Korean Cars

[Drift]

Surely one can have a non-confrontationalist opinion without incurring the wrath of others. I have been berated on this forum for posting an opinion that another member (who should have known better) did not agree with. His tirade of accusations were in clear breach of the rules of this forum, yet he was permitted to get away with it. Maybe due to his standing???

Welcome to th Internet!

[Stuwey]

More to the point... Who cares what he/she/your neighbour/boss/cousin/priest/parole officer/mum drives?

Drive it well, don't do 50 in the RH lane, keep left unless overtaking, don't cut me off, don't "not see me" on my motorbike, and all's well.

Deal?

[Ideo]

More to the point... Who cares what he/she/your neighbour/boss/cousin/priest/parole officer/mum drives?

Drive it well, don't do 50 in the RH lane, keep left unless overtaking, don't cut me off, don't "not see me" on my motorbike, and all's well.

Deal?

This.

One of the best drives I have ever done was in a Suzuki Swift. Who cares if the interior plastics aren't that good quality? I had great roads, great company and the car was a surprise.

But then again being a motoring enthusiast is different to being a badge enthusiast. I will buy whatever is the best car that suits my needs and budgets.

[kaanage]

Anyone else here commenting from actual experience with driving Korean cars

Or is that too radical a notion?

[brimway]

Anyone else here commenting from actual experience with driving Korean cars

Or is that too radical a notion?

I’ve been driving Korean cars for the past 9 years (work related) and some stand out as absolutley awful eg Hyundai Accent, 07/08 Kia Rio and Kia Magentis and some that had terrible interiors eg Hyundai Tuscon.

Others were more memorable for being reliable, robust forms of transport eg Hyunadi Getz, Hyundai Sonata V6 and later V6 Kia Carnivals.


At the end of the day they all served one or more of the purposes for which they were sold, just some models better than others

For me, the Korean cars that I have had experience with, were pretty uninspiring. But the current crop of Kias may well represent the dawning of a new era in Korean automotive success, they sure are starting to look the part.

[Ideo]

I rate most modern Korean cars as equal to or better than the equivalent Toyota to drive.

10 years from now they will be a significant force - all it will take is one Datsun 240Z equivalent.

[clip]

Anyone else here commenting from actual experience with driving Korean cars

Yes, 2007 Hyundia Getz (ex father in-law). Set back front wheel drive cars about 20 years, no make that 40 years (I'd prefer an Austin 1800 to one of those). 2005 V6 Sonata (ex parnter), heavy on fuel, no performance, head problems and electrical gremlins causing no start issues. 2004 Kia Sportage (me- as a second runaround, stupidly bought it off a mate). Poor fuel economy, no performance, no handling (I'd even get car sick driving it around the twisties) but at least practical. Paint peeled off after 4 years, interior fell apart, ABS problems, power window failure, air con failure. 2010 Hyundia i45 (work car), noisy ride, no handling, unrefined breathless engine, poor interior quality, bad ergos, but plenty of bling inside and lots of people mistake them for a three pointed star German car (go figure).

I liken them to Lucky Goldstar products (LG doesn't really stand for "Life's Good")- look great when new and seem to be as good as other brands. Thirteen months later, you're wishing you had taken out the $120 extended warranty or bought another brand, because it won't switch on or off, it leaks, makes strange noises or just doesn't work as it should.

But all just MHO from my experiences.

[Corey_R]

I rate most modern Korean cars as equal to or better than the equivalent Toyota to drive.

So true! Toyota have been very complacent imo

I liken them to Lucky Goldstar products (LG doesn't really stand for "Life's Good")- look great when new and seem to be as good as other brands. Thirteen months later, you're wishing you had taken out the $120 extended warranty or bought another brand, because it won't switch on or off, it leaks, makes strange noises or just doesn't work as it should.

heh - I've very bad memories of Lucky Goldstar products from my childhood... including being able to walk through a wall of my house...

