Spark Doing Quite Well According To NY Times

[bronsin]

The tiny Chevrolet Spark from General Motors is about as bare bones as cars come these days, with hand-crank windows, no floor mats and one of the smallest engines of any car. Air-conditioning is optional. But to the surprise of even G.M. itself, which has traditionally struggled to sell small cars, the Spark has become an unlikely hit as many American buyers warm to a car that is cheap to buy and to operate.

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Chevrolet
American buyers have warmed to the Spark, with a low price tag and affordable operating costs. It is made in South Korea.
The Spark, made in South Korea, seats four, has room for groceries — and starts at $12,170, significantly less than the Fiat 500’s starting price of $16,100. It’s also inexpensive to run, getting about 35 miles to the gallon.

In July, sales of the Spark increased 163 percent over the previous year, its introductory month, to a record 3,847, showing that a stripped-down minicar can succeed in a market crowded with costlier rivals like the Fiat 500 that have more features and technology. Its July sales outpaced the Fiat 500’s 2,821, which was a 24 percent decline from a year earlier. Through July this year, Spark sales were 21,435, behind only the Fiat 500’s 23,892 among minicars.

“To me, it’s an appliance,” said William Wortman of Ohio City near Cleveland, who in April bought a Spark with manual transmission for his weekly 250-mile commute to his job as a toolmaker. The Spark’s 1.2-liter, four-cylinder engine makes it the smallest in the Chevrolet lineup.

“It gets me back and forth,” he said. “All I wanted was a radio.”

Even G.M. did not expect it would resonate this way with consumers. “We’re very surprised with how well the vehicle has been selling,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet marketing director.

Beyond its cost, what separates the Spark, buyers say, is that it’s the only minicar sold in the United States with four doors.

“The ability to get four adults in a minicar like that is what sells the vehicle,” said Andy Lilienthal, of Portland, Ore., who has run a blog on small cars, called Subcompact Culture, since 2008.

G.M.’s decision to market a minicar like the Spark was a logical one, analysts said. With gasoline routinely topping $4 a gallon, many Americans are seeking better mileage. But automakers also need to make their fleets more efficient to meet strict new federal fuel economy standards that take effect in 2016, said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst for Edmunds.com.

“Everybody’s going in that direction,” Ms. Krebs said, “but no one expected G.M. to do it as well as they have.”

More broadly, minicars and subcompacts, which like the Chevrolet Sonic are slightly bigger, now make up 5.9 percent of overall vehicle sales, according to Edmunds.com. That is compared with 3.1 percent in 2007.

For the automakers, smaller cars have become a profitable niche in an area where they have often been outdone against foreign competition.

“There was skepticism in general that Detroit could not make small cars and compete with the Japanese market, but we’re over that,” Ms. Krebs said.

Beyond better fuel economy and cost savings, the styling and technology are helping change the perception of cars like the Spark, known as “penalty boxes” in the 1980s, implying that the driver was being punished for not affording a larger car. In the 1980s and ’90s, junkyards across America quickly became littered with duds like the Yugo GV, Daihatsu Charade and Geo Metro.

“You were basically buying these slow, underpowered vehicles with the only advantage being that they were cheap,” Mr. Lilienthal said.

The Spark and its competitors, including the best-selling Nissan Versa subcompact and No. 2 Kia Soul — which are slightly bigger and have four doors but cost about the same — come with features that were never included in subcompact cars, from air conditioning and power locks to Bluetooth and smartphone navigation.

Now, buyers ask themselves, “Do I need to buy a full-size sedan, or can I get away with a Nissan Versa?” Mr. Lilienthal said.

Automakers have also taken a different tack in marketing the cars, promoting them as fun to drive and easy to maneuver around the city, as well as the cost advantage.

[Shroomster]

Andy quote!

[Kal-El]

I think it's a nice offering from Chevy but there's many more reasons not to buy than to buy it.

I think purchasing it makes most sense if you are simply a big fan of mini cars. If so, this is the most practical one.

The problems?

