Anybody happy with their sonic?

[rodslinger]

Still happy...

Owned it just a hair over two years now. Still looks, feels and drives like new for the most part. Cheap to maintain and still fun to drive.

So far it has been the opposite of everything I would have expected out of GM and that is a good thing.

 

[CheapFuneral]

Like my sonic but it could be better. I like my mpg but think they could be better actually. Cornering is ok. Turbo sound is fun. I think the sonic could be a much better car if gm tried harder. Could have closer 1-4 gears with same 5th and a higher 6th. Should have an option for a 2.0l turbo. Should be std 4 wheel disc brakes.

But over all it has been a great car, just could be better.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[94383Z71]

Like my sonic but it could be better. I like my mpg but think they could be better actually. Cornering is ok. Turbo sound is fun. I think the sonic could be a much better car if gm tried harder. Could have closer 1-4 gears with same 5th and a higher 6th. Should have an option for a 2.0l turbo. Should be std 4 wheel disc brakes.

But over all it has been a great car, just could be better.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

Problem with this gearing is it would likely reduce city MPG, as most of us drop into 6th at 35-45mph, which the lower end would not be possible with a higher 6th.

Of course there's always the option of a 7th gear (I would love a 7th gear to keep us ~1500rpm @ ~65mph) or space the bottom four out more (I would prefer 1st gear to be more akin to 2nd, 2nd more akin to 3rd, etc).

 

[CheapFuneral]

Problem with this gearing is it would likely reduce city MPG, as most of us drop into 6th at 35-45mph, which the lower end would not be possible with a higher 6th.



Of course there's always the option of a 7th gear (I would love a 7th gear to keep us ~1500rpm @ ~65mph) or space the bottom four out more (I would prefer 1st gear to be more akin to 2nd, 2nd more akin to 3rd, etc).

I like the 7th idea, but I disagree with your 6th position. 5th and 6th are currently to close. I almost never use 5th. I go from 4th to 6th.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[bvz]

I like the 7th idea, but I disagree with your 6th position. 5th and 6th are currently to close. I almost never use 5th. I go from 4th to 6th.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

Same here...

 

[Balsar]

I bought our Sonic for a different reason than most of you. The Sonic and the Honda Fit were the only two fully automatic transmission cars available in 2014 that can be towed behind an RV with all four wheels on the ground.

Also an auto enthusiast it didn't take me long after purschase to learn about the availability of the Trifecta tune. The car is a competitive econobox in this segment. However if you were smart enough to have bought the 1.4T...install Trifecta, it is amazing how differently the Sonics drives with 31 more HP and 49 more foot lbs. of torque. With the exception of the Focus ST, that can cost well over 25 grand, before taxes, the 170 HP "tuned" Turbo Sonic actually out powers the competition in this segment! So far, I'm a very happy owner.


2014 Sonic Hatchback
2006 BMW 550I
2005 Monaco Diplomat
1940 Ford Tudor Sedan

 

[94383Z71]

I like the 7th idea, but I disagree with your 6th position. 5th and 6th are currently to close. I almost never use 5th. I go from 4th to 6th.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

How close fifth and sixth are is irrelevant in this discussion. If fifth is the same and sixth is any significant amount higher, you're going to lose city mpg (assuming you use it at 40mph and up like most) as you're going to raise the threshold where it is viable.

The more usable alternative would be to keep the overall spacing 1-5, but with first closer to the current second, fifth closer to the current sixth and sixth further out still, more for highway.

Of course this would be better for mpg but not sporty driving.

 

[CheapFuneral]

How close fifth and sixth are is irrelevant in this discussion. If fifth is the same and sixth is any significant amount higher, you're going to lose city mpg (assuming you use it at 40mph and up like most) as you're going to raise the threshold where it is viable.



The more usable alternative would be to keep the overall spacing 1-5, but with first closer to the current second, fifth closer to the current sixth and sixth further out still, more for highway.



Of course this would be better for mpg but not sporty driving.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. If you accelerate in 6th at 40mph ur probably not getting as good gas mileage as you think. Cruising at 40 sure but ur putting in more gas to move forward at 40 in 6th than 5th. And if u moved 6th out 500-1000 rpm around 55-60 ur gas mileage would be better. Having closer 1-4 gears would give u better stop and go mileage because it makes it easier to accelerate, which is where the most gas is used. 5th staying the same will serve as an in between for town and highway, while 6th further out will give u better highway.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[Eric Smit]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. If you accelerate in 6th at 40mph ur probably not getting as good gas mileage as you think. Cruising at 40 sure but ur putting in more gas to move forward at 40 in 6th than 5th. And if u moved 6th out 500-1000 rpm around 55-60 ur gas mileage would be better. Having closer 1-4 gears would give u better stop and go mileage because it makes it easier to accelerate, which is where the most gas is used. 5th staying the same will serve as an in between for town and highway, while 6th further out will give u better highway.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

you are incorrect.

