Korean Cars

[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.