[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Fearer2010SS

FYI, Daewoo IS a GM company. They bought the Daewoo Motor Company assets in 2001. Just like Cheverolet is a GM company. All they are doing is bringing elements of one asset to another, just like they used the I4 experience of Opel and the turbo knowledge of Saab. The Beat was never in same class as the Aveo, it was one of 3 design concepts for a new Spark.


Actually not totally, GM owns 70% of Daewoo. While GM is the majority holder the arrangement is similar with what Ford had going with Mazda back in the 90s. With that in mind you didn't see the Mazda nameplate disappear and that should say something, in fact the Fiesta I just bought is a (rebadged) Mazda2. I'm not disputing that the Aveo flys under the radar but I would challenge you to try any of competitors and see how big of a difference there really is.

First, Chevrolet isn't a company, it's a brand. Unless you were refering the original company founded by Louis Chevrolet and bought by GM many years ago.

Also, Ford was not a majority owner of Mazda. I believe Japanese laws prohibit this, just like in China were everything is a 50/50 JV at best.

Originally Posted by Russell James

Is it not built at a Daewoo plant in Korea?

I just can't stand the way it operates. At some speeds the trans has engine braking, some speeds its coasting, sometimes you'll be coasting along and it will downshift and it feels like the brakes are on. Some mphs such as low 50s it lugs the engine down to below 1500 rpm and the whole vehicle just moans and resonates with that 4 cyl lugging.

At 75 mph where the trans doesn't have to do a thing, it's perfect. At lower speeds, the shifting and downshifting calibration is horrible. And why some gears have engine braking is strange. Let off the gas at 35 and your slowing right down. Let off the gas at 40 and your coasting...

A transmission should be hardly noticeable. This thing is constantly annoying.

I believe you are simply experiencing the calibration set up for FE. I've driven the 4 cyl. FWD and AWD and not found it to be a problem at all, in fact the 6 speed is such a joy compared to the 4 cyl. VUE with the old 4 speed transmission.

Originally Posted by Russell James

I was talking about the transmission. I know the vehicle was built in Ingersoll. Which is a good thing, all my vehicles from Canada have always been top notch.

I'm just less than impressed with the Korean transmission. My 10 year old nephew could have calibrated it better. When I took him for a ride, a couple times he said - why did it do that? What is that noise...? It's just an annoying transmission.

What you are complaining about is the software, not the hardware. The transmisson was designed by GM and simply built in another country. Software is from the USA.

Originally Posted by Russell James

OK, but my window sticker says Korea for the transmission country of origin. And there is a huge Daewoo transmission plant in South Korea. Those two clues tell me my trans came from Korea.

The assembly seems fine, it's more the calibration that is annoying to me. It has several speeds that it bogs the I4 motor down so low it just moans and vibrates the whole vehicle. They probably do that to get the advertisable 32 mpgs. NVH must not of been high on the priorities of who ever calibrated it.

You got it. But NVH was a priority. So much so GM can't make enough of the Equinoxsseess.

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I gotcha. The calibration/shifting is an issue with the design. I guess Fen said there's a fix for it in the Cruze? Maybe that'll be made available to Equinox/Terrain buyers.

I've got to say, I drove the Equinox/Terrain for about 2-3 hours straight, two times at the last Fest....and I didn't notice this issue. The only problem we had was trying to keep up with Gtahvit's supercharged THR SS in a crossover with a 4 cylinder...


Not necessarily. "Global" can mean a lot of things depending what you're talking about. It can mean the vehicle that's able to be built alongside another, completely different vehicle in an assembly plant. Or in can mean the vehicle was designed and engineered for use across multiple markets.

In any event, GM has a general policy of "build it where you sell it", so while the Cruze was born in Germany, GM NA touched it up for the US market and is assembling it in Ohio, as well as wherever it's being built in Europe.

Shhhhhhh, Cruze was born in Korea. Germany engineered the "underpinnings which are shared with the Astra. Cruze was launched in Korea first, then China, then Lordstown.

Originally Posted by Russell James

Hopefully they come up with a software update for the '11 Equinox. I called the dealer and they said no updates they can find but lots of others complaining. I think the trans stays in the higher gears into too low a speed/RPM for the motor. If your up in 6th and the speed drops to 55-60 range, the motor just bogs and drones. It has another problem spot around 39/40ish, probably in 5th.

I'd still consider taking it to the dealer. Some of the things you are complaining about aren't what I'd expect from the Equinox. The ones I've driven, and the Terrain as well have been nothing like what you are describing.

Originally Posted by Stew

You probably hit the nail on the head. Cars are being aggessively tuned to hold on to gears longer for the sake of fuel milage and thos all important figures. THis for sure isn't just a GM issue though.

Yep.

I've talked with some very well respected people that have driven the Sonic. Expect good things.