SsangYong Chairman review (inc. 0-100): Here's why it flopped... hard

I don't think I've had a more requested car to review than my 2007 SsangYong Chairman. With only 100 of these ever brought to Australia, it is rarer than most super cars. It's a long wheel based luxury limousine, and it was destined to go up against the best of Ford and Holden. So why did it fail so badly? Well in today's review, I'm going to tell you and show you why I love my quirky SsangYong Chairman!
Skip Ahead:
Intro 00:00
Exterior 00:46
Exhaust 04:00
Interior 04:36
Rear Seats 07:28
Practicality 10:01
Specs and Engine 10:46
0-100 km/h 12:15
On the Road 12:54
Verdict 17:00
Watch my whole SsangYong Chairman series!
- • Playlist
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#chairman #ssangyong #review

[@CarSauce]

This has to be my most requested review 😀 Hope you enjoyed it!!

[@spectremarty]

*everyone cheering*

[@b.p.r.]

Can you please review the Toyota Yaris

[@alastairlyon8731]

Hey, I have one exactly the same! It served me well in Sydney traffic for years. Congratulations and welcome to the Ssangyong Chairman Owners’ Club!

[@CarSauce]

I hope it's blue!

[@alastairlyon8731]

@@CarSauce white on silver, but sans sunroof!

[@claudiadavies5110]

I totally get why you love this, that back seat area is incredible and super special!

[@CarSauce]

Haha exactly!!

[@DCB2018]

I like your SsangYong Chairman, reminds me so much of a car my father bought brand new, in size and luxury, it was a 1984 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon, with a fridge in the rear parcel shelf, it was like a land yacht..lol

[@CarSauce]

I. Need. One!

[@Eccentricplum]

Those things were marvellous.

[@timcollins380]

A most enjoyable mix of review, humour and sarcasm. The Chairman is cool in a daggy way!

[@CarSauce]

Thank you!

[@mahcooharper9577]

First saw one at the Sydney Motor Show back in the day and it was a bit of a joke back then - I thought it was a bit of a cool curiosity but now 15 years later it's actually a very cool bit of retro lol Saw one on the Hume a few weeks ago (not sure if it was you, didn't see whether it had a sunroof haha) which would be the first time I saw one for 10 years or something. Glad you're enjoying it anyway, it's funny how things like that were probably nightmares for the dealers when they were new because they couldn't sell them - but they bring nothing but smiles today. :)

[@damushroomlord]

fyi: this is actually based on the legendary w124 platform. Shares a lot of the main components such as the chassis and engine.

[@scottlarocca]

I just want to picture Jacob driving you around while you're enjoying Macca's from the chairman's seat. Chilled cupholder FTW!

[@Fuuntag]

The irony being the colour of the profile picture, video style and even thumbnail of this video are a dead ringer for a Doug DeMuro review 😂

[@missparsley3202]

Looks like a super car 🤩 Wow!

[@iMernerner]

Chairman was popular Large luxury sedan in S.Korea. it was CEO and Rich people's choice. Ssangyong Got Contract that give rights to buy powertrain and stuff and Some Help from MB for being one of factories to manufacture MB vehicles like MB100 Thanks to 1st gen musso's sucess in korean luxury vehicle market in early to mid 90's ssangyong could also entered the luxury car market with help of MB, In 1997(remember hyundai, kia, daewoo of 1997?), All other Korean passenger cars were Inferior to Modernized W124(All model except chairman failed to pass 40% offset crash test) and there was nothing to compare with MB's M104 engine and 5G tronic transmission (It was newest transmission of MB) But due to Contract with MB, Exporting chairman was nearly forbidden. Imported cars were ridiculously priced back then and it was consiered as a "sin" to buy Imported cars. especially Japanese ones(many people still have feelings towards Japanese imports!) Thanks to Ultranationalistic nature of country. The one in the review is Facelifted model. Noting to say much about it. It got more bells and whistles in korea domestic model. ssangyong have long history of putting all the Expensive things only in domestic models. Like Musso Utes that sold in Aussie market. They are not exact same Truck with Domeatic one. Domestic ones got R EPS, LCD Cluster, new 202hp/441.3Nm engine, LED Foglights, LED rear lights... optional steel skid plate and urea tank armor, Fender flairs and Door protector.... But Export models have higher towing capacity and load limit(since most koreans don't want anything that rides stiff and don't get why solid axles are needed on Some vehicles and think they are just inferior and cheap-cost saving method. they even got mad for early current gen rexton got solid axle in lower trim level... So all rexton got IRS in Next year. New Toyota Sequoia got solid rear axle back and that kind of thing is unthinkable in korea.)

[@Nthstar]

@Mernerner Thanks for the information Very informative Own a Chairman myself

[@iMernerner]

@@Nthstar nice. give her some good care! Those can run over 1mil kilometers if maintained correctly! Is it 3.2 m104?

[@Nthstar]

@@iMernerner thanks Yes it's the 3.2

[@Nthstar]

@@iMernerner trying to source a central locking remote but no longer available Will have to look at aftermarket system

[@iMernerner]

@@Nthstar huh. That's weird. I thought there were some keys with fob

[@BWTECH0521]

wow, I didn't know these were sold outside of South Korea! I live in America but whenever I visit the motherland, I am always curious about these things. The newer one is very cool too. I think if I ever moved back, I'd buy this instead of the more common Equus.

[@Nthstar]

I've got a super rare sales booklet brochure of this car

[@rajenmunsamy9597]

Just love the Ssangyong musso 3.2 Don't need speed. The Chairman is a great car. Not sure if it's in South Africa. I love the S320 and the E class as well. But this looks so good. Thank you for a detailed lively review.

