2000 Daewoo Leganza SX 2.2 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

It's a great car for the price

Faults:

Absolutely nothing has gone wrong with this car, except a stone cracked the windscreen and it was quickly and easily replaced under insurance.

General Comments:

I have owned around thirty cars during my life and this is easily the best.

I usually owned six-cylinder cars, but the Leganza, having four cylinders, appeared to have just as much performance and power, with very good road handling.

It is very economical to run.

I was worried when Daewoo went through a financial crisis. However, Holden took over the distribution of parts and I have been assured there is no shortage of parts in New Zealand. Also, other new Daewoo cars have been sold on the market so I don't think there is anything to worry about on this score.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st March, 2006

2000 Daewoo Leganza CDXE 2.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Seriously under rated, far superior to Ford Mondeo which I had as a company car

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

This car is fantastic value for money, with up-market good looks, good build quality and fitted with every extra you could want including satellite navigation.

It was designed by ITAL design of Italy and is based on the Jaguar Kensington concept car of the 1991 motor show

General Motors Holden Australia manufactured the engine and Porsche designed the automatic gear box

I prefer to drive this car at weekends, instead of my company car - a 2003 Vectra Elegance 2.2DTI.

Shame that they stopped making them

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th August, 2005

26th Aug 2005, 14:30

As someone who has done over 100,000 miles each in a Ford Mondeo and a Daewoo Leganza as company cars, I find your title comment somewhat difficult to fathom.

My recollection of the Leganza is somewhat less rosy. In brief terms:

Falling apart by 100,000 miles with squeaks and creaks everywhere.

Cambelts snapped on all six on the fleet before 40,000 miles. Eleven non-scheduled dealer visits in 100,000 miles for my car, and it was one of the better ones.

Vague steering with no feel whatsoever.

Appalling damping, with floating and wallowing, yet crashing over really rough roads.

Dangerous ABS, particularly in the wet. Cuts in far too eagerly.

Abysmal handling. Car could steer, handle bumps or accelerate just fine, but could not cope with doing more than one at the same time. Vicious understeer and traction problems in the wet. Rehashed GM components showing their colours here.

Rough, intrusively boomy engine that struggled to better 25 mpg average. In its defence, it went well though.

Reasonable comfort and excellent equipment.

A heck of a lot of car for the money if viewed in size / standard kit terms.

In comparison with the Mondeo, which I recall as having:

Truly excellent handling with perfect damping and lots of feel through the steering. Read any car magazine.

A smooth, supple, well damped ride. Read any car magazine.

Strong brakes, with well set up ABS. Read any car magazine.

A slightly noisy, but smooth, torquey engine which averaged 10 mpg more than the Daewoo's.

A slightly cheap looking interior, but one which held together well over 100,000 miles.

Generally solid build quality. Doors thunked shut, everything worked from day one until the day it went back.

Lovely seats and driving position.

One non service fault in 100,000 miles (electric window switch).

See my confusion? I will concede Ford auto boxes are awful, but my comments relate to manual versions of both cars.

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2000 Daewoo Leganza SX 2.2L I4 from North America

Summary:

Korean-GM vehicle that is cheap and easy to service that delivers good value for the money.

Faults:

Rear brake pads and discs replaced by dealer prior to delivery at 58,000kms.

Alternator and belt were replaced at 75,000kms due to insufficient charging.

All four tires replaced at 80,000kms as original all seasons worn.

Front brake pads and discs replaced at 85,000kms as the pads were worn and the discs scored and worn. (originals)

Left front outer tie rod end replaced at 87,000kms as it was warn out.

General Comments:

I purchased this car as my commuter/work vehicle as it was cheap to purchase, had been the dealers vehicle from new, and was well taken care of.

The vehicles exterior is quite nice looking, with flowing graceful lines that were supposedly penned originally for Jaguar. Most people do not know what brand the vehicle is, but think that it is upscale.

The interior is quite comfortable if not a bit bland, with the driver seat being fully adjustable, and the passengers front and back having ample seating for comfort and room.

The drive train is not particularly refined, with the engine producing good power for its size when pushed, but the sound that emanates from the engine while doing so is not particularly nice. The transmission generally shifts smoothly, and in daily driving the whole package operates well with minimal intrusiveness.

The handling of the car is both sporty and comfortable, with the suspension soaking up most road irregularities without to much harshness.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd March, 2005

29th Jan 2010, 17:22

I agree. I just bought a Daewoo for myself, and I love it. It drives great, and easy maintenance. Good buy.