No Budget Reviews (Delayed Gratification Edition): 1995 Daewoo Espero 2.0 CDXi (As Driven by HubNut)

[@Dino_Dad.]

What a trip down memory lane Sir. During my college in Scotland, I had a part time job at Halfords and remember these very well. I always found it strange you could head out for a punture repair kit for you bycicle and come home with a Daewoo 😂

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we waited a long time for this, and it looks as if my perseverance has paid off! The arrangement with Halfords for sales and servicing was genuinely quite strange.

[@Dino_Dad.]

@lloydvehicleconsulting sad that it became GM Korea making the cheaper cars for GM globally such as a Chevy Matiz. Here in Oz we were bombarded with anything below a Holden Commodore being a daewoo 'GM Korea ' car. Kia , Hyundai and Toyota stood back and laughed...

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I have heard of the General Motors Australian policy of that era, which was to withhold a lot of European Vauxhalls and Opels and rebadge the old Daewoos from the Korean market instead.

[@mpersad]

A terrific review,sir, and I completely understand and share your excitement in driving this mint Espero! In 1995 when I got a job with a car allowance I was very tempted by the Daewoo offer, and the Espero was my car of choice. I remember going to a Halfords and using very early computer tech to spec a car and get a printout of the model I'd chosen! In the end I didn't get one, but I was very impressed.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir, I did get very excited, as I had waited such a long time to actually drive this particularly rare car. The ordering system for these was really interesting at the time, it seemed like the future, rather like something out of Bugs!

[@richardhowlett7398]

Magnificent sir , one of those cars that look better now than 29 years ago. I remember seeing a Laganza at the Coach and Horses , Cadnam during your meet in 2021 .

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir, sadly I do not remember the Leganza, but they are also extremely rare. Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@mattw8332]

Very nice. 😍 I probably gushed about it on the HubNut channel 4 years ago. I passed my driving test in January 1995 when Daewoo entered the UK market. I went to my local Daewoo showroom as a 17 year old to browse the new Nexias and Esperos. Also had a play with the interactive car configurators. I was convinced at the time that Daewoo's 'no hassle' and no franchise approach would triumph and other marques would follow suit. How wrong I was. That old Daewoo showroom is now a branch of Euro Car Parts.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir, the approach Daewoo had was completely different, and the touch screens were very exciting at the time. The review from Ian Seabrook was July 2021, I believe.

[@pizzalover3]

A delightful glimpse of the past, sir. Definitely some hints of the Xantia at the back as you mentioned.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We aim to please, sir! It most certainly does look rather like a Xantia.

[@frazzleface753]

In retrospect, sir, this is rather lovely in its design. This car in particular is in amazing condition. Those black plastics are as new! I can understand your excitement for this fantastic rarity, given your love of Korean retro, Mr. Lloyd.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I was incredibly blessed to have been able to drive this incredibly rare Espero, we finally made it happen. I am quite tempted to get one of these, but it probably would not be as nice as Laurence's.

[@mondyboy81]

I've just removed a P reg 2.0 CDXi from the road, acquired as an accident damaged car and stripped for spares before being scrapped. The rear side windows in the C pillar are screwed in, held in place by plastic 8mm nuts. Breaking one up, they are extremely well engineered. Its a shame rot and the unobtainium ABS pumps cut the lives of them so short. I'm looking forward to getting my 1.8CDi on the road as soon as i can.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh yes, if the ABS pump fails, it is pretty much the end, isn't it? Even this one has a very tiny bit of rust, but Laurence keeps on top of it, so it will keep going for a long time to come.

[@Mike_Ockiner]

I owned a metallic red CDXi years back and I loved it. People are quick to judge but they are a lovely car.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I actually really liked this, and I had to stop myself making Laurence an offer!

[@uhn100]

Hi Joseph I really enjoyed your excitment for this Daewoo I remember seeing one back then you reminded me of myself when I bought a 1984 SAAB 900 I waited to fine a good one I could afford as then I had a young family so you know how that ties the purse strings am I right in thinking Daewoo went bankrupt I thought they did but I could be wrong thanks for this and the smiles it gave you, best regards Andy Allen.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Daewoo went bankrupt in around 2002, after which point General Motors increased their stake in the company once again. In most parts of the world, the Daewoo badge was replaced by Chevrolet in 2004, and I think even in Korea it disappeared by 2011.

[@Lot76CARS]

Excellent work Joseph, you have driven another automotive unicorn! The commercial story behind the brand is fascinating … they were simply too early to market with sometimes outdated cars. The Espero is a favourite and the Leganza another and a rejected proposal for a new Jaguar the Kensington I seem to recall.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, you have done an excellent video on some of the history of Daewoo, haven't you? When they arrived here in the 1990s, they had some really good ideas, it is a shame that it did not work out for them.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Yep, the Leganza was based on an ItalDesign proposal for a Jaguar. The Daewoo looks a bit squished though in comparison with the original concept car!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The Jaguar Kensington, sir!

