I Bought a Thing

"Hooker" (Hooker) 02/26/2014 at 10:40 • Filed to: None

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It was a leftover 2013 Cruze Eco with a few extra doo-dads added to it. It came from another dealer and had window tint, fog lights and other things already added that I didn't have to pay for! The car is a Crystal Red Tintcoat color that is extra cost but again, I didn't have to pay for it! I was able to get over $5,000 off as a dealer employee with incentives. Not too bad at all. It's an automatic but I'm excited either way. I thought I was ready for a big boy car with the Equinox but it drove too loose for my tastes compared to the Cruze. I'm really happy to be back in my little car.

The Equinox didn't handle poorly for what it was, just not what I'm used to. I like my fun little cars apparently.

Interior shot. I really kind of dig the black. The only gripe I have is that the MyLink screen cannot be independently dimmed from the IP lights. Small gripe but that thing is super bright even at reduced brightness at night.

I really like the 1.4 turbo motor in these cars and have had two previously. Maybe I'm done buying cars for a while? I don't know but I'm happy my payment went down significantly.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:42

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I was diggin it until I saw the auto. I like these cars but they gotta be manual, bro. Oh well at least you got a good deal

Brian Silvestro > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:42

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Explain yourself!

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:42

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Call me biased, but I think that's actually a nice thing. 6 speed auto? (I'm not judging I swear, Chevy's 6 speed auto is the only auto I have any experience with)

Nibby > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:42

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A new car with $5k off? Sounds like an awesome deal. Congrats and enjoy your new ride for hopefully years to come.

Hooker > Brian Silvestro 02/26/2014 at 10:43

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It's what it had. I have had many manual transmission cars and I loved every one but I don't need it at the moment. I have a 4 speed on the floor antique fire truck, does that count?

Tom McParland > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:44

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Congrats....nice color. I'm normally not big on red cars but that looks sharp.

Hooker > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 02/26/2014 at 10:44

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I know. But like you said, it was more about the deal. I still have manual cars, it's just that my DD isn't one of them.

Brian Silvestro > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:44

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That's perfectly fine! Congratulations on the new car!

Hooker > Nibby 02/26/2014 at 10:44

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Thanks!! I hope I can keep it running for a long time. I hope I can reign in my desire to trade vehicles all the time too!

carcrasher88 > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:45

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That Crystal Red Tintcoat is one of the best looking colors Chevy offers on their sedans. Love it!

Hooker > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 02/26/2014 at 10:46

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Yeah man. I have had 3 of them now. I think my brain is trying to tell me to stop looking for something else. I think this car really fits me. The auto or manual in these cars really are great transmissions. Not choppy like the Equinox. Much smooth. Very shift. Wow.

Hooker > Brian Silvestro 02/26/2014 at 10:46

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Thank you, sir!

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:47

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I DD an auto too lol. I do wish it was a manual though

Hooker > carcrasher88 02/26/2014 at 10:47

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I agree. It was completely by chance that we got this car. The dealership traded it for a 13 Camaro that we had had for a long time. I asked my dealer how badly he wanted the 13 off his lot. That's how it went. I'm really happy!

Hooker > Tom McParland 02/26/2014 at 10:48

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Me either, but to be honest, it's striking in person. Thanks!

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:49

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Yeah, they're very nice when you have more power available. Both of my parents' cars are 6 speed auto Chevrolets, a 236 hp Trailblazer and a 99 hp Onix. The Blazer is a great driver, soft, quiet and smooth, really relaxing when you just take it slow.

The Onix is kind of a mess though, he's probably doe more shifts by himself in the few months we've had it, than I've done in my entire life, hahahha....

Hooker > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 02/26/2014 at 10:49

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There are days I wish I had the manual. The feeling of not having anything for my left foot to do gets to me at times. That's when I go borrow my friend's Miata and take it for a screamer. :)

UserNotFound > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:51

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I drove one of those things once. It was nice, I liked it. I prefer my own thing, however.

