Mercedes diesel at high altitude

[CuriouserGeorge]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

Perhaps you might want to do a bit more research into what vehicles are common and serviced in your destination before buying one here for shipment.
I'm assuming that the roads at your destination may not be up to the standards of USA or Europe, and you might want to look at diesel fueled SUV's or small pick-up trucks ....

I can tell you in one word what the car-maker of choice is: Toyota! The other major Japanese manufacturers are represented as well, and most (if not all) of these vehicles are used, purchased out-of-country, and brought into Ethiopia. It's quite possible that I could pick up a used Toyota there, but I'm worried that the quality would be less than what can be purchased here. In that sense, it's better to know what I'm shipping, than to arrive on station and have to pick from what's available. I have also considered not buying anything and simply walking/biking to work, but apparently a vehicle is considered a necessity.

Yes, the streets of Addis are used for every form and type of conveyance, and it's predicted that I will average two collisions per year! This number includes pedestrians, which is a rather sobering thought. Hopefully the area that I'll be working/living in will be less congested than most of the city and my odds of collision will therefore be less. Whatever vehicle I end up shipping will be based on price, reliability, availability of repair, and potential re-sale when I leave. It's less certain now that I'll be shipping a MB diesel, but at the very least I've learned a lot about them in this forum! Again, thanks so much for benefiting me with your experience and knowledge.