Help me decide!

[Sonic skeptical]

I am looking at a 2012 sonic LTZ 1.8 5speed hatchback 6kmiles. Minor accident clean title. Should I buy this car!?!! I see good and bad reviews. wtf I can't decide with all these back and forth reviews. Opinions please!

 

[krakenredbeard]

Do yourself a huge favor. 1.4t

Favor number 2 6mt

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I agree with the 1.4t

As far as the 6mt, do you plan on any mods? If so how much power you can get out of your tune and mods will be limited by the stock clutch. There are aftermarket clutches and flywheels available so it shouldn't be a complete deal breaker.

 

[Eric Smit]

the 1.8 is a perfectly capable engine.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

the 1.8 is a perfectly capable engine.

Unless you plan on modding. Then the 1.4t is the much better engine to have.

 

[Eric Smit]

depends on how deep your pockets are. considering he's considering a used 1.8 manual, I'm guessing being inexpensive is a selling point. the 1.4 is way more than $700 more used.

 

[Sonic]

You will be on here in two months or less wishing you had saved a little bit more and gotten a 1.4 with the manual tranny.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

depends on how deep your pockets are. considering he's considering a used 1.8 manual, I'm guessing being inexpensive is a selling point. the 1.4 is way more than $700 more used.

Yes, but...
If sonic skeptical wants to do mods and get large changes in power, the 1.4t is the way to go. He/she (don't know which) may want to look for a LT with a 1.4t to offset the extra cost of the turbo. Adding 17" rims, fog lights, leatherette heated seats etc. can all be done to a LT at a later date. Swapping the 1.8 for the 1.4t isn't nearly that easy.

Lots of things to think about.

 

[Sonic skeptical]

It's a random vehicle I found on car guru. I am seeking a commuter car. Nothing fun to drive as my 2009 jeep grand Cherokee srt 8 6.4 L hemi provides me with all the fun I need. I am skeptical about it's reliability. Though u will have a 5 year bumper to bumper via toco. Just skeptical I will be getting towed twice a week. I eat a lot of whining about this vehicles durability. I appreciate your responses! Thanks guys.

 

[Sonic skeptical]

****ing auto correct

 

[Blue hedgehog]

If your looking for a strictly point A to B car. The 1.8 should be fine. Both engines are reliable.

I would still recommend taking both for a test drive though. Have a few hills and curves in the test drive. You will notice a difference in the power on the hills. The 1.4t has more torque down low. They both have 138hp stock. Also the 1.4t gets better gas milage if you don't beat on it. I say have curves because the sonic is a fun car to drive believe it or not.

 

[Sonic skeptical]

I take it you drive one?

 

[Stencil]

Having driven both, the 1.4L is smoother, gets better mileage (6 speed helps that), and is far cheaper to mod on a HP per $$ basis. Go with a 1.4T if you're gonna keep it!

 

[Eric Smit]

we almost all drive one. this is the owner's forum.

and we have a lot of high miles early run cars with no issues.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I take it you drive one?

Yes. I test drove both. There was a long hill on the test drives. Between the power differences and the extra gas milage the 1.4t was a no brainer for me. It wasn't till after I had my car that I realized how fun it was to toss into the turns.

I haven't done any engine mods yet though. Hopefully soon. A few more weeks I think.

 

[Sonic skeptical]

well **** my ass i guess ill just find a turbo.

 

[rwnoutlaw]

I have a 2012 LS with 1.8 and auto trans and it is a good reliable car for commuting


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[krakenredbeard]

I think most got this car wanting a small reliable car don't think many expected the fun part until after the test drive lmao.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Turbo turbo turbo!! That is all!! :banana:

 

[Swordsmith]

I agree with the 1.4t

As far as the 6mt, do you plan on any mods? If so how much power you can get out of your tune and mods will be limited by the stock clutch. There are aftermarket clutches and flywheels available so it shouldn't be a complete deal breaker.

I was the first Sonic owner to do the full alcohol conversion; Trifecta refused to allow full power on the stock clutch, saying it would not hold. I got a prototype aftermarket clutch and burned it out, replaced it with another and burned it out, replaced that with the stock clutch and have been using that for ten months now of heavy driving and hard pulls. I even had the turbo upgraded so I am getting more power than that original 'Trifecta Red Pill'... the one where I wasn't allowed to have the stock clutch.. could dream of providing.

I think the whole "limited by the stock clutch" thing might be a little overblown. Better yet, starting in 2014 Chevy put a slightly uprated clutch in themselves.

An aftermarket clutch might still be nice, particularly a lighter flywheel... but it isn't something that should count against anyone thinking of getting the 6mt.