Need a second car - suggestions welcome! - Page 2

FenwickHockey65 · 05-04-2017, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

Any word on the Sonic or Cruze SS? I know that rumor's been going forever, but one can hope.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Out of the three you're considering, Cruze Diesel for sure. 52 MPG is insane.

DRKS1D3 · 05-05-2017, 05:34 AM

My suggestion is a Cruze.

I lease my work vehicles and every 3 years I get a new one. I had a 2013 Cruze RS and now I have a '17 RS. It is a fun little car with plenty of room and the gas mileage is superb. The 1st gen Cruze was great, but this 2nd gen is on another level. Traveling back and forth to work (14 miles one way, 85% highway) with the '13, I averaged ~33MPG, but with the '17, I'm getting ~40.5MPG. Quite impressive if you ask me. Keep in mind, the 2nd gen's got a bump in hp and torque too (the turbo 1.4L now has 153hp instead of the old 138hp). It really makes a difference. Over Christmas, I traveled back home to Pittsburgh (200 miles). All highway, over the Appalachian Mtns and while running 75mph, I averaged 45MPG. Being a GM guy and giving an unbiased opinion, it is the best bang for the buck (~$23k). Sporty appearance (w/ the RS Package), a powerful little engine and great gas mileage.

Good luck with the purchase.

SS 1LE · 05-05-2017, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

Why do you say the Sonic is a POS? I haven't started driving anything yet, so I don't know.

My job has three of them as company cars for some of the R&D crew to use to make trips to local vendors. They all have had multiple trips to the dealer for many issues and they all have less then 20,000 miles on them. The car was developed by a GM subsidiary in Korea...I just think there are better choices.

shaffe · 05-05-2017, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

Sonic is a POS...

Civic Sport hatch or Si sedan...both have a 6 speed manual.

Or maybe a Focus ST or Fiesta ST?

GTI?

Too bad there isn't a performance based Cruze.

+1 for Focus ST or Fiesta ST. Everyone I know that has one, has said that they are crazy fun to drive.

SS 1LE · 05-05-2017, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sicpuppy

Fiat 500 Abarth (2017). I will put a smile on your face every time you drive it. I drive it more than my 2016 Camaro SS. I love the car. My cost out the door was about $21,000 with tax, gap, and everything else. Go drive one.

Pretty sure I read the 500 has the lowest reliability rating of any car sold in the US. That would be a huge factor in a purchase...

Expunge · 05-05-2017, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prod

Get an HHR, and still have about $22,000 in your pocket.

The cruze is nice, and can be improved with a tune to turn up the boost.

Truth. I have an '09 HHR as my daily with 151K miles and it wont die. Been rear-ended twice (KIA Sedona minivan and a Mazda 3) and drove away both times while the other cars were totaled.

Gets 27 - 28mpg, all day long, very low cost of ownership and is surprisingly roomy on the inside. Yeah it is ugly as sin, yeah the front end with all the rock chips on it looks like it has gone through atmospheric re-entry.. but it is a freaking dependable car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

Pretty sure I read the 500 has the lowest reliability rating of any car sold in the US. That would be a huge factor in a purchase...

Resale on them is terrible.

zq8colorado04 · 05-05-2017, 01:57 PM

Wife has a Sonic RS...I really like it. Not the fastest or most fuel efficient when the RS package is added but it's kind of sporty and with the rear seats down hauls quite a bit. I look forward to daily driving it when we upgrade her to a ZR2 in a few years.

bpang1234 · 05-05-2017, 05:04 PM

FiST all the way in that price range.

JerTM · 05-05-2017, 05:20 PM

I like both cruzes I have owned. I liked the manual better. They are good cars in just about all aspects aside from rear passenger leg space. I am 5'10" and when I sit comfortably (no gangsta lean or hugging the steering wheel) My 8 year old can barely get her legs behind my seat. It's not as bad as the Camaro, but for a 4dr car it could have used about 3-5 more inches between the seats.

Angrybird 12 · 05-05-2017, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

Sonic is a POS...

Civic Sport hatch or Si sedan...both have a 6 speed manual.

Or maybe a Focus ST or Fiesta ST?

GTI?

Too bad there isn't a performance based Cruze.

