Sports Car Shopping With China Car Times
China Car Times has reached that point in a mans life, where everything is seemingly perfect, the mortgage is paid, the wife has a decent job that keeps her busy and away from my wallet, I have a decent job that keeps me busy and leaves me with a bit of spending money once the monthly bills are paid. I have no kids, nor do I (we) want them any time soon, thus it has been decieded that is a perfect time to own a SPORTS CAR.
The Chinese/foreign definitions of a sports car is clearly different, foreign sports cars usually have massive engines, 4.0 V6′s etc, Chinese are more likely to be in the 2.0l range and size wise will be a fraction of the size. Nothing would please us more than to cruise Chinas roads in a Holden V8, 2008 Dodge Charger or a Ferrari, but with sports cars comes big fuel bills, and big fuel bills are something China Car Times would like to avoid.
China Car Times has been looking at the current ‘sports cars’ on the Chinese car market, and would like to share them with our dear readers.
Mazda 3 Hatchback
The Mazda 3 hatchback is about to be launched onto the Chinese market place alongside its saloon brother. Except one major difference, the hatchback version is a fully Japanese model, imported into China (complete with tax) and STILL costs the same as the Chinese made saloon version.
Why we like: Cheap, at 170,000rmb for the 2.0l sports model that has either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed autobox. Produces 150bhp. Its built in Japan.
Brilliance Coupe
The first adventure into sports car land for Brilliance Autos, China Car Times loves the side profile and rear of the Coupe, but the front end seems to be an after thought.
Why we like: Looks great. Self developed 1.8 Turbo assisted engine under the hood. Great interior – full leather seats, decent dash, lots of equipment on the top 170,000rmb model. Downside: That front end, and the rear windscreen wiper. Also the engine only produces 136bhp for what is essentially a big heavy car.
SouEast Lancer
The Lancer is the thing of street racing dreams, we could drift corners, hand brake turns on hairpin bends, but probably only in the Japanese version. The Chinese version of the Lancer is essentially a seventh generation Lancer, but made a little prettier for the Chinese market.
Why We Like: Its cheap at 100k RMB, full leather seats. Downside: Everything else except the price, its got a tiny 1.6l engine producing 100bhp. The interior is very spartan, lots of plastic. These cars are popular with Chinese boy racers who think they are the worlds best drivers.
MG7
China Car Times was possibly unfair to the MG7 when it was first launched, but now more of them are seen on the roads everyday, we find ourselves thinking “Hey, that ten year old car looks pretty damned decent!” especially in dark purple, shown above, albeit the MG7 V8 version.
Why we like: Its British. Its 1.8T, like the Coupe. Its cheap at 170,000rmb but 180,000rmb the automatic version. Its easy on the fuel, with a reported 6.2l per 100km, it looks excellent, oh and it has 162bhp. Downside: That faux wood dashboard could only find love from an older Gent.
Hyundai Coupe
The Hyundai Coupe is popular pretty much all over the world. The Brilliance Coupe was accused by some on China Car Times of copying the Coupe, but the two really do have distinctive individual looks. The 2.0l Hyundai Coupe falls into the China Car Times budget quite easily, although the 2.5 V6 one is way off our budget!
Why we like: Looks good, leather interior, made in Korea. Downside: Made in Korea - thus has import tax embedded in the price. Already a popular car in China with women drivers.
Although the above selections mix sporty sedans and hatchbacks with 2/4 seater coupes, you can see the line of thought that China Car Times is going down. Are there any other China made, or sold sports cars that China Car Times readers may suggest? Anyone who dares to sully the comment box with suggestions of either the Beauty Leopard, or the BYD F8 will be dealt a swift punishment. The rules are easy, sub 200k RMB, sold or made in China, sporty, looks good. CCT readers, start your suggesting engines.
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Haha, quite an elegant way to describe an MG
I was just thinking about the repair issues if a car was imported (especially with my F.O.R.D. -Fix Or Repair Daily back home) – would need to load the trunk and backseat with spare parts before shipping….
Good luck with the Brilliance coupe or MG7! Would love to hear your first week impressions if you get either one.
Liked the idea, but what about for us rugged SUV lovers?
I’d love to know what your thoughts were for those of us that would venture to drive it from Beijing to Nepal and back. Cheaply.
As a longtime resident of Chengdu, I have seen many more sporty-looking cars than the several shown here. As a car guy in the USA, I am perhaps more aware than most how RELATIVE terms like “sports” and “luxury” really are when applied to the Chinese auto market. But really, if it has more than two doors it is not a sports car by any real definition. “Sporty” perhaps, “Sporty looking” is more accurate, but you can’t buy anything close to a sports car in China for the price parameters you’ve defined. Don’t get me wrong, I love China and love watching the booming growth of a truly wonderful car culture here. I am disappointed that I don’t see more “pocket rockets” here, but understand regulations and limitations on HP, MPG, etc. I am fortunate to have found good deals on an Audi TT and a quirkly little Peugeot coupe, which I both enjoy driving in the countryside on my rare chances to do so. I realize these are out of your stated price range, but really guys, shop hard and buy a used, but true sports coupe….
Amused by suggestions to import a vehicle to China. Trust me, gentlemen, I’ve checked into it seriously and the fees involved alone go way over Mr. Ash’s stated price parameters for PURCHASING a vehicle. Never mind the maintenance and fuel concerns which are not always as simple as one would might suppose. Buy whatever you buy in China and leave it there. On a more positive note, the quality and relative low cost of maintenance and body work, if you can find a good mechanic/body shop, are some of my favorite things about this growing car culture.
Hey Joe,
I live in Chengdu too – used Audi TT? How much that run you here? I’ve been looking at selling off my ol Jetta and picking up something more sporty in the few-hundred K (rmb of course.) and was looking at a new RX-8…but after careful consideration I think it might be a better idea to get something used and suck up the fact it might be sold in a couple years and prefer not to eat the depreciation.
Any info as to where you picked it up, let me know. I do have a good mechanic, but not sure where to find quality used cars. The car market in the south seems pretty shady.