Buying A Used Car in Gaborone-Stranger Than Fiction

(Jon's Narration)

Our New "Ride": note the spoiler!

We purchased our present car, a 1998 Toyota Saloon (=Corolla), before leaving the US from a former Fulbright and, after a long series of mishaps, finally got it functioning and on the road and us in the drivers’ seat on the wrong side of the road.  Around town, the car was "okay", although we would scrape and bang the bottom of the car on the gargantuan speed bumps installed to slow traffic on many of the major roads.  And each time we went out to the wilds, “low-rider” car prevented us from going some places and made other trips arduous as we crept over humps, gullies and washboard stretches.  If you’ve been reading this blog, you know about our “road from hell” when we went to the Limpopo. 

So one morning we drove over to Mogodishane where many of the used car dealers lurk.  Mogodishane is a former village that is now part of the growing burbs of Gaborone, and is located on the main road to Molepolole. The road is quite literally one big construction project, so that accessing businesses along the road entails driving around on ragged, rutted dirt access roads between the storefronts and the construction with orange cones, concrete barriers, and construction equipment and debris scattered everywhere.  The intersections have no functioning lights yet and people just take turns pulling out.  We were informed how the electrical people lay wires, the carpet (pavement) is laid down, then the water people come and tear it all up and lay pipe and carpet is laid down, and repeat...


This country is the size of Texas and has 2 million people so many things are very spread out with dusty barren lots all over.  Used car lots are an exception, however.  As many cars as possible are jammed onto tiny lots surrounded by razorwire-topped fences.    Because none of the cars have batteries in them, getting a vehicle out involves a long process of moving batteries and juggling vehicles around, and all is done at maximum leisure.  The first place we stopped at was “Auto Lanka”.  We had heard that the used car industry in Botswana was run by Sri Lankan's and this indeed seems to be the case, although they employ many Motswana's too.  We looked around at some 10-14 year old Toyota’s, Honda’s and Mitsubishi’s and what not.  The Sri Lankan guys were very friendly and helpful.  We liked a 2-door Pajero there, although we usually prefer 4-doors.  It was in good shape and we were happy with the smaller size as most of the 4WD vehicles here are either huge or very tiny (i.e. a Toyota Hilux which is basically Toyota Forerunner OR a RAV4 Mini).  These used cars are shipped from Japan and Singapore at about ten years old to supply the African market are are purchased in huge lots at auctions by Sri Lankans -- "globalization".  


We then went on and visited 6 or 8 more lots.  Reception varied.  If Motswana were there to greet us, the reception was mellow to the extreme or you could say none at all.  If we did manage to engage somebody, we were told that every used vehicle we asked about was a 1998 and it may or may not be an automatic, have 4-wheel drive, etc.   If Sri Lankan's were around, we may be feted and supplied with all kinds of information, or it was made clear up front that there was no interest in selling a car at this time.  Stock was random and limited and our favorite continued to be the 2-door Pajero.  We never did feel like we were going to get swindled and were not subjected to heavy pressure or manipulation unlike used car lots in other countries...  It was hot and we were sick of it (we do not go car shopping for entertainment).  We went to a restaurant right there called “The Hot Curry”, which had the same old beef stew or fried chicken and mealie-meal, BUT it actually had a another food item in this case:  roti... so we shared that along with some guava juice-the saving grace of Batswana cuisine.  

Auto Lanka

So we mulled it over for some days and then called up “Auto Lanka” and said we’d like to drive the Pajero over to an auto garage called “Superformance” (NOT a MIS-spelling) recommended by Pat and Karin.  When we arrived at Auto Lanka, the Pajero wasn’t ready but after hanging out for an imponderable amount of time during which enough people had wandered around, chatted, and hung out; enough batteries were switched around and vehicles wedged hither and thither; and then the Pajero was accessible.  One of the Sri Lankan guys came with us.  Superformance was across town giving ample opportunity for the test drive.  Our passenger was chatty so we discussed Kandy (his hometown and a memorable place): he’s homesick, and Botswana food is really-really rough for Sri Lankan's.   The approach to Superformance was a long line of cars wedged into a narrow road with a garage area totally packed with cars.  Leon, the proprietor of Superformance has a strong Afrikaans accent and likes to talk.  He really-really knows these vehicles and was favorable about the Pajero (although the 50,00km on the odometer was way-way too low) and then rambled on about all the issues with these vehicles, shady garages, etc.  A character.  His garage is jam packed with vehicles because of unpaid repair bills -- Leon has had some vehicles on his lot for seven years.  Nothing can be done with these vehicles.  

We returned to Auto Lanka and discussed the cash.  Not being a hardcore negotiator, I was happy with the price and Leon had said it was a fair price.  Of course the money would be wired to Rainbow (Pty) Ltd, which did not inspire confidence.  But the dealers were nice enough and offered us a 3-month warranty on the car, unlike any of the other dealers we visited.

Washing the Pajero before we drove it away-with our car salesman overseeing the operation in the background.

Just calling up the bank that evening to set up the transfer (and being put on hold) emptied the phone of Pula in no-time at all.  We then went away on a 4-day camping trip and when we returned found out that the money transfer had been successful.  We took a taxi out to Auto Lanka and the construction had moved on closing the access road.  After the initial standard requirement of a “Can you come back tomorrow?” upon our arrival, and our reply of “No!” (the taxi wait and taxi ride had been long), we got down the business.  The Pajero was already registered in our name and after we hung out for awhile and learned a little more about the life of a Sri Lankan in Botswana, the car was washed, plates were put on, a modicum of petrol was put into the empty tank and we were out of there.  There is actually a car manual and a GPS but they’re 100% Japanese with cute pictures.   We are excited by the spoiler on the roof (jeeps really need those) and in the back there is a 10cd player.  We’ll see if that works.  The vehicle is now at Superformance getting an aftermarket cooling system which is way better than the one that comes with the vehicle according to Leon.  We also purchased insurance on the Pajero today -- this is our fifth insurance policy in Botswana -- woah!  Now we are going to sell the Saloon.  So all you potential visitors: we now have 4-wheel drive+clearance so we can visit some parks that were inaccessible before.  But you have got to bring your tent!