JTee2017
Well-known member
In Australia the Sonic is the Barina, Aveo in Europe, and another model name is some other countries. Power trains differ as well in each country.
Looks like Sonic is back on the chopping block
- Thread starter Chazzz
- Start date
In Australia the Sonic is the Barina, Aveo in Europe, and another model name is some other countries. Power trains differ as well in each country.
LorbeerTLC
Member
Wouldn't you just love to grab a GM Executive and...
Wouldn't you just love to grab a GM Executive, pull them aside and say, "OK, let's cut the crap and come clean! What the hell are your plans for the Chevrolet Sonic? Are you planning on resurrecting it as an EV or are you going to outright kill it? You're driving all of us loyal Sonic owners at the Forum crazy! It's like the Sonic is some kind of POW and you're removing what dignity it has left and just when you think, 'ok, that's it,' YOU LET IT LIVE FOR ANOTHER YEAR!" *shaking the crap out of GM with some added spittle*
Sorry...
I can't help but think this is the work of Gary Larson (it DOES have a "Far Side" to it)!
Wouldn't you just love to grab a GM Executive, pull them aside and say, "OK, let's cut the crap and come clean! What the hell are your plans for the Chevrolet Sonic? Are you planning on resurrecting it as an EV or are you going to outright kill it? You're driving all of us loyal Sonic owners at the Forum crazy! It's like the Sonic is some kind of POW and you're removing what dignity it has left and just when you think, 'ok, that's it,' YOU LET IT LIVE FOR ANOTHER YEAR!" *shaking the crap out of GM with some added spittle*
Sorry...
I can't help but think this is the work of Gary Larson (it DOES have a "Far Side" to it)!
dannyg
Member
I'd also like to shake him/her and say "why the eff didn't you leave at least one trim with manual transmission for 2020?"
Honda is selling more manuals these days...not less...still a small number but 13.6% of 2018 Civics were manuals...
https://www.autoblog.com/2019/05/17/honda-manual-transmission-take-rate/
Honda is selling more manuals these days...not less...still a small number but 13.6% of 2018 Civics were manuals...
https://www.autoblog.com/2019/05/17/honda-manual-transmission-take-rate/
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LorbeerTLC
Member
I 100% couldn't agreed more!
Some people seem to feel that the "paddle-shifts" on the steering wheels replace the need for a manual transmission. And to those people I say, "If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand!"
For me, having a stick-shift with a clutch puts the FUN back in driving!! It makes it an absolute blast to drive and it can be therapeutical to the soul! The enjoyment a manual transmission can add to the driving experience and it's like driving a convertible with the top down on a warm, sunny day!
The elimination of an optional (standard) manual transmission for the Chevrolet Sonic is in my view just another excuse to drive a nail it the already enclosed coffin.
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dannyg
Member
I 100% couldn't agreed more!
Some people seem to feel that the "paddle-shifts" on the steering wheels replace the need for a manual transmission. And to those people I say, "If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand!"
For me, having a stick-shift with a clutch puts the FUN back in driving!! It makes it an absolute blast to drive and it can be therapeutical to the soul! The enjoyment a manual transmission can add to the driving experience for me is like driving a convertible with the top down on a warm, sunny day!
The elimination of an optional (standard) manual transmission for the Chevrolet Sonic is in my view just another excuse to drive a nail it the already enclosed coffin.
You're right!
As of now the Chevy 2020 car lineup (in the US) is Spark/Sonic/Malibu. I'm clinging to a slight hope for an updated Sonic with manual for 2021 since they're updating the Trax/Encore. But the way things are going my next car will probably be a 2019 manual Sonic or 2018 Cruze or Mazda3 or Civic or something like that (manuals all).
Chevy dropped the manual from the 2019 Cruze so that's out. But a 2018 manual should be pretty cheap since they discontinued the Cruze. So that's a possibility.
dannyg
Member
I haven't driven a Civic in years, but they were excellent light shifters "back in the day" and I will def test-drive one when it's time to get a new vehicle. I can't stand the look of the Civic hatch so it would have to be a sedan.
All modern cars are easy to shift compared to the old days, say my brother's old 3sp Gremlin!
dannyg
Member
Don't worry, I'll test drive to find out for myself. Couldn't be worse than my old 1986 V6 Ranger 4x4 5sp!
LorbeerTLC
Member
I just don't understand...
You know, I absolutely LOVE my 2012 Sonic! It's been one of the best cars I've ever had. And it's frustrating to see GM "sabotage" one of the BEST subcompacts GM has ever made, especially in the U.S.A.
Remember back in 2012 when the Sonic first debut all the TV commercials promoting it? When I ordered mine in the fall of 2011, they didn't even offer an automatic yet for the 1.4L turbo engine (it came out later in 2012. Not that it mattered as I would only get a manual anyway). Now the car is literally struggling and GM has done practically nothing to help it.
GM Authority: Sonic Sales continue to Fall
So the question is: "What gives?" Why is GM keeping the Sonic if there are no signs of them doing a re-design? I have a theory...
I've heard that Orion is gearing up to produce 100% electric cars. I'm wondering if 2021 will debut an electric Sonic? Either that or when they do go 100% electric that's when the Sonic is finally cut from GM's portfolio. Otherwise, wouldn't you think they would have killed the Sonic the same time they announced ending the Cruze? Or maybe there was an agreement with the UAW that the Sonic would have a 10 year production date (??) as part of an agreement to build it here.
Whatever the reason, GM is not putting any money into it and sales keep falling. Now they're going to discontinue offering a standard manual transmission in 2020. How is that supposed to improve sales?
I just don't understand...