 

[bvz]

Huh. I would have thought he was correct. Having closer spaced gears improves fuel economy (the more gears you have, the more likely you are to be in the "correct" band of the engine's efficiency curve - if you get enough gears you eventually wind up with the same ratios as a cvt).

The other question as to whether you use more gas trying to accelerate way at the bottom of a gear vs. down shifting... I'm not sure. But I'm not sure it's incorrect either.

 

[ahtoxa]

Fuel efficiency isn't only about being in the highest gear possible. In some scenarios, you actually waste more fuel, because you'd not accelerating efficiently. During acceleration, you get the most bang for your buck (pun intended) by keeping the motor in its ideal powerband. This way you spend less time accelerating and do so in more energy-efficient way.

My method for saving gas is accelerating somewhat briskly staying in the power band. I want to get to my cruising speed as quickly as possible and as efficiently as possible, so I can 'shut 'er down' and cruise. The more time I spend cruising, the more gas I save, if you look at it from this perspective.

 

[SuperFudd]

I remember that Volvo, maybe 20 years ago, announced that accelerating briskly to cruising speed was more efficient than accelerating slowly.

 

[JamesMay]

I went a while regretting buying my Sonic. There are quite a few things that disappointed me, I've recently decided to give it another chance. It can be fun. I just really need a tune intake and cat back.

 

[J T]

2012 with 87,0000 + miles:

-drivers seat heater replaced three times
-left front suspension linkage replaced
-turbo charger replaced
-transmission replaced
-squeaky clutch repaired
-cracked/leaking vacuum on cam cover repaired
-faulty driver's door window sensor

Thank goodness for warranties.

I like my car, but I haven't been happy with the repair list. I guess that's what happens when you buy the first model year. My friends are already telling me I should sell it as soon as the warranty expires. This car might end up killing me financially if I don't.

 

[LorbeerTLC]

2012 Sonic LTZ Hatchback 1.4L 6spd Manual & Loving IT!

I bought my 2012 Sonic LTZ Hatchback 1.4L 6spd manual w/factory sunroof, brand-new back on December 15, 2011, and I absolutely Love it!!
I've owned 10 cars in the past and this has been without a doubt the BEST car I have ever had!
It hasn't given me any problems and I would definitely recommend one to a friend!
I currently have 47,000 miles and the only modifications were a trailer hitch for my bicycles, permanent luggage rack (which looks like factory-made), and a set of gauges (water temp, oil press, & voltmeter) that I had installed a few weeks ago.
I've taken it cross-country from the West coast to the East coast, the Toronto, Canada area, down to Key West, Florida, to Southern California and back to the Pacific Northwest with 3 people, a dog, and luggage (that alone put about 10,000 miles on the odometer). The transmission is one of the smoothest I've ever had!
I would definitely buy one again!

 

[CheapFuneral]

I bought my 2012 Sonic LTZ Hatchback 1.4L 6spd manual w/factory sunroof, brand-new back on December 15, 2011, and I absolutely Love it!!

I've owned 10 cars in the past and this has been without a doubt the BEST car I have ever had!

It hasn't given me any problems and I would definitely recommend one to a friend!

I currently have 47,000 miles and the only modifications were a trailer hitch for my bicycles, permanent luggage rack (which looks like factory-made), and a set of gauges (water temp, oil press, & voltmeter) that I had installed a few weeks ago.

I've taken it cross-country from the West coast to the East coast, the Toronto, Canada area, down to Key West, Florida, to Southern California and back to the Pacific Northwest with 3 people, a dog, and luggage (that alone put about 10,000 miles on the odometer). The transmission is one of the smoothest I've ever had!

I would definitely buy one again!

Nice gauge pod where did u get it?


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Nice gauge pod where did u get it?


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

Thanks!
I got it at Auto Meter. Here's the links for the pod and gauges:
Auto Meter
Auto Meter - Gauges

 

[MaD]

I just hit 4400 miles and still love driving my car, have not had any issues other than last Thursday 10-30-14 someone merged into me on the drivers side.. :blankface: Its not like you cant see my car or color.... but the body shop says no major damage and should be a easy fix and some repaint...

 

[bvz]

Ugh. Sorry to hear that.

About one month after I got mine I was side-swiped by a bus. First new car I have ever owned (and I'm almost 50) and the first time I have ever been in an accident since I was 18. Figures.

My body shop did an amazing job and you wouldn't ever know anything ever happened no matter how close you look. Good luck with yours!

 

[MaD]

Thanks, the shop Im going to is really good, they fixed up my Pathfinder and my wifes SLK230 so I have high hopes This is also my first brand new car.. 11 miles on the OD and trip