Octane at altitude...
- Thread starter samsonic
- Start date
ChrisJ
Active member
I'll probably get jumped all over for this, but what the hell.
If you wanted a fast hatch, wouldn't it make sense to buy a VW Golf R over a Sonic to start?
I bought a Sonic mainly because I needed good gas mileage, and I wanted a fun decent looking car not to mention wearing out an expensive car fast sucks.
But if fast is what someone is after, to me, the Golf R makes a lot more sense.
Eric Smit
Enforcer
you're right Chris. I think I speak for rdss when I say we are not against modding the sonic, just that it's not fast. People will say, "it's fast for what you paid," but frankly it's still not fast. I think people know that I have been rather severely bitten by the mod bug, but I know it's not fast.
-Eric Smit
-Eric Smit
ChrisJ
Active member
Fast is of course relative. I've driven many cars from the 80s that were easily 800lbs heavier than a sonic, only 105HP and had a 3 speed automatic. Compared to those the Sonic and even Cruze are pleasantly fast enough.
But I see a lot of guys talking about dumping thousands into the Sonic to "make it fast" when they could have just bought a different car in the first place. Actually when I think about modding a car the first thing that pops into my head is a WRX. Though the insurance rates and MPG are awful on those, but good AWD and plenty of power to be had with modding.
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rdss
Junior Member
Yeah, no ball busting here. I bought my Sonic to daily drive. It's fairly cheap to upgrade and it increases the fun factory of driving it while still getting 30+ all city driving. My Sierra gets about 15 driving the same route, it has effectively cut my gas bill in half. The Sierra takes one tank of premium a month and will crush the Sonic with what I have done to it. If I really feel like fun I will borrow the Trifecta tuned 12 GS and for a few laps (87 tuned truck vs stock GS with the Ex driving was a win for the truck..... Now they are both tuned for 93 and it might be different story).
I don't plan on doing much more other than a down pipe, springs and maybe piece together the 3D Carbon body kit. I have an addiction though, the truck isn't stock, the HD Sportster Nightster isn't stock, the GS isn't stock and the Sonic has the same fait. My Civic Si's, not stock. JK Wranglers, not stock. 00 4.3 and 03 Silverado SS not stock. I can keep going. These cars are our cars and what you think is what you think. Some people drop cash into their cars instead of other things.... gaming, alcohol, etc, etc.... If you want to say they are slow and will always be slow good on you, but I use to be one of the guys that crushed Honda's with my Mustangs and times change.
I don't plan on doing much more other than a down pipe, springs and maybe piece together the 3D Carbon body kit. I have an addiction though, the truck isn't stock, the HD Sportster Nightster isn't stock, the GS isn't stock and the Sonic has the same fait. My Civic Si's, not stock. JK Wranglers, not stock. 00 4.3 and 03 Silverado SS not stock. I can keep going. These cars are our cars and what you think is what you think. Some people drop cash into their cars instead of other things.... gaming, alcohol, etc, etc.... If you want to say they are slow and will always be slow good on you, but I use to be one of the guys that crushed Honda's with my Mustangs and times change.
ThatTmoGuy
New member
The Sonic isn't fast, it is quick but not fast.
That being said quick is fun for a DD, I've driven plenty of fast cars a few as a DD but honestly the Sonic has been way more fun to drive than anything I've ever had as a DD.
That being said quick is fun for a DD, I've driven plenty of fast cars a few as a DD but honestly the Sonic has been way more fun to drive than anything I've ever had as a DD.
ChrisJ
Active member
ThatTmoGuy
New member
91/93 unless your Sonic is an alcoholic.
ChrisJ
Active member
If thats a reference to ethanol, not sure? Many states, in fact I think most states require 10% in ALL fuel grades sold. In NJ 87,89 and 93 all have 10% in them.
ThatTmoGuy
New member
yes that was a reference to ethanol, The high content stuff E85.
rdss
Junior Member
What ever you want unless you're tuned for a specific octane level.
ChrisJ
Active member
Ah I thought you were talking about buying 91/93 because they didn't contain any ethanol. Many don't realize most states force 91 and 93 to have 10% in them. Some don't but most do.
ThatTmoGuy
New member
It's funny to me how 10% is crap but 85% knocks your d**k off.
