Aveo trip report

[kickflipjr]

So Me and my Dad drove to rockport, Illinois.


The car: Stock 2005 Aveo 5speed Hatchback with 15,000 miles on it
Tire PSI: 40 (non studded snow tires on still on front)
Speed: 70-75mph @ 3200rpm
MPG: 1,302 miles @ 36.2 Gallons = 36MPG
Weight of passangers+luggage: 400lbs
Temp: 60s-70s

Aerodynamics and gearing seem to be a problem at highway speeds for the aveo. We still ended up beating the EPA of 35mpg. It would of been better at 65mph. I drove for 40% of the time and there was some traffic around chicago.

[rh77]

Good test. What did you think of the car overall? I liked the handling and ergonomics.

RH77

[SVOboy]

Eww, get out of here rick.

Anyway, I'm glad you beat the epa, even going that fast,

[kickflipjr]

The seats arn't that great. The whole car is nothing amazing, but gets the job done. I told my dad not to buy the car because It will be worth nothing in 5 years. I would buy one if I could get one cheap.

Chevy Aveo in 5 years $3,000ish
Honda Fit in 5 years $9,000ish

[zpiloto]

Aerodynamics and gearing seem to be a problem at highway speeds for the aveo. We still ended up beating the EPA of 35mpg

. Does it have a tach? What kind of RPM's are you doing at 65 MPH. Being from south Texas don't know anything about snow tires. What kind of affect on FE do you think they have?

[kickflipjr]

Rpms were 3100 at 70mph. The snow tires were only on the front so it only cost 1mpg or so.

[zpiloto]

Sorry, missed the RPM in the first post. So that would work out to 37 MPG minus the snow tires loaded down with stuff. By today standards on a stock car that's not that bad. Just imagine if they put a final drive where the RPM were 2500 at 70 MPH. Nice report. Thanks

[JanGeo]

my xB turns 3300 at 65mph give or take a few MPH and I needed the RPM yesterday while hauling 4 people into headwinds. Oh I got 36mpg doing that - tail winds got me 39 going out to the cape. Highway 60-65mph.

Also pulled a 3 inch nail out of my left rear and plugged it but it has a bump now - will be gettting an inside patch and checking the tread. 4300 miles on new tires grrrrrrr damn carpenters dropping old nails in the street!

[lovemysan]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

my xB turns 3300 at 65mph give or take a few MPH and I needed the RPM yesterday while hauling 4 people into headwinds. Oh I got 36mpg doing that - tail winds got me 39 going out to the cape. Highway 60-65mph.

Also pulled a 3 inch nail out of my left rear and plugged it but it has a bump now - will be gettting an inside patch and checking the tread. 4300 miles on new tires grrrrrrr damn carpenters dropping old nails in the street!

I find that gutters distribute more nails than anything else. Storm drains seem to distribute them everywhere.

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

my xB turns 3300 at 65mph give or take a few MPH and I needed the RPM yesterday while hauling 4 people into headwinds. Oh I got 36mpg doing that - tail winds got me 39 going out to the cape. Highway 60-65mph.

Also pulled a 3 inch nail out of my left rear and plugged it but it has a bump now - will be gettting an inside patch and checking the tread. 4300 miles on new tires grrrrrrr damn carpenters dropping old nails in the street!

Now there's a curiosity:

The Aveo is rounded and more aerodynamic than the brick-shaped xB.
The Aveo is considerbly lighter than the xB.
The Aveo is geared lower than the xB in top gear.
The engines are very close in size, 1.5-1.6 liters.

Why does the xB beat the Aveo?