What a piece of junk! (6 month update)

[sdgdf]

To the OP:

The Sonic is a cheap economy car. Its not necessarily designed for balls-to-the-wall spirited driving. If you look up the specifications on it it doesn't have adequate synchro on 2nd gear to do what you're asking of it. Its meant to be driven like an economy car.

Lately my Sonic has been having the same problem that you describe. You know how I handle it? I double-clutch and it shifts perfect every time. Its not a problem with it being a lemon, its just cheap engineering. And CHEVY is not to blame, the transmission is a 6-speed Getrag developed in Germany and manufactured in Austria. In fact its one of the only things in the car that's not manufactured in the US... and yes its one of my only gripes with the car. Whenever I have problems with the trans (and I'm GOOD with a manual trans) I exclaim loudly "damn austrian transmissions!", and yet I still love the car.

You need to think things through with the situation. Like me, I realize that if I go to the dealer complaining about it grinding they'll claim its me not being able to drive or I shouldn't be shifting at redline. So, I'll just drive it as-is, it has a 100k powertrain warranty and if it grenades, hey, free transmission. You have to know how to manipulate the dealer, understand their thinking and what they'll do and the best way you can deal with it.

I also find it funny you'd consider it a lemon because a simple trans issue and blowing struts. Maybe your unique situation is causing it? The way you drive, the roads you drive? You live in rural CA I can't imagine the roads there are very good? You can't expect your Sonic to handle your driving and those roads like your trucks. Be reasonable, think like a mature adult.

 

[LTZ ICE]

I do understand what you're saying, but one car? I think its safe to say we both read about all the recent issues on the forum right? This is unacceptable, end of story and people shouldn't put up with it.

I purchased my 1998 4Runner with over 300K on it and now it has over 400K on it. All I've done is oil changes. I purchased my Tacoma with 120K on it and now I'm at 200K and only changed a wheel bearing and do oil changes. Both go off road and get driven hard. None of them had to go to a dealer for anything major. My sonic came broken, FROM THE FACTORY! I cant merge in to traffic without grinding gears, its blown three struts in less than six months, like come on!

Edit: all 3 struts were rear struts. The roads here are decent, not great but not horrible. No huge pot holes. Surprisingly the front struts are holding up. End links are shot which was the only thing I honestly expected from doing all the reading here.

I know plenty of people that have had their fair share of problems with their Toyotas and Hondas. The 3-400,000 club does not just pertain to Toyota. I Know a few Jeep Cherokees and Silverado's that have gone 2-350,000 with just regular maintenance. American quality is up, Japanese quality is slipping big time. With that being said, I am very happy with my Sonic, which has been an extremely reliable for me.

 

[Dogz]

Lol, I only read the first page & I'm pissing myself laughing.
Sorry to the op but you're an idiot.
My car just turned 1 year old & has done 35k km. All of that driving is out on the back roads & a lot of the time over 160km/h. If I try to shift like an idiot 2nd gear will grind. The only other issue I've had with the car is the drivers seat squeaks, expected, it's a cheap car.
There are a lot of roads around here I don't drive on because they are too rough & I'm sure the suspension would be damaged, it's still a small car. In the last year there's been one bump that I hit hard enough that the front left hit the bump stop, struts still ok though.
& if you don't like the ****ty cheap car sway bar links upgrade them to hd items, they're available.

 

[Sailurman]

So in other words, don't go away mad... Just go away :banana:

 

[SmoothSonic]

If your dealership is that far away, maybe it's time to learn how to do your own repairs.

 

[Vector06]

Our 12 1.8 sedan has been a headache really. Six sets of swaybar linkages,chrome trim fell of under two windows, a/c works when it feels like it, air intake duct cracked, check engine light came on last night and a ton of little things like the trim around the shifter {5-speed} coming off, door lock trim pieces flying off when you unlock the car. I could go on and on. A shame really because it looks,runs and drives fine. Wife is heading to a Toyota dealership tomorrow to check out the Corolla S and Camry. I cannot blame her really. Being nickle and dimed while making a purchased new vehicle payment is never a good thing.

