Card Holder?

[Sonic Boomer]

The Sonic has a "Card Holder" slot in the front and center of the dash just below the radio controls. I assumed it was for business cards, which seemed odd, but I don't pretend to keep up with every trend.

Today I was reading about the Sonic's controls and features and saw that it is intended for credit cards, which strikes me as even more odd.

I am in a pretty safe community, but I would never leave credit cards out in the open like that. Nor am I particularly happy to know my car might become a known as a good target for theft because there are often credit cards stored in it.

So, am I missing something or is GM missing something?

You can see a GM photo of it in use at the bottom of page 14 of this link:
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2012/GTK_2012_Sonic_22816420_A.pdf

 

[RockTheShazbot]

I was planning on using it as somewhere to put my credit card when I go through a drive thru

 

[LorbeerTLC]

I was planning on using it as somewhere to put my credit card when I go through a drive thru

My thoughts exactly!
Too many times I take my card out of my wallet in the drive thru, only to hastily put it anywhere after it's been scanned because it's being returned to me along with my food.
Now there's a designated spot for me to put it (I wonder how hard it'll be to clean the slot if stuff falls inside? Hmm…).

I also understand it's spring-loaded too *ka-SPRINNNNG!* "Heads Up back seat!"

 

[oldertech]

I was waiting for someone to talk about the credit card slot. Hopefully, it won't read the card and run up a tab!

 

[RichieRocket]

The Sonic has a "Card Holder" slot in the front and center of the dash just below the radio controls. I assumed it was for business cards, which seemed odd, but I don't pretend to keep up with every trend.

Today I was reading about the Sonic's controls and features and saw that it is intended for credit cards, which strikes me as even more odd.

I am in a pretty safe community, but I would never leave credit cards out in the open like that. Nor am I particularly happy to know my car might become a known as a good target for theft because there are often credit cards stored in it.

So, am I missing something or is GM missing something?

You can see a GM photo of it in use at the bottom of page 14 of this link:
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2012/GTK_2012_Sonic_22816420_A.pdf

Hey Sonic Boomer, there was thread about this a while back:
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t378/

Laborsmith said: "According to the Sonic review on GMInside News, it holds the credit card sized parking pass some gated parking areas use. It is spring loaded, so the card is held in place while driving, but apparently releases the card with a simple push."

Lots of people use a 'credit card sized' parking pass with magnetic strip to open the entrance/exit gates. My wife uses one for the parking garage where she works.

A potential problem with using a credit card is the raised letter/numbers. Would they jam up in the card holder spring mechanism? I haven't tried it out yet....come on Chevy, deliver the darn car it was built over 10 days ago!

 

[Sonic]

Same here!

 

[speedog]

I also understand it's spring-loaded too *ka-SPRINNNNG!* "Heads Up back seat!"

Back seat isn't in danger - from the other thread (What the heck is that slot for?)...

It's not "spring" loaded. If you take a flashlight and look inside (I did), you'll see a piece of very shiny metal coming down at a 45 degree angle away from you. It is to secure the object in the slot by means of pressure. There is no clicking or "pushing" to release the card. You simply put the card in and pull it out.

 

[laborsmith]

Since I repeated what the GMInsideNews reviewer reported, it has been brought to my attention it is not spring loaded.

Laborsmith

 

[oldertech]

Lots of people use a 'credit card sized' parking pass with magnetic strip to open the entrance/exit gates. My wife uses one for the parking garage where she works.

Makes perfect sense if the target market is young urbanites who park in garages with keycard access. They use a system like that where I work, even thought I don't use those parking areas.

 

[RichieRocket]

Since I repeated what the GMInsideNews reviewer reported, it has been brought to my attention it is not spring loaded.

Laborsmith

I believe it is spring loaded to squeeze the card so it doesn't fall out under the incredible turbo acceleration , but not spring loaded to shoot it out at the rear middle passenger...LOL!

 

[Sonic Boomer]

I was waiting for someone to talk about the credit card slot. Hopefully, it won't read the card and run up a tab!

When you insert the card and the radio display says PLEASE REMOVE CARD QUICKLY it is time to worry!

Actually, it would be kind of cool if you could program your radio to do this and have a subtle button to activate the message.
You could see how many people you could convince that you had leased the car by the mile with a "pay as you go" contract and had to swipe your card before it would run.

 

[jlslatton]

I believe it is spring loaded to squeeze the card so it doesn't fall out under the incredible turbo acceleration , but not spring loaded to shoot it out at the rear middle passenger...LOL!

Although that would have some mild entertainment value

 

[BoG233]

I used the card holder on the ware to Florida . Pull the card for pumping gas or for quick run through the drive through and the long term parking pass at the sea port we went to . It was quite handy .

 

[jeffreybd]

Found very useful on toll roads where a rate ticket is given. Perfect spot to keep the ticket until you come to the pay station!

 

[lezleena]

I use mine for my gym membership card... after never being able to keep track of it before now I always know where it is!!

 

[Eric Smit]

I use it for my military ID when I leave for work. That way, I don't cause additional congestion at the gate fishing my wallet out of one of my 63,341 pockets.


-Eric Smit

 

[SonicBoy24]

Lots of people use a 'credit card sized' parking pass with magnetic strip to open the entrance/exit gates. My wife uses one for the parking garage where she works.

That's what I dealer told me it was for.
I don't think that it is a common-enough necessity for it to be put in every car, but I understand how it comes in handy.

I use it for my military ID when I leave for work. That way, I don't cause additional congestion at the gate fishing my wallet out of one of my 63,341 pockets.


-Eric Smit

That's a lot of pockets.....


But I can't believe you guys that allow food in your cars. I'm going since Halloween and I'm still rocking that New-Car Smell, and I don't plan on letting any food or beverages spoil that until it goes away naturally.

 

[omniman]

mine holds my casino card.and my hotel room key when staying at one

 

[TheTruth]

Funny story... When I first got my Sonic, I was highly curious about that little slot as well. I was attempting to slide "something" in there to see how deep it went, just so happens that "something" was a condom... I got it stuck. I could get it out with a pair of needle nose or something, but I think it adds a personal touch to my interior. Besides, I wouldn't use that thing for holding credit cards anyway. At least now I'll always have an emergency back-up in my car.

 

[aamratcliffe]

I use it for my military ID when I leave for work. That way, I don't cause additional congestion at the gate fishing my wallet out of one of my 63,341 pockets.


-Eric Smit

I also use mine for my military ID makes it so much easier when pullin up to the gate. I also got a few people from work telling them the car has to read the chip in my card before it will start.