Hello CruzeTalk! Drove home from dealership in a 2016 Cruze LT Limited today!

1818 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Drumsforjs, Oct 17, 2017

jbzcar

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2017

Let me introduce myself and share my story about how I came here!

Due to a series of unfortunate events, my lightly modded 2013 Sonic LT Turbo met her unfortunate end early Friday morning. An untimely collision with a deer at full highway speed in BFE, Texas ender her useable life. Thankfully was able to drive slowly to a motel smoking and steaming along the way. Due to current life situation, a new vehicle was needed immediately. Went with my helpful financier later in the afternoon to a preferred dealer to see what they had available, as they had been helpful in the past. I absolutely fell in love with this car... she's a silver 2016 LT Limited with less than 38,000 miles. I had bought my Sonic used, so I wasn't worried about that. Absolutely pristine all the way around. I knew there were similarities between the Sonic and Cruze, but not a whole heck of a lot. I noticed on the test drive it had quite a bit more pick-up than my Sonic and was sold instantly. There was at this point, no mention that it was a turbo car, and I chalked up the performance to being a newer model year. I end up purchasing the car, but due to time constraints, couldn't take delivery until the next day. So I start doing my research, and notice the dealer website mentions a turbo. Intrigued, I do my research but for some reason find conflicting information. Decoding the VIN says nothing about a turbo. I drove the car home today was thrilled with the performance, there is no way this car isn't a turbo. Now, before you call me stupid, I didn't think to do a general search about what engines were actually available for the Cruze. Finally having had enough, I pop the hood and smile as I see what I felt was true in my gut. And further research shows there were changes for the 2016 1.4 that result in more power, explaining quite a bit. After all that, I am still in love with my Cruze. The ride quality is so much better than my Sonic... So quiet and smooth, can't hardly hear the engine in comparison. So, that's the backstory, on to the questions:

Where is the best place to start for simple mods? On my Sonic, I ported the intake runners and bypassed the bypass valve. Are these mods still applicable to the 2016 Cruze? If not, are there any other simple mods for a little boost in performance without getting too involved?

Apologies if I ran off at the keyboard, but thanks for any guidance you can provide!!

See less See more

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

Rivergoer

· #2 · Oct 15, 2017

Congratulations, welcome to the forum. You’re definitely in the right place.

2016 was kind of a ‘split’ year. Early 2016 models were “Gen 1” and 2016.5 Chevy introduced the Gen 2 Cruze. So it’ll be helpful to know which one you have so you can start your research in the correct area of the forum (Gen 1 or Gen 2).

Happy Cruzin’

Save

Reactions: 1

Eddy Cruze

· #3 · Oct 15, 2017

Welcome Deer!

Save

Reactions: 1

chevrasaki

· #4 · Oct 15, 2017

Welcome to the forum!

Save

jbzcar

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 15, 2017 (Edited)

Pretty sure she is a Gen 1, can you direct me on what to look for exactly? Can I post or PM someone my VIN for analysis?

Edit for clarity and: spent the last 30 minutes out in the parking lot learning, I was used to MyLink, and unfortunately my Cruze doesn't have it. But, I rigged a nice holder that slots into my CD slot that I will never use to hold my iPhone. Great control over Pandora/Music and Escort Live. Also stealthily routed my Escort SmartRadar cord similar to the way I had it in my Sonic.

Save

chevrasaki

· #6 · Oct 15, 2017

The first generation of Cruze looks roughly like this one.

The second generation Cruze looks roughly like this one.

Hope this helps!

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 2

Rivergoer

· #7 · Oct 15, 2017

jbzcar said:
Pretty sure she is a Gen 1, can you direct me on what to look for exactly? Can I post or PM someone my VIN for analysis?

Best place to start is at the top of the page under FORUM, look for the Gen 1 or Gen 2 section and start browsing your area of interest. Lots of great info here for sure.
@chevrasaki posted some great pics to help you identify your model (Gen 1 or Gen 2).

Good luck!

Save

jbzcar

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 15, 2017 (Edited)

OK she is def a 1st gen. I saw it quick because of the DRLs up above where the fogs would be if she had them. I noticed upon test drive the LED's, and was impressed. I had an uneasy truce with my Sonic that she ran my HIDs all day as DRLs.

You da man for making that so easy, I've been on forums before that say look for the 4th character on the third line of the serial code of the strut brace to determine the exact model.

