Kenyans splurge on cars that say you’ve arrived

Magazines

The number of luxury cars on Kenyan roads is simply amazing. PHOTO | FILE 

By MICHAEL MWAI

In Summary

• The cars on this page are driven by people with a passion for luxury and speed, people for whom money is no object.

Today the world is a global marketplace where you can get anything and everything at the click of button. All you need do is pick up your smart phone, tablet or ‘phablet’ to access your bank account.

 

SHARE THIS STORY

0
inShare

Then start counting the digits at the bottom of the statement. If there are at least nine digits to the left of the decimal point, a smile should cross your face.

Now close your eyes and imagine yourself behind the wheel of any of the cars you see in this page. You can even go one better and contemplate owning a Rolls Royce, Bentley, or Maseratti Quattroporte.

You will not be the first as some Kenyans have already made these dreams valid. There is even a Maybach, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lamborghini on the road somewhere in this great country. These vehicles are driven by people with a passion for speed and luxury and for whom money is no object.

Cars like this are made to order and everything is customised for you when buying new. Prices vary depending on your choice.

With regards to power, you get standard engines and have the option to take it to an approved tuning house for extra grunt. For instance, the Ferrari California T features a V8 turbocharged engine that manages 412kW at 7500rm and a whooping torque of 755Nm at 4750rpm.

It is obviously frighteningly quick, reaching 100kph in 3.6 seconds and 200kph in 11.2 seconds. It manages a top speed of 320kph. Rarely will you need more than this.

Those extra zeroes in the bank balance also allow an elite few to airlift any of these vehicles for service every couple of years, or fly in the mechanics to do the necessary here.

I would honestly not recommend these vehicles for those whose bank balances do not elicit a grin as they do not come with the local support needed to make your driving experience worthwhile.

I called DT Dobie and inquired if they would support the Maybach. Yes, of course we can service, was the answer. If you want one, you will have to wait for the new Mercedes U Class in 2020 as the Maybach has been discontinued.

If you wanted the Rolls Royce Ghost or the sporty Wraith, you would need to speak to Bavaria Auto as it is a BMW product. They, however, do not have the tooling to service the car locally.

The local motor industry is going through its biggest change ever in the history of the country. There are mergers and acquisitions, takeovers and makeovers.

All this may be interesting, but not more than the number of new cars that are finding their way onto our roads. The biggest brands are heading this way in pursuit of oil money and a booming economy.

The most notable new entrant is Porsche which has found a home at the Sameer Business Park. Range Rover changed hands about a year ago and now is managed by RMA.

BMW is doing well at Bavaria Auto under the Simba Corporation. Big changes also at DT Dobie who took over Volkswagen and lost the Nissan franchise to AMH Group. They still have Mercedes, though. But enough of that corporate talk