My elder sister is about making a choice of another Tokunbo Car. She wants something cosy, elegant and cool. She has a choice to make between 2015 Highlander and 2015 Ford Edge. In terms of price, the ford is about 3 million naira cheaper than the highlander, I am of the view that the difference could be invested in her business, I'm taking side with the ford. I think it meets her requirements of being cozy, elegant and cool while I see the highlander as overpriced. That's me anyway. My sister have inspected the two and she fell in love with both, she is therefore looking up to my decision. The money is not going to be her problem even though her business could receive a boost with an injection of a 3 million naira. I don't know much about maintenance for the ford but I see so many people driving it around here, very clean and beautiful. Please guys, are there reasons why I should advise her to go for the more costly highlander and leave the ford?
Thank you all.

Ford = Finer,classier,more options but higher cost of maintenance as parts and technical support are less common.

Highlander, of course.

In terms of being roomy, Ford edge is better

In body length Highlander is a bit longer

Ford Edge have a more beautiful dash board, my opinion though Highlander isn't bad too

In engine size, Ford edge has 2.0L i4 engine while Highlander has 2.7L i4 engine. Ford edge also carries the 2.7L V6 while Highlander carries 3.5L V6

In performance i.e. power, ford edge produces more power than Highlander

In fuel economy, Ford edge performs better

In interior designs, ford edge is more beautiful

In exterior shape, Highlander is better

In pricing, ford edge is cheaper than Highlander

Above all, in availability of spare parts, Highlander being Toyota have its parts available in all parts of Nigeria while ford edge will often take you to Lagos or the big cities. For instance I live in Akure, my pastor who drives 2012 Ford Explorer sometimes have to wait for 2 or 3 days before he can get minor parts fixed since he has to wait for the part to be bought and sent from Lagos. I think cost of maintenance may be higher because of this.

Issue of availability of competent mechanics have been settled with many automated auto technicians now springing up in many state capitals and other cities and towns.

Overall, I personally will choose the Ford edge over the Highlander so as to save up to 4 million naira in cost and since it won't be my only car.

Since your sister can afford to buy either of the two, let her go for the Ford, she won't have issues with maintenance. Toyota cars have a way of becoming boring with frequent use especially when you realise that its so common in your area.

If you sister's business will be better with the N3 m
keep using the one you have and put all the money you made from your business back in it.
If you have to buy a new car go test drive and buy the one you like and the one that makes the most financial sense

For a start, 3 million naira cannot and will not buy that that 2015 Highlander. That's just enough to clear the car with some change.

If you drive a car that is not so common, you will have to source for solutions to problems that are not so common. Highlander would be your best bet if you are outside big cities like lagos, abj, kaduna, onitsha etc. Imagine waiting for 3 days for something like a cooling fan or brake pads.

In terms of looks, I'd say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Someone designed pontiac aztec and thought it was beautiful .

I'm not in support of herd mentality but there is a reason people go with the herd and they are often right.

If it's going to be her only car, I'd suggest the Highlander.

Personally, I'd go with the Highlander. They are everywhere, parts abound, mechanics abound. You see some of those fancy mechanic workshops that have sprung up in some big cities, forget them oo. By the time some of them are done with you, you will wish you went to kabiru. Last last, they will call one guru from Abuja or lagos to work on the car and still charge you for calling in the "expert".

The choice is yours though.

Toyota Highlander all the way.. ease of repair, access to mechanics and spare parts..

9icetoo:
For a start, 3 million naira cannot and will not buy that that 2015 Highlander. That's just enough to clear the car with some change.

If you drive a car that is not so common, you will have to source for solutions to problems that are not so common. Highlander would be your best bet if you are outside big cities like lagos, abj, kaduna, onitsha etc. Imagine waiting for 3 days for something like a cooling fan or brake pads.

In terms of looks, I'd say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Someone designed pontiac aztec and thought it was beautiful .

I'm not in support of herd mentality but there is a reason people go with the herd and they are often right.

If it's going to be her only car, I'd suggest the Highlander.

Personally, I'd go with the Highlander. They are everywhere, parts abound, mechanics abound. You see some of those fancy mechanic workshops that have sprung up in some big cities, forget them oo. By the time some of them are done with you, you will wish you went to kabiru. Last last, they will call one guru from Abuja or lagos to work on the car and still charge you for calling in the "expert".

The choice is yours though.

he meant the Edge was N3m cheaper than Highlander.
Why do you think you will need a cooling fan?
Maintenance parts are shared by different brands

If the N3m difference is not a problem as you stated, your sister should go for the highlander for reasons mentioned above.

9icetoo:
For a start, 3 million naira cannot and will not buy that that 2015 Highlander. That's just enough to clear the car with some change.

If you drive a car that is not so common, you will have to source for solutions to problems that are not so common. Highlander would be your best bet if you are outside big cities like lagos, abj, kaduna, onitsha etc. Imagine waiting for 3 days for something like a cooling fan or brake pads.

In terms of looks, I'd say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Someone designed pontiac aztec and thought it was beautiful .

I'm not in support of herd mentality but there is a reason people go with the herd and they are often right.

If it's going to be her only car, I'd suggest the Highlander.

Personally, I'd go with the Highlander. They are everywhere, parts abound, mechanics abound. You see some of those fancy mechanic workshops that have sprung up in some big cities, forget them oo. By the time some of them are done with you, you will wish you went to kabiru. Last last, they will call one guru from Abuja or lagos to work on the car and still charge you for calling in the "expert".

The choice is yours though.

Read the post very well, I didn't say 3 million naira will buy 2015 highlander, I said the 2015 ford is 3 million naira cheaper than 2015 highlander

Thank you guys, she eventually decided on highlander too. Her husband prefer highlander even though he rides Benz GL 460, the same reasons given above formed the basis for her decision, thank you all.

sultaan:


he meant the Edge was N3m cheaper than Highlander.
Why do you think you will need a cooling fan?
Maintenance parts are shared by different brands

On the price, okay.
On the cooling fan, I just used a random part that is often replaced easily. Yeah, some cars share such parts with others.

wwwkaycom:
Read the post very well, I didn't say 3 million naira will buy 2015 highlander, I said the 2015 ford is 3 million naira cheaper than 2015 highlander

Okay. My bad. 3 million is a huge price difference.
If it's a second car, I'd go for the ford. If it's an only car, I'd go for the highlander. Still your choice to make.

@Op, if she hasn't made the jump yet, let her go for the Ford. She will thank you in the long run. For mechanics and parts, please reach out to Femtopford here on Nairaland. He is a great engineer and specialises on Ford cars and parts. With him, she can be rest assured that she won't have issues for parts and fixes.

Major issues with Ford only arises when mechanics with no idea of Ford uses Toyota/Honda idea to do try your luck on the car. Never ever give your Ford to a non-Ford specialist. If you must, let a specialist guide the person remotely or diagnose it first and then tell the mech what exactly they need to do.

let her get the highlander.Thank me in Two years time

Why not Honda? Pilot 2015?