- Thread starter Liberator
- Start date
Chinese automobiles in DR - Run away or good alternative?
Guess why? Because these cars don't meet any European standards, including crash tests.
For those, like me, that do some of my own repairs I can't imagine where you source repair parts for a Chinese vehicle.
So if you were in an accident might your car be in the shop for a super long period waiting for repairs?
As for airbags & and crash tests - yeah they save lives but I come from the era before seat belts, cars with metal dashboards, thick metal bumpers and real heavy steel fenders and 4-wheel drum brakes.
And I survived !
So if you were in an accident might your car be in the shop for a super long period waiting for repairs?
As for airbags & and crash tests - yeah they save lives but I come from the era before seat belts, cars with metal dashboards, thick metal bumpers and real heavy steel fenders and 4-wheel drum brakes.
And I survived !
Cars from that era were built like tanks with very thick sheet metal, and most of them had solid and rigid frame. Chinese cars are made of foil with parts barely welded or bolted to each other, and in case of a frontal collision or a strong side impact all occupants will be at least heavily injured. Nothing is engineered to save vehicle occupants' lives, like in German cars, for example. You may have the crash you could survive intact in a normal car, but in a Chinese car you might end up with the engine displaced into the front seat area, leaving you no chance to survive. Nobody knows what happens to that car in case of any kind of impact or rollover, because who cares about that in China?
I purchased a Hyundai Santa Fe new in 2003 at Magna Motors. They didn't have parts so I became an expert at importing them from USA and Korean sources.
I cannot imagine how much more difficult that would be with Chinese cars sold here where the dealers almost certainly carry no stock of repair parts because that would cut into profits.
Right, but many more people died or were severely injured than with modern safety standards.
buying a car without good local availability of parts is a recipy for disaster
I agree partially with you, but even though for our vehicle there would be almost anything available locally, I have in fact always ordered everything else apart from the engine/transmission oil from the US due to quality/pricing issues.
No those were damaged beyond repair when they were swept away, more likely from Florida where there were thousands .
Soon ones will arrive from S. California, with charcoal interior
Yes in severe crashes but a tap in a parking lot only left you with a scratched bumper not an insurance totaled car
In March last year I bought a brand new MG One. It is a beautiful car and has so much technology. I runs so smooth and I am so happy with it. I have had zero problems with it since I purchased it. The car comes with a 6 year warranty and even though I bought it in Santo Domingo (British Motors), they have a certified mechanic in Santiago (I live in Cabarete), so at least I don't have to drive to Santo Domingo to get it serviced as per the warranty. The quality of the car is excellent and hopefully I won't find out how good the airbags are. Before Christmas a drink driver pulled out from the side of the road and hit the rear of the car. It ripped of part of the rear fender but apart from that no other damage. I contacted British Motors and they ordered the part from China....it arrived about 2 weeks later and cost me U$22 so I was extremely happy. Don't diss the Chinese cars until you try them, you will be pleasantly surprised. When I test drove the MG One I was with two good friends that are car crazy (one owns a Ferrari and a Bentley) and both of them said that they could easily see themselves purchasing a Chinese car. What you get for your money is amazing.
The latest ratings available on Chinese built vehicles from the highly respected J.D. Power:
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
Biggest problem appears to be the infotainment systems. One would think China would be able to excel in that regard.
The other problem(s), if you will, are two fold;
a) the quality rating levels at 5 and 10 year intervals (not enough current data to make fair comparison to other vehicles;
b) NHTSA crash data does not exist to make valid comparisons as to safety.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
The infotainment system in my MG One is flawless. The screen is 39 inches long and goes all the way across the dashboard. It works perfectly with both Android and ios systems. The system works via Bluetooth but if you want the full carplay experience then it is best to get a dongle like I did. Another good thing is the MG Pilot system that has some really cool features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent High Beam Control, Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Bicycle Detection, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist. Like I said in my previous comment, don't knock it until you try it!
Honestly, those features have been around for years.....my 2017 Acura has all of them and more.
The proof in the Chinese vehicles will be their costs/repairs/longevity down the road.......starting at/near 50,000 miles. Not to mention their reliability in protecting passengers in the event of a crash............which is still an unknown.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2