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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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 Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject: any waygook Korando owners out there? |
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Or just me. 
Finally took the plunge this week and got a 2005 black Korando TX-5 two-seater with tinted windows. Only 60,000 km on the Mercedes-Benz engine.
Weekend camping trips oughta be more fun without having to change three or four buses to get there. |
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justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| I have a 2004 Korando. The engine has no balls whatsoever and it has the worst blind spots I have ever seen on a vehicle. But the price was so good I bought it. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| justaguy wrote: |
| The engine has no balls whatsoever |
If you mean, off the line, yeah a jeep type isn't known for that: has a gutsy 2900 cc for steep hills, as I've discovered here in hilly Tongyeong.
| justaguy wrote: |
| ..and it has the worst blind spots I have ever seen on a vehicle. |
True. Mine has a second mirror designed to show the blind spot: works like a charm, in fact, I can't imagine driving this vehicle without it!
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| But the price was so good I bought it. |
too distinct and blue collar useful for many Koreans' tastes: bland and faux-rich sells around here |
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justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander, always use your mirrors in that vehicle. I've had enough near death experiences with my Korando. I hope my warning will spare you a few. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:49 am Post subject: |
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| justaguy wrote: |
| VanIslander, always use your mirrors in that vehicle. I've had enough near death experiences with my Korando. I hope my warning will spare you a few. |
the mirrors and shoulder check together, yep
i am amazed at the cavalier zigzagging of the local drivers, as if traffic rules don't exist
risky behaviour and lack of safety precautions... sooooo Korean |
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Benicio
Joined: 25 May 2006
Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:40 am Post subject: |
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My GF has one & I drive it regularly.
It's an albatross!
Too big- pain in the a$$ to park and drive on the small roads of Busan.
Terrible blind spots.
Only a 2 seater, so your friends can't ride along with you.
I would never buy one myself. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: |
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There are two kinds of mirrors you can get on a Korando. I had the better mirrors that didn't have that huge blindspot problem.
I loved having a Korando, but you are right: the engine was complete crap. The thing would struggle to do 120KM/hr on the highway. Also, only having two seats sucked after I had my first kid.
Other things that I liked but were a waste of money were the 4WD capability I spent an additional 1mil won on, yet it was useless in the snow because all the other dumbasses out there would try to drive during a big snowfall and essentially block up the road. Once I just went on the sidewalk to bypass them. I really felt Korean that day. Another thing is the color, I had white because it was supposed to give me more money when I sold it - not true. I would have rather had a color like silver or black. White looks too dirty in Seoul with all the dust. |
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justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:27 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
There are two kinds of mirrors you can get on a Korando. I had the better mirrors that didn't have that huge blindspot problem.
I loved having a Korando, but you are right: the engine was complete crap. The thing would struggle to do 120KM/hr on the highway. Also, only having two seats sucked after I had my first kid.
Other things that I liked but were a waste of money were the 4WD capability I spent an additional 1mil won on, yet it was useless in the snow because all the other dumbasses out there would try to drive during a big snowfall and essentially block up the road. Once I just went on the sidewalk to bypass them. I really felt Korean that day. Another thing is the color, I had white because it was supposed to give me more money when I sold it - not true. I would have rather had a color like silver or black. White looks too dirty in Seoul with all the dust. |
In Korea white anything is forever dirty looking. I just gave up cleaning mine. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| ... the engine was complete crap. The thing would struggle to do 120KM/hr on the highway.. |
 ... mine shifts into fifth gear and flies at 120-130 kms easily and smoothly, I just returned an hour ago from Busan
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| I loved having a Korando |
lots of room, being up so high, fun to drive
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| only having two seats sucked after I had my first kid. |
there are back seat versions, but yeah, it ain't no family car: better you go four door sedan |
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justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| ... the engine was complete crap. The thing would struggle to do 120KM/hr on the highway.. |
... mine shifts into fifth gear and flies at 120-130 kms easily and smoothly, I just returned an hour ago from Busan
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| I loved having a Korando |
lots of room, being up so high, fun to drive
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| only having two seats sucked after I had my first kid. |
there are back seat versions, but yeah, it ain't no family car: better you go four door sedan |
I heard that those 4 seaters Korandos are not legal. They were converted from 2 seaters into 4 seaters. When I got the inspection done on my vehicle they had cameras at both ends of the bay and they opened up the back specifically for that reason.
