Sonic Review on Motorweek TV show

[RichieRocket]

Sonic Review on Motorweek TV show

Last night I watched the Motorweek TV show on 'Velocity' channel (the network formally known as 'HD Theater')

The Motorweek review was overall good, but the one thing they mentioned a couple times was the "high engagement point" of the clutch. They actually said for sporty driving the automatic would be the better choice because of the clutch's high engagement point.

Anyone who actually has a car...can you comment on the clutch feel?

 

[jlslatton]

I've been waiting for a while to post something about the clutch and gearing on my 1.8L 5SPD hoping that I just needed to learn to drive a non-turbo non-diesel car again. I think enough time has passed that I can conclusively say that something is wrong with 2nd gear in this car. Let me briefly explain.

I'm coming off of owning a TDI Jetta for 10 years. Torque in that car is awesome. I could easily start going in 2nd gear if I wanted to with very little riding of the clutch. I had shifting in that car pretty well down pat.

So, when I test drove this car, I noticed 2nd gear was a real dog unless you shifted from 5-6k rpm in 1st gear. Even then, there was a noticeable lag on the lower end of 2nd gear. I chalked it up to being used to shifting in a lower rpm range on my Jetta and that with enough practice, I'd "learn" to drive a non diesel again.

Well, that hasn't happened. There is certainly a sweet spot between 1st and 2nd gear but I only hit it about 50% of the time. It's gotten to the point where it's starting to annoy me how much I have to pay attention to my clutching. By "sweet spot" I mean when you shift into 2nd gear, there is no "dogging" or "lagging" when accelerating. If I don't try my best to hit the sweet spot, the car really dogs until about 3K then takes off.

The power band on this car is weird for me. I'm still hoping that I'm just not shifting right but more and more I'm realizing that the gearing just seems "off" for me.

Anyone else experience this? Remember, I've got the 1.8L 5SPD.

 

[EVOX_SPEED3]

High Clutch engagement...

It just takes a few days to get accustomed to. Once, you get a handle on it, it's fine, not really a big deal. Don't see too many people heel-toeing in the Sonic any time soon.

I will tell you what freaks me out though ...how tall 5th and 6th gears are.

You have to know where in the powerband you are if you plan on passing. Found myself with my foot touching the floor and barely moving when I attempted to make a quick pass...a quick downshift to 4th fixed that though, but still takes a lot of getting used to. (for me anyway)

 

[Sonicchef2012]

It's a cheaply built car, mine is the same way, I can definitely see a lemon law claim in the future as I've had mine for 3 months.

 

[Fit4Sonic]

It's a cheaply built car, mine is the same way, I can definitely see a lemon law claim in the future as I've had mine for 3 months.

Wow, that sounds a little extreme. Not in any way trying to doubt your opinion... I don't own one yet. But "lemon" is an extremely serious claim.

Could you be more specific as to everything you feel constitutes a lemon categorization? Surely you aren't assigning "lemon" status to the car based solely on the potential shifting/gearing issue being discussed here, are you?

Just curious.

 

[Danny5]

I don't know about high engagement. I saw the same show and wondered what they were talking about. Especially since I own a turbo HB!!!

Now, I have done this really annoying thing in parking lots, where I shift into 2nd gear at 5mph. This instantly kills the motor.

Really? Stall the car in 2nd gear while moving? Yep.

 

[EVOX_SPEED3]

High clutch engagement is where the location of the clutch is before it engages (low=clutch is pressed all the way down -- high=clutch pedal is almost at the highest it can go).

On some cars, Hondas for example, the clutch pedal is really close to the floor (literally about an inch or so before in engages) versus on an EVO and the SONIC Turbo 6 speed (which is almost at the top of the clutch travel maximum before it engages).

I don't know about high engagement. I saw the same show and wondered what they were talking about. Especially since I own a turbo HB!!!

Now, I have done this really annoying thing in parking lots, where I shift into 2nd gear at 5mph. This instantly kills the motor.

Really? Stall the car in 2nd gear while moving? Yep.

 

[Fit4Sonic]

High clutch engagement is where the location of the clutch is before it engages (low=clutch is pressed all the way down -- high=clutch pedal is almost at the highest it can go).

Have you seen any or enough indication(s) to cause you to assign your Sonic to "lemon" status? Anyone else here had enough problems to rate their's a "lemon"?

 

[Sonicchef2012]

Wow, that sounds a little extreme. Not in any way trying to doubt your opinion... I don't own one yet. But "lemon" is an extremely serious claim.

Could you be more specific as to everything you feel constitutes a lemon categorization? Surely you aren't assigning "lemon" status to the car based solely on the potential shifting/gearing issue being discussed here, are you?

Just curious.

The clutch feels cheap and it pops out of 2nd gear often, I bought the car Sept 16th of Sept. It doesn't feel at all like my brothers Honda. The car has some dash rattles and the headliner is coming loose from the middle of the ceiling ......and also the rear seat back comes apart when we pull it down.

 

[Sonicchef2012]

Have you seen any or enough indication(s) to cause you to assign your Sonic to "lemon" status? Anyone else here had enough problems to rate their's a "lemon"?

I've seen many problems coming with the Sonic, and worry the value will drop as these problems become more appearant. It makes me mad Chevy didn't invest in quality materials for this car, plus the people that make it wear shorts and no uniform and only make $14.00 an hour. I like the concept of this car but feel it is a lemon, maybe I should paint it yellow and sell lemonade in front of Chevy dealerships.

 

[AxelRipper]

Have you tried contacting your dealer at all about these issues? Seems like you might have gotten a bad one, and they *should* be willing to fix it. Keep in mind that the vehicle has been in production for only 3 months now (probably far less than that when yours was made) and first run vehicles are notorious for defects from all makes.

