1998 SSANGYONG MUSSO 2.9 SE DIESEL

Mettalic Green over Silver, 5 Speed, 800000 miles, Remote Central Locking, Electric Windows, Electric Sunroof, Electric Mirrors, ABS, Air Conditioning, Power Steering, Drivers Airbag, Immobiliser, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Mini Disc Player.

CIF Price £6,895 (Sterling Pounds)

SSANGYONG MUSSO

Used Cars For Export - New Exports UK

UK NEW AND USED CARS EXPORTS NEWS!!

The UK Automotive Exportation sector is a global leader in process and product innovation of New and Used Second Hand Autos to the rest of the world. Within the European Union, the UK’s Exportation industry has the best car and commercial vehicle makers and exporters. British citizens (English – England, Welsh – Wales, Scottish – Scotland and Irish – Ireland) bought over 2.5 million new cars in the UK last year, 0.4 million European Cars and 5.6 million used second hand cars. Cheap car and auto production is rising since joining the European Union, now exporting about 1.67 million cheap units. New and Used Second Hand Commercial vehicle exporters and passenger vehicles production, looks set to exceed 600,000 auto units for the first time since 1998.

In the recent years, the exportation of new and used cars from the United Kingdom (UK) to the rest of the world (including Japan) has significantly increased. This Exportation success is in contrast to past years where the bulk of vehicles being exported from exporters in Europe, were mainly from Germany. Japan however, still dominates the world’s bulk source for the exports of cheap new and used cars either second hand, or from car Auctions. These cheap Japanese vehicles to many countries worldwide including Britain and the rest of European Union, was due to the reliability that these cars have and the cheaper costs of running Japanese vehicles in general.

SSANGYONG MUSSO

The Musso is promoted as a family four wheel drive and the family liked it - "it's cool", the family said, "civilised". The driver had some preconceptions that the Musso was going to be "just a car", raised up a bit and with four wheel drive. Well, it does not have the off-road ability of a Unimog but it is quite capable with very respectable axle movement, has a low-first ratio of 32.1:1, is much more comfortable than a 'mog, and is not a wimp.

The test car was a recently released (late 1997) 2.3L 4-cyl Musso loaned by Mercedes Benz which has a major stake in Ssangyong and distributes the four wheel drives. It is priced at the magic $39,990 figure ($Aus) where entry-level IGM Jackaroo, Jeep Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery and the rest are found. The engine is a Mercedes Benz design, as fitted to their E230 E-class saloon. Turning the ignition on, one is greeted by ice-cream-van chimes unless the driver has the seat belt on. (I bet the source of the noise often meets with an "accident".) The engine will not start unless the clutch is fully depressed but this is hardly annoying because it is good practice to start a manual car with clutch depressed anyway. The clutch has a long travel and, with a foot-rest to its left, is quite close to the brake pedal. It was a bit crowded down there for size 10 `Rivers' shoes, a good Australian brand and not particularly chunky. An inch off that foot rest would not be missed.

The first impression of the inside is of plenty of room. There is a good view of the road thanks to the seating position and the sloping bonnet. The seats give firm grip at the shoulders when cornering and the driver's is adjustable for height and lumbar-support. What is really striking is the room for rear passengers. A six-footer in the rear seats has ample leg room even if the front seats are well back, and the sitting position and the view are good. If you have big teenagers or like to take friends or relatives four wheel driving this is a real plus. (If you have ever suffered in the rear of a 4Runner you'll appreciate it). The front seats recline and the rear seats fold either backwards or forwards to make a bed or to give a flat load area. There are four tie-down points for heavy items of luggage being carried behind the rear seats. The small, sporty steering wheel is height adjustable. The driver's hand falls naturally to the gear lever; shifting was new-car stiff, particularly when cold, but that will loosen up. Selection of four wheel drive and low-ratio is by a 3-position switch in the dashboard.

The purchase of second hand cars from Auctions and Auction houses such as the British Car Auctions has significantly dropped with the increased strength of the British pound. Joining of the European Union has also reduced popularity of Car Auctions in the UK because cheaper Cars can be exported and Imported from Europe – Germany in Particular - without restriction and risks associated with car Auctions. The sector now accounts for over 9% of our total export of goods. Over the last 5 years UK has exported, on average, over a million cheaper cars a year - a fivefold increase in real terms since 1986 and twice the amount from Germany. Japanese, German, African and American manufacturers import cheaper British built cars into their home markets and over 70% of UK Car Exports go to Europe, including Germany.

UK CAR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

‘British Japanese’ Honda and their English brokers - whose Swindon facility is the UK's largest exporter of passenger cars to Japan, America, Asia Middle East and Africa. British MG Rover and their brokers - whose joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation will help to fund the exporting and development of new vehicle models at cheaper manufacturing costs. ‘British Japanese’ Toyota and their English brokers whose £50 million investment at Burnaston has raised the exporting capacity by more than 50,000 and created 500 jobs;

‘British American’ Ford and their brokers - where 25% of the company's entire global engine production, and all its diesel engines, now come from the UK at a much cheaper rate than anywhere else on the world. These cheap rates ensure that the United Kingdom (UK) is ahead of the rest of the manufactures in car exporting. British GM Vauxhall and their Brokers - where production at Ellesmere Port is to be expanded to meet demand for the new Astra cars. ‘British Japanese’ Nissan and their English brokers who blazed the trail to the UK in the early 1980s, and continues to run the most productive car manufacturing site in Europe.

Great Britain - Especially the English industry is continuing to show a firm commitment to the science budget - more than double since 1997 to £3.3 billion by 2007/8. The English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh secured £12million for the hugely successful Manufacturing Advisory Service - a program that has boosted manufacturing by more than £53million, delivering an average £100,000 added value to every manufacturer that goes through the full program.

THE FUTURE OF THE UK CAR INDUSTRY (EXPORTATION AND MANUFACTURE)

It is anticipated that the Exporting of New vehicles and second hand used cars and the funding for the Technology Strategy will increase by £140m per annum by 2007/8. Taken with the re-direction of existing spend on exports innovation, this will increase spending on the Technology Strategy to more than £250m per annum on exports, by 2007/8. Helping British (English, Scottish and Irish) Car manufacturers and exporters pull through new technologies and processes from the science base and turn them into competitive exporters advantage.