Blindly shopping for a car

We have been looking for a car. Combing the newspapers and asking for referrals from expat friends here. We wanted a RAV4, enough room for the two of us and a guest but also reasonable fuel efficiency (gas is about $6.30/gallon) and 4-wheel drive when you need it. But also glancing wistfully at the Land Cruisers. Land Cruisers are the typical African vehicle. Because of this, they are in high demand and hold their value well. Even from the early 2000's and 1990's they easily sell for $15-25k. So, most are out of our price range, we just look wistfully at the pictures and continue to pore over the RAV4's.

But, 2 weeks ago we got an early tip from a co-worker about a Land Cruiser Prado just at the top of our price range! It was to be advertised the following week. We were both cautiously hopeful, but figured there must be something wrong with it for them to be selling it in our price range. Darryl takes it for a test drive and really likes it! So, we decide to take it to a local mechanic to look it over. Darryl asks around and finds a guy with a good reputation and sets up a time for the inspection. However, when he arrives with the Land Cruiser and seller, the shop owner isn't there. He answers by phone to say he won't be back all afternoon, (he had a doctors appointment), but assures Darryl his trusted assistant can inspect the car.  Darryl eagerly sets off to find the assistant manager.  "Bob" is an older gentleman, seated in the employee lounge and after explaining the situation, the associate mechanic takes Bob by the arm and leads him toward the door.
 Because Bob is completely blind.
A blind auto mechanic. We have potentially thousands of dollars on the line and the engine is to be inspected by a blind man.   Um, sure. What could go wrong?

Bob was led to the vehicle.  He got in and worked the gearshift through all the gears.  He felt the brakes and steering.  Then he started the car, felt the dashboard, felt the steering again, then listened to the engine. He felt the engine block. He leaned in and listened to different areas in the engine bay.  He kept one hand on the valve cover and methodically felt various engine components.  He wiggled things, he removed filler caps and dipsticks and listened at the openings.  And then declared that the car was fine.  He said it sounded great for a vehicle with 190,000+ kilometers.  He explained that this model has a timing chain instead of a timing belt, and that it should be good for at least another 100,000 kilometers, and that we should probably have a thorough tune-up about that time anyway.  He finished by saying that he couldn't comment on the bodywork, but the vehicle is mechanically sound.  But, do you really trust a blind mechanic?  Is it true that when you lose your sight, your hearing gets better?   We told our friend Luc who said, "That's Bob!  He really creeps me out.  I take my car there and I've seen him diagnose a car after listening to it pull into the driveway, and he was right!"

...So we bargained for a good price (and got a little help from our parents) and decided to pray about it and see. Darryl felt that it was the right car...so within two days, we bought it!  And yes, we had a knowledgeable friend "look" at it also.  It's a base model, without a lot of extra bells and whistles to give out in harsh conditions.  Manual  transmission, manual locking hubs, manual window cranks and locks. It just runs and runs, and it has A/C!  In other words, the perfect African bush vehicle.  Seems a shame we live in the city.

It will be sooo good to have our own transportation to the store, to the gov't hospital, to Malamulo Hospital, and, of course, out on Safari. It can seat 10 people! It would be tight...but the Haytons all fit in the back when they stopped by for a visit.....so if you put three each in the two front rows, and all the kids on the back benches (and had no luggage), then 10 would fit!  Now if only we can learn to shift left-handed.