2012 Cruze Eco - or how the engineers snookered the MBA's

[Blown93SSEi]

Tell him a forum member with a Cruze Eco is AVERAGING 44 mpg. I'm saving a good chunk in gas compared to my old Buick.

Well, the payments suck. But at least the $1200 in gas savings a year compared to my old car is easing some of the sting.

How is the difference in insurance?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

My insurance on the Cruze is a few dollars a year less than the insurance on the Buick. I shopped around after sticker shock from my old insurance. It was a real eye-opener finding out how different companies quoted the car.

[PRD2BDF]

Where's the pictures of the new winter wheels!?!

[Blown93SSEi]

My insurance on the Cruze is a few dollars a year less than the insurance on the Buick. I shopped around after sticker shock from my old insurance. It was a real eye-opener finding out how different companies quoted the car.

That's why you shop for insurance (and on other things) Every six months or so. Saves big $.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Where's the pictures of the new winter wheels!?!

Coming in a month. That's when the Nokians (yes, I splurged on Nokian R snows) on Rage A5 wheels go on. They're 16" instead of the 17" OEM wheels. They're not the prettiest wheel out there. For winter they'll work fine, and keep the chrome OEM wheels all pristine.

I've never used a low-rolling-resistance snow tire before. Here's hoping the fuel economy hit won't be as bad as regular snows.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Here are a few updates arriving in a week or two:
1. Tune. This netted an automatic 1.4t Cruze 30 hp and 50 ft/lbs at the wheels, for 152 hp and 193 ft/lbs. Stock was 116 hp and 140 ft/lbs. I'm budgeting for a clutch replacement in a year or so. The OEM pressure plate is trash, and doesn't release consistently. I'll be glad to be rid of it.
2. Fog lamps
3. Headlight relay harness parts

I'm getting all the modding I want done at the start of its life. Later on when I'm busy with life I'll have the car modded to where I wanted it.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Bringing this back from the way-back...

It's been a looooong time since I was active on here. I've spent a lot of that time in the Cruze, having put on many miles for work. I ended up getting the tune and foglights, and installing a headlight harness. Much better!

In just under 2 years of ownership, I've had very few issues. The trunk switch stopped working and the transmission fluid needed changing early on to correct a 1-2 shift grind. The transmission grind only happens on the 1-2 shift above 5800 RPM when really flogging the now-tuned car, or almost never, and the fob has a trunk switch, so whatever.

I'm happy with the Cruze, and GM for making such a fun to drive and efficient smaller car!

[RJolly87]

Wow, a grinding shift on a 2 year old car? Seriously? How is that acceptable?

Something like that would make me sick if it was mine.

[repinS]

Could have something to do with the fact that Dave added 30hp and 50lb-ft...

[swampthing]

Where did you get the tune?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Wow, a grinding shift on a 2 year old car? Seriously? How is that acceptable?

Something like that would make me sick if it was mine.

GM put in Castrol as factory fill. There are more complaints about 1-2 notchiness with the M32 manual transmission than any other complaint about it. It gets much better by dumping out the sludge that BP/Castrol sold GM as transmission fluid and adding a real fluid like Amsoil Synchromesh, or about any other fluid. To get it to grind now I basically have to do a no-lift 5800+ RPM 1-2 shift with the tune telling the ECU to put out as much power as it can persuade the safeguards to allow. Or, with traffic around here, never. It's 99% gone, has stayed gone for 50k miles now, and only does it under a very specific circumstance. Good as solved for me. A regular 1-2 shift, even a spirited one, is just fine.

I still like driving this car, even after owning it for ~2 years now. The darn thing still makes me look twice when it's all shined up. So far it's been pretty reliable, too. Good car.

[Jrs3800]

Wow Dave you have put serious miles on that car... Do you run synthetic oil in it?

[1oldman]

Bringing this back from the way-back...

It's been a looooong time since I was active on here. I've spent a lot of that time in the Cruze, having put on many miles for work. I ended up getting the tune and foglights, and installing a headlight harness. Much better!

In just under 2 years of ownership, I've had very few issues. The trunk switch stopped working and the transmission fluid needed changing early on to correct a 1-2 shift grind. The transmission grind only happens on the 1-2 shift above 5800 RPM when really flogging the now-tuned car, or almost never, and the fob has a trunk switch, so whatever.

I'm happy with the Cruze, and GM for making such a fun to drive and efficient smaller car!

Glad you decided to visit. Don't stay gone so long and keep us up to date on the Cruze. The middle daughter has had no issues with her's. It'll be 2 years old before long and has 40K+ miles on it. I enjoyed driving it the two times I have. - BC

[BonneMe]

Could have something to do with the fact that Dave added 30hp and 50lb-ft...

Not a good sign if its grinding between gears, but it's hard for me to get how power could make that happen. Almost figure a couple missed shifts, or something broke in the trans.