1996 ARO 244 3.2 diesel from Romania

Summary:

It is one of the best off-roaders

Faults:

There are no problems with the car except the vacuum pump.

General Comments:

It's not a fast car (the maximum speed is 120 KPH), but it's very good in off-road conditions.

The engine, despite being a 3.2L, develops only 68 HP, but it has a lot of torque (you can set-off in 4th gear).

The seats are very comfortable, and the back seats have a lot of leg room. However this affected the boot, which is almost the same size as a Daewoo Matiz's boot.

All that being said, it's a very good car. Such a shame they closed the ARO factory in 2006.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th April, 2008

1989 ARO 244 from Romania

Summary:

If you are looking for a good, but also inexpensive SUV, this is it

Faults:

No serious problems with it, other than the right signal lights not always working.

Paint is of low quality.

General Comments:

This Romanian truck was inexpensive to buy, around $1500US, a third of the cost of any foreign 4X4. Maintenance costs are low.

It is excellent for the outdoors, off-roading or gravel roads. It is built like a tank.

It does not compare to a Jeep Grand Cherokee, in terms of luxury and interior options, because it lacks power windows/locks, leather, CD, and it also isn't the smoothest ride. But otherwise it is a great machine.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th January, 2003

6th Nov 2005, 09:06

Hi. The situation is that you must be very lucky to find a good and reliable ARO. In the last years the situation has improved a bit, but the fact that they sell 20 cars a year tells something about the quality. The reality is that most ARO drivers have never heared about the Internet, so they cannot describe their situation. But most of these cars, especially those made more than 10 years ago are of very poor quality. The diesel engines they have were designed in the 1960s and they smoke like a locomotive and burn a lot of oil, not to speak about starting when cold... Reliability and safety inexistent.

We have to admit though that now they make cars with foreign engines which are better, but I still wouldn't buy such a car.

1998 ARO 244 Forester 2.5 turbo diesel from France

Summary:

A real tout-terrain. The best

Faults:

Gear box got tired at approximately 180000 kilometers and needed to be replaced. Easy as it was French in the first place.

Both front seats made noises between 1000 and about 10000 kilometers. I still don't know what that was all about as it stopped mysteriously...

The transmission needs careful checking at 200000 kilometers.

General Comments:

Best 4x4 I've ever driven and I have driven 7 for different periods of time.

Not the quickest on highways, but then again you don't buy this kind of gladiator for racing.

Easy to drive in the city as it is surprisingly compact in size.

Pretty comfortable, but the interior pays tribute to the short wheelbase needed for its 4x4 performance.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st June, 2001

17th Oct 2004, 02:20

I am also Romanian, and not a hater. I brought 2 ARO's to the states and have had no problem with them. Used one on a trip to South America. Great car wished they sold them here.

9th May 2006, 05:04

I also owned a 244, powered by a Polish made engine, named Andoria (2.4 liter, diesel turbocharged). I used that ARO for about 70,000 km, during more than 2 years, and I was very satisfied. Outside the motorways, this ARO is wonderful. There is no place in the whole Romania you cannot rich with it. Andoria are making very reliable engines, according my opinion. ARO 244 is an excellent off-roader, but if it is powered by other engines, not Romanian made ones. This type of ARO is much better off-road car than many other SUV from western manufacturers.

In reply to 9th May 2006, 05:04

6th May 2019, 23:11

A Romanian car made with some Renault components. There is a documentary (unfortunately in Romanian language) about the production of the various ARO models over the years. No longer in production, most of these cars were built in the socialist Romania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1AQEPM46WU

1998 ARO 244 2.7 liter diesel from Romania

Summary:

A high performance bargain. Exactly

Faults:

I had to replace the ignition once, and the radiator started leaking at about 33,000.

General Comments:

Awesome SUV, very good handling in mountains, like hunting... Will buy a new one in 2-3 years again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th April, 2001

1993 ARO 244 Off Road 2.7 diesel from Romania

Summary:

A real off road vehicle

Faults:

Rear transmission makes a lot of noise, also the engine body with squared shapes must be improved.

General Comments:

A powerful engine, very reliable off road, good for driving up mountains.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th April, 2000