by "Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
Published 02/24/2017 at 09:36
by "Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
Published 02/24/2017 at 09:36
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STARS: 2
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This one is in particularly nice shape.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
02/24/2017 at 09:46, STARS: 1
I’ve always liked the shape and clean interior of the Chevette, but knowing what a insipid rolling malaise-era turd it was I wouldn’t get within 100 meters of one.
"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
02/24/2017 at 09:53, STARS: 3
Anyone who likes the Chevette never had to drive one or travel more than 2 miles in one. They were utter crap to drive and ride in.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
02/24/2017 at 09:54, STARS: 0
We drove these things in driver’s ed in high school. They’re AWFUL. Unless you’re going to drop in a V8 and drag race it, just stay away.
"carcrazydan738" (carcrazydan738)
02/24/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 1
I’d like to drop in Buick Grand National engine or a Chevy 3800 supercharged engine in if it was actually possible just to see the looks on the faces of all these nay sayers. Sleeper cars rule!
"Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
02/24/2017 at 10:14, STARS: 0
Exactly. My uncle had one. HORRIBLE, and I mean HORRIBLE to drive.
But I always thought is was a great platform for a custom restoration.
I appreciated the clean, uncluttered styling. It was so un-Chevy like.
"Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
02/24/2017 at 10:15, STARS: 0
You and me are on the same page. Loved the styling, hated the engineering.
"Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
02/24/2017 at 10:16, STARS: 1
I was thinking the aluminum block 215 v-8 myself. But you get the idea.
"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
02/24/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 0
They looked pretty good, the interior design was nice, everything else about them was terrible.
"kanadanmajava1" (kanadanmajava1)
02/24/2017 at 10:45, STARS: 1
I had couple of Opel Kadett C sedans (which is a T-car like Chevette) as my daily drivers. They were fun cars, but they suffered from rust. Both are still parked in my parent’s yard. The first one looked like this, but it was red.
Kadett was never offered as a 5 door hatchback, but 2 and 4 door sedans, 3 door wagon, coupe and 3 door hatchback were sold here (there was also a weird half convertible, but Finland didn’t get these). We also had Vauxhalls Chevettes, but they weren’t as popular as Opels.
(European) Kadett shifted to FWD platform in ‘79 while the rest of the world got the facelifted body style with the angular front end.
"Busslayer" (Busslayer)
02/24/2017 at 10:59, STARS: 0
Even something like a 2.4 Ecotec would make this a riot to drive.
"Stephenson Valve Gear" (stephensonvalvegear)
02/24/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 0
My parents had a couple of them during my teen years, and my older sister had a Chevette Scooter. I have absolutely no nostalgia for any Chevette... although I can certainly respect any V8-swapped econo car. But stock... they were terrible. Gutless wonders, typical late 70's - early 80's cruddy build quality, etc. Pretty much any modern econo car is light years ahead in quality, power, fuel mileage and safety.
I can remember driving down to visit my older sister with my parents in one of the Chevettes... this one had a 4 speed manual in it. The highway had a series of hills and the standard 55 mph speed limit of the era. I would try to hit the bottom of the hill between 60-65, getting a run at the hill while minimizing the risk of a speeding ticket. The gas pedal would be on the floor, and we would begin losing speed.... finally we would get down into 3rd gear range and I would downshift around 45. It would hold 40-45 in 3rd and we would crawl over the top of the hill. Shift back to 4th, get up to 60 on the downhill, then start the process all over again as we hit the next valley. It was excruciating. The first Chevette my parents had was an automatic and was even worse. Fast forward to today - that same road is now a 65 mph speed limit, and the wife’s Yaris with its little motor zips right up those hills at the speed limit and above.
TL:DR Drive what ya like... but I won’t be buying a Chevette for myself.
"swaptastic" (swaptastic)
02/24/2017 at 11:53, STARS: 0
A supercharged 3800 would be a great choice.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
02/25/2017 at 08:41, STARS: 0
LS swap for the win!
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/07/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 1
Had to click on this thread, even though it’s old. I don’t think I’ve ever known a person who proclaimed good feelings for the Chevette.
I tooled around as a teen in a white 4 door one. It got me out. It got me laid. For those things alone, it’s a hero to me. But as a car, there is nothing to recommend it. When I put on the A/C, my speed would drop 10 mph. Guess I should be glad I had A/C, huh?