I got the delivery of my mint green Spark(LS) from Sundaram Motors in Bangalore on 25 August 2007. I picked the Spark as my car in spite of dis-approvals from all my friends and family on the grounds that Chevy Spark is relatively new and its a risk going with something other than a Hyundai or a Maruti.
However, my first ride on the car in Sundaram motors told me that this is what I wanted. The car fills all that I expected from my car. I made the choice considering the following factors:
Space: The interior space in the car is very good compared to other hatchbacks like Hyundai Santro or the Maruti Zen Estilo.
Engine: The Engine is very quiet and you never know if the car is really turned on or not. Initially I had the habit of turning on the engine a number of times just to make sure its running. No vibrations being felt on the inside.
3.Great Mileage: Considering the 998 cc engine and words from the sales executive, I expected a good mileage from the car. This was a BIG factor in my choice. Not to be disapointed, I get an average of 14-15 kms/ltr in the city and 18-19 kms/ltr in the highways.
4.Looks:The car really turned me on with its looks. Even to this day(after two years), I cannot stop gaping at the curves and the looks of this car.
On the highways, I was really surprised by the way it comes to a halt at high speeds. At speeds like 130-135 kms, I have had instances wherein I had to brake in an emergency and whola, my Chevy stops without any traces of effort(no tyre skids).This can really turn out to be life-saving at crucial moments. Plus the Apollo Accelere tyres fitted on this car gives it a road-grip that makes driving in the highway a pleasure. The road grip is mighty impressive.
The build of the car is also worth being mentioned. The doors closes with a loud "thud" and adds to the safety factor.
I have completed almost two years now and I can say comfortably, this was a very wise decision made by me.
On the cons, I can mention a few:
1.Less Boot Space:My maruti 800 had more boot space compared to this car.However, since my usage mainly happens in the city, boot space is really not my concern.
2.Dealer Satisfaction: Not many service points in the city.The dealers are also not very customer friendly. Came across lots of issues with Sundaram Motors.
Resale Value:This is not something falling short with the product.However, the resale value of Chevy is pretty low compared to a Maruti or a Hyundai.
Power: The car feels a bit underpowered at times, especially on the transition between the 4 and 5 gear. It can put you on a spot at times if you plan to overtake someone in a hurry and u r moving on the 4 gear or 5 gear.
Air-Con: The AC in the car feels very underpowered. Lots of noise when its turned full blast and it really takes ages to cool the car.
Overall, I would rank my li’l chevy 4.5 out of 5 as it has delievered all that I was looking in a car. All I can say is " I love my Car ".Hats off to Chevrolet for bringing this li’l dynamite to the Indian roads!