Pontiac Sonic...

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Derf
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Pontiac Sonic...

Post by Derf »

Driving in the Dayton OH area saw a Pontiac hatch, could not figure out what it was, to small to be Vibe, but it was clearly a hatchback with a Pontiac grill. As it passed, it clearly had Pontiac emblem on the back,... and in the corner the OEM badge, Sonic. Was in moving traffic, could not get a picture. The grill work was impressive. Even through the Sonic top grill angles in at the top, they had modified the front to angle out to be wider at the top. Wonder if they just retrofit a 2009-2010 Vibe fascia

This was the closest blue shade stock Sonic pic I could find. Just imagine a 2010 Vibe front end.
chevrolet-sonic.jpg
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2005 #10,524 Neptune Vibe "Bandit" Auto, Moon & Tunes 238k :D
1991 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8L "Granny's Whip" 142k (33nd Anniversary :o )
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BustedVibe
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by BustedVibe »

That looks pretty neat. I wonder if it has more space in the rear since its a 2-door
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gtv237
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by gtv237 »

BustedVibe wrote:That looks pretty neat. I wonder if it has more space in the rear since its a 2-door
The sonic is actually a 4-door. The rear handles are up by the Windows like the old Grand Prixs.

Could it have been a G3?
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vibenvy
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by vibenvy »

I'm sure it was a g3. The Pontiac version of the Aveo. They are very rare. I've always said they look like "baby Vibes"!
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kumquat
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by kumquat »

Pontiac Wave. Canadian version of the Aveo. I see them periodically in upstate NY or Vermont, usually with Quebec plates.

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Last edited by kumquat on Sun May 29, 2016 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ColonelPanic
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by ColonelPanic »

It does sound like a Wave/G3 but I have no idea why it had a Sonic badge on the back. :lol:

Funny story... I had the coil cover popped off my Sonic yesterday as I was detailing the engine. This part gets branded with Chevy, Buick, Opel, Holden, etc... I see underneath the cover a list of part numbers and Pontiac (Saturn too) was on there. GM must have had intentions of a Pontiac version of something using this engine at one point. :cry:

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A Pontiac version of the Sonic would have been neat.
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
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Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey. :lol:

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BustedVibe
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by BustedVibe »

holy crap that is one clean looking engine bay..

What do people use to clean them anyway? I've always been curious. (pressure washer and foam?? idk)
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Derf
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by Derf »

That was the first G3/Wave I noticed, same color as the picture kumquat posted. Reading into it, no wonder why, it was the shortest lived Pontiac model. Instead of the Toyota GM mashup for the Vibe, the G3 was a Daewoo rebadge.
http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/11/12/ ... e-7711560/
2005 #10,524 Neptune Vibe "Bandit" Auto, Moon & Tunes 238k :D
1991 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8L "Granny's Whip" 142k (33nd Anniversary :o )
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ColonelPanic
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by ColonelPanic »

BustedVibe wrote:holy crap that is one clean looking engine bay..
:lol:

Damp microfiber cloths, detail spray and Q-tips used frequently. ;)
Derf wrote:That was the first G3/Wave I noticed, same color as the picture kumquat posted. Reading into it, no wonder why, it was the shortest lived Pontiac model. Instead of the Toyota GM mashup for the Vibe, the G3 was a Daewoo rebadge.
Yep. The G3 was the second Daewoo branded as a Pontiac - the Lemans in the late 80's/early 90's being the first. If anyone remembers those. :D

The G3 certainly didn't sell as well as its Chevrolet counterpart in the US and it had a very short run. It only sold ~6000 units in the US from what I've been able to find on a quick search. I remember seeing them on the dealer lots during the Cash For Clunkers era when GM pulled the plug on Pontiac - those two factors probably made for a really inexpensive ride. I still see one lone G3 occasionally on my commute.
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey. :lol:

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'21 Elantra Limited - 2.0L/IVT
'15 Escape SE - 1.6L EcoBoost (hers)
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BustedVibe
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Re: Pontiac Sonic...

Post by BustedVibe »

Regular Car Reviews did a review on the 2013 Sonic
Warning: its full of Sonic The Hedgehog References people might not understand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWsosT-qeP4
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