Are Korean cars doing what Jap cars did in the past?

[KARTer]

Many of us feel that the Korean car makers are going to repeat what Jap makers did when Jap cars started to conquer the car market (at least in terms of mass market) in the 80s/90s. But have Korean car makers really done as much as the Jap in their respective initial period entering the world market?

 

For example, the Datsun 510 (aka Bluebird, forefather of Sunny?) in the early 70s was already considered by many as giving the BMW 2002 (forefather of 3-series)a good run for the money. It had independent suspension and won races against BMWs, Alfas, etc of the day. Even today the 510s are still terrorising 2002 etc on track. Now, do we see any Korean cars doing the same, challenging the BMW todays?

 

Then they had the 240Z, Celica, to fight with the European models with not bad successes on track and in sales.... where are the Korean today, are they doing the same?

 

Having said all this, I still have hope and respect for the Korean brands that they will truly make it not only in sales, but on track also...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datsun_510

 

 

here's the original skyline in the 60s....

 

Edited February 23, 2011 by KARTer

[Yaloryalor]

Unless the jap cars all priced like conti price else how can Korean cars catch up.

[relacker]

get jeremy clarkson to say somthing good about korean cars, s far he has been thashing them

[Friendstar]

personally.... as a normal ah pek consumer,

 

i don't need korean cars to enter racing.

 

i don't need them to squeeze extra 4bhp from a 1.6litre engine just to command an extra premium.

 

i jsut wan them to make value for money cars (especially so in our local motoring context).

[Mike1234]

I would say Hyundai/Kia is very competative now...

 

Targetting in many of the segments of cars now...

 

As for sports segment, Japanese cars still the best (Evos, Type Rs, STIs, GTR, 370Z,RX-8)

 

[Friendstar]

get jeremy clarkson to say somthing good about korean cars, s far he has been thashing them

 

 

 

The tax in UK on cars is very different compared to SG.

 

 

to them, OMV is just it.

 

for us, its 2.27x OMV + COE.

 

 

they enjoy playing games like "buy the cheapest but reliable cars for $2000"

 

 

ask them to try this stunt here, they can barely get a scooter.

[Friendstar]

if i'm in UK,

 

i will never get a KIA/Hyundai

 

 

I'll most likely get a M3.

 

 

PS: i paid in full for my Ody09. it should be sufficient to buy a M3 over there.

[Kiadaw]

if i'm in UK,

 

i will never get a KIA/Hyundai

 

 

I'll most likely get a M3.

 

 

PS: i paid in full for my Ody09. it should be sufficient to buy a M3 over there.

 

Hi bro, compare U.K ( & European countries like Germany, France) will only make you sad lah. Actually the price of new car is even cheaper in US. But the real gems in U.K are the used car market.

 

OMG. GT-R R34, E46M3, Lotus Elige, Supra, & even 80s Ferraris can be bought within 25k sterlings. But that is not the best part. The roads are the stars, especially those mountain turns & hills.

 

& just look at the track options below. See if your saliva will flow down.

UK & Continetal Tracks for track days

Some highlights.

1) Goodwood

2) Sliverstone

3) Spa

4) Nurburgring

 

Not to mention events like goodwood festival of speed, all the motorshows. There are also ice driving, mountain climbings so & so events in Europe.

 

You can make your own kit cars, & race them. So so much to enjoy, & you do not have to be super rich.

 

[Shull]

Hi bro, compare U.K ( & European countries like Germany, France) will only make you sad lah. Actually the price of new car is even cheaper in US. But the real gems in U.K are the used car market.

 

OMG. GT-R R34, E46M3, Lotus Elige, Supra, & even 80s Ferraris can be bought within 25k sterlings. But that is not the best part. The roads are the stars, especially those mountain turns & hills.

 

& just look at the track options below. See if your saliva will flow down.

UK & Continetal Tracks for track days

Some highlights.

1) Goodwood

2) Sliverstone

3) Spa

4) Nurburgring

 

Not to mention events like goodwood festival of speed, all the motorshows. There are also ice driving, mountain climbings so & so events in Europe.

 

You can make your own kit cars, & race them. So so much to enjoy, & you do not have to be super rich.

 

And no govt red tapes too...

[KARTer]

And no govt red tapes too...

 

one thing they have similar to sgp in london (maybe they copy-cat?) is 'congestion charge': it works this way -- if you drive in CBD during certain time of the day, you must go convenient store / ATM machine to pay 20pounds flat (or there about) within the next 24 hours regardless you enter CBD once or many times on that day ............. no need high-cost ERP gantries (like what we have here), just cameras on road sides to take random photo and heavy fines if caught not paid up in 24 hours....