Chana Benni

[badkuk]

saw this on display yesterday at MIAS...the interior is better than the Chery QQ's

[pitbullz]

saw this yesterday...i must say that the exterior looked really great. but the interior tells me another story. its smelled like polymer.and the plastic doesnt feel ergonomical or anything. the design of the interior doesnt even seem to be inspired. but what turned me off was the sound the dorr made when you closed it...same goes to the chery as well...konting improvements pa. if you guys can do something as impressive as the job they did on the exterior then i suppose that they should give the same effort on the interior as well...also,sa pricing nya medyo mahirap yan hehehe maganda kasi yun offering ng chery na 1.3 na hatch nila hehehe.

[popcornventures]

actually cherry is disposing all thier qq3 because of of some piracy issue regarding its big similarities with the chev sparks, thier case in costums thats why registration and plates for sold units took very long to release and for the last few units to be sold they are giving a NO DOWN payment promo and 12% interset rate annually. and they are now bringing the A1 1.3 liter DOHC engine with a price range of 458K. well i must admit it is much packed inside such as the dashboard and features but not quit the exterior.

the reason why benni smell like that is they sprayed an aerosol to removed the smell of 3 days visits of costumers, people riding inside, kids, dads moms thats where the smell came. because it its cheap for a family vehicle, more peolple came to ride and went inside, that cause the smell. not like other boots, they have car freshner just to hide the smell, unlike benni it's transparent. if you won't put an air freshner on SUBARU or EVO, i'm sure it will also smell like that. duh!!!!!!

well benni have 5 buyers already in MIAS, 4 for CM8, a couple for carry1, starlight, rainbow. and some in the refvan.

on the test drive in MIAS (benni had 50+test drive in 4 days MT/AT), benni's 1st gear reaches 50+kph, 2nd gear 80+kph, 3rd gear 115kph, we haven't recorded the 4th and 5th cause the test drive route is short.

cherry is not offering an automatic tranny for now, probobly soon. have all of you notice the cherry KARRY, changing some letters on its name makes it sounds like what it looks.

[overboost]

some mias pics of the chana.. most cars nowadays are plasticky, if the dodge was like rubbermaid this one is...ummm..xiao ling plastic manufacturing? and it has a funky smell of resin, the seats had a springy bamboo mat feeling..sabi nga ni Randy Jackson "ummm, i just don't know man, I just don't know..." And don't get me started on the pricing again hahaha! I just wish them Good Luck!

saw this yesterday...i must say that the exterior looked really great. but the interior tells me another story. its smelled like polymer.and the plastic doesnt feel ergonomical or anything. the design of the interior doesnt even seem to be inspired. but what turned me off was the sound the dorr made when you closed it...same goes to the chery as well...konting improvements pa. if you guys can do something as impressive as the job they did on the exterior then i suppose that they should give the same effort on the interior as well...also,sa pricing nya medyo mahirap yan hehehe maganda kasi yun offering ng chery na 1.3 na hatch nila hehehe.

Did you line up to test drive it? Sayang if you did not because I promise that you will be surprised by the dynamics, the comfort, how powerful and refined the ride is, and how it drives for a China car and it will surely turnaround a lot of your doubts about the price and the build of the car.

[overboost]

Here's how the instrument panel gauge lights up at night.



Nice!

[scharnhorst]

That actually looks good! It's reminiscent of toyota instrument clusters

[pitbullz]

overboost: sayang nga hehehe nobody offered us. and we didnt knew na meron pala. i would if there is :P sayang yung chance!
as for the performance of the engine...sure,it does mean a lot for me. but ergonomics is equally as important. you spend at least an hour inside your car everyday,sometimes even more. so i suppose that the interior should make you feel quite pleasant. pleasant in terms of: 1) it feels and looks comfortable 2) everything is well laid out 3) and the unseen factor of "sensation" when you rub your skin against the plastics etc. it should "feel" like its worth more. anyways,just my constructive crits. im sure that benni will get there one day.
by the way,are you the guy with the glasses na medyo moreno?



popcorn: about the new car smell. come on,man...i drive my car immediately after i exercise and without even changing my shirt. i leave my weapons inside even after using them for practice(on banana trunks). i leave my exercise shoes in the trunk of my hatchback. ive been doing this for a long time and my car doesnt even smell like a gym bag. so why would 3 days' worth of people going in and out of the car be any worse? specially that they dont spend long hours in it? if transparency is your arguement, then dont put anything to mask the smell! the smell of fresh adhesives and upholstery will surely mask many many odors. and thats the "new car smell" my friend.

[boydapa]

MOjo:

chery A1 is expected to be priced US $7k sa US. or around 280k to 300k pesos. Bat aabut ng 438k? Naka drugs ba sila?

