Why did you buy a Sonic?

[attrapereves]

My 2000 BMW 323 died on me. Again. An hour from home. Trying to leave town for a weekend away with my wife. $1000 fuel pump. $300 tow.

My wife, who had been making a (clearly valid) case to get rid of that car for over two years, said nothing. Not a peep. Total silence on the subject.

So, obviously, I knew it was time for a change.

I only own German cars. And I always buy used. Both of these traits are non-negotiable for me. I like how those cars feel and sound and smell. So I started thinking about what used Audi or VW or Mercedes I would be buying next.

But a funny thing happened. Trying to complete our short weekend away, I wound up renting the cheapest car I could find the next morning. It was a Sonic LT 1.8 automatic sedan. I hopped in, put on my very best holier than thou sneer, declared the car to be a cheap POS, and drove it for the next two hours...

...and the impossible became possible. I liked it. It wasn't a POS at all. In fact, I kind of couldn't stop thinking about it even as I was supposed to be admiring the scenery. Now, don't get me wrong. It was no BMW. But it really liked going around curves. The steering was tight, and the handling quite nimble. And the mileage was pretty good. Finally, even though I am a hatchback person (my bimmer is a wagon) I really liked the way the car looked. Especially the nose. Reminded me of the little Volvo s40 mixed with some mid 80's BMW.

Well, it all kind of fell apart for me from then on. I looked for a reasonable used car but my heart wasn't into it. I spent a lot of time reading up on the Sonic even though I had no intention of buying one. I lurked here for a bit and then starting asking questions.

Then one weekend I test drove a bunch of cars. One by one they fell to the Sonic. The Fit was too buzzy and loud, the Fiesta too cramped. The Focus (slightly used at 3K miles) had a really clunky front suspension and was already rattling and flexing over railroad tracks. The Golf... well I liked the Golf the best but it couldn't compete price wise with the Sonic.

Finally, I am originally from Detroit and my folks still live there so the idea that it is built in MI with union labor was another big plus. Now I will buy the car that appeals to me the most, but if I can find one built domestically, then double win for me.

So I bought a 2013 Inferno Orange LTZ 1.4T 6MT 5 door with 23 miles on it for an unbelievably low price (special shout out to Maita Chevrolet who were simply amazing and easy to work with). I put about 200 miles on it and then my brother in law came out to visit and has it for the week (I never drive during the week anyway and now he is breaking it in for me - and he is a super considerate gear head so I know he will do it right).

My BMW will leave this car in the dust in a straight line and around corners. My BMW is more comfortable. My BMW has a lot higher quality materials in it. But I can't wait to sell it because the Sonic is more fun to drive, easier to park, better looking, safer, gets better gas mileage, WAY more exotic here in San Francisco (people have stopped and asked me what I am driving), doesn't make me feel like I am a total douche because of the car I drive, and won't keep "cheating" on me by spending more time with my mechanic than with me.

And in about 7 years when it comes time to trade it in, after I will have only put just about 36K miles on it, it should have a decent enough resale.

Well done Chevy. Hope this is a fruitful, long, and enjoyable relationship.

I sold a '92 300D Benz a few years ago. I kind of regret selling it, but it was staring to have some suspension problems. The engine was in tip top shape though.

 

[bvz]

I sold a '92 300D Benz a few years ago. I kind of regret selling it, but it was staring to have some suspension problems. The engine was in tip top shape though.

Yeah, the older German cars (maybe VW's excepted) were bulletproof. I had an old 88 528e that I drove for nine years and close to 120,000 miles (from 100K to 218K) without incident. Finally sold it because it needed a clutch, brakes, tires, and exhaust. But nothing ever went wrong with that car. Long after my current bimmer is dead and gone I suspect that one will still be running.

Still miss it.

 

[$ub$onic]

I sold a '92 300D Benz a few years ago. I kind of regret selling it, but it was staring to have some suspension problems. The engine was in tip top shape though.

I love 300d's! My ford ranger has the diesel out of one

 

[attrapereves]

I love 300d's! My ford ranger has the diesel out of one

Yeah, in retrospect the repair bills weren't too much. Maybe $500/year. Some other things started going wrong with the car. The sunroof stopped working, the radio was glitchy, and the automatic lock vacuum system was leaky. The whole car ran on a vacuum system that must have had a leak somewhere. Despite these issues, the engine never had problems.

