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Introduction

The Global Times Foreign Test Driver Group is the first of its kind in China. With the goal of testing Chinese vehicles using international standards, this group is built by foreign drivers to judge all Chinese automobiles, and help Chinese automakers enter the international market.

First Season

Dongfeng Fengshen S30

Time: August 30, 2009

Place: Tiantai Road, Sanqiao county, Xi'an

Drivers:
Christina Holzer
Patrick Antony
Deborah Howard
Terry Stillman

Test drivers

  • Christina Holzer

    • Horoscope: Libra
    • Hometown: New York
    • Height: 6 feet 4 inches
    • Length of time driving: 10 years
    • Cars owned: Volvos, BMW, Subaru Outbacks

    votes  

  • Patrick Antony

    • Horoscope: Pisces
    • Hometown: Wisconsin, US
    • Height: 5 foot 7 inches
    • Length of time driving: 15 years
    • Cars owned: Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan XTerra SE

    votes  

  • Deborah Howard

    • Horoscope: Libra
    • Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland
    • Height: 1.68m
    • Length of time driving: 35 years
    • Cars owned: GM Holden, Toyota-Landcruiser, Nissan, Ford

    votes  

  • Terry Stillman

    • Horoscope: Leo
    • Hometown: Marton, New Zealand
    • Height: 6 feet 2 inches
    • Length of time driving: 35 years
    • Cars owned: Mini, Ford, VW, Holden, Lancia, Rolls Royce

    votes  

Car reviews

What's your first impression on this car? Is it the same as what you had expected, if not, how is it different? What did you expect from the car?

  • Christina

    Well, nice lines, that's my first impression.

  • Deborah

    Dongfeng S30 looks very cool. The dash board looks very sleek and modern.

  • Terry

    As for style, this was ok but didn't impress me too much, but then again I have never been a person that goes just for looks, my interest has always been with performance comfort and safety.

Do you feel comfortable while you are driving? How do you like the seat, is there enough room for your legs and head? What do you think of the quality of the interior?

  • Christina

    It's comfortable, and the seat, the armrest, the headrest are all nice.

  • Patrick

    The interior is good. I have enough space for my legs, hip and arms. It is comfortable.

  • Terry

    My biggest surprise was when I first sat behind the wheel and discovered just how much space there was inside. I am 184cm tall and yet had no problem fitting into the car and even with the seat set back there was still ample room for someone to sit in the seat behind me. The headroom was good too, even for a person of my size, and I was surprised to find that there was still a 5cm space between the top of my head and the roof. The only other comment that I would make is though, is that it would have been nice if the seat height was adjustable as well.

How do you like using the manual transmission when you shift gears? How do you feel when the car shifts gears? Can you feel the shifting jerky or smooth?

  • Terry

    There was also too much play in the gear shift and trying to make quick gear changes and finding the correct gate was sometimes a bit hit and miss. I had no problems with the clutch though, which was light and smooth.

  • Deborah

    I agree with Terry, it is hard to shift gears with the manual transmission. I find the auto gear is not clear when I shift gears and it is easy to enter the wrong gear.

What was your fastest speed when you test drove the car? How do you feel about the noise when driving at your fastest speed?

  • Christina

    In the first round of driving, my speed was 60. It was smooth. The second round, I raised it to 100, but I heard little noise. It's more silent than BMW I drove.

  • Terry

    It's noisy in a high rates.

Do you have any comments on the car's power and acceleration system?

  • Terry

    Good power and accelerating system. But power drops rapidly high up.

  • Patrick

    The pickup is slow.

When you hold the steering wheel, how do you feel?

  • Christina

    The steering wheel is perfect, the material is great, even the air conditioner is on, the steering wheel still feels comfortable. Some cars I drove had such problems, when it's hot or cold inside, it can be felt on the steering wheel easily. It can be handled easily. One problem is I can't lift the steering wheel further, since I am tall, my knees can still touch the steering wheel even it is placed at the highest level. In addition, the steering wheel is relatively small compared with the car I drove.

