What do we think about the 2016 Chevy Cruze?

So, quick back story.  My daughter is committed to the manual gearbox. Her current ride is a 2 door 08 Focus 5 speed with 150K.   It’s pretty basic (roll up windows) and it’s given us 6 reliable years.  The AC compressor locked up last spring ( she’s not interested in spending the dollars to fix it.) but other than that it’s been great.  She’s got her first big girl job and would like to get a little more current but still stay with a stick.  

I’ve found a 16 Chevy Cruze 1 LT with a 6 speed and the 1.4 turbo 4 / 37K miles for just under 10 K at a dealer nearby.   Looks like it’s a former fleet vehicle that the dealer has been sitting on for around 6 months.   My main concern would be the history on the 1.4 turbo, any input is appreciated.  Thanks in advance. 

My daughter drives a Sonic with the 1.4 turbo and the manual. She loves it and has had zero issues so far. It has about 140k on it so far. 

The 2016 comes in 2 types. Early and late.  The early looks like a 2015 and the late a 2017. Both are good solid cars, but the later one is nicer to drive, better styling and resale value.

Thanks guys, this would be later restyled one.  

Can get major discounts on new chevys through Jan 4th. Any interest in a brand new Chevy Spark Manual tranny around 11k??? Doesnt look like the new sonic comes in a manual...

I have a few friends with relatively trouble free high mileage Cruzes, and we have a 1.4 Sonic which has been fine. The motors themselves are good. The only real problem is that PCV valve is in the intake and they have about a 100% failure rate. There’s a kit to repair it without replacing the intake but you still have to pull it, and the kits a littl hokey. 

There’s a better fix using 2 Hyundai PCV valves and the intake doesn’t have to come off. Do that one, and I recommend you do it before it fails

That’s  for the LUV. I’m not sure if the updated motor is the same. 

Manual trans cars sell REALLY slow.  I don't think this manual trans car was a dealer fleet car.  It is very rare to have a car for "everyone to drive" be a manual trans.  I would say that the car has been on the dealer lot for 6 months because no one comes looking to buy it.  

When it comes to non-sporty cars, who's buying a stick shift?  Sure, in a sporty car, like Miata...yeah, manual trans but in a non-sporty car?  it is rare that the young people even have someone to show them how to drive a manual trans.  The older people, Boomers, are done with the idea of manual trans.  Now with bad knees and enough money to buy what they really want, they are looking past anything with a stick.  

There are some great values to be had in manual trans cars but you better buy them cheap because there is no one to sell them to when you're done with them.  Where I live, Ohio, we have seasons.  It is winter now.  If I go out to CL/FB and sort by manual trans, most all the listings are so old there are still leaves on the trees.  

Real Sample of non-sporty car w/ manual.  Around here, that much green has to be 2 months old.  

If you want that Chevy, lowball the hell out of 'em!  There are killer deals to be had on used manual trans cars.  

Note of caution.  Some manual trans cars are so stripped that they do not have cruise control.  If that feature is important to you (like it is me) be sure to verify.  

Closer to you, I'll bet its been a long time since you had this many leaves on the trees.  That too is a Ford Focus but a 4door and they are not asking too much, just no buyers.  Be prepared for your 2 dr version to sell even slower than this 4 door.  You might be lucky to get $1500.

Another vehicle that I see killer deals on are Kia Soul w/ manual trans.  Quickly found sample of '19 Kia w/ 13k asking $12.9k and I'm sure there is room to drive the price down further.  Factory warranty until 60k.  Also note the leaves on the trees.  

In reply to John Welsh :

Thanks John, that was my thought too. We'll definitely see what we can do on our side to get a good deal.  Based on what I've been able to find on the background of that particular car it was either a lease or company vehicle and was registered in mid coast Maine.   This dealer (Chevy / GMC) bought it at auction back in March of this year.   Agreed on a limited market of stick buyers, we were able to work a pretty good deal on her current ride six years ago because it's the basic (Focus S) model and a stick.   I'd be happy to get $1,000 - $1,500 for her current one, it runs and drives fine but it's truly basic transportation.

My daughter is pretty adamant on staying with the stick, she says she feels more in control of the car.  Her commute is 20 minutes or so on back roads with minimal traffic even before the current situation so not the issue it might be if she was driving in a more congested area.  We also found a 17 Focus SE with a stick here in town at the local Ford dealer so we may see about having a look at that as well.

Another observation of mine; trunk seems less desirable than hatch. 

The 2011 and newer Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus were offered in hatch  or sedan.  Chevy Sonic too was offered as hatch or sedan.  All these cars offered a manual trans.  Where we agree that manual trans are somewhat desirable in sporty cars, the hatch version are seen as more sporty.  Really hard to sell (and therefore the best deal to be had) are the sedan/trunk versions of these cars with manual trans. 

Another sedan offered with manual was the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan.  Look for a 2010 and newer.  These had the 2.5L which is better than the earlier 2.3L.  After that they offered 1.6L turbo also.  These cars are out there and I think they are cool but they have poor resale.  

I found 1.6 Ecoboost Fusion / 6 speed manual an hour or so from us at a small used car dealer.  They’re asking close to 9K for a car with 130K miles.  Nope.   Used car prices are stupid up here, they can sit on that one as long as they like. 