I also have and extra bumper on the back that I have to remove each tme I get the inspection done. I just replace it after the inspection/camera show. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| ... the engine was complete crap. The thing would struggle to do 120KM/hr on the highway.. |
... mine shifts into fifth gear and flies at 120-130 kms easily and smoothly, I just returned an hour ago from Busan
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| I loved having a Korando |
lots of room, being up so high, fun to drive
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| only having two seats sucked after I had my first kid. |
there are back seat versions, but yeah, it ain't no family car: better you go four door sedan |
The back seat would have been illegal for me. You can get them, but it is all in what your vehicle is categorized for insurance. Mine was labeled as a van for industrial purposes, so the insurance was pretty cheap, like 1.2mil won a year or less.
Also, not sure why but I always felt the engine on mine wasn't that good. I bought it brand new, maybe because it was diseal it needed more highway use. I used it 99% of the for driving in the city.
I did love being up high and the extra leg room...most Korean cars are way too small for me.
Another thing I found pathetic was the 300KM range gas tank. It has like 1/2 the range of the typical North American car/SUV/jeep. |
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FistFace
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Location: Peekaboo! I can see you! And I know what you do!
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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Of all the choices of a car you could but in Korea, I wish you would have gotten something else. I feel pity for you because I owned one myself.
Next time, post on here about what you're planning to get before you buy it. Maybe we can save you some trouble. I had one, and sold it within the year. I took a loss, and had tons of repairs. Worse, other foreigners teased me about about how ugly it was.
I'm glad you like it, though. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| ... the insurance was pretty cheap, like 1.2mil won a year or less. |
I paid 740,000 for the year, not sure what it was classified as.
As for illegal backseats, I sure only wanted a two-seater but I didn't want the bars and wall between the front and back, and indeed it comes out easily, but one must have it to put back on when inspections come around.
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| ... it was diesel it needed more highway use. I used it 99% of the for driving in the city. |
absolutely, a diesel needs to be worked! if one doesn't have highways or steep hills it's really a waste of a fine piece of machinery. my family had a CJ-5 Jeep as the second vehicle and it was wonderful; the Korando jeep is a decent facsimile, compared to *beep* else in this country (Galloper is more workmanlike than stylish, popular in Australia and Brazil for getting through the terrain, but not my style).
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| I did love being up high and the extra leg room...most Korean cars are way too small for me. |
Me too. Love that.
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| Another thing I found pathetic was the 300KM range gas tank. It has like 1/2 the range of the typical North American car/SUV/jeep. |
Perhaps... my 2900 cc automatic crisscrossed Gyeongsangnam province three times last week on a single tank, from Busan to Tongyeong to Jinju to Hadong to Tongyeong to Gimhae to Hadong to Tongyeong... though 50 litres cost me 66,000 won for the trips.
All in all, it's exactly what I expected, given how limited the options are in Korea. I sure wish they'd let in Toyotas, Jeeps, Land Rovers, even Buicks or Volvos without exorbitant import duties: "Lee Myeong Bak, tear down those tariff barriers and quota restrictions!" |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:08 am Post subject: |
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[quote="VanIslander"]
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
...
All in all, it's exactly what I expected, given how limited the options are in Korea. I sure wish they'd let in Toyotas, Jeeps, Land Rovers, even Buicks or Volvos without exorbitant import duties: "Lee Myeong Bak, tear down those tariff barriers and quota restrictions!" |
He won`t bite the chaebol hands that feed him, Though, people do seem to be buying up Hondas here in Seoul. I see more Accords, Civics and CRVs quite often. |
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logan2003
Joined: 20 May 2003
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:26 am Post subject: |
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I am a sedan guy. I have an Kia Enterprise (Mazda 929 HE FULLY loaded).
And I just love the comfort. Before this car I had the Arcadia....ugh, I was in love..... (Acura Legend generation 2) 220 hp, 7.9 sec to 100km/hr.
I love that car, and will buy it as a second car.
Korando....they seem nice, but I am a sedan guy. I like meeting people who are in love with thier cars. We ought to hook up! |
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