> My car (at 200,000+ miles at the time of the accident) was exactly such a case of "take care of it, and all will be well"
Bargain priced domestic-market cars in China have a reputation for needing major repairs within the first couple years of ownership.
We had vehicles like this in the US in the 70s -- it is possible to build vehicles very cheaply with the use of cheap materials. But today, even the cheapest cars in the US make extensive use of anticorrosive coatings, ultra-high-strength steel, and have extensive active and passive safety systems.
Bargain priced domestic-market cars in China have a reputation for needing major repairs within the first couple years of ownership.
We had vehicles like this in the US in the 70s -- it is possible to build vehicles very cheaply with the use of cheap materials. But today, even the cheapest cars in the US make extensive use of anticorrosive coatings, ultra-high-strength steel, and have extensive active and passive safety systems.