Sonic vs. Cobalt

[chivalryder]

Not a fan of the Cobalt. There are very, very few cars from the 2000's that I like. Even fewer American cars.

 

[RobbyS]

And the 2.2 is a lot faster, but if I ever tuned the Sonic I know the Sonic would be faster.

You must have a 1.8?
My uncle has an XFE and says it's slower than my dad's LS because of the gearing.

 

[whitnith]

Just own both. I have my cobalt ss 2 door and my sonic 4 door

Works for me as well...

 

[SonicBoy24]

You say this like its a bad thing.

For me, it is.
You're welcome to like however many doors you want.

Based on your logic, Tahoes and Expeditions and any vehicle with 3 rows of seating should have 6 doors.
And the Veloscter only has 3doors, what do you say to that?

Actually, I don't care, just making a point.

I don't like 4 doors, i don't carry more than one person usually, and I want a car with only 2 doors.
It's my opinion, 2 door cars are better than their 4 door counterparts/siblings.

 

[Ltguy]

For me, it is.
You're welcome to like however many doors you want.

Based on your logic, Tahoes and Expeditions and any vehicle with 3 rows of seating should have 6 doors.
And the Veloscter only has 3doors, what do you say to that?

Actually, I don't care, just making a point.

I don't like 4 doors, i don't carry more than one person usually, and I want a car with only 2 doors.
It's my opinion, 2 door cars are better than their 4 door counterparts/siblings.

I will agree in MOST cases I like 2 door cars better, I've deff owned way more 2 door cars... But some cars do look much much better as a 4 door... Prime examples of this are the G6 and newer Honda Civics... IMO

 

[SonicBoy24]

I will agree in MOST cases I like 2 door cars better, I've deff owned way more 2 door cars... But some cars do look much much better as a 4 door... Prime examples of this are the G6 and newer Honda Civics... IMO

idc about civics, but I think g6's should have only been 2 doors.
this was my buddy's g6 gtp 6speed

 

[Ltguy]

Just an opinion, just like your opinion.

Nice G6, not my taste but done nicely.

 

[wr_guy]

2.2 liters is more powerful than 1.8 liters? I don't disagree but I'm a little confused by the word surprisingly.


The 1.8 isn't as good on gas as the 1.4t, and as you say the lack of a sixth gear is hurting you at high speeds. That said this is still pretty surprising, the Cobalt is a bigger car with a bigger engine and an auto transmission, those factors generally each mean worse mpg, add them all together and 1-2mpg seems really small. Could be your driving style though, are you comparing your mpg on the sonic vs daughter's on the Cobalt? Driving style is a huge factor, Smit can get 60mpg out of a Sonic while I can get under 30 mpg with one rigged up practically identically.


TPMS doesn't preclude swapping tires. You could A) get a second set of TPMS or B) pay to have the TPMS swapped each time you swap tires or C) screw TPMS since it is pretty much useless, just leave it in the stock tires and swap them in before inspection. Or D) buy a good set of all weathers and use them year round, moving the TPMS to them just the one time. The stock Hankooks are probably the worst thing about the Sonic.

Yeah, the 2.2 is 600cc bigger but the Sonic is smaller and lighter and the HP numbers are similar...what is surprising is the 2.2 and 4 sp auto is much better matched to real world driving....MUCH more low end power. Less buzzy and quieter despite the fact that the exhaust manifold is further away from the driver in the Sonic.

@ 70-75 the Sonic gets about 35mpg the Cobalt about 33. I drive them both the same. I would have expected a bigger difference. In any case I always liked the Cobalts motor and trans. Maybe when it breaks in it will be better.

Without TPMS, you just swapped to steel wheels and snows....done. I check tire pressure so TPMS does nothing for me. Good for others I guess. What happens if you run tires W/O TPMS? Yes, the Hankooks are terrible in the snow.

Don't get me wrong the Sonic is much better than a Cobalt but I think the new smaller ECOTEC with a 6sp Auto is not a imporovement..surprisingly so.

 

[ChrisJ]

For me, it is.
You're welcome to like however many doors you want.

Based on your logic, Tahoes and Expeditions and any vehicle with 3 rows of seating should have 6 doors.
And the Veloscter only has 3doors, what do you say to that?

Actually, I don't care, just making a point.

I don't like 4 doors, i don't carry more than one person usually, and I want a car with only 2 doors.
It's my opinion, 2 door cars are better than their 4 door counterparts/siblings.

Some of us actually have friends, so , you know..

 

[firstorbit84]

...Driving style is a huge factor, Smit can get 60mpg out of a Sonic while I can get under 30 mpg with one rigged up practically identically.

