Chevrolet Nub.....?

[Modellpularn]

I'm about to go and buy a better car than my old Volvo 240 wagon, and I'm thinking maybe the little Chevy Nubira... Ohh, I know it's Korean, and some of my friends will probably hate me for getting one. My boss now works at a car dealer selling SAAB, Opel and Chevrolet, and I've been looking at it, and kind of like it.....

So what do you guys think? I mean, you get three years new-car warranty with it. Or is it "Korean ######"?? Or should I buy a five-ten year old Volvo instead? I do like the V70 wagon, since I've driven them as taxis. Soo, what to do??

Edited December 17, 2008 by Modellpularn

[ChevyFan]

I would personally run with the Korean ###### philosophy myself, but don't know enough about the new one to give you an expert opinion.

Most of the Korean cars here don't have much re-sale because of the earlier models. They tended to be "throw away" vehicles.

Haven't heard too much either way since then though.

[gasman]

Its the Suzuki Forenza stateside and I haven't really heard anything bad about it.

I've had good luck with the Korean car I did have. a 2001 Hyundai Accent. i'm still kicking myself for selling that car, it got 40 mpg without any effort on my part. was reliable. I didn't stick a dime in it. although the resale did suck (I paid $4300 for it in 2004 with only 17k on it). its worth a lot more know since gas has gone up.I sold it because I wanted a truck...

[diymirage]

the issue is not just that it is a korean car, it is what korean car it is

i used to have a hyundai tiburon and i beat the tar out of that car and it took it very well

never broke anything, nothing wore down prematurely and no sqeaks in the interior whatsoever

i would say that hyundai makes a very good car nowadays and because of the bad rap the older ones have/had it is stil affordable.

my wife on the other hand drives a chevy aveo (deawoo) and i am less pleased with it.

it seems to be build to lower standards, i mean, even lower then the standards of chevy, under whose name it is sold.

the thermostat went at about 40K which is way early.

did i mention the thermostat is a dealer only part and it costs 25 bucks?

the timing belt NEEDS to be changed at 60K, this is NOT negotiable

the timing belt on my VW is suposed to last 75K, pretty big difference.

so, from my own personal expierience, i would say stay clear from the chevy/deawoo stuff

i would have no problem getting a hyundai

but.....

what is this i heard about opel ?

my second car was an opel E kadett and i beat the living daylights out of that one

i was very impressed with it

plus, its german

i guess my vote would say opel

[ericmaxman]

I'm driving a Chevy Optra/Lacetti. Same one used in Top Gear UK, only difference is that the Optra used in the show is

a 1.8, while the one I'm using, is a 1.6.

Anyhow, I have seen several Nubiras and its twin, the Opel Zafira. Yeah, they are quite old, like 3-4 years old. It is quite

big, but just old. Maybe it's just my point-of-view, but I do think that there are other cars that suits you well. Come to think

of it, what was the MPV taxis used in New York? Is it the Kia Carens 3?

[gasman]

Anyhow, I have seen several Nubiras and its twin, the Opel Zafira. Yeah, they are quite old, like 3-4 years old. It is quite

big, but just old. Maybe it's just my point-of-view, but I do think that there are other cars that suits you well. Come to think

of it, what was the MPV taxis used in New York? Is it the Kia Carens 3?

yes they are, but they are known as the Rondo here. I know NYC has been experimenting with several different taxis over the past few years. they are looking for a replacement for the very old Ford Crown Vic.

[Brendan]

I would stay away from it. It does not have a very good reputation here in the U. S. There are just too many issues with the car. Also had some very scary results in the crash testing. The motor is decent. But everything else is else is not well made. For that price range, you could look at some of the Hondas or Toyotas, which would be a better buy. I'm not a big fan of Korean made cars. The only Korean manufacturer that has a good reputation is Hyundai and that's only in the past couple of years. Just my opinion...there are just better cars out there in that price range.

[Zoom Zoom]

Avoid it like the plague! Bad reputation.

Worst Cars

There are a lot of much better Korean cars than this one. Hyundais are pretty good these days, followed closely by Kia, here in the states they have a great warranty to alleviate fears. I don't know anyone unhappy w/their Hyundai.

[Nick F40]

Volvo 240 wagon, sweet, why get rid of that? I'll take it! The V70 seems a good choice, if you like the Volvos then definetly i'm actually thinking of getting one, hey AWD (if you get the Cross Country), 5 cylinder and a wagon, all you need!

The Accents are great rally and rally x cars, i'd buy one just for that! WRC's version is just wicked but don't know if I'd daily drive one.

You guys are lucky to have them Opels, and the Kadett, sweet! I want one so bad. And you can't go wrong with German...or European in this case.

I'm driving a Chevy Optra/Lacetti. Same one used in Top Gear UK, only difference is that the Optra used in the show is

a 1.8, while the one I'm using, is a 1.6.

Nice, like the WTCC cars. Great car, but like a great example, the US Escort and the European Escorts, man were the European ones 100% better, so as the European Fords.

