Tested and RIPPED : Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LS

devarshi84 · 4th May 2007, 23:41

Test drove spark today. Loved it. My biggest grouse was the centre console but it worked out ok.

A/c was good (maybe bcoz it was 7 in the evening)

overall an extremely good car. But glancing it from outside, it doesnt feel like someone spent 3.5-4.5 lacs on that car.

here are the onroad price in abad.

spark 1.0E 3.46
Spark 1.0 3.71
spark LS 4.01
Spark LT 4.33
Spark LTOE 4.71

Aveo UV-A

1.2 4.46
1.2 club 4.65
1.2 LS 4.92
1.2 Superb 5.23
1.2 LT 5.50
1.2 LT OE 5.84

Getz

1.1 GLE 4.43
1.1 GVS 4.78
1.3 GLS 5.54
1.3 GLX 5.93

Santro

XK non ac 3.14
XK with ac 3.77
XL 4.02
XO 4.37
XL auto 4.81

Fiat Palio

SL 3.95
SLE 4.17
SLX 4.40
1.6 4.89

ALtO (too long so I will just mention range.)

2.60-3.30

maruti 800

2.20-2.46

swift

LDI-5.28
VDI-5.64
VDI ABD-5.86
LXI- 4.43
LXI wtih immobilizer- 4.47
VXI abS 5.01
petrol vxi- 4.75
vxo IMmobilizer- 4.79
ZXI- 5.60
zxi abs +immobilizer 5.65

WagonR

LX-3.71
LX DUo- 3.96
lx minor- 3.67
lxi- 3.99
lxi lpg- 4.27
lxi minoe 3.95
vxi ABS- 4.60
vxi- 4.26
vxi mior- 4.22

zen

Lx- 3.63
LXi- 3.95
VXI ABS- 4.56
VXI- 4.24

namit · 5th May 2007, 01:50

I havent driven the Spark but saw it from outside in my neighbourhood ... looks great and as GM has a tendancy to reduce prices after few months so guess can be a great package specially for all the gals / ladies.

Backed by excellent GM service support and price reduction later it can be a BIG hit.

Cheers !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mail4ajo

Matiz has initially been priced high when Daewoo released it. There was only one model and the pricing was so premium. I begged my friend not to take the car so quickly. He got one of the first few cars in Kerala, I think the 9 or 10 car.

After a few months, Daewoo realised the folly and released many models with a cut in pricing. Maybe we can expect history to repeat.

but i hope history does not repeat so way back that GM goes bankrupt just the way Daewoo went.

Kidding !!

1100D · 5th May 2007, 02:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by namit

but i hope history does not repeat so way back that GM goes bankrupt just the way Daewoo went.

Kidding !!

Daewoo did not go bankrupt because of Matiz. However GM will go bankrupt because of multiple blunders like the spark.

GTO · 5th May 2007, 10:43

Quote:

spark LS 4.01

Quote:

LXI- 4.43

The Spark with power-steering and front power windows is within striking range of the Swift Lxi. Plus the Swift petrol has some discounts to bring the gap down further.

For the difference, the Swift offers just so much more!

SohailPistawala · 5th May 2007, 10:59

Drove the Chevrolet Spark, I find it pretty peppy and quick , though have'nt drove the other cars at the same segment much.

very Small car... ideally good for a family of four, dragged the 3rd gear to 100 without hesitation ... A/c very good even during the day say at 2.00 in the afternoon, nice dashboard, like the centre console, something new from chevrolet.
i think its also priced well... again a cat and mouse race.... for the best in the segment... another feather added to the hat of Chevrolet and GM to make their presence felt in the world of hyundais and marutis and hatch backs etc etc....

Just a question whats the mileage?

moralfibre · 5th May 2007, 11:03

Nice review GTO and Adya. Just one question to Adya

Quote:

Steering - Its completely circular looks bad and IMO is bit bigger than needed.

I didn't quite get you here. All steerings I know of have always been round and circular. Is it something else that you were trying to say?

GTO · 5th May 2007, 13:37

Quote:

I didn't quite get you here. All steerings I know of have always been round and circular. Is it something else that you were trying to say?

What Adya actually means is that the Spark steering wheel (because of a minimal spoke design) looks like a full circle (with nothing in between). It does look different and gives the interiors a unique design touch.

devarshi84 · 5th May 2007, 13:42

The horn button being in the centre of the centre is a hard place to reach.

Also did anyone notice that the 60:40 fold seats need the base seats to be opened first? Its a bit of a drawback.

Also the place above the glovebox is huge and wasted. GM gets -5 for this.

SOund insulation is excellent. Maybe because the engine has HYDRAULIC mounts.

The panel gaps and engineering faults which I earlier saw on UV-A are completely absent.

cartech · 5th May 2007, 15:14

Hi Devarshi
What are UVA club and superb? The UVA website does not mention these models.

iraghava · 5th May 2007, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by devarshi84

Also did anyone notice that the 60:40 fold seats need the base seats to be opened first? Its a bit of a drawback.

It was the same in the Matiz also.

rks · 5th May 2007, 15:38

Here are the technical specifications of the Spark LS in Zambia; should be the same here:

motoring.co.za - Chevrolet Spark LS specifications

48.5 kw = 65 HP
0-100 kmph 14.1 secs,
Top speed 146 kmph.

Very much comparable to Zen, slightly better.

Service interval 15000 kms

Which is great. Don't know if this holds in Indian driving conditions.