[@seancooke7332]

A very fine motor car Sir. I do so love a nice 2 litre saloon for comfort, relaxed cruising, acceleration in reserve and mile munching ability. The Japanese and the Koreans did do the 2 litre saloon extremely well in the 1990s.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we did enjoy this very much. If it had had a leather wrapped steering wheel, a beige leather interior and cruise control, it would have been even better.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Excellent review, Mr Lloyd.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We aim to please, sir!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@lloydvehicleconsulting And you clearly enjoyed yourself too Mr Lloyd, which is great. Actually, the car looks very well finished. The attention to detail in the boot area was impressive.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

These really were not bad cars. Even Mr Coleman likes them! They just don't seem to have any classic interest, even now.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@lloydvehicleconsulting I agree Mr Lloyd 👍

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We aim to please, sir!

[@camperlustig68]

Good Morning Sir! This could well be your video of the year.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well, sir, perhaps but we don't quite know yet.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

An excellent review Sir, that will be the Daewoo.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That will indeed be the Daewoo, Mr Watters! Thank you again, sir.

[@tjshill82]

I saw this at FOTU last year & for me it was car of the show. It’s just superb

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I can't remember if it was there last year, but it was certainly in the concours section for Festival of the Unexceptional in 2021. Thank you for watching!

[@mondyboy81]

It's a great injustice it didn't win the FOTU in 2021.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's a really tough competition. I have just seen the list of entries for this year, and I wouldn't be able to choose between them. It gets more difficult each time.

[@roygardiner2229]

I, too, do like the car. It's in lovely condition, the fabric in the interior is attractive, and the interior is spacious and bright. I wonder if the mechanical aspects are reliable. Perhaps the engine is a a chain-timed and non-interference type. It is truly impressive that the air conditioning is still working well.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's actually a 2.0 cambelt engine, but they did tend to be reliable. As you say, plenty of light in the interior, very spacious and airy, and the air conditioning was superb!

[@runoflife87]

Interesting car for sure. I'd rather buy new Espero than any modern compact car.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We like them very much, but they are quite hard to find in this condition!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Nice! I always liked these - could have been a Citroen - Bertone design - pity the interior was a bit low rent.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's right, could have been the Xantia (which does look quite similar)!

[@classics144sportscarschannel]

has digital clock in same place as the escorts GL, and ghia and orions too. strange like the frd granadas ? looks really nice

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's a bit later than the Mark III Granada, but I suppose there is a bit of a superficial resemblance...

[@jimbrown8842]

These were well designed cars at the time,i always liked them.puts me in mind of a couple of rare cars from kia around the same era,kia was regarded with some suspicion at this time although the pride had been not a bad seller theyr'e larger cars were seldom seen ,the mentor and the clarus.for some reason i think they were only sold in northern ireland and ayrshire dealers but i may be wrong.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We got both the Mentor and the Clarus over here, but the Clarus was very short lived, and the numbers remaining are in single digits. I would love to try one, though! There was also a hatchback version of the Mentor called the Shuma, which was slightly more popular, but is also rare these days.

[@Sid3300]

Daewoo made some interesting cars. Bit like Saabs where they take a GM platform and modified it. You’ll have to get a Leganza on at some point if you haven’t already.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I have just asked someone who previously offered me one if it is still available! I must have reviewed more Daewoos on my channel than anyone else in recent times.

[@AdamJennings-g3y]

Would you consider doing the Toyota Avensis MK1? I have one on a W plate. Uninspiringly magnificent 😊

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I await your e-mail with interest, sir!

[@AdamJennings-g3y]

I have the photos. No email address though!?..

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Got the e-mails, and have sent you a reply, thank you!

[@KieranMulcahy-c7f]

You talked about a diesel on the channel ?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Don't believe so...

[@daviddenham2971]

I failed my Driving test in one of these twice 25 years ago.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Unusual learner car, even back in the day, I would have thought the Nexia would have been more appropriate.

[@daviddenham2971]

I got my licence in Australia.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, they have quite different ideas of driving school cars should be compared with here, I think.

[@cristianramallo8042]

tuve uno automático, lo vendí hace poco y me arrepiento...

[@TrevorBuick]

Great idea but failed to smash the automotive establishment mob, Cazoo anyone, 🤣

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We discussed Cazoo the other day, sir, didn't we?

[@TrevorBuick]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting just really drawing a comparison to Daewoo/Cazoo, no one breaks the establishment, which is a shame sir, 😬

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Bold attempts at shaking things up don't appear to have worked very well, do they?