Dispelling myths
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simo1863

Original Poster:

1,934 posts

158 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
On a day where I struggled to get the brand new Dacia Duster I have on trial to start (I have absolutely zero confidence in that engine now and consider it's in a lot of Renault, Nissan and now even Mercedes products) I was surprised to see an article about how the new Chinese built Qoros 3 achieved a 5* NCAP rating and is 'best in class'.

Have they turned a corner?
Learnt something from their Korean competitors perhaps.

I still think it will be decades before anyone will get one because it's fast or drives very well but it's certainly a sign of progress although KIA/Hyundai already have the market in the 'fast growing, long warranted, much better than you'd expect, alternative cars' niche.

I can't say I want to buy one but I'm no longer of the opinion that a Chinese car would instantly implode in an accident (if you could get it started).

I'm certainly not keen on the Dacia.

Toaster Pilot

14,867 posts

188 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
What was the problem? Not heard of many complaints yet so I'm interested.

Kia/Hyundai have the warranty but you pay for it in over-inflated servicing costs. I have a previous model Rio (2010) and it's falling apart at 25k miles too.

simo1863

Original Poster:

1,934 posts

158 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
no idea, turned the ignition and it just wouldn't catch for a few tries, it then started, spluttered and cut out then eventually (with foot fully depressed on the accelerator) it got going.

It's a 63 plate, done less than 2k miles

Toaster Pilot

14,867 posts

188 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
Wow - my Kia does that if it's been sitting for a couple of weeks, but I wouldn't expect it from a new car in normal use!

jjones

4,489 posts

223 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
simo1863 said:
no idea, turned the ignition and it just wouldn't catch for a few tries, it then started, spluttered and cut out then eventually (with foot fully depressed on the accelerator) it got going.

It's a 63 plate, done less than 2k miles
sounds like it was flooded then (foot fully depressed usually stops fuel flow on start up I think). had you started and stopped the car at all before this (e.g. to move it a few yards)?

simo1863

Original Poster:

1,934 posts

158 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
jjones said:
sounds like it was flooded then (foot fully depressed usually stops fuel flow on start up I think). had you started and stopped the car at all before this (e.g. to move it a few yards)?
Nope, it had the usual 32 mile commute last night that most of the trial cars get and then nothing until this morning. I started it no different to anything else but it just didn't want anything to do with it.

I can't imagine all of them being like that and I've driven a Juke, Qashqai and Clio with the same engine that didn't seem so bad to be honest. Maybe they just give the ones at the bottom of the bin to Dacia.

Anyway, the Qoros 3. I'll see if I can get one in to offer an opinion to have a go but I'm fully booked until about May/June.

Spare tyre

12,581 posts

160 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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no ones mentioned top gear yet. This ends all motoring arguments!

conkerman

3,517 posts

165 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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Petrol or diesel engine?

simo1863

Original Poster:

1,934 posts

158 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
it's the 1.5 dci in the Renault/Dacia/Nissan or the 1.5 CDI in the Mercedes.

HTP99

25,271 posts

170 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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So from one experience of the car not starting you have "zero confidence" in that engine now, this engine has been used by Renault for over a decade, Nissan for around 5 years and now Mercedes, wow you must be hard to please!!

PaulJ37

121 posts

162 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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Im a fan of the new MG products so am with you on the Chinese thing. The new Qoros brand is very interesting too.

Fair enough, the MG6 scored 4 out of 5 stars in its E-NCAP but that doesnt make it the death trap that some people try to make out. Its the same as that new BMW electric thing.

The MG3 is yet to be tested but if the leaps made in design, styling and construction are anything to go by then it should do ok.

The Chinese are coming, it looks like weve gotta get used to it.

berlintaxi

8,535 posts

203 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
HTP99 said:
So from one experience of the car not starting you have "zero confidence" in that engine now, this engine has been used by Renault for over a decade, Nissan for around 5 years and now Mercedes, wow you must be hard to please!!
Not really, just an attention we who likes boasting about the cars he gets from work.rolleyes

simo1863

Original Poster:

1,934 posts

158 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
HTP99 said:
So from one experience of the car not starting you have "zero confidence" in that engine now, this engine has been used by Renault for over a decade, Nissan for around 5 years and now Mercedes, wow you must be hard to please!!
Maybe I was being a bit harsh. I've tried it in other things and it seems OK. The Dacia does seem a bit ropey.

