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2002 Daewoo Nubira

Korean for 'Great Universe', the name Daewoo was chosen for a major South Korean conglomerate. The Daewoo Group was founded on March 22, 1967, as Daewoo Industrial and was unfortunately dismantled by the Korean government in 1999. Daewoo was the second largest conglomerate in Korea after Hyundai Group, followed by LG Group and Samsung Group before the Asian Financial Crisis of 1998.

Some surviving today as independent companies, there were around 20 divisions under the Daewoo group. The Daewoo Motor name appeared only in 1983 but Daewoo Motor Co., Ltd. was established when the Daewoo Group purchased Saehan Motor in 1978.

In 1995 Daewoo Motor arrived in the UK, and at that time, it was the only manufacturer not using traditional dealerships, instead, it owned and operated its own retail network. In terms of production, Daewoo Motor was once considered to be near the top 10 motor companies. In 2001 Daewoo Motor was sold by Daewoo to General Motors. Since this time, GM has been moving to rebadge Daewoo vehicles as models for many brands, including Holden, Opel, Chevy, Buick and Pontiac. The GM Daewoo nameplate remained only for South Korea and Vietnam. Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Division was sold to Tata Motors of India.

The Nubira debuted in the spring of 1997, and the model was designed for the European market to replace the outdated Daewoo Nubira Espero. The Daewoo Nubira fell squarely in the middle of Daewoo's three-car lineup, and was a large front-drive subcompact. Smaller than the 'flagship' Leganza sedan, the Nubira was still bigger and more powerful than the entry-level Lanos. Direct rivals included the Ford Focus, Honda's Civic, Mazda Protégé, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Prizm, and Toyota Echo. In the beginning, Nubiras came in three different body styles; the four-door sedan, four-door hatchback and four-door station wagon. The hatchback would only last a single season, leaving only an SE sedan, along with a sedan and wagon in upscale CDX guise.

The main engine for the Nubira was a 2.0-liter, dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder joined to either a manual gearbox or optional automatic transmission. Unusual for its class, the Nubira CDX had standard anti-lock braking, which was optional in the SX. The third South Korean automaker to enter the U.S. market, Daewoo followed behind Hyundai and Kia. Instead of beginning with regular dealerships, Daewoo recruited teams of students to promote the car on college campuses. Eventually dismissing this idea, Daewoo turned to conventional dealerships, which began to spring up around the country. With their new-Nubira, purchasers also received a roadside assistance program.

For 2001, the Nubira wagons received revised taillamps. All Nubira's switched from handwheel-type front backrest recliners to a ratcheting lever adjustment setup. To upgrade the SE sedan to CDX features, an optional convenience package included power windows and locks, CD/cassette stereo, a tilt steering wheel, fog lamps and a keyless entry/alarm system. Standard on the CDX was antilock braking, but it was unavailable for the SE.

Though more and more Daewoo dealerships were popping up, the South Korean company was facing serious financial troubles, strong enough to prompt consideration of a possible takeover by one of the Big Three automakers. The suffering Daewoo Company continued to ship cars to the U.S. market, but financial problems was mounting rapidly in South Korea. Prospective buyers came forth but backed away, and the fate of Daewoo seemed imminent.

For 2002 the antilock brake option wasn't available for the Nubira. The lineup for '02 included an SE sedan and an upscale CDX wagon. The CDX price was cut by $1,200, which meant that the CDX lost ABS, cruise control, CD player, fog lamps, keyless entry and theft-deterrent system, and alloy wheels. Everything taken out was offered as an option package except for ABS.

During the spring of 2002, GM bought a large share of the assets of the Daewoo organization but not its sales arm in the U.S. This left Daewoo selling only leftover cars, with no new models on the way. This left owners remaining unsure how their cars would be repaired under warranty.

A midpack performer in every way, the Nubira is generally a surprisingly 'pleasant and capable small car'. The CDX wagon with automatic could achieve 0-60mph in just 10.1 seconds. The Nubira is considered an average subcompact from a company whose future is in questionable status. Daewoo resale values were low initially, even before the big financial woes loomed.

By Jessica Donaldson

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2002 Nubira
$11,700-$500,000
2002 Daewoo Nubira Base Price : $11,700

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