Anyone else install an HID kit?

[ChrisJ]

Same here. I baught them bc of the road and deer here. Haven't bothered anyone and any cops. Even with me passing them


2012 chevy sonic

How do you know they don't bother anyone?

I've been annoyed big time by people with HIDs on route 380, 81 and the casey highway. You been on any of these roads?
Just because people don't run you off the road into a tree or flash you doesn't mean you're not bothering them.

Interestingly enough I have NO PROBLEM seeing deer with the stock Sonic headlights. Imagine that?

 

[ChrisJ]

I had a buddy drive into town for me to install two 18" subs in his Cruze. He had HIDs. I had an upgraded wiring harness and Philips Xtreme Power bulbs.

He drove his car, then mine, and noted that my lights provided MUCH better long distance and lateral visibility. He also admitted afterward that his lights created a massive amount of glare.

Imagine that. My halogens vastly outperforming HIDs with a higher intensity.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

It's just a shame multiple 12's would produce far less distortion than those 18s due to substantially less cone breakup. But we won't go into that now.

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

How do you know they don't bother anyone?

I've been annoyed big time by people with HIDs on route 380, 81 and the casey highway. You been on any of these roads?
Just because people don't run you off the road into a tree or flash you doesn't mean you're not bothering them.

Interestingly enough I have NO PROBLEM seeing deer with the stock Sonic headlights. Imagine that?

See the thing is i see hid on all different type of cars without projectors. so why dont u go into other forums and start **** on there bc no matter how much you ppl complain ppl are still going to do it. So just get over complaining about it bc no one cares. This is all bull


2012 chevy sonic

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

See the thing is i see hid on all different type of cars without projectors. so why dont u go into other forums and start **** on there bc no matter how much you ppl complain ppl are still going to do it. So just get over complaining about it bc no one cares. This is all bull


2012 chevy sonic

But if u want. I'll buy the projectors wanna install them for me. Would that make all u haters that blow up this forum


2012 chevy sonic

 

[laborsmith]

To the poster who asked "who cares" I will say "I care" because I am one of those drivers who has difficulty with oncoming bright lights when driving at night. These may not always be HISs and every once in a while it could be a driver has inadvertently left their high beams on. I do not know for sure but somehow suspect most instances are illegal HIDs. If the law was enforced and the number of illegal HIDs on the road reduced it would be easier to know.

My point is the low priced easy to install HID "kits" are dangerous to others, and since I am one of the others I retain my right to complain which includes my right to hate.

Should O go on other forums with the same complaint? I am active on three car forums, this and two Corvette forums. For some reason this issue is not a controversy on the Corvette forums: I wonder why?


Laborsmith

 

[ChrisJ]

Not when each 18 has more motor strength and less moving mass than your typical 12" sub and they're installed IB. Think ~200 grams. Peavey 18" "Black Widow" Low Rider subs, 8 ohm wired down to 4 ohm on a Boston Acoustics GT-2300 capable of 1000W @ 4 ohms. 2640 square cm of total cone area.

The front sound stage consists of CSS LD25X tweeters with 6.5" Silver Flutes on a Boston Acoustics GT-475, crossed low with a miniDSP. 36 bands of parametric equalization, each driver measured and tuned individually with a Dayton iMM-6 microphone and time aligned.

The idea was to reproduce a rock concert from the front stage. If you ask anyone who has heard it, they'd tell you I succeeded.

Moving mass and motor strength are not related, or at least not completely related to cone breakup. Multiple 12s would still produce less distortion.

Best we take this into PM instead of taking over the "teenager cheesy illegal blinding HID" thread. Or maybe it doesn't matter, I don't know.

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

Do make a list for me of all of the cars that have HIDs from the factory that are *not* in projectors. The only one I've seen is an early 2000s Acura TL, and that had a pretty precisely designed housing calibration to control the glare on the HIDs. You'll find the number to be very small.

The reason why you see them on other cars where they didn't come stock is because there are other people just as ignorant out there who have no idea that they're actually reducing their visibility and blinding all oncoming traffic.

We're not complaining; we're presenting the facts so people who were once ignorant of them can make informed decisions.