It starts cheap, but actually not as one might expect. The much larger Nissan Versa starts lower.

It's gas mileage is very good - 31/39. But again, some bigger, more powerful cars out there do as well or better.

Why do the headlights have to be so awkwardly large? They run the entire length of the hood. That kills the design for me.

[bronsin]

All true.

But if you hope for smaller, practical, fuel efficient cars that dont cost a lot its encouraging!

In the past when reviewing small cars the NY Times didnt give them any respect at all. That there are people who want a small car in and if itself didnt seem to occur to them.

[nookandcrannycar]

with hand-crank windows :wub:

no floor mats

:wub: I've long resented this thrown on as an option from the fac.tory on some cars...always overpriced

Air-conditioning is optional

:thumbdown: I tried this once (in the SF Bay Area). Never again.

that is cheap to buy and to operate

Cheap to operate remains to be seen :biggrin:

starts at $12,170, significantly less than the Fiat 500’s starting price of $16,100. It’s also inexpensive to run, getting about 35 miles to the gallon

I think SailDesign is beating this, but probably not by enough to make up for the cost difference until the car is 'high mileage'.

bought a Spark with manual transmission :wub:

what separates the Spark, buyers say, is that it’s the only minicar sold in the United States with four doors

4 door version of the Mini Cooper not considered a minicar? (I know, it doesn't compete with the Spark on price :biggrin:)

“The ability to get four adults in a minicar like that is what sells the vehicle,” said Andy Lilienthal, of Portland, Ore., who has run a blog on small cars, called Subcompact Culture, since 2008

"like that" = inexpensive? :biggrin:

cars like the Spark, known as “penalty boxes” in the 1980s, implying that the driver was being punished for not affording a larger car

LOL. Never heard this term before. Also, the notion that someone would drive an inexpensive car primarily/largely because that is all they can afford is foreign to me. I guess I just know a fair number of cheap well situated people who don't feel a 'car judgement' is very important.

slow, underpowered vehicles

Just fine by some people (Including me).

with the only advantage being that they were cheap

If you hate parting with a dollar (on principle), then this is a big advantage

Now, buyers ask themselves, “Do I need to buy a full-size sedan, or can I get away with a Nissan Versa?” Mr. Lilienthal said.

:thumbsup:

Automakers have also taken a different tack in marketing the cars, promoting them as fun to drive and easy to maneuver around the city, as well as the cost advantage.

:thumbsup:

[Thirty-Nine]

:wub:

4 door version of the Mini Cooper not considered a minicar? (I know, it doesn't compete with the Spark on price :biggrin:)

Have you seen one up close? It's a veritable land barge compared to a Spark. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration. However, the Countryman is 17" longer than a Spark, has nearly nine inches of wheel base on the Chevy, and weighs nearly 700 lbs. more.


"like that" = inexpensive? :biggrin:

The price is great. However, a Smart ForTwo Pure starts at $12,490. The price is only part of it. The Spark is infinately more practical than a ForTwo, ForExample. :biggrin:

By the way, I totally dig the Spark. I think it's a cool little vehicle in both gas and EV-powered iterations.

- Andy

[nookandcrannycar]

Have you seen one up close? It's a veritable land barge compared to a Spark. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration. However, the Countryman is 17" longer than a Spark, has nearly nine inches of wheel base on the Chevy, and weighs nearly 700 lbs. more.




The price is great. However, a Smart ForTwo Pure starts at $12,490. The price is only part of it. The Spark is infinately more practical than a ForTwo, ForExample. :biggrin:

By the way, I totally dig the Spark. I think it's a cool little vehicle in both gas and EV-powered iterations.

- Andy

:thumbsup: I like a number of things about the Spark, I just wonder about the long term reliability and what real world MPG owners are getting. I agree it is more practical (and far better) than a Smart ForTwo.

[bronsin]

The SMART just might be the cheapest car you can actually see and buy at a dealer though. :eek: At least in NJ. Every Spark I saw at my local dealer was $16,000+!:eek:

The SMART suspension is stiff like a Corvettes. :cry:

If I had a SMART I would take out the passenger seat to store things like groceries for the trip home.

