mine is a LT … 1.4T 6MT
mine is a LT … 1.4T 6MT
Knurled wrote: So, merely for information, which trim levels have the 1.4? LTZ and RS?
Looks like it. What does the RS get you besides a body kit
In reply to bgkast:
Very nice seats.
bgkast wrote:Knurled wrote: So, merely for information, which trim levels have the 1.4? LTZ and RS?Looks like it. What does the RS get you besides a body kit
Different gearing.
Knurled wrote: So, merely for information, which trim levels have the 1.4? LTZ and RS?
1.4T is optional on the LT, but standard on the LTZ and RS.
.
bgkast wrote: What does the RS get you besides a body kit
In addition to the already mentioned body kit, seats, and gearing, it also gets a lowered and sportier tuned suspension with 17's, and rear discs. The problem with the RS is that the gearing is so much shorter that it kills the fuel economy advantage the other 1.4T trims have over cars like the Fiesta ST, but without nearly as good of performance. The 1.4T in the sonic feels more eager than it's numbers would indicate, but it's still just not that quick. Tunes can help mitigate that, but won't resolve the subsequent one-wheel-peel syndrome.
In reply to Driven5:
I'll take the better gearing over a fuel economy. No point in having a 6 speed if top isn't usable. Besides, it's not like we're talking "goes from 40mpg to 25mpg".
Diffs should be available soon if not already, if the trans is shared across markets.
This pains every fiber of my being as a pro-Ford anti-GM guy, but the Fiestas just suck to me. They're fine when new but the steering goes all to hell after a few dozen thousand miles. GM has EPAS figured out.
I agree that there is no point in having a 6 speed and not taking advantage of all those available gears. That's why I see having a proper highway gear, especially when the engine has the torque curve to utilize it, as better for real world use than having small rpm drops resulting in essentially redundant gears on the street. A secondary annoyance is that I also dislike constantly having to be doing the 2-3-2 shift in autox.
In general, one of my biggest complaints with most 4 cylinder manual trans cars is the uselessly short top gear running at unnecessarily inefficient rpm on the highway..And I applaud Chevy for actually offering a 6 speed with decently spaced gears. It's great that they've got an option for either definition of "better".
I had a Bad Experience with a 4 cylinder car with a uselessly tall 5th gear. Engine barely had enough oomph to maintain highway speed on anything but the mildest grades. So I just left it in 4th. There wasn't enough engine braking for the driving experience to be annoying.
I've found that the 6th gear (.61 to 1, IIRC 5th is .74 to 1)) to be very limited in it's use.. at least locally … due mostly to the amount of hills we have … but on a trip and using cruise control it seems to do fine … I'm guessing that the car's computer is more able to control the amt. of throttle needed than I am with my foot (at least in a seamless manner) … I can mash the throttle as needed, but I'm betting that I'm using more input with my foot than the computer does … other than the steepest hills, the car, on cruise control, does fine
5th gear in my Insights is basically useless without the electric assist. It doesn't bother me to drive in 4th. I'd rather have options im not using then need an option i dont have, which is more common when you think about all the small-engine cars running annoyingly high rpm in top gear.
I suppose it all depends on what is consdered to be acceptable/annoying. (Good thing there isn't only one car on the market 
) It's also weird how it works. My Volvo's 2-liter feels like it's churning up a storm turning at 2800ish at 70. My VW is at about 4000 at those speeds and feels just fine.
Vigo wrote: 5th gear in my Insights is basically useless without the electric assist. It doesn't bother me to drive in 4th. I'd rather have options im not using then need an option i dont have, which is more common when you think about all the small-engine cars running annoyingly high rpm in top gear.
guess that depends on the car .. my Sonic at 70mph in 6th gear is turning 2100 - 2200 rpm
Knurled wrote: I suppose it all depends on what is consdered to be acceptable/annoying. (Good thing there isn't only one car on the market
yeah … my Integra at 80mph was hitting 4k rpm … really didn't sound / feel stressed
In other news, I found some new leftover 2014s and 2013s.
If one wants a 6sp shiftable automatic... with a 1.4 I would definitely prefer a manual!
Overall the package looks promising. I'm going to see if I can road test one in a week or two.
To bring this thread back up instead of starting a new one...
Making a more current day comparison, instead of the 25 year old Sentra, how would you say the Sonic LTZ/RS compares to the Honda Fit and Mazda2? I may be in the market for a new DD for myself. My must have criteria are sub $11k (I'm buying used), hatch, stick shift, fuel efficient, reliable, low consumable costs. A fun errand runner. The Fit, Sonic and Mazda2 seem at the head of that class. The '09-'11 Fit and the Mazda2 seem a bit sparse in features, though they both are very nimble and fun to drive. The Sonic seems a bit less nimble, after all it's several hundred pounds heavier. But it's quicker with potential for the Trifecta tune to make it more fun, and it has more features. My concern is will the turbo motor prove as reliable as the Fit, and resale of small a Chevy has never been a strong suit.
Haven't driven the Mazda2 yet, but have driven the Fit and Sonic. Loved them both, though the Sonic I drove was an autotragic.
In reply to Klayfish:
Have you looked at a used non ST Fiesta? Same platform as the MAzda, but slightly bigger and a slightly larger more powerful engine to offset that. You can get various handling kits off the shelf from Ford Motorsport as well. Go to the project car pages and look at the B spec project the magazine did a couple of years ago. I seem to remember a simple intake and exhaust upgrade made 5-6hp & lb/ft increase. Around 5% for simple bolt ons too. That seems like a fun and cheap DD, local autocrosser, occasional track day car.
Yup, I've driven them a few times. I like them, but for the money I want to spend I'd wind up with an S or SE trim. Maybe I'm getting soft in my middle ages, but I don't mind having a few goodies to go with my fun. That's one of the reasons I'm looking at the Sonic, as it may offer the best blend. If I'm going to go with a car that has a few less features, I'd pick the Fit or 2 over the Fiesta. I can pick up a nice Fit or 2 with around 50k miles for $8k or less. An LTZ Sonic can be had for $10k.
If you don't care about the much more useful cargo/passenger space that the Fit provides, I'd probably go with the 1.4T Sonic.
guess that depends on the car .. my Sonic at 70mph in 6th gear is turning 2100 - 2200 rpm
Well the insight is at basically the same rpm in 5th, but it has a 40% smaller engine and no turbo, so...
This tiny 4 banger sounds way more wicked than it has any right to.
It's bolt ons, tune and open cut out. I remember being impressed by the numbers but am way too lazy to Google them.
ZZP Modified Chevy Cruze on the Dyno: https://youtu.be/_0mz9QSkW20
Just to add to the pro Sonic camp, the factory alignment specs are pretty generous regarding potential stock class autocross setup. I had my 2012 Sonic on our Hunter machine a couple of weeks ago and the factory specs are:
Front
Camber: 0 to -1.6 degrees
Toe: -.05 to .15 degrees
Caster: 3.6 to 5.2 degrees
My own car measured -1 degrees camber and 4 degrees of caster from the factory. Using the correct GM camber bolts, I am now at -1.6 degrees of camber. When we get back from spring break, I am going to loosen up the front sub-frame and see if I can exploit the slop to get the caster closer to the 5.2 degree max spec.
The 2012 Ford Fiesta front end alignment specs are:
Camber: .05 to -1.45 degrees
Caster: 2.62 to 4.12 degrees
Toe: -.2 to .5 degrees
Next time I have access to Alldata or the alignment machine, I'll look up Fit, Mini, and any other H-stock class cars I can think of.
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