Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[Remspoor]

16 hours ago, Mondeo Enjoyer said:

The Suzuki Kizashi

I saw one of these in Bradford and thought it was an import (there’s lots of Japanese imports in West Yorkshire) but they did sell them over here through Suzuki dealers. I’d never heard of it or had seen one before. According to the internet, they came in FWD and AWD guise. A 2.4 petrol was the only engine, but you could choose between a 6MT and a CVT. I’ve never driven a car with a CVT but I have read that they’re horrible.

Anyway, I quite like it. It’s vaguely Jetta-ish

Searching this thread shows they are quite popular 

[Metal Guru]

On 08/11/2025 at 22:13, D.E said:

Coincidentally I know of two Kizashis in this town, but yeah it was a sales flop. I'm not sure why Suzuki even bothered selling them in Europe, the market for 2.4 litre Asian saloons must be tiny, even 15 years ago.

 

 

I think I’ve only seen one and that was a demonstrator ( for sales, it didn’t support Palestine or anything) at the Suzuki dealership that used to be at the end of my road.

[catsinthewelder]

I used to see a silver one regularly when they were new (I assumed it was always the same one but didn't remember the reg).

The mix of cars on the road is always a bit skewed in Ludlow though as the only dealerships are Suzuki, Vauxhall and Land Rover making up 70% of newish cars plus a Skoda specialist that sees about 50% of 5-15 year old cars in town wearing the Czech badge. 

[Metal Guru]

3 hours ago, catsinthewelder said:

I used to see a silver one regularly when they were new (I assumed it was always the same one but didn't remember the reg).

The mix of cars on the road is always a bit skewed in Ludlow though as the only dealerships are Suzuki, Vauxhall and Land Rover making up 70% of newish cars plus a Skoda specialist that sees about 50% of 5-15 year old cars in town wearing the Czech badge. 

Why does that happen? I can’t fathom the thought process that says “I want a new car. In only going to the dealers in my town”.

[Westbay]

27 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Why does that happen? I can’t fathom the thought process that says “I want a new car. In only going to the dealers in my town”.

Easier to take if back when it has problem(s)  servicing... 😄

[catsinthewelder]

The average age round here is about 75 so not having to go far for a service is probably high in people's minds.  When I moved here 20 years ago it seemed like every third car was a Suzuki Wagon R or the Vauxhall equivalent.

[Tayne]

3 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Why does that happen? I can’t fathom the thought process that says “I want a new car. In only going to the dealers in my town”.

Because the vast majority of people don’t give a shit about cars.

The lowest / most manageable cost, least hassle option wins.

[catsinthewelder]

Just saw this heap at Tescos

Ssangyong?

 

[RayMK]

17 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said:

Just saw this heap at Tescos

Ssangyong?

 

Blimey!  It looks as though it may have actually driven from South Korea.

 

[Pieman]

23 minutes ago, RayMK said:

Blimey!  It looks as though it may have actually driven from South Korea.

I really hope it has done - I'd love to know how else a Korean registered vehicle would end up in the UK.

If the owner's English is good enough, could we get them on here to document the journey?

[Tayne]

43 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said:

Just saw this heap at Tescos

Ssangyong?

 

Ssanyong Instagram.

But it’s actually a Mercedes MB140.

[martc]

3 hours ago, catsinthewelder said:

Just saw this heap at Tescos

Ssangyong?

 

 

2 hours ago, Tayne said:

Ssanyong Instagram.

But it’s actually a Mercedes MB140.

I think our esteemed colleague is pulling your leg a bit - it's actually a Ssangyong Istana. Phun Phact they were also sold as the Daewoo Istana and, a firm favourite in this parish, the Maxus Istana, this was launched in 2009, the original Ssangyong came out in 1995. Here's the Maxus version, photographed in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

Why did Maxus make them in China? Well SAIC the manufacturer of Maxus, owned Ssangyong at the time and saw the opportunity to capitalise on an existing design within their portfolio. Incidentally the Istana was kicked into touch in favour of the LDV 'Sherpa' when SAIC bought the remains of LDV in 2011.

[Tayne]

29 minutes ago, martc said:

 

I think our esteemed colleague is pulling your leg a bit -.

