Chevrolet Spark (Velvet Sparky): 20,000+ Kms Review

[Gurrala74]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review after 10k on ODO.

@Sethu,

I am really late into this wonderful thread. Kudo's to your review Sir, as it may not be expert review, but it is straight from the heart what ever you felt before buying and after buying.

How many will have guts to admit that they have bought one but they wanted to buy something else and they did a mistake by not looking at other options. I salute you for this.

And your dream for your father, I can really feel this as I am the same like you and God has given me that opportunity to do something for my father. Hope you will allow me to say few words on my experience. I was also having a brand new M800 2006 model and I think in 2010, when my dad traveled with me for 100km, after the journey he said " I am little cramped in the car" he is 6 feet with long legs like me. Normally he never comment anything like that and it was surprising to me. Then I started thinking about it as I was also not very comfortable driving M800 for longer distances/in traffic for hours. So decided to do something on this and after a year

I bought Ritz when Swift was the best selling in the segment and every body looked at me like a fool when I opted Ritz, but Sir, I my self know why I bought Ritz, yes it is to make my father comfortable while he travel with me, but it hardly happens for once or twice in a year, but I wanted to give him that comfort for that small journey too. I am happy that I have done it with the help of God.

When I told him that I have changed the car, then he said why did I do that when car is running well, but when I visited my native with my Ritz and made him to see the car and travel along with me for few kilometers, then after coming back, a nice smile on his face saying nice decision which was priceless for me

Sorry Sethu, for my story as I could not resist when I read yours on the thread.

"There is lot of difference in my buying decisions before joining TAI and after joining TAI, Thanks TAI for a nice platform which always gives 100% for VFM decisions"

 

[Music_Swift]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review after 10k on ODO.

Sethu Sir,excellent review.We too have an 800.It had done 1.15L in 15 years.Spark looks excellent.

 

[sethumurugan]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

My Sparky gone for a service. Mainly I sent her for FE issue. I have told the ASS guy to remap the ECU and make sure she gives better FE. And also i have told to check Hand Break. In the beginning I have driven car with hand break couple of times Hope I get her back tomorrow.

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Sethu Sir A.S.S. folks having ECU remap capability will be very rare , at best they could reflash a more recent update if issued by Chevy(that too might or might not have any FE impact) - i am not sure if you are looking at the right place and people in terms of solving the FE issue

 

[sethumurugan]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

@IR, What I have to do ? I cant approach Chevy directly

BTW, recently gathered some knowledge on ECE, flashing, new updates while doing a small program from that department. It is really interesting.

Can I directly talk to the Chevy customer care?

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Sir -> Apologies for the late reply firstly!
I think your problem statement is low FE , can you tell me how much FE you get compared to what is generally expected with a similar car.
Also if the problem is FE lets also look at your driving patterns/style, in terms of technical troubleshooting lets start with some basics, is the fuel quality used good, spark plugs timing, air filter etc etc etc(it could be many many things but best to start with basics)

ECU tuning requires sophisticated equipment, no manufacturer will ever give a non standard ecu configuration for a customer (unless they are sponsoring you for a rally) -so at best you can receive a update if there is one that exists for all customers. So this line of diagnosis is not going to take you far. Off course you can spend privately with tuners and get stuff done, but before that you need to do some basic diagnosis of your situation as bare minimum and resolve it firstly.

 

[sethumurugan]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Thanks IR. Actually I have told ASS guys the problem even some 6 months back. At that time they were trying to reach their Tech person. But at that time I had to take care urgently so I could n't do with it.

So this time I told them that they can retain the car for couple of more days and do the needful.

Now today is 4th day and I spoke to A.S.S. Guys yesterday and he said car will be dropped back at home by today. And he said they will do the best.

Today I need to note down what he had done and then I need to check the FE.

I will give you guys feedback by this weekend.

@IR, When you are talking about driving habits I follow the as this.

