2016 Spark review... man cars have come a long way

[12,000 RPM]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-chevrolet-spark-test-review

Base Spark LS equipment includes 10 airbags, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Chevy's MyLink infotainment interface with a 7.0-inch touchscreen and a USB input for Android Auto and Apple Carplay interfaces, a rearview camera, and OnStar with 4G LTE for three months. Stepping up to the LT, for $2025 extra, brings six-speaker audio (up from four) with satellite radio, power windows, some chrome exterior trim, cruise control, power door locks, keyless entry, steering-wheel controls for the audio and phone systems, and 15-inch aluminum wheels.

Bro there are cars that cost 2-3x as much that don't have all this stuff. Yuck at cruise control not being standard equipment on a car with an ECU and electronic throttle body though.

[Rich]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-chevrolet-spark-test-review

Yuck at cruise control not being standard equipment on a car with an ECU and electronic throttle body though.

Haha yeah.

I wish these little cars still had the same proportions as the early 2000s Protege's/late '90s Civics.  I know, more room, more trunk, blah blah blah... but they look god awful with how tall they are with the tiny diameter tires and windsheilds that reach the front bumper that make you feel you're piloting a marine vessel

[2o6]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-chevrolet-spark-test-review

Bro there are cars that cost 2-3x as much that don't have all this stuff. Yuck at cruise control not being standard equipment on a car with an ECU and electronic throttle body though.

Cruise control is usually plug-n-play on modern cars. It's a way to extort an extra $1000 from you.


With the Cruze and Sonic, it literally only requires a steering wheel swap. For the Yaris, (2009+) it only requires installing the switch in the wheel.

I liked the new Spark when I drove it a few weeks ago (pre Sonic). If the rear bench was a 3-person affair, I may have jumped.

[MX793]

Haha yeah.

I wish these little cars still had the same proportions as the early 2000s Protege's/late '90s Civics.  I know, more room, more trunk, blah blah blah... but they look god awful with how tall they are with the tiny diameter tires and windsheilds that reach the front bumper that make you feel you're piloting a marine vessel

Haha yeah.

I wish these little cars still had the same proportions as the early 2000s Protege's/late '90s Civics.  I know, more room, more trunk, blah blah blah... but they look god awful with how tall they are with the tiny diameter tires and windsheilds that reach the front bumper that make you feel you're piloting a marine vessel

The Spark is on a much smaller footprint than a late 90s Civic or Protege.  Wheelbase is roughly 10 inches shorter.  This is more Geo Metro or Ford Aspire sized, and neither of those cars were very pretty.

[2o6]

Eh, those old cars are uncomfortable.


I like the way my car looks

[12,000 RPM]

I feel like you can get a Sonic with adaptive radar cruise control. Man if small cars weren't so cramped ugly and cheaply made there would be no point in luxury cars (lol)

[giant_mtb]

Pretty fuckin lame in this day and age to offer 174 airbags, an iPad dash, blueteeth, and a camera for people that don't know how to Reverse and not just install the fuckin cruise control. 

[Payman]

The "loaded" $14,000 car draws you in. Cruise is left off on purpose because it's part of the $6000 tech package.

[2o6]

The "loaded" $14,000 car draws you in. Cruise is left off on purpose because it's part of the $6000 tech package.

Yep. Then the dealer will tell you it's "Impossible" to add cruise on a base model.

[giant_mtb]

The "loaded" $14,000 car draws you in. Cruise is left off on purpose because it's part of the $6000 tech package.

Again, pretty fuckin lame. 

[Char]

Eh, those old cars are uncomfortable.


I like the way my car looks

Don't change those wheels, it looks good like that.

[12,000 RPM]

I fuck with the Sonic. It's only a little cramped in the back. But in rental spec it feels more expensive than my car

[AutobahnSHO]

When I left Germany, you could still order a Bimmer or Benz with roll-down windows. Wonder if it's still like that there??

Just kinda shows how pampered and 'entitled' the US/Canadian car buyer feels they are.

[2o6]

Don't change those wheels, it looks good like that.

They make the same wheels in black.

[MX793]

Not a fan of black car with black wheels.

[12,000 RPM]

Not really a fan of black wheels in general. You lose all the details of the wheel. Might as well get steelies.

I am a fan of black on bronze or gunmetal. Silver/white wheels on a black car is too much contrast.

[2o6]

I was thinking Pepto pink

[MX793]

Not really a fan of black wheels in general. You lose all the details of the wheel. Might as well get steelies.

I am a fan of black on bronze or gunmetal. Silver/white wheels on a black car is too much contrast.

I like black wheels on a lighter colored car, but on a black car, I prefer a wheel with some contrast.  Silver, bronze, or gunmetal.  Even chrome, depending on the car.

[Cookie Monster]

Odd it comes with a 7" touchscreen and Bluetooth but no power door locks.

[12,000 RPM]

Dank millennial priorities brah #selfie!

[Laconian]

Odd it comes with a 7" touchscreen and Bluetooth but no power door locks.

Not really... the infotainment unit probably costs $40 to manufacture and requires nothing else except a double DIN cubby and a power cable.

[2o6]

Yeah. It's also shared with other GM products. And omits stuff like a CD player.


It's probably more expensive to put in a cheap stereo.

[12,000 RPM]

Yea the less variation the better in some cases. I do think the omission of cruise control and power door locks is a cynical ploy to get a low entry price but force folks to pony up for features that should be standard. The B-segment is brutal and low profit though so I can't blame manufacturers for doing that.

[68_427]

Plus backup camera requirements

[AutobahnSHO]

Plus backup camera requirements

This

[Char]

They make the same wheels in black.

NO. Gunmetal maybe, but not all black.