-----------------------------------

according to their market research ksi mas mayayaman ang mga tao dito sa pinas, malalaki sweldo relative to price ng car compared sa U.S. at higit sa lahat malakas purchasing power kng kayat tinaasan na nila ng ganyan tutal mabibili din naman daw

[niky]

Taxes.

A Honda Fit/Jazz 1.5 AT costs around $16,070. That's with an automatic transmission, side airbags, and a full load of kit. That's only 660,000 (est) pesos.

Here in the Phlippines, the same model costs a shade under 800,000 pesos (770,000, last I looked). That's an extra 110,000+++... for a model without side airbags.

----

It's not Chery's market research... it's just the way of our market. We pay more for cars than Americans do because of taxes... period.

[elemental]

*overboost, saan pa po ba showroom ninyo para makita namin yung produkto ninyo na benni ngayong tapos na ang MIAS, na mis namin yung opportunity para ma test drive at tignan ang Benni. ilan po ba mga outlet ninyo dito sa pinas at saan sila located para sa after sales market at periodic maintenance. hindi kaya magka-problema sa parts yan kung sakali. nakakatakot kasi baka ma orphan kaagad ang Benni.

[overboost]

*overboost, saan pa po ba showroom ninyo para makita namin yung produkto ninyo na benni ngayong tapos na ang MIAS, na mis namin yung opportunity para ma test drive at tignan ang Benni. ilan po ba mga outlet ninyo dito sa pinas at saan sila located para sa after sales market at periodic maintenance. hindi kaya magka-problema sa parts yan kung sakali. nakakatakot kasi baka ma orphan kaagad ang Benni.

I do not work for Focus Ventures Inc.. We are just the owner of the first Benni that roamed the streets of Metro Manila (include Nueva Ecija and Subic ). You can visit their main office at Pioneer St. cor Reliance St. and most likely you can arrange for a test drive there. They are the official distributor and as what I know they are also setting up a local assembly plant.

[elemental]

thanks *overboost for the info, puntahan na lang namin para makita mismo namin at ma test drive, its better to see the Benni up close and personnal to be more objective

[drey]

Elemental, when are you going to the showroom? Can you post pics and share with us your experience... What Benni are you going to test drive? An A/T or an M/T?

Thanks!

[elemental]

I went to the Chana display center in mandaluyong and my comments and observations would center more on the benni being that my observation and comparison would be between the Benny and QQ.
What struck me the most is that the benni being the bigger car gave me a big surprise in terms of the leg room at the back seats. when i adjusted the driver side seat to my desired sitting position and sat at the back seat behind the driver my knees were almost touching the driver side seat. when i compared this observation to that of the QQ, to my surprise it had more leg room even though it was smaller.
The center aircon vanes even if directed to blow at the driver or passenger would only direct air to less than half my body side. though both Benni and QQ had comfortable temps at 3rd setting but not cool, the QQ was a bit cooler though being that i could direct the airflow from the vents better than that of the benni's.
The ride of the benni is sporty but not hard as compared to the QQ so it is a matter of choice of what your preferrence is.
What was posted earlier with regards to looks is what it really is inside and out.
the Benni thou had character with regards to its outside looks kasi ang porma tignan as compared to the cute looks of the QQ.
Both had plasticky interiors kaya nakaka turn off, sana ma improve, and yes as previously stated the benni had that particular resinni smell but i think this would fade as time goes by.
Both models have their advantages and disadvantages to the would be buyer. A point a to point b car with no frills, a gas miser better than the benni and very very attractive pricing I'd go for the QQ. A flashy new look with all the frills with more power I'd go for the Benni. with all these considered, is the added 120k worth all that to get the Benni, this is my dilema.

[overboost]

I went to the Chana display center in mandaluyong and my comments and observations would center more on the benni being that my observation and comparison would be between the Benny and QQ.
What struck me the most is that the benni being the bigger car gave me a big surprise in terms of the leg room at the back seats. when i adjusted the driver side seat to my desired sitting position and sat at the back seat behind the driver my knees were almost touching the driver side seat. when i compared this observation to that of the QQ, to my surprise it had more leg room even though it was smaller.
The center aircon vanes even if directed to blow at the driver or passenger would only direct air to less than half my body side. though both Benni and QQ had comfortable temps at 3rd setting but not cool, the QQ was a bit cooler though being that i could direct the airflow from the vents better than that of the benni's.
The ride of the benni is sporty but not hard as compared to the QQ so it is a matter of choice of what your preferrence is.
What was posted earlier with regards to looks is what it really is inside and out.
the Benni thou had character with regards to its outside looks kasi ang porma tignan as compared to the cute looks of the QQ.
Both had plasticky interiors kaya nakaka turn off, sana ma improve, and yes as previously stated the benni had that particular resinni smell but i think this would fade as time goes by.
Both models have their advantages and disadvantages to the would be buyer. A point a to point b car with no frills, a gas miser better than the benni and very very attractive pricing I'd go for the QQ. A flashy new look with all the frills with more power I'd go for the Benni. with all these considered, is the added 120k worth all that to get the Benni, this is my dilema.

