The Champ
New member
Currently, it's about 280,000 Sonics sold in the United States alone. We have our brothers to the north of this board that have purchased close to another 30,000.
Which makes your point even stronger!!!:banana:
What a piece of junk! (6 month update)
- Thread starter Tango71
- Start date
Currently, it's about 280,000 Sonics sold in the United States alone. We have our brothers to the north of this board that have purchased close to another 30,000.
Which makes your point even stronger!!!:banana:
J T
New member
And just how many owners of those 200,000 cars are members on this Sonic forum?
With the amount of people having these issues who also just HAPPEN to be forum members, I'd say it's a good enough sampling to say that it's a huge problem.
So car forums are all about flowers and sunshine now?
J T
New member
It's no secret that the Sonic has had a lot of issues. And NO ONE but those who designed and built it should be getting defensive about the criticisms directed toward it.
Look, I love my car. I like the way it looks, it's comfortable and it's fun to drive, but relatively speaking, it's been a steaming pile of crap.
Maybe my angst level is reaching critical because I'm less than 2000 miles away from having to pay out of pocket for repairs. I'm just hoping that everything to go wrong with my car already has and it's smooth sailing from here on out.
$ub$onic
The Sticker Guy
No one is trying to hide it.
There are 20 other threads on the same topic, Witch apparently no body searches before ranting about how they should have bought a Japanese car, anyways.
For the past week it has basically been the only thing you have been posting about.
Does it suck you have had nothing but issues? Absolutely.
most of use have hardly had any issues, but you never see anyone post a thread "this car is great! Super reliable". No one cares till it breaks.
There are 20 other threads on the same topic, Witch apparently no body searches before ranting about how they should have bought a Japanese car, anyways.
For the past week it has basically been the only thing you have been posting about.
Does it suck you have had nothing but issues? Absolutely.
most of use have hardly had any issues, but you never see anyone post a thread "this car is great! Super reliable". No one cares till it breaks.
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mitdr774
also a dinner prick
It's no secret that the Sonic has had a lot of issues. And NO ONE but those who designed and built it should be getting defensive about the criticisms directed toward it.
Look, I love my car. I like the way it looks, it's comfortable and it's fun to drive, but relatively speaking, it's been a steaming pile of crap.
Maybe my angst level is reaching critical because I'm less than 2000 miles away from having to pay out of pocket for repairs. I'm just hoping that everything to go wrong with my car already has and it's smooth sailing from here on out.
Its also no secret that there are far more people NOT having issues than those that are having issues. We get defensive because people come to a forum that is for those that enjoy this platform, and just piss and moan in damn near every post.
From the sounds of it, you do not love your car at all and wish it was an import. If you want an import so bad then dump you Sonic, buy an import, and leave the forum. From my personal experience around them, just as many imports are a steaming pile of excrement as domestics are. Realistsicly everyone is on about a level field now.
Early run vehicles tend to have issues. This is not a secret. If you want to avoid the majority of issues that a vehicle is likely to have then wait till the third or fourth year of a product cycle.
I have a 2012 that was built 11/2011 and have had no major issues in 64k miles. I do drive my car hard at times, but I also make sure I take care of it. I change fluids and inspect parts for wear as need be. Sure the end links were crappy, but that style link has been an issue since the first time it was used in a production vehicle. Its not a unique situation to the Sonic. As parts need replaced buy better aftermarket parts and dont worry.
The Sonic is a low level cheap economy car. If you operate it as such and have the appropriate expectations you will not have any unreasonable issues. However if you drive your cheap economy car like a race car all the time you should expect things to start failing. I have well over 300k logged in GM vehicles and no major issues that were not operator induced.
Short version:
Sell you car, buy an import, go to a forum for that product, and take you pissing and moaning about your import there. We really dont want to see it all over this forum in just about every post you make.
Natesriv
Lead Foot
Short version:
Sell you car, buy an import, go to a forum for that product, and take you pissing and moaning about your import there. We really dont want to see it all over this forum in just about every post you make.
Me'h....
Definition of Forum:
an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.
Everyone has a right to piss and moan, as long as they follow the forum rules and show the proper respect for other's opinions...Heck I've vented on here too a time or two.
God damned ****ty armrests!!!!
Sell you car, buy an import, go to a forum for that product, and take you pissing and moaning about your import there. We really dont want to see it all over this forum in just about every post you make.
Me'h....
Definition of Forum:
an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.
Everyone has a right to piss and moan, as long as they follow the forum rules and show the proper respect for other's opinions...Heck I've vented on here too a time or two.
God damned ****ty armrests!!!!
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Chuck Schick
Member
I found/joined this forum so I can keep up on any issues that the car may have in the period I own it.
I bought it as an economy car, and if we get 8 years out of I will be happy.
I could care less if members come on here and bash the vehicle, so be it.
With 2700 miles I am enjoying my Sonic.
****ty armrests!!!
I bought it as an economy car, and if we get 8 years out of I will be happy.
I could care less if members come on here and bash the vehicle, so be it.
With 2700 miles I am enjoying my Sonic.
