Eco cruze vs sonic rs?
- Thread starter ShadowRS
- Start date
dkennedy1989
Member
You know I was going to say it was because of the gearing in the Cruze. I notice it too.
Problem is, I thought the RS had the same trans as the Cruze.
The RS has a different ratio, it might feel that way since cruze will stay in gear longer than the RS does?
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ChrisJ
Active member
I don't own a Cruze Eco or a Sonic RS.
My Cruze and Sonic are both 1.4 T LTs with manual transmissions. They will both stay in gear as long as I want.
sx sonic
New member
The sonic RS has the shortest gearing in the M32 trans family. The Cruze ECO has the 2nd tallest gearing, and the LT sonic has the tallest gearing.
The result of the change in gearing is how these cars feel during acceleration and also gas mileage.
Shorter gearing gives the impression of being quicker and more responsive gear for gear (1st vs 1st, 2nd vs 2nd, etc). You also go thru more gears to get to the same speed, which typically makes it feel faster.
Taller gearing on the otherhand feels less responsive. But it pulls longer gear for gear making it feel torqueier or stronger gear for gear.
Unless the gear ratios suck and time is wasted shifting too much or spinning tires off the line (short gearing). OR the the car is real doggy off the line or can't keep the engine in the powerband (tall gearing, there isn't going to be hardly any difference in how fast the car Actually gets up to speed; the engine might Feel different, but It's really not.
That's the case with the 1.4t Cruze vs. Cruze ECO vs. Sonic vs. Sonic RS.... Same engine, same amount of power and near indistinguishable acceleration times (sonic vs sonic, cruze vs cruze). It's all a feeling and not what's really going on. The only real tangible difference is fuel economy, with taller gearing taking the cake.
TL;dr
The actual power difference is all in your head. The Cruze is slower, because It's heavier. If it was a Sonic LT it would feel the same ad the cruze but accelerate to speed the same as the RS.
The result of the change in gearing is how these cars feel during acceleration and also gas mileage.
Shorter gearing gives the impression of being quicker and more responsive gear for gear (1st vs 1st, 2nd vs 2nd, etc). You also go thru more gears to get to the same speed, which typically makes it feel faster.
Taller gearing on the otherhand feels less responsive. But it pulls longer gear for gear making it feel torqueier or stronger gear for gear.
Unless the gear ratios suck and time is wasted shifting too much or spinning tires off the line (short gearing). OR the the car is real doggy off the line or can't keep the engine in the powerband (tall gearing, there isn't going to be hardly any difference in how fast the car Actually gets up to speed; the engine might Feel different, but It's really not.
That's the case with the 1.4t Cruze vs. Cruze ECO vs. Sonic vs. Sonic RS.... Same engine, same amount of power and near indistinguishable acceleration times (sonic vs sonic, cruze vs cruze). It's all a feeling and not what's really going on. The only real tangible difference is fuel economy, with taller gearing taking the cake.
TL;dr
The actual power difference is all in your head. The Cruze is slower, because It's heavier. If it was a Sonic LT it would feel the same ad the cruze but accelerate to speed the same as the RS.
ChrisJ
Active member
Kind of reminds me of years ago my dad bought my mom a new blazer with a 3.73 diff where her previous one had I think 3.08 or 3.42. She swore the new one was slower and we all knew different.
laborsmith
New member
Why dont we just have a Sonic Eco
We do, only Chevy calls it the Turbo LT.
The better question: Why can't I find a Sonic RS (either 1.6t or 2.0t) at the local Chevy dealership? :sadbanana:
Laborsmith
In addition to this, I have reason to believe that the 1.4 just get's better and better as it breaks in... We have had the cruze brand new as well, and it just seems the fuel economy keeps getting better and the engine feels stronger.
Another point to add, I also checked the spark gap a while ago on the cruze and they were all over the place.. Changed those up.... Maybe i'll check the sonic as well.
Another point to add, I also checked the spark gap a while ago on the cruze and they were all over the place.. Changed those up.... Maybe i'll check the sonic as well.
ChrisJ
Active member
Would you just forget about family 1 engines and upgrade to family 0 already?
How about a 1.2 liter family 0 producing 170hp per liter. Now that would go sweet in the Sonic.
laborsmith
New member
Mit, I will be at the Fatman's in Ohio Sunday around 2 or 3 and hope to see you again.
The RS has the 1967 Camaro RS crossed flags fender emblems instead of the Sonic vinyl the LT wore, but otherwise will look familiar.
Although I believe the 1.6t would work with the M32, I kind of like the idea of a factory 2.0t w/ F40 - referably a two seater occupting the same footprint the Sonic HB does.
(And Sunrise Yellow, Chevy!)
Laborsmith
The RS has the 1967 Camaro RS crossed flags fender emblems instead of the Sonic vinyl the LT wore, but otherwise will look familiar.
Although I believe the 1.6t would work with the M32, I kind of like the idea of a factory 2.0t w/ F40 - referably a two seater occupting the same footprint the Sonic HB does.
(And Sunrise Yellow, Chevy!)
Laborsmith
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
I am going to try and be there. Other than the J-BOM BBQ I have not done any car related activities this year.
It would be nice if GM would bring some hot rod engine to the Sonic. Something in the area of 200-220 would make for a fun ride and could probably be set up for decent economy at the same time.
On the other end of the spectrum a small turbo diesel with a 6 speed manual would probably do wonders for the CAFE numbers.
It would be nice if GM would bring some hot rod engine to the Sonic. Something in the area of 200-220 would make for a fun ride and could probably be set up for decent economy at the same time.
On the other end of the spectrum a small turbo diesel with a 6 speed manual would probably do wonders for the CAFE numbers.
davecerv
New member
dkennedy1989
Member
I think we all would trade in our sonic's for an SS making 270 hp.
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