 

[Sailurman]

Almost 4 years old and everything still Rocks on my Sonic. We love this lil hatch!!!

 

[cndctrdj]

To blow out shocks so quickly. Im.wondering what is being Carried in the back of the car. They don't support much weight.

Check the forums for fixes on the transmission. It's odd that merging on the highway was being done from first gear. But I guess it happens.
Also, the metal sway bar end links are an easy fix.

 

[Kannisto]

Welcome to the sonic owners forum and i'm sorry about your bad luck. Not the friendliest place on the internet...

Many people are die hard enthusiasts on here and take any negative comments about the sonic very personally. I once got scolded for requesting a simple gear indicator. Almost instantly i had forum regulars telling me to learn to drive stick and that my complaints are invalid. Good luck man.

 

[Dirkdaddy]

Update - my bought used 2012 LTZ has had new tires installed. What else has happened?
Let me think.... Hmm...
Now the seat heater is shorting out at 40k, but that's not unusual, my 2012 Kia Optima SX has had the same problem with its seat heater.

Its been trouble free and even the water pump which was supposed to be a problem maybe I got a good one as its 40k and no problems yet.

We have 1.4 / 6 mt and wife and I have never ground 2nd, but I drive like an adult most of the time even with the Trifecta tune I don't speed shift. Like I said before its a transmission that GM buys that is commonly put in other cars as well.

The shift knob vinyl is coming loose. Ok that's a problem, and the rubber t higs that fit around the door lock pins out of the door panel, one is missing.

Hardly an exhaustive list of problems even for first year car. We're very happy and get great MPG, but have a fun car to drive. Its not perfect but it can leave a FIT sport in the dust and hang with some other cars, all while be a very inexpensive car. Sure the Focus STI or whatever its called is a LOT faster, but its also a LOT more expensive. Same for Cooper S, etc. Not super happy about shift trim getting loose, but its been a great car, especially bought used where the first owner took the depreciation hit.

 

[JustSonic]

Update - my bought used 2012 LTZ has had new tires installed. What else has happened?
Let me think.... Hmm...
Now the seat heater is shorting out at 40k, but that's not unusual, my 2012 Kia Optima SX has had the same problem with its seat heater.

Its been trouble free and even the water pump which was supposed to be a problem maybe I got a good one as its 40k and no problems yet.

We have 1.4 / 6 mt and wife and I have never ground 2nd, but I drive like an adult most of the time even with the Trifecta tune I don't speed shift. Like I said before its a transmission that GM buys that is commonly put in other cars as well.

The shift knob vinyl is coming loose. Ok that's a problem, and the rubber t higs that fit around the door lock pins out of the door panel, one is missing.

Hardly an exhaustive list of problems even for first year car. We're very happy and get great MPG, but have a fun car to drive. Its not perfect but it can leave a FIT sport in the dust and hang with some other cars, all while be a very inexpensive car. Sure the Focus STI or whatever its called is a LOT faster, but its also a LOT more expensive. Same for Cooper S, etc. Not super happy about shift trim getting loose, but its been a great car, especially bought used where the first owner took the depreciation hit.

Of course the FoST is more expensive, it's a compact hatch. The FiST is the closest competitor to the Sonic RS and it's not much more for what's considered a better car in everyway except MPG. The Sonic is a fantastic car for commuting and turbo noises, but really lacks on quality and power when compared to its rivals.

 

[Dirkdaddy]

Of course the FoST is more expensive, it's a compact hatch. The FiST is the closest competitor to the Sonic RS and it's not much more for what's considered a better car in every way except MPG. The Sonic is a fantastic car for commuting and turbo noises, but really lacks on quality and power when compared to its rivals.

