GTO

 

Well at it's base sonic means sound..and if the car has a nice stereo..it may work.

However when you think Sonic, you think of hedgehogs, drive throughs, and very fast things...not Chevy's crapiest car. Also it does not not really roll of the tougue..almost makes you want to studder.

I prefer Monza really...most people know those now as drage racers..not rust buckets.

In the end, they should probabaly name it "ThisIsAllTheBankApprovedYouFor"...because that is who buys it.

 

Different case. That's a legendary name that they put on a jellybean coupe, which ticked off a lot of the old codgers. And besides subdued styling, the car had other problems.

 

Agreed, but the car was actually excellent minus poor styling IMO. It looked too much like a Grand Prix. But the GTO name was a HORRIBLE choice, and I believe didn't help the sales at all. But this subject has been hashed over a million times....

 

 

How many people who know what the Monza is are in the target demographic for Chevy's (currently) cheapest, smallest car?

How many people who have an interest in "drag racers" are in the target demographic for Chevy's (currently) cheapest, smallest, least powerful car?

Just questions for thought.

From a personal perspective, I'm 24, grew up in metro detroit, work for GM, and I don't know if I've ever even seen a Monza before. I've heard the name, but from anyone driving an Aveo I did almost buy an Aveo 2 years ago as my first new car, but since I somewhat fall into the demographic mentioned in my second question, I opted to spend considerably more and get a Cobalt SS. And despite how much more money it cost, I still don't think the Cobalt name is much better

"NoMoneyDown"

 

Cruze is selling quite well... at least thats what dealer sales staff tell me. I suppose the name hasn't been an issue for intenders...

I'm just pointing out that there is an inordinate amount of interest in what takes place with vehicles which people here have no interest in...

An idle observation.

I don't suggest anyone not get worked up. Like I said, just a curious observation.

 

Yea and it set today too. The problem is GM has come out with a bunch of names that really do not inspire anyone to buy a car that has some meaning to it. Maybe I am old school or know a name should mean something to the car...example how did they get the name for the Corvette? Corvette means something.

Good meaningful names have gone the wayside..so much so that they bring back names to cars..like Malibu, Regal and Impala so that they will sell with some type of heritage to them. Make people think they are buying a car with history and well..who am I kidding..I guess like the internet that you consider just a kiddie pool of ideas..when really many people use the internet to much more than just bitch about a car..they research, shop and disect cars online now like no other..they google Chevy Sonic and hit a messageboard and see this..what will they think?

Names mean a lot..maybe not to you but names are what make up a great car. That is why you do not see names on cars lasting..wonder why??

 

Well we have interest because its part of GM. and GM makes the cars we want to buy.

and to whoever put out the Probe for the name.. that was a scramble to get a name since it was to be the Mustangs replacement. But at the time if you remember we were sending all those probes into space so it did fit the era and what was going on at the time.

And whoever said it your right there is nothing sonic about this car.

 

"Sonic" has a meaning too. Does "Yaris"? "Versa"? "Corolla"? "Prius"?

You got me there. "Aveo" does have a lot of history and heritage.

They'll think "boy, what a silly thing to be bitching about. I just want to know if it's a good car and gets good gas mileage". Most non-car people I know just go to cars.com or read their Consumer Reports bible anyway.

Because they're constantly trying to distance their next model from the previous model which was not a good car. I don't know that it's a strategy that is working, but that's another argument.

 

Notwithstanding the point, that it's probably not a good thing for brand equity to continously scrap names after every redesign, the Sonic name is not bad. It has a ring to it, and as has been mentioned, we all pronounce it the same way.

More importantly is how good this car turns out. I hope that Chevy develops a fun version beyond the milk toast RS. They can start by using the 1.6 turbo and six speed out of the OPC Corsa and all it's suspension pieces.

 

I dont think Sonic is bad name . Its easy to say and easy to remember , unlike the name Aveo . I mean look at all the other stupid names in this class ....Fiesta being one of them . Hopefully the Sonic will be a good very class competitive car , so Chevy wont wanna make you forget it by changing the name again on the next gen . Same deal with the Cruze. Its time to start building long term brand equity . Ask anyone what a Civic or Corolla is, 2 names that have been around for years and years , you not gonna stump to many folks on those 2 .

 

Corvette was a fast sailing ship fwiw.

The problem hasn't been the names, its been the products.

If the competition sells a small car that is sportier and gets better gas mileage, only the brand loyalists are going to purchase a Chevy that's a lesser car. They're certainly not only buying (or not buying) because of the name.

 

So here is an even more interesting bit. Sonic is just going to be used in the US (not North America, just USA). Everywhere else it is still Aveo.

 

I don't really see this as an issue, with a vehicle being named differently in different geo's.

GTO - US, Monaro - Aus
G8 - US, Caprice - Saudi Arabia, Commodore - Aus

In my mind, I'd rather say I drive a Sonic, than an Aveo. I'm not going to be in the market for either of them, but still....