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

[gone-ot]

...interestingly, GM is talking about "hopping" the Spark up powerwise with a new 1.6LT engine in the 2014-2015 timeframe, so if you're looking for a small-displacement model, you better look NOW not later.

...not a Spark, but there's some very interesting info in this AutoNews presentation:

http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA74344613.PDF

[Xist]

Old Tele man, couldn't that be considered an over-sized engine for that class?

I had not realized how heavy the Civic had gotten, or that it has had a 1.8 liter engine since 2,006, so they would be comparable, but wouldn't the Spark lose its slight mileage advantage?

[5speed5]

I saw a pink Spark about a week ago in Ohio when I was visiting relatives. Nice little car. The gas mileage is disappointing, however, but that seems to be the norm for these tiny cars (see SMART Fortwo, Fiat 500, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit...not one of those cars is rated for over 38 mpg). My guess is in the hands of even a mild hypermiler, the manual tranny versions could easily get over 50 mpg (as could the other cars listed).

[MetroMPG]

50+ in suburban / exurban driving, probably.

For 50+ highway, this thing will need a boat tail and a pile of other aero mods (first one for every car should be roof rack delete!).

[Xist]

Do consumers actually want roof racks? Do they think "You know, I would hate myself if just once I needed a roof rack and did not have one?"

What if they made hatch... racks? Make the the hatch and bumper sturdy enough that you could fasten stuff to the back of your car. If it fell off the back, it just might fall off the top!

[niky]

I don't even know why they bother with the 1.2, anymore.

Sure, it's one or two seconds faster to 60 than the 1.0, but it's disappointing, either way, and there's a hole in the power curve in the midrange big enough to drive a Chevy Cruze through.. which might be affecting its numbers.

The 1.0 is just as good in traffic. Just as good in tip-in acceleration, and can realistically get 60 mpg.

With a good 1.6 (not even a turbo), and perhaps better gearing, the Spark could probably get 50 mpg on the US highway test.

[MetroMPG]

Well, apparently GM sold 2630 Sparks last month (Aug) in the U.S. Compare to over 8000 Sonics, which until the Spark came along was GM's "entry level" car.

source: http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Medi...ugust_2012.pdf

[MetroMPG]

Saw my first privately owned (plated) Spark on the road yesterday.

Yes, still inexplicably interested by GM's latest runt.

[Smurf]

I've noticed the local GM dealers have had Sparks and Sonics at the lot for a couple months (early August at least). I haven't seen more than a handful actually out driving though.

They look... "spunky"

[MetroMPG]

Spunky colours, for sure (mostly). But I have seen a black one, and I liked it.

Funny thing: I've been keeping an eye on YouTube for an independent test drive/review. So far the only ones I'm seeing have been posted by dealers.