Great Wall Motors

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Spammy

Agreed - the styling is actually pretty good.

I havent got a shed of respect for Great Wall simply because of the styling. Theres no original thought in their mismatched ideas of how to take 2 existing vehicles and restyle them into a new one. Seems to be a plague amongst Chinese manufacturers.

[FPVGT500]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I havent got a shed of respect for Great Wall simply because of the styling. Theres no original thought in their mismatched ideas of how to take 2 existing vehicles and restyle them into a new one. Seems to be a plague amongst Chinese manufacturers.

So very true, you should see the carbon copy of the Mercs the chinese are making its an abortion!! I'll try and find a link for it or maybe someone can beat me to it.

[just_pazz]

http://fordauthority.com/2012/02/clo...ca-from-china/

Check that out.

[Franco Cozzo]

Supervisor at work just bought the diesel SUV and a diesel dual cab, interior is a bit dodgy/low quality.

[2011G6E]

I'm old enough to remember when people still laughed at those tinny funny looking Japanese cars, so I always take the knocking that Chinese stuff like Chery and Great Wall with a rather large grain of salt...

No idea why we get some of the odd looking Chinese cars...go to some of the manufacturers websites in China and you'll see they make some very stylish looking cars and four wheel drives.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by davway

Seems the X240 is Petrol and the X200 is the Diesel version - seems a bit odd to have a different badge just for the Diesel.
You would think the X200 to be a lower spec (200 is less than 240).

Anyway, i dont mind the look of them, the Diesel seems OK on paper as well.
Id actually consider one when they reach rock bottom prices like SSanyond did when they were new here.
4 year old Diesel for $7000..... great second run around.

Yeah, it is a bit of an odd naming convention, comes from the donks I believe. The petrol is a 2.4 and the TD is a 2.0.

As for styling, the original GW ute front wasn't a pretty sight, hence plenty of aftermarket roo bars to hide it but the current one is every bit as good as the other ute's in it's class.

Always thought the X240 was decent looking though.

I'd be interested in the X240 if it had a TDi and auto for the missus.

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

the best part of the price is the money you save can go to paying centerlink for all the workers who lose there jobs! bully!!

Tell me, which Australian workers make a 4X2 or 4X4 light commercial vehicle?

Don't say the Falcon ute and Commodore ute. They are hardly the same market as the GWM utes or Hiluxes or Tritons.

[Springfield_Johny]

Originally Posted by graham_h

Oh dear

2 stars....

How many stars for a 10 year old hilux, rodeo etc?

[Nikked]

the last rodeo only had 3, and the colorado has 3...


Given that the v240 was given 2 stars on the basis of the seatbelt issue, that having been fixed should suggest its tested again.

I wouldn't be surprised if it could get 3...

after all, the x-series cars have 4 stars...

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Nikked

the last rodeo only had 3, and the colorado has 3...


Given that the v240 was given 2 stars on the basis of the seatbelt issue, that having been fixed should suggest its tested again.

I wouldn't be surprised if it could get 3...

after all, the x-series cars have 4 stars...

I honestly have no idea how many stars our G6E has, it never even crossed our mind. I imagine our 1982 Celica, by modern standards, has less than one star. I don't even want to consider what our '82 WB V8 Ute would be...

I'd hazard a guess that how many stars a car has is very very low on the list of what people are worried about when buying a car...certainly less than motoring journalists make out. Before we made up our minds on buying the G6E, we visited various dealers...Suzuki, Subaru, Holden, Mazda, Toyota, Mitsubishi...and not one of them even mentioned how many stars the various cars we were asking about had. Some mention was made of how many airbags, but star rating? Meaningless. Hit something big and heavy enough with your five star car, and you'll be just as dead.

[Nikked]

I dont think stars matter to some buyers, they just see "dual airbags" and then its safe enough.

The average person wouldn't think about passive safety, crumple zones and pretensioner detonation time...

[Bossxr8]

Despite all the who har about safety rating and all that jazz the reality is safety is usually a pretty low point of interest to buyers.

Ford had the curtain airbags as an option on some FG's and the take up rate was pretty low, safety packs usually aren't anywhere near as popular as upgraded stereos, bigger alloys and all that stuff that people love. Other manufacturers say the say thing.

Avoiding a crash in the first place is better than being in a crash in a 5 star car.

[Scott]

I put a bit of effort in looking at a GW V240 Dual Cab 4x4 about a year ago, here's what I found:

The engine was equivalent to a 1992 Triton, not a new one. It was abysmal then and it has only gotten worse;
The gearbox was woeful;
The steering was fairly tight until you got halfway around a turn - then it went "weightless/no feel";
The seats were leather of some kind, but uncomfortable, unsupportive crap really;
I can't recall where the chassis was from, but the body and doors were either done from Isuzu presses or were good copies to look at.
All doors and tailgate felt too light and tinny, even compared to Rodeo etc;
The headlights were direct VW parts bin;
The dash was obviously Isuzu/Rodeo;

On the whole, it was a very cheap 4x4 Dual Cab to buy. Dramatically cheaper than anything else around at the time.

On the whole, it was ok'enough looking (esp with bull bar, rear step etc) to hide the ugly bits.

