A coworker explained it in some detail; he said that even a decade ago it would have been out of the question for many people to ever think of owning a car. They were simply too expensive, and reserved for officials and rich people. The incredible rate of economic growth, coupled with the increased availability of cars (from cheap entry-level Chinese brands to luxurious and exotic European models) make automobile ownership accessible to a whole new social class of people. And these people seem to figure that if they can buy a car, they may as well buy a nice one! It really is a status symbol; much more than in the Western world, so it's inconceivable to drive around in a ratty, 20-year old relic.
Word travels fast around the office. I showed a few coworkers pictures of a fantastic oldish car I saw just a block from work, and the next day people were coming up to me asking if I had bought some ratty old beater! Perhaps something was lost in translation; I was simply expressing my love for the Haima HMC6470, a car that is, I have to admit, about as stunning visually as its name might suggest. When I showed them pictures they were all very relieved that I had not purchased it; a few were horrified that I would even consider such a thing. It's not good to make broad generalisations, but in my limited experience, Chinese people don't like old cars. I'm sure some car fans could appreciate a true old classic, but none of the people I have met can understand my attraction to this sort of car. To be sure, many of my North American and European friends don't like these old beaters, but can at least understand how someone might find them entertaining. But not the Chinese. A coworker explained it in some detail; he said that even a decade ago it would have been out of the question for many people to ever think of owning a car. They were simply too expensive, and reserved for officials and rich people. The incredible rate of economic growth, coupled with the increased availability of cars (from cheap entry-level Chinese brands to luxurious and exotic European models) make automobile ownership accessible to a whole new social class of people. And these people seem to figure that if they can buy a car, they may as well buy a nice one! It really is a status symbol; much more than in the Western world, so it's inconceivable to drive around in a ratty, 20-year old relic. As far as status symbols, I will concede that the HMC6470 isn't all that impressive. The brand Haima sprung up in 1992 in a partnership between the government of Hainan Province in southern China and Mazda, the Japanese automaker. This car is actually the 929 from Mazda, built in a Haima factory, with a few different badges slapped on. Haima failed to truly catch on in the 1990s, and while they still use some Mazda platforms and engines today, Mazda's shares were bought out in 2006 by the Chinese manufacturer FAW. Haima continues today selling affordable compact cars. If I ever manage to figure out a way to buy and store an old car like this here, it will take some convincing to get my friends and coworkers to understand the appeal. But that's part of the fun, and I make it my personal mission to introduce the anti-status automotive trend in China! Stay tuned, I might start a big fad, and you can all say that you knew me before I was famous... who knows, maybe I will end up being the status symbol in this story!
2 Comments
4/15/2018 10:48:03 am
If you are still in Shanghai, there is a Haima Wagon close to Ikea Pudong, in a dealer area. I saw this last month.
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AuthorWelcome! My name is Paul, and I am an old-fashioned, low-pressure, low-buck car fan with lots of automotive stories to tell! Archives
February 2020
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