What Are You Driving ?

[Rustpot]

There was a Chevrolet Spark parked next to me at work this morning (UK Chevys are rebadged Daewoos rather than a US model). I don't normally pay attention to dull anonymous hatches but this one had a feature that leapt out at me.

The dash.

Absolutely shocking, real no expense incurred stuff. That's a photo from the internet by the way, I didn't break in to photograph it...

People want cheap cars. A-to-B transportation at minimal expense. They gotta skimp somewhere.

I remember a girlfriend in highschool whose dad got a Kia. Solid car, drove well, but holy crap you could literally see where they cut corners to keep that thing cheap.

 

[THE X-MAN]

I despise hybrid and electric cars, for me it's about the journey not the destination ....I like driving

 

[SMman]

The dash in the Spark is supposed to resemble a motorcycle gauge cluster but it certainly does look cheap. My Honda van was in for a recall and they rented me a little Mitsubishi Mirage for a week. Its a little crap box but I must say I was impressed for what it is. It had bluetooth, all power options, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, A/C, etc, and great fuel mileage with that 74hp 1.2L 3 cylinder engine (my motorcyle has 150hp!). I am actually considering a small car for my next purchase; Mazda2, Toyota Yaris (rebadged Mazda 2 sedan & Scion iA in USA), Nissan Micra (not available in US), or even a Mitsubishi Mirage (great warranty). I am not sure if they offer enough savings compared to a base Mazda 3 though. I have my motorcycles when I want sporty transportation and I am not trying to impress anyone with my car.

 

[GRFMotorsports]

People want cheap cars. A-to-B transportation at minimal expense. They gotta skimp somewhere.

I remember a girlfriend in highschool whose dad got a Kia. Solid car, drove well, but holy crap you could literally see where they cut corners to keep that thing cheap.

We just got my wife a new Kia. They have come a long ways from where they were. I have to say Im pretty impressed.

 

[Rustpot]

We just got my wife a new Kia. They have come a long ways from where they were. I have to say Im pretty impressed.

My mom bought a Hyundai Santa Fe last year. It's pretty nice.

My remark was from a car in... 2003? It was CHEAP. The trunk matting was barely in, exposed speakers in there, cheap cloth, cheap dash, cheap plastic, cheap gauges. The switches were mostly individual as they didn't get clusters made and the trim fit wasn't great.

But it was a brand new midsize car with a V6 that drove great with a long warranty for well under $20k.

 

[THE X-MAN]

New Korean cars are exceptional, the workmanship and fitment of the panels is exquisite.the japs changed the meaning of a fuel efficient car had to be cheaply made.American economy cars are still cheaply made,we still can't get that one right.

 

[kronin323]

Yeah Korean cars have come a long way, my BIL got a couple of the early cheap Hyundais and they fell apart in a couple of years. But now it seems like they've got their act together. Though I still won't buy one...

 

[Litos]

New Korean cars are exceptional, the workmanship and fitment of the panels is exquisite

Hyundais and Kias are fantastic cars...

if you put one side by side to a BMW or a Mercedes-Bens and removed all badging, most normal people wouldn't be able to tell the difference and would probably pick the interior of the Kia over the interiors of the BMW or MB....

Kia's interior just screams of high quality.....

 

[GRFMotorsports]

My remark was from a car in... 2003? It was CHEAP.

I understood, thats why I said they have some a long ways.

On another note we still havent been impressed enough with a Hyundai yet to consider one.

My wife still tells me everyday she loves her new truck. Never heard that once in 2 years with her Honda.

 

[THE X-MAN]

Every car has its recalls and issues now,its not about engines and drivetrain crapping out,its all about the damn electronics now,so many computers and automatic this and thats.