With the Trifecta tune, power is pretty decent for a subcompact. Its not like I go around racing people, but it makes it fun to drive. I tested a Fit Sport and with the paddle shifters it was horribly under-powered and maybe it was the tires but handling was not great either, but I did like the cargo room. Head room is very good which is important to me. Anyway, no car is perfect but this is a very decent, nice riding, stylish, safer car with a lot of airbags with highway over 40mpg for me subcompact, which for GM is light-years ahead of where it was a few years ago.

I think the RS was a super weak effort performance wise, although it looks good.

 

[The Champ]

Of course the FoST is more expensive, it's a compact hatch. The FiST is the closest competitor to the Sonic RS and it's not much more for what's considered a better car in everyway except MPG. The Sonic is a fantastic car for commuting and turbo noises, but really lacks on quality and power when compared to its rivals.

You may want to check the Fiesta's reliability ratings before making that claim.

Read the April 2016 issue of Consumer Reports (their annual car issue) and you will see that in almost every category the Sonic rates higher than the Fiesta.

This is the general recommendation sheet from the April issue:

Notice that the Fiesta is listed as one of the least reliable vehicles in the class. The Sonic is not listed - as it was ranked as average.

You can also look at Ford's long term dependability ratings vs. Chevy's.

This is the 2016 report for 2013 models as reported by owners who purchased their cars new in 2013 and are still driving them:

So, while the FiST is faster right off the showroom floor, it lacks the quality and long term dependability of the Sonic.

It's not just a fuel mileage advantage...

 

[JustSonic]

Nice research Champ. I retract my statement.

I was going off of personal experience and those of fellow car enthusiasts. All my fellow Sonic and Spark owners complain about the quality of build and low power while the Ford guys just complain about the price and mpg.

 

[Kcmo83]

I saw your Corolla S and smoked it.

 

[Hoody32]

50 thousand miles. Lots of full throttle driving and no problems with any part of this vehicle. Completely satisfied

 

[MartyH]

The only good thing about that car is that engine because its made of cast iron

Is this right? I thought the 1.4 was an aluminum engine.

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

Is this right? I thought the 1.4 was an aluminum engine.

Aluminum head and cast iron block with forged steel rods. That is the ecotec 1.4 in a nut shell.

On a side note. The sonic seems to be the most hot rod friendly of the hatches when it comes to using parts from other cars. :banana:

 

[Llia]

I've owned quite a few cars, mostly GM from 1986 till now.
I've had transmission problems with only one and that was a Saturn Vue that had a Honda 3.5 V6 and Honda 5 speed automatic. Honda's automatics are sh**. I've had quite a few GMs with just under 300K on them as well.

I've owned two Sonics and will likely own a third.

Here's the deal.

There are some people who no matter what, will hate GM or even all American cars period.

There are some people who will also look at a forum like this, see 50 people complain about the same thing and then assume it's a huge problem when 200,000 of the cars were made. Pretty piss poor way to get statistics in my opinion.

The Sonic isn't perfect nor is GM. However, neither are any other manufacturers out there no matter what their fanboys claim.

Honda water pumps don't fail near as much as GM's, but they do go occasionally and when they do, they don't just drip on the ground and cost $60 to replace. They destroy your timing belt and cost hundreds to replace.

Here's a tip,
If you don't like the car, go trade it in and get something different. Don't be a troll and join an enthusiasts forum and post a thread saying how much you hate it. Just saying. I mean, that's what I've always done if I don't like a car.

There is an interesting aspect to that, as forums usually draw people looking to fix problems with their cars or tinker to the point of creating problems, not just the enthusiast. Either way, it could be said that browsing a forum looking for great reviews is like going to a hospital looking for healthy people. Not sure I'm hitting my point but yeah.

 

[AlwaysGreatful]

This guy is still getting flamed a year later.... lol. Not that it helps, but I'm 39 years old, have owned 26 cars and managed to kill all of them..... imports, domestics, I think one was home made. The sonic is by far the most fun car I've had. It's underestimated, a little odd, and cool ASF. Just needs some skirts and rocket bunny flares...... chicks with hips and skirts are ***y