On the whole, it was horrible and not worth the cheap price tag purely because I think you would regret the day you bought it for as long as your **** pointed to the ground.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Scott

I put a bit of effort in looking at a GW V240 Dual Cab 4x4 about a year ago, here's what I found:

The engine was equivalent to a 1992 Triton, not a new one. It was abysmal then and it has only gotten worse;
The gearbox was woeful;
The steering was fairly tight until you got halfway around a turn - then it went "weightless/no feel";
The seats were leather of some kind, but uncomfortable, unsupportive crap really;
I can't recall where the chassis was from, but the body and doors were either done from Isuzu presses or were good copies to look at.
All doors and tailgate felt too light and tinny, even compared to Rodeo etc;
The headlights were direct VW parts bin;
The dash was obviously Isuzu/Rodeo;

On the whole, it was a very cheap 4x4 Dual Cab to buy. Dramatically cheaper than anything else around at the time.

On the whole, it was ok'enough looking (esp with bull bar, rear step etc) to hide the ugly bits.

On the whole, it was horrible and not worth the cheap price tag purely because I think you would regret the day you bought it for as long as your **** pointed to the ground.

As i said, no idea why we get the ugly cars here...they do one that's a knock-off of what looks like a relatively new Hilux, as well as some other good looking vehicles...why they chose these ones to export first is beyond me...

[Bossxr8]

Might have something to do with infringements from stealing designs. They can get away with it in China because Chinese courts always favour Chinese companies, but its a different story if they export.

I think it was BMW that sued one Chinese company for stealing designs, didn't win in a Chinese court but had them banned from selling cars in the EU in a European court.

[zaneabel]

We currently have 3 customers with Great walls. Seats are like the "C" class mercedes / Park benches. And well, they're acceptable IMO for the price, but you really need to drive one to see for yourself.

None of them have over 16000km yet, so no faults to list personally (that i have witnessed) customers have had complaints about certain faults, but have not shown whilst in the shop.

Eg. centre console screen display showing all number "8's".

Flat spots whilst accelerating, engine cranking issues on the petrol engines.

We have 2 latest software scan tools with Greatfall software fitted, and neither communicate with the system OBD or specific

[nickdl]

Originally Posted by zaneabel

Eg. centre console screen display showing all number "8's".

Chinese lucky number!!!!

[janddbone]

Best to stick with Isuzu, Ssangyong or even Mahindra...

[buickman]

Originally Posted by zaneabel

We currently have 3 customers with Great walls. Seats are like the "C" class mercedes / Park benches. And well, they're acceptable IMO for the price, but you really need to drive one to see for yourself.

None of them have over 16000km yet, so no faults to list personally (that i have witnessed) customers have had complaints about certain faults, but have not shown whilst in the shop.

Eg. centre console screen display showing all number "8's".

Flat spots whilst accelerating, engine cranking issues on the petrol engines.

We have 2 latest software scan tools with Greatfall software fitted, and neither communicate with the system OBD or specific

I've heard the supplied door panels to repair these cars are not lining up as they should if involved in an accident and repaired by the panel shops.

[BPXR6T]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Ive driven one of the dual cab utes and the gearbox has to be the most agricultural thing I have ever used, just terrible and hill starts dont bother.

Didnt really pay much attention to the rest (interior etc) but the driveline sealed it for me.

If you want to experience agricultural then drive my D22 Navara, worst gearbox ever. Almost as bad as my 60yr old grey fergie tractor.

I've noticed a few of these great wall utes getting around out bush. No bad reports yet. The only bad report I've heard so far was from a typical one eyed toyota fan boi which I took with a grain of salt.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by brett.r.johnstone

Best to stick with Isuzu, Ssangyong or even Mahindra...

Based on what? Speculation? misinformation etc?

[babyf6]

Life was better when there was government subsidies.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Nikked

I dont think stars matter to some buyers, they just see "dual airbags" and then its safe enough.

The average person wouldn't think about passive safety, crumple zones and pretensioner detonation time...

If I could change 'average person', to 'prospective cheap 4wd workhorse buyer' then you've got it right.

Those who want a cheap 4wd ute/tray would be Farmers and Tradies.

Most of them would want airbags, crumple zones and big trendy ANCAP numbers on their family car, but couldn't give a toss about that sort of thing on their work/Farm vehicle.

Farmers usually just want something cheap that they can open the doors and hose out when it gets really grubby.

[Nic85]

Farmers also want something reliable that's going to have a long service history. I can't see too many of them giving up their Landcruisers for a Great Wall V200.

[Nikked]

Seen lots of tradies do it though...

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Nic85

Farmers also want something reliable that's going to have a long service history. I can't see too many of them giving up their Landcruisers for a Great Wall V200.

If you live in the city you wont, but in the bush many already have.

Oh, and the words 'service', and Farmer don't usually go together in the same sentence

[Nic85]

Well there ya go. What's the old saying? There's no accounting for taste... .

[letmeinplease]

No good!! Mate's dad brought one and nothing but problems

[Iggypoppin']

If I was starting a small construction company and had say two guys employed full time and needed a rough work ute just for kicking around bunnings and picking up bits and bobs, I'd buy the great wall for sure. Cheap and basic and I wouldn't mind throwing the keys to the boys to drive it around too. At 20 odd grand it can get as scratched and dented as I liked and I wouldn't fret at all.
Once the business got off the ground and more capital was available I'd maybe look at better utes but if the great wall proved itself I might buy another. Give things a chance I say, no harm in that.

[wrongwaynorris]

[QUOTE=davway]Seems the X240 is Petrol and the X200 is the Diesel version - seems a bit odd to have a different badge just for the Diesel.
You would think the X200 to be a lower spec (200 is less than 240).

Diesel is 2 litre , petrol is 2.4 litre .