 

[Sonicchef2012]

Have you tried contacting your dealer at all about these issues? Seems like you might have gotten a bad one, and they *should* be willing to fix it. Keep in mind that the vehicle has been in production for only 3 months now (probably far less than that when yours was made) and first run vehicles are notorious for defects from all makes.

Took it to my local Chevy dealer for these repairs three times and they still persist, Thinking of contacting national media about this.

 

[laborsmith]

Sonicchef2012: I am not a GM employee and the last time I was one was the summer of 1969. Yes, 1969.

I thought I had disposed of that $14/hour canard ages ago, yet it lives on. But whatever the rate, their is an underlying accusation that in America the quality of the job performance is $ related. I am now retired, but on behalf of all working Americans no matter what their pay grade, I take offense at this.

You may have gotten a lemon, but based on the specifics you have reported, I doubt it. You may have a form of buyers remorse, and based on what you have indicated in this thread, I believe it.

Whether we Americans work for $14 an hour or $44, wear shorts at a manufacturing job or a dress suit, I believe the American worker takes pride in doing the best job possible. That pride is translated into productivity, and American workers are amongst the highest productive workers on Planet Earth.

I do not apologize for my diatribe and if the moderators decide to ban me for it, you will know by the absence of any more postings on my part.

Laborsmith

 

[Sonicchef2012]

Sonicchef2012: I am not a GM employee and the last time I was one was the summer of 1969. Yes, 1969.

I thought I had disposed of that $14/hour canard ages ago, yet it lives on. But whatever the rate, their is an underlying accusation that in America the quality of the job performance is $ related. I am now retired, but on behalf of all working Americans no matter what their pay grade, I take offense at this.

You may have gotten a lemon, but based on the specifics you have reported, I doubt it. You may have a form of buyers remorse, and based on what you have indicated in this thread, I believe it.

Whether we Americans work for $14 an hour or $44, wear shorts at a manufacturing job or a dress suit, I believe the American worker takes pride in doing the best job possible. That pride is translated into productivity, and American workers are amongst the highest productive workers on Planet Earth.

I do not apologize for my diatribe and if the moderators decide to ban me for it, you will know by the absence of any more postings on my part.

Laborsmith

I will saY IT AGAIN, I think I have a lemon, and chevy won't do anything about it, Therfore, I plan to paint it Yellow and sell lemonade out of it in front a Chevy dealership on Saturdays.

 

[EVOX_SPEED3]

Not at all, I love my car. I'm coming from an EVO X and Speed 3, where everything was rattling the very first day, but I knew what i was getting into when i bought those cars, so it was all good.

With the Sonic Turbo, I expected much worse, but came away more impressed with it, considering it's a sub 20k car with a turbo.

All my expectations were met: 40 mpgs, has a turbo, and runs on 87...that's all i was expecting when i bought it...so happy customer here.

Have you seen any or enough indication(s) to cause you to assign your Sonic to "lemon" status? Anyone else here had enough problems to rate their's a "lemon"?

 

[oldertech]

I will saY IT AGAIN, I think I have a lemon, and chevy won't do anything about it, Therfore, I plan to paint it Yellow and sell lemonade out of it in front a Chevy dealership on Saturdays.

If the Chevy dealership won't do anything for you, go to another Chevy dealership. Or better yet, contact a district office. I'm guessing Chevy has waaaaay too much riding on this car to let you have a bad apple, or in this case, lemon.

 

[laborsmith]

AW, Rally Yellow is the color I want.

Don't forget to post pictures, please.

Laborsmith

 

[RichieRocket]

I will saY IT AGAIN, I think I have a lemon, and chevy won't do anything about it, Therfore, I plan to paint it Yellow and sell lemonade out of it in front a Chevy dealership on Saturdays.

Sonicchef2012, can you tell us more about your transmission problem?

The 2nd gear popping out, what engine/trans do you have. What conditions cause it to pop out of gear?
Both trans have been in use for several years in Europe and Asia. I believe that all the Sonics so far have engine/trans built somewhere else because the domestic producer is not up to speed yet. Can anyone confirm that?

As for the interior issues...I agree with the others, they should fix those without question.

What was the issue at the dealer?

 

[laborsmith]

Per my Window Sticker:
Engine: United States
Transmission: Austria

As to fit and finish: No defects noted.

As to the rear seats, both were folded down to get the OEM wheel/tires in so I could drive them home after I upgraded from the 15" to 17" wheels. No looseness noted and movement to fold and unfold quite easy.

Radio works and plays CDs as expected.

No orange peel in the paint. Headliner intact. Sun visors work as expected, and include tiny mirrors, which I did not realize were part of the car.

Very smooth transmission, may even be smoother than my 1974 Saab Sonett III which AAA bought in 1980 after I was pancaked while stopped at a red light. The Sonett had a freewheeling clutch, which contributed to the transmissions smooth shifting.

My complaint: the Sonic is too quiet and I have to adjust as I am used to shifting per the sound of the engine.

The one option I miss: powered drivers seat as I like to incrementally move the seat up and down and back and forward as I am barreling down the hi-way.

Laborsmith

 

[Sidestreet]

And now, back to MotorWeek!

I found it funny when the staff made a little goof and mistook the tachometer for a "round speedometer".

Some performance measurements from the show: (LTZ 1.4L manual)
0-60: 8.1 seconds
quarter mile: 16.4 seconds at 89 mph
60-0: 119 feet (pretty good, I'd say)

I like MotorWeek; been watching it for about 20 years now.