  • Deborah

    The steering wheel is a bit smaller than what I used in Australia. But I feel comfortable when holding it. It is easy to turn the direction and turn back. When I don't hold the wheel, the car can keep the straight run on the whole.

  • Terry

    It's light, but I prefer heavier one, so I can feel it in the wheel.

When turning do you feel an obvious lean of your body? What do you think of the shock absorber when driving through the bumpy road?

  • Deborah

    The shock absorber works well when crossing the bumpy road section and when I try a hard brake and the brake works well, too.

  • Terry

    The car seemed to ride nicely, but with nothing more than a flat straight piece of road to test the car on, I wasn't really able check the S30's handling capabilities although I did sense a certain amount of body-roll whenever I changed directions suddenly.

  • Christina

    I didn't feel obvious lean when turning. Since the road is straightaway, I can't tell how good the shock absorber is.

Photos of the event

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What they said about their test drives

  • Christina: Everybody should have a try

    It turned out that she felt the test drive was fun and suggested everybody have a try.[More]

  • Test driving in China is fun

    Test driving a Chinese-made car is fun for an American like Patrick who has never driven cars in China before.[More]

  • Deborah: I hope to join in the test drive next time

    Before the test drive, I worried much about the safety because the driving habit in China is different from what is in Australia.[More]

  • Terry: I'd love to test all Chinese cars

    I have problem with the indicator. I'm not familiar with this car so I would need to test it for at least a week.[More]

Review chart

Christina

Yes, it's comfortable, and seat, the armrest, the headrest are all nice. One problem is I can't lift the steering wheel further, since I am tall, my knees can still touch the steering wheel even it is placed at the highest level.

  

Gao Yang

Chinese driver GaoYang: This model's seats are well made, but it's not comfortable sitting inside, because the dashboard and car door are made of hard materials.

Terry

There was also too much play in the gear shift and trying to make quick gear changes and finding the correct gate was sometimes a bit hit and miss. I had no problems with the clutch though, which was light and smooth.

  

Hao Ren

Chinese driver Hao Ren: I think the gearbox which is adopted from the Japanese Aisin is fine. Of course, its performance can't compete with Volkswagen gearboxes. We didn't have enough time to run it to test the car, I think after a long time driving, the unfamiliar feeling with the gearbox will fade away. With regards to the 4-speed automatic transmission, I felt the car was jerky when shifting gears.

Deborah

The steering wheel is a bit smaller than what I used in Australia. But I feel comfortable when holding it. It is easy to turn the direction and turn back. When I don't hold the steering wheel, the car can keep the straight run on the whole.

  

Wang Yu

Chinese driver Wang Yu: I also think the steering wheel is responsive. Most S30 buyers drive it domestically, and a steering like this is easy for drivers to control. I think the steering is a little sensitive; I made a sharp turn accidentally when I drove it at a high speed.

Terry

It's light, but I prefer heavier one, so I can feel it in the wheel.

  

 

 

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Dongfeng Motor Corporation


Founded in 1969, Dongfeng Motor Corporation (hereafter referred to as DFM), formerly named Second Automobile Works Co., is one of the 3 giant auto makers in China. Its main businesses include passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, engine, auto parts & components, and equipment. Through over 40 years of development, a set of R&D and manufacturing facilities have been established as well as an extensive distribution and after-sales network, which unfolds a business display of footed in Hubei while radiating the whole nation.

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Are you a foreigner living in China? Would you like to test drive cars produced in China? Come join the GT Foreign Test Driver Group! The GT Foreign Test Driver Group is looking for foreign test drivers all over China. We look forward to your participation.
Requirements of Application:
1. Foreigners legally residing in China.
2. The applicant should have a valid Chinese driver's license, his/her mother country or international driver's license.
3. The applicant should be able to communicate or write in either English or Chinese.
4. The applicant should be capable at driving safely and have an understanding of automobile performance.
E-mail: driving@huanqiu.com

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