Used gti vs used chevy sonic 1.4t

My tacoma 3.4 has become my 2nd vehicle because driving it has become too expensive for me. I currently drive a 2007 Nissan Versa and it has been really good to me, but I miss driving a stick shift and I have always wanted a turbo car. The two cars I am thinking about right now are the gti and sonic 1.4t. I originally had my mindset on the gti, but knowing ahead of time that the gti will need more attention in maintenance/repair, the sonic popped in my head. My rationale is that the chevy sonic while still needing more upkeep than a toyota or honda, would probably be a little more reliable than the gti and cost less to repair because it's not a german car. I'll list the pros and cons below and I'm interested in what you guys think.

2011-2013 Gti

Pros:
Beautiful car
More hp and tq
comfy seats
more tech and features
decent resale value
sportier handling

Cons:
Maintenance/ repair more frequent and expensive
Avg purchase price 17k-19k
some electrical bugs are a possibility

2012-2014 chevy sonic:

Pros:
Avg purchase price 10k-14-k
very fuel efficient
stage kits are affordable
cheaper to fix

Cons:
Not the best looking hatchback
resale not as good as gti
less interior space
a little low on hp

 

I believe the Sonic and GTI both have reliability problems. I think the GTI would be more fun and better to live with. But, you make a valid point in that the GTI will cost more to repair if you need parts. I've owned a TDI VW product and it drove well and got excellent MPGs but, even routine maintenance was pricey.

Let us know what you decide and be sure and provide some pics of the outcome.

 

Gti, the interior alone should make the decision for you.

 

Sonic turbo; all day.

 

GTI. I owned a 2012, loved it, never had any reliability issues. The newer 2.0T engine fixed all the older issues and is very reliable. I did not find routine maintenance that expensive either.

Still mad I had to sell it to buy a pickup.

Amazing car to drive, upscale feel. Not a cheap domestic economy car.

 

I had a 2010 Jetta with 50,000 miles and on coilovers, never had an issue and honestly never had any rattles.

Sister in Law had a 2013 Sonic with 20,000 miles stock and the thing was a turd and rattle box. It was terrible man.

 

Have you given thought to a MazdaSpeed3?

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/632179589/overview/

Road test of some....

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests...ocus_st_subaru_wrx_special_edition/specs.html

 

I'm glad to hear that you vw owners havnt had any problems. Puts me a little more at ease. I had considered the speed3, but not a fan of the red mesh interior and the front fascia. I'll have to test drive them and see which one I like. If only Honda made a si hatch and ditched the red/black interior, I wouldn't even think twice about getting one of those.

 

I have always had a thing for hot hatches, even though I don't fit in them very well. Have you considered a Focus ST or Veloster Turbo? My cousin has a platinum focus, it is really nice and I dig the style and functionality of the hatchback (plus it looks better IMO on small cars).

If you could find a used or 2014 new Kia Forte SX T those things are nice too.

Tyler

 

I do like the focus st, but I'm not really keen on american cars. The only reason why I'm considering the chevy sonic is because from personal experience it is the more reliable of the big three. Also the price is a factor. If I was going to spend right under 20k, I would not buy an American car at all. But since I can grab a sonic for almost half of the price of a gti or focus st, it is in the cards. As for the veloster turbo, its a two door and is not practical for me and has bad visibility. Don't want to spend 20k on a kia. Unfortunately, the kia sx is a new car, so I would have to wait a few years to find a low price used one. Aftermarket isn't that great either for the Korean cars, compared to the gti and sonic.

 

I would buy a focus or a fiesta st any day. Ford is making great cars now adays.

As for the veloster turbo. Huge fun. Horribly unreliable. I looked into them when I bought my GTI.

 

I got a chance to drive both cars and while the sonic wasn't a bad car, the gti was better in every way, especially its comfort. It's well worth the extra cost. But I'm not getting either. I just read that the euro spec civic hatch is setting sail for the U.S. Next year! Turbo, stick shift, and reliable. Yea, I'm gonna wait!