(Chevrolet Aveo?) Now, 98 VW Beetle or 03 Toyota Echo?

[SagaLore]

I need a new car. Tried to hold off as long as I could, but my Dodge Neon is on it's last legs - over 117,000 miles. Fuel efficiency has gone down dramatically and it seems to be having a problem firing now. Plus the rotors need replaced again.

So I'm looking at cars under $10,000. I'm cheap.

A dealership here has this BRAND NEW car called the Aveo, for only $8900. Cute little hatchback. Is this a good car? Will it last a long time?

edit:

Okay, I test drove a 2003 Toyota Echo talked down to $10500 (including tax/tags and 0 down, only 15k miles), and am now looking at a 1998 VW Beetle for $7500 (75k miles). The bug seems to have more features in the car, everything power - but the Echo has much better gas mileage.

 

[Kipper]

Don't know if you're into Hondas but for $10,000 you can pick up a good used Honda...especially some of the last generation have dropped in price since the 2004s were released.

 

[fredtam]

I rented one. It wasn't bad. I would have to say no though because it is Daewoo. Get a used civic.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

<Insert shameless Honda plug>

- M4H

 

[StageLeft]

POS

 

[CrackRabbit]

Aveo = Daewoo, Daewoo<Kia or Daewoo = crap.
If you need a car for that little at least get a Hyundai or something a bit better than the Aveo.
Or get something used.

 

[yllus]

Nissan Sentra? The foolish impertinence of the majority has led to very attractive used car pricing of these rock-solid vehicles.

Hyundai Accent? New preferably, since it's still afforable and you can't beat the warranty + roadside assistance perks.

 

[RedRooster]

I thought the Aveo and Toyota Echo were the same, no?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Hyundai

 

[TheAudit]

Buy a pre-owned car instead.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I wouldn't take an Aveo if someone paid me. I took a long look at them this year at the Detroit show and I can say this very confidently: At $8,900, it's way over-priced.

$10,000 can get a very nice used Accord/Camry/Sentra/Civic/Carolla/etc and any of those cars, even used, will be worlds better than the Aveo. Heck, a new Hyundai accent, as yllus suggested, would be a much better car than the Aveo. If you need a new car, look at the Hyundais.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: RedRooster
I thought the Aveo and Toyota Echo were the same, no?

If they are then Toyota suddenly started making pieces of crap. There's no way that Toyota would ever let anything like the Aveo carry their badge.

ZV

 

[brigden]

I'd go for the Echo hatch.

 

[Kipper]

Echo's hybrid, isn't it?

Tax rebate if you buy new + gas mileage + other perks (HOV, etc.)

 

[CrackRabbit]

the Echo isnt a hybrid, just fuel effiecent.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease
Echo's hybrid, isn't it?

Tax rebate if you buy new + gas mileage + other perks (HOV, etc.)

nope, that's the prius. the original prius did look a lot like the echo, but they were different cars.

my advice: buy a used corolla or civic. you will get a lot more than 100K of driving in addition to whatever is already on it, and it will be a better car to begin with.

i mean, if your neon is "on it's last legs" at 117,000, you'd think you would have learned your lesson about cheap american cars. hondas and toyotas are barely broken in at that point.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: RedRooster
I thought the Aveo and Toyota Echo were the same, no?

If they are then Toyota suddenly started making pieces of crap. There's no way that Toyota would ever let anything like the Aveo carry their badge.

ZV

They're not. IIRC, Chevy Aveo ~= Suzuki Swift.

- M4H

 

[Vette73]

Its a small cheap car. If taken care of, like most cars, it should last as long as you want it to.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: RedRooster
I thought the Aveo and Toyota Echo were the same, no?

If they are then Toyota suddenly started making pieces of crap. There's no way that Toyota would ever let anything like the Aveo carry their badge.

ZV

They're not. IIRC, Chevy Aveo ~= Suzuki Swift.

- M4H

Not quite right Geo/Chevy Metro = Suzuki Swift

Chevy Aveo = Daewoo Kalos

Have you even bothered to see what is wrong with your neon? It sounds like your oxygen sensor has gone bad. Follow the procedure Here and check for computer trouble codes and post back if you get any.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

i mean, if your neon is "on it's last legs" at 117,000, you'd think you would have learned your lesson about cheap american cars. hondas and toyotas are barely broken in at that point.

Yeah, my 1990 accord is burning oil, has fvcked up suspension, and I am still afraid to take it above 3500rpm so soon after purchasing it

~190k

 

[Vortex22]

Consumer Reports said the Aveo was a POS also.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

i mean, if your neon is "on it's last legs" at 117,000, you'd think you would have learned your lesson about cheap american cars. hondas and toyotas are barely broken in at that point.

Yeah, my 1990 accord is burning oil, has fvcked up suspension, and I am still afraid to take it above 3500rpm so soon after purchasing it

~190k

haha, well at least it could make it to 3500 RPM if you wanted. the only turning the neon's engine is gonna do at 190k is when the car is spinning around on the crane at the junkyard.

 

[Thegonagle]

I'd get a Hyundai Accent before I got a Daewoo Chevy Aveo. I've rented 2 Accents in the past, and my opinion is that they do what they're supposed to pretty well. One could do a lot worse. Daewoos have always been junk. GM has sold their cars in the past, even before the Daewoo brand arrived (and subsequently perished) in the US.

You can get a 1-2 year old Hyundai Accent for like 40% off, too, but you lose the super-long warranty. But the fact is, Hyundais are at least average for reliability these days, so the savings would be worth it to me.

Just don't get a new Hyundai, unless you can pay it off really fast, or put 30-40% down, otherwise you'll be way upside-down in it for the first 3+ years.

Originally posted by: RedRooster
I thought the Aveo and Toyota Echo were the same, no?

No.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: RedRooster
I thought the Aveo and Toyota Echo were the same, no?

Speaking of the Echo, I just got back from test driving one. It was a nice car, sat high and had a good view through the windshield. The problems I had with it was that for my legs to be comfortable working the gas/break/clutch, my arms were too extended to reach the steering wheel - and the ride wasn't smooth at all. It was an '03 for about $14,000, talked the rep down to $10,500 with no down payment but I wasn't going to buy it on a whim.

On my way home I finally looked at this '98 Red VW Beetle I knew was at a dealership. I love Volkswagen, the car I really want is a newer diesel Gulf but they're not in my price range and hard to find. I was avoiding the beetle because I thought they would be cramped with too tiny trunk space (I have to drive around a lot of hardware). For $7500, decided to look at it for kicks, and once inside realized it was really roomy. Then I popped the trunk, and just now found out it was hatchback, and with the back seats down there is a lot of room. So at this point I might actually buy a beetle, but need to find out some info on the fuel economy and safety ratings, etc.

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
<Insert shameless Honda plug>

- M4H

Originally posted by: Skoorb
POS

I own a Chevy cavalier (lol, actually more expensive than an aveo) and an accord. I'll never buy another GM product, if even another domestic vehicle whatsoever.
You can get a lot of car for 10 grand, even going back only a few years.