1999 Daewoo Lanos S review from Korea

At 60K miles you MUST replace the belts on the engine. I was strongly warned by Daewoo when the were in business and by Chevrolet (my dealer for a while) that at or after 60K miles, the belts can wear out. They cost less than $20, but if they break while driving, they can cost you your engine. They are easily available, even now (2008)

The wiring plug in the headlights would wiggle loose sometimes. We added a fastener to hold it in place. Less than a dollar and no problems since.

Leaves collect under the hood and can block the air conditioning vent. If you don't clean the leaves out every so often, the air conditioning can back up and vent steam into the car. Steam looks like smoke, so it is disconcerting!

Car is somewhat airtight. (is that a good thing?) So I have to have the windows open or the fan on all the time or it gets stuffy.

Brakes are intermittently spongy. They work perfectly well, but even with new pads, I just have to press a little harder than normal once in a while. A bit disconcerting.

The paint on the rear bumper has faded and discolored. The rest of the car paint is fine. It is only the bumper. (Which has never been hit)

The trunk lid channels rainwater into the trunk on the sides. If you open the trunk during or right after rain, you do get some water inside the trunk.

After 8 years, 60K miles, the driver side seat is starting to sag a little. But I am a heavy person.

I love my car. Sure it isn't a luxury model, but it has been a good solid reliable car, even though I drive it hard and don't keep up the maintenance so well.

I get 22 miles to the gallon in the city. (25 freeway) even after 8 years, and even when not tuned up.

I have never had anything actually fail or go wrong on my car. Just little routine maintenance stuff. And a part or two I broke when I drove over something I shouldn't have.

The trunk is huge. And being able to fold down the back seats makes it bigger still. It is like having a hatchback but with the security of a trunk.

The insides may be cheap, but they are sturdy. Nothing has ever broken, ripped or fallen off. And I have KIDS.

I have never had a problem finding parts immediately. It hasn't needed parts often, though. When it was time to replace the drive belts, the local auto parts store had both IN STOCK, and the mechanic at the local gas station had no trouble doing the work.

I love my car and if the company hadn't gone out of business, I would have no reservations recommending it.