[ericmaxman]

Avoid it like the plague! Bad reputation.

Worst Cars

There are a lot of much better Korean cars than this one. Hyundais are pretty good these days, followed closely by Kia, here in the states they have a great warranty to alleviate fears. I don't know anyone unhappy w/their Hyundai.

Darn. The same one I am driving. GM uses different name/brand for different markets.

This is the one I'm driving.

Have a look at this Wiki page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_Lacetti

[Zoom Zoom]

Darn. The same one I am driving. GM uses different name/brand for different markets.

This is the one I'm driving.

Have a look at this Wiki page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_Lacetti

Not a bad looking car, but in general Daewoo cars aren't up to the quality of Hyundai. I recently rode in a Hyundai Azera, nicest Korean Toyota/Buick ever made

They quit selling the Forenza in the US; replaced by the Suzuki SX4.

If you've ever watched Top Gear, their 'Stars in Reasonably-Priced Cars' is this same basic car, not sure if the Lacetti is a Daewoo or Chevrolet as sold in the UK.

[Rob Hall]

Not a bad looking car, but in general Daewoo cars aren't up to the quality of Hyundai. I recently rode in a Hyundai Azera, nicest Korean Toyota/Buick ever made

They quit selling the Forenza in the US; replaced by the Suzuki SX4.

If you've ever watched Top Gear, their 'Stars in Reasonably-Priced Cars' is this same basic car, not sure if the Lacetti is a Daewoo or Chevrolet as sold in the UK.

It's sold in the UK as a Chevy now, I think the Daewoo brand is gone from most markets outside of SK...the Nubira/Lacetti is the car (and the Chevy Cobalt) that the new Chevy Cruze (Delta II platform) will be replacing worldwide..

Edited October 10, 2008 by Rob Hall

[diymirage]

Volvo 240 wagon, sweet, why get rid of that? I'll take it! The V70 seems a good choice, if you like the Volvos then definetly i'm actually thinking of getting one, hey AWD (if you get the Cross Country), 5 cylinder and a wagon, all you need!

The Accents are great rally and rally x cars, i'd buy one just for that! WRC's version is just wicked but don't know if I'd daily drive one.

You guys are lucky to have them Opels, and the Kadett, sweet! I want one so bad. And you can't go wrong with German...or European in this case.

Nice, like the WTCC cars. Great car, but like a great example, the US Escort and the European Escorts, man were the European ones 100% better, so as the European Fords.

fo shizzle, like the ford escort cosworth

funny thing, it was sold as a "german" car in the US, the merkur XR4 something

i would love to find a model of my opel kadett so i could build a replica

[Modellpularn]

Volvo 240 wagon, sweet, why get rid of that? I'll take it! The V70 seems a good choice, if you like the Volvos then definetly i'm actually thinking of getting one, hey AWD (if you get the Cross Country), 5 cylinder and a wagon, all you need!

The Accents are great rally and rally x cars, i'd buy one just for that! WRC's version is just wicked but don't know if I'd daily drive one.

You guys are lucky to have them Opels, and the Kadett, sweet! I want one so bad. And you can't go wrong with German...or European in this case.

Nice, like the WTCC cars. Great car, but like a great example, the US Escort and the European Escorts, man were the European ones 100% better, so as the European Fords.

Here's a pic of the old "turbo wagon" Sorry, I forgot to mention it's got a turbo-kit installed, something you could buy from Volvo, to convert a carbureted engine into a turbo. The old engine had blown it's head gasket, so in 2001 an engine swap was in order, along with a lot of new parts.... rebuilt turbo etc....

Here it is, at my summer house:

It's been sitting since early May when the clutch gave up. I think it's something wrong with the clutch fork..... so I have to remove the whole trans/bellhousing, it's like 1 piece..... feels like a nightmare job, but I guess I have to grit my teeth and dive into it.... If I buy another car, I might keep the old warrior and fix it up little by little. I have four better doors, that needs to be repainted - light blue now....

Edited October 11, 2008 by Modellpularn

[Nick F40]

Holy ###### keep it! Turbo bricks are the best! Yours has so much potential; autocross, rally, etc.

[diymirage]

if you do buy a new car i would suggest getting a volvo 480 and salp that turbo beast in there

[Zoom Zoom]

That's a cool old wagon, around here they last forever (no rust problems in the south). For a fraction of the cost of a new car you could have that wagon in amazing shape.

[Modellpularn]

That's a cool old wagon, around here they last forever (no rust problems in the south). For a fraction of the cost of a new car you could have that wagon in amazing shape.

Bob, I have already poured lots of money into the old wagon, which at the moment I won't get back if I should try to sell it, so like I said, I'll keep it and fix it up. Some previous owner did a trick taillight treatment; three lights on each side. "Volvo SS".....? Looks kind of cool, and I guess you could say it's got a safety factor as well; lots of lights!

