2008 Chevy Aveo for $5k

[desura]

I'm thinking of picking one up for a niece about to enter college.

It's a hatchback, has about 60k, 1 owner. Stick shift 5 speed and no AC.

Thoughts? I hadn't considered a Chevy before, but the price is low enough.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

God no, I wouldn't even take that thing as a rental when they tried to give me one.

 

[Jimzz]

I think they had some head or other engine issues.

Its not really a Chevy. They just brought it over from Korea and slapped a Chevy badge on it.

 

[Mermaidman]

I'd worry about her safety. Better check its safety ratings first.

(Sure is nice to have a rich uncle!)

 

[Centauri]

Thoughts? I hadn't considered a Chevy before...

And you still haven't. An actual Chevy would be several rungs above an Aveo.

 

[Topweasel]

Rented and drove one in 08. The car was losing traction going 70 in slight rain and the AC was causing condensation build up on that dash. Seemed like a car you would buy in México. I would be worried about my safety.

Look for a cheap Focus, Cobalt, hell even Neon at that price with more miles.

 

[CraigRT]

Would not drive that car if it was free, calling it a POS is a bit of an understatement.
Could easily get an older Honda or something that is much better for the same money.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

No.

 

[Jimzz]

Also that price is high compared to what I see on craigslist for other Aveos.

Look for other small cars like Focus, Cobalt, Ion, Senta, Elantra, etc...

 

[Throckmorton]

No. It's an awful car and extremely unsafe.

 

[BudAshes]

Haha, I clicked on edmunds reviews and one of them said "worst car since the Yugo". Now that's saying something.

 

[phucheneh]

It's really not a terribly unreliable car.

TERRIBLE, yes. But not in an unreliable kinda way. The coil pack (made as one assembly) is prone to failure. They have weird starting issues if the battery dies (need to remove/charge/replace- they never take a jump, for some reason). That's all I can really think of off the top of my head. They chugged along. Miserably. But they kept going.

I'd heavily recommend a Rio over it, though. Very similar cars; interiors have similarly cheap materials with the same look and feel. But the Rio is not uncomfortable to drive and feels a lot more 'road-worthy.' If you can manage it, move up to a Yaris or Versa (cheaper than Fit).

 

[desy]

I'd get a 2003 and newer Focus or a Vibe any year or a Ion before I'd consider a Aveo

 

[BUTCH1]

I drove an Escort for 10 years and even it was faster than the Aveo, it neither handled well, stopped like crap, hard plastic interior, stay away IMO, I only had it has a rental for 2 days but that was enough..

 

[styrafoam]

Aveo is what GM did with Daewoo in north America, as is the sonic.

 

[KDKPSJ]

Sure, why don't you buy and try it? It sure will change your opinion from your other thread that buying foreign car over domestic brand one making no sense, so there is a lesson to be learned for the expense of $ 5k.

 

[phucheneh]

Sure, why don't you buy and try it? It sure will change your opinion from your other thread that buying foreign car over domestic brand one making no sense, so there is a lesson to be learned for the expense of $ 5k.

...it's a Daewoo.

 

[KDKPSJ]

...it's a Daewoo.

Yes, I know, but OP believes it makes no sense to buy foreign brand over domestic brand despite where it's made, according to the other post. So, despite made by Daewoo in Korea, it's still domestic brand, Chevy, and it makes more sense to buy this one over other foreign brands' per OP's logic. It's a great opportunity for OP to confirm his belief.

BTW, there is no Daewoo anymore, anyway. Daewoo has been wholly owned by GM for quite long time, and even back in 2010 Daewoo as brand was completely defunct in Korea and replaced as Chevy on paper. But even before that, it's been GM's anyway.

So, even if some of you want to believe Aveo is made by Daewoo in Korea and just put Chevy emblem over it, therefore that's why it's crappy Korean car.. It's actually developed by GM's Korean R&D center and built in GM's Korean factory. So, it is indeed GM car after all.

 

[nerp]

IIRC, in that thread, we were talking about (or at least I was) cars made since 2010 or 2011. This is a 2008 Chevy. Doesn't count.

 

[KDKPSJ]

IIRC, in that thread, we were talking about (or at least I was) cars made since 2010 or 2011. This is a 2008 Chevy. Doesn't count.

Probably?

But I find it really irony that.. some people believe good Chevy made by Holden represents Chevy. And yet, same people believe bad Chevy made by Daewoo does not represent Chevy.

 

[phucheneh]

Yes, I know, but OP believes it makes no sense to buy foreign brand over domestic brand despite where it's made, according to the other post. So, despite made by Daewoo in Korea, it's still domestic brand, Chevy, and it makes more sense to buy this one over other foreign brands' per OP's logic. It's a great opportunity for OP to confirm his belief.

BTW, there is no Daewoo anymore, anyway. Daewoo has been wholly owned by GM for quite long time, and even back in 2010 Daewoo as brand was completely defunct in Korea and replaced as Chevy on paper. But even before that, it's been GM's anyway.

So, even if some of you want to believe Aveo is made by Daewoo in Korea and just put Chevy emblem over it, therefore that's why it's crappy Korean car.. It's actually developed by GM's Korean R&D center and built in GM's Korean factory. So, it is indeed GM car after all.

I thought Daewoo was kinda like Jag or Volvo- foreign owners, but still designed/engineered in the brand's native country. You can't exactly call the latter two makes Indian or Chinese.

edit: also, why point out the whole the generational differences? If everyone is talking about the 2011's and calling them crap, then what does that make the earlier ones? D:

 

[KDKPSJ]

I thought Daewoo was kinda like Jag or Volvo- foreign owners, but still designed/engineered in the brand's native country. You can't exactly call the latter two makes Indian or Chinese.

edit: also, why point out the whole the generational differences? If everyone is talking about the 2011's and calling them crap, then what does that make the earlier ones? D:

Nope, Daewoo has been 100% owned by GM since 2001. Its original owner, Daewoo group was dismantled around 1999 due to accounting scandal just like Enron's. Since GM bought the struggling-to-stand-alone brand in 2001, its owner has been American (GM), its CEO and key executives have been assigned from GM, and most of decision has been made by GM HQ located in American city called Detroit. It's even now called GM Korea. It was just a paper change though, because it has been GM Korea since 2001.

That's why 2008 Chevy Aveo is also GM and Chevy. It's made by GM Korea. So, yes, OP is considering proper Chevy.. just crappy Chevy among many Chevy's.

 

[kami333]

Rented it once, hated it, worst car I've ever rented and now I always make sure they aren't going to give me one when I make reservations.

It just felt unsafe while driving, very top heavy and not very responsive (compared to similar cars).

 

[hans007]

5 grand for a 5 year old Aveo with no options seems like a lot. I mean it was a terrible cat when it came out.

The base versa new is 10k or 11k and a better car. And 5 years depreciation for a comparable car should be over 50% and this isn't that comparable. For $4k I think its be ok

 

[ultimatebob]

I think that I'd look for a used Civic or Corolla instead if I was a commuting college student.

The lack of AC alone would be a deal breaker for me unless I lived in Alaska.