The engine dies. “It’s the turbo,” I mutter to Chrissy. It had been whining a bit, but my mechanic said I shouldn’t worry. I should’ve worried. Woohoo! My wife, Chrissy, is in the passenger seat, our two little kids are in the back, and I am driving us out from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in our silver 1995 Isuzu KB280 turbodiesel double-cab 4WD bakkie.
We purchased the truck recently, for just $6,000 U.S.—a super deal on the market here. Despite having 500,000 kilometers on the clock, the diesel mechanic friend from whom we bought it assured us it had been rebuilt at 300,000, with more recent rear tyres, suspension, rally and reverse lights, wiring, a battery, and much more. What a pal!
Shortly after buying it, though, the diesel pump went…
