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BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Introduction
The third generation Nubira, introduced in 2003, marked a definite change in direction for Daewoo. Until that date the Nubira had campaigned largely on a 'metal for your money' basis, offering a whole lot of car for supermini pricing. With a more competitive market, Daewoo had to do more than just offer something big and cheap. Image counts for a lot and the 2003 Nubira featured Pininfarina styling and one of the more rakish shapes in its class. Is a used example financial suicide or can a case be made for plumping for a nearly new Daewoo?
Models
Models Covered: 4DR SALOON: [1.6, 1.8 petrol, SX, CDX, Xtra Cool]
History
Daewoo first introduced the Nubira back in 1997 with a restyled second generation car launched in 1999. The 2003 model was more than just a styling job: it was a new car from the ground up. Two engines were offered, a 1.6-litre powerplant available in SX trim or a 1.8-litre unit in range-topping CDX guise. Unlike its predecessor, there was no five-door estate option offered but that didn't stop the press praising Daewoo for its efforts. At last the Nubira was a car you could own without it showing the world how cash strapped you really were. Although the philosophy of getting a car a class above its eventual price bracket still continued, the third generation Nubira was a far more assured proposition, both in terms of handling and ride and in its interior appointments. An Xtra Cool version was launched in summer 2004 fitted with climate controlled air conditioning and a chilled glove box.
In October 2004, GM announced that the Daewoo brand would from 1st January 2005 be rebadged 'Chevrolet'. At the same time, they decided that the Nubira saloon would also wear a 'Lacetti' badge, killing the Nubira name from the end of 2004.
What You Get
Daewoo claim the Nubira is 'a synthesis of Pininfarina's experience in creating dynamic yet elegant forms'. We'd call it a quietly good-looking family car. Some of the styling touches, especially around the rear three-quarter, are reminiscent of the current Vectra, although Daewoo's traditional three-lobed grille and the big headlamps give it a distinctive look. It's been on sale in Korea since November 2002, where it's known as the Lacetti and sales have been encouraging. The UK Nubira is fitted with a choice of either a 109bhp 1.6-litre or a 1.8-litre 122bhp petrol engine.
At 4500mm long and 1725mm wide, the Nubira is a fair bit larger than the old car, although still someway shy of being truly Mondeo-sized. Daewoo has been clever in the packaging department, though; the long 2600mm wheelbase improving all-round interior space and giving the Nubira decent rear legroom. Shoulder width for three across the back is a bit tight due to the car's inherent narrowness, the flipside of which is that the Nubira is easy to thread through gaps that would have a Vectra driver slamming on the brakes.
What You Pay
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What to Look For
To date no significant faults have been noticed with the Nubira. In order to get the best from the warranty package, check to ensure that servicing has been carried out at the specified intervals. Good showings in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey bode well for used buyers.
Replacement Parts
(approx based on a Nubira 1.6 SX) Parts are a little pricier than from mainstream manufacturers but now that Daewoo is part of General Motors we can expect to see more affordable spares prices being ushered in. A clutch assembly will be around £70 and an air filter should be close to £8. Brake pads are around £17 a front set with a cam belt relieving you of £30.
On the Road
The suspension has been set up in tune with European requirements. Heavily disguised test 'mules' bashed the UK's highways and byways for thousands of miles in order to optimise the damper, spring, bush and anti-roll bar settings as well as the steering feel. The UK set up is more suitable for high-speed motorway driving as well and body roll has been reduced when cornering. Andy Carroll, original Managing Director of GM Daewoo UK, highlights the culture gap. "Korean drivers prefer a softer ride. We know that Europeans prefer a sportier feel with more precise steering and firmer suspension."
The power steering system has, as a result, been thoroughly revised with a tougher torsion bar and a beefier pump tuned to give more feedback. Wafting through downtown Seoul may be one thing, but when you're in the cut and thrust of a UK city, you need a bit of information coming back through the wheel and the seat of your pants. Piloting a soggy South-East Asian hovercraft around just doesn't ring our collective bells. Therefore we get firmer damping to cut out bounce, stiffer springs and a bigger gauge anti-roll bar. Tyres were also an integral part of the equation and the Nubira's tyres feature a stiffer sidewall to complement the sportier suspension.
Overall
In making its predecessors look rather crude, the 2003 third generation Nubira punted Daewoo a good deal nearer the mainstream. It's now a viable alternative to a Focus saloon and you'll certainly get a good deal more standard kit. It can't match the best in class in terms of handling and ride but it's not as far off as you might imagine. Although we'd be tempted to wait a little while until the depreciation curve flattens off, those taking the plunge on a Nubira needn't feel as if they're taking a terrible risk.
