The Chevrolet Aveo is some serious garbage.

"Ryanator122" (hawkeye122)
02/25/2014 at 14:25 • Filed to: None

Seriously. When they had one on Top Gear I thought it was the usual nonesense. Wow.

After my Camry met it's fate, I was loaned a Chevy Aveo from my Grandparents (Couldn't spare the 2500 HD? Thats cool...). It is a total lump of garbage.

For starters it's a First Gen sedan, but I have no idea which year. 2009 maybe? The paint is a rather nice blue, however, and it has alloy wheels.

I fail to understand why ANYONE would purchase such a car BRAND-NEW like they did. No electric windows, no electric locks. The seats feel like a run-of-the-mill lawnchair. The manual gearbox lacks any sort of feel or connection. The gas pedal comes with a .7 second delay from the time I put my foot down to the time the engine actually decides to pick up the revs.

The handling lacks inspiration, and doesn't give me any feeling of confidence at all.

I typically carry a lot of crap as standard: Toolkit, 3 or 4 different jackets, a set of "Nice" clothes, a set of "Workout" clothes, spare set of shoes, deodorant, a toothbrush, some toothpaste, jumper cables, 6 bottles of water, 2 boxes of Cliff bars, 2 school backpacks, some books, and a folding chair. The Camry's trunk would swallow that all up with ease. This though, the trunk is probably 60% full. Where will I put anything I actually need to carry?

Sure, it gets 30 MPGs. But so did my Camry, which had more features, was larger, faster, and felt more solid.

It has a 10-gallon tank, which I guess is standard now? 300 miles is much shorter than 450 in between stops. This is annoying.

I also thought that "Interior Quality" was a load of BS too. The number of rattles coming from various bits of trim is irritating. The plastics feel like crap.The road noise is unbearable. The stereo is shit.

I know this is a bit of a rant, but seriously? They bought this NEW? I could think of ENDLESS comparable cars which would have cost the same amount, but been all-around better cars.

Seriously. Don't buy one. Ever.

DISCUSSION (27)

Nibby > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:27

Not every car can be as roomy and grounded to the ground as the Camry.

AMC/Renauledge > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:27

It's your punishment for owning a Camry.

Nibbles > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:27

I got left in the dust last night by an automatic Aveo5.

Just gonna put that out there.

Victorious Secret > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:32

My first car was a used Swift, the Aveos whored out platform mate.

It really is that bad. It is shit. Pure shit.

As a first car and all you don't care, cause HOLY SHIT FIRST CAR GUISE. But once you move on, its shit. Pure, unforgiving, poorly built dogshit.

BTW, AUTOVOX is a Aveo fan and owner, so prepare for a shitstorm over this.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:32

If offered in non-terrible cars, I'd be tempted by manual windows. Just saying.

Roundbadge > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:34

I remember when the Aveo first came out, Autoweek wrote a review in a their new model guide...something to the effect of "the only conceivable reason to buy one of these is to teach a lesson about financial responsibility." As in, to illustrate what happens when you throw good money away on bad crap.

Jayhawk Jake > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:36

It made a hell of a turnaround though

Kinja'd!!!

Ryanator122 > Nibbles
02/25/2014 at 14:45

Were you on a bicycle?

Ryanator122 > AMC/Renauledge
02/25/2014 at 14:48

Difference was my Camry was legit.

Seriously though, I wrote about that yesterday. They're pretty decent cars.

Nibbles > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 14:48

If I was, that would make this a much better thing to deal with. Sadly no; I was in my 2007 Focus.

Ryanator122 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/25/2014 at 14:49

Eh, I think I would be to some degree, also. On a two-door. But it's the combination of such low-budget crap all over the place that makes it not tolerable.

Ryanator122 > Roundbadge
02/25/2014 at 14:50

I don't think these can devalue fast enough, honestly. I imagine the Toyota Echo being equally crap.

Ryanator122 > Jayhawk Jake
02/25/2014 at 14:51

I've not yet driven a Sonic, but if it's anything like the Cruze Eco I drove, it may have made a HUGE turnaround.

Ryanator122 > Victorious Secret
02/25/2014 at 14:51

It's about time I turn the tables. I'm tried of being mocked for owning a Camry.

Ryanator122 > Nibbles
02/25/2014 at 14:54

Thats pretty poor, mate. I'm guessing it isn't the same engine found in the current-gen Focus Titanium? I quite liked it. Same with the ZX3/Manual from 2001? They both seem like they could hand an Aveo's ass to it.

Nibbles > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 15:00

Nope. I had a 2000 (or 2001) ZX3 5mt that was a little fuckin' rocket. My current focus is an E-code (emissions starved California model) 2.0 Duratec living at 6,000 ft and mated to the tragically poor automatic.

Jayhawk Jake > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 15:00

I like the Sonic more than the Cruze, but they are very comparable.

The Transporter > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 15:02

My aunt is the only person I have ever met who purchased an Aveo new. She also suffers from COPD and has to breath pure oxygen. Even with the oxygen mask, the amount of fluid in her lungs means that the oxygen that she breaths in is the same as a person standing at the top of a 15,000 foot mountain peek. The FAA requires pilots to wear oxygen if they fly above 12,500 feet for more than 30 minutes, lest they start to suffer the effects of hypoxia, or lack of oxygen to the brain. The long term effects of hypoxia have affected her cognitive abilities and left her mildly brain damaged. I shit you not, my cousin was able to use the purchase of the Aveo, amongst other things, as proof to a judge that he needed to be granted power of attorney over her.

