viking

In my view, MICRO has become one of the most successful companies in Sri Lanka and done so much well compared to many businesses in Sri Lanka during the past few years. MICRO being a car company, in order for them to do well, they essentially need to sell a lot of their products. They have been able to achieve this. It is a fact that you see so many MICRO (SsangYong) vehicles on the road. (Mostly Rexton's and Kyrons) It also seems the majority of the concessionary permits given to government officials were utilised to bring down MICRO/SsangYong vehicles. (Red plate Kyrons are a very common sight on the road) People may be buying MICRO vehicles for various reasons. But numbers itself gives a clear indication that they have become very popular among Sri Lankans. (Probably Sri Lanka is SsangYong's top selling market) SsangYong vehicles are actually not that bad. They are as good or as bad as most of the better established marks. The Rexon in my view is a very handsome 4x4. I do agree that the Actyon has a very odd styling. It looks neither a car nor a SUV. It's a crossover. (The BMW X6 has got a similar body with better styling ofcourse) But it's not like most softroaders. It has a proper ladder frame chassis which makes it a serious 4x4. Going by the way it is constructed, I would assume it to be a lot more safer vehicle to be involved in the unfortunate event of a crash than being in most of the softroaders that are competing in the Actyons market. Ugly it may be to some, but the Actyon has a good road presence in my view. The interior may not be the most inspiring in its class, but it surely is quiet especially for a Diesel. When you close the doors, the cabin is surprisingly quiet and feels cozy. The engines are strong with their Mercedes DNA. The Kyron and the Actyon both use a common engine. Actyon being smaller and lighter, the engine is more responsive and feels more than willing to do its job. (These are first hand experiences I have got) Now the fact we need to keep in mind is, we are not living in USA. Our road conditions are quite different to a developed country and even if you get an Aston Martin, you will hardly get a chance to experience what that car is really intended to do. (Enjoyment will be purely the aesthetics) No car can remain perfect with age. When you get a Brand New vehicle that is peace of mind for several years. Plus you get the warranty for the first 2 years. With age all vehicles will develop problems and rattles. (Whether it's an Actyon or some other vehicle) A 2010 Brand New Actyon will not disappoint the buyer if they can tolerate the crossover shape. It really depends on the individual taste. If you do not intend to put your vehicle to hard use, you could go for a Recon Petrol Softroader. But if you need to cover lot of miles on a daily/regular basis, then you are better off with a Brand New Diesel vehicle which the Actyon will deliver. (It is a workhorse) This is intended to the person who wrote the original post, and I hope this will help.

Hi,.. I am interested to know about the Prado that came after 2003 that was fitted with the 2700cc petrol engine has any problems? The engine may be underpowered, but usually Toyota vehicles and especially the Land Cruiser is quite reliable. I would like to hear experiences and opinions on this model. Also, what would be the price of a 2003 year vehicle in Sri Lanka? (That mostly came brand new) Thanks...

Hi,... I am trying to find out the price of a registered Rexton in Sri Lanka. Please let me know if there are any available for sale. Thanks.

In terms of handling the Montero will definitely be better compared to the Rexton. Montero has all-round independent suspension and most Rexton's come with rear live axel except for the all wheel drive version (AWD). The Montero also has a wider track. With so many units on the road and most of them being put to heavy use especially the government owned ones, one service facility is not at all sufficient to cater and cope with the demand. When there is no competition/alternative it is only natural for the service provider to become insensitive to quality of service, business ethics, pricing etc. (They say, we pay) Spare part suppliers and service/workshops should look into stocking spares for the SsangYong vehicles and get themselves familiar with repairs etc. There is definitely a considerable market for it in Sri Lanka now. Are there any Rexton’s (registered) for sale? Would like to find out if there are any available. Thanks.

