Yesterday, I got the chance to drive a Daewoo as a rental car and here is my review of the Daewoo Nubira.



It lists for $11,699 and I can assure you, I got the almost stripped down version. Heck, it was the only car left to rent in Kansas City, MO!

Driving this car: unpredictable steering. You steer steer steer and it will get there eventually. Just imagine the car is constantly understeering, even when parking in the spaces at the local super market.

Suspension: it holds up very poorly, especially in 45+mph winds, which causes your hands to 'white knuckle', shuffle and saw all over the place, even at 90mph which is kinda scary.

Ergonomics: Poorly designed interior. Even the cupholder knocks into the driver's leg! And don't you dare biggie size anything, or else that cup will just have to fit in your lap. Needless to say, this can accomidate slightly larger people, but without a large appetite.

Top speed: no idea, but it did get up to 100mph downhill. (Sondra did that, I didn't!)

Brakes: they will eventually stop you, but they aren't much use on this car, because the heavily underpowered engine doesn't get you up that fast.

Performance Stats: I brought along Chris S's G-Tech Pro and pulled a stunning 17.86 in the quarter at a whopping 78mph.

Milage: For four hundred miles, blazing at 80mph plus the entire time, we still managed to use only just under a tank and a half. That isn't too bad! So, I can't knock it there.

 

I think what happened here, as still does with many Japanese cars, is that a native Korean car was imported without much consideration of American tastes. Now, the car, in reference to how one lives in Korea, is more than enough, well, since the roads are narrow and one rarely goes over 60mph.

C'mon now, I mean, think of the car for what it is, not what it "should" be. Cuz nothing can be an S2000!!!

 

On the rental car note, I am driving a Ford Escape, V6, and damn, I love the car. It's really quick, lots of guts... interior is a bit cheap, but it is an all round good car. I am even considering buying one as a beater in a few years.