Hyundai Starex!

[jessef]

Taiwan and Philippines have LHD L300, L400 and Starex's along with conversion kits.

Just have to get someone to find you one. Mardy is probably the best person to ask from that area of the globe.

Pretty cool that they have 10/12 seaters. 4 rows of 3 seating. LSD rear axle. LHD with left sliding door. Not a fan of the rear bug eye lenses but they are a different version of the Spacegear.

[sjekazoo]

Mitsubishi is Japan based and they drive on the left, so the vehicles are RHD unless built specifically for export. Since modern Korea drives on the right, as does the US, Canada and Paraguay (where I'm currently at), it was my understanding that Hyundai pretty much builds LHD vehicles.

BTW in case it wasn't clear, when I said Hyundai seems to be Mitsubishi Korea, I didn't mean as in a clone, but rather under the same ownership.

I've only seen original LHD Starex here, as evidences by a single slider only on the right side. The first Gen Starex and the L400 are both here as 2wd and 4wd. I haven't seen either a D-5 or second gen Starex here that appears to have 4wd, but from what I could learn on-line it sounds like the 4wd option no longer includes elevated ride height. If that is true it would require more than a drive by look to know if they are 4wd or not.

Curious thing, there are essentially two paint schemes driving around, with a couple exceptions. Green (sometimes two tone green) that is always converted from RHD and two tone sky-blue over gray that is always an original LHD. I've seen a single example of a red L400 which was an RHD conversion and a single example of a burgundy which was an original LHD. I don't know why there is not more of a variety of paint jobs available here. The Starex I've seen thus far are all gray.

[MardyDelica]

hi,
been back home in the phils,
seen many hyundai starex here but problem on first generation is weak from suspension and other componet.
been in korea nearly 2 years ago, stay for 2 weeks for this starex test drive in korea to see.
result is not good. too many thing to do. so weak.
bought 3 units hyundai galloper and musso. but for business purposes it did not work for me in canada.
dont know why even its left hand drive.
ended up of selling below my cost. not good for business.
also it only has 4d56 engine 2.5 liter. which to me seems to be slow as the body of this starex is big.
i did test drive here but wont pass my expectation. newer version is better. as they improve when it comes to diesel engine. the crdi engine. but for the old one i wont go for it.
lots of problem and little power. next year we can get original l400 left hand drive but only 2wd version for now. 4x4 version not yet as here no snow.
newer hyundai starex is very good. but the first gen in my opinion is so weak.
cheers;
Mardy

[Strada 92]

Starex 4WD for sale here:
http://autowini.com/en/Cars/Used-Hyunda ... -detail.do

Diesel,4WD,almost a twin of Spacegear!9 seater!4800$ USD.

[MardyDelica]

as you can see the mileage is very high plus the engine ia base on 4d56.
they never build any 4m40 engine which has more power.
i test drive one of this when i visit korea 2 yrs ago and phils but outcome is not sam equality as japan.
from interior , suspension and other. newer version crdi is good.
again buying cars over there in korea is not easy morely suspension is gone.
price is not cheap also. but again maybe some could be ok. dont know
cheers;

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

As a previous owner of Hyundai Galloper and Porter truck back in 1994-1996, I really do not recommend to import those models that were made before 1999.
Almost nothing is seen in South Korea road now ( most have exported to middle & south Asia due to higher demand , so really impossible to get good condition cars with affordable price ) and Hyundai technology at those times did not exceed our expectation.

But Hyundai has been growing remarkably after 2000. So if you want a 4D56 crdi starex or any other diverse model, it would be better to wait another 2-3 years.

We are considering to import those models in 3 years, and will service fully including all power group,suspension and steering components as well as engine as those are not an issue for us as a Hyundai part supplier.

Cheers,

Steven

** Hyundai launched well equipped camping starex recently.

[lallytrek]

Hey all, I'm new to the board but had a few questions about Hyundai/Mitsu vans. I'm living in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia for a bit, and these Hyundais are everywhere! I was happy to hear that they basically a mitsubishi with the same engine as my montero back in the states (my 4d55 conversion montero, anyway).

A friend is trying to import some 4x4 starex vans to Mongolia, but import taxes almost double the cost of the 4wd version. We might be able to get around the cost if we can have it stripped of seats and imported as a cargo van, but for now it looks like they are much more pricey. QUESTION IS, does anyone know how difficult it will be to convert an 2008 2wd starex to 4wd?? Parts are extremely plentiful at the Korean vehicle salvage yard in town, but I'm not sure if the frame is different from the 2wd to the 4wd models? I know that both were offered in shorter and longer versions. Will the 4wd cross member and front end bolt right up to a 2wd frame??

I'd appreciate anything you can throw at me!

PS I've been seeing a lot of Kia Bongo quad cabs around...talk about a cool chassis for a camper!

[patriceboivin]

Not sure if this is relevant to why the Starex hasn't proved as popular as the Delica.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-1 ... ssues.html

[Firesong]

Probably not why at all - patriceboivin.
I believe his question was more geared to if the unit could be converted to 4x4. I don't know of anyone on the board with a starex so we couldn't say.

I have no complaints with my old Elantra. However in not sure I would want an early model unit of Hyundai. They keep getting better the newer they get.

[lallytrek]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Interesting Bloomberg article! Haven't read the whole of it yet. But yea, we're looking at later model starex. Maybe 07 and 08. From what my friend has seen, he thinks they have worked the kinks out by then.

anyone else have any knowledge of the differences between 2wd and 4wd chassis??