So "In 5 Years' time we'll all be driving Chinese cars" - how's that working out?

[Crazy Dazz]

Was recently looking at a small runabout for the missus. She was convinced she wanted an MG ZST. One test drive took care of that.
The new cars smell like a toxic waste dump. Everything in the car makes noise, and the engine is beyond gutless. 3 people on board, headed up a hill, and can't even hit 50 with foot to the floor. The CVT means the engine is constantly screaming. Steering is haphazard, and suspension is somehow both lose and harsh. And FMD, I've seen Oil Tankers with a smaller turning circle.

My daughter recently had to hire a car for the week, and she received an "upgrade" to an MG HS. What a literal piece of crap.
Now the car had done 52kk, so I don't know how old it was, but it was knackered. Half the electrics didn't work, the "emergency brake warning" kept randomly flicking on in the open road, and the engine was basically toast.

As an overly simplified concept, I don't know why they can't just buy a Toyota Camry, give that to their engineers, and say "build that." But it just doesn't work. I know that most of our electronics and appliances are now coming out of China, and most of it seems perfectly fine. But their cars are still rubbish.

I know that people like to say "oh just look at the Japanese and Koreans" but aside from being racist, it makes no sense. Might as well say that Russian cars will soon be as good as the Germans.

[Franco Cozzo]

Sounds like you just described every Thailand Special I've ever driven in your first paragraph, yet they fly off the shelves

Doesn't have to be good to be popular, boomers got a woody for cheap shit Chinese vehicles.

[Sprintey]

Laughs in T34>PanzerIV

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Doesn't have to be good to be popular, boomers got a woody for cheap shit Chinese vehicles.

Boomers only drive Toyotas

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So "In 5 Years' time we'll all be driving Chinese cars"

not this little black duck

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Boomers only drive Toyotas

no they don't, I have a shed and a garage with 4 registered Fords (including one Ranger) and one Mazda3 for my wife

[LG17]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Sounds like you just described every Thailand Special I've ever driven in your first paragraph, yet they fly off the shelves

Doesn't have to be good to be popular, boomers got a woody for cheap shit Chinese vehicles.

Not this boomer that's for sure.
I will never own a Chinese vehicle.
Currently have 2 Fords and a fridge.

[Rob 351]

Yep, same here. Only Fords in my shed!
Never owned a Toyota but my young fella had a Hilux for a short period and didn’t impress us at all so no more Toyota’s. Had a MG once as a car rental and honestly was up there with the biggest pieces of crap I’ve ever driven. Up there with the JB Camira imo.

[kevino]

Another Boomer here.
Drive a Ford Puma.
Franco you need to get your generalisations correct.
Its actually your generation that is the main Chinese car owner.
And we know you lust for a China built Tesla.

[Polyal]

Yes boomers still (I assume, generally) have money so they dont buy Chinese.

Its those with tight budgets, which means (again generally) thats everybody else

[Itsme]

Another Boomer here, my last purchase will be a Suburu Outback plus I will retain my current PX ranger which I may add has served me quite well for the last 11 years.

Note: Plenty of good value Korean & Japanese vehicles to pick rather than picking cheap Chinese crap.

[Polyal]

Id be going used Japanese before new Chinese, but, for the majority out there can you blame them?

Its just Hyundai in the 1980/90's all over again.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Id be going used Japanese before new Chinese, but, for the majority out there can you blame them?

Its just Hyundai in the 1980/90's all over again.

And the Koreans decided to bring in some euro engineers and stylists to help globalise their styling back then and do more work on ride/handling. I wonder if the Chinese owned companies have the same thoughts.

And to be frank last time I asked, Ford China had a better (as in lower level of "things that go wrong") then some other blue-oval divisions. So, it's not so much where a product is made, it starts with the design, goes all the way through from parts, build/assembly to the final QC checks before leaving the factory for retail sales. If you want the best quality product it could come out of China if you could be bothered to do so from start to finish.

[simon varley]

99.999% of drivers don't give a shit about the driving experience. as long as the car is cheap, and they can connect their phone, that's all they want.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by simon varley

99.999% of drivers don't give a shit about the driving experience. as long as the car is cheap, and they can connect their phone, that's all they want.

So far from the truth, yes drivers want todays mod cons these days, but they will choose accordingly to quality and their budgets, also you get what you pay.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by kevino

Another Boomer here.
Drive a Ford Puma.
Franco you need to get your generalisations correct.
Its actually your generation that is the main Chinese car owner.
And we know you lust for a China built Tesla.

Every time I've been in an Uber, its not Pajeet in the Haval - he's always got the Camry,

Its always some old white dude called Kevin when you cop the Chinese car on ride share services:



See

[FTE217]

general consumer land has always gone price even back in the young boomer days.
Mr Varley hit the buyer profile pretty much, cant agree itsme.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by FTE217

general consumer land has always gone price even back in the young boomer days.
Mr Varley hit the buyer profile pretty much, cant agree itsme.

