I'm a 74 yr old male who has been interested in cars since before i could drive. (more than 60 years) I love the idea of what the Sonic should be and i've followed its progress from the time i first knew it was going to be produced. If i had to use one word to to discribe how i now feel about the car after seeing it I'd have to say CHEAP (really cheap) It's a major disapointment. I want, so much, to like the car that i will look at it again but i don't see how it can compare to a Civic or Accord. I know they're different types of cars but in quality,bang for the buck, i'd have to go with a civic Si.
My Impression of the Sonic
- Thread starter ronarn
- Start date
TravsSonic
New member
hmm... our little sonic isn't getting tons of ringing endorsements
Thanks... for recommending a $22k+ Civic Si over a $14-17k Sonic.
If you are going to compare this car to something, make it apples to apples- put it against other cars in its segment. Yaris, Fit, Versa, Accent, Rio, Fiesta, Mazda2, etc. I think we all know that it's not going to be of the same quality as a Civic Si or Accord that costs $5-7k more.
A base model Civic is close in price, but they are weak in styling and are boring to drive. I'd prefer a Fit over it.
If you are going to compare this car to something, make it apples to apples- put it against other cars in its segment. Yaris, Fit, Versa, Accent, Rio, Fiesta, Mazda2, etc. I think we all know that it's not going to be of the same quality as a Civic Si or Accord that costs $5-7k more.
A base model Civic is close in price, but they are weak in styling and are boring to drive. I'd prefer a Fit over it.
Sonic Civic comparison
i agree that the base civic is boring but styling is subjective and i like the looks of the civic coupe..I also agree with most here that the sonic is more cutting edge in every way but how will it hold up over time? I like the Sonic and hope it turns out to be a great car. (we know that the Honda fit is a great car)
i agree that the base civic is boring but styling is subjective and i like the looks of the civic coupe..I also agree with most here that the sonic is more cutting edge in every way but how will it hold up over time? I like the Sonic and hope it turns out to be a great car. (we know that the Honda fit is a great car)
well to bad they aren't making the cobalt ss any more bc thats in the same segment as the civic si and of course blows the civic si out of the water in the performance category....but yeah the sonic is in a sub-compact and way cheaper then the little overrated civic.
it may be close in price, but in a base model civic you get no air conditioning and no radio.
SeattleSonic
New member
Went to the gym today and parked next to a shiny red Corvette. 4 people came outside to check out the Sonic, and they loved it! Funny watching the Sonic getting more attention over the sexy Corvette. haha
Well, I have news for you. With the exception of the seats, the Honda Fit Sport is every bit as nice as the Civic in many ways.
Having said that, I'm yet to see a Sonic, but hope Chevy hasn't lowered the standards they've worked to build for the rest of it's fleet the last few years or so, only because the Sonic is a supposed "econo-box." I was hoping for a little better quality than the Honda Fit, Civic, or any of the rest of the sub-compacts on the market.
Personally, I think the Honda Fit Sport is way over priced at $17,000.00+, and the Civic even more costly for what you get, or, do not get.
I still look forward to a little better quality in a sub-compact... and thought GM was the manufacturer to do it. Some of the commentary I'm hearing isn't exactly giving me a lot of continued hope in the quality department.
Then again, different people have sometimes widely varying expectations. Guess I just need to see and drive one for myself.
Not news... I've test driven the Fit, and liked it a lot. It was fun to drive- way more fun than the Veloster I test drove the other day. It could use a touch more power, and you are right about the Sport pricing- most of the ones I saw on the lot were touching $20k. If the Sport had an uprated engine making around 140hp it would be a more attractive option. Heck, just grab the 1.8 from the Civic and drop it in there! The MPGs wouldn't even suffer that much.
Well, my Fit Sport has a great little engine... Honda could't have possibly done a better job on this engine, considering what it is. If you know how to drive it you can get a lot out of it... and I do! Even the transmission behaves as it should. And, when using "manual mode" with paddle shifters it's almost like having two cars in one.
Still, if Honda had offered remote start, heated seats (or at least a heated driver seat) and sunroof with the other options available on the Sport model, I wouldn't be even looking at the Sonic now.
Drop a K-series engine in the Fit Sport and believe me, for what it's worth, you'd have yourself one bad@$$ little ride. Fuel economy would definitely NOT suffer as a result.