[@missparsley3202]

If I saw one around the corner for sale, I might buy it 🤩 never seen this car in Belgium, probably they never imported this limo in Europe.

[@sanwugi]

ssangyong = twin dragon btw (like the logo)

[@si5vw]

Last time saw one in Adelaide was 4 years ago. So rare - even see SEATs more.

[@jbjb3372]

Actually it's not too bad on fuel for an older v large vehicle. In a variety of conditions highway and city it will average around 13l per 100.

[@CarSauce]

Not too bad for a 6 cyl!

[@timfordfalconxf7714]

Damm as a W211 ( i had W124 as well ) and other mercs. as well as 2 XFs 2 BA ( one was a Fairmont ghia ) and a ED GLI I want Chairman so much :D keep it up

[@Nthstar]

@timfordfalconxf7714 Got a black one myself Looks nastier than this one hehe. Super rare

[@Nthstar]

Own one myself. Yours is missing the sunglass roof holder and overhead roof storage plus the rear illuminated mirrors in the roof as you have a sunroof it deleted it out plus the rear tv. Also the car isnt gutless at all unless there is something wrong with yours.

[@ydmf2]

Love it! Get rid of that cigarette outlet thing and the quad lock. 👍

[@CarSauce]

Planning on it!

[@eatont9999]

It's a really interesting car. I wish we could get something like this in the USA but our government's import restrictions are so strict, we never see cool stuff like this.

[@TheFredo2298]

Have you got the wiring diagram? I've got a 2000 Chairman

[@karinkatt7893]

I ditch the cm600s and go for cm400s with m111 2.3cc engine... it's quicker.....not bad on fuel and 5spd auto ...just select gear knob to right will switch off the 5th gear and it will reach 200 easily but chairman does not like to be push hard and fast...its more for gracefully driving...but still comes with sunroof, powerseat all round etc accept auto cruise...mine is 2003 model which look like an S class w220

[@Sjalabais]

Incredible how the rear design is a copy of the early Centennial/Equus - clearly speaking to the KDM.

[@robertceroli3512]

A cut price E class . lovely straight Six silky smooth well balanced you'll find the electronics are far more reliable than the Merc as I suspect it's Korean electrical .0 100 dash was quicker than I expected but remember it's not suppose have sports car like acceleration .be excellent for uber prestege

[@CarSauce]

Yeah the 0-100 really surprised me too :p

[@lillexus5589]

And the front end looked more normal in the European market (sold as Deawoo Chairman in Poland) compared to this version. More like an actual S class compared to this thing.

[@X9Z17]

I just sold my 2014 Ssangyong Stavic.. gawd damn was it a long vehicle. I got it as a mobile house basically, took all the back seats out and set up a bed. Crazy that it's larger than a Landcruiser but on 17 inch rims with tiny wheel arches and not very lifted suspension but.. it looked kinda goofy 🤣🤣 I always wondered about the Chairman, but I have a big doggo who isn't suitable for sedans sadly.

[@arunbissoon4630]

3:55 Juul exhaust?

[@jamest6850]

The dash reminds me of a 1995 Verada.

[@plagueprincess1870]

i would love for you to review my crown majesta

[@alexandermathar7780]

Let's go totally crazy and do a credible Brabus Chairman V12! Brabus V12 in Interior , Brabus badges....

[@Rosso488]

So this car should be good.

[@seamusnestor8201]

It gives off really weird BA/BF fairlane vibes

[@lachlancook6718]

Whats his name? And if it isn't Mao, why are you missing that opportunity?

[@CarSauce]

Gotta find something!

[@timevscars]

It even took the engine from Mercedes. The m104 engine (in-line 6) and m113 v8 engine

[@markbulgarin5805]

So basically it is a Mercedes after all haha.

[@timevscars]

@@markbulgarin5805 yes basically a Korean car with German heart

[@dtp777j3sus]

Korean luxury !!!! 😃great review 😅

[@ARIES9327]

Mercedes Benz w140

[@TechSpree1]

Okay but we all know the real reason it flopped was because of the super fake wood

[@wpeneyra]

IDK about "no expense spared" with that fake wood lmao

[@doinhwang5169]

Proud of this one as one of Koreans living in oz.

[@Gazmeizster_Wongatron]

You are too cute for words 🥰

[@William-Morey-Baker]

dude was talking up the lenght of the car and its literally just above average... clasic dude behavior... above average equals HUGE.

[@Snufkin812]

The W124's Korean cousin... Why is this car in Australia? 🤣 My father purchased a 2008 Chairman H 500s from his colleague for 600 USD in 2020. (In South Korea, older luxury cars with high mileage are as cheap as mopeds on the used car market.) The Chairman H was a basic trim produced just before the first generation Ssangyong Chairman was discontinued, so many convenience equipment was removed. There are no rear seat headrests! My father was excited to get a luxury car for a very cheap price, but he spent over 1,200 USD on parts replacement over the past 4 years. And he always complains about poor fuel efficiency and difficult parking. I was very unhappy with the car when my father gave up his old Nissan and got this car. :( It's a very comfortable car for highway and long distance driving, but it's not suitable for commuting or daily driving. This car was favored by South Korean entrepreneurs, politicians, and the wealthy in the 2000s. Nowadays they are driven by old people and stupid car tuners.

[@tonybennett638]

No wonder they went broke..

[@yahiawalidyt]

It copied Mercedes-Benz car.