ChrisJ
Active member
ThatTmoGuy
New member
It's not that the E85 is actually making the extra power, It just allows way more timing due to detonation problems. I understand why it works it just amuses me 
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I can't really recommend E85 as an everyday fuel. It is rocket sauce compared to regular gas but you go through it incredibly fast. I originally thought it might work out to be economical because the price per gallon is much lower than 93 regular... but the MPG cost is so high that you still end up spending more per mile than with the 93.
What it is, then, is two things; one, much cheaper than race gas, and two much more environmentally sound.
And a third thing... moar powah.
Yeah, yeah, I know, it's really not a sports car. It's just a sporty little cheap hatch. But that's what I was looking for, a cheap hatch to take the load off my regular cargo vehicle without costing me an arm and a leg. My Sonic has done a very good job of that, and it cost me very little money.
I've thrown more money and time into making it even sportier, I admit that, but I had a lot of fun doing it, and I've got the fun of driving it around, pushing to see what it can do. And the amount of money I've thrown into modding has actually been fairly little. Plus, any time I want, I can go right back to burning 93 and be back in a fantastic little high miles per dollar vehicle which is still more powerful and fun to drive than a stock Sonic. I'm under 20K all in here. Base model WRX 26K. VW Golf R base model 17995, more than I paid for LT 1.4Turbo Sonic... and it gets 33/23 instead of 40/33. Yeah I know, I'm currently driving a 28/22 car, but that's mostly for fun and test purposes, I'm literally one tank of gas away from having my 44/35 back, because Flexfuel.
It's like having a girlfriend who's a lady on your arm going out on the town, and a tiger in the bedroom. Sure you -could- hire a hooker with better skillz, but the Sonic is the real thing, and more versatile.
What it is, then, is two things; one, much cheaper than race gas, and two much more environmentally sound.
And a third thing... moar powah.
Yeah, yeah, I know, it's really not a sports car. It's just a sporty little cheap hatch. But that's what I was looking for, a cheap hatch to take the load off my regular cargo vehicle without costing me an arm and a leg. My Sonic has done a very good job of that, and it cost me very little money.
I've thrown more money and time into making it even sportier, I admit that, but I had a lot of fun doing it, and I've got the fun of driving it around, pushing to see what it can do. And the amount of money I've thrown into modding has actually been fairly little. Plus, any time I want, I can go right back to burning 93 and be back in a fantastic little high miles per dollar vehicle which is still more powerful and fun to drive than a stock Sonic. I'm under 20K all in here. Base model WRX 26K. VW Golf R base model 17995, more than I paid for LT 1.4Turbo Sonic... and it gets 33/23 instead of 40/33. Yeah I know, I'm currently driving a 28/22 car, but that's mostly for fun and test purposes, I'm literally one tank of gas away from having my 44/35 back, because Flexfuel.
It's like having a girlfriend who's a lady on your arm going out on the town, and a tiger in the bedroom. Sure you -could- hire a hooker with better skillz, but the Sonic is the real thing, and more versatile.
ThatTmoGuy
New member
Well said!
T-BONE
New member
Hi guys My sonic is less than a day old to me 2012 I4 turbo LT. I have never had an FI car not run premium and when I read the OM stating 87 I was somewhat shocked.
As I understand it octane is a measure of combustibility not energy. The computer is tuned to run optimally on a particular fuel based on compression and timing.
I plan on using 91-93 just because my brain says so but I would love some official information as to why 87 is listed. If the tune is really optimized for 87 then putting in high octane will be lost. BTW I have not filled up yet.
thanks
Oh yeah
found this
http://ashtech.net/~dmarkle/blog/archives/340-Sonic-Fuel-Economy-and-Premium-Fuel.html
and
As I understand it octane is a measure of combustibility not energy. The computer is tuned to run optimally on a particular fuel based on compression and timing.
I plan on using 91-93 just because my brain says so but I would love some official information as to why 87 is listed. If the tune is really optimized for 87 then putting in high octane will be lost. BTW I have not filled up yet.
thanks
Oh yeah
found this
http://ashtech.net/~dmarkle/blog/archives/340-Sonic-Fuel-Economy-and-Premium-Fuel.html
and
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