Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
“What are you smirking at? One of Gert’s dirty jokes?” asked Mbali from behind her computer screen.
We were both early at the office, she to fill in the dreaded half-yearly employment equity forms; I to catch up with the admin after a very enjoyable trip to the last Lamb Champs festival and made us both fall behind with the paperwork.
“No, I’m reading a prediction by this bloke, Mario Herger, who wrote a book titled The Last Driver’s License Holder Has Already Been Born. He recently warned the end of carmakers in Germany and the Unites States is now even closer, with the death blow coming from all-electric, self-driving cars.”
“How is that funny?” asked Mbali, who is a petrolhead to the bone, even competing in spinning festivals in her panel beater cousin’s old rear-wheel drive Toyota Conquest.
“He focusses on the West and ignores market realities in the rest of the world. Like how tomorrow’s consumers are right now growing up in sub-Saharan Africa, or how a driving licence is still the number two ambition among South African youth.”
“What is number one?” asked Mbali.
“A smartphone with unlimited data,” I replied absently as I scanned the rest of Herger’s prediction.
Toyota factories show how
“Aha, the good news for us Toyota drivers is that, according to Herger, the Japanese giant will escape the end of traditional carmakers because their global factories manufacture almost 20% more cars than its nearest rival, but with a third of the workforce.”
“So, if Toyota is going to be the last one standing, should I look at extending my warranty?” asked Mbali.
“Better check the fine print first. Didn’t your panel beater cousin add a plug-and-play chip to remap your engine?”
“Not yet, but I did check and under the ‘Special Exclusions’ for Toyota’s extended warranty, the company stipulates that the owner must pay for periodic adjusting of the engine tuning and electrical systems to achieve maximum economy, performance, and driving safety.
“If Toyota places the onus on the owner to pay for periodic adjusting of the engine tuning, then surely it means I can adjust my engine with a chip?”
“I think you missed the part where Toyota, like all manufacturers, warns that the warranty is void if the work is not done at a Toyota SA authorised dealer or service centre,” I told her as Gert barged into the office, intent on getting his first coffee.
Read more about the diesel-electric debate.
Remap at your own risk
“Sawubona, Gert,” said Mbali. “What do you think, should I chip my Toyota?”
“Only if it’s out of warranty and you don’t mind paying the high price of a reputable tuner for a bit more power and perhaps a little less fuel usage,” Gert growled from the office kitchenette. “But I don’t recommend it.
“Those aftermarket chips typically work by over-fuelling the engine with wide-open throttle settings for more power. Or they can save a little fuel by setting the nitrogen oxide sensor to allow more emissions. But nothing is for mahala. More power means reduced engine reliability and less fuel means more smog from your tailpipe.”
“I can add that none of the plug-and-play chips do the accelerated lifetime testing that Toyota does at its test track at Eston, near Durban,” I said.
“The results from those tests are what determines Toyota’s local factory settings, which in turn ensure that their vehicles are reliable on any of South Africa’s road surfaces and in all our different weather conditions. That is why they can offer warranties and the remappers can’t,” said Gert.
“So, my best advice to you is to buy a vehicle that will perform to your needs using its factory settings and if you don’t have a nice mechanic like me when the warranty expires, get the extended warranty for peace of mind.”
