Would you buy your own car again?

[NirvAveo]

So apparently my seemingly endless intermittent issue with starting is simply a degraded/faulty ignition coil. Which was not picked up by multiple mechanics and a nearly two month stint at a dealership with supposedly the best diagnostics hardware. Just glad I seem to have a diagnosis. Eventually got picked up after it went to a dealership who dismissed it as immobilizer (which was the original run-around with no solution), then to an auto electrician who then sent it to an independent ex-GM tech who diagnosed, and now I need to go back to the original dealer to get an OEM replacement coil (small town, 3rd-world country problems). Hopefully resolved soon.

[gclark8]

One of those days of reflection again, use it or loose it?

In my quest for a car with better, flatter, glass I was researching the new Suzuki Jimny 4x4.
Part of the process was to check out the price for insurance. There I found a problem, no one would give me Insurance so I decided to phone the Auto Club and ask why.
The nice lady there did her homework and called me back with the news that the car only achieved 3 Stars in the NCAP crash tests and most Insurance Companys will only cover 4 and 5 Star Cars.
As she was aware of my glass/windsield/vision issues and my age (soon to be 70) she said it would be useful for me to check out the ANCAP 5 star list and choose my next car from that list. Good advice!!

Now, a week later, this got me thinking about my Barina/Aveo, built in Korea in Feb 2011, how many stars did it achieve in the crash tests? Well the only relevant test I could find gave a 2 Star rating!! Horror of horrors! Where did the 5 star rating the Car Dealers rave about come from? Answer, probably the NCAP test done later in the year on the Sonic/TM Barina Hatch. See: https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/...let/aveo/10959

After searching Google, I found there are several not so successful tests done in later years on the Mexican and Chinese built Sedans by Latin NCAP.

Now back to the 2 star test done in in 2006, https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/...let/aveo/15689 to read the full test results you will need to download the PDF of the report, the section that attracted my attention talked about 'tearing spot welds' and 'moving A pillars'!

This now highlights the problem I have had in my car since the test drive, windshield glass distortion, see: https://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f83/...n-glass-21694/.

Thinking time now needed!

Edit: I have sent Customer Care a 'final' email with the above 2 Star Test result for their comments.

[northguest47]

The answer is yes. It would be passing on the cheapest, 'best handling for its cost', winter beater ever for its future owner

(btw in spite of all its potential its worth about 850 CAD i guess)

[northguest47]

bye the way the 'cheap' aveo has 'side air bags' on its seats, makes me wonder who makes the survey. hatches are not as un-safe as folks think. at this price point, the same year, the same model, i would buy one thousand of them

gclark8 should we compare vins to understand why my car seems so amazing and why folks don't think this? i wonder if its a manufacturing facility or two, off the record of course

[gclark8]

Hi North Guest,

I am finding a lot of pressure from regulating and Insurance agencies as both my car and I age.

The ANCAP safety rating system now has a system of "datestamping". This means, as new safety features are rolled out, your car can revert to a lower star rating if not uprated and re-tested, just as my 2011 SEDAN has done. There are more recent and favourable tests on the HATCH, some in my post above.

Age is an issue here, 70 (and lower) can attract a loading with some companies. My Auto Club Insurance will only cover an age 70 driver for a current 5 star car! I am trying to find a recent and current star rating better than the 2 star that I found above for the 4 door sedan. I have asked GM Customer Care the same question, still waiting...

I hope that helps, feel free to PM any specific questions.

[gclark8]

I can now honestly answer the topic question, sadly, NO!

I test drive a Suzuki Jimny later this morning (13 Feb).

If its a fail, then its game over for driving!

EDIT: SUCCESS!! The glass is excellent.

The Jimny will be delivered on Friday 15 Feb.

See: https://www.aveoforum.com/forum/garage/4414

[gclark8]

From My AVEO Garage Page:

"15 February 2019, "AV30 WA" has gone for adoption and will soon have her new forever home."

Edit: The adoption notice has just been posted. She has a new name and a large fee!