Edited October 12, 2008 by Modellpularn

[Modellpularn]

How about a P/T Cruiser? Found one very close from home, a 2003, Limited Edition, metallic blue, optional 6-spoke 16 inch chrome wheels, low miles, and quite reasonable in price. I've checked with some friends that own PT's, and they are satisfied with them. ?? Or go for a Volvo V70? There are soo many cars for sale now, it's insane! Toyota, Skoda, Nissan..... jeez man, what to get??

[Zoom Zoom]

How about a P/T Cruiser? Found one very close from home, a 2003, Limited Edition, metallic blue, optional 6-spoke 16 inch chrome wheels, low miles, and quite reasonable in price. I've checked with some friends that own PT's, and they are satisfied with them. ?? Or go for a Volvo V70? There are soo many cars for sale now, it's insane! Toyota, Skoda, Nissan..... jeez man, what to get??

Really depends on what you like. What motor does it have? What transmission? The US 4 cyl. automatic is a real dog, almost dangerously slow off the line. They're pretty thirsty for their size; I know someone who had a PT and Camry, both 2.4 liter 4 cyl. automatics, and the Camry would get 32 mpg on a trip vs. the PT's 24 mpg. Pretty robust body. You need to drive it and see if it fits you and your idea of performance. Turbos are much better to drive, but even thirstier. If the price is right and you like it, go for it! Just remember that in the US the PT Cruiser is a fairly low-end car, especially compared to a V70. There's nothing quite like the comfort of a Volvo seat. No PT can compare.

[Modellpularn]

Really depends on what you like. What motor does it have? What transmission? The US 4 cyl. automatic is a real dog, almost dangerously slow off the line. They're pretty thirsty for their size; I know someone who had a PT and Camry, both 2.4 liter 4 cyl. automatics, and the Camry would get 32 mpg on a trip vs. the PT's 24 mpg. Pretty robust body. You need to drive it and see if it fits you and your idea of performance. Turbos are much better to drive, but even thirstier. If the price is right and you like it, go for it! Just remember that in the US the PT Cruiser is a fairly low-end car, especially compared to a V70. There's nothing quite like the comfort of a Volvo seat. No PT can compare.

The PT has a 2.0 liter engine and manual trans. I've seen lots of V70's on this ad site over here. There's a white one, a '99 GLT with auto trans that caught my attention. It's 10K SEK less than the PT; 47.000 SEK which is about 7000 USD. I know a guy who is a Volvo mechanic, I think I'll have a chat with him what to get.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Modellpularn

[Zoom Zoom]

The PT has a 2.0 liter engine and manual trans. I've seen lots of V70's on this ad site over here. There's a white one, a '99 GLT with auto trans that caught my attention. It's 10K SEK less than the PT; 47.000 SEK which is about 7000 USD. I know a guy who is a Volvo mechanic, I think I'll have a chat with him what to get.

The PT is a heavy car for a 2.0; at the point that it may not be much if any more fuel efficient w/that engine vs. the 2.4 sold here. Definitely "life in the slow lane"

[Modellpularn]

I finally got the tranny out of the car, with the help of a friend. Something was wrong with the clutch fork, or so I thought.... Here it is, it came rattling out of the bellhousing, along with the throwout bearing.

Nothing wrong with it. It was the bolt holding it from outside of the bellhousing, that unscrewed itself.....

Here everything is back together again. I used lots of degreaser on the whole filthy unit.

A view of the now clean tranny, with overdrive.

I hope to get it back into the car by Sunday.

I've fixed some other things, like the park light housings, and glass(plastic)..... This is not a pretty sight.

But with some chrome tape, it looks almost like new again.

Earlier I attacked the front spoiler with some paint, and also swapped the old dinged plate for a new fresh version. Much better.

Edited December 12, 2008 by Modellpularn

[CAL]

How about a P/T Cruiser? Found one very close from home, a 2003, Limited Edition, metallic blue, optional 6-spoke 16 inch chrome wheels, low miles, and quite reasonable in price. I've checked with some friends that own PT's, and they are satisfied with them. ?? Or go for a Volvo V70? There are soo many cars for sale now, it's insane! Toyota, Skoda, Nissan..... jeez man, what to get??

I'd rather have a Kia Rio than a PT.

A Volvo 850 T5R M59... muhahahahaha!

[Modellpularn]

The tranny is now rejoined with the engine. But it wasn't "smooth sailing", as the clutch fork popped out of it's socket, when I turned the tranny sideways, and the clutch fork got jammed against the floor. So I drilled a hole in the clutch fork, where the metal cover for the ball socket had an open hole, and secured the cover plate with a small nut and bolt. Maybe it was for the best, that this happened, so I could reinforce the ball socket. Then with the help of my friend who raised the floor jack, we were able to get the tranny in place after a bit of jiggling. Shift linkage is connected. Tomorrow it's the rest of the stuff: crossmember needs some rustprimer paint, then it'll be installed. Driveshaft and exhaust are next, then the new clutch cable. The battery is being charged also. Maybe I'll be able to go for a test drive tomorrow night.....

Here's the crossmember, all painted up and shining..... Overkill maybe, but at least I know it's in good condition.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Modellpularn