China Car Times

I had a Mini Cooper in the US. It is one of the nicest small car your can own. It drives much better than most more expensive sports car and doesn’t have to look the part. I looked at them in Shen Zhen and they wanted 350,000 for a cooper with auto transmission. Such a rip off. I would buy a piece of crap chinese car before I paid double the price of getting on in America.

I had a Mini Cooper in the US. It is one of the nicest small car your can own. It drives much better than most more expensive sports car and doesn’t have to look the part. I looked at them in Shen Zhen and they wanted 350,000 for a cooper with auto transmission. Such a rip off. I would buy a piece of crap chinese car before I paid double the price of getting one in America.

to HONCHO,

Just a suggestion, it won’t be a MINI, but they’re quite competent and getting better… Suzuki Swift (If an SX4 is too big) and just maybe, ask, they’ll bring out the Susuki Swift Sport here in China if Mini is going to release the Cooper S. I read a comparison, Swift Sport, Ford Focus, Cooper Mini S, you might like the Swift.

I want an SX4 and don’t mind the VVT 1.6L Mil, but this lack of AWD version in China is getting me(plus this Rear drum thing when it comes with 4 Discs brakes everywhere else. It’s a trip car cause I don’t bother with City driving and the Wife likes remote villages and places like that, which means not good roads and the SX4 is very competent for this. I hate and don’t need a gas guzzling SUV and again even the 1.6L mil would be ok for light rough roads. Just can’t beleive they don’t have the AWD version. It’s a JOKE considering that AWD is not constantly engaged but engages only when there’s slip.

Given last winter in China you’d think some bright wit at Suzuki might consider that option? Well, check out the Swift. I think the SX4 is better in terms of room and just a 1.6 FWD model might suite you if you’re looking at city.

Oh, and best price on something reliable. Suzuki prices are competitive with Chinese vehicles. I think Zhong Hua, is a decent Chinese vehicle(cost more and a bit underpowered). I read a foreigners review on it. They are the contracted makers of BMW in China…

I wanted SUBURU, a drivers car, with all wheel drive to boot, but it’s two or three times the cost of USA also and with underpowered engines? Like U, I can’t go out like that… I owned a Mitsubishi Clone, Eagle Talon TSI which was the AWD 1st gen Eclipse with Turbo, what I fondly refer to as the BABY EVOLUTION. I’d buy an Evolution(250,000) before I’d pay that price for an underpowered Suburu.

Or course, if the taxes aren’t to high, maybe have a fam member get it in USA, I just saw the 2L mil AWD SX4 in USA for 8gs! When it’s normally 14, 15gs! (VOLUME DEALERSHIP). Now they’ve got a TURBO kit out for the thing but no where to use it in CHINA and the gas cost would be horrendous not to mention that tiny tank is for the 1.6L not the 2L mil. I’m waiting for hop up parts for the 1.6L. Mostly for climbing power. So don’t need anything serious.

There’s a released by Japan suzuki parts, a Supercharger for the SWIFT 1.6L Sport, if you uh drive that way! I’m sure it’s the same mil in the SX4 so will likely fit. Just would rather wait to see what else is available before I’d go that route. It’s not what I need. (The misses has his thing bout remote villages and mountain towns, so just looking for a little hill climbing torque)

Anyway, try a Swift… interesting car with some nice styling. Not a mini, but it’s supposed to be quite good. Read many reports. If I wasn’t after an SX4, I’d probably get one myself.(Actually, I am considering one for my FUN driving but not a major need so it’s way on the back burner as they say. Plus I prefer REAR or AWD. Habit of what I owned before in USA.)