China enters the world car market

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Homer1

A truth for one to realise is that the Chinese car industry is THE worst in the world interms of quality, safety and ripping off designs. Chinese enterprises value only one thing; profit, so they cut corners on design, engineering, enviornmental friendliness, efficiency, the lot, since they have to sell at already rock bottom prices. Never EVER buy a Chinese made car. At least in a Hyundai, you will survive a 60kph crash. I would rather be in a Hyndai, Daewoo or Kia than any car from China, and that includes the big brands such as VW.

Despite my disgust for these "cars" I think they will sell like hot-cakes. The average Western consumer has become dumb, fat and stupid .. only caring about cost. As long as they sell these things for AU$15,999 driveway with mags, electric-windows, DVD and SatNat people will be climbing over each other to buy them. Stupid, stupid, stupid ...

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

The Chinese even copied a Daewoo Matiz - the question is why would you want to copy a Matiz????

You've got to be joking. I can't help but laugh at the Matiz and all the people who buy them. Now, a Matiz with chinese build quality, that's just scary. If you hit a bird, the car would probably be a write off!

[Steve D]

I think Chinese cars are already here - just visit your local VW dealer and ask to check out the latest Polo. Not sure if German engineering can overcome Chinese build quality.

[zetec]

Bring back natural selection I say. Anyone who buys one will be killed in any accident, anyone who hits one won't be harmed because of the Landwind Rustling Tinfoil (TM) crumple zone which crumples from bonnet to boot killing all inside, thus the final result is less cheap Chinese cars on the road, less morons who'd even entertain the thought let alone buy one, and the world moves on.

[MeestaNob!]

I dont think that would even be legal to register or sell here. It's a deathtrap by modern (or even 80s) standards.

[Homer1]

Originally Posted by zetec

Bring back natural selection I say. Anyone who buys one will be killed in any accident, anyone who hits one won't be harmed because of the Landwind Rustling Tinfoil (TM) crumple zone which crumples from bonnet to boot killing all inside, thus the final result is less cheap Chinese cars on the road, less morons who'd even entertain the thought let alone buy one, and the world moves on.

That is pretty much what's happening in china now! The number of fatal accidents there is staggering (even proportioned to thier population size), as result of crappy cars and roads (and driving habits but we won't go there). This is why most middle and high class people in China worship imported cars....probably because they know what deathtraps thier domestics are.

[rodderz]

Must be the world's 1st "disposable car"- have a stack, and if you're ok you throw it away and buy a new one

If it comes with a free box of tissues you'de probably get more blows out of them than you would the car

[VertexZ]

apparently a Chinese small car would retail around the $10k mark, and chances are they will be here within 2 years.

That Frontera thing retails for 10,000gbp, which is around $25k aussie.

Bear in mind the Chinese are not the first to rip off designs. Think Proton Satria - esentially a CC Lancer/Mirage (about 1991-95) released in the late 90's and still selling until a year or two back

[LUXO_8]

yes, but the proton actually had some form of crash safety... i think it rated fairly well on par with the lancer it copied, mainly because they had mitsubishi's actual tooling,

[BuuBox]

Proton bought the rights from Mitsubishi, rather than just copied someone else's design without paying for it. Finding some more information on the car, it seems that it rates worse in collisions than some cars built in the 70's... Quality there.

[phoon]

my company does alot of business with the chinese and I can tell you that the chinese will copy a foreign product in looks, but forget the fundemental engineering requirements, for instance they will substitute nitrided (hardened steel for mild steel (soft steel), sheet metal guage will be reduced from original to paper thin etc. If a foreign manufacturer like VW with the polo get there cars made in China, VW controls the way they are made and install there own engineers and management, so the vehicles arent like those made by a chinese manufacturer. Buyer Beware

[Ford_Crazy]

This is a joke, no , this would be something to protest about, would kill more people then Osama.

[Fairlane]

My god that's at 64kph. Think about it two cars in a 40 zone having a head on would do even more damage than. This thing will probably crumple like a crushed can is someone took it offroading or hit a wallaby.