I understand ur point. The only hid's that bother me are the ones on the truck bc there right at eye level for me. Especially when there following me the get into my rear view. So i do understand I'm going to get projectors i just gotta get some money and the courage to unseal my headlight


2012 chevy sonic

 

[barch88]

I have HID's in my Sonic and no retrofit. They aren't blinding at all, people on this forum will bitch and moan and say they are. My coworker and I go to the gym after work each day at night, and I drive behind him on the way there, and on the way back we usually cross paths in front of each other as well. When I asked if they were blinding or really bright, he said it was perfectly fine and he didn't even notice I had "special lights". Mine are also only 35w, so maybe that could be why there is no "blinding" factor...

The kit I bought was a good fit, solid quality for price, and I'd buy them again. I've noticed no real difference in brightness as far as output goes. They are about the exact same as the stock lights, but look much better IMO. At night I feel like objects are much clearer for me to see, and "smoother" on the eyes with the HID's. I'm happy with my purchase.

People will rag on me and others who are members on this forum too because we didn't do a retrofit, but I like them and I think they look great.

The light output is same as stock, I noticed distance may be a bit longer than stock though. For example, I have a stop sign at my house. When I stop at that stop sign in the night, I remember before with the stock bulbs I could only see the mailbox maybe 15 yards up the street, now I can see 1-2 houses past that. I usually drive with my high beams on if I need light while on the expressway in the middle of the night, and those are stock. When driving around town in the city there are plenty of lights so me wanting to enhance stock brightness of low beams wasn't a huge concern, I did the HID kit for the look.

The Sonic's housing is pretty good, I don't notice any glares nor do people I drive around (I've asked multiple people too, not just my coworker). So if you want to buy a HID kit for the look, just buy one - don't let people on this forum shy you away from them. If you want to buy a HID kit to enhance output, then do a retrofit.

PS- I have 8000k, so it's an ice blue tone. I drive past cops at night, and during the day. The only time I've been pulled over was for my tint, not my loud ass exhaust (which I've now gotten a muffler for), not my HID's, not my sound system...not the fact that I was going 10 over, nope...just the tint. I've had them for a few weeks now, guess what? Not one single person has flashed me. With my stock lights, I used to get flashed now and then....that should tell you right there that HID's aren't as blinding at people think they are in our Sonic's.

People on this forum will continue to complain more than a woman on her period though.

 

[ChrisJ]

I have HID's in my Sonic and no retrofit. They aren't blinding at all, people on this forum will bitch and moan and say they are. My coworker and I go to the gym after work each day at night, and I drive behind him on the way there, and on the way back we usually cross paths in front of each other as well. When I asked if they were blinding or really bright, he said it was perfectly fine and he didn't even notice I had "special lights". Mine are also only 35w, so maybe that could be why there is no "blinding" factor...

The kit I bought was a good fit, solid quality for price, and I'd buy them again. I've noticed no real difference in brightness as far as output goes. They are about the exact same as the stock lights, but look much better IMO. At night I feel like objects are much clearer for me to see, and "smoother" on the eyes with the HID's. I'm happy with my purchase.

People will rag on me and others who are members on this forum too because we didn't do a retrofit, but I like them and I think they look great.

The light output is same as stock, I noticed distance may be a bit longer than stock though. For example, I have a stop sign at my house. When I stop at that stop sign in the night, I remember before with the stock bulbs I could only see the mailbox maybe 15 yards up the street, now I can see 1-2 houses past that. I usually drive with my high beams on if I need light while on the expressway in the middle of the night, and those are stock. When driving around town in the city there are plenty of lights so me wanting to enhance stock brightness of low beams wasn't a huge concern, I did the HID kit for the look.

The Sonic's housing is pretty good, I don't notice any glares nor do people I drive around (I've asked multiple people too, not just my coworker). So if you want to buy a HID kit for the look, just buy one - don't let people on this forum shy you away from them. If you want to buy a HID kit to enhance output, then do a retrofit.

PS- I have 8000k, so it's an ice blue tone. I drive past cops at night, and during the day. The only time I've been pulled over was for my tint, not my loud ass exhaust (which I've now gotten a muffler for), not my HID's, not my sound system...not the fact that I was going 10 over, nope...just the tint. I've had them for a few weeks now, guess what? Not one single person has flashed me. With my stock lights, I used to get flashed now and then....that should tell you right there that HID's aren't as blinding at people think they are in our Sonic's.

People on this forum will continue to complain more than a woman on her period though.

Wow, nice book of.... nothing.

8000K certainly doesn't make anything easier on anyones eyes including your own. Going for 5000-6500K I could see but anything higher is retarded.

You pretty much proved our point. You did it "to look cool" not to help anyone see better. And since you're interested in insulting people, including women, its a shame you don't mind blowing money on making your headlights look cool, but couldn't put a little towards getting a real engine in that Sonic.

