Does anyone have a Chevy Spark or know someone who has? If so how do they like it?

[shraby]

[ForgoTheConsequence]

1. It's a rebadged Korean piece of junk.

IMO.

[shraby]

2. Could you be a little more specific?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

4. It's really a Daewoo.

It's made in Korea and rebadged as a Chevy. If you just need something to get from point a to b in the city, it's probably fine, on the interstate merging is going to be scary. If you're in the market for a small hatchback and Made in America isn't important I would go with a Honda Fit, if Made in America or Union made is important the Chevy Sonic is made in Michigan.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Consumer Reports is "meh" on it

Reliable but not much fun to drive, unless it is the EV version. Good safety rating, mediocre fuel economy.

[HuckleB]

22. It might be a "meh" car, but CR is worthless.

[Kelvin Mace]

29. How is CR worthless?

Consumer Union buys all of its own products, does not accept advertising and has the most sophisticated consumer labs in the world. Do they have a puppy-killing operation I don't know about?

[HuckleB]

32. It keeps bringing on industry shills who don't understand basic science.

Much less other matters. Its act has worn very thin, to be kind.

[Kelvin Mace]

34. Industry shills?

Like who? Could you give me an example?

I am not trying to be snarky, but you are the first person I have run into with a bad thing to say about CR/CU. They are at the forefront of consumer safety regulation and were quite active in getting Elizabeth Warren's Consumer Protection Bureau into existence.

[HuckleB]

36. This is not new news.

Last edited Tue Apr 19, 2016, 07:20 PM - Edit history (1)

More later, if I have time.

http://www.geekwire.com/2012/decidecom-trumps-consumer-reports-study/

http://www.allpar.com/cr.html

And that doesn't address CR's hiring of an anti-science, anti-GMO editor on food issues, nor the repeated different rankings it gives appliances that are exactly the same, made by the same manufacturer, except for the label.

CR is not worth the time of day.

[MuseRider]

5. I have one and I love it.

I had a wonderful little Smart Car that was really a bad idea since it was old, only halfway converted to the US standards and I live and drive on gravel roads. I traded it in and got this little Spark with the computer etc.

I have to drive a lot to get places when I leave the farm. It does very well in all circumstances. It is perhaps the second best car I have ever had in snow and ice (best was a Land Cruiser with all wheel drive). It handles very well under all circumstances.

It tends to have an occasional hang up if you accelerate rapidly, not a good thing but if you plan for it you are safe. It is noisy, mostly on the highway but it is a million times quieter than the Smart was. It handles well, I can park anywhere. It has 10 airbags and that is cool. I love the little computer in it. It is not the best, there is one model better than the one I got and the computers in other cars do much more but it easily pairs with my phone so I can get calls without holding my phone, get satellite radio and use OnStar if you want it.

I get around 33 mpg average. I have to use the highway when I go places so I would guess most of my driving is about 50/50. Mine is a 2014. I do love it. It certainly is not perfect but it fits me and I would actually buy another if it does not outlast me.

[dilby]

6. My girlfriend has one, she hates it.

Gas mileage is terrible for such a small car, clutch was replaced after a year, makes weird rattling noises still and barely has enough room for a single suitcase in the trunk. The car is fine for two people but if you have 4 people traveling it's a tight fit.

She wants a bigger vehicle, she got the spark because it was cute and she thought it would be better gas mileage than its been getting, but the terrible mileage with limited space just makes it not worth it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. I've heard it called the Spork, too.

[dilby]

14. Haw about right. N/t

[doc03]

7. No American made any wages or received any benefits to build

it.

[greatlaurel]

8. Have you looked at a Prius?

We have had 2 and they are amazing cars, reliable and long lasting with good gas mileage. Incredibly reliable and they are made in the US starting in 2015.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. There is a $12K difference in the base models for the Spark and Prius.

That's a big chunk of change for many of us.

