1999 Daewoo Matiz SD from India

Summary:

Ultimate car safety and mileage

Faults:

Nothing. I had a Matiz-SD model for 2000, which I used up to 165,000 Kms, but there was no problem, and it is one of the best cars I would like to own.

Last year I sold that and bought another second-hand Matiz model (1999), which was in good condition.

Just three days ago I met with an accident with a Maruti-Suzuki Alto, which dashed straight into the co-driver's side, but nobody was hurt. If I was in another car, it was sure to be a fatal accident, but the Daewoo MATIZ saved me.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 30th June, 2007

30th Jun 2007, 10:47

Lucky it was a tinny Suzuki that hit you! Nothing substantial. I know the Matiz is economical - but I wouldn't call it safe! Look at the results on Euro NCAP safety ratings!

8th Aug 2010, 06:27

My Matiz has done 157k, and I have no mechanical problems with it; it's very cheap to run.

I really like the car. It's comfortable and easy to drive.

There's a few things that I don't like about it, which are the clutch system and the gear shifting (especially from 1st to 2nd).

It never lets me down. A car is a like the human body; if you don't look after it, it will stuff up itself.

1999 Daewoo Matiz Basic Model 0.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good car to drive, nice engine, problems with reliability

Faults:

Car has left me on the road twice. First for a reason unknown, the petrol was disconnected from the engine (this is standard in all cars if there is a crash).

Well, there was no crash, the car just stalled on a roundabout. After three days of thinking, and changing the battery and spark plugs, I realised that there is a small button beside the passengers seat. And when I pressed that button, the automatic safety tool deactivated and car started. Miles were around 43000.

Second time was when a cable between the coil and distribution unit was broken, because it was too close to the accelerator cable. So, the car stalled again and left me in the middle of Dublin traffic. Miles were around 43500.

General Comments:

Nice handling, good space for 4 people, quite fast (for 796cc) most of the time, if you use high revs. I like the interior as well.

Easy to drive in the city and really nice on Irish country roads. Not that good on the motorway, because there is not enough power. This is not a big problem for me, though.

Dual airbags are nice as well, insurance is really dear, but this is Ireland anyway, fuel consumption is around 8l/100km, in miles per gallon it is 35.

So quite a nice car, but not that reliable. Cheap to buy, nice to drive, handles OK.

Engine sound is really nice, though.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 10th July, 2006

17th May 2007, 09:48

51 thousand miles and counting.

So far problems has been:

- Left road twice, unknown the first reason, but just to make sure battery (50 euro), spark plugs (25 euro) were changed.

- Second time the cable between distribution cover and coil broke and had to been changed (10 euro from dealer)

- Then interior light was fixed by me, since it went loose (0 euro)

-Heater unit broke and had to be replaced. I found a person to do this, since it requires some dismantling. Price for heater core was 80 euro and also cooling fan had to be replaced (second hand unit 60 euro), work was 150 euro.

-One oil change + filter, 60 euro

-Tracking, cannot remember the price, maybe 30 euro

-Ignition wire set, because connection was loose to cylinder 2, 28 euro

-Brakes got stuck once, some smoking, but it was fixed by time, so no need to fix the brakes (yet)

Now fuel consumption is around 6.8-7.4 litre / 100km (38 to 42 mpg), so it is OK.

So far I have spent fixing the car in (more or less) 10 000 miles 493 euro including work and parts. I was lucky to find someone to fix the coolant leak from heater, because in store that would not be cheap to fix.

So far so good, but not very rust worthy car, although you have to remember that it is 8 years old, but I think Toyota or Nissan would be better choice.