Chevy Sonics...any good?

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
The majority & core engineering of Sonic is Korean.

Irregardless its a pure wild card on low upkeep & worry free reliability with IMHO with the 1.4 turbo. My guess a wonderful engine to drive.

Competition does offer similar MPG in non-turbo simple motors.

Its great so many choices offered.


My >>200k mile turbo vehicles would state otherwise.

And the torque of the 1.4 makes it unlike any of the other engines that offer "similar" economy, IMO. What? No need to take it to 6500 RPM to make some power???!? Wow.

Makes it easier to get higher consistent MPGs.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
The majority & core engineering of Sonic is Korean.

Irregardless its a pure wild card on low upkeep & worry free reliability with IMHO with the 1.4 turbo. My guess a wonderful engine to drive.

Competition does offer similar MPG in non-turbo simple motors.

Its great so many choices offered.


The 1.4T is a very frugal and fun engine. I'm not lacking for power when it's needed, and it's been getting me 44-45 mpg lately driven conservatively.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

My >>200k mile turbo vehicles would state otherwise.



Invalid comparison, likely wrong decades(s), brand and engine size, configuration. I was referring to 1.4L GM turbo as a wildcard. Hoping for the best.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: DemoFly
If I can't say anything nice, I won't say anything at all.


You kinda just did with that remark..

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: JHZR2

My >>200k mile turbo vehicles would state otherwise.



Invalid comparison, likely wrong decades(s), brand and engine size, configuration. I was referring to 1.4L GM turbo as a wildcard. Hoping for the best.


And who did GM steal from regarding turbo engines? Saab. So they had access to some of the best automotive engineering regarding turbo engines. Saab turbo engines are generally long-lived engines. If somebody knew how to do a turbo engine, it was Saab.

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^good point. Saab had that one right, their turbo'd motors seem to hold up well. But I seriously doubt the general needs any powertrain help!

That lil 1.4 is a powerhouse, and I bet the Sonic is fun because of it.

 

[sciphi]

If I were to get a Sonic, I'd get the 1.4T version. Better performance and fuel economy. Looking at the fuel economy stickers of the Cruzes with the 1.8 and 1.4T, the 1.4T is definitely the more fuel-efficient engine.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
If I were to get a Sonic, I'd get the 1.4T version. Better performance and fuel economy. Looking at the fuel economy stickers of the Cruzes with the 1.8 and 1.4T, the 1.4T is definitely the more fuel-efficient engine.


Yes. I agree. I just don't see why the 1.8 is even offered. I think that engine should be dropped from the lineup.

 

[afoulk]

Well, I went with the used 2012 Scion XB I was looking at, signed the papers tonight, picking it up tomorrow after work so I can get my satelite radio out of my old Scion. I really like the Sonics, I just don't think it would be big enough for us. My wife likes them too, so that might possibly be her next car since its usually just her in it anyways.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: afoulk
Well, I went with the used 2012 Scion XB I was looking at, signed the papers tonight, picking it up tomorrow after work so I can get my satelite radio out of my old Scion. I really like the Sonics, I just don't think it would be big enough for us. My wife likes them too, so that might possibly be her next car since its usually just her in it anyways.



I'm surprised that you are going to take another chance with an essentially identical car to the one you've have problems with....

I've been to Palmyra and years ago did a segment on the Palmyra girls HS tennis team for WGAL TV on "Susquehanna People".... nice small town.

 

[SLCraig]

I want to like that car but it looks too much like the tragic POS Aveo that I could even bring myself to own one. I am sure it's fine but that resemblance is just horrifying.

 

[cptbarkey]

for a small hatchback, the sonic is OK. I would compare the Prius C on the high end, and the 2012 Hyundai Accent instead personally.

 

[surfstar]

We could turn this into another BITOG financial advice thread, but really, I'm just curious why you're going from 2011 to 2012 Scions? If you picked up a manual this time, then I completely understand!

 

[afoulk]

I'm hoping it was just a fluke thing. I've never heard of an valve issues with these engines before. Only bad I've heard about them is the water pumps leaking, no big deal to me, and the head bolts rotting out, but I'm guessing thats just from cooling system neglect, and I plan on changing coolant every 2-3 years to try and avoid that. I really love the room these cars offer and I love the way they drive, so its hard for me to move onto something else, especially when the Chevy Sonics are still kind of an unknown yet from a reliability stand point. This was exactly what I was looking for before I bought the first one, so we will see how it goes. Fingers crossed

 

[afoulk]

I went with the 2012 because its exactly what I wanted before I bought the 2011, weren't any used ones like I wanted at the time, and there was a shortage of new ones due to the Tsunami that hit Japan. Its only costing me $7 a month between the cost of the car and the insurance,and I wasn't that far into the loan payments on the 2011 that I'll be paying on this one much longer, so it seemed like a win win situation. I'm just going to do like i mentioned above and keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't develope the same valve tap issue.

 

[Dakota1820]

i personally liked the sonic but agree with the small car issue. nice to drive around but not good for long trips. if i wanted a small car id look at the sonic then hyundai and maybe the focus. also dont forget guys dodge will have the new dart soon and it looks pretty good. i hope you get good service from your scion!

 

[afoulk]

Hopefully better than the last one. I'm loving the color though (Army Rock Metallic), reminds me of a 50's color. I think it will look good with what I want to do wheel wise, paint the stock steelies red, put chrome trim rings on the wheels, chrome bullet style hub caps, and chrome lug nuts along with wide white wall tires. I've seen a few like this in other colors and think it looks good on the XB's, although this is a long ways off for me.
Those new Darts do look pretty cool, especially the SRT4 version they showed in Motortrend a couple months ago. I'm glad they brought the name back, much better than Neon or Caliber in my opinion

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: afoulk
How are these things holding up, any common issues with them?


They are too new to judge!

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: afoulk
How are these things holding up, any common issues with them?


They are too new to judge!

That is why so many people are afraid to buy them.

Most of the other Chevy cars of this size were really awful.

 

[otis24]

The Sonic, to my understanding, has the same engine as the Cruze.