• I change to next gear respectively in the KMs as after 10km to 2nd, 20km to 3rd, 30km to 4th and 40km 5th
• I Dont drive on clutch always
• in city normally Dont go beyond 50.
• highways will be between 80 to 100. some times might go beyond 100 up to 120 when the road is clear [very occasional]

Regarding FE I get against other vehicles of similar one

In city 8-10 [ 12-14]
in HW 10-12 [16-18]

There will be slight changes [lower side] of the above if it is in LPG.

 

[Gurrala74]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

@Sethu Sir,

Some how those FE figures seems to be pretty low for Spark. either there is something wrong in your measurement or something wrong with car tuning !! please check both immediately

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

@sethumurugan: Completely agree with Iron and RK. Before letting anyone touch your car, you must first be 200% sure that there is nothing amiss from your side. The problem could be as simple as low tyre pressure to a clogged air filter. Please be convinced on the following points:

1. When was the last time you got a higher FE figure than the one quoted in your post?

2. Was that higher figure being obtained consistently?

3. Are you measuring FE by the full tank to full tank method?

4. Are you sure there are no air bubbles in the fuel line?

5. Did you change your usual petrol bunk recently?

6. Are you running the correct tyre pressure in all tyres?

7. When was the car last serviced? What was the FE immediately before and after that service?

8. Do you feel any resistance in the car while it is moving? Brake binding (Burr Burrr) ? Bearing noise (Ghurr Ghurr) ?

9. Is there any fuel leakage (spots on the floor where you park the car)?

10. Did you lend the car to any other person during all this while?

Drinking is bad for health. Tell your Spark. Hic !

 

[chayan]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Thanks IR. Actually I have told ASS guys the problem even some 6 months back. At that time they were trying to reach their Tech person. But at that time I had to take care urgently so I could n't do with it.

So this time I told them that they can retain the car for couple of more days and do the needful.

Now today is 4th day and I spoke to A.S.S. Guys yesterday and he said car will be dropped back at home by today. And he said they will do the best.

Today I need to note down what he had done and then I need to check the FE.

I will give you guys feedback by this weekend.

@IR, When you are talking about driving habits I follow the as this.

• I change to next gear respectively in the KMs as after 10km to 2nd, 20km to 3rd, 30km to 4th and 40km 5th
• I Dont drive on clutch always
• in city normally Dont go beyond 50.
• highways will be between 80 to 100. some times might go beyond 100 up to 120 when the road is clear [very occasional]

Regarding FE I get against other vehicles of similar one

In city 8-10 [ 12-14]
in HW 10-12 [16-18]

There will be slight changes [lower side] of the above if it is in LPG.

@Sethu: Can you post your last/latest pollution report for the Spark (with their upper limits)?

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

^^ cant agree more, please check on the basics and eliminate it one by one.
Your driving pattern doesnt sound any aggressive - so i might as well tick that off.

4 days at the service centre and no clear diagnosis/prognosis is a very worrying sign, looks like they are simply learning at your expense. Simply get your car off that garage, find a reliable mechanic/garage - spend half a day there checking all of the above personally with them. It would be well worth the effort.

 

[Gurrala74]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

I agree with Sam and IR here and would like to add one more.

Sethu, please check your self, is there any difference in driving style these days and also check you were changing the gears very frequently keeping the present increased traffic in Chennai due to Metro works.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Your driving pattern doesnt sound any aggressive

'Aggression' and a reference to 'Sethu' in the same sentence !!??

I can probably believe that Fiat is the No 1. carmaker in India but I cannot believe that Sethu could do ANYTHING remotely aggressive.

Iron, stop shooting such oxymorons !

 

[rakeshkn]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

your cute is great sethu sir :) congrats for the ownership. What about the maintenance cost?

 

[sethumurugan]

Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

@sethumurugan: Completely agree with Iron and RK. Before letting anyone touch your car, you must first be 200% sure that there is nothing amiss from your side. The problem could be as simple as low tyre pressure to a clogged air filter. Please be convinced on the following points:

1. When was the last time you got a higher FE figure than the one quoted in your post?

I have never got better FE from the beginning. When I complained about this Both A.S.S and some friends here told me that we can see the better FE only after 10k on ODO.

