Phatsamurai
New member
Hello all,
I recently posted some pictures of my Sonic in the SoTM thread, before that I lurked around for a few months as I pondered what my first new car would be.
I had a 94' Bronco which I drove into the ground. It was helpful in teaching me how to do the basics. Replacing brakes, changing my own oil, and the like. I also had to rebuild the back end completely (I had MUCH help with this from my dad who used to be a mechanic). Even after all of my abuse, the thing runs great and is pushing 200k miles as the family beater.
I had originally planned on a VW GTI MK6, but the early demise of my second vehicle, a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport (Radiator literally exploded) forced me into a cheaper option. Having already done tons of research before deciding on the GTI, I knew that at my current price point the Chevy dealership was where I would be headed to test-drive a Sonic. After the test drive I put my money down on the spot.
That's where things get bad.
I had driven my Sonic off the lot and straight home (about 4 miles total). I had planned on scooping up a friend and just going on an adventure in my new car, little did I know there was already another adventure in the works. I took the car home and let my dad go for a drive, he drove it about 15 miles, pushing it up to 105 and grinning like a little kid the whole time. We get back home and I tell him I'm off for the night. I go around the block and pick up my buddy and we proceed to exit the neighborhood and get on the main street leading to the highway. At this point I was still babying the hell out of this car, I learned to drive stick on the test drive and I was still very new so I was taking things extremely easy. I managed to get a mile and a half away from my house before I could no longer engage any gear other than second...
So I pull over and call the dealership. Shocked that I was stranded a mere 30 minutes after driving off the lot they send someone to check it out assuming that since I am new to stick that I have just scared myself into thinking something was wrong. Unfortunately this was not the case. When the salesman got there he hopped in and fiddled with the gear lever for a minute before getting out with a look on his face of pure devastation. He told me that something was wrong and that he had no idea what it was. He proceeded to call a tow truck and have my brand new Sonic towed back to the dealership. Once we were there I was issued a rental car and told that they would troubleshoot what had gone wrong and call me in the morning. Despite all the raging and "advice" offered from my family to demand a new car I let the dealer do there thing and see what was going on. I got a call the next morning saying that the shift tower had a loose nut that caused the shift cable to come loose from its bracket. They said GM had issued them some sort of paperwork on the matter, and that this issue happens to about one out of every hundred thousand or so. At this point I was still very willing to work with them and give them a chance to sort everything out before I initiated my own Rage-Mode. They had my car for another two days while they replaced the transmission (As they said GM required for this issue....?) after that debacle I picked up my working Sonic and was once again a happy camper.
So, driving my Sonic "off the lot" for the second time, it had accumulated about 25 miles before it's first major repair. Giddy to have my car back, I scooped up my aforementioned friend and we headed out for an adventure. We drove roughly 300 miles that night, and on our way back home I was struck with awe and disappointment. About 10 miles from home I get the exact same issue that I was having before, the gear lever is only engaging second gear and I am once again stranded in my basically brand new vehicle. More in shock than angry at this point, I hit my OnStar button since the dealer is closed and request a tow. After waiting over two hours for the truck, he tows us to a gas station before hitting the dealership. On the way into the station, he takes out a yellow safety pole with the bed of his truck. So now shocked, upset, AND terrified, we make our way to the dealership where the tow truck driver ungraciously lowers my car into the lot with a thud and drives off with a "Ya'll have a good night now! HURR HURR" (seriously, he made those noises) My friend and I walk back to our houses and I get a ride from him first thing in the morning to wait at the dealership for the first available employee. The first person there is the sales manager that I had already worked with during my initial purchase, he is excited to greet me, until he realizes why I am here. Apparently disgusted with the way my first new car experience has been thus far he assures me that I will be getting a brand new Sonic and not the one that I am having all these issues with. So the dealer locates another LTZ in Summit White and starts to arrange a transfer, but apparently no-one had ever even worked on a Sonic at their location, and after some poking around they realized that the issue was stupid simple. They realigned the shifter cable and even fabricated a custom bracket to hold it in place just to assure it wasn't my noobiness being too rough on the thing and popping the cable out of place by throwing the shifter back too hard.
After everything was said and done, I ended up with a free window tint and a car that I love!
The Sonic is my new baby, I've not had it a month yet, and already I am pushing 3k miles. I have devoted hours to detailing and the like, which I would have never been found doing on either of my previous vehicles. I am beginning to mod thanks to everyone on this forum. The ideas and information shared here is amazing and has really encouraged me to take proper care of my car and push its limits at the same time.
So after making you all read such a wall of text, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for making this community such a helpful and welcoming place.
I look forward to getting to know you all and seeing what we can do to these little cars!
