soo the girlfriend is interested in the Chevy Sonic..there are two engine options the regular 1.8L and the turbo 1.4L..im thinking she should go with the 1.4 after test driving but she doesnt really care. So I asked the dealership where we test drove about the turbo model requiring Premium gas since it states no where (gas cap, manual, website) that it requires it..salesman fumbled around trying to look for the info on it and came up with nothing, asked manager there and nothing. I have even talked to Chevy Customer Service reps and they still dont know. All it says is you need to run 87 or better to avoid knock..but it doesnt specify if its for the 1.8 or 1.4 turbo...more like a generalization.

anyone have insight on this?

 

I wouldn't think so since it's not producing much boost or a lot of extra HP.
But, try this link. http://www.sonicownersforum.com/foru...emium-gas.html

 

Beat me to it George, the 1.4 Turbo just requires 87 Octane "Top Tier" gasoline. It's probably happier on higher octane fuel, but as long as you avoid a steady diet of fuel from "Bubba's Gas 'N Go"....they seem to be fine on good old Regular.

I think the Sonic Turbo falls into what SAAB used to call a "Low Pressure Turbocharger", not a ton of boost, but enough to make up for a lack of displacement.

I've had both a 1.8 and a 1.4 as rentals, and with the auto transmission, there wasn't a difference in performance big enough to mention.

 

awesome! good to know guys, thanks

ya we test drove the LS or LT 1.8 but havent found a dealership with the turbo option..i guess they arent too popular.

she was also interested (but not too much anymore) in the Hyundai Veloster..the regular engine vs the turbo there is a BIG difference but again nowhere near the HHR turbo numbers but much more noticeable..so we want to compare it to the turbo to see if its worth the extra $$

 

and ya the site says it can run 87 but im wondering if we should...

 

Not after you tune it to 200 hp. Guess Vince already has it dialed in....

 

Ive been looking at them for a while, my dad ended up getting a trax with the 1.4.
Sonic 1.4 used to be very hard to find last year when only the ltz came with it, and no auto trans.
This year the 1.4 is available on more models, should be some around. While the numbers are close to the 1.8 there is a bit more pull. If you are thinking of getting a tune or other mods though the turbo has a lot more potential.

 

nah it will be a plain car that she will just drive to work or the mall and back home...she wont be into all these mods like we are haha
so thats why im wondering if the turbo would be worth it..but then for highway passing it would be..my 2.2 before the tune was horrible to pass people on highway

 

i cant seem to justify the price tag on this small car..like 24,000 + taxes for such a small vehicle, when you can get a full sized car or maybe a small suv/crossover thing for same price range...but she wants it

 

The 1.4 turbo is the same engine in the Buick Encore (I think). GM seems to be going to these smaller and smaller engines then adding a turbo to get any performance. My concern is long term engine life of the turbo.

Is there any information on how well the turbo holds up after 100,000 miles?

My 99 Buick with its 3800SC the engine was trouble free until it was traded in after 102,000 miles. ( I traded it because the AC kept crashing and it wanted premium) When I bought the car in 1999, premium was $1.25/gal but it was over $3.00/gallon by 2006.