 

[ChrisJ]

Remember a couple of posts back when I said people who run HIDs in factory housings fall under two categories? You fall into the second and your post proved it. It really seems that the people whining and complaining the most are those who can't face the facts.

The light output is not the same as stock btw. That statement is full of ignorance, and one that you could refute on your own through 5 seconds of google searching. Typical Halogen output is in the range of 1500 lumens. Typical 35W HID is in the range of 2800 lumens.

He can't tell that most likely because blue at 2800 lumens doesn't light up anything is well as white or even yellow at 1500 lumens.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

I've brought this up on the past....many automakers have installed HIDs in regular non projector housing, Mercedes, Lexus, GM even...so pls do enlighten me on why they did this? pls pls do tell all you master headlight jedi's.

 

[stever525]

I've brought this up on the past....many automakers have installed HIDs in regular non projector housing, Mercedes, Lexus, GM even...so pls do enlighten me on why they did this? pls pls do tell all you master headlight jedi's.

The reflector headlight housings that come from the manufacturer with HID's were specially designed for HID's.

 

[barch88]

So you're superior to me because you have a 1.4T and I have a 1.8. LOL . If I wanted a car that actually had a "real engine" I'd buy something other than a Chevy Sonic, let's just put it that way. Anyone who buys a Sonic and expects fast are kidding themselves, regardless of which motor it is. Get a boosted car that actually has real potential if we're going to get into that argument. I have nothing against the 1.4T, I'd like to have one sure, but I'm more than happy with the 1.8 - the car is what it is. I got my 1.8 for a number of different reasons and in the end was clearly a good business decision, so why do you care about my engine?

If people want to put HID's in their car, let them. We don't bash the way you customize your car. Stop being such a bitch and realize the HID's for some people like myself are for the look factor, and some of us do enjoy the look of them. When I say I actually enjoy the look and brightness of them, don't call me a liar, I'm pretty sure I know how I feel about them, since I'm the one speaking for myself. I'm not saying the experience is going to be the same for everybody.

I insult woman because I say you act like one on her period, my girlfriend thought that was hilarious, actually. I know your type, but I won't go into detail because this is already off topic enough.

TLDR: People are going to put HID's in their stock housing if they want to, some people enjoy the look of them, your opinion is just that, an opinion. Get your panties out of a bunch and get off your 1.4T high horse, your car is still a sub compact worth less than 20k....

 

[BKamp613]

This is from another thread:

The way I understood it is that the bulb styles with "R" at the end were designed for reflector housings, and would actually give me a decent cutoff. If they won't, then I'll just get better halogen bulbs and deal with it.

That may be the case, but most likely for reflectors that were designed for HID. The bulb doesn't provide the cutoff, it's the shape of the reflector bowl (or projector lens/shield) and notches inside.

As posted here (post #38 and others): http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/exterior-modifications/8763-h-i-ds-what-brand-you-guys-using-4.html

2008 Mustang

Halogen

HID

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/exterior-modifications/9322-possible-retrofit-dxr-hid-bulbs.html#post201205

Regardless, I'll be thankful my next car will have factory xenons. Retrofitting is great, but Chevy should have at least given us halogen projectors. Putting HIDs in those aren't nearly as bad as reflectors.

/end rant cuz I'm giving my Sonic to the wife and don't care anymore.

 

[ahtoxa]

Some invest a lot of ego into their cars and mods, unwilling to admit that their mods may not work as well as they through after facing the facts.

I was a ricer in my teens. Been there done that.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

Some invest a lot of ego into their cars and mods, unwilling to admit that their mods may not work as well as they through after facing the facts.

I was a ricer in my teens. Been there done that.

I really do hate the term ricer, anyways everyone has their own taste in mods and what they choose to do, you make your car unique and those who choose to be different more often than not get knocked for it...I ask this, are you gonna knock someone who added a carbon fiber hood not because it reduces weight or actually has a purpose other than looks??, a big wing that clearly blocks your field of vision but looks nice, lowering your car(properly) but still to the point you could have a failure that could cause an accident for yourself or god forbid someone else. I had no intent to start a fight with anyone over their beliefs and or facts, I have done a side by side with my neighbors early model gmc envoy and our lights aren't that much different other than mine being a circle and his an oval thus making the beam different, this is why I stick to my guns on this topic. ....Some cars can pull off HIDs in a stock housing and others cannot and I truly believe that

 

[ChrisJ]

So you're superior to me because you have a 1.4T and I have a 1.8. LOL . If I wanted a car that actually had a "real engine" I'd buy something other than a Chevy Sonic, let's just put it that way. Anyone who buys a Sonic and expects fast are kidding themselves, regardless of which motor it is. Get a boosted car that actually has real potential if we're going to get into that argument. I have nothing against the 1.4T, I'd like to have one sure, but I'm more than happy with the 1.8 - the car is what it is. I got my 1.8 for a number of different reasons and in the end was clearly a good business decision, so why do you care about my engine?

