In addition to my wife's car , during my recent visit to Omaha, I got the chance to sample my Father

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In addition to my wife’s car , during my recent visit to Omaha, I got the chance to sample international travel student internship program my Father in Law’s 2013 Chevy Cruz LT. Contrary to our perceived anti-GM Bias, I have to say it’s really good.
How good? Let’s open with; if you are looking at a Hyundai, Kia and especially the Civic or Corolla, you should reconsider, that good. TTAC liked it in 2010 , and TTAC liked it 2011, and 2012 . I did not receive a press car or a tank of gas, and like the website promises; the truth is, I like it now.
I will admit I do not like American international travel student internship program small cars ; partially because my step-Dad owned three Pintos in a row, but mostly international travel student internship program because my experience since. After the Pintos, I drove every version of the Chevy Cavalier when they were new, including the Z24s. They were born awful and aged worse. The Escort was marginally better but suffered the same fate. Dodge had the Colt, but they were built by Mitsubishi. That perception stayed international travel student internship program with me the better part of 20 years.
It was still with me when I slipped behind the wheel of the Cruz. It was 4 months old with barely had 1,500 miles on it. My Father in Law got it after his 3 rd PT Cruiser lease. Knowing he is a man who voluntarily drove three of them added to my negative outlook.
The first impression was the instrumentation. Simple, uncluttered, centered in the pod and illuminated in soft blue light. international travel student internship program A big attraction for FIL who doesn’t care about “all that other crap”. The seat is adjustable in all of the same ways as my BMW, albeit manually. Once settled and adjusted I fired up the engine.
The Ecotech surprised me. The Cruz is on par with anything I have driven in the last 5 years. international travel student internship program No buzzing, vibration or drama, international travel student internship program even by modern standards. You don’t expect neck snapping power, but the Ecotech 1.4 turbo makes easy work of entrance ramps, traffic merges or left turns from secondary roads. This is not my thoughts in comparison to old Cavaliers; this is my perception straight out of my wife’s international travel student internship program BMW X1.
The interior is plain, international travel student internship program as you would expect, but the standard appointments a younger demographic would expect car are all there; satellite radio, MP3 with USB, steering international travel student internship program wheel controls, A/C, power doors windows and locks, etc.
The chassis is solid but not punishing, the brakes are the same. Shifts are smooth and don’t jar the car. It tracks straight, offers great visibility and is a genuinely pleasant place to be. Of course all of these things can be said of the Cruz’s competition, but what has impressed me was this car has the same and in many cases, a cheaper entry threshold.
This particular Cruz was $21K and change on the window before my wife got to haggling. GM’s website lists the Cruz starting at $17 and the LS Auto starting at $18.2 . A quick search international travel student internship program of the Omaha area Honda, Toyota and other import dealers put the right under the competition. Less money for a car that is easily as good and I would argue better than the established players in this price segment.
More so with the lease options; GM has a Cruz lease of $156 an month . Even a Hyundai Accent will set you back $18.5. A stripper Corolla stickers at $19.2 (new 2013s are on sale at $18.3). The Civic starts at $21.
Electing to forgo any down payment, my FIL has this one in his garage international travel student internship program for $199 a month; just under the cost of his last PT Cruiser. international travel student internship program He is getting well over 30 MPG with almost exclusive city/suburban driving.
I promise you, Reuss hasn’t gotten to me. If you have read my other meager offerings you know I am not a “lifestyle” blogger or a sellout. No, you know me; I am a 42 year old A-type international travel student internship program with a heavy left foot and a penchant for bad ideas .
It’s just the Cruz is actually a really good car. That was news to me; I didn’t think GM could make a good small car. It may not be the best value out there, but if you’re looking for a new car and browsing the usual suspects, give the Cruz a look. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised.
Disclaimer: The prices for the vehicle mentioned were done using the internet searches from Omaha area new car dealers. You could most certainly get a better deal using all the tricks you have learned here and elsewhere. But I have driven most of the offerings discussed above; I still think it’s the better car and the better deal. Your mileage may vary.
My friend has a new 2013 Cruz, she does some long trips from her home in Guelph to Thunder Bay, a two day journey with a sleep over one night, she likes it but finds the Seats very hard for such a long trip, so maybe in 2014 the Seats will be better eh?
