Chinese cars (Haval and LDV)

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#284186 6-Apr-2021 09:17

Hey guys, does anyone own or know about these chinese cars? In particular I'm looking at the Haval H9 and LDV D90 7 seater SUVs.

People who are about to express their concerns are welcome to of course. I'm concerned as well so I'm asking here if anyone has experience with them before?

The price is really attractive to me for something this size. Both are sub $50k brand new.

I'm aware of their engines being weaker but I'm not an offroad guy. I just like the size of them when I fold all the seats down with the added option of taking a lot of people in it. I'm not keen on getting a van for the same purpose. I still want it to be a car.

Thanks!

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#2687051 6-Apr-2021 09:27

I had wondered the same thing myself, particularly the Haval as it seems pretty well appointed for the price.

However, I would expect the depreciation to be precipitous.

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#2687055 6-Apr-2021 09:33

What do you think depreciation would be? If we bought for $50k, I don't think it'd drop to $10k after the 5 year warranty would it?

As a comparison, the 2011 Toyota Prado at $80k dropped to $35k over 10 years. Toyotas are best at holding their value too.

dafman

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#2687057 6-Apr-2021 09:46

My immediate thoughts are lower resale value than mainstream brands, and limited information on long term reliability and access/cost of parts.

If me, I’d look at the price difference between the Haval and, say, Kia alternative, estimate resale difference, then divide by years of expected ownership.

Eg, Say Kia was $10k more and expect to own for five years.

$10k, less estimated $5k greater loss on resale = $5k/5 years = $1k a year more to own the Kia.

Is $1k per year saving worth the reliability risk?

(I pulled the $5k loss on resale out of thin air, just using it as an example).

Handsomedan

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#2687063 6-Apr-2021 09:59

Anecdotally, I have read that the reliability is fine - it's refinement that most people complain about, but the vast majority of buyers of these vehicles won't be coming from other higher-priced brand new vehicles - they'll be coming from the second hand market where there'll be less difference in the fit and finish, to the point where the Haval and LDV may actually be a large step up in quality.

My only issue would be the depreciation - they don't have an established resale market, so you will see the value plummet after the warranty expires and this is something you'll have to accept if going down that route. There are plenty on the road, so I'd imagine it'll be easy to find online chatter from current owners, too.

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#2687098 6-Apr-2021 11:08

I'm coming from a 2006 Lexus RX330 270,000km which is very reliable but also quite old. All the new fancy stuff cars have these days is attracting the geek in me.

Hopefully someone who actually owns one of these cars shows up and gives their input.

jonathan18

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#2687101 6-Apr-2021 11:15

My local Haval dealer also sells MG, and I can certainly see based on what’s on their lot plus what’s driving around town which the more popular brand is, and it looks like for good reason too in terms of the quality and finish of the latter being significantly superior (esp the latest models). A pity MG don’t do any seven seaters as I’d be suggesting them over Haval or LDV, which seem fairly agricultural by comparison.

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#2687104 6-Apr-2021 11:41

It's funny you say that because MG and LDV are owned by the same people (SAIC Motors).

MG actually has a 7 seater being sold in India called MG Gloster which is actually just a rebadged LDV D90 which is a rebadged Maxus D90. It's only called LDV for Aus/NZ market.

The MG Gloster in India has a lot more features than the LDV D90 including automated parking where you let go of the wheel.

https://www.mgmotor.co.in/vehicles/mggloster

Knowing this, would you consider the LDV more than the Haval?

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jonb

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#2687105 6-Apr-2021 11:42

The current gen are apparently very much improved. Also the Ssangyong Rexton can be had for under 50k new.
Ssangyong company itself is going through some difficulties couldn't determine what buyout/rescue status was when writing this.

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#2687140 6-Apr-2021 12:34

I had a look at a Rexton too. Not as many features and slightly smaller than the LDV. The salesman did tell me Rexton uses Mercedes Benz engines so there's that.

duckDecoy

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#2687143 6-Apr-2021 12:45

Probulator:

I had a look at a Rexton too. Not as many features and slightly smaller than the LDV. The salesman did tell me Rexton uses Mercedes Benz engines so there's that.

If memory serves they still use mercedes gearboxes but no longer use mercedes sourced deisel engines. But perhaps you are not looking new.

deadlyllama

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#2687145 6-Apr-2021 12:50

I've never understood buying new cars - the depreciation rates quoted in this thread are astronomical compared to the sticker price on the ten year old second hand Jap imports I've always bought.

Do you really get $4,500 of value per year from having owned a newer Toyota Prado for the last ten years? That would allow me to replace the most expensive car I've ever owned (2005 Mazda MPV bought in 2015) every two years! Or alternatively take a bunch of unpaid leave/etc.

Having said that, I suppose someone has to buy the new cars and depreciates them in advance for me to buy :)

Batman

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#2687148 6-Apr-2021 13:17

deadlyllama:
I've never understood buying new cars - the depreciation rates quoted in this thread are astronomical compared to the sticker price on the ten year old second hand Jap imports I've always bought.

Do you really get $4,500 of value per year from having owned a newer Toyota Prado for the last ten years? That would allow me to replace the most expensive car I've ever owned (2005 Mazda MPV bought in 2015) every two years! Or alternatively take a bunch of unpaid leave/etc.

Having said that, I suppose someone has to buy the new cars and depreciates them in advance for me to buy :)

If you can afford a Prado you are not worried about depreciation

tehgerbil

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#2687151 6-Apr-2021 13:19

deadlyllama:

I've never understood buying new cars - the depreciation rates quoted in this thread are astronomical compared to the sticker price on the ten year old second hand Jap imports I've always bought.

Do you really get $4,500 of value per year from having owned a newer Toyota Prado for the last ten years? That would allow me to replace the most expensive car I've ever owned (2005 Mazda MPV bought in 2015) every two years! Or alternatively take a bunch of unpaid leave/etc.

Having said that, I suppose someone has to buy the new cars and depreciates them in advance for me to buy :)

Keeping up appearances is an expensive business.

Plus tax breaks for businesses are a large new car sales driver

Probulator

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#2687153 6-Apr-2021 13:20

Well I'll be putting it through my business so it's a little different from buying personal. Accountants will work it all out. Gst and expenses and all that.

Inphinity

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#2687154 6-Apr-2021 13:20

Have not owned, but we looked at the Haval H9 as a 7seater option when we were last looking. It was absolutely gutless, but I believe they've had the engine reworked in the last couple of years. Haven't driven the revised one to compare, but the original felt - both in drivability and general fit and quality - like a mid-late 90s Japanese vehicle. Again, I hear they're now much improved, but unfortunately it was bad enough to put us off the brand at the time. Family friend has an H2, I haven't driven, they seem to love it.

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