Hi,.. fuzzo, pradfred and Supra_N, thanks a lot for the inputs,... I would agree with your experiences. Like Supra_N has pointed, the 3.0L would be a slightly underpowered for the Montero and the obvious reason of its introduction is clear due to high taxes. 3.5 and the 3.8 would be more fitting for the all-round proportions of the vehicle. The export version would naturally be fitted with a stiffer suspension setup compared to the JDM. Therefore, the GDI engine ones can be expected to be more comfortable, I agree. The GDI technology also may deliver better power. If the haunting effects of the most common GDI tech are not found in the Montero, it certainly is a blessing for the Montero. (Bigger engines may not be affected, and may be the GDI technology is really meant for bigger engines) As for the reliability, I wouldn't be surprised that they are well put together. Supra_N, I agree with your opinion about the Rexton being a newer vehicle and being a decent choice. Sometimes there may be a chance of Rexton developing more rattles associated with its suspension assembly. Apart from that the only other factors to consider would be the availability of spare parts in the open market. Because if you have to be solely dependent on the agents, chances are you might not get the best service. I would assume the Montero in comparison to the Rexton would have parts more freely available in the market and does not have to be tied to the agents for everything. But when you compare the purchase price, I feel the Montero delivers more for your money. Since I arrived at this point now, what would be the realistic price one could buy a Rexton in the market today? (I mean, the price the owner would agree to sell and the price the buyer would be willing to pay for it in today's market situation) Not many to been seen advertised when compared to the Montero. Any ideas?

Hi,.. I am researching on the 2003-2004 Montero that came with the 3.0L, 3.5L and 3.8L Multi Point Injection (MPI) V6 engines (Imported Brand New) and the Domestic Model GDI versions. Can someone please let me know the following through own experience. 1. The average fuel consumption (real figures in city driving)? 2. Common problems in the MPI version engines if there are any? 3. Is there a thing called a GDI engine that does not give any trouble when used 95 octane petrol? 4. Any known mechanical problems? (for example with the auto-transmission, suspension, brakes etc.) 5. The current selling price/s depending on the engine type? Also, how the Montero would compare with the Diesel Rextens? (apart from the obvious diesel economy) Many thanks in advance....

With this, if TATA starts building the Range Rover and Discovery in India, does it mean that Sri Lanka will be able to import these vehicles duty free under the new trade agreements as the product being owned and made in India?

The above was a news item on MSN. The truth may not turn out to be very far from this the way things are moving globally. The shift from petrol to diesel is already very clear in Europe though there is not much of a saving as diesel is more expensive than petrol. (UK being the most expensive at close to US$ 2.60 a litre of diesel) But for some reason people opt for the more expensive diesel engines which are not only expensive to buy and also expensive to run. But the shift is eminent as there are more diesel driven vehicles on the road than petrol driven ones. Next step up will be hybrids which are already in mainstream production and on the road. And within the next 10 years, we will see the hydrogen or fuel cell driven vehicles joining mainstream production like we see hybrids today. Finally we all will end up driving fuel cell/hydrogen driven vehicles according to Hyundai. (Which will be very likely)

Twenty-year lifespan for petrol cars (June 2008) It's all about fuel cells and hydrogen, says Hyundai Hyundai is a company tripping all over itself to bring new diesel models to market. In Australia at least, there's an opportunity to establish itself in a market niche so far mostly occupied by some European importers. If Hyundai can be the first of the Asia/Pacific importers to gain a foothold, it will stand the company in good stead for the next several years. Hyundai accepts that by 2030, 50 per cent of automotive production will be fuel-cell powered. As of 2005, 76.8 per cent (or 51 million) of the 66 million cars sold around the world that year were driven by petrol engines. Diesel-powered cars accounted for 22.7 per cent (15 million units) that year and hybrids numbered just 300,000 (0.5 per cent). As for fuel cell vehicles, Hyundai tells us that just 200 demonstration vehicles were built during 2005. But that will all change within 20 years. By 2030, it's the petrol-engined cars that will be numbered in three figures, or less. Diesel vehicle sales will steadily grow between now and the middle of the next decade, at which point, the diesel will be overtaken by hybrids and sales of the compression-ignition vehicles will begin to decline, according to Hyundai. Sales of hybrid-electric cars are expected to grow exponentially between 2010 and 2020 and will be the most popular form of motive power for private cars by around the middle of the decade -- the point at which US ZEV (Zero-Emissions Vehicles) legislation takes effect. From that point, fuel cell vehicle numbers will rapidly accelerate and both hybrids and diesels will begin to lose ground. Hyundai's analysis of future buying trends is heavily predicated on public and private sector entities establishing viable hydrogen resupply infrastructure within a reasonable timeframe. With a diesel-based stop-gap solution already a long way down the track, Hyundai's next developmental stage rests with hybrids. Remember the figure of 300,000 hybrids sold globally in 2005? 76 per cent of those were Toyotas and the lion's share of those were the Prius. By 2012, Hyundai predicts that the global hybrid market will total 2.2 million, of which nearly 1.7 million will be purchased by American consumers, 0.5 million will be sold in Japan and the balance will be sold throughout Europe and other parts of the world. 2012 is a tipping point for hybrids, in the view of Hyundai. At that time, Toyota is expected to offer at least one hybrid variant in every major product range. Ford will develop its own hybrid system and commence manufacture from this year. A consortium formed by GM, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group and BMW will concentrate on the development of plug-in hybrids. Hyundai anticipates going from small-scale hybrid production (Accent and Getz totalling 3390 units between 2007 and 2009) to large scale hybrid production in 2010 -- and the company will diversify hybrid production across the broader product range. Undoubtedly, the Korean company expects to be near the front of the fuel cell game when US ZEV legislation gets into stride. Hyundai sees running costs for fuel cell vehicles virtually halving as the cost of the technology comes down. As a bonus, the fuel cell vehicles produce virtually no CO2. R&D work undertaken by Hyundai has already led to a fuel cell vehicle that will start in -15 degree Celsius temperatures and can withstand a 30mph (48.3km/h) rear-end impact without loss of structural integrity for the hydrogen tank. In the Michelin Bibendum Challenge last year, Hyundai's Tucson-based FCEV entrant beat all other competitors for the lowest noise and fuel consumption, and the company has been working with the US Department of Energy hydrogen and fuel cell commercialisation project. So whilst the company's fuel cell development program is just exactly that at the moment -- a development program -- Hyundai is planning for fuel cell production to commence from 2012. And -- assuming all goes to plan -- what this means for the private consumer: much change over the next 20 years (from petrol to diesel to hybrid to fuel cell), but no capitulation to the 'private cars are a luxury we can no longer afford' lobby.

