GM makes Aveo more appealing

[Joey D]

From the LAIAS come the 2007 Aveo...looks like the threw and Malibu and a Cobalt in a room and told them to mate.

I cried over this one, what the hell...just say no to iPods.

So some of you might be thinking, why the hell show this off? Because this is the car GM is going to take global to 140 countries, meaning that GM is becoming more and more of a world car maufactuor apposed to just an American one. This car will not sell great in the States save for some people looking to save some money at the pump with its 35mpg fuel rating.

For an engine you get 103hp and 107lb.ft. of torque. Now before you get all uppedy about this, remember this is by no means a race car or meant to be fast. It also has some new fangled VVT type system on it.

But yes, I think this will offer some competition to the Yaris coming over, as well as some other small cars. Hell I would take this over a Kia Rio or whatever it is now.

 

[Wolfe]

I'd take the Aveo hatch over that thing any day of the week. But something tells me that this car will eventually become an epitome of "00's styling." It's got a lot of today's trends, without being unique or different in any way, shape or form.

Congrats to GM on the global release...

Hmm...103hp, 107lb.ft. of torque...that's similar to my car's figures.

 

[Omnis]

The dash has the classic GM bland styling. Same goes for the steering wheel. The whole interior is plainer than the Puritans.

However, it's not a bad package. If I were shopping in its class, it looks like something I would consider.

 

[VIPFREAK]

whatever, let it die...

 

[niky]

Looks a hell of a lot better than the current Aveo (barf bag styling). Shame it's still got Aveo stuff underneath. The old Aveo is light-years behind the Honda Fit, Toyota Echo/Yaris and Hyundai Getz / Accent it competes with. If they worked on the suspension of this one, maybe it'll fare better.

Put a Suzuki 1.5 underneath that bonnet (=better reliability, power and economy... oh well, at least better reliability) and ditch the Daewoo engine architecture and it'd be a perfect entry level.

I'd still take a new Rio over this, but design-wise, it's pretty good for a Korean... errh... foreign market Chevy. I particularly like how they got the rear-end to scream "Chevy" without being over-bearing about it. Most car makers can't get any distinct identity out of their rear-ends.

Interior is very sparse, seems modern but parts of it look ancient already. Especially the AC controls... but then, I like knobs better than fiddly electronic climate controls.

 

[Kylehnat]

I guess it's a nice attempt by GM to make it more appealing, but that doesn't cover up what it is: a cheaply constructed econobox. I realized why the Aveo is so "spaceous" when I sat in one recently; the doors are about an inch thick. Yeah, I'd trust my family to be safe in that...

 

[Omnis]

notice how I said LOOKS.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Looks alot like a Daewoo.

 

[Pebb]

Like adding a iPod connection is going to sell the Aveo. If I brought a car with high MPG and was not a supercar or Sports Car, i would buy one with a high safty rating.

 

[Jondot]

I actually like it. They screwed up the daewoo version of this, and made it look even worse in their version, but this looks much better. They've improved the interior a lot

 

[Poverty]

The kooks of the car is utterly uninspiring and its engine leaves alot to be desired. 103hp yet only 35mpg. There are cars out there with around 200hp that get more mpg than this thing. Will it sell? Only if its under £8,000.

 

[Joey D]

The car will have good safety now that side air bags are standard on it.

But what they hell did you guys expect for a car that starts at like 10 grand? Of course the stylin will be bland and cheap on the inside.

a cheaply constructed econobox

Take your GM bashing somewhere else. Guess what that's what it's supposed to be. Why must eveyone think GM needs to building the best everything?

 

[Majarvis]

You can paint a bucket of horse manure bright silver and make it smell like evergreens, but it's still a bucket of horse manure underneath.

I imagine this car still has a horrible crash test rating, and awful brakes.

 

[Joey D]

You can paint a bucket of horse manure bright silver and make it smell like evergreens, but it's still a bucket of horse manure underneath.

I imagine this car still has a horrible crash test rating, and awful brakes.

Once again what the hell are you people expecting from a car that cost 10 grand brand new? Honestly?

 

[Majarvis]

Once again what the hell are you people expecting from a car that cost 10 grand brand new? Honestly?

A car that is safe, and doesn't marginally pass acceptable crash test ratings.

It may cause costs to rise, but I'd rather have a safer car than have a less expensive one that has a high potential for injury in a crash. Yes, I know that in any accident there is high potential for injuries, but you can at least go to lengths to minimize those injuries.

I'm not simply harping on GM, this goes for Kia, Hyundai, etc.

 

[Joey D]

You get a car with standard front and SIDE airbags. How many little cars come with side airbags standard...that's safety right there. But you are never ever going to get an extremely safe small car.

 

[Ev0]

I'd still rather buy a Yaris.

And as for bad interiors... go look at a Hyundai sometime. The interior in my mom's '02 Santa Fe is truly hideous in every aspect. Its a good car otherwise though, but the interior is simply craptacular.

 

[194GVan]

Blazin does this car share the same platform as the Echo? Looks about the same shape and size, and you mentioned something about variable valve timing Definately looks alot better than an echo.

