getting paid to test drive new cars...

So this weekend, we went and test drove a couple new cars. Had a certificate for a $50 gift card for completing a test drive. So first stop was the Hyundai dealer. Since Forte 5's are unobtanium near us with the 1.6T/6-spd drive train (actually, they're just flat unobtanium with any drivetrain). So we grabbed a Veloster Turbo. Now, I personally don't like the style of the V. IT's just not right... but that seat is awesome. Seriously, the drivers seat feels like a Recaro made for a real person. fantastic fit and comfort. Makes me want to find a pair to put into the Forte.

But the drivetrain has some serious issues. Throttle is so slow it makes lethargic seem like the roadrunner. I don't know how much is turbo lag, and how much is the horrific throttle tuning. Granted, when it finally allows you to have power, it comes on like a mini-freight train. nice, solid surge of power that makes extra legal speedscome easily. Shifter is nice, but the clutch engagement is still vague as hell and combined with the horrific throttle makes smooth, quick shifts impossible. If I bought one of these, the car would have to go from the dealer straight to the tuner just to make it livable. No lie.

So we get signed off for hte gift card and we head to the nearest GM dealer with a 2.0T/6-spd camaro. But as we pull in, the wife says "I like that one." Sadly, she's not pointing out hte new Camaro or Corvette. No, she's talking about the new cruze hatch. Now... she doesn't like many cars by looks.... so I immediately ditch the Camaro idea and head to the nearest Cruze hatch. 38mpg hwy, roomy, $22k with the options she wants. Well.... that's a start. So when the salesman comes out I have him get a plate and the keys.

Now here's where I'M flat shocked. This is a truly nice car. IT's quite possibly the quietest compact cars I've driven ever. Sightlines are fantastic for a small hatch. That little extra window in the lower left makes the A-pillar looks much smaller. seats are supportive, and comfortable. Rear seat has plenty of headroom and legroom. Flat out, one of the nicest commuters we have driven in a while.

I feel that the Koreans may have some serious competition on their hands.

Had occasion to rent a new Cruze sedan, that 38 mpg hwy is real, if anything it's underrated. Averaged over 40 MPG between Austin and Dallas, never dipped under 80 until I got into Dallas traffic. (Thanks Southwest for overbooking ALL the flights out of Austin after COTA F1) It's very quiet and comfy, my only complaint was the suspension was a mite soft at 85+ on the toll road out of Austin. They even activated the XM radio , if I was in the market I'd have to take a hard look at the hatch.

Nice! I know it's assembled in the US, but the Cruze is kind of a Korean car anyway. Daewoo right?

In reply to dculberson:

Delta II Platform developed by Opel. Daewoo is based off that platform as well. Volt and Verano too.

The hatches I looked at were all VIN code 3 which I understand to be Mexico.

did the dealer give you a gift card for test driving it?

Looks like my car:

Doesn't go like my car.

It looks like just about every other 5-dr hatch to be honest:

Rusnak_322 wrote: did the dealer give you a gift card for test driving it?

code to redeem for the giftcard online, yeah.

So good to hear about the Cruze. I know that GM can make competitive cars, here's hoping they are well on their way.

Wish my car was this color:

That's a nice color.

Bobzilla wrote: I don't know how much is turbo lag

Having recently driven two different 1.6T Fortes (and never a Veloster), maybe it's something Hyundai is doing? The little twin-scroll was pretty happy to provide boost in any situation, and the shifter was one of the slicker ones of the 20 or so cars that I drove.

red_stapler wrote:

Bobzilla wrote: I don't know how much is turbo lag

Having recently driven two different 1.6T Fortes (and never a Veloster), maybe it's something Hyundai is doing? The little twin-scroll was pretty happy to provide boost in any situation, and the shifter was one of the slicker ones of the 20 or so cars that I drove.

it may just have been the intrusive tcs/poor throttle tuning.

I had a $50 gift card offer from Fiat to drive...another Fiat recently, done and done. Hello 124 Spider. (The Abarth Spider wasn't out yet.)

A friend is on his 2nd Veloster, after a semi totalled the first one. That was a Remix edition, N/A with Turbo looks, he seemed geeked out on MPG. The 2nd one was a turbo, because turbo. He loves it.

plus 1 on the Cruze love - Mine (1.4t/6mt sedan) is almost to its 3rd birthday, and I couldnt be happier. As soon as the warranty is up, Im getting it tuned for some more spirited throttle and upping the boost. A few light bolt ons will follow (exhaust piping and a stronger Bypass valve spring, and disc rear brake conversion). I will probably drive it until the wheels fall off...seriously. The missus is pretty steadfast on me driving it until her next new car is paid off. That means, 2 more years on this car, then 5 years on whatever she gets new, so it will be at least 10 years old by then. And knowing me, it wont have much left in the tank by then