So what does everyone think?

[wbjones]

I don't see the point of having spark and sonic and cruze, once the Cruze adds a hatchback. The Cruze already gets the same or better mpg than the Sonic. The Spark is already massively cheaper and smaller. Getting rid of something makes sense.

I would prefer to see them get rid of the Spark (which seems lame to me, sorry, Spark owners), the Sonic Sedan (since you might as well have the Cruze), and cancel the Cruze HB (since folks who want a HB would probably prefer the lighter Sonic with the same engine)... but I will understand if that's not the way they go.

The Cruze is a much better seller than the Sonic.

I say all this despite the fact that I love the Sonic and would hate to see it go... hate it so much I'd probably abandon Chevy and get a Mazda or something.

the Sonic may be lighter, but even you just pointed out that the Cruze gets equal or better gas milage

 

[14SonicLTZ]

The only "small" car that gets any significant amout of advertising support is the Fiat 500.

And that doesn't sell even with all the ads. YTD for the 500 is only 22,615 - about 40% of the number of Sonics sold.

I'm not claiming that the Sonic will stay in production forever, but fretting over the fact that it isn't being advertised is a waste of time.

Most intelligent manufacturer's will spend money to promote vehicles that they make money on. That's why you see the ads for the trucks, SUV's and the Camaro.

Fiat is not an intelligent manufacturer. Can you imagine how much they spend on advertising per Fiat 500 sold???

Ford is advertising the fiesta and focus... May not be on a television but through social media, which reaches far more people than television... I even think having someone like Ken Block as a driver helps their sales. Even dodge is advertising the dart... As I have seen both television commercials and social media...

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[14SonicLTZ]

GM has already released the idea of a performance version of the new Cruze hatch so I have a feeling that there will be quite a few people leaving the Sonic to go to the Cruze.... But it would be cool to see that new 200hp Opel sourced 1.6L turbo dropped into a Sonic...

I hope the sources stating that there will be a new Sonic in 2017 is correct, because I would like to see a car that will dominate the likes of the Fiesta ST...

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[carsNskis]

I keep hoping GM will let the Sonic evolve, a hot rod power plant and suspension from the factory would be great to see. Match it up with the progress the Cruze and Camaro are making, help keep it competitive and relevant in a tough segment

it's not the size, it's how you drive it....

 

[The Champ]

Ford is advertising the fiesta and focus... May not be on a television but through social media, which reaches far more people than television... I even think having someone like Ken Block as a driver helps their sales. Even dodge is advertising the dart... As I have seen both television commercials and social media...

Once again I repeat:

The only "small" car that gets any significant amout of advertising support is the Fiat 500.

I think you overate the value of social media.

 

[14SonicLTZ]

I apologize... I do not have cable so I have only seen one commercial for the fiat... Hell I did not even know that fiat had a commercial until I saw it on cable at my parents house... So I must be living under a rock...

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[14SonicLTZ]

But I do know that there is a Focus RS is coming and that Ford will be competing at Le Mans in 2016 with the new GT...

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[The Champ]

I apologize... I do not have cable so I have only seen one commercial for the fiat... Hell I did not even know that fiat had a commercial until I saw it on cable at my parents house... So I must be living under a rock...

You shouldn't need cable to get your local broadcast channels in Columbus. I get mine over the air and I live 25 miles outside of a much smaller television market than you.

 

[14SonicLTZ]

The real reason why I probably have not really seen a commercial is because I am working a full time job and going to school almost full time... So four nights a week I go from 6am to 11pm at night... So honestly any time I see a broadcast channel is after midnight...

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[14SonicLTZ]

And I have a 3 year old little girl that usually takes most if all of my extra time...

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[14SonicLTZ]

So enough excuses from my behalf as you are correct... I apologize for that. But let's get back to the task at hand...

What would everyone change about the Sonic to improve sales then?

I for one wish it had more horsepower and at least a 1.6L.... I also wish that the LTZ model also had the rear disk brakes.... One complaint I do have is that I wish GM would provide more after market support... Something like the Mountune parts that Ford offers for the fiesta or focus....

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[The Champ]

What would everyone change about the Sonic to improve sales then?

Well, doubling the price of gas would improve sales, but I don't want that...

As long as gas is this cheap, sales will continue to be lower than 2014 (peak year for Sonic sales).

The upcoming 2018 redesign will most likely spike sales.

If gas continues to be relatively cheap, I'm positive there will be a higher performance engine. There probably will be anyway. By then we'll probably see an 8 speed automatic to keep the fuel economy the same, even with the additional HP/Torque.

