Chevrolet Lacetti

[nick mercedes]

I think the Koreans are now where the Japanese were in the eighties and early nineties, they got it spot-on on reliability but still make outdated models - and will soon start innovating.

Note that GM see the Korean cars as the real growth area and are losing interest in Opel - best selling car in China:
Buick Excelle XT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And how many sales would MB lose if these were sold here?

Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Review | Autocar

 

[Dieselman]

On holiday, we were collected from the airport in a Hyundai SUV. It was surprisingly nice and well appointed.

If that Genesis had a less thirsty engine option, I might consider, if everything else seemed right as well.
7 year warranty, no rust. What's not to like?

 

[SavMan]

Hyundai's are fast becoming the Taxi drivers (or at least the fleet owners) choice in most of South East Asia replacing Toyota

Sent from my iPad using MBClub UK

 

[Charles Morgan]

Korean cars have come a very long way. A 1.8 litre auto though is an engine that just doesn't cut it - slow, dull, heavy on the C02 in a very poor package.

I once had a Daewoo as a courtesy car while my company car was replaced having been nicked. This was back in about 1992. That was in every respect the worst car I have ever driven. Horrid thing.

 

[markjay]

Many here struggle with niggles and rust and warranty issues because we want to drive a Mercedes-Benz.

One can argue that Korean cars have no soul, are dull, outdated, and so on and so on.

These are all valid views and in great part I will agree with them.

But not everyone have these high on their priority list.

I suspect that a reliable family or fleet car with good warranty and good dealer support will find many happy buyers in the UK and around the world.

Personally, I don't think I'll be buying one any time soon, but I can totally understand why many would.

 

[Dieselman]

-Benz.

One can argue that Korean cars have no soul,

????????

 

[markjay]

I stand corrected

 

[Colin_b]

Why anyone would take a Lacetti on Motability confuses me...since they could have many much better cars...for the same cost...£0.

Many people regard cars as white goods, pure and simple. The badge on their car is no more important than the badge on their washing machine.

A reasonable size estate car, auto, with a few bells and whistles and no extra to pay.

Don't run away with the idea these are awful cars, they aren't. Cheap, reasonably reliable, easy to fix. No image or charisma. Just like most feel about a tumble dryer.

I agree, though, there are far better cars for the money. But this is a car forum, so we know

 

[Red C220]

My Neighbour has a Hyundai i40 Estate. Has done 30,000 miles in 10 months and it's not missed a beat. Doesn't look bad either. Previous car was a new Audi A6 Le Mans spec. In and out of the garage constantly.

His Sister in law has a Kia Sportage - I like these but when you look at them carefully they aren't as big as they seem - boot is smaller than out C class estate which is a shame as I like them.

I wouldn't consider a Kia or Hyundai 5 years ago. But now - I'm hard pushed to justify why my next car will be a Mercedes seeing how these have come on.

The biggie for us through will be the new Mondeo due next year. The estates are just huge and realistically these are E class competition on sheer internal size.

It's very likely the Mondeo is out next car.

 

[bpsorrel]

Some of the kia/hyundai stuff even looks half decent too.

They sure do! Saw one of these (latest Hyundai Sonata) in Vladimir today in white and it looked very nice indeed! In fact, in real life it bears more than a passing resemblance to a Passat CC...