2005 Daewoo Kalos SE from Turkey - Comments

AC went out, but it was covered by warranty.

I was looking to buy a cheap reliable car. I got that and a CD player, AC, and power everything. But this car is a gas hog. I have seen V8's that get better mileage. 1.2 litre engine with 72 hp I just don't get what it does with all that gasoline. I am buying a deisel...

Didn't think Daewoo were in Turkey anymore???

My aveo gets poor mileage considering the power output. The engine is dated.

My Aveo gets great mileage and I am happy the engine is dated since it means it is simpler to work on and simpler to fix.

So what IS the gas mileage that you folks are saying is good or bad?

Bought a 2002 Lanos 2 years ago. 17,000 miles and now through 2 plus years in AZ heat, I am at 39,000 miles.

The motor is built by GM/Holden in Australia and is not "high-tech" like a Honda or Toyota with variable timing. I however run it hard and it has the AUTO Overdrive 4T40E Transmission (build by GM Canada and is also in the Grand Am, Alero, and that GM platform. Not a foreign motor or tranny folks. GM has been in bed with Daewoo Motor way back in 1988 with the Pontiac LeMans.

The people I hear of with issues on the Lanos are people that in my opinion have not a clue about automobile mantenence or up-keep. If you buy a Deawoo, you have to be savvy on the net to buy parts and be able to properly install and maintain the vehicle yourself.

I just bought a bunch of OEM GM/DAEWOO parts. A thermostat housing, timing belt, idler, tensioner, water pump, all for under $170... Let me ask those of you with Civics or anything else for that matter, what these parts would cost you and how much tech school do you need to crack the timing cover?...

This is a basic simple car that when treated right, and maintained meticulately, will turn you some basic RELIABLE transportation. Plan on runnning it into the ground, and it just doesn't tolerate it like a Corolla or Civic... But then again, you can buy a low mileage Daewoo for about $2000 or less.

For what it's worth, the Chevy Aveo is the same platform as the Lanos, built in the same factory. Deawoo America did not go under because of poor quality. They filed bankruptcy because of 2 main things. The CEO of Daewoo Korea took a bunch of money and RAN while all the undermanagement was reeling to keep parts suppliers paid, and the militant labor union/workers happy, and once GM saw Daewoo Korea vulnerable, they used their asian influence to take the company over while under bankruptcy.

The actual plant that made the Lanos is the only Daewoo plant not fully controlled by GMDAT. If you are a turn-key operator who needs a dealer for all your service needs, then seeing that 90% of all dealers liquidated cars, parts and turned-off their Daewoo Service Computers, you might not want to buy one unless you want to put in the time to educate yourself on the cars, get a service manual, and spend some time on the daewoo forums to find out the nick-nack issues they have and prepare for them. Afterall, the little basic low-tech Lanos is built decent.

GM I quote them as saying about the buyout, "Daewoo has the capability of keeping tolerances down to a few millimeters, and that alone was worth the price we paid for the organization."... Folks there were some good engineers that built the Lanos. The Koreans are also doing quite well in the micro-electronic and semi-conductor industry. Stands to reason they can build Hyundai, Kia, and Daewoo... Peace.

Quote: "I just bought a bunch of OEM GM/DAEWOO parts. A thermostat housing, timing belt, idler, tensioner, water pump, all for under $170..."

Sounds incredible. How can one get an address to such spare part sales spot?

Thanks.

Boris D.

I would also like to know where you got these parts for so cheap. I have just looked up the bely, idlers, tensioner and water pump on line at a cost of $375 plus shipping (I live in Canada), please tell me where you got your parts?

My boyfriend is a mechanic and has been upkeeping my vehicle, I believe it is only on the road because of the upkeep and you are right it is a very simple car, it would be almost perfect if it were not for the belt continuously breaking!!!