I'm sorry but I still don't believe that Smit got 67 mpg. The world record for a non hybrid gas engine is only 64 in a Cruze eco, set by PROFESSIONALS

http://m.motortrend.com/wot/austral...y-record-with-chevrolet-cruze-eco-112171.html

 

[Eric Smit]

I'm sorry but I still don't believe that Smit got 67 mpg. The world record for a non hybrid gas engine is only 64 in a Cruze eco, set by PROFESSIONALS

http://m.motortrend.com/wot/austral...y-record-with-chevrolet-cruze-eco-112171.html

and they went for damn near ten thousand miles across the US. I went a fraction of that on ideal roads that are damn near flat; at 4200 feet, too.

 

[chivalryder]

and they went for damn near ten thousand miles across the US. I went a fraction of that on ideal roads that are damn near flat; at 4200 feet, too.

I can believe that, in those conditions, if he tried really hard, he could manage 67 mpg. Check out this article.

Diesel-burning VW Passat sets fuel mileage record

I'll just quote the most important line: "The distance traveled on the tank of diesel averages out to approximately 84.1 miles per gallon. For the sake of comparison, the EPA rates the Passat TDI at 43 miles per gallon."

 

[SonicBoy24]

Some of us actually have friends, so , you know..

haha don't make this personal gramps.
all I'm gonna say to that.

 

[slimjim550]

We also have both a Sonic and a Cobalt. My Cobalt in a 2010 LT (its loaded) and my wife's Sonic is also a LT and its also loaded. The Sonic is a hatchback and the Cobalt in a 4dr. Now to compare the two. I think the Sonic is some what more fun to drive on highway and yes it a 6sp auto. with the 1.8 The Sonic is also quieter IMO with a better quality interior. The Sonic breaks seem better but they can be touchy. I like how the Sonic sets up higher. Now yes the Cobalt has a little more room in the cabin and a lot more trunk space and in the two that we have the Cobalt has a much better sounding sound system. As for gas mileage the Sonic is better in town (around 28 vs 22) and on the highway the Somic is better at around 35 vs 31. As for the price of the car I got a real good deal on the Cobalt and not such a good deal on the Sonic (its my wifes car) but right now the Cobalt is paid for and the Sonic is not so I have to say yes I still like the Cobalt but the Sonic has suprised me so far.

 

[OD3X1]

I'm sorry but I still don't believe that Smit got 67 mpg. The world record for a non hybrid gas engine is only 64 in a Cruze eco, set by PROFESSIONALS

Australian Duo Set Fuel Economy Record with Chevrolet Cruze Eco

A good driver is a good driver, professional or otherwise. Back when the speed limit was 55 I could set the cruise on my '88 GTA equipped with the L-98 and 700R-4 and knock down 30 mpg. If I drove it hard? I was lucky to get 20.

 

[Swordsmith]

I have a 2009 Cobalt LT XFE. I like it a lot more than the Sonic. It's more comfortable and can actually get up a hill in 5th gear. (Sometimes the Sonic can.) I've been getting better mileage in the Cobalt. I bought the Sonic for a more modern flashy car with neat stuff, but I find I don't really like the neat stuff. I'm glad I kept the Cobalt instead of trading it in, and the Sonic is now for sale.

And the 2.2 is a lot faster, but if I ever tuned the Sonic I know the Sonic would be faster.

If your complaint is the Sonic doesn't have enough power to weight, and you haven't tuned the Sonic, you're missing a bet.

My Sonic rolls uphill as easily as down, maintaining speed or even accelerating to pass most of the cars I'm sharing the road with, climbing through the blue ridge and Smokies on the way down to and back from Texas. They're unable to maintain speed, 70, 65, 60, falling, I'm cruising past them at a steady 80, or when forced by a slow-in-the-fast-lane driver to slow down, charging back up from 60 to 80 on that same grade that's slowing them on down to 55.

That's not WOT, not struggling, it's just a zippy little car with admittedly half again the power Chevy intended... but I wasn't running E85 at the time so nothing you couldn't do with a tune assuming you have the 1.4T. If it's the 1.8, well, ok, maybe you have a point, that's a lower torque output and the tune doesn't help nearly as much.

 

[ChrisJ]

I'm sorry but I still don't believe that Smit got 67 mpg. The world record for a non hybrid gas engine is only 64 in a Cruze eco, set by PROFESSIONALS

Australian Duo Set Fuel Economy Record with Chevrolet Cruze Eco

Set by "professionals"? What are they professionals at?

 

[Macehammer]

Set by "professionals"? What are they professionals at?

Wanking.

 

[d.p]

I miss her... top is when i had her.. bottom is the day before the current owner wrecked her :/

 

[cndctrdj]

The more I read the more I don't think you can compare the two