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• Daewoo Matiz 3dr
Acriss
code:
MBMR
he Daewoo Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto changed many peoples perceptions of the Korean car giant. Rather than a company that produced re-heated versions of others cast offs, it became a manufacturer that produced smarter cars when it undertook the job itself. The Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto was the first Daewoo that large numbers of the general public would actually countenance purchasing for any reason other than cost of ownership; strangely ironic given that it was Britains cheapest car to run. As a used buy its possible to drive these costs down still further and still have one of the cheekiest Citycars on the road.
Groovy or gormless? You decide.
Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value
The Daewoo Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto was probably the most significant of the South Korean company's wave of fresh products launched in the late 1990s: certainly, it was the most advanced. Take the styling, penned by ItalDesign of Turin. This was the kind of car we read about as children - the kind of car we were told we would be driving in the Twenty First Century. Space for four adults, yet exterior dimensions that enable you to almost park sideways in the garage should you so wish.
Here at last was a Far Eastern citycar without a ridiculously high roofline and aerodynamics akin to a garden shed. Here was a car you could place on your driveway without embarrassment: something you could remove the badges from and place in a much more prestigious showroom. Its also a car that genuinely challenged the class leading European opposition, though sadly it could not do so on equal terms. The Daewoo engineers saw to that by installing a tiny 800cc powerplant under the bonnet, a unit with the same volume as a nice bottle of Cabernet. Certainly, this 50bhp three-cylinder engine was pretty advanced (dramatically so compared to some of the company's other efforts). Without sheer cubic capacity, however, it couldnt provide the long distance refinement and performance of, say, a 1.3-litre Ford Ka or a 1.4-litre SEAT Arosa.
To be fair, both of these rivals were significantly more expensive than the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto, even in their cheapest forms. In any case Daewoo point out, justifiably, that cars of this kind are not normally used over long distances. For one thing, none of them have the luggage capacity to carry more than a few soft bags. The Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto is no different but, unlike the European alternatives, it does at least have five doors opening into a cabin much larger than you might expect.
Despite being 125mm shorter than the tiny Ford Ka, the one-box design means one of the largest citycar wheelbases youll find. This in turn meant class-leading leg, head and elbow room. Refreshingly, Daewoo didnt try to pretend that this is trying to be some kind of cut-price, shrunken MPV. However, it is acceptably versatile, with a 60:40 split rear seat and a low-opening tailgate. The interior wont offend either unless you have an aversion to black or grey plastic. In fact, the fixtures and fittings are pretty much the same as youll find in an upscale Daewoo Leganza which probably reflects better on the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto than the Leganza. Standard equipment on the entry-level SE model runs to twin front airbags, power steering, a two-speaker stereo and metallic paint.
The SE+ version adds central locking, electric front windows, two more stereo speakers, alloy wheels and a roof-mounted rear spoiler. Theres also an air-conditioned version available. When new, the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto boasted the same standard-setting after-sales package common to all Daewoos which basically left the carefree purchaser with zip to pay for the first three years apart from insurance and fuel. No servicing costs, Group 2 insurance and a likely 50mpg average all combine to create a three-year ownership cost of 12.
9 pence per mile which made the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto the UKs cheapest car to run. Buying nearly new allows the buyer to get the best of this package with an even smaller upfront purchase price.
Prices for the Daewoo Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto start at around ?1,200 for a 1998 R-plate SE model. Expect to budget around ?2,900 for a more recent 2003 52-registered example. The better-equipped SE+ variant would start at ?1,300 and reach ?2,600 for a 2002 51-plate model. Pay an extra ?100 for a car equipped with ABS and a ?150 more if it has been specified with air-conditioning.
Insurance is an almost negligible Group 2.
The awards heaped upon the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto all testify to the fact that it hasnt developed any significant faults during its existence. It will in all likelihood have transported children, so check the cabin for rips, stains and other damage wreaked by small hands. The luggage bays should also be examined for evidence of wear and tear. These models should have been exposed to a fair amount of city driving, so check the exterior for knocks and scrapes, and check under the bonnet for accident damage or paint overspray.
Otherwise, the usual reminder to obtain a service history applies. The Daewoo after-sales package is excellent, and a used Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto may well be better serviced than many of its rivals. Avoid high-mileage cars if possible.
(approx based on a 1999 Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto SEi) Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto spares arent anything to panic about. Air filters cost ?7, whilst fuel filters will only relieve you of ?11, and spark plugs are less than ?3 for a full set. A cam belt will only be ?30 to replace. Easy.
The Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto looks as if it a spell behind the wheel would be about as much fun as eating flour. Fortunately it isnt. All right, so rest to sixty takes an age (17.0s) on the way to just 89mph and even slight motorway inclines leave the noisy three-cylinder engine gasping for breath.
Around town, however, its quite nippy enough, with sharp, direct steering and excellent all-round visibility. If the notchy gearbox leads you to enquire about an automatic, however, youll be disappointed; amazingly there isnt one. Daewoo engineers are working on a clutchless manual system. Still, if you want a Citycar for city driving and dont mind changing gear yourself, the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto makes a reasonable case for itself dynamically and excels financially.
This is arguably Daewoos best model yet and, as an inexpensive second car for your family, a used Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto could be just the ticket.
If youre an undemanding driver who is after something cheap and cheerful, the Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto is the best bet around. For light shopping and A to B city jaunts, its compact dimensions and zingy engine work very well. Out on the open road, it becomes a bit engulfed and other rivals with larger engines acquit themselves far more comfortably. As a second car, a used Matiz and Chevrolet Spark rentauto is almost too cheap to turn down.
Its reliable, modern looking, and a nearly new example will confer the peace-of-mind that made it such an attractive new buy. Recommended. |
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