[Thirty-Nine]

:thumbsup: I like a number of things about the Spark, I just wonder about the long term reliability and what real world MPG owners are getting. I agree it is more practical (and far better) than a Smart ForTwo.

I had the Spark for a few days and was easily able to get 36 MPG out of it in mixed driving conditions. Granted, that's just over a few days. I, too, will look forward to seeing how these do in the long term. My guess is the'll do quite well overall.

[nookandcrannycar]

I had the Spark for a few days and was easily able to get 36 MPG out of it in mixed driving conditions. Granted, that's just over a few days. I, too, will look forward to seeing how these do in the long term. My guess is the'll do quite well overall.

:thumbsup:

[nookandcrannycar]

The SMART just might be the cheapest car you can actually see and buy at a dealer though. :eek: At least in NJ. Every Spark I saw at my local dealer was $16,000+!:eek:

The SMART suspension is stiff like a Corvettes. :cry:

If I had a SMART I would take out the passenger seat to store things like groceries for the trip home.

Parts of your state are quite beautiful, and I enjoy spending time there. However, trying to get a question answered by a government entity and putting up with the costs re bloated bureaucracies (even if you aren't a resident) leaves a sane person shaking his or her head. It doesn't surprise me that you aren't seeing any sub 16K examples of the Spark. I agree with you re the room and action re the seat for the Smart ForTwo. That alone would nix that choice in my book. I got a similar feeling when I sat in the IQ at an auto show.

[bronsin]

I drove an iQ and its soft riding. After half an hour in it it feels like a much larger car inside!

I think they made the iQ to go one better on the SMART. Its got a lot more interior space and can sit 3 or 4 people/kids.

It was too luxo for my taste however. Or maybe faux luxo!

In my book the all time small car champ is the ECHO! :headbang:

[Septembersrain]

That car scared me to death when I drove it.
We only have hills in Texas, No big mountains right?
Yet this car was like going backwards on everything... and it was automatic.
It also seemed to lack the "Zip" my Yaris has.

[Septembersrain]

Why do the headlights have to be so awkwardly large? They run the entire length of the hood. That kills the design for me.

It looks like a baby dragon to me for some reason.
I think I need to lay off the anime for a while. LOL!!!

[nookandcrannycar]

It looks like a baby dragon to me for some reason.
I think I need to lay off the anime for a while. LOL!!!

LOL. The only thing about the looks that I really dislike is the way the color/paint comes inside the car and 'frames' the doors, etc. I don't recall ever seeing that on any car before the Spark. Perhaps the Spark is not the only one...but the only one to combine that with loud colors :biggrin: ? For some reason, that really bugs me.

[Kal-El]

LOL. The only thing about the looks that I really dislike is the way the color/paint comes inside the car and 'frames' the doors, etc. I don't recall ever seeing that on any car before the Spark. Perhaps the Spark is not the only one...but the only one to combine that with loud colors :biggrin: ? For some reason, that really bugs me.

Yeah, I never understood why automakers relate small affordable cars with playful "young" themes. As if children are buying the cars. Small economy cars should be as maturely designed as any other segment. It's a fact that a majority of these cars designed for young people are actually bought by older people.

http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2011/11/2013-Chevrolet-Spark-interior-1024x640.jpg

Remember the PT Cruiser had body colored dash panels. Although it stopped there. None on the doors like the Spark.

http://chryforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chrysler-PT-Cruiser-Interior-Image.jpg

[bronsin]

It's a fact that a majority of these cars designed for young people are actually bought by older people.



Really!

[Thirty-Nine]

I don't think the interior is "immature," if you will. I do think it pushes design boundaries, and I think that's a good thing. Personally, I love the look of the Spark's interior, but that's just my two cents.