****ty armrests!!!
zippypcs
Site Supporter
this.........
laborsmith
New member
As for complaining about a vehicle, check out the C7 section of the Corvette Forum, only there the complaint is spending $60 to$100 thousand for a POS.
Interesting to me is if a C7 transmission goes, Chevy replaces not repairs. Sound familiar?
I have had no problems with oem as delivered. There have been a couple of warranty repairs (passenger side front door molding comes to mind) taken care of during a visit for an oil change but nothing more serious. I did do the Big 3 Upgrade which seems to have resolved an electric power problem after the dealer indicated I appeared to have to many aftermarket parts drawing power but I can't fault Chevy for having to do that.
Laborsmith
Interesting to me is if a C7 transmission goes, Chevy replaces not repairs. Sound familiar?
I have had no problems with oem as delivered. There have been a couple of warranty repairs (passenger side front door molding comes to mind) taken care of during a visit for an oil change but nothing more serious. I did do the Big 3 Upgrade which seems to have resolved an electric power problem after the dealer indicated I appeared to have to many aftermarket parts drawing power but I can't fault Chevy for having to do that.
Laborsmith
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J T
New member
Looking back on my posts over the past week or two, there have been plenty that had nothing to do with criticisms about the Sonic. There were at least two dedicated threads (this being one of them) with the topic of issues Sonic owners have experienced with their cars. In those threads I've posted my issues and have replied to other people with similar issues. Nothing wrong with that, IMO.
This.Short version:
"Sell you car, buy an import, go to a forum for that product, and take you pissing and moaning about your import there. We really dont want to see it all over this forum in just about every post you make. "
Me'h....
Definition of Forum:
an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.
Everyone has a right to piss and moan, as long as they follow the forum rules and show the proper respect for other's opinions...Heck I've vented on here too a time or two.
God damned ****ty armrests!!!!
And get this console to replace the crappy stock armrest: http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...66-finally-japanese-sonic-center-console.html
ChrisJ
Active member
J T,
The Sonic has no more problems than most other vehicles out there, go visit their forums.
But my point stands,
If you don't like the car go trade it in. Joining a forum to piss and moan about it to people who have nothing to do with the manufacturer isn't going to help you.
Besides, as others have said, we like our cars. And when I've had a vehicle I didn't like, I traded it in and got something I did.
The Sonic has no more problems than most other vehicles out there, go visit their forums.
But my point stands,
If you don't like the car go trade it in. Joining a forum to piss and moan about it to people who have nothing to do with the manufacturer isn't going to help you.
Besides, as others have said, we like our cars. And when I've had a vehicle I didn't like, I traded it in and got something I did.
mja
Site Supporter
First of all - the Toyota trucks you listed are two of the most reliable vehicle's available on the market. With multiple, long generations, a huge aftermarket following, and plenty of cray folk who will defend their perceived unblemished reliability attitude till death. You're comparing it to a car that doesn't have much history in terms of reliability. If that was the first and primary concern, for the life of me I can't understand why you'd buy a new car in it's first generation for the 2nd or 3rd model year. And why you didn't buy the old year model Fit in the first place. The decision making stinks of indiscretion and full of emotion, which matches the opinions in the post.
I found early on this is an economy box trans... go figure If it's driven hard - if it's shifted at high rpms or with hard upshifts, it grinds. So my solution was - find out how to align the cables myself - and stop shifting it hard.
Although I don't doubt some trans from the factory are weaker than others, yes I do agree it's partially the driver, my little bro drove my car around to test it out, he wasn't getting on it too much, and he ground second and third a few times. He's not a complete novice at driving a standard either.
I had a new venture trans in an older truck that ground gears every time the temperature was below about 40 F. Nothing I could do about it, changed to different oils etc. And you live in a cold environment. Just another idea that may not have come up.
The shock and links are the only real issues - get aftermarket ones.
Unfortunately most of the bad reviews like this are from dealer experiences, and the issues with the car are actually not that serious at all.
I found early on this is an economy box trans... go figure
If it's driven hard - if it's shifted at high rpms or with hard upshifts, it grinds. So my solution was - find out how to align the cables myself - and stop shifting it hard.Although I don't doubt some trans from the factory are weaker than others, yes I do agree it's partially the driver, my little bro drove my car around to test it out, he wasn't getting on it too much, and he ground second and third a few times. He's not a complete novice at driving a standard either.
I had a new venture trans in an older truck that ground gears every time the temperature was below about 40 F. Nothing I could do about it, changed to different oils etc. And you live in a cold environment. Just another idea that may not have come up.
The shock and links are the only real issues - get aftermarket ones.
Unfortunately most of the bad reviews like this are from dealer experiences, and the issues with the car are actually not that serious at all.
ChicksHateMe
Member
WOW!!!
Some of you responders need some Midol. No where does it say this is an
"Enthusiasts only" forum, or a "Happy Owners" Forum. I had TWO MAJOR issues with my Sonic over the last year since I bought it, as well as a number of minor ones. It was FRUSTRATING trying to figure out the issues. Where to go, who to talk to. Thanks to all the DECENT posters that helped point me in the right direction. Not to some of you Whiney bitches that seem to bash rather than help. Rather than bash a person who's got issues, go find your "Happy" threads.
