cylinders and 24 valves. The smaller 2AZ-FE straight line 2.4 litre (2,363cc) engine comes with four cylinders and 16 valves. On the maintenance front, both Harrier engines are reliable and durable if maintained periodically with recommended lubricants and genuine Toyota filters (oil, air or fuel). The 1MZ and 2AZ Toyota engines are particularly sensitive to oil and fuel quality because of their efficient multi valve layout (four valves per cylinder) and the Variable Valve Timing Intelligent (VVTi) engine valve train. Toyota recommends engine service with specific high grade oil blended with anti-oil sludge build up detergent chemicals. These engines ought to be fuelled with unleaded petrol which has detergent (cleaning) additives to prevent deposit build up on the intake valves. Fuel with detergent additives is available in Uganda today (Shell Fuel Save Unleaded and Shell V-Power) this helps to maintain the cleanliness of engine intake valves and prevents fuel wastage and poor performance often caused by the buildup of carbon or unburnt fuel deposits. The V shaped 1MZ engine uses slightly more engine oil and six more costly iridium tipped spark plugs, however if bought from a genuine Toyota parts dealer the ‘pricey’ spark plugs provide a longer service life and are suitable for high performance driving. On the performance platform Harrier’s bigger 1MZ-FE 3.0 litre engine takes the day with its higher engine output of 220 horse power and faster acceleration from 0-100 kilometres per hour in 7.3 seconds. This gives the 1MZ-FE engine a more effortless and quicker response to acceleration than the smaller and slower 2AZ-FE engine which delivers 159 horsepower and takes eight seconds to accelerate from 0-100 kilometres per hour. On the fuel economy platform the 2AZ-FE Harrier engine tips the scales with a better result as it uses one litre of petrol to travel 12.4 kilometres while the 1MZ-FE engine covers 10.2 kilometres per litre used. However it should be noted that fuel economy can be affected by the condition of the car tyres, status of the engine tuning or maintenance condition as well as your driving style (aggressive, hard braking, overloading, lengthy idling in traffic jams etc). On the whole, your own preference for a powerful engine performance (1MZ) or an economical cheaper to run around engine (2AZ) will determine which one gives you value for money.
