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

[sendler]

I took a quick drive in my brother's Spark and was very impressed. The steering, clutch, and manual trans are very well done. The engine pulls from below 2,000 without bucking and you can't even tell it is on at idle. His fuel economy has been good at 39 mpgUS at 70 mph and that includes climbing and descending two 1,000 foot vertical hills on the brakes every day after 40 miles on the highway. I wonder if anyone will make a way to go longer on the final gearing? The body feels really solid. I am a hypermiler by nature so I didn't wind it up or toss it into a turn but it seems like a nice commuter car for the money.

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by sendler

I took a quick drive in my brother's Spark and was very impressed. The steering, clutch, and manual trans are very well done. The engine pulls from below 2,000 without bucking and you can't even tell it is on at idle. His fuel economy has been good at 39 mpgUS at 70 mph and that includes climbing and descending two 1,000 foot vertical hills on the brakes every day after 40 miles on the highway. I wonder if anyone will make a way to go longer on the final gearing? The body feels really solid. I am a hypermiler by nature so I didn't wind it up or toss it into a turn but it seems like a nice commuter car for the money.

Hey, you're in Syracuse too! Didn't know there was anyone else in Syracuse one ecomodder.

Where is he commuting to/from? I know on 81 there are a few real GOOD hills.

[sendler]

I live in Cortland and work at Mercedes. 39 miles each way. My brother lives in Cortland and works up the hill at OCC.

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by sendler

I live in Cortland and work at Mercedes. 39 miles each way. My brother lives in Cortland and works up the hill at OCC.

That hill on 173 (the turnpike) before OCC is real steep! There's also that big hill head south on 81.

However, there are some hypermiling opportunities on 81 for sure! If I put it in neutral on 81N coming into the city, I can get up to about 80 in neutral on that big hill by LaFayette.

[California98Civic]

I'm in a rented 4-door 2013 Chevy Spark auto trans for a work-related regional trip today. It's silver. I'm hypermiling it mildly, all engine on, slow cruising. Running two averages: highway and city using the "trip a" and "trip b" functions of the fuel economy gauge. It is a rental, so the OEM gauge will be the source of data.

[MetroMPG]

Looking forward to your report.

I've read the auto transmission is a 4-speed, and not recommended given the car's relatively low power & portly weight.

[California98Civic]

I enjoyed the car well enough. You sit kinda high, and the thought occurred to me it might be high as a marketing technique for people who test drive small cars but feel nervous about being low down to the ground after their last SUV.

Unfortunately, I could not get the fuel gauges to work properly and had too little time (schedule pressures) to figure it out. But by the ODO/pump I got 141.1 miles out of 2.588 gals for 54.52 mpg. That was mostly highway and with moderate hypermiling, such as 60 mph in a 65 speed zone and engine on neutral coast whenever possible. I shut the engine off at lights about half the time.

It crosses 2000 rpms at 45mph and cruises at about 2500 at 60.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

I enjoyed the car well enough. You sit kinda high, and the thought occurred to me it might be high as a marketing technique for people who test drive small cars but feel nervous about being low down to the ground after their last SUV.

Unfortunately, I could not get the fuel gauges to work properly and had too little time (schedule pressures) to figure it out. But by the ODO/pump I got 141.1 miles out of 2.588 gals for 54.52 mpg. That was mostly highway and with moderate hypermiling, such as 60 mph in a 65 speed zone and engine on neutral coast whenever possible. I shut the engine off at lights about half the time.

It crosses 2000 rpms at 45mph and cruises at about 2500 at 60.

Impressive MPG numbers considering the high RPMs. This is geared very similarly to my TSX.

I'll be taking my parents Camry to CA next week even though it has a much worse CdA (aero drag) spec compared to the TSX. The lower gearing makes all the difference, especially with the faster CA traffic.

[raylit20]

Anybody on here have one as a daily driver yet?

Also, does anyone know what the RPMs are like in top gear with the 5 speed car at 60 mph? How about 5th at 40 mph?

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by raylit20

Anybody on here have one as a daily driver yet?

Also, does anyone know what the RPMs are like in top gear with the 5 speed car at 60 mph? How about 5th at 40 mph?

2 posts up ? Allow for the speedo over reading and you have your answer.