That's what I also observed about the a/c vents.

I'm 6ft'1 so when I drive the Benni the seat is adjusted all the way back. Sorry na lang talaga sa rear passenger Legroom is a little on the short side but shoulder, foot, and headroom are great.

BTW A/C performance of the Benni is Superb.
When we went to MIAS (12:30nn) we parked at the open parking area of the WTC where there is no shade in sight. Chugging along 3 boys who are malikot maluket and maangal. Considering that our Benni does not have any tint, I never heard the three boys complaining that it was hot back there when we went to Blue Wave Jollibee Near MOA which is just a short ride. Also, there was no shade available at the Blue Wave parking lot and after eating lunch for 45 minutes the Benny is now scorching hot inside, but still no complaints complaints from the 3 boys going back to Pasig around 2:30pm

BTW almost two thousand kms, on the odometer and still no major or minor problems to report. They also drove the Benni to Tagaytay last weekend. Sori no pics tamad sis ko sa mga gadgets.

[mp23]

so far, this is one of the best chinese cars i have ever known. nice packaging, attractive design, reasonable price. the interior is almost at par with some korean cars. i hope its durable and reliable even after its warranty period, and passes euroncap. a good one from the chinese. .

[hominid]

Both had plasticky interiors kaya nakaka turn off, sana ma improve

Ma improve man yan, plastic pa rin. Maski mga bigger Japs uso na rin ang plastic.

[overboost]

so far, this is one of the best chinese cars i have ever known. nice packaging, attractive design, reasonable price. the interior is almost at par with some korean cars. i hope its durable and reliable even after its warranty period, and passes euroncap. a good one from the chinese. .

I fully agree with you.

As you (all) can see, the Benni design is not a copy cat from other manufacturers. This means that they have a budget to do some serious R&D for their first ever car (Chana BTW started as a small truck manufacturer).

[drey]

What struck me the most is that the benni being the bigger car gave me a big surprise in terms of the leg room at the back seats. when i adjusted the driver side seat to my desired sitting position and sat at the back seat behind the driver my knees were almost touching the driver side seat. when i compared this observation to that of the QQ, to my surprise it had more leg room even though it was smaller.

Didn't notice a difference there...

The center aircon vanes even if directed to blow at the driver or passenger would only direct air to less than half my body side. though both Benni and QQ had comfortable temps at 3rd setting but not cool, the QQ was a bit cooler though being that i could direct the airflow from the vents better than that of the benni's.

Surprising! To be frank, during my test drive... It was hot inside even if the blower was at full speed already.

The ride of the benni is sporty but not hard as compared to the QQ so it is a matter of choice of what your preferrence is.
What was posted earlier with regards to looks is what it really is inside and out.

I find the Benni to roll a little bit. The ride is a little stiff, you'll feel the bumps at low speeds while it absorbs bumps on high speeds on an acceptable manner.

the Benni thou had character with regards to its outside looks kasi ang porma tignan as compared to the cute looks of the QQ.

The QQ looks cute while the Benni looks more you know... for older people. hehehe... But that's a personal answer.

Both had plasticky interiors kaya nakaka turn off, sana ma improve, and yes as previously stated the benni had that particular resinni smell but i think this would fade as time goes by.

I don't care about the smell. hehehe...

Both models have their advantages and disadvantages to the would be buyer. A point a to point b car with no frills, a gas miser better than the benni and very very attractive pricing I'd go for the QQ. A flashy new look with all the frills with more power I'd go for the Benni. with all these considered, is the added 120k worth all that to get the Benni, this is my dilema.

Price vs. Safety. Think about the best investment. hehehe...


Personally, I think the Benni looks more like a Mercedes Benz A-Class. Though it's not a direct copy. It reminds me.... hehehe. That's just me.

[elemental]

Didn't notice a difference there...


Surprising! To be frank, during my test drive... It was hot inside even if the blower was at full speed already.

I find the Benni to roll a little bit. The ride is a little stiff, you'll feel the bumps at low speeds while it absorbs bumps on high speeds on an acceptable manner.

The QQ looks cute while the Benni looks more you know... for older people. hehehe... But that's a personal answer.

I don't care about the smell. hehehe...

Price vs. Safety. Think about the best investment. hehehe...


Personally, I think the Benni looks more like a Mercedes Benz A-Class. Though it's not a direct copy. It reminds me.... hehehe. That's just me.

Hmmmm, makes me wonder more ... factor in the service centers available for after sales and as what you've said reliability and durability makes safety ... hmmmm, I guess your right if I go for

Think about the best investment