Forget the Fiesta, had to rent one and drive about 300 miles home, most uncomfortable car I have ever been in. The shape of the center console was pressing and rubbing on my right leg, by the time I got home I could hardly stand up..

riozlander · 05-06-2017, 03:51 AM

My suggestion and only one.
Never buy German the moment you hit 100,000 its all down hill.
I have 30years of living with these cars and my parents have 45 years of owning driving and getting them repaired. They are not built like the use to be. They fall apart, your getting the best newest and most importantly fragile technology.
Oh boy my vw golf has a automated butt scratcher with Bluetooth technology that makes it so if I fart I can Bluetooth send and carpet bomb my buddy lol lol lol......and now its broken.
I get everything breaks. But the frequency it does in a German car now a days... You almost never enjoy the car.
Yay its fixed in so happy aaaaand its broken again....
And if you do NEVER get the triptronic shift on the automatic transmission....we have had it go out that little computer 7,000$.
Oh and god forbid if you ever skip a service recommendation in the owners manual...
Check engine light. Mercedes is the worse
2008 sl500. Trunk light dies check engine. Oh and you have a v8 with 16 sparkplugs 2 per cylinder...joy of joys German cars are over priced on everything

Quix · 05-06-2017, 11:02 AM

I'd consider a Mazda 3 Hatchback, they're available with a manual. The 2016+ Civic is worth a look too, and the Impreza you mentioned is also really nice.

All 3 of those are more fun to drive (at least in my opinion) than a Cruze or Sonic. And they also good predicted reliability over and consumer reports. I owned a 2010 Mazda 3 for 7 years and never had a single issue with it.

If you do go with a Sonic or Cruze, I'd look for a previous model year one because GM is discounting them massively. Massive discounts can sway decisions sometimes.

bpang1234 · 05-06-2017, 03:05 PM

Mazda 3 is a solid choice...great handling, good interior, good MPGs.

A couple that usually runs a Miata at autocross with me had it break on course...the next day (we do Saturday and Sunday here) they brought the wife's bone-stock Mazda 3 and were right up in the running for whatever class they were in with no preparation whatsoever.

I would either wait for the remodel/refresh OR get one now at a discount.

HeavyIOM · 05-11-2017, 10:02 AM

Id highly recommend the focus ST!! I have had a little seat time in one and it was a blast to drive the entire time! Everyone i know who owns one or has owned one absolutely loves them! The aftermarket support will probably be a little better than say a cruise or a sonic as well.

05-05-2017, 05:34 AM	#16
DRKS1D3 Drives: '17 Corvette Grand Sport M7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,748	My suggestion is a Cruze. I lease my work vehicles and every 3 years I get a new one. I had a 2013 Cruze RS and now I have a '17 RS. It is a fun little car with plenty of room and the gas mileage is superb. The 1st gen Cruze was great, but this 2nd gen is on another level. Traveling back and forth to work (14 miles one way, 85% highway) with the '13, I averaged ~33MPG, but with the '17, I'm getting ~40.5MPG. Quite impressive if you ask me. Keep in mind, the 2nd gen's got a bump in hp and torque too (the turbo 1.4L now has 153hp instead of the old 138hp). It really makes a difference. Over Christmas, I traveled back home to Pittsburgh (200 miles). All highway, over the Appalachian Mtns and while running 75mph, I averaged 45MPG. Being a GM guy and giving an unbiased opinion, it is the best bang for the buck (~$23k). Sporty appearance (w/ the RS Package), a powerful little engine and great gas mileage. Good luck with the purchase. __________________ MY RIDE: 2017 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT--TRIPLE BLACK, 7 SPEED MANUAL, VARARAM TCR-7 INTAKE, BORLA CATLESS X-PIPE, CARBON FIBER STAGE 2 AERO, MGW SHORT-THROW SHIFTER SOLD2011 TRIPLE BLACK SS CONVERTIBLE--6 SPEED MANUAL, MANY MODS, 455 RWHP/435 RWTQ DAD'S RIDE: 2012 ZL1 #1866--BLACK, 6 SPEED MANUAL, EXPOSED CF HOOD, POLISHED WHEELS, SUNROOF, ROTO-FAB INTAKE "Silly Americans, taking from the rich and giving to the poor only works in fairy tales. Success is earned here!". Last edited by DRKS1D3; 05-05-2017 at 08:51 AM.

