Radio??

[WolfByu]

If you look at the radio in this cheaper LS sonic it looks like your standard double din slot... so you can actually put a after market deck in. Kinda rare in new cars these days.

Cars for Sale: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS in Granite City, IL 62040: Sedan Details - 306091583 - AutoTrader.com

 

[Rand0m0sityxX]

The link doesn't work. The listing was taken off..

 

[Hedgehog]

I would be cautious in regards to replacing the radio as most newer vehicles use the stock radio as an interface for diagnostic purposes. My father is a service writer for Chevy and he plugs his computer into the plug under the dash and by pressing a couple buttons on the radio it is able to display error codes. I am not sure if that is the same with the Sonic or not but many of times I have the pleasure of hearing him complaining about owners of Silverados and other vehicles that he can't diagnose properly because the stock was replaced for an Alpine or Pioneer. Just be careful.

 

[Sonic]

I would be cautious in regards to replacing the radio as most newer vehicles use the stock radio as an interface for diagnostic purposes. My father is a service writer for Chevy and he plugs his computer into the plug under the dash and by pressing a couple buttons on the radio it is able to display error codes. I am not sure if that is the same with the Sonic or not but many of times I have the pleasure of hearing him complaining about owners of Silverados and other vehicles that he can't diagnose properly because the stock was replaced for an Alpine or Pioneer. Just be careful.

Can one of you Chevy engineers or dealership employees confirm or deny this?

 

[laborsmith]

GM in our case (not acquainted with others but suspect GM is not alone) has so many operations go through the radio that many audio companies make components to improve car sound (changing speakers, adding amplifiers, etc.) that allow the continued use of the OEM head unit. JBL with their MS 8 and Audiocontrol with several different products come to mind and they are not alone. Many other after-marketers have their own versions of these products. I suspect there is a reason these products are in demand, and the reason has been identified in the third post.

Laborsmith

 

[scout62]

Give it some time and Metra will have a kit out to put in an aftermarket headunit. I'm sure you'll need a data bus adapter like all the other new GMs, expect to pay upwards of $150 for it.