My First Car Experience: A Mixed Bag
add_circle Pros
- The car's build quality is top-notch - it's solid, and I love the feel of the buttons and controls.
- The battery life is better than I expected, and it's been a real game-changer for my daily commute.
- The customer support team is responsive and helpful, which is a major plus in my book.
- The car's ease of use is a total cinch - even a beginner like me can figure it out.
- The value for money is great, considering the features and quality you get.
remove_circle Cons
- The shipping process was a bit finicky, and I had to deal with some issues getting the car delivered on time.
- The return policy is a bit unstable - it's not clear what's covered and what's not.
- The car's navigation system can be a bit finicky, and it's not always accurate.
- The car's fuel efficiency could be better, especially on long road trips.
- The car's interior could be more spacious, especially for taller drivers.
Gallery
Editor's Summary
I recently bought my first car, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. The experience was a mixed bag - some things exceeded my expectations, while others left me scratching my head. I'll give you the lowdown on what worked and what didn't, so you can make an informed decision if you're in the market for a new set of wheels.
Specifications
I bought my first car, a Chery Kimo, for a relatively affordable 160,000 rubles back in 2011. It had just 72,000 km on the odometer and only one previous owner.
My first car
Nice blue dashboard lighting
The Chery Kimo was a looker, and its compact size made it easy to park. The interior was way more comfortable than my friend's Matiz, and it handled way better on the road.
Its fuel efficiency was seriously impressive – just 7 liters per 100 km on regular driving, and down to 4 liters on the highway. That's a huge difference.
But things started to go downhill from there.
I took it to the repair shop right away to avoid any future problems. The mechanic replaced the timing belt, suspension, oil, spark plugs, and air filter. I thought that would fix everything, but it didn't.
The first time the clutch cable snapped, I had to replace it. And get this – it happened three times. The pedal became so stiff it was almost impossible to press.
The skid plate kept falling off, and my husband had to weld it back on. Then, the antifreeze started leaking, and we had to search for a replacement part that's no longer available for this model. We spent a month in the repair shop dealing with that issue.
But just when we thought it was over, the gear wouldn't engage after a short drive. It was a total nightmare, and I was shocked by how unreliable it was.
After six months of ownership, I'd spent around 100,000 rubles on repairs, and the car was still falling apart. The prices for replacement parts were outrageous – like something out of a BMW catalog. I wouldn't recommend this car to anyone, and I'll never buy a Chinese-made car again.