You know, I absolutely LOVE my 2012 Sonic! It's been one of the best cars I've ever had. And it's frustrating to see GM "sabotage" one of the BEST subcompacts GM has ever made, especially in the U.S.A.
Remember back in 2012 when the Sonic first debut all the TV commercials promoting it? When I ordered mine in the fall of 2011, they didn't even offer an automatic yet for the 1.4L turbo engine (it came out later in 2012. Not that it mattered as I would only get a manual anyway). Now the car is literally struggling and GM has done practically nothing to help it.
GM Authority: Sonic Sales continue to Fall
So the question is: "What gives?" Why is GM keeping the Sonic if there are no signs of them doing a re-design? I have a theory...
I've heard that Orion is gearing up to produce 100% electric cars. I'm wondering if 2021 will debut an electric Sonic? Either that or when they do go 100% electric that's when the Sonic is finally cut from GM's portfolio. Otherwise, wouldn't you think they would have killed the Sonic the same time they announced ending the Cruze? Or maybe there was an agreement with the UAW that the Sonic would have a 10 year production date (??) as part of an agreement to build it here.
Whatever the reason, GM is not putting any money into it and sales keep falling. Now they're going to discontinue offering a standard manual transmission in 2020. How is that supposed to improve sales?
I just don't understand...
dannyg
Member
...
Whatever the reason, GM is not putting any money into it and sales keep falling. Now they're going to discontinue offering a standard manual transmission in 2020. How is that supposed to improve sales?
I just don't understand...
Tough to know what’s going on. I’m just hoping sales will tick up after the Cruze is gone from dealer lots. Dropping the manual won’t help, no idea why they completely dropped it instead of at least offering it on a trim or two. RSs should at least offer it, aren’t they supposed to be “sporty”? You could require RS to get manual option. That would be annoying to me, since it would mean no base stick LS, but at least I could save up towards a stick LT RS!
At this point I guess I’ll wait to see what happens next year, see if there’s any sign of an updated version. I don’t mind—I’m very happy with my 2015 so far!
Sorry GM, not buying electric. Not buying a crossover. Not buying automatic.
“No stick, no sale.”
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In talking with my Zone rep Manual Transmissions across all model lines are falling dramatically. In the South Central Region Manual Trans in any Sonic for 2018 was 5%. The only reason Sonic survived and Cruze didn't is that sales didn't slip as bad. But they did slip. Chevy Sonic Sales Numbers, Figures, Results | GM Authority
GM is trying to streamline production and producing only 1 engine/transmission is certainly one way to do that. But for those that still want the Sonic with a manual I did a locate this morning. Within 2000 miles of Houston and in any body type or trim level there are 40 vehicles showing in inventory.
GM is trying to streamline production and producing only 1 engine/transmission is certainly one way to do that. But for those that still want the Sonic with a manual I did a locate this morning. Within 2000 miles of Houston and in any body type or trim level there are 40 vehicles showing in inventory.
The problem with killing the Cruze is the fact that the sales slipped becuase the second generation looked like crap and despite having more HP and Torque it still managed to be slower. Then top it off by putting in features people didn't want and ommitting things that people wanted. It's no wonder it sold horribly. Self fulfilling prophecy Chevy...
At least I have my 2019 Sonic Hatchback. It's probably the last of the Mohicans.
At least I have my 2019 Sonic Hatchback. It's probably the last of the Mohicans.
Sonic and Cruze are both ending because no one is buying them.The sales numbers have dropped a large amount over each year as we have seen.
Everyone wants suv's and crossovers and GM seems to only want to develop electric cars outside of that besides trucks.
The last year of the Sonic available in Canada was the 2018.At least the 2019 and 2020 are still being sold in the states.I still think the Spark is too small for most peoples needs and the Sonic would have been the model to keep around.
Everyone wants suv's and crossovers and GM seems to only want to develop electric cars outside of that besides trucks.
The last year of the Sonic available in Canada was the 2018.At least the 2019 and 2020 are still being sold in the states.I still think the Spark is too small for most peoples needs and the Sonic would have been the model to keep around.
Well, everything is getting bigger - I traded off a Sonic for a Honda CR-V last week... The newly redesigned CR-V, which is Honda's compact SUV (no manual transmission here either) has more interior space than the Chevy Equinox, by almost 10 cu ft... I agree with Edmund's review of the CR-V. Once you drive it, it will leave you wondering why you would need something bigger. Go figure.
Trax/Sonic hatch compete with the sub-compact HR-V and they are all very small in comparison to the CR-V.
Trax/Sonic hatch compete with the sub-compact HR-V and they are all very small in comparison to the CR-V.
dannyg
Member
For gits and shiggles I thought out how you could “streamline production” without dropping the manual:
—Sedans all non-RS (hatches remain all RS)
—Premium/LS auto only (LT automatic/manual)
—Standardize various features:
——Sunroof std on Premium
——Safety tech std on LT, no sunroof option (sorry!)
——Interior of LT/Prem identical except for seats
——One interior color for LT, one for Prem
—Very few factory options on each trim, except color (dealer installed ones fine)
—LS fleet only?
Obviously I don’t have access to sales info. Free advice, take it for what it’s worth!
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dannyg
Member
Congrats on your new ride!
You’re right, everything gets bigger. If they ever update the Sonic I’d make it a touch bigger just like say new Civics are noticeably bigger than old ones...
That is a nice looking vehicle but I heard that Honda’s 1.5L Turbo has a issue with being driven for short distances in the cold.
https://www.wardsauto.com/engines/honda-15l-engine-suffers-cold-weather-oil-dilution-problem
