Need advice on Chevy purchase.

[Transformers]

Get from AM or SA is up to you,

 

to me who offer me better deal I take from who.

 

I got a very bad deal when I got my Aveo, as that time only SA, I got to like the new Aveo sedan now but too bad can't afford to change car leh....

 

The stock sports rim is still heavy, can get after market ones that is lighter your car will feel lighter too on handling.

 

main point : follow your heart on what you want to buy be it nissan or whatever, you can listen to comments but don't let it sway you, if you like Aveo better then go for it. or if you like any other cars better go for it, as you are the owner not us.

[Pisces69]

Hi DonDon.

 

I am thinking of getting a 2nd hand Optra & went to see 1 today. Was quoted $40K for May 2006 car.

 

The mileage was quite high though at 50K km.

 

Do u have any advice for me when I shop around? R there any bad or good points about the Optra?

 

Thanks for your feedback.

[Cracker]

after looking at a number of cars and considering my options.

 

seems like leaning towards a chevy aveo5 or aveo sedan.

 

have test drive the aveo5 liao feels ok for a budget car however I think need to change the rear mirror and gear knob.

 

my headache is now to take the sedan or hb coz for 2k more I get bigger boot space and 1 air bag.

 

of coz the interior is better but the car is 100kg more heavy........ I not light also so have to think abt fc

 

lastly, I should get from SA or AM?

 

AM is new dunno aftersales gd anot

SA I read from MCF like damn bad

 

would appreciate all chevy owners to give yr opinion

 

thanx and regards

 

I had been driving the Optra (M) since Jan 05...

the first 6 mths of ownership was hell for me....( u can do a search to see all the problems I had).

 

My only advise is if u need to do lots of travelling, esp if u r in sales or everyday go from east to west or vice versa, a vios, jazz, city or latio will be a better choice.

Of cos FC is highly dependent on ur right foot too.

[Edix73]

Hi Phelan,

So you happy with your Aveo so far? I am thinking of buying an Aveo for my wife as she just got her DL. How's the handling of the car?

 

thxs.

 

I've had my Aveo H/B auto for slightly more than 2 years. It has only failed on me only once on the road but was rectified by SA under warranty. You can check out my post below:

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi...466338;#1466338

 

 

I'm currently averaging about 13km/l for about 60%highway 40% town. Quite decent mileage and my car is completely stock except for changing the engine oil to 0W30.

 

Don't really agree with the comments about the slow acceleration as whenever i need to pick up speed i just need to make sure that the rpm is above 3000. Bring it above 4000rpm and you will really get going. Of course don't expect WRX kinda acceleration.

 

I agree with the service level at SA initially but i heard that they have really improve recently. SA used to over fill my engine oil before causing the FC to drop.

 

At the end of the day, Buy the Aveo if your car is just a means of transportation otherwise look else where.

[Stary]

Ok...can give you some opinions here. I drive the first gen. Optra 1.6A. Coming to 4 years.

 

I will talk about the car. Actually I also drove the Aveo Hatch before because they (SA) loan it to me while my Optra was under going repair.

 

In 4 years, I had two issues. The first one was a failure in this MTIA part. This part controls acceleration. Brought the car back to them, they change without a fuss. Not much issue here.

 

The 2nd issue is more crucial. The auto-gear failed. Could not go beyond gear 2. Before this, there is already some symptoms, so I brought it to SA twice and they just say nothing wrong. They even had a GM technician look at it, and wrote me a email saying it's normal wear and tear. How can that be? I mean I drove many cars before....I know what is normal wear and tear. But the SA tech. guy was very kind. He tried whatever he knows but he needs GM support which he didn't manage to get at that time. Then one fine day, the car failed. Need to be towed back. This time GM relented and promise repair. I don't think they change to a new gearbox, but somehow the SA tech guy manage to repair it and gave me a warranty of another 6 months after the warranty expires. He told me it was the first time he repaired a gearbox.

 

After that until now, I have no issues with the car. Infact, I love the car. It is very agile and it suits my driving style. It's heavy, but I ever drove 160km/h and it's very steady. I could never do that with a Altis (the car floats at that speed). The brake has been very effective although some say it is soft. The brake pad may feel soft, but it does bite hard. FC is about 9-10km/L....but I am the agressive sort of driver. Also, the Optra is hell of a robust car. Even when the MTIA or the gearbox failed, it just keep going and going. It never died on me except for the gearbox issue which I didn't feel like driving it anymore. There was once I was forced to go through a flood in JB, and while many other Jap cars stalled, this car just kept going. I have never driven a 1.6 car this robust

 

As for the Aveo5(A), I had this car for two weeks while the Optra was at SA and it's a fun car to drive. The only thing I don't like is there is no footrest for my left foot. It's pretty responsive and easy to drive. I have no complains. The accelerator pad is much softer compare to my Optra, which make your leg less tiring.

 

Ok...now SA. I have no issues with them despite those problems I faced. I think they always try their best, but they are limited by the support they get from GM. Some claim that their warranty period servicing is expensive, but I have seen some who are even worse. Now that my warranty period is over, I still go back to them although I know I can do it much cheaper outside. But I think they deserve to earn that little bit more because I am always very pleased with the way they treated me. Probably also because despite all the inconveniences I faced during those failures, never once I showed them a black face. I know the problems doesn't lie with them..it's with GM for those really problematic issues. If you treat them nice, they will treat you nice.

 

Hope this answer your question.

Edited November 30, 2007 by Starry

[Phelan]

I actually sold off my Aveo when it was three years old. Nothing much to complain as it was quite problem free. I even did my timing belt change at SA and got a discount. I ran the Aveo on ULG 92 and there was no sign of knocking so combine with a 0W30 engine oil, my fuel consumption was consistently at 13km/l.

 

If you intent to buy the Aveo auto, just make sure you flush the ATF every 40K km. I did that and my car was still smooth even when the mileage was at 80K km.

 

If you only intent for the car to be used as a basic transportation, you will not be disappointed.

 

By the way, i only serviced my car at SA for the first 2 and last 2 servicing.

[Friendstar]

funny, u have two major issues with the car in just 4 years and u'r so happy with it.

 

i mean it its basic stuff like wiper not working etc then no issue, can tolerate.

 

for me, i would have condemned the car immediately.

[Boyboy]

i tried my friend's aveo a few times. interior is much better looking than my getz's, but less durable plastics.

 

engine sucks big time. 1.4 power-wise not much better than my 1.1 (stock to stock). now confirm tear the stock aveo liao

 

power isn't everything. to rub salt into the wound, the aveo's smoothness was non-existent. 18k engine so rough . idling will vibrate some more.

 

maybe it's a lemon, i don't know, but i sworn off chevy after the comparo. i was expecting something at least on par with my super budget box.

 

i guess u can't expect too much. after all it's KOREAN. my friend thought it was an american car. oh well

 

wanna get korean, get kia or hyundai.. chevy.. ahem.. just my 2c

[Stary]

To me, a car is a mechanical item which can be prone to failures. So 2 issues in 4 years is no big deal. I have driven many type of cars, and each has their own problems. What is more important to me is how does the agent react to the failure? If they react well, then no issues to me.

 

Unless the car is breaking down every other week, I don't think we need to be too harsh to the car if it gives issue once in awhile. But then again, I am one of those who drives a car for functional purpose only. So I don't seek for perfection. I know some people are crazy over their cars where even one scratch would give them sleepless nights. I have better things to worry about.

Edited November 30, 2007 by Starry