It was an excellent car, I just needed something more reliable for college. My parents purchased it new and gave it to me in 2008 with around 115,000 miles. I put about 50,000 on it in three years before selling it and buying a more reliable, but boring Corolla.

The car was slow as molasses, but drove so smooth. Even at 85mph on the highway, it drove like it was only going 20.

I'd love to own another one. If I could find a good, clean 1980s 300D, I'd snatch it up quick.

 

[$ub$onic]

Had a 1982 300d. 350k miles. Ran great. The vacuum systems are easy once you understand them. Good car but rusted out

 

[jspeer1130]

The modded TJ Rubicon I owned was no longer practical for me. My needs changed quite a bit: I moved to a different state, wanted to do road trips to places I can hike/MTB, etc. The gas mileage penalty of the Jeep was incredible, as much as I loved that thing. I am saving $200/month in gas. Much more when I take trips.

So when the time came to settle on a car, I wanted something that I could live with MPG-wise as well as something that's not a total dishwasher appliance. It also absolutely had to be a hatchback. The 1.4T was THE selling point. I would not have bought a Sonic if it wasn't for the 1.4T 6MT combo, even though I like the rest of the car very much.

I traded my 2007 JKU Rubicon in for the sonic on the 26th of October because I had invested 2K in repairs into it with less than 49K miles on it! I loved my jeep and if it was paid of I would have kept it but the chevy dealership gave me exactly what I paid for my jeep 4 years ago for trade, the payment is 129$ less a month and I get twice as many miles to the gallon!

 

[Clearboy]

I had to get away from my untrustworthy CTS, I wanted a Cruze Eco. My wife said get something fun that you will like, she pointed at a grey Sonic with blacked out rims. The next day I saw my mother, she said "get a red car you like those best". I found a red 6mt turbo LTZ about 1.5 hours from my home. I went there the next day and traded off my beloved CTS for the Sonic. I now have 5k miles on her and I am getting ready for its second oil change. I love that car.

 

[SouthFLSonic]

I now have 5k miles on her and I am getting ready for its second oil change. I love that car.

5K and getting a second oil change??

I have 40k + miles on my Sonic and had the oil changed like 4 times. Do you do nothing but stop and go traffic?? Even with that I can't see needing an oil change that frequently.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Hey Clearboy,

I am glad that you love your Sonic. If you're happy, I'm happy! Welcome to Sonic Owners Forum!

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[sx sonic]

5K and getting a second oil change??

I have 40k + miles on my Sonic and had the oil changed like 4 times. Do you do nothing but stop and go traffic?? Even with that I can't see needing an oil change that frequently.

It's not uncommon for people to do the first couple oil changes early to ensure all maching filings are removed as soon as possible.

I did my 1st at 500 mi, the second before 4k mi and now go 6-7k mi.

 

[Clearboy]

Yes that's how I did it. An oil change at about 750mi and after that I go about every 4k. I say about, sometimes I go over by a thousand or so. I was following the Sonic on line before they came out and was anxious to see what this made in my home state car would be like. I didn't want to spend all the money on a new car for me, but when my CTS went bad I had to switch. My family has always had good luck with GM cars purchased new. I do love my Sonic.

 

[scout62]

It was love at first sight with the RS seats. I knew I had to have them. The rest of the car was just a bonus.

 

[SuperFudd]

Why indeed!

First, why buy another car. I needed to replace my 20 year old rustic green Plymouth Sundance. Still in good shape, except for the rust, the dead A/C, the lack of heat, The crumbling head liner, the really bad brake fluid leak (kept the brakes well lubricated).
Also I fear the converter is converting poorly and would not pass smog in March and she was badly in need of shocks and struts. Still runs strong (ish) and the Auto tranny has never missed a beat, ever.
If I cold have found another Sundance brand new, especially at the original price, I would have got it but no such luck.
I considered new and slightly used Cruzes, Rangers, Rouges, Patriots, F150s, Fusions, Galants, Impalas...
Since I was interested in the cruze at the time the Sonic came out, I took notice of the "similar" Sonic and found this forum. I noticed the Sonic sedan was a fraction of an inch longer and wider and a couple of inches taller than the Sundance and was the closest to the Sundance concept, a quality functional fun small car.
You guys kept me focused (small f) on the Sonic most of the time. I might have got one 2 years ago but our obamination made that impractical and besides the Sundance wouldn't quit. Since it might not pass smog and the government is paying a thousand to scrap it and my local Chevy dealer was giving me $2,500 off on 2013 Sonics and besides being unemployed our financial situation improved a bit, We now have a Sonic. 8 days and I still LOVE it!

