Buying a SONIC UPDATE

[AustenG]

Well, things didn't turn out as they planned because the blue ltz turbo was sold right off the lot when I got there, but with time and planning, I was able to get a 2012 Chevy Sonic LT 1.8 i know not turbo with 12,9200 miles on it for $11,500. I got an awesome deal, and its certified with all the recalls fixed. It is VICTORY RED. I'm really excited to start doing stuff with it. SO FIRST CAN YOU HELP ME OUT WITH THESE IDEAS.

1.It has cloth unheated seats, so is there a heated seat install DIY?
2. Air intake installation (i can do that myself no problem)
3. TRIFECTA?? is it even worth it on a 1.8?
4. Any recommendations to make 1.8 faster?

anyway thank you guys. give me some input.

-Austen

 

[$ub$onic]

The header is the biggest power adder to the 1.8 but it will never been a straight line car NA. The bad news racing header is high quality and is the one I recommend.

A tune does increase drivability .

 

[AustenG]

1.8 headers

Does upgrading to performance headers decrease gas mileage?

 

[Prospector]

Good for you. My advice is late, but here is how I buy cars now, and so far it has resulted in good deals.

Go on Kijiji, CL, Autotrader, etc. and find the best price on the model and trim options you want. Also bookmark every other car you find that would be 'acceptable' in your eyes. In my case I didn't care about options etc. so I found a 2012 base model car about 5 hours from me for $8500 CDN ($6781.83 USD) with 50,000 km (31,000 miles).

Obviously with the car being that far away, I wouldn't be able to drive to look at the car, so I called and asked for information on it and a carfax history. Then I asked for how much to add an extended warranty to the car. This was now my 'baseline car' and with its price (plus transferable warranty) I was able to negotiate on other cars and have this one in my back pocket.

I now emailed a copy of that car's ad to all the other listings I had bookmarked with a note that I saw they had a similar car on the lot, but would have to match this one if they wanted to make a deal.

2 days later I had my car, an LT with 24,000 km on it (15000 miles) for $8500 plus fees came to $10500 cdn ($8400 USD) at a dealer 25 km away with another 3 months of factory warrantee on it.

This is the third car I've bought this way. the last one I bought in Ottawa (4 hours away) but with the extended warrantee, the service history is negated, so I don't worry about the car history - unless its been in a wreck, in which case I move on to the next car (my Dad buys write-offs and rebuilds them though, so your choice).

If you are a buyer who sweats every details, this methods may not work for you, but if you are like me and are more focused on having a good daily driver, its a pretty good method.

 

[wbjones]

Does upgrading to performance headers decrease gas mileage?

generally yes … but not because of the header …it's usually because most folk will keep their foot planted more often, just to hear the sound of the headers

should actually make it breathe better … along with a CAI … air in… air out … more efficient usually = more power / and/or more mpg… depending on the right foot

 

[$ub$onic]

generally yes … but not because of the header …it's usually because most folk will keep their foot planted more often, just to hear the sound of the headers

This.

Bone stock I was getting 34, full bolt on as a DD I could get up to 40 easily.

Now that it's no longer my DD, I run it hard all the time and barley tap 31.