"sonicboost14" (sonicboost14)
06/08/2014 at 12:52 • Filed to: None
4
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"sonicboost14" (sonicboost14)
06/08/2014 at 12:52 • Filed to: None | 4
| 11 |
Back story:
In February of '13 we were looking for a car to replace my wife's shitbox Hyundai and happened to mosey into the Chevy dealer. We had bought a couple of new Chevys before and had good luck with them so we looked at a Sonic. After 6hrs, we were the owners of a '13 Sonic LT sedan. So, I was now itching for a new car.
I like small, weird cars. I owned a '10 Mazda5 with a full Mazdaspeed3 suspension setup (springs, swaybars, bushings) and it was getting long in the tooth. The Spark had just came out and I really liked them. I know, weird. I looked for 3mths and finally found a 1LT 5peed with the MyLink. I bought the car and was perfectly happy. It was zippy, handled decent, and moved decently for 84hp. That was until the first day it hit 40 degrees.
I started the car in the beginning of winter and the bottom end would knock and sound like a diesel until it warmed up. After 5 visits, 3 videos of the knock to GM, countless phone calls, and 10 days down, I was told "Yep, sounds horrible but they all do it." I was sent an apology check for $100 at Chevy for service and told "Sorry bout that knock" I lived with it angrily for 4mths in the winter by being pissed everytime I started my new car and had to listen to what sounded like an 80s K car.
Now jump to May. The first day of warm weather I fired up the A/C and wouldn't you know it, nothing but warm air. I call the dealer and was told of the A/C recall and scheduled it in. The day before I took it in, I wash it up only to find that the roof had spots in the paint that were peeling. I get the A/C fixed and was told that the paint isnt a warranty issue, adding to my rage. I get in the car and pull out of the dealer to find a horrid clunk in the front end. I get the service manager and take him for a ride. Hes at a loss. I told him I was done with this and will fix it myself. I took it home to find the passenger sway bar link was sheared off. I fix it and call GM.
After 2wks of bitching, calling, and 2 different dealers, I get and offer. GM stepped in and offered "trade assistance" on my cursed car. I made a deal to trade it in on a '14 Sonic Turbo 6 speed hatchback. GM came up with a few grand and the dealer stepped up and gave me the Sonic for supplier cost plus all the incentives. So basically I walked into a Sonic for my Spark payment. I've bought 5 new GM cars since '05 and I guess GM looked at as they've got their money off me in the past and this might keep me around for my kid's car purchase in a couple years.
Sometimes being persistent works out!
My Spark that is now gone
JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 12:55 |
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It is nice to hear about companies that do the right thing sometimes...
I always hate arguing with the folks at the dealer when you bring up a problem and they don't fix because A) They can't replicate it or B) "Its normal"
Glad to hear things worked out.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 12:58 |
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This makes me sad. I really like the Spark.
Jayhawk Jake
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 13:08 |
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Hi five for Sonics!
I love my '13 RS
GhostZ
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 13:16 |
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I test drove both (sonic RS and spark) and felt that the sonic was shockingly numb and boring compared to the lower-priced Spark. Still, trading up for not having to increase your payment is pretty good.
Also, you're clinically insane for buying 5 new GM cars in 5 years.
deekster_caddy
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 13:25 |
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I've heard so many stories lately about GM dealerships not stepping up, and customers who push up to corporate getting the proper results. But it's taking customers to push corporate GM to make things right. These should all be things the dealerships should be able to diagnose and repair.
So basically a big part of GM's bad rap is their dealer's service departments being lazy. It's costing GM corporate reputation points all over the place. In general their design and build quality has come up a long way, but when there are bigger problems, it seems there are many dealerships that aren't doing the right things.
Glad you were able to get the problem righted. Hope you enjoy the sonic, it sounds like a fun car! I'm still loving my trouble free '13 Volt, GM is putting out some amazing cars these days.
Logansteno: Bought a VW?
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 13:51 |
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Sounds like you got quite the lemon with that Spark. I really hope they're not all like that, because I really like them.
I'm glad GM stepped in and put the dealer back in line. Buncha fucking dicks.
mazda616
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 14:24 |
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I really like the Sonic. I had a 2011 LTZ hatch as a rental in mid-2012 and it was super fun to drive, surprisingly.
Before my wife's current ride (Mazda CX-5), we had the "pleasure" of owning a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu LT. This car was a textbook example of why GM went bankrupt. It had problem after problem, and techs at the dealer always denied the issue(s) and said nothing was really wrong until we forced them to ride along with us and experience first hand whatever the car was or wasn't doing. Then, one time when the Malibu was in for two front CV joints and a front tie rod gone bad (despite having no accident history), they gave us a 2012 Malibu as a loaner. It was better in every way, and even my wife noticed how immensely more pleasing it was to deal with.
So, I will say that GM has made some crap in the past, but I think they're slowly but surely learning their lesson. Hell, the Cobalt/Ion/G5 sure is biting them in the ass.
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sonicboost14
> GhostZ
06/08/2014 at 14:43 |
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Make it worse: 2 of them were matching Aveos. My wife got an '05 auto LT and I bought an '06 5 speed that I built my own turbo kit and adapted a coilover kit for.
Yeah, borderline retarded is more like it.
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sonicboost14
> Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/08/2014 at 14:46 |
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It took alot. I went thru my cell phone bills and kept track. A total of 9hrs+ on the phone with GM and that was in the total time I had it. It was only 9mths old with 7800miles when I traded it.
I actually REALLY like the way the Spark drove. It was fun for what it was.
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sonicboost14
> sonicboost14
06/08/2014 at 14:48 |
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PS: It was 5 in 9yrs. But point WELL TAKEN.
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sonicboost14
> sonicboost14
06/11/2014 at 18:40 |
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UPDATE:
Yeah, the Spark is now for sale on the dealer's used lot. The listing has it as "Well maintained and lovingly cared for". Ugh.