...created by one of their electric heaters! hehe

[Stuwey]

Yes, 2007 Hyundia Getz (ex father in-law). Set back front wheel drive cars about 20 years, no make that 40 years (I'd prefer an Austin 1800 to one of those). 2005 V6 Sonata (ex parnter), heavy on fuel, no performance, head problems and electrical gremlins causing no start issues. 2004 Kia Sportage (me- as a second runaround, stupidly bought it off a mate). Poor fuel economy, no performance, no handling (I'd even get car sick driving it around the twisties) but at least practical. Paint peeled off after 4 years, interior fell apart, ABS problems, power window failure, air con failure. 2010 Hyundia i45 (work car), noisy ride, no handling, unrefined breathless engine, poor interior quality, bad ergos, but plenty of bling inside and lots of people mistake them for a three pointed star German car (go figure).

Sounds like my Polo. Purchased new, 60,000kms in three years. In that time it has had three window regulators (two-door car don't forget) Gearbox out three times, two sets of engine mounts, all suspension bushings, about five headlight globes, a set of LH door hinges, a new glovebox lid (to fix a rattle) and I've replaced the seats, soon the steering wheel and relocate the shifter because I can't get comfortable.

The girlfriend wants a Golf R, but I'm not sure i'd let her buy one after the troubles i've had with mine, not to mention an incompetent dealer who couldn't fix a leaking tap Iftheir life depended on it.

One tickled Honda Jazz or MX-5 please.

[philthy]

In the last few years I've had sonata v6, getz and elantra hire cars.. I'd rate the sonata as nicer to drive than a Camry and the elantra on par with a corolla.. The Getz I had went ok, but had awful rock hard seats. Would be happy to drive the sonata or elantra as a daily.

[hooba]

Sounds like my Polo. Purchased new, 60,000kms in three years. In that time it has had three window regulators (two-door car don't forget) Gearbox out three times, two sets of engine mounts, all suspension bushings, about five headlight globes, a set of LH door hinges, a new glovebox lid (to fix a rattle) and I've replaced the seats, soon the steering wheel and relocate the shifter because I can't get comfortable.

After a mini, I bet you'd rate that as pretty reliable no?

[Stuwey]

Yes and no. At least if (when) the minis used to break you could fix it yourself in under an hour, with basic tools. Whilst the GTI is much faster, it's no fun. It lacks a soul.

They also didn't cost me 27k, and they were all far from new cars.

[kaanage]

Nice to know that not all of the comments on this thread are based on hearsay, looks and conjecture.

I see that the Kia Rio has won this year's CarGuide COTY - Kia Rio wins Carsguide Car of the Year 2011

That said, the i30 won it a few years ago and have never been so happy to hand back the keys to a hire car. My wife, who sees cars as appliances, said that it was a really crappy car and is willing to look into spending more on car hire in the future (we saw EuropCar VWs everywhere).

The Sonata that we hired a couple of years ago, while bland, was a far more pleasant car to spend time in, especially on highways and country roads.

[craig_the_german]

Hi all,

I am going to probably be shot down in flames here but I have in my garage at the moment my much loved and cherished MK6 Golf in all of it's turbocharged German goodness and a brand new Korean built Holden Barina.

The VW will always take pride of place but when looking for a car that I will sit in at idle in city traffic, not get over 80km/h during my commute (if I am really lucky) park in the sun, rain/hail everyday waiting for someone to open their door onto it...I simply could not justify the price difference between the Barina and the nearest comparable VW.

The difference in price was at least $8000 to the Polo and it ended up being less than half the price I paid for my Golf.

I could actually by 2 x Barinas for what I paid for the VW (and it's only a 90TSI) so it is all horses for courses.

We all love our Euro cars but the other makes have their place.

No the Korean built Barina is not even close in fit and finish, quality of materials and general overal "feel" to that of the VW but for half the price you wouldn't expect it to be.