2010 Chevy Aveo review

[PapaSmurf2k3]

YEEESSSS, there she is folks, one of the cheapest cars you can currently buy in the USA.

My Prelude went to Dobbs Honda in Memphis, TN 3 weeks ago in order to get a 240,000 mile service done. Things such as: Timing Belt, Water Pump, Front main seal, head gasket (had a small external leak), Vtec manifold gasket, Vtec solenoid gasket (they were leaking a little bit of oil), new valve seals in the head, and subsequently... exhaust manifold gasket and intake manifold gasket.

Anyway, they told me it would take 3 days and would cost about $1700... I'll be picking up the car tomorrow, a full 3 weeks later, and we'll see what the bill is. The only reason I brought it to them was to get the job done fast, as I couldn't really afford the down time of the car (didn't want to be driving the 240 everywhere). Long story short, the 240 ended up taking a s*** on me while the Honda was still in the shop. Seeing as how the car was taking WAY longer than they told me it would take, I demanded they give me a loaner/rental. The f***ers told me that they would only pay for 3 days of an economy car, and wouldn't cover any additional fees (which added up to be much much more than the rental fee itself). Anyway, after getting f***ed by them a little more, I called Honda Corporate and filed an official complaint.

The Aveo is the rental I got. $20 a day rental fee... $20/day insurance, $10/day because I was under 25 (even though one of the days of the rental... I was 25, they still charged me the fee on that day), $10 a day to add my mom as a driver (because she was coming to visit), and then a few other smaller fees that I can't really remember. This is all from Enterprise in Memphis (off Covington Pike) btw.

When I got the car, it had 621 miles on it, and was about 2 gallons shy of a full tank. Whatever, I just wanted to GTFO of the rental place... so I took it and went.

Interior- 3/5 Fit and finish actually wasn't that bad, and neither was the styling, but the materials were incredibly cheap, and so were the amenities... crank windows, no power locks, no cruise control.

The 1 thing I did like, was the radio layout (for a factory system).Sounded like garbage, but the display unit actually had the frequencies of your presets displayed at all times... pretty nifty especially for a car doomed to being a rental. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't blow the speakers... and they actually didn't have much distortion at the highest volume setting.

Exterior- 2/5Would be downgraded to a 1 as soon as it gets some scratches, dents and/or rust.There isn't a good angle on this car.The tail lights are beyond hideous14" wheels that are quite sunken in the wheel well doesn't help either.

Drivability- Engine/transmission/Steering/Brakes 2/5Engine- Some s***box variant of the EcoTec family series engine... probably the 1.6, I can't remember. Gutless. 0-60 times are measured in days. I saw 31.2 MPG of mostly highway cruising (70-80mph). Not high enough to justify the lack in power.

transmission- Sucked. Couldn't find a gear to save it's life. The only thing I liked about it was that the selector was a straight gate, rather than those funky C shaped gates commonly found now-a days.

Steering- Numb and vague

Brakes- No ABS, pedal feel wasn't bad, and the E-brake was in the center, via handbrake. I think the car had drum brakes on the back, which provided for an EXCELLLENT E-brake. This alone (and the lack of the ABS) increased the fun factor a notch... putting it at notch 1.

[numbnuts240]

i wasn't expecting much given the subject of review. your results are exactly what i would have expected.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Overall I guess I should mention that the car WAS a little bit better than what I was expecting. I would never, ever buy one, but I could see Nala driving one in the future after he falls on some hard times, or crashes another car.

[MinisterofDOOM]

What's the "HOLD" button on the shifter surround for? Engine braking?

[numbnuts240]

What's the "HOLD" button on the shifter surround for? Engine braking?

launch control

[AppleBonker]

And no armrest. Particularly crippling if you ask me. Minimal cost that results in much different levels of comfort while driving.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

you know... I noticed that when I was taking pics and actually meant to hit it feverishly before giving the car back... but I forgot.

The world may never know.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

And no armrest. Particularly crippling if you ask me. Minimal cost that results in much different levels of comfort while driving.

Actually, the driver's side DID have an arm rest (in the center of the car). The passenger side didn't get that luxury though.

[AppleBonker]

Hmm. Guess I didn't see it in any of the pics.

When my last car got ripped off, I got a chevy cobalt as a rental. It had a beefier (ha?) version of that same ecotec I believe. Even that had no pickup. 0-60 maybe. But the worst part was the lack of a center armrest. There was nowhere to put my right arm. It was infuriating.

[scotty-2-forty]

launch control

... or FAILURE to launch!

Jeez, yet another waste of a car (hmm, Yugo, Diahatsu (sp?), Echo, Smart, etc). Well, maybe just for the easy disposal of it (please God, let it all be biodegradable!) ... I feel for you Papa! And before somebody comes in here claiming the whole Eco-crap thing, I'd sooner drink a gallon of race fuel then be caught in something that looks like it was designed by Oompa-Loompas!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yep, I couldn't stand it.

