Automotive Purgatory...

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/19/2015 at 16:30 • Filed to: None

I’m on travel for work and needed a rental car for the next few days. Having chosen “Ford Focus or similar” I thought I would get a Focus, Hyundai accent, maybe a Fiesta, or a Cruze. But no, I get a Chevrolet Spark! This thing is literally purgatory for cars. Just drove it about 5 and half hours to Norfolk, VA. “Slow car, fast” is very much the mantra for this week!! I have to use 100% of the available power at every stoplight, passing others is a laughable session of patience, and the gas tank is ludicrously small. As much as I want to hate the thing, I am getting a kick out of passing slow people on country roads. I floor it, patiently wait for the CVT to make a bunch of angry noises, and then gradually pull past the guy. It is a fun experience because of how absurd it has to be to get passed by this stupid thing.

And for some reason this thing has Florida plates on it in NJ and 30,000 miles on it. All I can think is some sorry sap had to drive this thing all the way from Florida. Talk about torture. I just laugh when driving it because I can enjoy anything with wheels and some sort of motor. At least it’s light enough to go around turns but the proportions are just so odd (being so tall) that nothing feels right.

And here is my car this morning covered in frost. I very much wish I just opted to take my car instead. I figured I would save the miles and get something bigger for the long drive with two people and luggage. Little did I know I would get a Spark, the only car with less trunk space than a Miata for luggage lol.

DISCUSSION (25)

duurtlang > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:36

I would’ve refused. A Spark is not even close to similar to a Focus.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > duurtlang
10/19/2015 at 16:40

A Cruze would be. This is Fiesta or similar.

JGrabowMSt > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:41

I saw one on the highway once, it was green. The plate said “WEEBLE”

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:41

Bro you got robbed.

That’s in the lower category than the Focus, it’s supposed to cost less money to rent. If they’re charging you at Focus rate - robbery.

Übel > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:42

I sold a pair of 12” subs in a full-sized box to a girl in one of these a month or so ago. We had to put them in the back seat because there was no room in the trunk, so no idea what she was planning on doing with them (I did ask if they were going in that car, and they were), but she payed asking price so she’s okay in my book.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Übel
10/19/2015 at 16:47

Ha, maybe she’s ditching the back seat for the sake of sound?

I agree with your policy though. full price and it’s your problem now...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > PanchoVilleneuve ST
10/19/2015 at 16:51

A Sonic is Fiesta or similar. This is Spark or similar (a different colour Spark).

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:51

CVT??? Did not know.

GTI Sprinks > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:53

Have fun in Norfolk. Best of luck in the traffic. Military contractor?

Übel > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/19/2015 at 16:53

I had about ~$25 bucks moving room on them, I tend to list higher than I’m looking for, but if someone’s willing to pay full price there’s no way I’m saying no.

And if she’s willing to ditch her back seat for some subs, she’s officially a badass in my book

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 16:54

The Spark is, hands down the worst modern car that I’ve ever had the misfortune to drive....You have my sympathy.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > duurtlang
10/19/2015 at 16:58

It was a local rental place, not the airport so they only had like 4 cars there which were all either already reserved or a full size. I could not upgrade since I’m not paying for it. Oh well, I am making it go with much patience lol.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Übel
10/19/2015 at 16:59

All of the above is approved haha

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/19/2015 at 17:00

I mean, I’m not paying. If anything they are robbing the government. I certainly asked, but they said it was the lowest cost one. No idea why that is labeled this way at Hertz.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/19/2015 at 17:02

I think it’s so bad that it is actually fun in a masochistic way. Like I’m used to my Miata being slow so the lack of power is not a huge thing. But it’s just how poorly it delivers the power and the weird proportions that make it not even feel like a car. It’s so bad at being a car that I kinda consider it a fast golf cart. I really want to off road this thing.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > JGrabowMSt
10/19/2015 at 17:03

This thing is not meant for the highway. Or the city. I am not sure where it is meant for. Rental car lot is probably the only place it belongs haha. No clue why someone would buy it. Especially in a crazy color.

smobgirl > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 17:14

I’d take it over a Mirage. I almost prefer it to the Sonic - I fit better in the Spark and being so small it almost gives the illusion of going fast. Plus it's louder when you hit the gas since the soundproofing is so bad!

Spasoje > PanchoVilleneuve ST
10/19/2015 at 17:58

The Fiesta is a class bigger. “Fiesta or similar” would be a Sonic.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 18:12

You are a really sick bastard for liking that car, but I like the way you think! Off-roading it is!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/19/2015 at 20:45

If only I had time for that. Unless someone knows a good area to off road very near Norfolk / would be willing to rescue the car when it inevitably becomes stuck haha. But yeah I definitely hate this thing, I’m really reaching for something to like about it.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > smobgirl
10/19/2015 at 20:48

Yeah it makes so much noise for how slow it’s actually going. But it feels faster still than stupid CUVs I’ve been in. I’ve always wanted to drive the Spark since it looks so dumb. But yeah I don’t think I ever would choose to drive one again lol.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/19/2015 at 20:50

The Spark front end is about 50% headlight.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
10/19/2015 at 23:00

The windshield is massive too. And the roof is high. And I can’t see past the giant A pillars. And it feels too heavy for the amount of horsepower. For such a small car, it’s just way too big in all the wrong ways.

Klaus Schmoll > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/20/2015 at 07:41

Ah Hertz! You’re not the first one on Oppo who got downgraded by Hertz. There’s a pattern evolving...

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Klaus Schmoll
10/20/2015 at 16:26

Yeah but they did once upgrade me to a Mercedes SLK250 though so I will give them another chance. I’m renting from them in LA next weekend so we shall see if they do better. I will definitely say no to another Spark lol.