Just for the record... I'm no self-blinding, at-all-cost, Honda enthusiast either. Honda makes a fine engine... that's generally and usually where I jump off of the Honda bandwagon.
troll much? lol well yeah they do make good cars/engines(but a little overrated tho) but the ecotec is one of the most underrated motors around(www.gmtunersource.com/racertech/ecotec-build-book, yeah check this out GM is freaking bad ass for release stuff like this for the tuners)............i love my little 2k6 cobalt L61 manual 5speed coupe.........i get 28-30 city and 38-40 hwy, also paid half as much as a civit si and i still smoke them and pretty much any other 4 banger that's not force injected under the rug from a dig or any speed at that matter. i'd hate to get rid of it but i'm stuck with also a 2k9 jeep KK i bought for my ex and no one is buying9i'll wait a few months after the permanent fund dividends have been released to see if i could get it sold then) but i'll prob have to trade both of them in just to get under just one car payment a month.
chevyguy
New member
wow you took the words right out of my mouth I totally agree with you....you know the old saying you get what you pay for this is a subcompact and a very nice looking one as for how it will hold up time will tell like every other car that comes out.....One thing the Sonic has that none of the other have its American true blue red white and blue and for that its priceless.....I'll get off my soap box now
2012 Sonic--a great little car
I have to say I liked the Chev. 5 door hatchback just from seeing it on the web.
I also own a 2011 Chev. Cruze LT 1.4t, which is a keeper for me. I turned in my leased 08 Buick Enclave (big buick vehicle) to own the Cruze. Anyway, I was at the Chev. dealer getting my first oil change on the Cruze when my sales lady saw me and asked me if I wanted to see the LTZ 5 door hatchback Sonic. It was driven by a lady from GM doing business with the dealership, but she let me sit in it and start the engine. I didn't get to drive it.
I am 6'2" tall, and there is more than enough leg and head room for me. I told her after seeing the Sonic, "This is the vehicle that I am going to purchase next. This is the neatest little car. I love it".
So I am waiting until March to order it. I am hoping for the 1.4t to be offered with the LTZ auto. Holtz's web site says it will be offered later in the year 2012.
I have to say I liked the Chev. 5 door hatchback just from seeing it on the web.
I also own a 2011 Chev. Cruze LT 1.4t, which is a keeper for me. I turned in my leased 08 Buick Enclave (big buick vehicle) to own the Cruze. Anyway, I was at the Chev. dealer getting my first oil change on the Cruze when my sales lady saw me and asked me if I wanted to see the LTZ 5 door hatchback Sonic. It was driven by a lady from GM doing business with the dealership, but she let me sit in it and start the engine. I didn't get to drive it.
I am 6'2" tall, and there is more than enough leg and head room for me. I told her after seeing the Sonic, "This is the vehicle that I am going to purchase next. This is the neatest little car. I love it".
So I am waiting until March to order it. I am hoping for the 1.4t to be offered with the LTZ auto. Holtz's web site says it will be offered later in the year 2012.
chevyguy
New member
We went to our dealer to test drive a Cruze and when we got their we saw a Sonic parked in front so I have to say it was Love at first site.But we wanted to test drive both cars. And I did and have to say I enjoyed the Sonic a lot more not that the Cruze was bad it was that the Sonic was awesome and thousands less.So we went inside and placed an order for a Black 2LT sedan and now the waiting Grrrrrrrr I can't wait..... This is a second car for us we have a Chevy LTZ Malibu that we just Love.
AxelRipper
Member
We went to our dealer to test drive a Cruze and when we got their we saw a Sonic parked in front so I have to say it was Love at first site.But we wanted to test drive both cars. And I did and have to say I enjoyed the Sonic a lot more not that the Cruze was bad it was that the Sonic was awesome and thousands less.So we went inside and placed an order for a Black 2LT sedan and now the waiting Grrrrrrrr I can't wait..... This is a second car for us we have a Chevy LTZ Malibu that we just Love.
Same thing I did. Was down to between the Cruze ECO and a Sonic hatch. Being smaller, lighter, and cheaper with the same engines I chose the Sonic. Those things are a blast to drive! And I'm in the same boat as you playing the waiting game.
Trolling? Absolutely not! Do you troll much, Cobalt "Fan Boy?"
This thread's conversation steered in the direction of the Civic Si and the Honda Fit. I own a Honda Fit Sport and have driven plenty of supposed "bad@$$" Civics, the Si included. So I offered my opinion.
If I were trolling I wouldn't have stated at the end of my post "I'm no self-blinding, at-all-cost, Honda enthusiast either. Honda makes a fine engine... that's generally and usually where I jump off of the Honda bandwagon."
Matter of fact, if I were all that enthused about Hondas I wouldn't own a Chevy and be looking to purchase another. I think this general hype going around over Hondas is extremely over-rated... especially now that I've actually owned one. After purchasing my first Honda -- considering all the rage for and hype over Hondas -- I was expecting to get up every morning, jump into my Honda, turn the ignition key and see God materialize on my dashboard!!!
Aside from all of that, reading comprehension is also a wonderful thing... and sometimes actually required for knowledgeable and intelligently informed conversation and commentary!
chevyguy
New member
yeah well I come here to have fun not to play mind games so I say bla bla blaTrolling? Absolutely not! Do you troll much, Cobalt "Fan Boy?"