I understand your frustration OP!!!
I HATED my Sonic for about 5 months and contemplated every possibility from selling, trading the lemon law.... All because I had problems I felt I should NOT have had with a NEW car. The problems were amplified by dealing with an incompetent dealership, followed by poor responses from Chevy Customer Service.
I am again happy to have found this forum and the help and pointers SOME have given me, as well as info I found here using the search. Plus finding a REAL Dealership that had a professional and knowledgeable Service department. But man, some of "Enthusiasts" here can be REAL JERKS!!!!
I do love my Sonic again, now that some helpful posters gave me needed pointers and also having found a dealer with a REAL service dept.
Don't give up OP!!! Good Luck!!!
Some of you responders need some Midol. No where does it say this is an
"Enthusiasts only" forum, or a "Happy Owners" Forum. I had TWO MAJOR issues with my Sonic over the last year since I bought it, as well as a number of minor ones. It was FRUSTRATING trying to figure out the issues. Where to go, who to talk to. Thanks to all the DECENT posters that helped point me in the right direction. Not to some of you Whiney bitches that seem to bash rather than help. Rather than bash a person who's got issues, go find your "Happy" threads.
I understand your frustration OP!!!
I HATED my Sonic for about 5 months and contemplated every possibility from selling, trading the lemon law.... All because I had problems I felt I should NOT have had with a NEW car. The problems were amplified by dealing with an incompetent dealership, followed by poor responses from Chevy Customer Service.
I am again happy to have found this forum and the help and pointers SOME have given me, as well as info I found here using the search. Plus finding a REAL Dealership that had a professional and knowledgeable Service department. But man, some of "Enthusiasts" here can be REAL JERKS!!!!
I do love my Sonic again, now that some helpful posters gave me needed pointers and also having found a dealer with a REAL service dept.
Don't give up OP!!! Good Luck!!!
busterbrown
New member
Brand specific message boards INHERENTLY are built by, managed by, and socialized by their respected enthusiasts. It's not common philosphy to join a community and spew generalizations about the brand without at least asking for help and accepting advice for other members.
As with anything, rational heads usually prevail as they say. Hot heads, no so much. Ask for advice, offer advice, enjoy the community. Keep the b$%tching, bickering, and white noise for the ex-wives.
You're welcome.
Funny part is, your problem was actually a pretty easy one. The OP's are a little more complex.I'm with you
I am in a similar boat. My 2014 1.4 LT has been grinding 2nd since shortly after buying it, sometimes during quick (not hard cuz I don't drive this anywhere near how I drove my auto-x cars) acceleration or sometimes just normal driving. The last few months it grinds 3rd once in a while as well. I took it to the dealer but they found nothing wrong and wouldn't give me a receipt because they say they didn't do anything. I want all this documented so I have recourse when it craps out on me. I'm in Key West with one dealer, next nearest is 3 hours away. Feel like I'm stuck and no way to get it fixed right, then I'll have to deal with it after warranty is up. I'd LOVE a '15 GTI, but now that my MSRP $20,300 Sonic (I got it for less of course) is a year old with 13K miles it's apparently worth $11K and there's too much of a difference between that and a new vehicle. Feel stuck. Driving this thing for the next 5yrs or so with its efficiency and relatively low purchase price was part of my financial plan. However, it needs to be reliable for that length of time. Which is why I am on here, to figure out the best solution to this problem so I hopefully don't have to get rid of it.
I am in a similar boat. My 2014 1.4 LT has been grinding 2nd since shortly after buying it, sometimes during quick (not hard cuz I don't drive this anywhere near how I drove my auto-x cars) acceleration or sometimes just normal driving. The last few months it grinds 3rd once in a while as well. I took it to the dealer but they found nothing wrong and wouldn't give me a receipt because they say they didn't do anything. I want all this documented so I have recourse when it craps out on me. I'm in Key West with one dealer, next nearest is 3 hours away. Feel like I'm stuck and no way to get it fixed right, then I'll have to deal with it after warranty is up. I'd LOVE a '15 GTI, but now that my MSRP $20,300 Sonic (I got it for less of course) is a year old with 13K miles it's apparently worth $11K and there's too much of a difference between that and a new vehicle. Feel stuck. Driving this thing for the next 5yrs or so with its efficiency and relatively low purchase price was part of my financial plan. However, it needs to be reliable for that length of time. Which is why I am on here, to figure out the best solution to this problem so I hopefully don't have to get rid of it.
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laborsmith
New member
Sell it now. You will only be unhappy if you do not. And once you are rid of it you will be able to enjoy the production values instilled in the south of the border work force, where I am informed the GTi is assembled.
What is a few thousand dollars to being self satisfied?
You asked and I answered; trash my response as you will.
Laborsmith
What is a few thousand dollars to being self satisfied?
You asked and I answered; trash my response as you will.
Laborsmith
The Champ
New member
Just in case you weren't aware of it, you have a 5 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
If the tranny is going to fail - most likely it will do so before 100,000 miles.
I would also suggest contacting Chevrolet Customer Service if you don't feel your dealer his handling this properly.