 

 

 

I know its not called an Instagram (because correctly naming a car is so important on here...) but it was sold as a Mercedes and has Mercedes diesel engines.

I will admit, I'm not really sure how the licencing agreement reads and who made what in what factory and then sold in what market but...

You see them about in europe now and again.

 

 

[Madman Of The People]

18 hours ago, Tayne said:

 

Why the two handles on the side door?  Is it some sort of dual-opening door that can either slide open or swing out on conventional hinges, depending on which handle you use?

 

[High Jetter]

5 hours ago, Madman Of The People said:

 

Why the two handles on the side door?  Is it some sort of dual-opening door that can either slide open or swing out on conventional hinges, depending on which handle you use?

 

I'm not sure how that could work. I guess one handle to pull open, t'other to pull shut.

[Madman Of The People]

18 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

I'm not sure how that could work. I guess one handle to pull open, t'other to pull shut.

 

I was thinking of something like the old American Ford station wagons with the dual-opening tailgate that could either flip down or be opened from the side.

 

 

[Madman Of The People]

 

Well, I looked up some videos on the Mercedes MB100 van and the side door doesn't do any fancy tricks.  I'm guessing the reason for the two handles is so they didn't need to produce two different door pressings for LHD and RHD models.

 

[High Jetter]

4 hours ago, Madman Of The People said:

 

I was thinking of something like the old American Ford station wagons with the dual-opening tailgate that could either flip down or be opened from the side.

 

 

I vaguely remember that, but glass is way lighter than a van door - tho the principle could be the same. I know some sliders can be quite heavy, so am sticking to my theory. So there. 😀

[Aston Martin]

Daewoo Fucking Evanda.

 

 

[Verysleepyboy]

How about the Dacia Lastun - an "economical" Romanian city car powered by half of an Olcit engine?

Headlights from a tractor, fibreglass bodywork, aircooled 500cc "lump" producing a heady 22hp for an earth shattering 45 second sprint to 100kmh - destined to be a great success!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacia_Lăstun

https://www.autoevolution.com/cars/dacia-500-lastun-1985.html#aeng_dacia-500-1980-05

[Metal Guru]

50 minutes ago, Verysleepyboy said:

How about the Dacia Lastun - an "economical" Romanian city car powered by half of an Olcit engine?

Headlights from a tractor, fibreglass bodywork, aircooled 500cc "lump" producing a heady 22hp for an earth shattering 45 second sprint to 100kmh - destined to be a great success!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacia_Lăstun

https://www.autoevolution.com/cars/dacia-500-lastun-1985.html#aeng_dacia-500-1980-05

Judging by the number of cars on a daily basis pulling out in front of me and taking 3 minutes to get to 35, I think it would have been a great success , particularly if it had been deemed the only choice for Motability. (Puts away giant spoon).

[Remspoor]

The Thrift-T from the USA.

https://www.autoweek.com/a2009871/1951-thrift-t-troubled-three-wheeler/

[bunglebus]

The Renault Domaine. What a cutie

[Spottedlaurel]

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

The Renault Domaine. What a cutie

Saw a Frégate for possibly the first time this summer in France, didn't realise there was an estate version.

[bunglebus]

Like it says, Ventura. Brazilian, GRP, VW running gear from the Brazilia and factory built rather than a kit

[Aston Martin]

Saw two get off the ferry, one Irish, one Dutch.

 

 

[bunglebus]

I'm not a big commercial vehicle guy, but one of these just popped up in my Facebook feed. 

Hydrocon Crane

Sadly there seems to be far more pictures of these fibreglass cabbed oddities looking sorry for themselves than not

 

[JeeExEll]

The Rover Bravo.

Wow.  Had never seen this before.

[DavieW]

On 18/11/2025 at 23:51, bunglebus said:

Like it says, Ventura. Brazilian, GRP, VW running gear from the Brazilia and factory built rather than a kit

They look pretty good. Shame they're Beetle based though. Looks like they should have a big V8 under the bonnet. 

[Remspoor]

Saw one this morning Renault Symbioz All of this talk about the Five, Four and Twingo cars this looks as if it has been over looked.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Symbioz

Also know as Mitsubishi Grandis... more badge engineering.