MAD, You are correct on the German treatment. The new 6 cylinder (V6) CRD engine used in the Jeep Commander is Mercedes sourced and is a very smooth performer. Because of the Daimler Chrysler venture, the engine is a current series MB engine. And I do agree that not all American cars are good. But for people outside the US, these Yank Tanks (Large American SUV's) are an interesting sight and are head turners on the road.

Yes... about the looks of the Commander I agree with you, it's like a Rottweiler dog, you either appreciate it's extreme looks or simply hate even to look at it. Disco 3 and the RR are both lovely cars, RR being the more desirable and also the more dearer one. But the LR reliability issues are still not sorted even in these new models. Whereas the Jeep Commander has no known reliability issues. Anyway... who cares much about reliability when you have a RR. The Jeep Commander is more of a daily runner. A reliable work horse with some extreme looks and some attitude. Once again... it's not for every body.... D I V E R S I T Y

Guys… appreciate your replies …. it put things at ease…. I guess having an open mind is the way to go… Diversity makes things more interesting….

Mate,... I don't understand why you try so hard to point out things to my disadvantage when all I wanted was to share some enthusiasm on a car? It would be just nice to share some good motoring enthusiasm rather than making it a point to argue and offend people. So who are the best makers of your kind of brillient cars?

Ha ha... yes, you are correct in a way.... but the fact is even with the high taxes SL has been living the in the biggest car chapter in it's history in the recent years.... and by looking at the vehicles driven around.... price seem to have no effect on affordability for some.... so the most expensive car in the world can be a common sight in SL...

My dear friend, if you take in to account the fact you can buy a used Hummer H2 for around $ 35,000 or less in US that is costing over 20 million rupees in SL clearly highlights the import duty and taxes nightmare sri lanks are facing...

I quite dissagree with you. I don't think any body should say American engineering is inferior to any other technology unless you are biased on a personal level. It's true the Ferrari did not come from America, but I personally love American muscle cars. If you look around you will find out how many modern SUV's use rear rigid axels. In terms of reliability for a large 4x4 not coming from a Japanese manufacturer Jeep has done a good job especially in the recent lineup that came after it became Daimler-Chrysler. For some one who is looking for a large SUV outside the Jap brands, the X5 and the ML are not going to deliver that road presence and dimensions.

The Jeep Commander is a well engineered luxury SUV by Daimler Chrysler. I am quite suprised it has not become popular in Sri Lanka. Have only seen one on the road and the one that is displayed at the agents (D*M*) down Duplication road. (R A De Mel Mv). This comes with a powerful Diesel engine that puts out a massive torque of 510 NM @ 1600 - 2800 rpm which is even higher than the legendary Chrysler 5.7 L HEMI engine that generates 500 NM @ 4000 rpm. It has the same Mercedes engineering reliability and refinements and a brutal look similar to that of the Hummer H2. Brabus has a division called Startech www.startech.de that tunes Chrysler Jeep. Unfortunately the ever increasing oil prices are driving most of the American manufacturers to cut down their production lines for these SUV's. General Motors (GM) is closing down 4 plants that were producing Hummers. About 17,000 people will lose their jobs in USA by 2010 as a result. So does this mean electric scooters will be the dream machines of the future? www.startech.de

aha… good…. that is your wish….. no harm in that….. I was only clearing out what you said that was contradicting in my post….. this is altogether a different thing you are saying now… which is your opinion and personal preference…. Anyway…… that’s totally cool…..

