PetersCars.com

News and Updates at Peters in Longview
  • 2013 Chevrolet Spark

    4/18/2012 7:39:08 PM - by Jeff Collins
    2013 Spark Packs Technology and Features into Small Price


     
    DETROIT – Chevrolet is taking the guesswork out of the car-buying process with a new, simpler approach to pricing and packaging for the 2013 Spark. When the mini car goes on sale later this year, Spark will be available in three well-equipped trim levels starting at $12,995 including destination.
    Spark is a sporty, fuel-efficient, four-passenger, five-door hatch designed to excite first-time car buyers and city dwellers with bold styling, attention-grabbing colors – including Salsa, Jalapeno, Denim, Lemonade and Techno Pink –engaging driving dynamics, the personalized connectivity of MyLink, and the safety of 10 standard air bags.
    Spark also offers more passenger and cargo room than other mini cars such as the Fiat 500, Smart for two and Scion IQ.
    “With the Spark, Chevrolet has the opportunity to connect with a new generation of car buyers who expect more from every product they purchase,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Global Marketing.  “So we wanted to make the process of choosing a Spark as simple as possible by reducing the number of stand-alone options and providing more standard content to each trim level at a competitive price.”

    Spark LS starting at $12,995 includes:
    • Standard 1.2L Ecotec engine and five-speed manual transmission
    • Standard convenience features including air conditioning, power windows, rear window wiper, auxiliary input jack, outside temperature display and trip computer 15-inch alloy wheels
    • 60/40 split flip-and-fold rear seat Comprehensive safety package including 10 air bags, electronic stability control with traction control and brake assist
    • OnStar Directions & Connections plan standard with six-month introductory subscription

    Spark1LT starting at $14,495 includes LS standard content and adds:
    • Standard 7-inch color touch radio with Chevrolet MyLink, Bluetooth connectivity for select phones, steering wheel audio controls, USB port and Sirius XM Radio with three-month trial subscription
    • Other standard convenience features include power door locks with remote keyless entry, theft deterent system, outside power mirrors, floor mats, visor mirrors, and cruise control

    Spark2LT starting at $15,795 includes all 1LT standard content and adds:
    • Unique 15-inch alloy wheels
    • Fog lamps
    • Exterior appearance enhancements  including silver painted roof rails; chrome lift gate handle, exhaust outlet and beltline molding; body-color lower rocker molding; front and rear body-color sport fascias with unique front upper and lower grille inserts
    • On the interior, leatherette seats and heated front seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel

    A  4-speed automatic transmission is available on all models for $925.  The only other available options include an engine block heater for $75 and Black Granite paint for $195.
    Chevrolet MyLink in the Spark will include Pandora internet radio and Stitcher Smart Radio apps. Later in the model year, the recently introduced GogoLink– an embedded smartphone application that delivers full-function navigation including live traffic updates – will be available. Pricing for GogoLink will be announced later.
    Spark is the only car in its segment to provide the added value of a five-year,100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the safety and security of OnStar.
  • Volt vs Leaf

    5/9/2011 6:36:27 PM - by Jeff Collins

    Volt or Leaf? Ask Someone Who Owns Both

    By George Parrott

    Published March 10, 2011

    Many comments are appearing on the internet taking enthusiastic positions for either the new 2011 Chevy Volt or the 2011 Nissan Leaf.

    It seems most readers are in one "camp" or the other.

    In our household, after studying the technical strengths and features of both cars as they moved from concept to production, I ended up ordering...one of each!  

    We had been driving a 2006 Toyota Prius and a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid, enjoying the technology and economy of those designs since mid-2006.  Our Prius had around 64,000 miles and the Camry Hybrid had just 40,000, so we didn't need to replace them. But I enjoy new "toys," and cars are almost the ultimate consumer toy.

    Our 2011 Volt arrived on January 13, delivered to our house by the Chevy dealer in Fairfield, California, 40 miles from our home. I couldn't find a closer dealer who would sell the Volt at MSRP and order it with the configuration that I wanted.  We now have 2300 miles on the Volt, including two road trips of 200 to 300 miles, and considerable general driving.

    Our computed overall gas mileage is right at 107 mpg, which is way better than even the newest Prius might achieve.  The Volt has been a true attention-getter in parking lots, and hardly a trip goes by that someone does not remark on it.  

     

    Related Video

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    Behind the scenes with Chevy Volt team

    The ride and interior is more European than Japanese or Detroit in feel, and the dual display screens are almost hypnotic.  The seats are quite comfortable and the optional heating is nice on cold mornings; the range of height adjustment for shorter drivers is much better on the Volt than the Leaf. The GPS mapping appears totally up to date, and the Onstar feature and traffic updates work incredibly well.  In the Sacramento metropolitan area, we got the Coulomb chargepoint and installation free with a DOE/Volt program.

    On the negative side, the Volt lacks passive locking/unlocking which was standard on our Prius and Camry Hybrids and is fitted to the Nissan Leaf, and it does not have a rear window wiper (which the LEAF includes) for the frequent rainy days here in Northern California.

    The 2011 Leaf, which arrived on February 17,  being fully electric, has a much larger battery pack and a daily range of nearly 100 miles between charge sessions. We're actually getting almost that with totally local driving, but any freeway time at higher speeds reduces the LEAF range markedly.  

    Another negative on the Leaf is the smaller range of seat height adjustment for short drivers, along with the frustration that the GPS map software is at least five years out-of-date for our neighborhood.  A further frustration for early Leaf adopters is that the "Carwings" service, which is supposed to show charging stations regionally, is not functional at all for the first three months of delivery and is only "promised" to be updated quarterly.

    Nissan's "customer service" at the corporate level seems somewhat disconnected from really providing the support advertised for this cutting-edge vehicle.  

    On the plus side, the Leaf has room for five passengers, and the rear seat is quite comfortable with very good visibility.  The proximity locking/unlocking is most appreciated, as is that rear window wiper.  I even like the "mouselike" shift controller and the light colored fabric interior.

    It would be hard to be a Leaf one-car family, but we will use the Leaf for all our shorter local errands and my wife's regular daily commute. The Volt will complement the total gas-free economy of the Leaf for infrequent longer trips, and for my less regular work commuting.  

    Switching from the Prius and Camry Hybrids, I project that our annual car upkeep costs (fuel, and regular service) will drop from around $2600 a year to around $300 a year.