Sonic RS questions....

[A Horse With No Name]

Went to my local Chevrolet dealer trying to figure out if I could test drive a Sonic nRS...Ocnblu has me thinking...

But Eve, the saleswoman I usually talk to, says that there are no Sonic RS's available within 600 miles.

Is this thing special order only?

Also, I would really like to own one, but am worried about a lot of instant negative equity as small cars usually depreciate like crazy, and this thing is a little pricey...

Although it does seem like one heck of a car.

Info, please? Thoughts?

[ocnblu]

The RS is just going into production, so they haven't hit the lots yet. I feel yer pain, I am itching to see one, too.

Also, I think residual values can be found on the web, although I am not sure if those sites can offer an honest figure for the Sonic as it just came out for 2012. The car is generally seen as the best in its class, but I am not sure how that will translate, as far as resale. I wonder if KBB or Edmunds has prices up for used examples in your neighborhood...

My secret is to put a hefty downpayment on the car you want, to try to avoid being upside down in value.

Edited October 16, 2012 by ocnblu

[G. David Felt]

I totally agree with Ocnblu, Anyone buying these micro cars need to seriously consider putting down at least 20% or more as I have a gut feeling we will see their value drop as my internal gut tells me these small cars while needed are a niche market that once satisfied will have a glut of cars sitting around.

I actually do not see America flocking to these auto's in the volume of hundred of thousands that everyone is thinking will happen.

[regfootball]

I think the sonic RS is cool, but it's overpriced for the depreciation it will see, for reasons posted in the post above. I think this mini small car boom is going to level off soon.

Save ur coins for a verano turbo

[regfootball]

Or focus ST base no recaros. Lol

[A Horse With No Name]

Or focus ST base no recaros. Lol

I test drove one, and am in the process of writing a review....

I think the sonic RS is cool, but it's overpriced for the depreciation it will see, for reasons posted in the post above. I think this mini small car boom is going to level off soon.

Save ur coins for a verano turbo

Lust mode on the Verano Turbo, but it's ten grand more than the Sonic RS....and Five grand more than the FRS/BRZ, Focus ST, and GTI....

[A Horse With No Name]

The RS is just going into production, so they haven't hit the lots yet. I feel yer pain, I am itching to see one, too.

Also, I think residual values can be found on the web, although I am not sure if those sites can offer an honest figure for the Sonic as it just came out for 2012. The car is generally seen as the best in its class, but I am not sure how that will translate, as far as resale. I wonder if KBB or Edmunds has prices up for used examples in your neighborhood...

My secret is to put a hefty downpayment on the car you want, to try to avoid being upside down in value.

I like hefty down payments, but I also like residual value....which is why I normally buy used, and buy vehicles that have a high residual.

Paid 9K for the Mee-Otter 5 years ago, it's still worth about 6 5 years and 80,000 miles of use later (40,000 miles to 120,000 miles)...

Think I've done okay there....afraid a sonic would go from 20K to 12K in value in about 18 months.....

[the_yellow_dart]

Americans were finally really scared into changing their ways with this past recession. They are now paying down personal debt at record speed. Perhaps this will finally translate to some smaller auto sales.

[G. David Felt]

Americans were finally really scared into changing their ways with this past recession. They are now paying down personal debt at record speed. Perhaps this will finally translate to some smaller auto sales.

Fact is for anyone in their 20's to 40's, this is our current day Depression. Sorry but we did not crawl out of this in 2009 like the gov said, Since 2007 America and now the world is in a Major Depression due to INSTANT GRATIFICATION DEBT.

Until debt gets under control, we will be in static to meager growth.

[A Horse With No Name]

Americans were finally really scared into changing their ways with this past recession. They are now paying down personal debt at record speed. Perhaps this will finally translate to some smaller auto sales.

Fact is for anyone in their 20's to 40's, this is our current day Depression. Sorry but we did not crawl out of this in 2009 like the gov said, Since 2007 America and now the world is in a Major Depression due to INSTANT GRATIFICATION DEBT.

Until debt gets under control, we will be in static to meager growth.

Agreed, and it ain't gonna change easily....

[Drew Dowdell]

Americans were finally really scared into changing their ways with this past recession. They are now paying down personal debt at record speed. Perhaps this will finally translate to some smaller auto sales.