 

[Sage]

It’s better than the current Aveo, yes. I’m putting my money though on the 2006 Hyundai Accent as being the best of the cheapie-cheap car class. Look at these specs, they’re unbelievable – for $14,500 (manual car + Premium Package), you get power-everything, A/C, six airbags (our $35,000 truck has two), 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS (the Pontiac Solstice doesn’t come with ABS standard like this Hyundai), remote keyless, 10/10,000 powertrain warranty… this thing is unbelievable.

That said, I’m anxious to see the pricing on the Honda Fit when it’s brought stateside in Spring. Too bad the Yaris hatchback looks like a soccer ball for Hummers, because I don’t want the sedan (which actually looks decent, and has a slightly less dumb-looking center console).

 

[DuckRacer]

If people can afford an iPod, they can afford a better car. There's better bang for your buck out there.

 

[Fairlady240zg]

If people can afford an iPod, they can afford a better car. There's better bang for your buck out there.

For real. But then again, no one considers this car a bang..

 

[Carl.]

But yes, I think this will offer some competition to the Yaris coming over, as well as some other small cars. Hell I would take this over a Kia Rio or whatever it is now.

Why? The outgoing Rio was a piece of crap, but the new one is much better... It also has a vvt engine, has 6 standard airbags ABS with EBD, a fully equipped (everything electric, a/c, keyless, heated seats and mirrors) will sell for under 14K, with a 5 years complete warranty with 24h road assistance. If I was shopping for a car in that price range, I'd probably go for something used instead of these, but I don't see any reason why someone looking at an Aveo wouldn't also stop at a Kia or Hyundai dealer.

EDIT: Sage beat me to it, started typing this a while back...

Or the Hyundai Accent, which is the same car...

 

[Joey D]

Because Kia in most people's mind = complete and utter crap. I honestly woulnd't buy a Korean car, but that's just personal preferance for me.

The Aveo comes with 6 airbags...2 front, side lower and upper on both sides. It's no big deal, seems like all cars this little need to come with em.

 

[Firebird]

A car that is safe, and doesn't marginally pass acceptable crash test ratings.

You really need to do some research...

The old Aveo had five-star NHTSA front crash test ratings. With a redesigned structure and more airbags, I don't see the new Aveo receiving anything less than five-star ratings across the board.

 

[Carl.]

Because Kia in most people's mind = complete and utter crap. I honestly woulnd't buy a Korean car, but that's just personal preferance for me.

And a lot of people were thinking the same way about Japanese cars not long ago.

My girlfriends's has a 2002 Hyundai Accent GSI. She took a lease 2 months before we met, otherwise she would have bought something else (again, used), but still, it's lightyears ahaead of a 02 Cavalier or Sunfire in about every aspect I can think of, besides room. I don't have anything negative to say about its reliability or fit and finish, and driving it is actually not that bad, especially around town.

If I was shopping for a new mid-size sedan, I'd certainly give a try to the new Sonata V6.

 

[Joey D]

A Cavy or Sunfire is the worst example to give because those are in the running for the two sh***est cars ever made.

But why do you think they offered 10/100,000 warrenties on Kia's? It's to get people to buy them because they think they suck. It worked though, so I'll give em that.

All Korea does though is steal from other companies and make a cheaper, not quite as good model.

 

[Carl.]

A Cavy or Sunfire is the worst example to give because those are in the running for the two sh***est cars ever made.

But why do you think they offered 10/100,000 warrenties on Kia's? It's to get people to buy them because they think they suck. It worked though, so I'll give em that.

All Korea does though is steal from other companies and make a cheaper, not quite as good model.

Well, putting aside what other people think of my car (I couldn't care less), if a manufacturer is confident enough to put a 10/100000 on its cars, it does tell something about their reliability...

What exactly are they stealing? Isn't the Aveo a rebadged Suzuki?

 

[Joey D]

Daewoo, but GM owns Daewoo...its different.

The Amanti looks like a Benz and Jaguar mated, the Spectra looks similar to a Protege, Sedona looks a lot like a Windstar/Freestar.

The reason for the big warrenites was because back in the 90's Korean cars were crappy, no questioning that...in order to sell them they had to put a huge warrenty on them. Not saying they are bad now, but they once were.

 

[Carl.]

Daewoo, but GM owns Daewoo...its different.

So it's... Korean.

The Amanti looks like a Benz and Jaguar mated, the Spectra looks similar to a Protege, Sedona looks a lot like a Windstar/Freestar.

H....H....R....

*runs away*






or the upcoming retro Camaro, or the minivans (it was Chrysler idea after all), or the Solstice, or the...

 

[Joey D]

The HHR was a blantent rip off of the PT Cruiser...no doubt about that.

Upcoming Camaro looks like one from 1969, the GM mini vans are just ugly but they didn't copy anyone, and the Soltice isn't really copy any design, it looks nothing like a Miata.

So it's... Korean.

Which is why I wouldn't be caught dead in an Aveo.