The Chinese SUV That Survived: Is a Used Great Wall Safe Worth Buying?

When SUVs become a luxury, and prices for new cars skyrocket, more and more people are turning to older, but time-tested vehicles. Among them is the Great Wall Safe, a Chinese clone of the Toyota 4Runner, produced from 2001 to 2009. Simple design, frame base, and low price are arguments that still make some car enthusiasts take a closer look at this SUV. But is it worth the attention today?

The Great Wall Safe is often called the "people's Chinese UAZ." It is rough, utilitarian, and not young, but many owners praise it for its durability. One of the Auto.ru users, Sergey Yakunin, said that over the years of operation, he replaced almost the entire front suspension, cardan shafts, and axle pads, but continues to drive it. According to him, the car survived three cylinder head gasket replacements — one even in the field — and is still in service. "Seven years without problems, traveled to the south three times — it pulls everything if you don't torture it," the owner writes. The main disappointment is corrosion. Over the years, the body rots along the seams: sills, doors, and arches rust, and only welding and garage enthusiasm save the situation.

Another owner, Artem, speaks of the Safe as a "mud tank." Having bought it for the sake of adventure, he did not expect comfort from the car, but was satisfied with its off-road capabilities. "Whether in the forest or in the swamp — it will pull through. It shakes on the asphalt, but that's part of its character," he writes. The electrics live their own life, the power windows jam, but the frame construction and high ground clearance do their job. Safe, according to him, is a car not for show-offs, but for people who value reliability in the most severe conditions.

Alexey Podzorov notes that, despite its age, the Safe remains convenient and functional.

After replacing the headlights, the light improved, and the leather interior and simple multimedia add a little comfort to the car. The only inconvenience is the trunk, which can only be opened from the inside.

Some, like Denis, complain about the sluggish dynamics and chronic engine problems. "The body gets worse every year, and the engine doesn't pull. But it's cheap to repair," he admits. Replacing shock absorbers, levers, and the radiator is inexpensive, and parts are available almost everywhere. The cylinder head gasket problem is a familiar story, but most owners consider it more of a consumable.

Interestingly, even almost two decades after its release, the Great Wall Safe finds its fans. A Drive2 user with the nickname AndreDuk has owned the car for four years and does not regret switching from the "Niva." He completely re-stitched the interior, replaced the music, tinted the body, and even improved the light.

According to him, with careful maintenance, the engine remains clean, without carbon deposits, and replacing parts costs a penny.

According to owners, the Great Wall Safe is a real workhorse. It requires attention, loves lubrication, and does not tolerate indifference. The body rusts, there is almost no sound insulation, the interior is ascetic. But where others get stuck, the Safe pushes forward. In the mud, in the snow, on a dirt road — it is still an SUV, albeit from another era. Its main qualities are simplicity, maintainability, and the ability to get home under any circumstances.

Is it worth buying? If you need an inexpensive, honest SUV for the village, fishing, or hunting — the Great Wall Safe will do. But if you want comfort and modernity — it is better to look for something newer. After all, as the owners themselves admit, this is a car "for those who like to tinker with technology, not just drive." The Safe is aging, but in its own way remains a living symbol of the time when simplicity and roughness still meant reliability.

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