I think I'd feel a damn sight safer if i was in a Leyland Mini Moke. Great job that airbag did hey. I think I stick to my Aussie and Japo cars. I dont think Hyundai/Kia put out anything remotely as bad as that.

At least one conselation is that has LHD cars and hopefully we wont suffer to greatly from these horrors in the five years at least

[Casper]

Makes Lada's look good... *shudder*

[flappist]

Herro Herro , you want copy car? Very good. Only 500 rem. I like you. You first customer today. I give discount. 450 rem. No, No, Ok, Ok, Herro Herro, 400 rem, Ok? Ok? 350 rem.....

If you have ever been to china you will understand.....

As far as I am concerned ..... Boo yo shai shai nee.... (*spelling)

[Fairlane]

Check this linkage out

http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=104

Crash Test for the real Frontera. Sorry I could on find the two door one.

But damn, Ill let you all draw your own conclusions

[LUXO_8]

doesnt state test speed, though they generally use 64kph as a guideline

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by EL_Advanti

that is horrendous....they are selling them in France already, i saw an ad for it in a flight magazine. I dont know how it passed the required tests...mind you im not very educated in this matter, but if it passed in Europe, i think we can safely assume it will pass here in Australia.

Off Topic: India soon to be entering the passenger car export business, wonder if their stuff will be any better/worse?

Ford Australia was involved in the design and engineering of the Indian built Fiesta, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Looks like China has made the first disposable car. Why by a cheap piece of crap that would probably fall apart after 2 years. If you hit one of Australia's famous pot holes the thing would probably snap in half.

[Fairmont I6]

As a couple of other people have said the scariest part is that china is likely to become a car manufacturing powerhouse in the near future, even commodres could be built there

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Steve D

I think Chinese cars are already here - just visit your local VW dealer and ask to check out the latest Polo. Not sure if German engineering can overcome Chinese build quality.

Its a bit different when a manufacurer like Volkswagen is compared to a manufacuter like "Jiangling". VW have a set of standards that Jiangling obviously don't - the car will be built to their standards, regardless of where.

PS: Only the Polo sedan is Chinese built, the hatch is South African built.

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by Casper

Makes Lada's look good... *shudder*

Fancy a Brock Jiangling, anyone? :

[XAGSV8]

Originally Posted by The Monty

Because theyre going to be cheap (Id say) they will probably be an "ideal" 1st car. Imagine that. Just think about the consequences.

Yep all young people on their P's go out and buy one which results in more deaths in accidents resulting in goverments saying they are all hoons. I tell ya more speed camera's need to be introduced to combat this future problem.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

Fancy a Brock Jiangling, anyone? :

Does it come with a porrariza?

[efgiar]

ok that car would of had to be going fast or its made of cardboard. the wheel ended up PAST the foot pedals! and the steering wheel was hitting the roof almost! thats a huge, fast and very deadly crach but if you look at it carfully the dummy didnt seem to be that injured, so you would think, would have broken legs but thats about all and in any car it would be like that with the speeds it was going.

[LUXO_8]

it was only going 64kph......... thats the standard speed for offset collision testing...

which is the whole point, the car is tripe

[Cypher]

How can the government consider letting cars like these chinese cars into the country and yet jump up and down about grey imports which have to be safer than these chinese POS.

[Transit Truck]

The problem with chinese manufacturing starts with the steel mills. They themselves are of low quality and so is the steel that comes out of them...

So it doesn't matter how well engineered the vehicle or tool or appliance for that matter are, its the material that it is made from that is rubbish full stop.

[Psycho Chicken]

You could have a head on in an XY with one, kill the other driver and claim insurance money for a cut and polish on the Falcon! Crumple zones?

[smoo]

Look at the GQ Patrol though, its nearly as bad, even though its size would say other wise. But then again, its chassis dates back to the early '80s and they stopped selling them new in 1998...

China has over 1 billion people, at least this could be a way of population control.

[Age182]

ThaT Is The BIGGEST PIECE OF $h*T

i thort holden was bad when a mechanic at work got hit at 60kms and hit a brick wall and the airbag didnt go off but thats pathetic.

Note: was a VS V6 Com. and was a ride off