Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ratslash]

i was home a couple of weeks ago and i watched a tv program about cars (any brist out there it was top gear). they were doing a safety feature and one of the kia cars (a brand new make of people carrier) got the worst safety score ever.....

so in answer to the question, i wouldn't drive any korean cars.

[ratslash]

i was home a couple of weeks ago and i watched a tv program about cars (any brist out there it was top gear). they were doing a safety feature and one of the kia cars (a brand new make of people carrier) got the worst safety score ever.....

so in answer to the question, i wouldn't drive any korean cars. or maybe one of those nice silver or white ones that i see now and then!

[anae]

We just bought a new Accent in May and I love it. Hyudai generally got good reviews from Phi Edmonston in his Lemon Aid guide. Kia, on the other hand, was not well recommended in most cases.

[U.S.A.]

I had a blue 92 Sonata which I got for cheap while living in Korea. Had a few repairs but overall it ran like a dream (for its price and age). I swear the thing will probably go another five years.

Tuscani: Yes, they are sold in North America but Hyundai kept the Tiburon name.

Avante XD: It's also got another name here--the Elantra. Actually, the Elantra GT is pretty darn sharp. The Elantra has gotten very good reviews. Check out Edmunds.com:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/hyundai/elantra/100169684/review.html?tid=edmunds.e.landing.featurereviews..2.*

Before returning home, I did some research and also found an edmund's review where they staff bought an Elantra, kept it for a year and several people wrote their opinions about the car.

Hyundai's SUV is also a hot item here--personally, I love the look of SUV's but hate the fact that SUVs guzzle gas (p.s. I've got a 4 cylinder 99 accord).

If I could be given a Hyundai here in America, I'd take an X30 (is that the name of the luxury car?). In Korea, probably an Avante. The avante gets okay mileage, is fairly small--important for parking and korean driving--if it gets a ding or scratch I'd be less apt to getting angry.

Thoughts?

[richinkorea]

Tuscany goes for about $23k loaded (V6), still called Tiburon. Base model about $17 (still loaded, but only the 4 cyclinder 140hp engine)

The X30 are way nice, you can pick one up for about $20k-$23K also, V6, leather, loaded. That's actually the car I wanted, but the wife wanted a 2 door, thus the Tiburon.

Superfly, you did make it off the mountain didn't you ? Night time four wheelin is cool isn't it ?

Oh, and Kia is running mini van commercials here saying they got 5 stars on the crash test rating, so if you are interested in a mini van, not too bad.

Overall the problem with Korean cars is the depreciation and the "name" factor. The quality has improved drastically in the last 5 years or so.

[HardyandTiny]

I watched my girlfriemd take her driving test at the course up near world cup stadium. That was hilarious! She said if she didn't pass the second time she would just slip the guy 50,000.
You have to go watch that test area if you have a chance. Some of the nervous female contestants are practically nude.

[Derrek]

C'mon! Nobody wants a MartizII? They're so cute! I like the two-tone green and gray color. I'm sure I'd impress the babes in Apujeong with one of those sexy autos!

I'd be afraid to wreck one though! Then again, I drive a scooter, which isn't much safer.

[bucheon bum]

matiz rocks, i'd buy one if i were to get a car in the ROK.

[ajuma]

Hey, I've got a '91 Excel...only paid 300,000 for it over a year ago. NO power handle (steering for you newbies!) , but great gas milage and it just goes...and goes! My motto: The cheaper the better!

[whatthefunk]

I would never buy a Korean car in my entire life knowing the shaddy business practices and half assed construction that Korea seems to be known for. Ill take the Pinto please..

[Cthulhu]

[whatthefunk]

[Cthulhu]

Interesting to see that. Crashtest has come up with some very different numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. government) numbers. Fords and Pontiac seem to come out on the botton. Not to say which testing system is right or wrong, but there seems to be a difference. I wonder what caused it?

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars.cfm

I notice that with Crashtest the worst scores for Kia and Hyundai were for past models. The 2001-2003 models seemed to fare much better, though still received lower scores than the NHTSA tests did.

Anyway, Hyundais and Kia did have problems in the past, I won't deny that, but as long as the present models score reasonably well I won't judge them on past models I'm not going to drive.

[itchy]

[Cthulhu]