OK, our new long-term 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ's gearshifter doesn't really detach but the other night while driving the car and trying to quickly do a three-point turn in the face of approaching traffic, the cover for the shifter did pop off. Not the best moment for that to happen.
But, not to worry, it's not broken. The little hooks for the plastic trim didn't break off so I was able to slot it back into place. And the cover hasn't popped off since but just wanted to point out that it did.
Hit the jump for a closer look at what's under that cover.
*FYI, I took the Sonic to the car wash today so no more dirty floor mats.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 2,314 miles
rod_stewart says:
04:52 PM, 01/30/12
LOL what was Michael Jordan saying about the Sonic interior quality??
-Rod
teampenske3 says:
05:08 PM, 01/30/12
I believe Subaru has detachable shifters...
lautomobile says:
05:17 PM, 01/30/12
And people said the Sonic would be boring to read about. Seriously, I think it's a neat little car, especially with the turbo engine.
yellowperil says:
06:27 PM, 01/30/12
LOL! What is the deal with Chevy and its gear shifters? (see Volt)
wjtinatl says:
06:32 PM, 01/30/12
Reminds me of my '79 Firebird; 1 week and the door handle came off in my hand just closing the door. C'mon GM, this is the kind of stuff that leads to those lousy 90-day ownership satisfaction ratings you're trying so hard to shake.
rotaryboff says:
07:36 PM, 01/30/12
With apologies to King Missile...
I woke up this morning with a bad hangover
And my shifter was missing again.
This happens all the time.
It's detachable.
[background singing begins: "detachable shifter" over and over]
This comes in handy a lot of the time.
I can leave it home, when I think it's gonna get me in trouble,
or I can rent it out, when I don't need it.
But now and then I go to a party, get drunk,
and the next morning I can't for the life of me
remember what I did with it.
First I looked around my apartment, and I couldn't find it.
So I called up the place where the party was,
they hadn't seen it either.
I asked them to check the medicine cabinet
'cause for some reason I leave it there sometimes
But not this time.
So I told them if it pops up to let me know.
I called a few people who were at the party,
but they were no help either.
I was starting to get desperate.
I really don't like being without my shifter for too long.
It makes me feel like less of a man,
and I really hate having to sit down every time I take a leak.
After a few hours of searching the house,
and calling everyone I could think of,
I was starting to get very depressed,
so I went to the Kiev, and ate breakfast.
Then, as I walked down Second Avenue towards St. Mark's Place,
where all those people sell used books and other junk on the street,
I saw my shifter lying on a blanket
next to a broken toaster oven.
Some guy was selling it.
I had to buy it off him.
He wanted twenty-two bucks, but I talked him down to seventeen.
I took it home, washed it off,
and put it back on. I was happy again. Complete.
People sometimes tell me I should get it permanently attached,
but I don't know.
Even though sometimes it's a pain in the ass,
I like having a detachable shifter.
banhugh says:
07:53 PM, 01/30/12
I thought that after the jump I would see some reference to Nope! Chuck Testa...
firstwagon says:
08:37 PM, 01/30/12
wjtinatl
I had an 81 Malibu like that. The whole time I had the car was a training course in how to put things back together and how to change parts.
It was a long time ago but if it was my Sonic that Malibu would be the 1st thing to come to mind when the cover popped off.
Hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
carchatter1 says:
09:28 PM, 01/30/12
@ rotary: HA! +1
No one here probably knows that song! That's a funny one though. OK everyone who likes punk should know that one anyway. OK people, look up "detachable *****" on your fave music search site for a good laugh.
jdubbs19 says:
09:43 PM, 01/30/12
Was it flimsy quality of parts, or a rapid and probably abrupt and forceful shift that shook free a loose part? You said it yourself:
'...trying to quickly do a three-point turn in the face of approaching traffic'
...a bit of white knuckled driving?
festiboi1 says:
05:44 AM, 01/31/12
This may seem minor, but it's not a good sign as to how the rest of the car is assembled. If I had paid $18k for this car and was already having these issues, I'd be either annoyed or very worried. Chevy needs all the help it can get to improve its reputation and have us forget the Aveo- things like this won't make it happen
legacygt says:
06:14 AM, 01/31/12
Between this and the Volt, GM may need an overhaul in the shifter dept.
revs29 says:
06:42 AM, 01/31/12
I've had the shift cover off my 2003 Accord 50+ times for cleaning, lubricating the gearbox, routing wires, etc etc etc. I can do it by simply using my fingers and applying pressure in the correct direction.
8 years later and 200k miles...it's never once popped off unless I intended to get it off.
Why? There are 4 metal clips on it! They even slide into plastic brackets molded into the assembly, but the key is having enough clips that will not deform or flex. Why does GM go to these extremes for cost cutting? Adding 2 or 3 more clips would add 6 cents to the cost of the car.
engineear says:
07:21 AM, 01/31/12
Typical GM crappola...will continue to never own one...well...maybe if they pay us back in full...nah.
It's a chevy, the bottom of their food chain, what did you expect?
I remember all my friends that owned GM cars...you close the door and you can hear the window rattling around as you are walking away...nice.
barich1 says:
08:04 AM, 01/31/12
Detachable steering wheel on the Cruze, now detachable interior parts on the Sonic.
At least yours came with brake pads.
carguy622 says:
09:02 AM, 01/31/12
Oy, I hate these types of posts. Typically they are filled with annoying comments. All makes of cars have issues.
greenpony says:
10:18 AM, 01/31/12
barich1, don't forget the detachable steering column shroud on the Aura.
stovt001 says:
11:04 AM, 01/31/12
@engineear: My last GM car had trim pieces that felt like they would be hard to pry off with a crowbar. My Miata has trim pieces that I have to snap back on every time I drive the thing. The world isn't so black and white. If you get over your prejudices, there will be a lot more great car opportunities opened to you.
kplacer says:
06:08 PM, 01/31/12
Inside Line always seems to do this to their GM cars. One suspects foul play. Get some new schtick, guys. It's obvious you do this on purpose.
engineear says:
07:09 AM, 02/ 1/12
If you get over your prejudices.....I'm not prejudiced when I state facts.
bimmerjay says:
10:34 AM, 02/ 1/12
Most of Inside Line's long term test cars have at least one part detach or fail. Until there's a pattern of various problems like with their long-term CTS, or a genuinely serious failure like the Silverado's transmission, GT-R's fuel system or Enclave's power steering, I don't think it's a big deal.