Used Daewoo Nubira review: 1997-2003
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Used Daewoo Nubira review: 1997-2003

Daewoo is a dirty name in the local auto business, perhaps not fair. The company followed Hyundai, when Korean cars were cheap and fun, nothing more than disposable appliances, and disappeared just as quickly amid the collapse of the Korean economy.

The brand no longer exists here on its own, but it remains on our roads in the form of Holden Barina, Viva, Epica and Captiva. Daewoo makes them all in Korea.

Ask anyone what they think of a Daewoo and they'll probably laugh, but many of the same people will probably drive a Holden-branded Daewoo without even realizing it.

WATCH MODEL

Daewoo began to produce cars already supplanted by Opel. Under license from a European automaker, they produced Commodore versions, but it was the Daewoo Opel Kadett version that first brought it to the attention of local car buyers.

Although it was designed by Opel and looked like Opel, the Korea-built Daewoo 1.5i didn't look much like Opel. He was plain and simple and lacked the sophistication of his European cousin.

Here, it hit the market at a low price that attracted the attention of buyers who would otherwise have bought a used car. It wasn't a bad deal if all you could afford was an old rusty jalopy that was long outdated.

But like other Korean brands, Daewoo wasn't ready to be cheap and cheerful forever, it had ambitions beyond the bottom end of the market, and subsequent models like the Nubira reflected those ambitions.

The Nubira was introduced in 1997 and was a huge step up from the cars that came before it.

It was a small car, similar in size to a Corolla, Laser, 323, or Civic, and came in sedan, station wagon, and hatchback variants.

He was pleasantly plump, with generous curves and full proportions. There was nothing special about his appearance, but at the same time there was nothing about him that offended the eye.

There was room for four comfortably inside, but in a pinch, five could be squeezed in.

There was ample head and leg room front and rear, the driver could find a comfortable driving position and had controls that were sensible, logically placed and accessible, while the instruments were clear and easy to read.

Oddly for an Asian car, the turn signals were mounted to the left of the European-style pillar, indicating the company's ties to Opel.

The Nubira was a conventional front wheel drive car. It originally had a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, double-overhead-cam engine that produced 78kW and 145Nm, but was joined in 2.0 by a 1998-litre Holden-built engine with 98kW, 185Nm.

Its performance with either engine was not surprising, although the extra torque of the larger engine made driving more enjoyable.

Buyers could choose from a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. Again, they were adequate, although the manual shifting was slurred and sloppy.

At launch, the range was limited to the SX sedan and wagon, but expanded in 1998 when the SE and CDX joined.

The SX was fairly well equipped for its class with standard cloth trim, CD player, central locking, power mirrors and windows, fog lights.

The Air was added to the list in 1988, the same year that the SE and CDX appeared.

The SE boasted an air system, power front windows, CD player, cloth trim and central locking, while the top CDX also featured alloy wheels, front and rear power windows, power mirrors and a rear spoiler.

A 1999 update brought the Series II with a driver's airbag and adjustable steering wheel.

IN THE SHOP

The Nubira is generally solid and reliable, though perhaps not up to par with class leaders like the Corolla, Mazda 323 and other Japanese models.

Body squeaks and rattles are fairly common, and interior plastic parts are prone to cracking and breaking.

It is important to request a service book as many owners of these vehicles tend to ignore the need for service. Services could be completely ignored, or they could be done cheaply by the backyard to save a few bucks.

Failure to change the oil can lead to carbon buildup in the engine, which can lead to premature wear of areas such as the camshaft.

It is also important to replace the timing belt as recommended, as they have been known to break, sometimes before the replacement point of 90,000 km. If you can't find evidence that it has been modified, consider doing so as a precaution.

Even though they have gone off the market, spare parts for Daewoo models are still available. Many original Daewoo dealers still take care of them, and Holden was keen to make sure the owners were not disappointed when they included the brand in their portfolio.

IN ACCIDENT

Airbags are the number one safety feature to look for in a car, and the Nubira didn't get them until 1999, when they were equipped with a driver's airbag. This makes models made after 1999 preferable, especially if they are driven by a young driver.

IN THE PUMP

Expect to get 8-9L/100km, which is average for a car of this size.

SEARCH

• modest performance

• good economy

• achievement list

• airbags after 1999.

• bad resale

BOTTOM LINE

• Rugged, reliable, affordable, the Nubira is a good buy if the badge doesn't bother you.

EVALUATION

65/100

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