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I needed to replace my 20 year old rustic green Plymouth Sundance. Still in good shape,

I'm surprised your sundance lasted that long. I had a 93 dodge shadow, same car basically. What a POS. 4 motors and 3 transmissions in the 1st 12k miles. 1st and last My Old Pig Aint Running.

Just like many others have said... I wasn't planing to buy a sonic but...
I bought my Chews Heads Eats Valves Yearly sonic to replace my 99 Cheap Heap Every Valve Rocker Or Lifter Eventually Ticks tahoe (all kidding aside I like GM). The Tahoe was running fine but costing a fortune in gas for 1 person to drive. So we went to the dealerships looking for a new vehicle for my wife and I was going to take our 07 Buick rainier with DOD to save on the gas. Well the prices of the new SUVs were out of our price range. While at the chevy dealer they had a '12 1.8 5m hatch stripped on the floor for $14k. After sitting in it we decided to take a sonic for a test drive. We decided if we were going to get one it would be a 1.4t hatch with an auto because my wife doesn't know how to drive stick and for convieniance in traffic. We also test drove a civic and jetta tdi. If we were going to get a car for my commute it had to get good MPGs. The sonic was the best many for the buck. We got a '13 LTZ 1.4t hatch with an auto. Any of the other vehicles would have cost a lot more to get the same options. I know the jetta tdi is a different animal but I also wanted diesel. I love my sonic but still miss my Tahoe that I sold to my brother in law

 

[thephantomcheese]

Had a Dodge Nitro, but 16 MPG highway was getting old... My wife said "Find another car". Seems our Sonic Dusk found us when the dealer gave us $2000 off because it was a '14. Oh, and it drives great, too.

 

[Chuck Schick]

We wanted a gas saving car for the next 8-10 years. Kids getting driving age, college, commutes, safety, and price.

 

[wingnut]

I had an 87 volvo 240 wagon that I loved despite its age related faults that my mechanic refused to pass inspection wise due to rust, so I had to get something reasonably quick. Wanted a small economical car. Mostly interested in the Fit, but the Honda salespeople were jerks. Read up on the Sonic, found a IOM hatchback with the 1.4 and 6 spd manual, and the rest is history. I haven't had this much fun driving a car in years.

 

[cleverbot]

Right price
It was stick shift
It has a key fob
93 Toyota Tecel was way to low to ground. I live in the snow belt. It snowed 4 inches and the car would bottom out. ****ty 13inch tires. Not to mention the amount of oil it burned.
Time to move into a nicer none beater for once.

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

The real question is why would someone turn down a camaro for a sonic. It was the unexpected moment where when you saw the car you started to question the feeling you get just looking at it, wondering the possibilities of such a being that exists before you. You sit in it and it feels natural. The layout felt good and everything felt roomy despite it's size. The turbo badge in your mind screams mod me mod me. Have fun on the twisty bends and adventure to far off distances. It was heart breaking when the car isn't a stick like you wanted but it was the only one of it's kind in the dealership lot in the exact color and package setup. Still you have fallen in love with this strange new being you've never seen before. You immediately decide this is the car you want despite it not being fully what you wanted, completely swaying your decision away from the camaro you wanted previously. All of this happened because you took the first car you ever owned to get it's oil change and it was close to high school graduation. The same day you put 500 down on the car you had your sights on to prevent people from taking it while the sales rep brings a different one out on a test drive because you don't want to remove it from the show room floor until the keys are in your hands. You soon realize you want the car even more and even on that same day, you purchase the car in full with a big smile on your face because, you know deep down you love the strangely awing beauty you are about to take home. Now a part of the family the 2 hatches stand next to each other happy to know that one person loves them both.

Just an anecdote for the experience. I have no regrets on the car and love the little quirks it has major or minor.

 

[Fry]

So, this isn't a reason I bought my Sonic, but in retrospect, it would have been.

I love the fuel door on the passenger side.

I get my gas at Sam's Club, which is often cheapest or close enough that I don't mind. Often though, there's a line. But not for me! I can drive on the left side of the pumps, which are often empty. The only thing I ever have to wait in line for are the annoying folks who drive the wrong way into the one way lines in order to fuel their driver's side fuel door vehicles.

Those people are jerks. :blankface:

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