Decent, but work is a pain
I might be a diff type of review- I don't really care about looks or color or conveniences like bluetooth or nav systems. I care about head space, leg room, safety features, and how much do I have to keep paying for repairs; and it's been "repair central" for me for last 2 yrs now.
One of the most important things I've learned when owning a car: MAKE SURE YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN FLUIDS.
Do you know, that the design of this car does NOT allow for you to add your own transmission fluid? It literally HAS to be up on a lift, both ends opened, pouring in one end until it starts coming out the other- to measure how much you were missing- to tell you how much you had... for the love of God, I'm not even a "car person"... WHO thought this was a good idea?? Every stinking repair person I've had to bring this car to mentions this to me, and how much of a pain it is- and costly in both money AND time to the car owners as well. I had 2.5 quarts put in in July. I just paid 107 to have FIVE quarts added, and nobody can find the leak!!!!!! And yes, it's leaking.. I have the giant puddles on the driveway to prove it.
My Grandmother bought this car brand new in 2004. Took care of all recalls promptly. This I mention, because I have already dumped 5k into this car, some of which finding out was recalled, "fixed", but is still having issues.. but because Chevy said the recall was done, they weren't responsible.... so apparently no recourse for a recalls fix that does NOT fix.. and that? has links to the costs on the rest of what went wrong. (Vibrations cause MANY things)
The engine light is on all the time. Because the reset link or whatever, when it vibrates, it just turns on; also turns on because of the regulatory emissions thing- which had been replaced MULTIPLE times because it was assumed the previous person didn't know what they were doing.... nope, just a glitch in the interface whatever.. I now have one of those electronic readers permanently attached to my car so I don't have to pay 75 every time the engine light comes on for a tech to hook it up and find out its just that- and I'll know if it's something else when it shows up in the codes...
I don't really get excited about vehicles other than if one showed up on my door that got insane gas mileage- but still used gasoline- (I am NOT a "remember to plug it in" kind of person), and had toddler safety features. I DON'T like navigations systems or back up cameras, or things like Bluetooth; and if it wasn't just me and I didn't have to worry about injuring one foot, I'd prefer a stick as I feel I have more control over the car, but I'm strange I guess.
My car gets decent gas mileage- about 320/tank; when the flex seal falls off (the thing connecting muffler to exhaust pipe I believe*- it's part of what helps control your emissions output), I got about 360, one time I got 380!!- I admittedly left it for a few months because I couldn't afford to fix it, and gas prices were at about 4.80 then.. it's fixed now.
Mine is the basic model in white, Grandma chose the color for the insurance "break", and it's easily visible at night. (She was 67, and this was her first BRAND NEW car)
I know one of the wheel bearings is going soon, and it's going to be a maybe on whether I fix it or just drive it into the ground.
People warned me about Chevy; but Grandma took care of this car, and she was* the only driver. I figured since the instructions on care and maintenance were followed... well, that went out the window and now I don't care as long as it keeps running. It gets checked for everything, every time now.. sigh.
Oh- head space- I am 5 ft 11. I sit up straight when I drive, (most people don't), if I'm not careful, hitting a bump without tipping my head makes me feel like I will literally jam my head into my spine and die.. gruesome, but if you're tall, and you've hit your head on any part of your car getting in or out- or even done the formerly mentioned a LITTLE bit, you KNOW what I'm talking about..
If the car is not bluetooth, put the aux back in. (Again, I don't care about bluetooth- it eats my phone's battery, and I'm not about add 3 more accessories to mutilate my driving attentions just so I can; I can plug an aux right into my phone thank you)
Verified Owner
