Daniel E. Markle's Blog

This is undoubtedly the most ominous fortune cookie I've ever gotten. Good thing I don't believe in these things.

My 2012 Inferno Orange Chevy Sonic 1.4 Turbo LTZ Manual From Miscellaneous

Back in January I ordered this 2012 Chevy Sonic with the 1.4 Turbo engine and a manual transmission. I liked the motorcycle inspired design, the color, the opportunity to try a manual transmission, and the fuel economy. I usually ride a motorcycle to work, but some days it is more practical to take an automobile due to weather and/or hauling requirements.

One of the interesting aspects of this car is the made in Europe turbocharged engine. They have a different market over there, being primarily manual transmission cars whereas most drivers here want to chat on their cell phone and shave while driving instead of actually enjoying the drive, so manuals here are stereotypically sold on the cheap. As such, Chevy decided to list this car as running 87 octane gasoline, using a control chip to detect the type of fuel added and retard the engine as appropriate. A fascinating side effect of this unusual measure is a car that actually does perform better with premium gasoline.