Eric Mweni

Stories from Eric Mweni

Lifan 520
2009 Chinese Year of the Ox
Eric Mweni
Friday, January 30th, 2009
The classic war treatise Art of War has 13 chapters, each devoted to one aspect of warfare. The aspects have been applied in modern business and military ventures, often with tremendous results. They include laying plans, waging war, attack by stratagem, manoeuvring and energy. These are being stealthy employed by Chinese car makers to break into a market dominated by Japanese and European cars. ERIC MWENI hopped from Dong Feng to Foton, Haojing to GWM, and brings you this report on Chinese motor vehicles in Kenya.   
Chevy Biscayne
Why this Biscayne takes the Biscuit
Eric Mweni
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
Take my word. You’ve a better chance at getting hold of one of Picasso's chef d’œuvres  than this car. It’s that rare. Made in the US by General Motors, it’s probably the only RIGHT HAND DRIVE 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne this side of the world . Old it is, writes ERIC MWENI, but start the engine and it’s like a rottweiler on a fraying leash!
Mitsubishi Pajero IO
D-4 vs GDI - Pajero IO
Eric Mweni
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
There is often something good about a car that motorists in the used car market rush for in droves. It may be the status the car projects, performance or pricing. The Pajero iO seemed to aptly serve these three.
Toyota RAV4
D-4 vs GDI - RAV4
Eric Mweni
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
Two dominant players in the lifestyle market; two locally loathed engines. ERIC MWENI went bundu bashing and highway plunking with the Toyota Rav 4 (D-4) and Pajero iO (GDI) and tells you which is the lesser evil.
Toyota Vitz
The Penny Pinchers pt2
Eric Mweni
Sunday, November 30th, 2008
Riding on Toyota brand heritage of reliability, the Vitz has become one of the hottest selling superminis in the used car market today. It’s synonymous with fuel economy thanks to its VVTi engine ranges –1,000CC, 1300CC and 1,500CC).
Penny Pinchers
The Penny Pinchers
Eric Mweni
Sunday, November 30th, 2008
In this era of high fuel prices, used cars on Kenyan roads are going small. Our writer ERIC MWENI goes behind the wheel of three nippy, smart and practical superminis to tell you where you should put your money.
Alarms
Alarm Over Alarms
Eric Mweni
Friday, October 31st, 2008

When Henry Mwakio wanted to ­ fit an alarm in his newly-acquired Toyota Mark II, he called a friend who suggested a mechanic in downtown Nairobi. The mechanic’s quote was cheaper than what he was getting elsewhere and he could use him to save a few hundred shillings. “I bought the alarm elsewhere and took it to him for ­ fitting,” recalls the IT Technician, who does not hide his preference for shortcuts, whether in servicing his car or beating the traffic.

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