Fact is for anyone in their 20's to 40's, this is our current day Depression. Sorry but we did not crawl out of this in 2009 like the gov said, Since 2007 America and now the world is in a Major Depression due to INSTANT GRATIFICATION DEBT.

Until debt gets under control, we will be in static to meager growth.

depends on who's debt you are referring.

[G. David Felt]

Americans were finally really scared into changing their ways with this past recession. They are now paying down personal debt at record speed. Perhaps this will finally translate to some smaller auto sales.

Fact is for anyone in their 20's to 40's, this is our current day Depression. Sorry but we did not crawl out of this in 2009 like the gov said, Since 2007 America and now the world is in a Major Depression due to INSTANT GRATIFICATION DEBT.

Until debt gets under control, we will be in static to meager growth.

depends on who's debt you are referring.

True, but the two major kinds of debt, Government and Personal are right now the biggest harbingers of keeping us from investing in new technology. When the Gov and People cannot really afford to buy new stuff, then companies slow down investing and creating new things.

Some of us are very responsible, but we have just finished the biggest Personal Self Gratification period ever for Humanity. 1990 to 2007 was one of the biggest growth periods and until we right the issues facing near bankrupt gov and personal bankrupt cases, it will be a slug slow crawl.

[Drew Dowdell]

There is no entity in the world who can borrow cheaper than the US government. (no, 0% finance rates on cars don't count, it is factored into the price). If anything, we should be borrowing more and retiring older debt early. People have been getting personal debt (slowly) under control with more reasonable mortgages, unfortunately, CC debt has been static lately after falling for a while.

Swinging this back onto topic: In a way, great small cars like the Sonic and Focus are a good way to help people address this. My Uncle, who is a big man and a mustang guy, traded his V10 F-series for a Focus hatch a little while back. They aren't hurting for money, but the Focus was a much less expensive vehicle and much more fuel efficient. My Aunt traded her Mountineer for a CR-V (understandably) after a freakish bad accident that hurt her more than it hurt the vehicle, and she had bad feelings about the Mercury. They both have Mustangs as play vehicles, but their daily driver costs are way down.

The Focus and Sonic not being penalty boxes is a big factor here. I would never ever ever drive one of the old Civic hatchbacks, but the Sonic and Focus are more than good enough cars that they would be something I would consider.... and both are substantially cheaper than an Equinox, Fusion, or Impala (2014).

[G. David Felt]

I agree Olds that the Focus and Sonic are good rides and many will like the fuel savings with them.

My one feeling is that people will only go so far in going small. I think right now due to the world wide economy we will see many drop down to smaller size but only to a point. Eventually people will drive less to keep the comfort of the bigger auto.

I do not see millions moving to the compact / subcompact market. This is a niche area for auto sales and while it needs to be a quality product, I still see the mid size sedan as being the sweet spot.

[Drew Dowdell]

But that is exactly my point. The Sonic is a comfortable car. I wouldn't hesitate to take one on a road trip because it isn't a penalty box. The same goes for the Cruze and Verano... both of which I've taken on multi-hundred mile road trips. There were 4 of us in the Verano and the two in the back were so comfortable, they fell asleep 45 minutes into the drive .

[ocnblu]

No ridiculous cooling fan in the trunk keeping people awake and preventing the placement of suitcases.

[G. David Felt]

But that is exactly my point. The Sonic is a comfortable car. I wouldn't hesitate to take one on a road trip because it isn't a penalty box. The same goes for the Cruze and Verano... both of which I've taken on multi-hundred mile road trips. There were 4 of us in the Verano and the two in the back were so comfortable, they fell asleep 45 minutes into the drive .

I assume they all were petite like you Drew being in the 5'6" height crowd. While the Cruze is a nice auto and I take nothing away from it. I could not take it on a long road trip as I would be cramping up in the 2-3hr range unlike my Full size SUV's where I can drive for 18hrs straight except for stopping to gas up.

[the_yellow_dart]

I am 6'. My wife is 5'10". We recently did this in my Cruze.

