Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fat Sam]

I'm looking to replace my '96 battered up Avante with a brand spanking-new motor and was wondering what those of you with cars in Korea would recommend.

I went to a couple of showrooms today and looked at the Avante, Sonata, SM3 and SM5. We've decided against the bigger cars, although I thought the SM5 looked really good, so that leaves us with a straight fight between the Avante and the SM3.

The thing is, it's hard to find any information in English on either car, let alone a review, because they are either not sold abroad, or are sold under different names and models (Elantra, for the Avante).

From what I saw today:

The 2009 Avante would be my preferred option, and I could get an S16 for around 16 million -the basic model starting at about 12 million.

The SM3 looks good on the outside but a bit budget on the inside. However, it is cheaper, starting at less than 11 million.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a site with reviews and comparisons of both, or tell me about your personal opinions of either car, it'd be most appreciated.

Cheers

[Xuanzang]

The SM3 has Japanese built engines by Nissan. Mechanically, it is quite similar to the North American Sentra.

The Elantra and Avante are pretty much the same car. Just rebadged and sold with a different warranty for North America.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2007/04/25/test-drive-2007-hyundai-elantra-gls.htm

[DCJames]

I wouldn't get either of those cars.

I'd get the Hyundai i30.

[ulsanchris]

this spring my wife and I were car shopping and it came down to the choices you have. We picked the SM3. First it is the safest car in its class. Two it is the one of the most reliable cars in korea. For the past few years it has ranked 2nd or 3rd on the least things gone wrong list. Also Hyundia and Kia over charge since they sell over 70% of all cars in Korea. We have been quite happy with it. Granted the interior could be better. I liked the avante's interior better. But I would prefer a safer car, especially in korea. Also the SM3 is a nissan design, which puts it ahead of most korean cars. except maybe the genesis, but then I would go for an infiniti over the genesis.
Also the SM3 is supposed to have better handling than the avante.

[GwangjuParents]

We have a new Avante S16.

We got the extras like the Sunroof and leather seats.


It's a nice car. (My wife wouldn't let me buy the "male ego" booster car I really wanted, alas).

We've had no mech problems with it. It's good on gas.

It's a good size, too. Not too big but not too small.

One thing about Korea is that you really don't want a "big" car because parking spots here are often very narrow and small, and you'll often be driving down very narrow, congested alley ways.

Another factor in favor of the Avante is that it's a very popular car in Korea, which would support any re-sale values.

As for handling: It's fine for me for daily use. It handles perfectly fine.


In sum, perfectly good car. But it won't do your male ego justice. For that you'll want an import car.

[Seon-bee]

Go for the SM3. I've ridden in both and found the SM3 to give a more comfortable ride.

For me, Hyundai auto workers are militant. They've even stopped work regarding the issue of getting ice cream during their breaks in summer. I don't recall Samsung workers even belonging to a union.

[The Hammer]

Check out the Boxster. I bought one, and I am 100% satisfied.

[yeremy]

I road tested the SM3, the SM5 and the Avante. I liked the Samsung cars better so I focused on them. The SM3 is a bit cheaper and smaller. I'm 5'9" but my legs were just too long for the SM3, which I wanted to buy for the price, so I bought the SM5 instead. The SM5 is based on Nissan technology, I believe, and design. It rides better than the SM3, which nearly bottomed out on all the road bumps I drove over on purpose to check the suspension of all the cars I road tested. Samsung cars are supposedly the safer cars of their classes today in Korea. I like the extra heft and solidness of the SM5 over the SM3 but I wish I had been able to fit into the SM3's driver's cockpt without major mechanical intervention. The saleman tried to satisfy my complaint by tilting the seat further back at a ridiculous angle but that didn't work.

The SM5 is not an economy car at higher speeds. You'll be able to pick up the pace to get out of trouble spots more easily but the v6 is not economical. The seats are very comfortable and the instrument panel is easy and convenient to use, which I found the Avante was less so. I didn't like the attitude of the Avante salesman, who seemed to have his ego on his sleeve because it was the H company. I respect the H company a lot but I didn't personally like their cars as much as the Samsung cars.

I would equate the SM5 with the Toyota Camry, more than less.

One problem with the SM5 is that it is a fairly long car, so when it comes to parking you might find yourself inadvertently bumping the barries by mistake with your front and rear bumpers. I find I have to carefully position my SM5 in the middle of the small Korean parking spaces as much as I can so the doors don't collect too many dings from the other cars next to it.

I also decided to use Mobil One when we had our first oil change.

The SM5 I have has about 170 + horsepower. When my wife and I drive around, it has decent pick up and go, but when we load the car up, the pick up and go is replaced with just the "go." I was a bit disappointed.
Another funny thing is that we have also picked up two little sheetrock-type of nails from local construction sites in my city. The tire did not blow but lost enough air pressure that I stopped at a rest area and checked the tire pressure. I drove directly to the first tire store off of the IC in the city I live in and they simply plugged the tire, which intially horrified mefixing a small puncture in a tire is more than a little successful but I watch that tire religiously just to make sure.

That all said and done, my SM5 spends most of the time parked in the parking lot. I don't drive it to work except when I need to, which is not very often. It is a nice-looking car and your Korean neighbors will be a little surprised to see you getting out of it if you buy it.

Overall, I find the SM5 to be pretty reliable and the Samsung people are easy to deal with, too, even though they do not often speak English.

I don't think you will really go wrong with either a car from Hyundai or Samsung, but Samsung is on the popularity roll nowadays.

[Chamchiman]

Another thing to consider (especially if you're going to keep the car for more than a few years) is whether to spend the extra couple of million to move up from a gas engine to a diesel. This is the reason I'd buy an Avante (or i30 or the current Click or it's forthcoming replacement, the i20) over a Samsung. I've rented both the 1.6L diesel Avante and the i30 with the same engine, and both cars were getting 16 to 18 kilometers per liter. With a 50 liter tank and gentle driving, it's possible to squeeze around 800 kilometers out of a tank. I think diesel is around 1300 won right now, so for 65,000 you'll go 750-850km. That kind of economy can't be touched by a gas engine of a similar displacement.

Think seriously about renting a car for a day before you buy one. It'll only cost you 60 or 80 thousand to have 24 hours and a full tank of gas to put a Hyundai or Samsung through the paces and check whether you really want to buy it or not.

Check the crash test ratings before you buy as well. The new European Hyundais are getting five stars for adult occupants. (Whether those models are identical to the models sold in Korea is in question, but they've got to be ALMOST identical in engineering, structure and safety equipment. I'd like to find a Korean crash test website, but so far I've been unsuccessful.)

How about bumping this thread when you buy your car? Let us know what you decided and how it worked out for you. Good luck.

[VanIslander]

boring car vs boring car

[bassexpander]

I always liked the SM3.

[VanIslander]

[ulsanchris]

my wife used to have a matiz before we got an SM3. It was okay. great for getting around crowded streets and great for parking. Not good for much else though. However its great for city driving.
the sm3 is not the most stylish car. Korean cars in general aren't that stylish. But its a decent car and better than the avante. The i30 is also more expensive than the SM3 and the only advantage it has is that it is better looking. Overall I don't think it is the better car.

[Fat Sam]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm still undecided but it looks like I'll be happy whichever one I go for. I was swaying slightly towards the SM3 until I saw the Avante's better fuel efficiency. I think I'll have to take each car out for a thorough test drive next weekend before making the final decision.

Cheers

[Xuanzang]