Does arduino clones work?

I'm starting to plan to build a 2DoF sim (and maybe add traction loss in the future) using wiper motors. I've been lurking around the forum and got a pretty good idea of the mechanical parts. I may be able to get some car parts for free so I am now thinking about the electronic parts I'd need.

It looks like the basics would be an arduino uno and a motor driver. The thing is, in my country, they cost like x3 or x4 times the original prices, and imports are under heavy control from customs, not ony for taxes, sometimes you may not even get the package or would have to go through tedious bureaucracy to get it. But I always had good luck buying small stuff from chinese websites like dx dot com, plus I have some extra paypal I don't use and would like to spend.

I was browsing that site and found they don't have any original arduino, but I found this clone:

http://dx.com/p/uno-r3-development-...at-for-arduino-blue-black-215600#.VWjZ289VhBc

and this motor driver http://dx.com/p/monster-moto-shield-for-arduino-red-161274 which seems suitable for my 2 motors setup (not sure if this one is original or clone)

So my question would be, does someone knows if the XDRduino arduino clone would work combined with the MM for a 2 motors sim?

They work for me.

Thanks for your reply, I was worried they may have compatibility issues or something. I may be able to get my hands on an original one from italy anyway, but it's good to know I could some extra cheap ones for testing.

I use all clones of everything they work with no problems so far

Avoid the one with CH340 mention: they requires an alternate specific driver...

IMO clones are good for testing (and burning boards!) but not always trustworthy:
I have a NANO clone which cannot open the COM port at computer start and need to be unplugged and replugged...

FYI, @Wanegain has the same feedbacks

http://www.racingfr.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=49341

Omg you are the famous racingmat! haha, thanks for the info and for all the stuff you share. I think most of the materials I am gathering and saving for future reference when it's time to build, comes from you. Your tutorial is what made me decide I could do it this time, thanks a lot.

Got 2 UNOs and they both work fine.
Arduino's are open source and designed to be copied that's what I was lead to believe anyway!

Thanks young Padawan! you're welcome

I use an Nano from banggood, with the ch340 driver, got no problems using this