I'd probably like my Sonic a little better if it was a just a little bigger. Maybe an extra inch or two wider and a few inches longer. Upgraded interior would be nice too.

 

[Swordsmith]

If congress was worth anything, gas prices would double, because they'd put a tax in that raises the price to prevent exactly what's happening now: customers are abandoning fuel efficiency in favor of "Big".

We're worried about using up all the oil, we're worried about pollution, we're worried about global warming... but we just sit here and watch as the vagaries of the market claw back most of the gains we made in fuel efficiency back when gas prices were $4 a gallon.

Meanwhile, the cycle will turn back to high prices, and countries like Iran and Russia will get rich off our failure to stay efficient... there's a lag time and all those SUVs and big sedans everyone is buying now will still have to be fueled until they can be replaced.

Massive gas tax incentivizes buying efficient cars, and efficient cars mean less demand which keeps oil prices low, which means not handing over maximum profits to the very people plotting our destruction.

PLUS we can take those taxes and turn them into highway and bridge maintenance, which we desperately need.

 

[kevjam79]

If congress was worth anything, gas prices would double, because they'd put a tax in that raises the price to prevent exactly what's happening now: customers are abandoning fuel efficiency in favor of "Big".

We're worried about using up all the oil, we're worried about pollution, we're worried about global warming... but we just sit here and watch as the vagaries of the market claw back most of the gains we made in fuel efficiency back when gas prices were $4 a gallon.

Meanwhile, the cycle will turn back to high prices, and countries like Iran and Russia will get rich off our failure to stay efficient... there's a lag time and all those SUVs and big sedans everyone is buying now will still have to be fueled until they can be replaced.

Massive gas tax incentivizes buying efficient cars, and efficient cars mean less demand which keeps oil prices low, which means not handing over maximum profits to the very people plotting our destruction.

PLUS we can take those taxes and turn them into highway and bridge maintenance, which we desperately need.

I am not worried. The market goes where it is needed.

The government has no business controlling the market. They are already doing it with CAFE and "Bio-fuels", and the implications of the regulations are a cluster/disaster.

In many ways, buying "big" is good for the economy because the select few who can afford "big" will push cheap (potentially better/newer) cars out to the masses at a depreciated state. A smart consumer can and will buy a high efficiency, low mileage, and highly depreciated car, right now.

Russia is trying to salvage their imploded economy... No worries there.

Iran is saber rattling thugs who pay zealots to stir up trouble to decrease stability.... No worries there.


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[14SonicLTZ]

Our crisis with the highways and bridges are and should be our primary focus as it is getting dangerous being on the roadways... Heck I have seen potholes big enough to swallow a car the size of a Sonic... maybe that is why people are buying big cars and suvs... Lol! Had to just throw that in... It does seem like if someone would sneeze in Europe that the gas prices go up...

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[Gio]

The way to get people to drive higher fuel mileage cars would be to have higher speed limits and higher top speed governor according to gas mileage. Example 35 hwy mpg and up- speed limit 80 and governed at 105. 30-35hwy mpg- speed limit 75 and governed at 100. 25-30 hwy mpg- speed limit 70 and governed at 95. ETC... This would also keep large vehicles from tail gating smaller vehicles on the highway.

 

[The Champ]

PLUS we can take those taxes and turn them into highway and bridge maintenance, which we desperately need.

The government has already collected an incredible amount of money in the form of fuel, license and a host of other fees and taxes. If that money had been used on highway and bridge maintenance as intended, we wouldn't need to increase taxes to maintain them.

If they want to start a tax per mile driven for the EV's on the road, I'm good with that. They should also tax bicyclists too.

Right now the folks commuting to work in/on these vehicles are getting by for free.

They use the same roads just like the other vehicles. All those bike lanes cost millions of $$$'s - but the bikers provide zero funding.

 

[14SonicLTZ]

The Government actually is giving people tax credit of almost $10k to drive an EV... Heck if you live in a apartment and they do not have plug in station, you can make the apartment complex pay for an install of one... There are actual court cases for this...

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[14SonicLTZ]

This is the same government that is making utility companies shut down most of their power plants without the infrastructure to back it up... Can we say more power outages and brownouts...

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[SuperFudd]

The Government actually is giving people tax credit of almost $10k to drive an EV... Heck if you live in a apartment and they do not have plug in station, you can make the apartment complex pay for an install of one... There are actual court cases for this...

So how about gas pumps at apartments? What makes folks using gobs of coal generated electricity special?