Hooker > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 02/26/2014 at 10:51

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Those Onix cars are kind of neat though. How does it handle?

Someone Else's Projects > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:51

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Was expecting this.

Still, congrats!

CalzoneGolem > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:54

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I really like the looks and the idea of the Cruze. I really need to test drive one. To either cement it or remove it from my list of replacements for the Bullmobile.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:54

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Very well, actually. Handling is probably its strongest point, despite the listed weight of 1690 kg (!). They're small, short wheelbase and the wheels are located at the very edges of the body, so they're very easy to throw around, responding with a kind of careless abandon, as if you weren't ever pushing them far enough.

That weight issue might be a typo though.

Jayhawk Jake > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:58

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I'll excuse the auto because I know you have a fire truck.

Otherwise, welcome to the tiny turbo club. Hope you enjoy your stay!

CPT Speedbump > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 10:59

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Congrats, fun little cars, I had one for about a year, only thing I really didn't like about it was the lack of feel from the tires to the steering wheel. The manual transmission it had was fantastic (honestly, I liked it even more then my 350z transmission) though it did have a pretty heavy flywheel. Also, pushing this car to the edge in turns is scary, rather then just sliding, or hooking up and going up on 3 tires, it manages to do both..at the same time..

Hooker > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 02/26/2014 at 11:06

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Good deal, aren't those based on the same platform that underpins the Sonic?

Hooker > Someone Else's Projects 02/26/2014 at 11:06

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Sorry to leave you disappointed!! Thanks!

Hooker > CPT Speedbump 02/26/2014 at 11:09

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Indeed. I think with better tires this thing can handle limits better. The ECO tires are a bit loose. Thanks!

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 11:12

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I'm not sure, I'll have to look it up, but I think so.

It does look a little better however.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 02/26/2014 at 11:25

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I DD an auto. You got a problem with my E38?

Hooker > Jayhawk Jake 02/26/2014 at 11:31

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Thank you, sir! I am very excited! And I already removed the ECO badge and ordered the turbo badge. This car won't be driven for fuel economy so I might as well not advertise it!

Hooker > UserNotFound 02/26/2014 at 11:31

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Yeah, I really like it too!

Hooker > CalzoneGolem 02/26/2014 at 11:33

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You really do. They are really nice. I drove it back to back with a lot of other cars in the class at the time of purchase (the first one, not this one) and came away feeling like the Cruze was a higher quality, better built vehicle. The Turbo is a must, however.

CalzoneGolem > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 11:43

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My main concern is interior space. Specifically the backseat. I will need to transport 4 humans with legs on a regular basis.

Hooker > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 02/26/2014 at 11:44

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Don't say that to JayhawkJake! I like them both. I really like the color and the wheels of that one there. Safe to assume that's yours?

Jayhawk Jake > CalzoneGolem 02/26/2014 at 11:59

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Get a Sonic hatch. Same drivetrain, more headroom

EDIT: That being said, the Cruze is fine in the backseat. I rode in one a few weeks ago, at 5' 8" I was fine in the backseat, but my Sonic has more headroom. Legroom was about the same.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 12:04

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Kinda, it's my parents'. I also like both of them to be honest, but I gotta give it to the Onix in the looks department :]

Hooker > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 02/26/2014 at 12:17

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I can get on board with that. It looks like the door lines on this model follow pretty closely those on the Sonic sedan.

CalzoneGolem > Jayhawk Jake 02/26/2014 at 12:27

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I distinctly remember wedging myself into a Sonic and instantly declaring it too small.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 12:36

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Just checked and, yup, they're both on the same platform. Both the Onix and the Sonic, as well as the Sonic Sedan and the Prisma (Onix Sedan), and as the Cobalt Sedan were all built on GM's Gamma platform.

The Cobalt is a little larger though, and surprisingly spacious inside.