It smells a bit funny now as well after I unknowingly stepped in the dogs leavings this morning.

Nikko 40691

841 posts

220 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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My 1.4 tdci 63 plate Fiesta does that too. :/

Found
On
Roadside
Dead

Baryonyx

18,287 posts

189 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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Qoros 3? What the hell is going on with that steering wheel?


aka_kerrly

12,505 posts

240 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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So what exactly are you getting at? That even with modern production methods, better materials, tighter quality control that because of one occasion an engine fails to start that all of the same engines are untrustworthy?

You make it sound like in the history of cars you are the first person to ever have a new car not fail on you - if only that was the case.

Have you given Dacia an opportunity to have a look at the car and decide what the fault might be?

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

219 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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PaulJ37 said:
Im a fan of the new MG products so am with you on the Chinese thing. The new Qoros brand is very interesting too.

Fair enough, the MG6 scored 4 out of 5 stars in its E-NCAP but that doesnt make it the death trap that some people try to make out. Its the same as that new BMW electric thing.

The MG3 is yet to be tested but if the leaps made in design, styling and construction are anything to go by then it should do ok.

The Chinese are coming, it looks like weve gotta get used to it.
I've got an MG6 & had it for just over 6 months now. Since I've had it, I've had to fill up the washer bottle twice & I've also had to put some air in the tyres. A couple of days ago, for some strange reason, the clock on the screen decided it was midnight rather than 10am, however it then must have picked up the RDS or whatever as it sorted itself out. It's got the 1.8 turbo K-Series petrol engine in - it hasn't used any oil yet, but I'm sure it's about to overheat or something.

Quite frankly, it's an unreliable deathtrap.

Of which I'd buy another tomorrow if I was buying a car tomorrow (which I'm not but you get my point).

PaulJ37

121 posts

162 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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northwest monkey said:
I've got an MG6 & had it for just over 6 months now. Since I've had it, I've had to fill up the washer bottle twice & I've also had to put some air in the tyres. A couple of days ago, for some strange reason, the clock on the screen decided it was midnight rather than 10am, however it then must have picked up the RDS or whatever as it sorted itself out. It's got the 1.8 turbo K-Series petrol engine in - it hasn't used any oil yet, but I'm sure it's about to overheat or something.

Quite frankly, it's an unreliable deathtrap.

Of which I'd buy another tomorrow if I was buying a car tomorrow (which I'm not but you get my point).
Haha you like it then?!! Id love one if I had the cash at the minute.

Funnily enough, in my old ZR, my CD player (although aftermarket) used to sometimes not return to 0:00 at midnight! Sometimes Id get up for work and it would be reading 36:12 or whatever. Weird.

Spare tyre

12,581 posts

160 months

Friday 10th January 2014
quotequote all
northwest monkey said:
I've got an MG6 & had it for just over 6 months now. Since I've had it, I've had to fill up the washer bottle twice & I've also had to put some air in the tyres. A couple of days ago, for some strange reason, the clock on the screen decided it was midnight rather than 10am, however it then must have picked up the RDS or whatever as it sorted itself out. It's got the 1.8 turbo K-Series petrol engine in - it hasn't used any oil yet, but I'm sure it's about to overheat or something.

Quite frankly, it's an unreliable deathtrap.

Of which I'd buy another tomorrow if I was buying a car tomorrow (which I'm not but you get my point).
sounds like my old 406, 330 on the clock and everyone was telling me they were amazed that i'd managed to drive from work

Sodding thing went through about 3 pairs of wipers and all sorts!


HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

212 months

Friday 10th January 2014
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Sounds like a dud. I've known friends and colleagues with that 1.5 dCi engine in everything from a Clio to some massive Nissan thing, not heard of a real problem.
One Clio on over 200k miles, still returning over 50 mpg.

Only issue was a Megane on which some sort of sensors conked out, then the injectors got gunked up. Turns out colleague bought it new, took it for its free six month service, then didn't service it again for over 4 years. Hardly surprising.