Positive - Viva and Barina review

[myles]

With all the Holden 'made in Korea' bagging going on lately, I was surprised to see CarsGuide give both the Viva and Barina a positive review.

Viva
http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,17642328-27286,00.html

Summary
"There's been a fair bit of negative press about the Viva but it seems misplaced after our time behind the wheel. The car is a cheapie to be sure and should be considered in that context. It ticks most of the boxes for performance, equipment, style, practicality, ride and economy. What more do you want for under $20,000."


Barina
http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,17609127-27286,00.html

Summary
"Performance is quite brisk with one person aboard, though suffers when fully loaded, which is surprising for a 1.6-litre engine...It is also surprisingly adept at cruising the freeways at 100km/h with the only intrusion being tyre roar. It's a nice package backed up by Holden, but has some fierce rivals in this light-car category."

[payaya]

The question remains, have any of you guys owned a Daewoe in the past? Will a rebadged Daewoe be enough to swing you to buy???

How can you go from excelent euros to dodgy korean crap? I feel sorry for the young girl who buys her first Barina, not knowing its a rebadged Daewoe. They maybe of gotten a good review but i can see them coming almost last if not last in a comparo.

Well totally new barina hits the streets, even if its substantially worse than its replacement, it still is all new right???

:bash:

[Pulse 8]

Just bought the other half a new Barina.
Did my homework on both the outgoing European one and the Korean replacement.
No contest. The XC (outgoing model) is far better in all areas especially build quality and interior features.
Needless to say we chased the last of the XC models in silver to match the CV8Z and couldnt be happier with it.
The things that impress me the most are its stability on the highway and the doors have a decent "thud" when you close them, not like the Hyundai Accent that she has just stepped out of.
I recommend anyone out there considering that type of car to grab the last Euro before they dry up.
Happy Cruzin.

[Carby650]

Just bought the other half a new Barina.
Did my homework on both the outgoing European one and the Korean replacement.
No contest. The XC (outgoing model) is far better in all areas especially build quality and interior features.
Needless to say we chased the last of the XC models in silver to match the CV8Z and couldnt be happier with it.
The things that impress me the most are its stability on the highway and the doors have a decent "thud" when you close them, not like the Hyundai Accent that she has just stepped out of.
I recommend anyone out there considering that type of car to grab the last Euro before they dry up.
Happy Cruzin.
Ditto , Pulse 8. Have just done the same thing as the missus was driving the SS to work and it was costing me a small fortune. I looked at both and picked up a new "old" Barina for $14,500 on the road with extras. Whilst being a basic looking car they drive and ride well and have everything you need in a "shopping trolly" type car. I am confident I will be able to pass it down to the kids in 9 years as the perfect 1st car. Don't think you could say the same about the rebadged Daewoo.

[Danv8]

I recently sat in a Viva (just I am too tall for these cars) and I thought it was cheap and nasty.

[Muzzak]

I can see it now MY2008 Monaro. Korean born and bread. Haha.

Cheers,
Muz

[myles]

If that's the case (that they're both nasty POS), what's the best small car buy for around the $15 K price range.

Family member (female) so only wanting an auto.

Toyota Yaris is listed at $16,490 for 3 Door Hatchback auto.
Ford Fiesta LX is listed at $16,990 for 3 door Hatchback auto.

Anyone taken either of those for a test drive?

[HSV,_I_GOT_ONE]

hmmm I'm not even a fan of the outgoing Barina and I shudder to think what this rebadged Daewoo is going to be like.
Both my girlfriend and my mum both have the euro Barina. Mums only has 20,000km on it and is holding up well besides a little suspension noise. My girlfriends on the other hand.....
80,000kms and it has had all the discs replaces, clutch is on its way out, suspension makes the weirdest sound going over speed bumps, the ignition barrell seized on her and all of this has happened only in the last 7 months we have been going out. My other issue with the euro barina is that the parts cost more then parts for my clubsport including just normal servicing.
Build is quite good and the interior still feels tight but as far as mechanical durability and cost of maintanance I'm not really impressed.

[PaulST]

I can see it now MY2008 Monaro. Korean born and bread. Haha.

Cheers,
Muz
Actually it'll probably be American born and bread. And we know what American build quality is like. :(

[Aus8]

If that's the case (that they're both nasty POS), what's the best small car buy for around the $15 K price range.

Family member (female) so only wanting an auto.

Toyota Yaris is listed at $16,490 for 3 Door Hatchback auto.
Ford Fiesta LX is listed at $16,990 for 3 door Hatchback auto.

Anyone taken either of those for a test drive?