[greatlaurel]

16. You are right. There is quite a price difference.

A used Prius might be a possible option. We have an 11 year old Prius and it has only needed brakes and a water pump with a lot of miles on it. The Prius is a very well engineered vehicle and is quite sturdy, so a used vehicle might be something to consider. The gas mileage makes it a cheap vehicle to operate.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. True.

I'm glad you have had good luck with it.

I have a low mileage Saturn that dropped her trans promptly at 60K when the warranty expired and my payments were done. Funny how that happens.

[Kelvin Mace]

31. If you commute less than 60 miles a day

a used Leaf is the way to go. Cheap to operate, quiet, reliable, and lacks all those parts that tend to break at inopportune moments like starters, transmissions, fuel injectors, radiators, water pumps, oil pumps, head gaskets, etc.

[yellowcanine]

20. Bought a used 2005 Prius with 70,000 mi for $13,000.

It now has 260,000 miles. I replaced the hybrid battery at 240,000 mi and I just had to replace the catalytic converter. Other than brakes and tires, that is it. Most reliable car I have ever owned.

[JCMach1]

40. I bought a 2013 Prius with just 28K for just over $12K

There are some really good deals out there on hybrids right now.

[Fuddnik]

9. I have a 2015 Chevy Volt and absolutely love it.

I had a Prius for over 5 years, and it was a great car. Traded it in for a 2013 Ford C-MAX, which I like even better. The gas mileage isn't quite as good as the Prius, but it's quieter, and has a lot better acceleration, and is very comfortable to drive.

My wife uses the Volt for work and shopping, and for driving around the city, it's perfect. You get about 45 miles on a charge, so you plug it in every couple of days, and I'm getting over 300 mpg. Over a year, it's used only 20 gallons of gas. A lot of that on purpose, because I don't want the gas to go bad.

With 3 vehicles, I get my worst mpg from the Harley Davidson.

[Kelvin Mace]

33. The Volt is the absolute best compromise

for people who want electric, but still need greater range.

Used models are pretty cheap. One of the few cars it makes sense to lease.

[shraby]

10. Thanks for the input. We're looking at price mostly. We're retired and don't want to spend a bunch

on a car and this one had the right sticker on it.

[kevinbgoode1]

19. I bought a 2014 Nissan Versa Note (hatchback) and the price tag was similar

Of course, I really looked around for one that had hand cranked windows, key locks, and just an AM/FM/CD player. . .I know I seem old-fashioned but I really just don't want to waste my time (and my driving sight) trying to push the right icon on a screen. Besides, I have a lot of CDs, enjoy audio books as well, and this was just great for me.

I had friends who asked if I was sure it was a new car. . .hahaha. . .because of the hand-cranked windows and keys. . .but it really was the easiest car for me to just get in and drive without having to figure out too much on the dashboard. It is longer than the Spark, has more horsepower (I believe like 118 or so), has a very roomy backseat (a 6'2" neighbor recently sat in mine and said he could stretch out very well) and you can fold down one or both sides of the back seat for extra luggage/bags.

There are going to be critics of this vehicle too (all of the lower end ones seem to get those) but my gas mileage (5-speed manual) is about 37 highway and 25-26 city. I don't have any special frills (no bluetooth, only one electrical plug-in outlet, no on-board wi-fi) but I'm not a big phone user. Also, I'm an older person (well, over 60) and the seats (which are not fancy) are extremely comfortable - everyone who has ridden in it remarks on how much they love the back support.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. My dad rented one last year.

He loved the gas mileage. I am talking to him about it right now. He said there is no space for luggage/groceries unless you are committed to keeping the back seat (it flips down) as part of the trunk. It is not good for backseat passengers. He was not able to fit a large suitcase in the trunk without using the fold down backseat.

He had no issues with pickup, keeping speed, etc.

Best of luck.