[nookandcrannycar]

Yeah, I never understood why automakers relate small affordable cars with playful "young" themes. As if children are buying the cars. Small economy cars should be as maturely designed as any other segment. It's a fact that a majority of these cars designed for young people are actually bought by older people.

http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2011/11/2013-Chevrolet-Spark-interior-1024x640.jpg

Remember the PT Cruiser had body colored dash panels. Although it stopped there. None on the doors like the Spark.

http://chryforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chrysler-PT-Cruiser-Interior-Image.jpg

I was wrong re only one with that styling cue inside with a loud color. I went to the Barnes and Noble at The Woodlands Mall last night and I parked next to a bright Yellow Fiat 500....same 'paint color inside' styling cue. I actually think it looks better with more color...at least on the Fiat.....kind of reminds me of an old VW Beetle before they were first discontinued in the U.S.

[Shroomster]

Volkswagen new beetle hadinterior color keyed trim panels on doors and dash.

[nookandcrannycar]

Volkswagen new beetle hadinterior color keyed trim panels on doors and dash.

:thumbsup:

[malibuguy]

Ummm power windows and a/c come standard...I should know my wife has a pink spark base model and we absolutely love it. I often contemplate trading the Yaris in on one.

Btw my Yaris has crank windows...but I wanted that. The dealer gave me a strange look when I demanded crank windows

[nookandcrannycar]

Btw my Yaris has crank windows...but I wanted that. :thumbsup:

[nookandcrannycar]

I was reading a consumer review of the Spark, and the only negative this particular owner found was that the AC blew warm air instead of cool air whenever he was stopped at a traffic light. Once the light turned green and he accelerated, the air coming into the cabin was cool again. The dealer says there is nothing wrong with the car, but can't explain this. Malibuguy, has your wife found this to be the case?

[malibuguy]

We lucked out our ac works pretty good. Every once in a while it doesnt blow cold...more like cool for a brief moment. But there is several other owners having straight warm air blowing out. That is really the only issue with these cars.

We have almost 9000miles on ours and its just great.
http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/906199_10151832063360278_1204696724_o.jpg

[NEexpat]

I had an opportunity to drive my friends New 2013 Spark today and here are my impressions;

First off I slid the seat all the way back on the rails and it felt like more legroom than my Yari. I'm 6'2". Very comfortable.

The rear view mirror is tiny, very tiny, at least to me.

This car was an automatic, 1.2 ltr. Ecotec 84hp. Shifted smoothly, brakes were even and firm. This car has OnStar, no CD player. Not sure about all the other, AUX, BT, etc.

Power windows, door locks, manual side view mirrors.

Tilted the steering column all the way up, and from my vantage point it cut off about an inch of visibility on the speedometer top. No cruise control.

Look, it is what is purports to be, small, economical commuter/city car. Not enough data on reliability. I believe it is made in S. Korea.

Interior is clean simple, feels like open space in the front dash/console area. The control console/arm rest DS, curves downward and is narrow, I like the Yari controls, up and facing more towards me.

Drove about in town, not on highway so can't speak to "pep". I kinda liked it.

If I were a Chevy guy and needed a gas sipper I would give it a look, and at $14K and change ........................

[Kal-El]

Inconsistent cold air out of the A/C is expected with a tiny engine. Remember the A/C uses engine power. Even with the Yaris, I'm sure many of us notice the difference in how cold the air is when you're on the highway with the engine revving vs. when stopped at a light at idle. It's significantly cooler on the highway.

[kimona]

...
Look, it is what is purports to be, small, economical commuter/city car. Not enough data on reliability. I believe it is made in S. Korea.

...

It's a rebadged Daewoo Matiz... and it's been around since 1998. The current Chevy Spark is third generation.

[nookandcrannycar]

We lucked out our ac works pretty good. Every once in a while it doesnt blow cold...more like cool for a brief moment. But there is several other owners having straight warm air blowing out. That is really the only issue with these cars.

We have almost 9000miles on ours and its just great.
http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/906199_10151832063360278_1204696724_o.jpg

:thumbsup: Thanks for the info! (and to everyone else for the informative posts that followed).