So, now that we've established this, where do my original questions land? Already thought she was and have been lightly browsing the 1st gen board, but most posts seem to be about pre-2016, and I am not sure what applies because of the differences, excluding 2016.5 Gen 2.

Save

Taxman

· #9 · Oct 15, 2017

Also, if it has Limited in the name it's the old chassis, if the 4th character in the VIN is P it's the old chassis, and if the 4th character is a B it's the 2nd gen.

Save

Reactions: 1

Blasirl

· #10 · Oct 15, 2017

Welcome Aboard!:welcome:

Search for the following terms, listed in no particular order, and find what you can afford:

Tune
CAI
lowering springs
sway bar
dual exhaust
strut bars
MyLink upgrade
reverse camera
throttle body spacer
Bilstein struts
coil overs
Green Giant

etc. etc.

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 2

jbzcar

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 15, 2017

Blasirl said:
Welcome Aboard!:welcome:

Search for the following terms, listed in no particular order, and find what you can afford:

Tune
CAI
lowering springs
sway bar
dual exhaust
strut bars
MyLink upgrade
reverse camera
throttle body spacer
Bilstein struts
coil overs
Green Giant

etc. etc.

Very helpful! Thanks to you and everyone else for the very warm welcome!

Save

Mack

· #12 · Oct 16, 2017

Welcome! I have the same one on the same color! Got it slightly used as a dealer loaner model with 3,300 miles on it.

I've had it for almost a year. Put a k&n cold air intake and brisk racing disk plugs in it. That's all I've done, and I'm very happy with it. The only thing I don't really like is the turbo whistle is very noticeable with the cold air intake. Thinking about the tuner, but other things have financial priority right now....

Save

Drumsforjs

· #13 · Oct 17, 2017

jbzcar said:
Let me introduce myself and share my story about how I came here!

Due to a series of unfortunate events, my lightly modded 2013 Sonic LT Turbo met her unfortunate end early Friday morning. An untimely collision with a deer at full highway speed in BFE, Texas ender her useable life. Thankfully was able to drive slowly to a motel smoking and steaming along the way. Due to current life situation, a new vehicle was needed immediately. Went with my helpful financier later in the afternoon to a preferred dealer to see what they had available, as they had been helpful in the past. I absolutely fell in love with this car... she's a silver 2016 LT Limited with less than 38,000 miles. I had bought my Sonic used, so I wasn't worried about that. Absolutely pristine all the way around. I knew there were similarities between the Sonic and Cruze, but not a whole heck of a lot. I noticed on the test drive it had quite a bit more pick-up than my Sonic and was sold instantly. There was at this point, no mention that it was a turbo car, and I chalked up the performance to being a newer model year. I end up purchasing the car, but due to time constraints, couldn't take delivery until the next day. So I start doing my research, and notice the dealer website mentions a turbo. Intrigued, I do my research but for some reason find conflicting information. Decoding the VIN says nothing about a turbo. I drove the car home today was thrilled with the performance, there is no way this car isn't a turbo. Now, before you call me stupid, I didn't think to do a general search about what engines were actually available for the Cruze. Finally having had enough, I pop the hood and smile as I see what I felt was true in my gut. And further research shows there were changes for the 2016 1.4 that result in more power, explaining quite a bit. After all that, I am still in love with my Cruze. The ride quality is so much better than my Sonic... So quiet and smooth, can't hardly hear the engine in comparison. So, that's the backstory, on to the questions:

Where is the best place to start for simple mods? On my Sonic, I ported the intake runners and bypassed the bypass valve. Are these mods still applicable to the 2016 Cruze? If not, are there any other simple mods for a little boost in performance without getting too involved?

Apologies if I ran off at the keyboard, but thanks for any guidance you can provide!!

Welcome! I’m kind of new here as well. Had my Cruze for about 4 months. Have the same year and limited as well. I like how the limited edition came with the drls. I’m about to order my self some fog lights that came with the limited Ltz rs. So you keep the drls and have fogs!

I’m also doing the non mylink stereo to mylink stereo swap.It’s quite the process and there is write up on the forum explaining what to buy and how to do it. Cost wise I’m in about $450 doing the swap. You can get a nice aftermarket stereo with that money, but I would like to keep everything “stock”.

Again welcome!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month