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Comments
-larry
Backy, might I add the word affordability to your excellent point? Try this out....
-Larry
Based on sales volumes, I think (and I cringe a bit at this) that I'd have to add the Cavalier to your list of A-to-B cars that non-car-nuts buy. It's been a strong seller for many years--a testament to the huge Chevy dealer network if nothing else. And at least up here in the Great Brown North, I'd also add the Saturn S Series (too early to tell if the Ion will be as popular).
At any given price, you can get a bigger and more luxurious car if you buy Korean as opposed to domestic or Japanese.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
by nippononly
Nippon, I hear you and you make several excellent points. However, I'm not sure the higher deprecation doesn't off-set much of the Korean price advantage at year three or four of ownership when lots of folks sell or trade?
Finally, in the minds of many, fair or unfair, the Korean brand brings a negative stigma. My opinion and I am only speaking for myself, it would effect my personal ability to enjoy my "pride in ownership".
In the end, I would rather park a 2003 Accord EX in my drive over a comparable 2003 Sonata GLS. I can and would spend the extra $3,500 for the Japanese product. Pretty darn sure at the end of the 48 month loan period, I will recoup most of the price difference.
-Larry
However, I am not convinced that a majority of prospective buyers make this calculation when they purchase.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
http://www.scion.com/drive/drive_xa_photos.html
If Toyota can keep the price down, those standard 15 inch wheels, antilock brakes, power windows, doors, and mirrors, AC, digital clock, and 6 speaker stereo with MP3 capability could be strong selling points for a vehicle in this class. Also note, the xA has the same engine as the ECHO.
Re total ownership costs for Korean cars over 4-5 years... you might be surprised that they aren't as bad as you think. To get an idea, check out the TCO calculator at Edmunds.com, and run some numbers for low-end cars. You'll see that Korean cars like the Accent, Rio, Elantra, and even the Spectra compare quite well in 5-year cost of ownership to other makes. For example, I ran some numbers recently (posted them over in the Kia board) and found that even the Spectra had a TCO that was as good or better than seven competitors, including all U.S. makes and some of the Japanese makes. And that was the highest (worst) TCO of the Korean low-end cars.
Agreed!
-Larry
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Check it out:
http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_start.jsp?id=SPLASH_range
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The mazda hatch and wagon look promising, but the smaller car market (focus,accent) need more manufacturers to compete.
And yes, I understand this is less profitable for them, but it can be the lure to get people into their brand.
Having seen some of the future car pics on this and other sites, I believe they are indeed coming.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Also saw in USA Today today that Suzuki dealers have confirmed that they will be getting a Daewoo next year to sell as a Suzuki. Didn't mention which model, or have a picture--wouldn't want to have too much news in that paper after all.
http://home.att.net/~brown20850188032/lacetti.html
Also read yesterday at Edmunds' 'Yet Another Daewoo Topic' site that Pontiac will sell the Leganza/Magnus here in the States. Whew! Better go hunting for more information about the Pontiac Magnus. That one seems odd but, if you think about it, it will immediately add some respectability to the Pontiac portion of GM. Tee-hee! =:)
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
http://www.channel4.com/apps26/4car/jsp/main.jsp?Ink=231_2&re- - - - viewid=550
8 valve engine, 0-60 in 13.2 sec., 37.7mpg.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
BTW, I read the other day that Hyundai and China formed a joint venture to make Elantras and Sonatas in China. I don't know if the factory is running yet, but I did see one new Sonata running around--no Elantras. I was talking with a co-worker from Singapore and a co-worker from South Korea, and I mentioned I owned an Elantra. I think the Korean was pleased (I think Hyundai is one of her accounts), but I don't think the guy from Singapore was impressed. He said he owns a Toyota. He probably thinks I am a second-class citizen now. ;-)
That toyota hatch looks interesting. What is there starting price.
The toyota hatchback price is not out yet, I suspect around $15000cdn.
Hyundai and Toyota.
This is particularly impressive for Toyota, given that they had 17 models in the ratings and just 3 "Average" marks across all models and all years. But not a bad showing by Hyundai, which was singled out by CR along with the Japanese brands as among the best in reliability for 2002 models. Those who a couple of years ago doubted whether the Koreans would ever catch up to the Japanese in quality--it seems to be happening faster than most people expected.
And as far as low-end cars go, it seems that GM picked a good time to make an all-new 2004 Cavalier (if the rumors I heard are true) - as it stands now, if I had to buy a cheap car, I wonder what I would chose:
Cavalier Coupe (not Z24)
or
Accent GSi
Dinu
Currently 2001 Protege ES
I haven't heard anything about a really all-new Cavalier for 2004. What I have heard is that there will be an all-new Malibu this fall.
Also, it's misleading I think for GM to advertise the 2003 Cavalier as "all-new" (just as it's misleading for Hyundai dealers to advertise 2003 Accents as "all-new"). There is a new engine (and a good one from all indications) and tweaked front and rear fascias, but most of the car dates back to the last major redesign that debuted in 1994--which means this is a car that was designed ten years ago.