@factony, my first car was a GDI, a real beauty. Pimped it up with a dvd player/ tv screen, 600 watt amp. with a Boschman equalizer,Sony explode speakers cool rims - the works!It was a mobile theater to all intents and purposes...

Just before purchasing it,there was a lot of discouragement from all sorts of pips, saying it was a troublesome car, the GDI engine was not suited for Africa,was a failure, was being dumped in Africa,etc. Looking for hard solid facts, I researched extensively on the web, spoke to motoring experts (emailed sunday nation columnist, Gavin Bennet)on the GDI engine, spoke 4 folks who had owned the car before and for sometime and even went to Simba Colt (they make the Mit Galant saloon) at KICC during Total Motor exhibition, asking all these pips what exactly, specifically, was wrong with the GDI car. NOBODY,repeat NOBODY, could point out any specific issue, it was clearly a perception issue in a Toyota-crazy Kenya. Some 'expert' told me the petrol coming to Kenya has a high sulphur content than for Japan (which is true)and this would wreck the engine esp. when it reached 3000rpm...but 4 years later the Galant was still to give me 12km/ltr on a 1803cc engine.

In fact I came to learn its Galant/ Legnum (its station wagon version)was actually declared the car of the year in Japan in 1996-1997!! Confirm this at http://media.mitsubishi-...rporate/detail1553.html

The GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) technology is what most pips didn't understand. This was the first GDI car in Kenya. And pips fear and shun what they don't understand. GDI is a kind of fuel injection system that helps cars attain fuel efficiency and high power, and is a technology that has since been adopted widely by VW (in 2000, FORD (2001), BMW 2003,etc.
go to http://en.wikipedia.org/...soline_direct_injection for more facts wachana na domo domo za watu.

So I bought the GDI.
4 yrs later I can wholly truthfully tell u the car has never ever caused me a major issue. Absolutely no regrets.

The key to GDI is maintenance. Engine oil, strictly use synthetic oil. I have been using Mobil 1 exclusively. Do the service on time and change oil/and air filters as part of normal service.

The only drawback is resale value which is low coz of this Toyota-craze. Spare parts are avaialbale at Rising Sun -Grogan, Baricho Rd,etc.

Intelligentsia.... 2 words

1. Thanks
2. WOW!!

Kindly also consider sharing the details of your mechanic... the last guy i had has just managed to wreck (pardon me) a Toyota...

I was glad to be ditching Toyota... 1 week before the recall...

@ fantony
For service go to Josim Nbi West.
For diagnostics I never had a problem so wouldn't know one! By u can ask them to refer you to one or...try the starter of this thread if proven satisfactory.

Guys can pour out all manner of facts on the GDI engine....One fact remains, its a "sumbua" engine n only very few guys can repair it correctly, xpensive parts aside.....I have seen more ruined than gud ones n I can never touch it, EVER! Msitudanganye, u r the lucky FEW!

@Kabz @McReggae - kila mtu na dawa yake :)

I know some of the parts are 'expensive' parts - but that is a matter of perspective - expensive one time but lasts a long time.

The O2 sensor for the D4 that costs about 22k @ Toyota EA -> but is replaced very rarely so it's not stocked locally - incidentally I replaced mine at 13k. As indicated earlier in the thread - all modern cars have sensors all over that cost money to replace.

If you cannot manage to regularly service a GDI type engine - put in the proper parts or prefer to give it to any mech that is just experimenting - I'd say it will give u problems.

Proper Plugs, Oil, Fuel and you're sorted.