Anyone seen/driven a Chevrolet Spark yet? Geo Metro 2.0 ?

[5speed5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

There's also a 3-cyl 1.0L turbodiesel available for the Spark back there in India.

If that were available here, I'd HAVE to get one (assuming a 5-spd manual is also available). I would be powerless to hold myself back.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by 5speed5

If that were available here, I'd HAVE to get one (assuming a 5-spd manual is also available). I would be powerless to hold myself back.

The only transmission available to this engine that I'm aware is exactly a 5spd manual.

[Miller88]

Motorweek just did a review on the spark.

2013 Chevrolet Spark | MotorWeek

Didn't have too bad of a review. they also got 39MPG out of it - which is pretty good. Usually when they do these reviews they drive them somewhat hard and get somewhere between the rated highway and city mileage. I bet it could easily hit 45mpg if you keep it easy on the highway.

They seemed to like it, for what it was.

I'm going to try to get a test drive of one today.

[MetroMPG]

I added the Motorweek review link in your post.

Provided you're not doing much highway driving, I'm sure the car could get pretty decent mileage. Not so much on the highway due to gearing (only a 5-speed, and probably geared low for "pep") and relatively high aero drag.

It'll be interesting when they post their video review.

[Hubert Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

The only transmission available to this engine that I'm aware is exactly a 5spd manual.

There is also a 4 speed torque converter automatic available on the Spark in the U.S.

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by Hubert Farnsworth

There is also a 4 speed torque converter automatic available on the Spark in the U.S.

People in America don't really do so well with manual trans.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Hubert Farnsworth

There is also a 4 speed torque converter automatic available on the Spark in the U.S.

Sure, but that transmission is not available to a 1.0L turbodiesel which is fitted to a version available in India. BTW, that 4-speed slushbox could be replaced with either a 5-speed AMT already bolted to the Ecotec 1.2L in some versions of the Opel Corsa or some CVT, which would be more favorable to the fuel-efficiency.

[Miller88]

How are these cars doing over seas for quality? I have a feeling that it's a 100k mile only car (if that)

[niky]

The Matiz was perhaps the only Daewoo that didn't collapse into a smoking pile of manure right after the warranty expired... though when Daewoo went belly up, they were starting to make decent cars.

Currently, the Spark and its motors seem to be rather reliable. Only thing I'd worry about is the floppy stuff they make the engine mounts and suspension bushings out of.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by niky

The Matiz was perhaps the only Daewoo that didn't collapse into a smoking pile of manure right after the warranty expired...

Have to disagree having owned one of the pre-facelift pre-Chevrolet versions - a truly horrid, foul and unreliable little car with no redeeming features except it came in a pleasant shade of Orange and had free insurance (my only reason for buying).

When it snowed in 2000 I managed to "beach" it on about 4-5 inches of snow - it just sat with its wheels in the air. I kicked it and walked away...

The dent guy I hired fixed the big ding in the bonnet with his fingers, no tools because the metal was so soft.

I've seen a few Sparks on the roads here in Blighty, most of them the poverty spec model (steelie wheels etc.) and usually in a strange shade of Silver which conspires to make even a brand new one look quite old and tired or that odd shade of green that looks like a pee sample given by a very sick man.



In this poverty spec they sell for £9k here, which is about $14K - and that is the base 1.0 no frills, furry seats, muscle building windows, no AC, steelie 13 inch wheels. The 1.2 with alloys etc. is about £10,500 or $17K.

Compared to the numbers of Picantos or i10s, Up! and Bugs around they are a very slow seller and usually only to a very small market - the retired crowd who buy a small auto.