[Drew Dowdell]

But that is exactly my point. The Sonic is a comfortable car. I wouldn't hesitate to take one on a road trip because it isn't a penalty box. The same goes for the Cruze and Verano... both of which I've taken on multi-hundred mile road trips. There were 4 of us in the Verano and the two in the back were so comfortable, they fell asleep 45 minutes into the drive .

I assume they all were petite like you Drew being in the 5'6" height crowd. While the Cruze is a nice auto and I take nothing away from it. I could not take it on a long road trip as I would be cramping up in the 2-3hr range unlike my Full size SUV's where I can drive for 18hrs straight except for stopping to gas up.

Please don't take away 4" I'm 5'10"

My Uncle is 6'3", he's fine in his Focus hatch. Another co-worker is 6'1" and has a Focus hatch also. Co-worker who sits across from me is 6'4" and drives the wheels off his Mini-Cooper.

I assume you're 7'9" if you can't fit in one of these?

[G. David Felt]

But that is exactly my point. The Sonic is a comfortable car. I wouldn't hesitate to take one on a road trip because it isn't a penalty box. The same goes for the Cruze and Verano... both of which I've taken on multi-hundred mile road trips. There were 4 of us in the Verano and the two in the back were so comfortable, they fell asleep 45 minutes into the drive .

I assume they all were petite like you Drew being in the 5'6" height crowd. While the Cruze is a nice auto and I take nothing away from it. I could not take it on a long road trip as I would be cramping up in the 2-3hr range unlike my Full size SUV's where I can drive for 18hrs straight except for stopping to gas up.

Please don't take away 4" I'm 5'10"

My Uncle is 6'3", he's fine in his Focus hatch. Another co-worker is 6'1" and has a Focus hatch also. Co-worker who sits across from me is 6'4" and drives the wheels off his Mini-Cooper.

I assume you're 7'9" if you can't fit in one of these?

Sorry,

Did not mean to take away any height from anyone, for some reason I thought you were 5'6" tall. I am glad to see that some tall people are able to get into the auto. For me I wonder if they are more long body and shorter legs and arms as I am the opposite with shorter body but very long legs and arms so for me, it is always about how far back I can get the seat so I do not feel like Origami in the drivers seat. This usually means no one can sit behind me. This was the one draw back on my CTS, No one can sit behind me.

[the_yellow_dart]

My height is all torso. Up until about 5 years ago when they started making cars taller, I couldn't fit properly in the drivers seat of most compacts or midsizers with sunroofs. My father's Grand Prix was torture - the edge of the sunroof dug into the top of my head.

[Drew Dowdell]

My height is all torso. Up until about 5 years ago when they started making cars taller, I couldn't fit properly in the drivers seat of most compacts or midsizers with sunroofs. My father's Grand Prix was torture - the edge of the sunroof dug into the top of my head.

I'm the reverse. Average torso but long legs and "gorilla arms"

[G. David Felt]

My height is all torso. Up until about 5 years ago when they started making cars taller, I couldn't fit properly in the drivers seat of most compacts or midsizers with sunroofs. My father's Grand Prix was torture - the edge of the sunroof dug into the top of my head.

I'm the reverse. Average torso but long legs and "gorilla arms"

Very cool to hear this Drew, this gives me even a better understanding then when you do your reviews as I can compare myself to how you fit in the auto.

I wish more auto reviews would take into consideration how the auto will fit a person who has long legs and arms with short body or short legs and arms with long body. Either the sun roof kills you or the ability for someone to sit behind you.

In my case, sun roofs and the ability for people to sit behind me nail it for just about all auto's. Only full size SUV's give me both except for the new Escalade. They took away so much interior room that I am holding onto my GMT800 2006 ESV Platinum Escalade as newer does not fit me.

[Drew Dowdell]

but you've also never described your stature

[G. David Felt]

but you've also never described your stature

Too True,

So here I go, I am 6'6" tall, brunett with a 40" inseam, weight is 275. I love to workout in the gym and my suit coat is a 56 in the shoulders. All my long sleeve dress shirts are from Nordstroms who seems to be one of the few that actually carries quality 2xl double tall dress shirts in a variety of colors.

So with these extra long legs and arms and wide shoulders, the interior space is a big deal to me. If I can set myself up to be comfy in the drivers seat, get out and get in behind myself and be comfy than anyone will be comfy behind me.