This thread's conversation steered in the direction of the Civic Si and the Honda Fit. I own a Honda Fit Sport and have driven plenty of supposed "bad@$$" Civics, the Si included. So I offered my opinion.
If I were trolling I wouldn't have stated at the end of my post "I'm no self-blinding, at-all-cost, Honda enthusiast either. Honda makes a fine engine... that's generally and usually where I jump off of the Honda bandwagon."
Matter of fact, if I were all that enthused about Hondas I wouldn't own a Chevy and be looking to purchase another. I think this general hype going around over Hondas is extremely over-rated... especially now that I've actually owned one. After purchasing my first Honda -- considering all the rage for and hype over Hondas -- I was expecting to get up every morning, jump into my Honda, turn the ignition key and see God materialize on my dashboard!!!
Aside from all of that, reading comprehension is also a wonderful thing... and sometimes actually required for knowledgeable and intelligently informed conversation and commentary!
Kind of boils down to your expectations and criteria now, doesn't it?
There are better handling small cars (Miata, Mini, or Fiat 500 to name a few). There are cheaper cars (Mazda2, Fiesta) and it shows. The Sonic falls somewhere in between in these categories. Doesn't make it a bad car, just different.
The base-model Civic I drove seemed soulless and bland. A perfectly capable car, but clearly one built to appeal to the largest market segment: people who want to get from point A to point B in comfort and efficiency. Honda has been building 'em for decades and sells a zillion of them, so they must be doing something right, but not the car for my warped desires.
The Fit I drove was incredible in that bigger-on-the-inside-than-it-is-on-the-outside effect for which it is rightly famous. But the engine felt -just- adequate and the brakes had a dead, feedback-free feel to them. Again, Honda sells these like beer at a Raiders game, so who am I to suggest that there's anything awful about the Fit?
Oh, and for the record, I've owned more Hondas than I can immediately count. They build a heck of a motorcycle, whether you're talking a Trail 90 or a Gold Wing. Their engineering and materials and quality are second to none. I just don't find any of their current offerings that meet my criteria.
The wife and I are looking for a compact hatchback that can swallow a short ton of crap from Home Despot or Target. She wants 40 mpg. I want sure-footed handling and great brakes and enough oomph to get out of the way of oncoming semis and inattentive stop sign runners. In addition to the aforementioned Hondas we've test driven the Mazda 2 and 3, the Ford Fiesta, and the Hyundai Veloster and Accent. For us there's no question that we'll end up with a Sonic (pretty much as soon as she can decide whether getting 40 mpg is more important to her than having an automatic transmission). The standard features list is impressive; the list price makes it a screaming bargain. For us, at least.
Every vehicle built is the result of innumerable decisions made by engineering and marketing, so what turns your crank doesn't necessarily mean that's what everyone else should want or need. Bickering or complaining over it is kind of pointless.
There are better handling small cars (Miata, Mini, or Fiat 500 to name a few). There are cheaper cars (Mazda2, Fiesta) and it shows. The Sonic falls somewhere in between in these categories. Doesn't make it a bad car, just different.
The base-model Civic I drove seemed soulless and bland. A perfectly capable car, but clearly one built to appeal to the largest market segment: people who want to get from point A to point B in comfort and efficiency. Honda has been building 'em for decades and sells a zillion of them, so they must be doing something right, but not the car for my warped desires.
The Fit I drove was incredible in that bigger-on-the-inside-than-it-is-on-the-outside effect for which it is rightly famous. But the engine felt -just- adequate and the brakes had a dead, feedback-free feel to them. Again, Honda sells these like beer at a Raiders game, so who am I to suggest that there's anything awful about the Fit?
Oh, and for the record, I've owned more Hondas than I can immediately count. They build a heck of a motorcycle, whether you're talking a Trail 90 or a Gold Wing. Their engineering and materials and quality are second to none. I just don't find any of their current offerings that meet my criteria.
The wife and I are looking for a compact hatchback that can swallow a short ton of crap from Home Despot or Target. She wants 40 mpg. I want sure-footed handling and great brakes and enough oomph to get out of the way of oncoming semis and inattentive stop sign runners. In addition to the aforementioned Hondas we've test driven the Mazda 2 and 3, the Ford Fiesta, and the Hyundai Veloster and Accent. For us there's no question that we'll end up with a Sonic (pretty much as soon as she can decide whether getting 40 mpg is more important to her than having an automatic transmission). The standard features list is impressive; the list price makes it a screaming bargain. For us, at least.
Every vehicle built is the result of innumerable decisions made by engineering and marketing, so what turns your crank doesn't necessarily mean that's what everyone else should want or need. Bickering or complaining over it is kind of pointless.
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