Back to the Geo Metro? (Chevy Spark)

[Spazdog]

Daewoo Matiz

Don't know where it will be made. Probably be cheaper to import it from Columbia than from South Korea. Might even be flex-fuel if they export Columbian made Sparks to Brazil.

If given the choice between a Scion iQ, a Dumb ForAll, and a Spark? I'm choosing the Chevrolaewoo every time. It's way cooler than the iQ and the Dumb.

People with legs might actually fit in the back of the Spark for short periods of time. Less likely in the Scion iQ and impossible in the Dumb ForAll.

If you don't mind coming up two doors short, the MINI Cooper or Fiat 500 would be preferable. But I still like this little Chevrolaewoo.

I hope it would be cheaper than a MINI Clubman or Countryman

 

[sciphi]

Uhh, my Cruze Eco MT was $20k out the door. Hardly exorbitant, and right in the middle price-wise for the Cruze lineup. It's still cheaper than a MSRP $25k Prius or $24k TDI. Price/MPG, it's slaughtering those other two, especially the TDI.

Granted the Spark will be cheaper yet, like $15-16k OTD. And if it gets 40 mpg highway in real life, fantastic! The Sonic isn't meeting EPA ratings with the same drivetrains as the Cruze in a lighter, smaller car. Plus the Sonics are slugs, even with the 1.4T. I hope the Spark truly gets its EPA highway rating out in the real world. Chevy's track record there is woeful, aside from the Cruze Eco MT.

 

[JHZR2]

The issue to me with these small cars is that they dont seem to return better economy than the bigger ones. If Im getting 42 with a cruze or 42 with this, why would I give up a ot of interior volume?

Acquisition cost, I get that, but Id like to see a few less hp and more like 50 MPG.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The issue to me with these small cars is that they dont seem to return better economy than the bigger ones. If Im getting 42 with a cruze or 42 with this, why would I give up a ot of interior volume?

Acquisition cost, I get that, but Id like to see a few less hp and more like 50 MPG.


Back when I still had my Buick, we took our Fit on a roadtrip to Wisconsin specifically because of its tiny exterior size. It was fantastic to whip it into a parking spot anywhere. Driving in downtown Milwaukee with my relatives in their SUV, they were very limited in available parking. Our Fit had no issues squeezing into tiny parking spots. On a recent trip to Buffalo, we parked the Fit legally in spaces that a larger car would have gotten ticketed in. We still had 2 feet to spare.

Unfortunately, the compromises a small car makes for interior room detract from highway MPG. Being a box on wheels for passenger comfort and cargo room makes streamlining it for highway travel pretty hard. I'm not at all shocked my Cruze whips our Fit silly for highway fuel economy. It's longer and lower, both of which make for better highway aerodynamics. The Fit's a wedge on wheels. The drag created by the tumbling air in its wake has to be pretty bad.

City mileage is quite similar between the cars. There, the Fit's lighter weight helps it waste less energy accelerating from the zillionth stoplight. It's also still physically smaller than the Cruze, making parking much easier. Parallel parking a car where the rear bumper sticks out maybe a foot past the rear wheels is a breeze. And it's still getting 30-31 mpg in urban-jungle traffic. The Cruze would be getting maybe 25, while being much harder to park. In lower-speed driving, the Fit slices and dices traffic very well. It simply does not need as much space to maneuver as the larger Cruze.

I could see a Spark being popular in any larger city. There, having a smaller car is a real boon for getting around. Highway fuel economy doesn't matter when there's a stoplight every 200 meters. And being able to shoehorn into an impossibly tight downtown parking spot is a real joy. In an urban environment, a large car is a large hassle.

I'm glad we're finally getting good smaller cars in all varieties in this country again!

 

[91344George]

If the Spark doesn't get 50 MPG I don't see a purpose for it.

 

[ffracer]

I haven't driven a Spark yet and was pretty biased against it, given how mediocre the Aveo was in most respects, but I got a chance to sit it one at the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen.

It had surprisingly good fit and finish and decent materials for a low priced car. It was a not-Aveo! Also, made in the USA, not Korea. Obviously, a Daewoo starting design.

Don't know if it handles well or is reliable. Have to wait and see, but the other issue is that Cruze is a very competitive car and only a little more $$$ for a really nice car. The Cruze Eco was also a surprise - much improved.