I don't know what age you are but in my younger days you were forced into buying what you could afford, cheaper the better I suppose at the time, but these days it is so easy to get credit where in the past it was hard, and the younger generation do not shy away purchasing high end vehicles, this is from my observation.
I do acknowledge people will always purchase cheap vehicles but not the ridiculous figure from Simon Varley post.

[FTE217]

his quote to me is a generalistion - whereas as most times many many people purchase on price.
Same applies at bunnings kind of theory.
Pre covid sure credit was easy but not todays world post covid be it for any loan.
No comparo to the ol days and I'm in the young boomer side of the ledger fyi.
We didn't have the choices but for the locals And the imported euros normally purchases of the wealthy, naturally that changed becuase even the euros had to get into the small hatch and SUV segments.
Its alot of cross shopping today obviously but in the end comes down to price and chinese made is a rising and rising, why, price to market despite the recent month decline, maybe supply who knows.
Sales by country of origin https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...r-record-month
Country Sales Change YoY
Japan 34,214 +20.7%
Thailand 24,841 +20.4%
China 16,682 -7.1%
South Korea 14,643 -3.6%
Germany 5152 4.2%

Nearly 17k chinese units in a month - thats not high end product imo.

[Trevor 57]

The Chinese have a long way to go before beating the Japanese and Thai

[Bill M]

Another Boomer who drives a Falcon. Not a fan of Chicom cars myself, I do wonder about Chinese manufactured and owned brands and whether 10 year old models will have factory parts and service support.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Japan 34,214 +20.7%
Thailand 24,841 +20.4%
China 16,682 -7.1%
South Korea 14,643 -3.6%
Germany 5152 4.2%

Nearly 17k chinese units in a month - thats not high end product imo.

EV sales skew those figures, take away Tesla & BYD & then look.

Dr Terry

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Bill M

I do wonder about Chinese manufactured and owned brands and whether 10 year old models will have factory parts and service support.

They don't have good parts support now.

Dr Terry

[lra]

Another Boomer here .... with a 21year old Monaro, a VZ ute and a SY2 Territory. I would much rather spend $30,000 on repairs than on a Chinese car, after trade.

Incidentally, what is this speak of "We" kemo sabe paleface ?

[DJM83]

Would have no issues owning a Toyota. Would daily a new corolla or the likes no problems.

[T3rminator]

Some of Chinese branded cars have come a long way in a relatively short time.

Dad bought a LDV T60 back in 2021. The infotainment was 10 years behind mum's 2014 Kia, at times felt like using a DOS interface. Camera was rubbish and the suspension was horrible....to the point where I told him to take it back cos I thought it was faulty.

The LDV is now gone and he has picked up a 2024 GWM Tank 300. The difference feels like 10 years apart. The ride is very good. The infotainment is superb, though I think too many functions for the average user.

I'd expect some of the brands will eventually die out if they don't keep up, but the good ones will thrive over the next 10-20-30 years.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

EV sales skew those figures, take away Tesla & BYD & then look.

Dr Terry

still Ex China no matter what AND in the mix of the other chinese is EV sales as well so where else do you want to skew counts Dr ?

For your ref here's a rough quick breakdown for the month of May units sold by chinese brands.
May 16682.
Take away Tesla/BYD sales, close count just over 5400hundred units.
MG/GWN/LDV/Chery combined close balance is just over 10k units for May.

Even in the worst times for eg now x 12mths 120k chinese units.
Don't think it matter EV or ICE made In China, question will always be quality to date.
Not sure they'll beat that tag like the Jap/Koreans have but that for another decade or so ahead to review.

[anobserver]

A work colleague recently swapped cars when the lease was up. Went from a CX3 to an MG suv. Hates it with a passion.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Some of Chinese branded cars have come a long way in a relatively short time.

Dad bought a LDV T60 back in 2021. The infotainment was 10 years behind mum's 2014 Kia, at times felt like using a DOS interface. Camera was rubbish and the suspension was horrible....to the point where I told him to take it back cos I thought it was faulty.

The LDV is now gone and he has picked up a 2024 GWM Tank 300. The difference feels like 10 years apart. The ride is very good. The infotainment is superb, though I think too many functions for the average user.

I'd expect some of the brands will eventually die out if they don't keep up, but the good ones will thrive over the next 10-20-30 years.

thought you were going a EV in other posts ?
Least Dad got 7yr WTY.

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by FTE217

thought you were going a EV in other posts ?
Least Dad got 7yr WTY.

Dealers scared him away from full EV. He still wants to swap mum's Kia for a hybrid, and is looking at the BYD

Yes, people are not thinking twice about getting new Chinese cars because a) they are relatively cheap and b) they don't have to worry about fixing things for 7+ years.