If people want to put HID's in their car, let them. We don't bash the way you customize your car. Stop being such a bitch and realize the HID's for some people like myself are for the look factor, and some of us do enjoy the look of them. When I say I actually enjoy the look and brightness of them, don't call me a liar, I'm pretty sure I know how I feel about them, since I'm the one speaking for myself. I'm not saying the experience is going to be the same for everybody.

I insult woman because I say you act like one on her period, my girlfriend thought that was hilarious, actually. I know your type, but I won't go into detail because this is already off topic enough.

TLDR: People are going to put HID's in their stock housing if they want to, some people enjoy the look of them, your opinion is just that, an opinion. Get your panties out of a bunch and get off your 1.4T high horse, your car is still a sub compact worth less than 20k....

You mean an adult? Yeah... you'll be an adult one day as well. From the sound of it you've got a while though.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

No cars with a housing designed for halogens "pull off" HIDs. None. I already provided concrete and scientific evidence as to why and even offered to clarify or answer questions. You either didn't read it, didn't understand it, or simply don't care.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

In the end I never said I didn't believe you...I just said I personally believe they can...your proof is in the pudding and mad props to you for proving it, but I was simply stating my opinion in my last comment...Case closed you've proven us wrong...

 

[barch88]

Alright let me just set this straight...

No one is denying that HID's are better in the correct projection housing. I think at the end of the day all we were saying is that HID's in the Sonic's housing isn't as blinding as you think. Sure it may not be the best way to do HID's, nor the brightest and none of us are saying it is - but it looks good (to some) and isn't that much different from stock, from what I can tell. In fact I personally have noticed no reduced visibility (I still believe my HID's are brighter than my stock bulbs were after driving around with both off and on).

To call us "ricer" because we have HID's is funny too. First off all, our cars are USDM not JDM. Secondly, my car doesn't have a fart-can or tacky Wal-Mart/Autozone stuff on it. If you think HID's in halogen housing makes a ricer, you have to really relearn what that term actually means.

Done with this thread. At the end of the day we are all Sonic enthusiasts and come here to talk about our cars, and enjoy our cars. I enjoy mine, you enjoy yours, lets end the rant. Sorry if I "offended" anybody, but it's the internet so get over it.

 

[ahtoxa]

Alright let me just set this straight...

Facts have already been brought up. There's nothing to set straight.

No one is denying that HID's are better in the correct projection housing. I think at the end of the day all we were saying is that HID's in the Sonic's housing isn't as blinding as you think.

We don't think, we know based on scientific fact, particularly evidence of light scatter and distortion.

Sure it may not be the best way to do HID's, nor the brightest and none of us are saying it is - but it looks good (to some) and isn't that much different from stock, from what I can tell. In fact I personally have noticed no reduced visibility (I still believe my HID's are brighter than my stock bulbs were after driving around with both off and on).

Everyone has their opinion, I respect that, but do consider the known facts.

To call us "ricer" because we have HID's is funny too. First off all, our cars are USDM not JDM. Secondly, my car doesn't have a fart-can or tacky Wal-Mart/Autozone stuff on it. If you think HID's in halogen housing makes a ricer, you have to really relearn what that term actually means.

I didn't call you or anyone a ricer. I called myself a ricer because that's what I was in my teens.

Done with this thread. At the end of the day we are all Sonic enthusiasts and come here to talk about our cars, and enjoy our cars. I enjoy mine, you enjoy yours, lets end the rant. Sorry if I "offended" anybody, but it's the internet so get over it.

No one is offended. Many other enthusiasts are simply asking those out there to be more understanding of other drivers. You may like the look of the new mod but it shouldn't be detrimental to other drivers out there. Believe me, most of us have been blinded by HIDs in stock housings. Some of us are more tolerant of it than others but fact is fact - it's hindering, especially on a dark 2-lane country road where there's not much light.