[peabody]

15. I got one as a rental when I went down to L.A.

one year and I really didn't feel very good in it. It was very small and I felt very vulnerable in it, especially on highway 5 with all those trucks and bigger cars around me. I'm not into big cars but the Spark was too small for me. After that incident, I always requested a compact car instead of the sub-compact car. It might be different for you though since your driving condition might not be around large cars and trucks.

[fizzgig]

18. i think chevy went out of their way to make the worst car ever with that one

no business being a four-door because i don't think you can fit an adult in the back unless someone up front has their knees in the dash. the handles for the back door aren't where they *should* be, they're just in a spot that makes more blind spots. side mirrors taper down as they go out. going down the highway and roll down a window on only one side? be careful, you might get blown off the road.

oh...and the seats......

you know how uncomfortable a bicycle seat is? imagine that being your entire seat.

and all i did was rent one for the weekend. i could not imagine spending money to buy that car.

[maveric]

21. Don't buy GM.

Go Ford. That is all.

[HuckleB]

23. Derp.

Is this some sort of '70s time warp?

[hamsterjill]

25. Don't buy Ford.

Go GM.

I don't drive anything but GM vehicles. Never had any serious issues with any of mine.

THAT is all.

[B Calm]

28. Love my Chevy. Last Ford I owned was a gas guzzling piece of junk .

F = Fix
O = or
R = repair
D = Daley

[Whiskeytide]

30. I always heard...

Found
On
Road
Dead

...but I've had several and loved my Fords. Getting another F-150 soon.

[B Calm]

35. My brother bought a new 150 last year with the alum body. I was

impressed with it. He gets around 21 mpg, but it's a six cylinder and 2 wd. I have the Silverado crewcab 4 wd with the hybrid 350 V8. I get around 20 to 22 mpg on trips.

[Whiskeytide]

38. Your brother's is exactly what...

... I'm looking for - V6, 2WD Lariat. I don't pull much, and what little off road I do does not require a 4x4 anyway. My dad taught me (40 years ago now) that any place you actually need 4 wheel drive is someplace you don't really want to have your vehicle in the first place. "That's what the 'park and walk' gear is for!"

[snooper2]

24. Piece of junk, take a look at a Dodge Dart- Much better build quality

Or for that matter a Fiat 500

The Dart Turbo is the same engine as the Fiat Abarth- pretty sweet-

[Buzz Clik]

26. I put a lime green cover on a riding lawn mower -- voila! The Chevy Spark.

[Jack Bone]

27. Please look @ Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler

this Union brother would appreciate it!

[Atman]

37. The 2016 is a total redesign. CR actually gave it pretty good reviews.

They say it beats the Honda Fit, and totally blows away Mitsubishi Mirage and Smart Car.

I had never seen one so I did some Googling...it looks like a pretty fun little city car. CR says the bigger engine and longer wheel base make it a pretty good little cruiser, too.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/chevrolet-spark-road-test.htm

[shraby]

41. That's what we bought, a 2016 model. Looks and feels like a lot more car, and we got it

for the price of the 2015. Mr. Shraby drives a hard bargain. It's roomier, has comfy seats, the steering isn't real quick like a go-cart but steers like a regular car. They put some thought into making this one. The bookkeeper we wrote the check to told him that they lost money on it.
It has a/c, power steering, automatic trans., cruise control, back up camera, computer if we want to pay for access after a month.

[leftyladyfrommo]

39. I drive a Toyota Yaris

Some days I drive 200 miles.

I traded my last Yaris in at 200,000 miles. The repair I had was the water pump.

I get pretty good mileage at about 32.

It's basic but that is why I wanted it. No frills. But thy are so dependable. A friend had a Toyota Echo and had 320,000 on it when he got in a wreck. Only thing he had replaced was the alternator.

I have had nmy second Yaris 2 years and have 43,000 on it. No repairs.

Before that I had 2 Wranglers and boy they weren't worth the money. Started having problems at 20,000 and the mileage was awful.