"Would you buy it again?"

[striper]

We bought our Sonic, 1.4 auto, to replace my wife's last A4. She had two of them. We actually wanted to buy our last Audi off lease but Audi Financial were such d--kheads, my wife said screw them and we'll look for something else. Besides she wanted a smaller car. We went to look at the Cruze, but when she saw the Sonic she said let's try that car. A while after getting the Sonic, one day she said to me that she really likes her new car. Comparing it to owning the Audi, I find the Sonic very impressive and enjoy driving it. Mid range for passing is pretty impressive for such a small motor. I've thought of getting a second one to keep the miles down on my Vette. (It's no garage queen, it's an '03 Z06 with 125,000 miles on it) And my pickup gets horrible mpg's, 16 no matter how I drive. I could easily live with one but it too would get a lot of mods. It's just in my nature.

 

[bvz]

I'd buy my exact same model again (1.4t, 6spd manual, LTZ).

Really the only thing I don't like about it is the crunchy 1st to 2nd transition. It REALLY ruins what would otherwise be an amazing little car (well, it's still kind of amazing, but the crappy transmission does kind of wreck it a bit). Even so, for the price I can't imagine any other car coming close. (Mine is replacing a BMW e46 and, prior to that, an Audi A4 - both much fancier cars for sure, but the sonic holds its own surprisingly well)

As to whether I'd stick with the manual or get an automatic... manual all the way even with how bad this one is. This may well be the last manual I ever own (seven years from now when I replace it I doubt I'll buy a car that isn't in some way electrified and, as such, doesn't have a "real" transmission). And that will be a sad day for me (which is kind of why I am looking forward to self diving cars so much - if is going be automatic may as well go all the way).

The only way I wouldn't get the exact same car is if I could get one with a 1.6 turbo if that kind of thing were offered (but not if it meant an automatic or having to live with some sort of gimmicky body kit).

 

[ahtoxa]

Aw, come on, the manual in the Sonic isn't THAT bad.

I've had the 1-2 shift crunch a couple of times, but that's under extreme shifting circumstances. I am a spirited driver, and I get the crunch once every 10,000 miles or so. I've got nearly 30k on mine now and crunched 3 times that I can remember.

I've had more issues with the highly-praised T56 in my old GTO.

 

[bvz]

Ok. I may be over stating it a little...

Still, I seem to get the crunch nearly every time I shift until the transmission warms up a bit. Super slow shifts work fine and, oddly enough, very quick shifts. But normal shifts (or at least what are normal for me) crunch a little bit each time. I'm pretty sure it isn't that I'm not pushing the clutch down fast enough either because I'm trying to be super conscious about that. The crunching is mild - not a full on grind but very clearly there. It's the only thing about the car that is a little grating and makes me miss the manual on my Audi (the bimmer was a slush box).

 

[ahtoxa]

Well, I suppose there's the question of what you define as crunch. Regardless, I have zero crunches of any kind, no matter the weather and how long the car sat.

A simple thing to check would be to make sure that you shifter alignment is correct. There was a procedure posted here at some point, as I recall.

 

[bvz]

I just got shifter bushings for Christmas so those are going in soon. I read about the alignment procedure so I'll give that a shot too. And it isn't so bad I can't live with it, it just grates on my nerves each time I shift.

Unfortunately all that has to wait a bit because my little car was side swiped by a city bus last week and now I have to get that taken care of first

My first new car ever too. Nuts.

 

[attrapereves]

Ok. I may be over stating it a little...

Still, I seem to get the crunch nearly every time I shift until the transmission warms up a bit. Super slow shifts work fine and, oddly enough, very quick shifts. But normal shifts (or at least what are normal for me) crunch a little bit each time. I'm pretty sure it isn't that I'm not pushing the clutch down fast enough either because I'm trying to be super conscious about that. The crunching is mild - not a full on grind but very clearly there. It's the only thing about the car that is a little grating and makes me miss the manual on my Audi (the bimmer was a slush box).

I have the same problem. I get crunching going into 2nd and 3rd. It gets much better when the engine is warmed up or when the weather is warmer outside.