What is the word on the new Chevy Sonic? All I have so far is from a blurb in CR
1- Replaces the Aveo
2- Korean designed/US built(American built Daewoo wearing a bow tie?)
3- "Far more competative than the Aveo"
And info from the chevy website
1- Same engines as the Cruze, 1.8 and 1.4T
2- Transaxels, 1.8 gets a 5spd manual and the 6spd auto. 1.4T only gets a 6spd manual
This might be on my radar down the road.
The 1.4T intrigues me, but I don't think I trust small cars from the General enough to spend 16.8k.
That's 4k more than my (stripper) Mazda2. Expressed as a percentage, that's nearly 30%. I have a hard time imagining that I would like it 30% more.
I am excited about seeing how this car is but I am not holding my breath.
I have a friend who is anxiously awaiting their arrival. His current ride is a ratty, high mileage WRX wagon, that he bought new.
This can't end well...
FWD, 4 doors, no want here. The turbo has less HP than the old 2.2 Eco.
About a week ago, a Chevy dealer in Daytona Beach was advertising on CL that if you wanted to own a new Chevy Sonic that you should "drop on by". But of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they have them in stock, only that they would be glad to put you on a waiting list.
I've owned small cars from both the "General" and Ford. I owned a Vega that looked like it was assembled on a monday morning by workers with hangovers...or at least who were still concentrating on weekend of games. A Pinto that was the complete opposite of the Vega...so well screwed together that the only thing to fail in the 1st 40,000 miles was one filament in a parking/turning signal bulb. And a 1st gen. Fiesta that cost as much as the Pinto but was twice as much fun to drive.
If it was a case of Sonic versus current model Fiesta...I'd probably go with the Ford, as Ford seems to "get it" more than GM. The Sonic's big problem is that there are so many small cars to chose from that GM'S rep will play a part, as will dealer experience, and what customers "perceive" is a valuable car. Heck, I'd probably go with a Honda Fit before a Sonic, as I am currently a Civic owner.
GM, want the Sonic to suceed? Offer what the other companies can't/won't. If nothing else, more colors than GREY, SILVER, WHITE, and RED.
Tom Heath wrote: The 1.4T intrigues me, but I don't think I trust small cars from the General enough to spend 16.8k. That's 4k more than my (stripper) Mazda2. Expressed as a percentage, that's nearly 30%. I have a hard time imagining that I would like it 30% more.
14.T...the T stands for Third...as in "Youll love it a third more than your other car".
I think Sonic is the answer
I followed one into work this morning and was excited by the TURBO badge. The driver had a heavy foot and blasted away from me at the stop sign. There has been some information that I think was public concerning the chassis dynamic engineers being SCCA racers so there could be some handling potential
All I know is that Im excited to see another turbo car from the general. Theyre finally starting to get it. As much as I was upset to see them kill off Pontiac (damn the G8 was sek-c), I still very much like where this company is going. As excited as I am, I know the party poopers here are gonna start comparing it to the 89 skylark that had electrical problems they had in high school, and therefore, in their dim little minds, all GM stuff is crap. yay...I cant wait. The only guarantees in life are death, taxes, and GM hate. Let the GM griping commence...
I'm mainly interested in it because a friend works for GM.
Tom Heath wrote: The 1.4T intrigues me, but I don't think I trust small cars from the General enough to spend 16.8k. That's 4k more than my (stripper) Mazda2. Expressed as a percentage, that's nearly 30%. I have a hard time imagining that I would like it 30% more.
Really? A loaded, performance version of a similar size car with turbo, and 6 speed is more money than your stripper? How can that be?
Give the general credit, but I have no interest in a 4 door econobox no matter what how you dress it up. Make it a 2 door hatch and I'll buy 2 
I like it! Especially the manual transmission with turbo! But it's 2,789 pounds, that's not great for such a small car.
dculberson wrote: But it's 2,789 pounds, that's not great for such a small car.
Uh waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Dislike.
Zomby woof wrote:Tom Heath wrote: The 1.4T intrigues me, but I don't think I trust small cars from the General enough to spend 16.8k. That's 4k more than my (stripper) Mazda2. Expressed as a percentage, that's nearly 30%. I have a hard time imagining that I would like it 30% more.Really? A loaded, performance version of a similar size car with turbo, and 6 speed is more money than your stripper? How can that be? Give the general credit, but I have no interest in a 4 door econobox no matter what how you dress it up. Make it a 2 door hatch and I'll buy 2
The cheapest Mazda 2 I could find on the Mazda website started at $14,180 with a 100hp 1.5L engine, steel 15" wheels and a 5 speed manual, and only available as a hatch.
The cheapest Sonic hatchback I could find starts at $13,735 with a 138hp 1.8L engine, 15" aluminum wheels and a 5 speed manual. A sedan is available if that floats your boat.
If someone prefered an automatic transmission, upgrading both cars has the Sonic come in $200 under the 2, despite the Sonic having a 6 speed auto while the 2 gets a 4 speed.
The Mazda 2 does weigh a lot less though, apparently. Does anyone have concrete weight numbers for the Sonic? The only thing I've been able to find through a short google search is a competitive magazine's estimate of 2850lb and a lot of forum speculation of 2800lb despite it only weight 2400lb in France. Chevy's website had no info.
Bob
dculberson wrote: I like it! Especially the manual transmission with turbo! But it's 2,789 pounds, that's not great for such a small car.
all those mandatory airbags, ABS controllers, sound deadener, power window motors, and 200 watt stereo systems add weight..
i just bought my brother's '04 Cavalier. the dealer invoice that he gave me with it (he bought the car new) lists the shipping weight as 2695 pounds.. i'd think that GM's new "economy" sub compact car would weigh less than that.
hmm.. i wonder how the little turbo motor in the new Sonic would hold up against the 2.2 Ecoturd in my Cavvy.. i'd hope it's at least as fast and gets better fuel economy.. but more importantly- how hard is it to crank up the boost, and how much will it take before it starts breaking stuff..
but more importantly- how hard is it to crank up the boost, and how much will it take before it starts breaking stuff..
Being GM, I bet there will be warranty approved performance upgrades like the Cobalt SS
this is making me hungry.......
Sonic Upgrades here: http://www.katechengines.com/motor-sports/testimonials/scca-b-spec-sonic-cup/
The only opinion of the Sonic I have is based on the appearance. Seen a white sedan on the road with that test-drive dealer magnetized plate on it. To me, it looks like a new Aveo, but with the styling designs I see how it fits in with the Cruze's cues and lines. I personally do not care for the looks of it right now, but if I know myself, its that I'll end up coming around to it after my brother sparks some outta-this-world swap or concept for it haha 
Is it going to be silly tall like the Aveo?
And 2800lbs?! No thanks
If that is correct,then the Sonic and Fiesta will have the same lbs per hp.
I know they have already hacked the Cruze ECU to crank up the boost in its 1.4t, so I assume a similar hack will work with the Sonic. If it does, our Astra just might go away.
My problem is Chevy could make the Ubercar, and people would still call it crap. There are people that are just determined not to give it a chance. I'll wait and see how it pans out over a year first.
Chevy wants to make the Sonic sporty and fun to drive, which is the polar opposite of what every other small car maker is pushing. So good luck to the General, and if it's another Civic we will all be happy.
4cylndrfury wrote: I think Sonic is the answer
I agree!
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