Ssangyong/Daewoo Korando

Hi All
Looking for opinions and perhaps a bit of information on the above.
Having done some research they seem quite a reasonably priced 4x4 in
the UK and I'm looking a getting one.
I don't do any serious off-roading, but do tow my club dive RIB (~1.8
tonnes) and need something that will also be happy retrieving this from

the slipway. The Korando seems to be capable of this and the diesel
variant also seems to offer pretty reasonable economy for when I have
to travel round the country for work.
Anyway, there are two things that are currently concerning me: one is
the spares price and the other is build quality and reliability. So:
Is it possible to buy spares more cheaply if you shop around? i.e.
pattern parts etc?
Also, I understand that whilst they are sold as having Merc engines,
these are constructed on the Pacific Rim under license and aren't quite

as good as the actual Merc built ones. How do people rate the
relability of the mechanical and electrical parts?
Is there any real difference between the Ssangyong/Daewoo variants?
So, is one to avoid? or something that can be reasonably reliable and
with cheap(er) parts if you're willing to shop around?
Any advice/opinions will be much appreciated!
TIA
Andy

[email protected] wrote:
> Hi All
> Looking for opinions and perhaps a bit of information on the above.
> Having done some research they seem quite a reasonably priced 4x4 in
> the UK and I'm looking a getting one.
> I don't do any serious off-roading, but do tow my club dive RIB (~1.8
> tonnes) and need something that will also be happy retrieving this from
>
> the slipway. The Korando seems to be capable of this and the diesel
> variant also seems to offer pretty reasonable economy for when I have
> to travel round the country for work.
> Anyway, there are two things that are currently concerning me: one is
> the spares price and the other is build quality and reliability. So:
> Is it possible to buy spares more cheaply if you shop around? i.e.
> pattern parts etc?
> Also, I understand that whilst they are sold as having Merc engines,
> these are constructed on the Pacific Rim under license and aren't quite
>
> as good as the actual Merc built ones. How do people rate the
> relability of the mechanical and electrical parts?
> Is there any real difference between the Ssangyong/Daewoo variants?
> So, is one to avoid? or something that can be reasonably reliable and
> with cheap(er) parts if you're willing to shop around?
> Any advice/opinions will be much appreciated!

Few comments on
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm

Suggestion is that sources of parts may be limited so shopping around
may not be an option!

Martin

[email protected] came up with the following;:

> I don't do any serious off-roading, but do tow my club dive RIB (~1.8
> tonnes) and need something that will also be happy retrieving this from
> the slipway. The Korando seems to be capable of this and the diesel
> variant also seems to offer pretty reasonable economy for when I have
> to travel round the country for work.

Be aware that when towing, what looks like a reasonable mpg figure is
decimated. The engines are not the most powerful and suffer under load.

> Anyway, there are two things that are currently concerning me: one is
> the spares price and the other is build quality and reliability. So:
> Is it possible to buy spares more cheaply if you shop around? i.e.
> pattern parts etc?

Very limited availability as there's only a relatively (to other 4x4's) few
buyers of the cars.

> Also, I understand that whilst they are sold as having Merc engines,
> these are constructed on the Pacific Rim under license and aren't quite
> as good as the actual Merc built ones. How do people rate the
> relability of the mechanical and electrical parts?

Nice diplomatic way of saying they aren't 'really' Merc's, just badged. A
friend who I trust had three in a row, from new, all of which had a cooling
problem which resulted in head gasket failure. I dunno (couldn't be
bothered to see) if this was a 'they all do that sir' type problem or not.
He won't touch them again.

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!