|
When cars are imported without the benefit of an official dealer, the number one concern aside from mechanical failure would have to be rust. Philippine climate, with its scorching summers and flooded rainy season is nowhere near temperate, and woe to the cars that are driven without these conditions properly prepared for. Many have crumbled into rusted hulks without much warning. We thus checked out every nook and cranny of the Starex to see if there was any danger of this. We did find one rust spot at the rear hatch door jamb, a little smaller than a 25-centavo coin. There were also some suspicious scratches under the hood and door frames. The problem is that rust often begins where it can't be seen, such as wheel wells and door frames, and when you do finally spot it, an expensive repair might be needed. Owners and potential buyers would do well to be vigilant against these rust spots, as they can be the start of an irreversible decay. So aside from a suspicious looking spot on its otherwise shiny body, this particular Starex seems to be weathering the test of time quite well. Given what we see on the roads, the sales figures seem to be quite healthy, too. Hyundai better not rest on its laurels though. The competition is heating up in this segment, with fellow Korean Kia launching its more carlike Carnival and GM releasing its Venture. The Japanese have some excellent minivans just waiting to pounce and like a certain giant mecha, they can deal a death blow if they're priced attractively. There are positive signs on the horizon: Hyundai is commissioning a manufacturing plant here, and official dealer support is firming up. Finally, Hyundai will be able to give future Starex owners the warranty and service that they deserve. That's certainly a welcome development: we wouldn't want to see 10,000 orphaned minivans running around on the streets. |
|
||||