Slightly off topic, but I just realized that Chevrolet's current design language here in Brazil is actually pretty sweet. Some people have described it as conservative, but I actually like the bulkier, muscular lines and squared shapes. They're not too busy, like Ford's and Hyundai's angular designs, for example, but, to be honest, when everybody's doing angular cars, sqaures aren't exactly conservative.

Their family face doesn't look good on everything though.

Hooker > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 02/26/2014 at 12:45

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Couldn't agree more. I like the 'conservative' lines of the current lineup. It's classy, yet muscular looking like you said. I think it's a good look. I'm a huge fan of the twin port grille as well. Not on everything though.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 12:50

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I think the twin grille looks best when the upper portion is used as a "hood vent", as is the case in the Cruze and Onix/Prisma, and not so much when it's used as an actal grille. The offset center beam looks a little misproportioned and it tends to make fronts a little bulky.

I wonder how these would look like with simple square or rounded headlights, kinda like what the Sonic has... Might match up fine to the bodystyle.

Axial > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 15:15

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The deals you can get on these right now are astounding. I've got a friend who purchased a 2011 LTZ with ~20,000 miles on it for $12,000 out the door. For that money, it's pretty fantastic. Yours is in a prettier colour, though.

Congratulations on the new ride!

Hooker > Axial 02/26/2014 at 15:20

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Much appreciated!!! That's a steal! Even with some miles on them, they usually fetch a good bit more than that even on trade. I get the feeling the dealer really wanted to get rid of that car for some reason. May have had it a long time.

Axial > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 15:25

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They had too much inventory, so hell yeah he stole that car! This was actually back in January, smack-dab in the middle of that first round of snow storms here in VA. It was his first car, too, so I was a bit jealous because it was a lot nicer than my first car.

Hooker > Axial 02/26/2014 at 15:59

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My first car was a 1988 Lincoln Town Car. It was beat all to hell but looked amazing. I know the feeling.

Long Live the Longdoor > Hooker 02/26/2014 at 17:10

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Congrats! I have a 2011 Cruze, also with the turbo but not the Eco.

Ive made a few improvements, best of which has been the aftermarket ECU tune. The transmission on the 2011's shift like garbage when stock. The tune made it shift quicker and more intelligently (while also adding a sizable amount of power). I highly recommend it.

Long Live the Longdoor > Long Live the Longdoor 02/26/2014 at 17:18

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Wait a minute, you're Hooker, I think I might have read you the riot act on this already... You had a teal Cruze with the OEM 17" (non eco) rims right?

Hooker > Long Live the Longdoor 02/26/2014 at 17:24

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Thanks! Yeah, as I was explaining to JayhawkJake, I don't want to void the still new, warranty with a tune. It does sound awesome though.

Hooker > Long Live the Longdoor 11/04/2014 at 09:58

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You know, it's interesting, I never saw this reply because it was to yourself. I just looked back over this. haha. Yes, I had the one with the OEM non eco wheels that I then put on this car.

Sorry for the extremely late reply!

Long Live the Longdoor > Hooker 11/04/2014 at 12:06

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Lol, no problem! I actually am driving my wife's Cobalt coupe now for a couple years. We traded in the Cruze when we bought her Forester about a month ago.

Hooker > Long Live the Longdoor 11/04/2014 at 13:26

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Yeah and sadly, the Cruze values aren't really holding up at the moment. I just bought this thing and it's worth 13K in trade at the moment. Too many of them at the auctions. Does your wife like the Forester?

Long Live the Longdoor > Hooker 11/05/2014 at 11:25

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We love the Forester! It serves as her DD and our road trip vehicle. Very comfy and quiet. The AWD system makes it pretty fun to drive (pitch it into a corner and its got grip for days). I'm pretty stoked for some snow hoonage.

Hooker > Long Live the Longdoor 11/05/2014 at 11:32

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I expect an update on the snow hoonage! That's awesome!