Before you buy a UD PK Truck in Uganda

by Edwin

The Nissan Diesel Condor is a line of medium-duty commercial vehicle produced by Nissan Diesel (now UD Trucks), first introduced in 1975. The range was primarily available in other big-size and mid-size trucks.
Most mid-size and big-size models of the truck are distinguishable by a front 'Condor' badge, but the common Nissan Diesel or UD badge is usually used on the rear.

Buying foreign used UD PK Truck from a local car bond in Uganda

In case you choose to buy a foreign used truck from a car bond makes life a lot easier to acquire yourself a vehicle. There is basically no need to go to Japan or order for the vehicle from Japan or any other part of the world. In short one just walks to the car bond and arrange for a purchase and within a short time, the car is paid for and handled over to you as the owner.

However, you can also find that some trucks have only cleared the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) fees only. So it would mean that if you want a UD Truck then you will have to clear the rest of the taxes. You can find the CIF of the UD Truck (that’s up Kampala from Japan) to be around $ 42,000 or more for latest models in very good condition.

However, the cost of the CIF can change due to year of manufacture, condition of the car, mileage and the dealer. Now the UD Truck is more expensive as compared to most the cars we have discussed. In general, the UD Truck can cost you around UGX 120,000,000 or even more for a premium class.

Click here to buy a UD PK Truck or UD PK Truck spare parts in Uganda

Importing a foreign used UD PK Truck from Japan

Now this is different from buying from car from the car bond here in Kampala. Some people prefer to import their own cars directly from Japan or from any other part of the world. You have to follow a procedure similar to the one stated below.

Search and select vehicle to buy from Japanese Used Car Portal Websites. Send Inquiry for price, condition, etc of the truck. The Japanese Dealers will respond you directly by Email.

Watch out for fake e-mails as many scams may con you for money. After that you negotiate with the Japanese dealer for a conducive price that fits your budget.

Request for a proforma invoice, place your order and make payment which may be either through bank wire or VISA. The seller will inform you about the following things like the Payment Confirmation, Shipping Schedule, B/L copy, Original Document and then you receive the order in this case the truck.

General UD PK Truck reviews

Engine
With an all-new 7-litre engine replacing the Hino-sourced 7.7-litre unit in the superseded models, says the GH7 engine was designed in-house and offers more power and torque than the engine it replaces. In its 250 guise, the PK it offers peak power of 208kW and 883Nm, with UD Trucks claiming an approximately 10 per cent better fuel economy, with a DEF consumption of 4 per cent.

Transmission
The well-sorted Allison automatics proved to be every bit as good as expected, providing smooth shifts even under full acceleration. UD has put in plenty of work with the American-based transmission specialist across its entire truck range and it shows in how easily the driveline mates together in operations.

It also allows the excellent exhaust braking of the new motors to shine through, accompanied by the sibilant hiss that lets the driver know when the engine is off-throttle.

Click here to buy a UD PK Truck or UD PK Truck spare parts in Uganda

Cab and Controls
While there was plenty of work on the chassis design, the Condor cabs also underwent a redesign, with an 8-degree change in the windscreen rake creating an additional 25mm of leg room and 45mm more overall cab length.

The PK has a maximum gap of 430mm, with both models offering a lower first step height than competing Japanese trucks.

The other key improvement for the new model is the addition of fixed three-point ingress and egress handles, ensuring the trucks meets occupational health and safety guidelines, with a grab-handle mounted on the A and B pillars, doors that open to 90 degrees and low-mounted steps on both models.

Performance
With two levels of tune available from the all-new GH7 engine, a 7-litre in-line six developed completely in-house by UD is so good it has been earmarked to appear in future Volvo offerings, most likely going into Middle East markets and Africa.

Unlike some of its competitors that are still being refined after entering service, the new PK is complete and ready to go to work, and provide a superior feel to other models.

The steering is well-weighted, not requiring excessive effort to turn the large wheel, while dead spots have been eliminated so that even a slight turn produces a predictable result at the front wheels.

Similarly, the suspension and ride were impressive, with even the worst bumps on some atrocious country roads, perhaps chosen for this reason, never threatening to send the trucks spearing off into the countryside.

Click here to buy a UD PK Truck or UD PK Truck spare parts in Uganda

Alternatives of UD PK Truck in Uganda

We have the Mitsubishi Canter Fuso, Isuzu Dyna, Mitsubishi Fighter as the major competitors or alternatives in Uganda.

Availability of the UD PK Truck spare parts in Uganda

The UD PK Truck spares are available in Uganda. It’s good to note that many auto-spare traders are importing spares from Japan and china. This in the long run helps UD PK truck owners access spares with a lot of ease. However it is also important to note that UD PK Trucks are not common trucks in Uganda. You don’t find many on the UD PK Trucks on the roads of Uganda.

Reasons why people buy the UD PK Truck in Uganda

UD PK Trucks are mainly bought transportation of goods from one point to another. Business people who deal with daily supplies have found the UD PK truck conducive for the job.

Click here to buy a UD PK Truck or UD PK Truck spare parts in Uganda

Our verdict

As was repeated many times during the launch of the truck, UD is keen on cementing its place in the market and then moving forward with 'conquest' sales to take ground from their competitors.

Haven't yet found what you Want...?

If you haven't yet found what you were looking for or you need detailed information about the subject matter on this page then... feel free to ask our business travel consultants.