I liked your review because you include some real cost to own data, information that is often overlooked in other reviews, but more often then not the deciding factor on what we buy. I laughed at your econo-car background and thought that you certainly know your way around crap-cars. It took GM too long to understand this market, I m glad to hear they ve come around
For all of the Pinto hate, my grandfather swore his was the best car he ever owned. It was sky blue, garage kept, and meticulously maintained. He had it for over a decade. It outlasted my parent s 77 Corolla international travel student internship program wagon but it was barely maintained international travel student internship program at all and quite rusty by the end unlike said Pinto.
international travel student internship program Back on topic I had a Cruze as a rental to go from Richmond to Louisville followed by a Focus the next weekend. In the twisty portion of West Virginia the Focus was more fun, power shift be damned international travel student internship program (which I had no issues with), but for the other 80 percent of the drive the Cruze was the place to be. I remember feeling that it was more Buick than Chevy.
international travel student internship program (Step)Dad had three of those things; the first was a 74 baby-poop green truck model with a chrome roof rack, and matching green interior. international travel student internship program The second was a white 74 with dark green deck stripes, staggered Crager SS knock-offs international travel student internship program and raised white letter tires (Fat in the back little up front) and a dark green vinyl interior. Three was a dark blue 79 with dark blue vinyl interior. international travel student internship program I remember a waffle shaped burn from sitting on those seats in a pair of shorts during a SC summer.
It wasn’t that they were unreliable, they were just so damm awful. international travel student internship program I learned to drive the 79. It had the typical Ford 700lb clutch pedal, international travel student internship program vauge yet stiff manual steering awful instrumentation (speedo, fuel and idiot lights).
My (Bio) Dad was a Nissan/Datsun employee from before I was born until my senior year of HS. So I would had back to back impressions of the imports vs. these Pintos from kindergarten until I was a junior. In the sense we rebel against our parents, I tell my (Step) Dad it’s his fault I am a gearhead.
But if I was a Dr, I am sure I could diagnose some of my deep seated hatred of Pinto from being driven and dropped off in various forms of them from when I started school until I drove myself. It was the 80’s and if you didn’t have an alligator or a horse on your shirt, you didn’t matter. When I slid to the mullet/Iron Maiden shirt side of the fashion scale, international travel student internship program it was worse, because it wasn’t a Camaro.
I have moved somewhat past this, and I would actually take a Pinto over any Cavalier ever made. At least now, a Pinto identifies you as an oddball in the coolest sense. But a Cavalier says “I was a hairdresser in the 90’s. I have given up.”
Son had a rental Cruze a few months back..LTZ, so yeah, it was fully loaded. But I rather liked the car. Of course, I like my mother s new Verano, so liking a loaded Cruze shouldn t be much of a surprise. Given that I haul dogs around when I m stateside, I do also pine for the wagon that Europe gets. Doesn t need to be brown hehe
I didn t like the cramped interior, both rear legroom, and the front cockpit feel. High beltline and black interior add up to a very claustrophobic environment. I also am I bit scared by a 1.4L turbo hauling around 3200lbs of weight, as far as engine longevity is concerned. Perhaps that is unfounded.
I wonder where you got your numbers from; Toyota s website lists the 2014 Corolla LE for over $19k after destination, and while that s a much nicer car than the 2013 model, the 2013 isn t competitive with any new compact on sale today, so it s a more appropriate comparison.
I should have clarified, those prices were for what I personally saw in the end of 2012, beginning of 2013, for new 2012 Corolla LEs. Our local dealer has a best price upfront setup. I was shopping for a sub $15k compact, I simply cannot stomach the thought international travel student internship program of a $20k compact car. At that price point I would definitely international travel student internship program get an Accord LX 6spd manual for $21k, or an Altima for even less! And end up with a much roomier, better vehicle.
I agree, those pre-2014 Corollas (2009-2013) are just not pleasant places to spend time. The a pillar is strangely close to your head, the seats aren t very comfy, and there is a general air of cheapness and cost-cutting. An econobox in the traditional sense. Despite that, I was almost tempted. A new Toyota for $15k, with air, cruise control and automatic. I also tried out a bare bones Jetta, with a 5spd and the ancient 8 valve 2.0. A better car in all regards besides power (a total slug, even with the stick shift), lack of cruise international travel student internship program control, and (probably) worse reliability.
I just picked up a Buick Encore with the same engine and am quite surprised with the torque it makes from 1,900-4,900 rpms. Even with the automatic, international travel student internship program which is the first auto I never dispised it is that good, I am able to 39 mph on a full tank. I put the Encore through it s paces on the hills of southeastern PA, cell phones and sunglasses flying it would let go of the road! I was impressed as a road course instructor. Phenominal brake feel that never gave up, even making international travel student internship program a turn on another at the bottom of a hill.
GM man