2008 BYD F3

At first glance, this Chinese-built car looks like nothing more than a cheap copy of the Toyota Corolla, with the rear end of a Honda City mixture, but wearing a fake BMW badge. And it is exactly that, but if you look past the lame attempts at plagiarism, you'll find a package that actually might be a decent deal for a new car. The F3 is powered by a 1.6-litre Mitsubishi-sourced engine, mated to a 5-speed manual Mitsubishi gearbox. It includes an interior that is exactly like that of a last-generation Toyota Corolla, but with softer touchable surfaces. Available features, standard or optional, include 15-inch wheels, leather upholstery, dual front airbags, sunroof, manual air-conditioning, CD player, remote keyless entry, fake wood trim, height-adjustable steering wheel, power windows, ABS brakes and the price tag of a car half its size. Build quality seems to be of passing-grade, although some plastic pieces have an unfinished feel to them. If only they'd try a bit harder and be a... Read More