It seemed like the stealership was in cahoots with the rental car place... delaying my car getting fixed so I would be forced to get a rental... I broke that chain (see other thread) instead of bleeding cash on the rental.

[ZOMG.SR20]

dont get me started on rental cars

all i can say

DO NOT EVER BUY ONE USED!!!!!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Companies don't rent the types of cars that I buy... so I don't have to worry about that.

[breadbox]

If i am correct the hold button is for lazy people at lights, or for people who are stopping for a second.

Pull up and stop, hit the hold and let go of brake and your car sits in N and holds its still. I could be wrong.

[ZOMG.SR20]

The hold button is it holds it in gear instead of shifting like a manual mode

and it has the DAEWOO 1.6L with E-Tech not ecotech iirc

these things come in to work all the time and well the Ebrake works so well ...... just put 2 and 2 together lol

i have not done it personally

[numbnuts240]

"the hold button is a great lil button for slippery days. think of it as a traction control button and not a "hold" button. what it does is when pressed it disengages 1st gear and automatically puts in second gear. that allows less torque to be delivered to the wheel and thus helps to reduce wheelspin on wet and icy roads. for everyday driving tho it is best to keep it off because for one u accelerate slower and two u use more gas trying to get up to speed."

[PapaSmurf2k3]

and it has the DAEWOO 1.6L with E-Tech not ecotech iirc

Nah, I do recall popping the hood when I smelled burning/leaking coolant and got slapped in the face with "ECOTEC!!!"

I should have taken the opportunity to take a piss all over the engine bay... oh well, there's always next time.

[numbnuts240]

these things come in to work all the time and well the Ebrake works so well ...... just put 2 and 2 together lol

i have not done it personally

somehow, i don't believe you....

[sentrastace]

And before somebody comes in here claiming the whole Eco-crap thing, I'd sooner drink a gallon of race fuel then be caught in something that looks like it was designed by Oompa-Loompas!

+1

I also had to take one of these as a rental when mine was at the dealer for some repairs, and another time they gave me a cobalt, and they BOTH sucked and i hated to drive them, even for a few hours. barf.

[naladude911]

eww, altezzas stock lol. Piece of crap car. No ABS on a 2010 car? Wow.

[asoomal]

^^ Some people don't want an ABS system...that's why it's an option.

[Jesda]

I might like the rear end if the STUPID TAILLIGHTS didn't look like they came out of a 1999 tuner catalog. Ugh.

I can't imagine why anyone that isn't named Enterprise, Avis, Budget, or Alamo would ever buy an Aveo. Its worse than a five year old used car. A 1999 Altima for $4000 will get you an additional 100,000 miles of trouble-free service and do 30mpg. I just don't understand the point.

That said, the pictures show a vast improvement over the previous generation, which was appalling.

[Razi]

That car looks no better than a PT Cruiser.

I'll bet my friend's Hyundai Accent drives better than that..

Why do manufacturers make such boring, soulless cars?

[Gaijin]

Why do manufacturers make such boring, soulless cars?

it GM thats why

[Jesda]

That car looks no better than a PT Cruiser.

I'll bet my friend's Hyundai Accent drives better than that..

Why do manufacturers make such boring, soulless cars?

To the buyers, cars are nothing but receptacles that carry them and their merchandise to and from Bed Bath and Beyond.

[Legion76]

The Aveo is a reskinned Daewoo. Nothing more to explain on the quality of the vehicle and the 'fun' factor. When I worked at Hertz Car Rental, got nothing but complaints about them. No get up, shakes, and for such a small, underpowered car, didn't get the mpg that was expected. Probably because everyone floored it wherever they went so they didn't get trampled by a real car.

[ZOMG.SR20]

is daewoo still around in the states?

i don't even see many of the older ones either

[bloodspread]

I have the 2009 aveo hatch, it has 6k miles and has been to the dealership for repairs like 6 times, but looks a little better than the sedan, still looks gay but looks a little better and was cheap with the cash for clunker deal. cheap + 5 year warranty = better than driving a 2dr explorer that was about to fall apart

[nissangirl74]

I'll bet my friend's Hyundai Accent drives better than that..(

It does. Greg and I rented one last year at Nashville and it wasn't all bad. It didn't have enough power to pull a greasy string out a cat's a** but it was better than an Aveo.

Why do manufacturers make such boring, soulless cars?

Because car rental companies will buy them by the thousands.

Whenever I have to rent a car, I will ALWAYS pay the extra $5 a day to NOT get stuck in one of these. Deplorable at best.

[Jesda]

is daewoo still around in the states?

i don't even see many of the older ones either

They disappeared a decade ago, and good luck finding parts. For a while you could get a like new Leganza loaded with leather and power everything for 3-4 grand.