Fiesta actually drives nice for a small car believe it or not. German designed aswell. Regarding the Yaris you will never go wrong with a Toyota which is why they are the number 1 car maker in this country.

Cheers

Aus8

[VooDoo]

After seeing my son's mate and his mother after a crash in a barina, my boy and the rest of the family will NEVER get in one. 60kmh crash, car totally written off, the boy has broken pelvis and his mum smashed both knee's, an ankle, internal injuries and wont walk for at least a year. Even then she will limp as the car took 1/2 her foot too. took over an hr to cut them from the car as the front footwells folded up and pinned the legs.

I want a decent amount of steel around me, not a tiny buzzbox.

[myles]

Sorry to hear VooDoo.

Many people are buying small cars on the premise of getting in and out of shopping centres, while the thought of having a crash doesn't come to mind. Having that extra steel and not being in a confined space should be more of a priority to many buyers.

Having driven various Toyota's over the years, I think for a small car, the Toyota would be the best built.

[PaulST]

Toyota which is why they are the number 1 car maker in this country.
Don't get too excited, they're the best selling car maker in the country, not the best. Just give a 4cyl Camry a test drive. :)

Glad to hear that they survived VooDoo. That's a reason why I'll never buy a small car even if I don't need the space, it just can't be safe. I think this we highlighted on the news only a few days ago when a Liberty and Lanos had a crash on a Sydney highway and the Daewoo was a wreak (both occupants were killed) while the Subaru was written off but in far better shape, and importantly none of the occupants were seriously injured.

[Roddy]

After seeing my son's mate and his mother after a crash in a barina, my boy and the rest of the family will NEVER get in one. 60kmh crash, car totally written off, the boy has broken pelvis and his mum smashed both knee's, an ankle, internal injuries and wont walk for at least a year. Even then she will limp as the car took 1/2 her foot too. took over an hr to cut them from the car as the front footwells folded up and pinned the legs.

I want a decent amount of steel around me, not a tiny buzzbox.

Concur. As mentioned in another thread, the missus was rear ended by a Commodore and sandwiched into a ute just before Chrissie. Result?

1 written off Barina, spewing coolant with a twisted chassis and a missus whose back and neck is rooted.
I mildly dinged ute, 1 mildly dinged Commodore, driven away.

[BRISVX]

I echo the above comments on thinking safety first. These cars might be cheap to buy & run, but may prove more costly if you have an accident. You only have to go to the salvage auctions and see the difference between damage to small cars and large cars, and any plans to buy a Viva or Barina would go out the door.

[Marco]

Just bought the other half a new Barina.
Did my homework on both the outgoing European one and the Korean replacement.
No contest. The XC (outgoing model) is far better in all areas especially build quality and interior features.
Needless to say we chased the last of the XC models in silver to match the CV8Z and couldnt be happier with it.
The things that impress me the most are its stability on the highway and the doors have a decent "thud" when you close them, not like the Hyundai Accent that she has just stepped out of.
I recommend anyone out there considering that type of car to grab the last Euro before they dry up.
Happy Cruzin.

The main problem with the outgoing Barina is that you can't get ABS on it for any money. We were looking for a new small car a few months ago and until the new Barina came along, the only really small cars you could get ABS on at a reasonable price were the Getz and the Swift. I was leaning towards the Swift (although my fiancee didn't like the styling) but in the end we decided to just see how we'd go with one car.

[Pickles]

The "new" Viva & Barina are not a patch on the "old" ones, but if you can't get the "old" ones there's not much you can do about it!
The best value & quality is the recently superceded TC Astra "Classic" 1.8 litre,A/c,ABS,T/C, elec windows & mirrors etc etc for under $20k. You may still be able to buy a new one, but stocks must be low by now. If yo can't get a new one, get an ex demo, or ex Holden fleet car etc-there must be a few of them around.
We've done nearly 15k in our Astra Classic now, & what a GREAT car it is-We hope our recently ordered GTO is better though!!
Cheers, Pickles.

[Marco]

Even a low-km used TS Astra would be a better buy than a new Viva - and you could probably get a higher spec model for the same money.

[Pickles]

Even a low-km used TS Astra would be a better buy than a new Viva - and you could probably get a higher spec model for the same money.
My thoughts entirely Marco!!- Several HSV Owner's Club (Vic)members' wives(including mine) have TS Astras & they all say what a great car they are.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Evil LS1]

The Daewoo's that these new (aka rebadged) astras and vectras are based are roundly criticised for woeful dynamics and crap build quality and of course laughable resale value. I can only hope these POS are a disaster for Holden and they jettison this crap back to tip where they belong.

Daewoo means nothing to Australia.