Chevy Aveo

[AllanY2525]

I don't know about used car dealers, but new car dealers are required to display
the factory tag in the window, which indicates the point of origin, parts content
(U.S. versus foreign made parts) and point of assembly.

The last four vehicles that I bought (new) all had this information.  That is how
I found out that the engine in my 1995 Ford Explorer came from Germany, the
transmission (a 5 speed stick at that time) came from France, and the truck was
assembled in Kentucky.

Globalization in the auto industry has also CREATED American jobs - Honda's
Accord is built in Maryville, Ohio and Toyota builds cars in California.  The
Mercedes ML320 mini-SUV and one of its passenger cars are built in - believe it
or not - ALAMBAMA.

I guess my advice to new car buyers would be to read the sticker in the
window, carefully.... it will be several more years before I will be able to
purchase a new vehicle (besides mine are in good shape and should last
several more years, at least) but when I DO buy another car, I will buy
the car that provides the best value for the money,  the best fuel efficiency,
and has a good "track record" for reliability and durability - regardless of where
it came from.

If the American carmakers want to recapture a bigger share of the market,
both domestically and abroad, then they need to take the lead in bringing
to market the BEST and BRIGHTEST new technologies for fuel efficiency,
flexibility in the TYPE of fuel used to power their vehicles, safety, reliability
durability and overall quality of materials and workmanship.

The U.S. auto industry has shot itself in BOTH FEET with a sawed-off shotgun,
by building cars and trucks that are low in fuel efficiency, too-slow in
adopting alternative energy options and - in some cases,   just lack the kind of
"World Class" quality of materials that used to go into just about EVERY American
car. 

I am not pointing out any particular make/model here, but rather citing problems
that have become epidemic in the American automotive industry, as a whole.

*FLEX FUEL VEHICLES: The valves, injectors and exhaust sensors (oxygen sensor
and EGR) are different to handle the corrosion and also to handle the extra heat
produced by E85. The engine control computer is also calibrated differently to
change ignition timing and fuel rate. The cost of these differences in design and
components are NEGLIGIBLE in the overall cost of the vehicle versus a "standard"
all-gasoline design - and YET the big three STILL do not offer this feature across
their ENTIRE fleet of cars and trucks, as they SHOULD be.

Hey, GM Ford and Chrysler - HOW about a Flex-fuel/Hybrid combination ??  It
would burn 85% Alcohol and 15% real gas, AND get fantastic mileage !!  How
about a DEISEL/Electric Hybrid ? It would get even BETTER mileage - STILL !!

Hybrid-electric technology has now been around for almost TEN YEARS , and yet
the big three STILL do not have enough hybrid-electric and flex-fuel vehicles in
their showrooms.  I will admit, however, that they are ever-so-slowly "jumping
on the band wagon" now.  GM has finally managed to bring the Taho/Suburban
platform to the U.S. market as a three-mode hybrid - up to 21 MPG, which is
FANTASTIC for a vehicle of this size and weight, but my 2003 Expedition can do
as good as 17 on the highway, WITHOUT this technology and this vehicle is
SIX YEARS OLD !!

*First gas-electric hybrid in U.S. market : Honda Insight (61 mpg city, 70 mpg highway) 1999

*Toyota Prius (52 mpg city, 45 mpg highway)  2000

*Honda Civic Hybrid (46 mpg city, 51 mpg highway)  2002

*Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram pickups, Ford Escape 2004

If Ford, GM and Chrysler DO get the bailout money that is being argued about
on Capital Hill right now, it had BETTER come with some MAJOR strings attached
to it that FORCE these guys to start building cars and trucks with WAY better
mileage, and WAY more options for fuel sources - what about Natural Gas?
Hydrogen? (The first Hydrogen dispenser in our area is now online at a local
Chevron gas station, so it IS becoming available).

The federal government could also slap some restrictions on the PERCENTAGE of
foreign-made components these cars are allowed to use.  It might raise the cost
of the vehicles somewhat, but it will create MORE American JOBS.

A reporter was interviewing one of the Senators who is against the bail out,
and he made an interesting point: If the "Big Three" were forced to go through
a Chapter 11 Re-organization, they could continue to operate while restructuring
their businesses to make them more competetive, more efficient and healthier
companies - all WITHOUT receiving a bailout that uses OUR TAX DOLLARS.

The Federal government could back up the warranties on new vehicles, to
address consumer worries that the manufacturer might not be around to
provide warranty coverage after the sale.

Anyways,  I'd be interested to hear other opinions here on the Forum message
boards, as well as suggestions on how the "Big Three" could make their lot in
life better....



Allan

[ytowner]

I was attacked for bringing up where Chevy Cars were made. Did you know the Impala is made up north. And you see all our good valley residents having those 'Don't put this flag on your foreign car' bumper stickers... Little do they know they have done that already!

[jay]

The Chevy Cobalt is made right here in the Mahoning Valley/United States.  The Aveo is imported.

I just wish all these people would have opted for the locally made Chevy product.

[northside lurker]

My mom owns an Aveo, and I don't think anyone has told her where it was made.  But, she doesn't live in the Mahoning Valley.

Mom hasn't owned a completely American-made car since she sold her 1981 AMC Concord in 1996.

[jay]

I've noticed quite a few Chevy Aveos on the streets of the Mahoning Valley.  Do you think the car owners knew where the Aveo was made?