jmsteiny said:
... I am surprised that "china hater" hasn't added his usual insulting or demeaning comments yet..............it would be nice if he actually CAME to China and SAW and DROVE a chinese car, don't you think? Yes, he IS free to voice his opinion - but usually a opinion is based on some kind of experience, and he has NO expereince (yet) with chinese cars. In any case, I AM glad there are intelligent, open minded posters such as yourself on this forum.....thanks and keep on adding to this great china car website!!
I don't think he actauly owns a car anyways , As for me , I am not chinese or born in china , But i've test drove some of these chinese cars here in my country , cairo , Egypt and I try to collect more information from here ,
The Merrie you mentioned , well a friend of mine WON It at some sorta supermarket contest ( Carrefour Supermarket , a french market franchise )
anyways he spent almost a year in it ,
Pros :
* very good fuel econom
* its Engine is more than enough for it
* very cheap spare parts ( compared to korean/japaneese )
* FREEZING A/C

( it gets to 42 c here in summer )
* one of the cheapest cars in Egypt .
cons :
* Engine noise is gradualy increasing
* interior quality/materials is not good at all
* it feels very soft on the OFF-ROAD like streets we have in Egypt ( very bad streets , except maybe for the highways )
* electric mirros stopped working after 10,000kms , but he fixed them
overall he's very pleased with a FREE car

compared to his aging rusty Fiat 128 , this is a jaguar !
anyways , the most loved chinese car , and the best selling ones here are from Chery , the QQ and the A11 ( Windcloud )
the QQ is becoming girls choice number 1 , and old ppl as well as its the CHEAPEST car with Automatic Transmission in Egypt ,which is prefered by some OLD people ( easier to drive ? )
the A11 is collecting alot of good reputation from owners and dealers , and alot of distributors started enlisting them next to thier Hyundais and Kias as a Family Sedane , not just anohter chinese car .
American cars are very very few here and all of them are not even made in the US ,
We have the Jeep Cherokee / Grand Cherokee ( the new shape ) they are put together here at GM motors EGYPT factory ( not built , just put together or compiled )
few more Imports , Chrysler 300M - Chrysler 300C
Ford Focus , Ford Escort and the Chrysler PT Cruiser .
all of these except the escort are above $25,000 of course ( sale price here )
I am currently very confused between the A11 and a world-car from Fiat known as the Palio ( 1.3 hatchback )
And I hope I will make my mind soon

excuse my english/grammar mistakes .