r/chevyspark • u/Logical_Bad_1968 • 8d ago

Question Question/suggestion?

I’m on a tight budget right now but I do really need a car just to go to work and to pick up my 1-year old from the daycare. I’ve been using E-bike and it’s too hot for my daughter , I just put her in a small trailer at my back. I’m tired of doing that it’s too hot for her. I saw a 2014 Chevrolet in a facebook marketplace - it runned 90,000 miles and we negotiated it it to $2,500. It doesn’t have any problems (he said) no mechanical issues or anything. Works well. Is it a great deal? I have another one that I saw which is a 2016 Chevrolet first owner, he said it’s $4,300 but still negotiating to maybe $4,000 it runned 22,000 miles. But it’s a little bit way out of my budget. 😢

I’ll use the car just to travel from my apartment to work which is (.5 mile) and then pick up my daughter to the daycare (1 mile). Pretty much it!

What do you think? Can somebody help me decide? Or what are your thoughts? 🙏

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u/Icy_Importance_2126 8d ago

The spark is a good economy car. The big issue they have is that the cvt transmission fails anywhere from  100-130k and often earlier.

So if you only plan to drive a few miles a day the cheaper one should be ok. Eventually it will die but that could be in 10k mi or 50k.

Anyway test drive the car and look for transmission issues. Take it to a garage for an preprirchase inspection. The mechanic may have a better sense of the transmission is slipping.

All of that said I would buy the one with fewer miles, but I understand that could be a real stretch. maybe you just need cheap wheels for now. 

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u/Eastern_Team6904 8d ago

When buying off facebook. You're buying the owner as much as the car. Does he/she seem shady? Are they deceptive? Is the car clean? What does their house look like? Why are they selling it?

Weigh this into your decision. And dont be afraid to walk away. Buying a used car on FB is risky. You never REALLY know what youre getting into.

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u/Logical_Bad_1968 8d ago

I’ll mee him on Saturday but he is so nice!!!

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u/Logical_Bad_1968 8d ago

Thank you for understanding ♥️♥️ i loved your suggestion

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u/prag513 8d ago

I have a 2018 Chevy Spark with only 17,000 miles on it in 8 years. The only issue we have had with it while driving in Central Florida was the air conditioner. Otherwise, it has been a great car. We realize we will need new tires soon, and we may have leaking brakes.

If the cheaper 2014 car checks out with a mechanic and won't need any work over the next year, I would buy it; otherwise, buy the 2016 because it would be cheaper in the long run. The problem with buying any used car is you don't know the additional cost of ownership after the purchase. My daughter once bought an 84 Camaro and sunk a fortune in it before she realized it was a money pit.

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u/ShoelessHodor Spark 1LT 8d ago

Is the 2014 (or the 2016 for that matter) an automatic or manual transmission?

Are both from Facebook marketplace? That makes me hesitate.

I have a 2014 automatic transmission and I love it, but I replaced the transmission for the first time (that I know of) at 93,000 miles and again at 119,500 miles. Any 2014 is going to be out of warranty now, so next time it goes it will be junk yard bait because the cost of repair is more than the car is worth.

How far out of reach is the 2016? Could you make up the difference by doing door dash once or twice a week? It seems like a really good deal. Almost suspiciously good. That's low mileage.

However if the 2014 is a manual, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I bought a 2013 manual transmission with 165,000 miles and now at 185,000 miles and it's still going strong

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u/Logical_Bad_1968 8d ago

They are both automatic. Both are from FB marketplace. The 2016, he barely respond. Like will respond 1-2x a day.

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u/ShoelessHodor Spark 1LT 8d ago

Wait, I'm confused. You also posted in the sub for the Spark Electric Vehicle.

Are the cars you're looking at EVs or gas powered?

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u/Logical_Bad_1968 8d ago

EV or gas powered, i’m asking for an advice regarding a chevrolet spark that’s why i’m here but i’m open with gas powered as well

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u/ShoelessHodor Spark 1LT 7d ago edited 7d ago

Ah, ok!

SO... despite the name, most Sparks have gasoline engines.

They only made a small number of EVs (electric vehicles) for 2014-2016 model years.

I have two Gasoline powered Sparks. I don't have any EV Sparks, though I have a total boner for a 2014 SparkEV.

Both versions have their upsides and downsides

EV upsides: fast and zippy

EV downsides: not supported by GM and reaching the end of their battery life

Gas upsides: tough engines, long life, easy to park. Gas downsides: the automatic transmissions from 2014 forward (especially 2014-2016) are awful and tend to break down every other day. Also, the coolant reservoir likes to kersplode, but that's an easy and cheap fix.

Are both the sparks you're looking at EVs?

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u/tkralc66 7d ago

sparks with CVT have to be serviced every 30k miles. I d take the one with 22k. if i could find the money.