05-05-2017, 01:57 PM	#21
zq8colorado04 Drives: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Panama City Beach, Florida Posts: 271	Wife has a Sonic RS...I really like it. Not the fastest or most fuel efficient when the RS package is added but it's kind of sporty and with the rear seats down hauls quite a bit. I look forward to daily driving it when we upgrade her to a ZR2 in a few years. __________________ 1100: 10/13/08 3000: 03/26/09 3300: 05/08/09 3400: 05/12/09 3800: 05/25/09 4200: 05/28/09 5000: 06/09/09 6000: 06/09/09 VIN# A9111943 2SS/RS Black on Black with LS3 and a 6-speed Manual 15% Window Tint CAI StainlessWorks Catback Exhaust BMR 1.4" lowering springs

05-05-2017, 05:04 PM	#22
bpang1234 You can only YOLO once. Drives: '16 2SS & '15 Subaru Forester Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Albany, OR Posts: 1,677	FiST all the way in that price range. __________________ 2016 Camaro 2ss -Summit White / Ceramic White -8A, NPP, MRC, Ceramic White package plus knee pads, black bowties. -1st Car to have the "full" SEMA High Performance Graphics kit from 6LEDesigns. -1st Car to have the 6LEDesigns Blade Spoiler. -Borla S-Type w/ custom H-Pipe -Procharger P-1X Stage 2

05-06-2017, 03:05 PM	#27
bpang1234 You can only YOLO once. Drives: '16 2SS & '15 Subaru Forester Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Albany, OR Posts: 1,677	Mazda 3 is a solid choice...great handling, good interior, good MPGs. A couple that usually runs a Miata at autocross with me had it break on course...the next day (we do Saturday and Sunday here) they brought the wife's bone-stock Mazda 3 and were right up in the running for whatever class they were in with no preparation whatsoever. I would either wait for the remodel/refresh OR get one now at a discount. __________________ 2016 Camaro 2ss -Summit White / Ceramic White -8A, NPP, MRC, Ceramic White package plus knee pads, black bowties. -1st Car to have the "full" SEMA High Performance Graphics kit from 6LEDesigns. -1st Car to have the 6LEDesigns Blade Spoiler. -Borla S-Type w/ custom H-Pipe -Procharger P-1X Stage 2

05-05-2017, 05:20 PM	#23
JerTM Drives: 2011 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Utah Posts: 1,940	I like both cruzes I have owned. I liked the manual better. They are good cars in just about all aspects aside from rear passenger leg space. I am 5'10" and when I sit comfortably (no gangsta lean or hugging the steering wheel) My 8 year old can barely get her legs behind my seat. It's not as bad as the Camaro, but for a 4dr car it could have used about 3-5 more inches between the seats.

05-06-2017, 03:51 AM	#25
riozlander that guy <-------- Drives: 2012 camaro V6 LS M6 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern Commiefornia Posts: 730	My suggestion and only one. Never buy German the moment you hit 100,000 its all down hill. I have 30years of living with these cars and my parents have 45 years of owning driving and getting them repaired. They are not built like the use to be. They fall apart, your getting the best newest and most importantly fragile technology. Oh boy my vw golf has a automated butt scratcher with Bluetooth technology that makes it so if I fart I can Bluetooth send and carpet bomb my buddy lol lol lol......and now its broken. I get everything breaks. But the frequency it does in a German car now a days... You almost never enjoy the car. Yay its fixed in so happy aaaaand its broken again.... And if you do NEVER get the triptronic shift on the automatic transmission....we have had it go out that little computer 7,000$. Oh and god forbid if you ever skip a service recommendation in the owners manual... Check engine light. Mercedes is the worse 2008 sl500. Trunk light dies check engine. Oh and you have a v8 with 16 sparkplugs 2 per cylinder...joy of joys German cars are over priced on everything

05-06-2017, 11:02 AM	#26
Quix Drives: 2016 2LT V6 Garnet Red Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 106	I'd consider a Mazda 3 Hatchback, they're available with a manual. The 2016+ Civic is worth a look too, and the Impreza you mentioned is also really nice. All 3 of those are more fun to drive (at least in my opinion) than a Cruze or Sonic. And they also good predicted reliability over and consumer reports. I owned a 2010 Mazda 3 for 7 years and never had a single issue with it. If you do go with a Sonic or Cruze, I'd look for a previous model year one because GM is discounting them massively. Massive discounts can sway decisions sometimes.

05-11-2017, 10:02 AM	#28
HeavyIOM Drives: 2010 SS, 2000 Pontiac Formula Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 509	Id highly recommend the focus ST!! I have had a little seat time in one and it was a blast to drive the entire time! Everyone i know who owns one or has owned one absolutely loves them! The aftermarket support will probably be a little better than say a cruise or a sonic as well.