Far Eastern Cars - Why?

[SpikeyBush]

Years ago the argument was settled quickly. The Datsun 120Y started on a frosty morning when the Viva / Escort / Allegro didn't. But now the Astra and Focus (there isn't any new Allegro, due to the perseverance of the trade-union movement) are as reliable as the Corolla and Almera but they cost a lot less to keep on the road. Having had Japanese and Korean cars in the past I can't understand why their spares are so expensive when there is no benefit any more with reliability. Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Kia and Hyundai are taking you all for mugs and in my opinion if you buy one you need your head looking at. Feel free to post if you disagree, I am prepared for heated discussions. Polite of course.

[karenmac60]

Simple for me - I got a brand new Hyundai for 5 grand. My previous car was a hyundai and it was very reliable, and I looked at other cars but they couldn't compete with that price.

[SpikeyBush]

Take a mortgage out when time comes to have your brakes replaced.

[karenmac60]

My old car was 10 years old - I had my brakes done a couple of times. It wasn't that dear.

[R1Geezer]

I never buy cars with cam belts, end of!

[SpikeyBush]

€35 for an Opel Vectra, €50 for a Kia Cee'd / Hyundai I30. Rear pad prices, same shop. Give me a european car any time.

[R1Geezer]

you paid 5k for a Hyundia karen! Are you certifiable? A new one of those as good as 10 year old BMW and you could have one of those and holiday for 5k!

[R1Geezer]

who mentioned the part costs spikey? I'm talking about having to change them and even then they break and sh&g the engine. Cam belts where invented to help the dealerships get work with servicing and to sell parts. Not so clear who the mugs are is it?

[SpikeyBush]

I was referring to rear brake pads R1, in any case what cars can you get now with a timing chain as opposed to a belt? I agree a chain is infinitely better than a belt but those cars are getting rather thin on the ground.

[R1Geezer]

most decent quality cars have a chain, Nissan for example.

[SpikeyBush]

Nissan - Decent Quality? Pah!
Speak Micra. Shiny & Bright.
Had a Micra years ago. Best thing I did was scrap it. One less piece of dog dirt soiling the road.

[R1Geezer]

perhaps but it won't destroy it's own engine.

[SpikeyBush]

I'll do some research on that R1 before picking this thread up again later

[Buenchico]

I largely regard a car as 'an A-to-B machine', so I'm not particularly bothered about 'style' or 'luxury', but plenty of others do care about such things. Perhaps that might be a big reason why people choose one make over another?

[ELVIS68]

I`ve got a Toyota Hi-Lux pick up, 15 yrs old, sails through MOT`s, spares are cheap as chips, paid £1250 for it 8 years ago and could easily sell it for £1600 thanks to Top Gear but will keep it as it is the most reliable motor I have ever owned

[NOX]

Having had some VERY nice cars ( and some very nasty ones) over the years, generally the Japs etc come out on top for me in terms of style, price, drive etc one I particularly enjoyed was the Mazda RX8- awful lot of car for hardly any money and whate ELVIS said is bang on about Hi-lux too.

[jake-the-peg]

there isn't any new Allegro, due to the perseverance of the trade-union movement

Er no - there isn't any new Allegro because they were absolute rubbish.

British car manufacturers simply failed to continue to invest in their product.

Go look at any Rover an put a similar BMW from the same era next to it - which one would you have?

Talking about Rovers I don't think the trade unions designed their notoriously unleliable head gaskets do you?


There are many car manufacturers in Britain today - sadly none run by British companies.

We are great at making cars - unfortunately we are lousy at running car companies.

Far Eastern car manufacturers invested in their products, British manufacturers did not.

As Geezer would say - End of

[chas2008]

ok. who remembers the very first Alegro? square/oblong steering wheel!! honest..
Some of the manufacturers you quote give 7 year warrantys, so why worry about the cost of parts..

[chas2008]

tend to agree with jake, British Leyland/Rover/MG/BMC/Rootes or whatever name was above the produced awful vehicles Alegro being one, extremely poorly put together build quality was horrendous, ask any garage/bodyshop....

[KJN]

I remember the Allegro being called the Aggro due to the reliability/build quality, did not stop me using my fathers Allegro though when needed. haha

[icemaiden]

My first car was an Allegro, a nice shade of blue. Never remember it giving me any grief. Got me to work and back ok, even in the winter!

Since then stuck with Fords, cheap, reliable and reasonably priced. But, looking to change my car last year, I didn't like the new shape Fiestas, KA's or Focus so treated myself to a new Vauxhall Corsa. Pure white with a VXR body Kit.

I blame my mid-life crisis!