>The popularity of old 2nd hand mercs in Africa is a direct result of them being fairly easy to fix overengineered gear. No need for a laptop to diagnose it.
Labor is cheap relative to the materials in the 3rd world so they run things as long as they can get parts. What they actually use has more to do with how the second hand car market in the first world works than anything else. For vehicles to be prolific in the 3rd world they need to enter the dealer auction system en-masse at a young age but not young enough to be re-sold as certified pre-owned where they are then bought by exporters/importers. These preconditions basically mean they are bought en-masse by people (or companies) who will drive them 5-10yr and then trade them in on a new one which basically means they are bought en-masse by decently well off people. The stuff that people stretch themselves to buy and then keep until it's totally clapped out (or sell private party to maximize value) never enters that workflow.
>Labor is cheap relative to the materials in the 3rd world so they run things as long as they can get parts.
Don't think it's a function of that frankly.
I grew up in South Africa and the market down there is driven by a mentality you describe - cost consideration, pre-owned, access to parts, certifications etc. Stuff any westerner would be familiar with.
Head a bit further into ahem "proper" Africa and things changes very rapidly. e.g. My uncle living in Kenya reckoned that you could get a full transmission change done on the side of the road i.e. on gravel of the road shoulder (if it has one). That's where the old tank style mercs come into their own...anyone with mechanical aptitude and access to tools has a chance. Certified? Nobody fuckin cares - can you fix it in dust conditions with limited tools?
Labor is cheap relative to the materials in the 3rd world so they run things as long as they can get parts. What they actually use has more to do with how the second hand car market in the first world works than anything else. For vehicles to be prolific in the 3rd world they need to enter the dealer auction system en-masse at a young age but not young enough to be re-sold as certified pre-owned where they are then bought by exporters/importers. These preconditions basically mean they are bought en-masse by people (or companies) who will drive them 5-10yr and then trade them in on a new one which basically means they are bought en-masse by decently well off people. The stuff that people stretch themselves to buy and then keep until it's totally clapped out (or sell private party to maximize value) never enters that workflow.