Tyres 145/70 R13

Looks small for a 65 HP car. Santro's 155 mm tyres are more attractive.

Vid6639 · 5th May 2007, 15:43

ummmm, rks hav you gone through the thread? the car's already available here in india. the website is operational for quite sometime:

Chevrolet Spark

also the tyres are 155/70-13.

there's no need to see the SA site when the details are given for the indian version and all magazines are carrying a review for the same.

GTO · 5th May 2007, 15:56

Quote:

Service interval 15000 kms

Unfortunately not the same in India. Even the Renault Logan has a 30,000 km service interval in some countries but in India its 10,000 (if I remember correctly).

shineshine · 5th May 2007, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by adya33

Just took a short test drive in Spark. Car I test drove was LT model.
.......

For some reason the handbrake warning lamp did not go off after releasing handbrake but it went off after starting car. I am unaware if the breaks retain their pressure till car is started and it isn't mentioned in broacher either....

I think most of the small car's hand brakes are using cable linkage and it has nothing to do with engine power.
Please correct if I'm wrong

devarshi84 · 5th May 2007, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by cartech

Hi Devarshi
What are UVA club and superb? The UVA website does not mention these models.

those are dealer models with dealer options.

basic with Dealer fitments is club and LS with dealer fitment is Superb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

It was the same in the Matiz also.

Didnt know that. But the point is that its highly inconvinient.

4th May 2007, 23:41	#46
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	Test drove spark today. Loved it. My biggest grouse was the centre console but it worked out ok. A/c was good (maybe bcoz it was 7 in the evening) overall an extremely good car. But glancing it from outside, it doesnt feel like someone spent 3.5-4.5 lacs on that car. here are the onroad price in abad. spark 1.0E 3.46 Spark 1.0 3.71 spark LS 4.01 Spark LT 4.33 Spark LTOE 4.71 Aveo UV-A 1.2 4.46 1.2 club 4.65 1.2 LS 4.92 1.2 Superb 5.23 1.2 LT 5.50 1.2 LT OE 5.84 Getz 1.1 GLE 4.43 1.1 GVS 4.78 1.3 GLS 5.54 1.3 GLX 5.93 Santro XK non ac 3.14 XK with ac 3.77 XL 4.02 XO 4.37 XL auto 4.81 Fiat Palio SL 3.95 SLE 4.17 SLX 4.40 1.6 4.89 ALtO (too long so I will just mention range.) 2.60-3.30 maruti 800 2.20-2.46 swift LDI-5.28 VDI-5.64 VDI ABD-5.86 LXI- 4.43 LXI wtih immobilizer- 4.47 VXI abS 5.01 petrol vxi- 4.75 vxo IMmobilizer- 4.79 ZXI- 5.60 zxi abs +immobilizer 5.65 WagonR LX-3.71 LX DUo- 3.96 lx minor- 3.67 lxi- 3.99 lxi lpg- 4.27 lxi minoe 3.95 vxi ABS- 4.60 vxi- 4.26 vxi mior- 4.22 zen Lx- 3.63 LXi- 3.95 VXI ABS- 4.56 VXI- 4.24
	() Thanks

5th May 2007, 10:59	#50
SohailPistawala BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 434 Thanked: 25 Times	Drove the Chevrolet Spark, I find it pretty peppy and quick , though have'nt drove the other cars at the same segment much. very Small car... ideally good for a family of four, dragged the 3rd gear to 100 without hesitation ... A/c very good even during the day say at 2.00 in the afternoon, nice dashboard, like the centre console, something new from chevrolet. i think its also priced well... again a cat and mouse race.... for the best in the segment... another feather added to the hat of Chevrolet and GM to make their presence felt in the world of hyundais and marutis and hatch backs etc etc.... Just a question whats the mileage?
	() Thanks

5th May 2007, 13:42	#53
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	The horn button being in the centre of the centre is a hard place to reach. Also did anyone notice that the 60:40 fold seats need the base seats to be opened first? Its a bit of a drawback. Also the place above the glovebox is huge and wasted. GM gets -5 for this. SOund insulation is excellent. Maybe because the engine has HYDRAULIC mounts. The panel gaps and engineering faults which I earlier saw on UV-A are completely absent. Last edited by devarshi84 : 5th May 2007 at 13:44.
	() Thanks

5th May 2007, 15:14	#54
cartech BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 198 Thanked: Once	Hi Devarshi What are UVA club and superb? The UVA website does not mention these models.
	() Thanks

5th May 2007, 15:38	#56
rks BANNED Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,238 Thanked: 17 Times	Here are the technical specifications of the Spark LS in Zambia; should be the same here: motoring.co.za - Chevrolet Spark LS specifications 48.5 kw = 65 HP 0-100 kmph 14.1 secs, Top speed 146 kmph. Very much comparable to Zen, slightly better. Service interval 15000 kms Which is great. Don't know if this holds in Indian driving conditions. Tyres 145/70 R13 Looks small for a 65 HP car. Santro's 155 mm tyres are more attractive. Last edited by rks : 5th May 2007 at 15:42.
	() Thanks

5th May 2007, 15:43	#57
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,729 Thanked: 43,464 Times View My Garage	ummmm, rks hav you gone through the thread? the car's already available here in india. the website is operational for quite sometime: Chevrolet Spark also the tyres are 155/70-13. there's no need to see the SA site when the details are given for the indian version and all magazines are carrying a review for the same.
	() Thanks