I've never been a big GM fan for a variety of reasons, but do like some of their vehicles, but these both seem quite a bit better.

Good to at least have some seemingly better choices now.

 

[odie]

The "C" from TOYOTA will be under $20,000 . Then there's the INSIGHT for $20,000 . Many to choose from . We can get 40+ m.p.g. with the base model '08 YARIS sedan with the 4 speed automatic that was $14,500 ( or was it less ? ) . You'd think the "C" to get 45+ with ease . Both have the 1.5 ltr. engine .

 

[Popinski]

I think a lot of folks here are confusing the Spark with the Sonic.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
I think a lot of folks here are confusing the Spark with the Sonic.


You are correct. The Spark is a genuine city car. The Sonic is the Cruze's little brother. The Spark is more like the city-slicker cousin that knows every back alley and hideaway.

 

[eljefino]

Why can't we return to this form factor? Don't say crash ratings! Cars are taller and narrower now and not getting better MPG.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: Popinski
I think a lot of folks here are confusing the Spark with the Sonic.


You are correct. The Spark is a genuine city car. The Sonic is the Cruze's little brother. The Spark is more like the city-slicker cousin that knows every back alley and hideaway.


No confusion for me. I know what it is.

A lot of the dislike is because it is a small car. I personally like small cars. I've had a Suzuki Swift, 2 Fiat X1/9s, Triumph Spitfire, and 2 Volkswagen Type1s (Beetle and Super Beetle).
They don't generate a lot of forward momentum, but it's fun to conserve that momentum with an agile chassis. That's why the Mazda2 and the Fit can be fun cars in spite of their low output.

Then there's the crash fear. If you ride a motorcycle, you are probably more connected to what is going on around you than the average slush-barge Buick or SUV - "I have to drive a big car because..." driver anyway and probably a more skillful driver too.

My current car is either the biggest compact or the smallest mid-size. I'm actually quite fond of that but still like small cars too.

GM is really turning out some fantastic designs as of late (barring the self-immolating Volt) I've never been a fan of the General, but they've gotten my attention.

 

[opus1]

I kind of like it, and dare I say this.....even in "Techno Pink". Although I'd probably go with the Denim color if I bought one.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Samilcar
What's the MPG of the Spark? The only thing I can find is that it's "expected to" get 40 mpg. Unless you lived in an urban area and really needed the small exterior size of the car, there are better (bigger) choices of vehicles that get the same mileage.


Indeed. I think I'll keep my Prius and the 44 I get.
And I think I'll keep my Insight and the 60-70 I get.

 

[sciphi]

If you have a 1st gen Insight, keep that thing running!

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
If you have a 1st gen Insight, keep that thing running!
Will do, I'll keep this car forever if I can.

It makes me so happy.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Samilcar
What's the MPG of the Spark? The only thing I can find is that it's "expected to" get 40 mpg. Unless you lived in an urban area and really needed the small exterior size of the car, there are better (bigger) choices of vehicles that get the same mileage.


Indeed. I think I'll keep my Prius and the 44 I get.
And I think I'll keep my Insight and the 60-70 I get.


Ill pray for you and your battery.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Samilcar
What's the MPG of the Spark? The only thing I can find is that it's "expected to" get 40 mpg. Unless you lived in an urban area and really needed the small exterior size of the car, there are better (bigger) choices of vehicles that get the same mileage.


Indeed. I think I'll keep my Prius and the 44 I get.
And I think I'll keep my Insight and the 60-70 I get.


Ill pray for you and your battery.

If it dies, it dies.

 

[zyxelenator]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog

GM is really turning out some fantastic designs as of late (barring the self-immolating Volt) I've never been a fan of the General, but they've gotten my attention.

Agree with that. GM got my attention.

 

[zyxelenator]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9
How about a Spark SS with the 1.4L turbo?

Can you say Fiat 500 Abarth fighter?
Wiki says Koreans have 1.2 Turbo engines.
It won't be Abarth fighter unless they make it 2 doors and but competitive suspension.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Uhh, my Cruze Eco MT was $20k out the door. Hardly exorbitant, and right in the middle price-wise for the Cruze lineup. It's still cheaper than a MSRP $25k Prius or $24k TDI. Price/MPG, it's slaughtering those other two, especially the TDI.


To set the record straight, I paid $21000 for my brand new Prius back in 2010. Lifetime MPG=52 (lots of city driving).