I like the Cruze hatch too, all the close ones are automatic of course.  I did find one manual version but it’s a couple of hours away.  We shall see, it’s her call. I’m just the technical advisor/ moral supporter on this one. 

We have a 15 Cruze, 65,000 miles. No problems or complaints. I need a new vehicle for work and I'm trying to find a newer one with the hatch. 

Sounds like a decent deal. I'd try to get em to knock the price down a bit to get it off the lot. I've driven older Cruzes and they seemed like a decent appliance. 

If you do some searching, I've found brand new 2020 or 21 manual Kia Souls for under $15k.

Thanks all, we appreciate the feedback!  We’ll see what it looks like, she’s not in any hurry. 

The Sonic is not a terrible platform either, and our's has been quite good

I've got about 185k on a 2014 1.4 manual Cruze I have owned since new. 

As mentioned the PCV valve goes. I've done that twice.

Other than that I've done the following.  Battery Cables (radio cutting out). Thermostat housing (weeping causing a coolant smell).  Front wheel bearings (one started growling but couldn't tell which).  Front Pads and Rotors (performed while in there doing wheel bearings).  Spark plugs and coil (misfire).  Recently the shifter cable began to bind so I replaced that and randomly had a front caliper seize.

Overall it's been a very comfortable, reliable vehicle. 

The Cruze is probably the only GM that I'd realistically own.  They're just good cars, even if they have GM weirdness going on with the driver ergonomics.

I had a 2016-ish Cruze as a rental and I can say it was smile inducing through a roundabout. 

Which was shocking to me, given how much of an appliance it's supposed to be.

Brett_Murphy (Ex-Patrón) said:

I had a 2016-ish Cruze as a rental and I can say it was smile inducing through a roundabout. 

Which was shocking to me, given how much of an appliance it's supposed to be.

I've had Cruze rentals several times, and was impressed with them too.

I haven't driven the Cruze with a manual and the 1.4t, so I have no comment on the driving experience. I have sat in one and the ergonomics and interior was very rental car.

I have driven the last gen Focus with a manual trans and thought it was fantastic with better ergonomics and interior than what I remember of the Chevy. I'd drive that '17 before you go with the Cruze. Maybe the Cruze is a better driver, but if it's even with the Focus, I'd pick the Ford for the interior alone.

I'd be looking for Focus and Mazda 3s at that price point with a MT. Althought the 3 would be tough to find for that price with those miles.

Did you see this thread about the Sonic? Had some good things to look for on the Cruze. Sounds like the trans can have some issues on some years.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/what-do-we-know-about-the-chevy-sonic/144751/page1/

In reply to CyberEric :

I haven't driven a manual Cruze, but my experiences with manual Regal GSs have sworn me off of ever wanting a GM manual trans with throttle by wire.  The Regal actively prevents you from driving smoothly unless you are as patient and deliberate as a bomb defuser.  The automatic Cruze is not a penalty box.

The automatic handbrake is a nice touch.  Apply it at a traffic light, and then just drive off.  It will automatically disengage when you start to engage the clutch.  About the only nice thing I can say about it...

So, update.  We took a look at the 17 Focus here in town today and she was very impressed. It’s a 1.0  Ecoboost I3 with a 6 speed stick.   I drove it too, it won’t win any drag races with 61 cubic inches / 125 HP but I have to say it’s a solid little car.  It rides and handles very well and is smooth and quiet at highway speeds  (and way above too ). It had no problem accelerating from 65-75 on a decent grade on the highway in 6th so she’s not going to get run over.  Ford CPO program with 4 new tires and a 4 wheel brake job, CPO includes a 12 month comprehensive warranty and a power train warranty for another 4 years or 100K miles.   They gave her $1,200 for a 150K 08 base model Focus and knocked $1,500 off their asking price, I’m calling it a fair deal.   It’s “race red” and the 3 banger has an eager growl to it when you get on it, she loved it.  She’s happy, Dad is happy. 

Semi related and somewhat sad note for us car guys.  The salesman said they’d only sold one manual transmission car in all of 2020.  This one could be one of few in 2021.  That’s pathetic .

Thanks for all the input and feedback. Tomorrow was going to be Cruze drive day but she has made her choice.  

Sounds like a good opportunity taken there! Can't go wrong with a cpo like that. 

CPO 

$1,200 trade 

$1,500 off 

Since it was CPO then you bought it from a Ford Dealer.  I understand that F150's are no longer available with manual trans and no SUVs offer them, but, he couldn't sell more than one Mustang with a manual?   Get 'em before they're gone! 

In reply to John Welsh :

As of right now the only new Ford available with a manual transmission is the Mustang.   I believe when the new Broncos become available there will be manual option on some of those.   There’s also a rumor of a smaller than Ranger pick up that might have a manual in the future.  Slim pickings...

Another issue. If the salesman only sells used cars it is likely that his used car buyer/boss never buys anything manual trans at the auctions. He probably passes on them because they sell so slow. 

How'd they get this one? May have been a true trade in or lease end that was turned back to this dealership. The price to the dealer may have been so low that they took a chance on it.