2. Was that higher figure being obtained consistently?

Once I got 13 in petrol after my last service in October

3. Are you measuring FE by the full tank to full tank method?

I measure FE as follows

• In petrol, earlier I used to check based on auto cut-off. Fill petrol till it cut-off automatically. Drive some some KM then fill petrol in the same fuel station with same dispenser.
  
• Then I tried neck-full method. Fill petrol till it comes up-to neck of tank. Drive for some KM and then fill petrol to the same level. In this I need not to look for same fuel station and same dispenser.
  
• In LPG I fill for some amount and drive till it changes to petrol automatically.

4. Are you sure there are no air bubbles in the fuel line?

Not sure.

5. Did you change your usual petrol bunk recently?

I always fill fuel in couple of fuel stations near by my house. Very occasionally i would have filled in some other stations and that too only on travel more than one day. If it is local, never fill it apart from those I fill regularly. and if it is one day trip I make sure I have enough petrol and LPG before I start the trip, so that there may not be any necessary to fill on the way or in return.

6. Are you running the correct tyre pressure in all tyres?

I think here I might be doing a mistake. I have filled nitrogen and go for top-up once in a month or before long drives. Bet when ever I fill I fill 32 psi. When I go for top-up it would show something like 28 psi.

7. When was the car last serviced? What was the FE immediately before and after that service?

Last October and there is not much change in FE before and after. Only once I get 13 in petrol [Mixed of hw driving and city driving]

8. Do you feel any resistance in the car while it is moving? Brake binding (Burr Burrr) ? Bearing noise (Ghurr Ghurr) ?

NO

9. Is there any fuel leakage (spots on the floor where you park the car)?

NO

10. Did you lend the car to any other person during all this while?

I have a policy [actually my father's policy] of not geting car/bike from anyone as well as give to anyone. Apart from emergency situation. In this entire one and half years only on the following occasions my car was driven by others

• twice or thrice I gave to my neighbor on emergency
• my friend drove it for 30-50 kms on two occasions
• My BIL drove it for 20KMs on one occasion
• 3-4 times pick-ups and drops done by A.S.S guys for service
• my car and neighbor's cars will be parked one behind one and when ever my car is parked before his car, he will take my car out, bring his car next and re-park my car back in parking. This would have happen n number of times [no count]

Drinking is bad for health. Tell your Spark. Hic !

Actually even I dont drink much. My sparky is very bad. hahaha. Love this part very much Sam.

Sam Find my replies in bold between above points.

your cute is great sethu sir :) congrats for the ownership. What about the maintenance cost?

Thank you Rakeshkn. And till date I do not have paid any amount.

I agree with Sam and IR here and would like to add one more.

Sethu, please check your self, is there any difference in driving style these days and also check you were changing the gears very frequently keeping the present increased traffic in Chennai due to Metro works.

RK sir, there is no difference in my style of driving. As you mentioned even in traffic I could have changed gears frequently. But what about highway drives. Even in that case I dont see any FE.

@Sethu: Can you post your last/latest pollution report for the Spark (with their upper limits)?

Chayan, I did not have pollution report with me. I will get one by this weekend and post it here. BTW, should I have to get two certificates respectively for LPG and Petrol separately or one is enough?

^^ cant agree more, please check on the basics and eliminate it one by one.
Your driving pattern doesnt sound any aggressive - so i might as well tick that off.

4 days at the service centre and no clear diagnosis/prognosis is a very worrying sign, looks like they are simply learning at your expense. Simply get your car off that garage, find a reliable mechanic/garage - spend half a day there checking all of the above personally with them. It would be well worth the effort.

I will wait for a month to see the improvements. If there is none, I have two options.

• Contact Chevy directly and raise a complaint.
• Visit another Authorized service center in Chennai [TVS]

Got my car back yesterday. When I check with the A.S.S guy he said they have did the following

• Some adjustments in Engine
• Oil change
• Air Filter changed.
• Some part in LPG kit is changed.

I need to check it and then take the next step. Am really worried about this.