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In Praise of the 2017 Spark


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I've owned my 2017 Spark LS (base model) 5-speed manual for a year now. In 13,000 miles it's been faultless. SUPER fun to drive (Reminds me of my '86 CRX and '88 Civic hatch). 

 

I paid $10,100 OTD and feel I stole the car for this price. The car runs and drives like a much more expensive car. I took it on a road trip from Phoenix AZ to Palm Springs CA and it tracked smoothly at 80MPH most of the way. I disagree with GM's "city car" marketing. It's a fine little interstate cruiser. 

 

Compared to an early second generation Honda Prelude - the second gen Spark is 1/10 sec quicker to 60, scores 5 points higher on the skidpad, and stops 30 feet shorter from 60. Back in the day the Spark would have been considered a "Hot Hatch". How far we have come! 

 

I LOVE MY SPARK and would definitely buy another one. What a wonderful little car.

 

 

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18 hours ago, tburick said:

I've owned my 2017 Spark LS (base model) 5-speed manual for a year now. In 13,000 miles it's been faultless. SUPER fun to drive (Reminds me of my '86 CRX and '88 Civic hatch). 

 

I paid $10,100 OTD and feel I stole the car for this price. The car runs and drives like a much more expensive car. I took it on a road trip from Phoenix AZ to Palm Springs CA and it tracked smoothly at 80MPH most of the way. I disagree with GM's "city car" marketing. It's a fine little interstate cruiser. 

 

Compared to an early second generation Honda Prelude - the second gen Spark is 1/10 sec quicker to 60, scores 5 points higher on the skidpad, and stops 30 feet shorter from 60. Back in the day the Spark would have been considered a "Hot Hatch". How far we have come! 

 

I LOVE MY SPARK and would definitely buy another one. What a wonderful little car.

 

 

Agree totally on how good 2017 spark is for the price.

I am driving 2017 LS with CVT and like the tranny without having-to shift gears.

our other car is a Chevy HHR and it rides much more stable at speeds over 60mph.

but not as much fun to drive in urban areas.

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The spark does handle for what it is, it's also quite neutral. At its first autocross my '16 went into a 4 wheel drift when I finally got it to break loose. It's a shame GM didn't do a turbo version to compete with the Fiesta ST. That would be a blast.

 

On Saturday in the rain we went through an empty round about an extra time and I got the front to break traction. It just clawed its way around the circle like a classic mini rally car.

Edited by GammaRadiation
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It would be nice if it was a little bigger like the copper club car but yea I agree. They are nice. Maybe increase it to at least 120hp or something and a 6 speed auto instead of the cvt. I just hate how it just sits there when you press on the accelerator pedal for a couple seconds. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have a 5-speed also and feel like the engine has a lot of potential but it is being held back by the ultra conservative drive-by-wire programming.  Try to rev it up in neutral and you'll see what I'm talking about. Someone needs to come up with a sport mode flash for this car and unleash the beast. :shift:

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