Warning: Buying and Driving a Toyota Vitz or Platz in Pakistan

Many potential car buyers in Pakistan prefer to spend their hard earned cash on cars imported from Japan. The Japanese take better care of their cars than the locals do, and the climate in Japan is not as harsh on vehicles as the climate of the subcontinent. In many cases it is wise to buy cars manufactured in other parts of Asia, as you can assume the quality is higher than locally manufactured models.

That said, there are some major drawbacks you should know if considering buying a Toyota Vitz or Platz in Pakistan.

Low Clearance

These cars were made for city driving in Japan, not in Pakistan. Speed bump engineers have some learning to do, as many speed bumps are too high or made it such a way that they can damage your car. These two models have lower clearance than most other vehicles on Pakistan's roads. As a result, they take the worst beating from speedbumps, potholes, and generally bad road conditions. It is also extremely dangerous to drive these vehicles in the rainy season (July to September), as the low clearance makes flooding and electrical damage more likely. You will also have trouble on some of the steeper driveways in big cities.

Driving these cars off the beaten path is certainly not advisable. Perhaps the stupidest decision I have made in my entire life was to drive a Toyota Vitz up the Karakoram Highway to Karimabad. It took three days driving during daylight hours, and the car did not fare well in landslide zones. Suzuki Mehrans and Corollas may be able to zip and bump along on mountain roads, a Vitz or a Platz can not.

Not Compatible with CNG

Local mechanics will not fit these cars for use with Certified Natural Gas (CNG). That means you'll always have to drive on petrol which currently costs ten times as much as CNG. This makes these mid-range cars very expensive to run for your average use. Most more expensive city cars, including the Honda City, are compatible with CNG kits.

Poor Fuel Quality = Pollution Machine