Okay Guys General Motors is coming with the Daewoo Matiz II aka Chevrolet Spark in Mid of 2005. Okay before I start off with the review, wanna make a few things clear. General Motors doesnt have many models of its own in the segments which are signifant in India.
So what it does is that it gets various models from its sister manufacturers with which it has got contracts or which are owned by GM. Thats why it got Optra which actually is a Daewoo Lacetti (See the typical Daewoo Grill in the front). Chevrolet Tavera is an Isuzu Panther. Chevrolet Forrester is actually a Subaru Forrester...and same goes with the Opel Line of products.
In Europe these are sold as Opels and in Australia they are called Holdens. and Now the Daewoo Matiz. So its all about cross branding by the Americans. It doesnt matter till the time we are getting good products.
Okay the Matiz I drive is fantastic as far as I know. Its four years old now and run almost 50000 kms. Gives me an average of 16.5 to 17.8 depending upon how I drive it with or without A/C. The engine is ultra smooth and the best thing about it is the seating position which is much better than a Santro or a Wagon R but I prefer the Zen there. Some people say a Zen is too low. A Matiz comes in the middle somwhere. The car is the most beautiful of the lot and looks extremely attractive with body colored bumpers. Power output is 52 but the new one which is a 1100cc version should have 63 bhp to take on Santro and WagonR.
But in China and Thailand they still sell 800cc maybe to make it cheaper and also the mileage is excellent with this mill. Its heavier than a Santro and feels more comfortable at the back than the Hyundai cause my dad owns one. The internal switch gear is borrowed from the Cielo like the viper switches and the lights which have awesome quality unlike a Zen or Santro. The controls are slick and smooth and the door window winders are smooth unlike the competition.
The placing of the stereo is perfect and just comes infront of ur finger when u on the third gear which is fantastic. Second gear is a little tight in all the Matizes but the gearbox id decent and the gear levers looks awesome with its leather like cover. Cup holders are there inside and the suspension is soft. Sometimes it touches here and there but obviously the beauty also has to maintain its looks right. My car doesnt have power steering but the steering wheel goes from one end to the other with a finger. Its amazing and in loose gravel its even better. This is one car which when u park in the garage after a drive, u will look back at with pride cause it actually looks smart. The rear of the car is the most radical a compared to all the hatchbacks.
I haven’t faced any problems for the parts yet cause I have a couple of dealers phone numbers. They seem to source everything. Yes one thing. The exhaust of the car goes of so I keep on getting it welded for 150 bucks from a neighborhood garage who does an excellent job. It goes like this for 4 months or more.
This can be done at least thrice. So I have changed the exhaust only once yet in 4 years...
And it even makes an amazing second hand car considering the price at which one can get it. And believe me there isnt any problem to source the parts. and the A/C too is better than a lot of cars... Lets wait for the new GM Avtaar of this car. By that time Santro will be extinct like Zen is now and Wagon R too will be too boring to buy. It’ll be a time for Ford Fusion and Focus and Chevrolet Spark...
Lets wait and see...If any of the Matiz people in Pune want any info abt the mechanics for this car...I have a list of them...u can get in touch with me here.