My friend…. You have clearly not understood what I have said in my post….. what I intended to say was….. now Hyundai (Korean) is in a place which was earlier taken by Toyota and Honda (Japanese). I never meant to say that Japanese cars are bad,… they are proven to be some of the best cars made in terms of build quality. What I was trying to high light was that the Koreans have now come to the same level and this can be clearly seen in many car surveys carried out by reputed organisations in the recent times. I hope this clears your confusion….

Hi,.. Daihatsu is a brand that is also owned by Toyota. The Terios is the original vehicle developed by Daihatsu and this new edition Daihatsu engineers may have developed jointly or with some assistance from Toyota division. The new Terios has a full time 4 wheel drive system similar to the Toyota Prado. So the Rush is merely a rebadged Terios. Paying any thing more for the badges does not make sense to me and above all, you get a warranty only when it’s brand new and delivered by the agents. However, the ride is quite bumpy in the Terios because of its short wheel base. I am sure it is built well with hardly any defects. Fuel efficiency can also be expected to be very good. Overall it’s a good compact 4x4 machine that would be ideally suited for city running mainly and for a weekend excursion. But the price does not make sense to me because I think you can go for a Hyundai Tucson for that price which is a much better vehicle in all aspects.

J.D. Power and Associates: Highest Ranked Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle in Initial Quality - 2006 Tucson: The Hyundai Tucson received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among compact multi-activity vehicles in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Initial Quality StudySM. The study was based on responses from 63,607 new-vehicle owners, measuring 251 models, and measures opinions after 90 days of ownership. In addition, the overall Hyundai brand was deemed the highest ranked non-premium nameplate in the 2006 Initial Quality StudySM and is ranked third among all nameplates.

I feel most SL people are still very conservative minded to look for some thing bright in a Japanese car. Not all Korean made cars are good. But with reasonable confidence I can say that their SUV range starting from 2004 upwards and probably most of the Korean cars made after 2006 especially Hyundai and KIA (which is one company actually) are well built and as a matter of fact, in 2006/7 Hyundai won many awards in USA for reliability of their cars which was earlier Honda Accord and Toyota Camry territory.

Hi,… the Tucson is a good SUV in its segment. It is modern, quite popular in most of its international markets, and offers a good package in terms of space inside and sporty looks outside, features, comfort etc. Reliability should not be an issue. However,… I cannot say any thing about the local agents when it comes to servicing and maintenance. But since there are places and people who can attend to the work of Hyundai cars in SL apart from the agents,…. you should be ok. Only thing is,… the 2.0L is a 2 wheel drive version driven by the front wheels. (A lot of new 2WD SUV’s are like that – soft roaders) The 4x4 version comes with a 2.7 L V6 engine. But if your idea of going for a SUV is for the high seating position, ground clearance and visibility, then the 2.0L 2x4 version is ideal as it is also economical compared to the 4x4 version which is actually a full time 4x4 or an All Wheel Drive (AWD) type. But having said that, if you ever get stuck in a ditch or some thing you will regret for not having the power of all 4 wheels. A lot of people (all over the world) these days go for SUV’s for the reasons you have mentioned. Therefore, if you are already inclined to go for the Tucson (though it’s the most expensive one) you will be happy with it as it’s a modern SUV that will deliver your needs and wants.

Yes,.. you are absolutely correct my friend…. it’s a simple yet a powerful logic the administrators have not been able to see…. OR… may be did not want to see and will not want to see …. which is a clear indication of their intentions….. how sad it is to helplessly and hopelessly be part of a country that is run by administrators with such mentalities…..

Hi,.. this is indeed a good gesture by the government to encourage people to pay taxes. However… I believe it’s not a fully fledged permit scheme as currently it is only limited to small cars. But this is the way to go as the entire state lives thanks to the tax payers and that is what enables to pay for the salaries of most other government people who have got concessions to import much larger vehicles including politicians. Anyways…. For the moment,…. unfortunately the tax payer is only privileged to import a small car for their tax contributions.