I recently posted some pictures of my Sonic in the SoTM thread, before that I lurked around for a few months as I pondered what my first new car would be.
I had a 94' Bronco which I drove into the ground. It was helpful in teaching me how to do the basics. Replacing brakes, changing my own oil, and the like. I also had to rebuild the back end completely (I had MUCH help with this from my dad who used to be a mechanic). Even after all of my abuse, the thing runs great and is pushing 200k miles as the family beater.
I had originally planned on a VW GTI MK6, but the early demise of my second vehicle, a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport (Radiator literally exploded) forced me into a cheaper option. Having already done tons of research before deciding on the GTI, I knew that at my current price point the Chevy dealership was where I would be headed to test-drive a Sonic. After the test drive I put my money down on the spot.
That's where things get bad.
I had driven my Sonic off the lot and straight home (about 4 miles total). I had planned on scooping up a friend and just going on an adventure in my new car, little did I know there was already another adventure in the works. I took the car home and let my dad go for a drive, he drove it about 15 miles, pushing it up to 105 and grinning like a little kid the whole time. We get back home and I tell him I'm off for the night. I go around the block and pick up my buddy and we proceed to exit the neighborhood and get on the main street leading to the highway. At this point I was still babying the hell out of this car, I learned to drive stick on the test drive and I was still very new so I was taking things extremely easy. I managed to get a mile and a half away from my house before I could no longer engage any gear other than second...
So I pull over and call the dealership. Shocked that I was stranded a mere 30 minutes after driving off the lot they send someone to check it out assuming that since I am new to stick that I have just scared myself into thinking something was wrong. Unfortunately this was not the case. When the salesman got there he hopped in and fiddled with the gear lever for a minute before getting out with a look on his face of pure devastation. He told me that something was wrong and that he had no idea what it was. He proceeded to call a tow truck and have my brand new Sonic towed back to the dealership. Once we were there I was issued a rental car and told that they would troubleshoot what had gone wrong and call me in the morning. Despite all the raging and "advice" offered from my family to demand a new car I let the dealer do there thing and see what was going on. I got a call the next morning saying that the shift tower had a loose nut that caused the shift cable to come loose from its bracket. They said GM had issued them some sort of paperwork on the matter, and that this issue happens to about one out of every hundred thousand or so. At this point I was still very willing to work with them and give them a chance to sort everything out before I initiated my own Rage-Mode. They had my car for another two days while they replaced the transmission (As they said GM required for this issue....?) after that debacle I picked up my working Sonic and was once again a happy camper.
So, driving my Sonic "off the lot" for the second time, it had accumulated about 25 miles before it's first major repair. Giddy to have my car back, I scooped up my aforementioned friend and we headed out for an adventure. We drove roughly 300 miles that night, and on our way back home I was struck with awe and disappointment. About 10 miles from home I get the exact same issue that I was having before, the gear lever is only engaging second gear and I am once again stranded in my basically brand new vehicle. More in shock than angry at this point, I hit my OnStar button since the dealer is closed and request a tow. After waiting over two hours for the truck, he tows us to a gas station before hitting the dealership. On the way into the station, he takes out a yellow safety pole with the bed of his truck. So now shocked, upset, AND terrified, we make our way to the dealership where the tow truck driver ungraciously lowers my car into the lot with a thud and drives off with a "Ya'll have a good night now! HURR HURR" (seriously, he made those noises) My friend and I walk back to our houses and I get a ride from him first thing in the morning to wait at the dealership for the first available employee. The first person there is the sales manager that I had already worked with during my initial purchase, he is excited to greet me, until he realizes why I am here. Apparently disgusted with the way my first new car experience has been thus far he assures me that I will be getting a brand new Sonic and not the one that I am having all these issues with. So the dealer locates another LTZ in Summit White and starts to arrange a transfer, but apparently no-one had ever even worked on a Sonic at their location, and after some poking around they realized that the issue was stupid simple. They realigned the shifter cable and even fabricated a custom bracket to hold it in place just to assure it wasn't my noobiness being too rough on the thing and popping the cable out of place by throwing the shifter back too hard.
After everything was said and done, I ended up with a free window tint and a car that I love!
The Sonic is my new baby, I've not had it a month yet, and already I am pushing 3k miles. I have devoted hours to detailing and the like, which I would have never been found doing on either of my previous vehicles. I am beginning to mod thanks to everyone on this forum. The ideas and information shared here is amazing and has really encouraged me to take proper care of my car and push its limits at the same time.
So after making you all read such a wall of text, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for making this community such a helpful and welcoming place.
I look forward to getting to know you all and seeing what we can do to these little cars!