That's the kind of person who buys an Aveo new. Someone suffering from mild brain damage due to long term hypoxia.

Ryanator122 > Nibbles
02/25/2014 at 15:10

Bummer. The ZX3 I drove was my mates, and he was about midway through making it his "Spec Focus" racer. Short shifter, racing suspension, exhaust and intake done but the interior and all the features were still there. He daily drove that thing like a mad man. I'd have one if I fit in the damn thing... It went pretty hard for such a small car.

Roberto G. > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 15:11

"No electric windows, no electric locks." This says it all. GM must have made that on special request: indeed it must be the "Miserly Granpa Version"...

On the contrary, my 2009 Aveo 5 hatch has remote controlled power locks with anti-theft protection, power windows, power and heated side mirrors, AC and radio CD with iPod socket and it's dual fuel (gasoline + LPG). Engine, gear and brakes are almost perfect and the ABS did save my life once.

Kinja'd!!!

Nibbles > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 15:12

side note. I have a friend who drives a 2003 Focus. He's 6'6'' and nearing 300 lbs. It's kinda funny.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Ryanator122
02/25/2014 at 15:44

I own and DD a 2011 Chevy Aveo. I'm going to try and address each of your paragraphs below.

1. Top Gear. Didn't see the episode. I have no opinion.

2. Complaining about not getting a truck loaned to you? Kinda dickish but that's not what this post is about.

3. First gen Aveo was released in 2002, updated in 2005, and turned into the Sonic in 2011 (released in 2012) -quick Wiki search.

4. Why would someone buy this car brand new? Because it's an economy car. It's not made for hooning. It's not made for tracking. It's made to get you from Point A to Point B both safely and efficiently. The fact that your grandparents have one with no power features was probably because of price. Not saying your grandparents are hurting for money, they probably just like to save a buck. Like I do. It gets between 30 and 35 MPG too! It's a fantastic economy car that does exactly what it was intended and built to do.

5. You are dead wrong. I love the handling of this little car. It's extremely responsive and does exactly what I want it to do. I've never owned a vehicle that was as responsive as this.

6. I'm not sure where you learned how to pack a car, but you're doing it wrong. I have personal experience with this one as well. I bought the Aveo when I lived at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. I was them PCS'd (military move) to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. I drove the Aveo from Idaho to Bellingham, Washington, took the ferry to Haines, Alaska, then drove from Haines to Anchorage. Now let me tell you how I know you're packing your car wrong. Not only was I driving, I had my wife beside me and my (at the time) 11 month old daughter in a car seat in the back. But wait! There's more! A 55lb boxer and a 20lb cat! Now before I go on I need to tell you this: the Air Force makes you weight your car empty and loaded to pay you correctly for your move. Empty: just over 2,000lbs. Loaded (without wife, daughter or myself): 3,150lbs. Now tell me how you can't fit a few everyday items you need for work in this thing? Seems like poor use of space to me.

7. It does get 30 MPG. I really don't have anything to say for this paragraph.

8. It actually has a 12 gallon tank. Not sure if that's a standard now but that's what it has. Also, road trips shouldn't be "annoying". They should be enjoyable. I love road trips. I don't mind stopping for gas. I get to see a little more of a place I would have otherwise passed right through.

9. The "Interior Quality", as you put it, is actually pretty nice. I have no rattles. The plastic is actually done quite well for a cheap car, and the stereo (for stock) is definitely not shit. I have blasted the stereo louder than these speakers should have been able to handle. I have had bass go through that would have blown a speaker in any other car of comparable value. It's a nice stereo. It's nothing special, but it works flawlessly.

10. It was a bit of a rant, and so is mine, but maybe there was a specific reason behind them buying an Aveo. Did you ask them? I'm sure they would be able to shed some insight into the decision. Or they may say it was an impulse buy. Either way, you have something to back up their reasoning with.

11. Seriously, I would recommend this car for anyone looking for a cheap car to get you around and haul a small, just starting out family. Always.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
02/25/2014 at 15:44

And to the people who read through this, if you have any questions or want me to clarify something, just ask. I'm here to help with what I know and if you know something I don't, I'd love to learn more!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
02/25/2014 at 15:46

Ha! And I forgot to mention, this thing hadles extremely well on loose dirt and gravel. I've gotten it sideways way more times than I should have. It's truly a fun car if you know who to use it right. I would rally the shit out of one of these if I had the money for it.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Roberto G.
02/25/2014 at 16:09

Damn...as far as Aveo's go, that's nice! Mine is just a 2011 2LT model stock (minus the plasti-dipped Chevy badges). I love the little thing. If you want (and I hate spamming my own comments) I made a personal remark to each of his paragraphs in a comment above if you want to read it.

Roberto G. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
02/25/2014 at 16:50

Thanks. Now I feel a little sorry for the "Miserly Granpa Version" joke, but he asked for it... instead of being grateful to his Grandparents for having loaned him a car. Kids.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Roberto G.
02/25/2014 at 17:20

That was what I really wanted to just attack this kid for. Complaining that his grandparents wouldn't let him borrow the 2500. I decided to take the highroad instead and built a rebuttal to his entire post. He just seems like a kid who's not happy unless he has something like a WRX/EVO or FR-S or something like that. Can't appreciate a car for what it is.