Autocross 101 with the Chevrolet Sonic - The Downshift Episode 29

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Many thanks! We'll keep them coming! Jessi

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Thank you for that! We're glad you're enjoying our shows and we're so happy to have you as a viewer! Jessi

[@mylifeisJDM]

I like to NOT download adblock and just watch the ad. This consistent level of good web content from MT doesn't come cheap. Worth it to show them a little love adwise.

[@Mzrati]

Jessi, thanks for reading and responding. I'm a true fan of most but not all MT weekly videos. And yes, I am and will remain a fan of The Downshift.

[@caiovictorsat]

Best Downshift Episode ever !!! Jessi Lang is the BEST !!!

[@manuelesaleta]

Every time i watch Jessi, comment with such insight and knowledge on the subject matter, it blows my mind. =] keep up the good work!

[@vwbusboy9]

Motortrend needs to have their show put on television

[@6SHIFTER1]

Good job Jessi. I just tried my skills at my first auto-x last week and had a blast. I just need new front tires now!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Thanks for the feedback- I feel the same way! Jessi

[@lokiris]

Jessi has to be one of the most entertaining auto journalists to watch. Not just a pretty face, but sincere, eloquent (without going so far as to sound pretensions), and always looks like she's having a blast. This is something that Other magazine should take note of. *cough* caranddriver *cough* Auto-X is one of the funnest things you can do in a car, with not a lot of money.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

More to come! (But with a much better car!) Jessi

[@ibarkis]

You go girl! Jessi it was so fun to watch you take to the Auto-X! Hope you do some more you got potential!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Thank you for that! Hope you'll stay tuned! Jessi

[@eyazrafsun9158]

I've always loved Motortrend.

[@livedeliciously]

Great segment. Really like how any kind of car can come and compete.

[@theriverrunpast]

Just a great, great video. Way to go guys/gals! I love the whole cinematic, yet utterly fun, feel to it all (the performances, the music, the cinematography, editing. . .). And it showcases Jessi's (beautiful, fun) personality so well. I want more of these kind of videos! Great work!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Many thanks for the feedback! We'll definitely be doing more episodes like this-- stay tuned! Jessi

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Many thanks! I second that! Jessi

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Likewise! And believe me, I'd love to! My next autocross will be conducted in a Miata! Jessi

[@free2000]

Thanks Jessi for the great autocross coverage! For all you putting down the Sonic, Jessi did not finish last in the class she ran, would have beat half a dozen people in the open Novice class and would have won the Novice Ladies class, beating a Corvette! BTW, the Novice class has people with up to a year of experience in addition to first timers. Hope to see you at another event!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

I know you guys are weary of it, but that commercial will be gone soon. Jessi

[@romeofoever]

Hey Jessi, it was great meeting you out there. Hope you had a blast! Next time ditch the econobox hehe.

[@MrSukiflash]

Jessi is a beautiful young lady with hopefully a long productive career ahead of her.We will all someday say.I remember her back when she was a struggling actress doing "MotorTrend" video"s.Jessi.you rock!

[@yohananeliyah]

Your laugh is contagious! Great job though, finding your own comfort zone. Keep 'em coming!

[@Seitzy411]

I'm glad she didn't try to fit some sort of womanly stereotype, awesome video. I'd love to do RallyX in a Sonic LTZ one day.

[@CAJFB]

Great video!!!As usual Jessi you did a great job and keep up the good work!!

[@RCMarty]

Man, I was giggling all along, Jessi was having a blast !!!

[@jax1079]

Wow! One of your best epidodes of anything ever. Well done, MT! Keep 'em coming like this, and you will continue to utterly DOMINATE Car and Driver's sad little channel. (And I say that as a C/D subscriber!)

[@r32rocky]

ahhhh, my old home away from home, good old Cal Club SCCA! Hello to all my old friends from Rocky (remember my BMW Z3 Coupe, and my STU Subaru STi from the old days?). Are René and Craig Angel still around? I miss you all!

[@39LW]

Loved the soundtrack in this video!

[@xSANTACRUZx831]

Hey Everyone we should all buy this car because it makes street art!

[@swiftxb]

Its worth the download. Works great for me!!!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Me too- I think it's hilarious! Jessi

[@BrutalFates]

Love her voice, have no clue why its just great.

[@bonzo9303204406]

well done, you could call yourself autocross novice champ now jessi, u did grate job.. and the episode was fun as always keep the great job :) !

[@CP240sx]

I love the fact that you have the curls in your hair for this video. You are one beautiful young lady. I bet your driving coach had one hell of a time concentrating on teaching driving techniques and not letting his mind wander in other directions. I couldn't have behaved as professionally as he did. My hat is off to him. Maybe the fact that the camera was running helped him stay focused.

[@MrPreludeTurbo]

Autocross is much harder than it appears to be, the course is not as clearly defined as a track and it usually has sharper corners. I still prefer a track, because you get to better know the full limits of your car. Still autocross is fun and it is a good way to sharpen your driving skills and get some feel for your car's handling capabilities. Jessi summed it up pretty well. Bravo MotorTrend now get her to a track, with the new Subaru BR-Z which is the perfect starter RWD car.

[@moreboost]

Great going loved it I like to see you getting better.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

We love Jessi; there's no doubt. Great job.

[@trefod]

Yep I saw when I paused. I remember them from GT4 but I can't remember what brand they were presented as and I haven't been able to find them by searching google. Good luck in your efforts.

[@72FastEddie]

This is a great video I'm going to share with some folks. I think it will take some of the fear out of it for people who have never tried. It looks like you had a good time and that's really what it's all about.

[@Versatyle1723]

yes it is. a lot of autocrossers use FR FF and AWD platforms. a FF can beat a an FR if the drive is more fine tuned and know how to utlilize understeer.

[@09blackcobaltss]

Wow awesome video!!

[@computiNATEor]

I gotta say, I love the over-dramatic music while she is driving!

[@DrGabber]

Good video. So what did Jessi place in the event?

[@Conemangler]

Nice job Jessi! Its a sport that definitely takes seat time and instruction. You're introduction to the sport went really well. Come out again and you'll see how it becomes easier to see the line and you become more in feel with the limits of the car. 6:50 to 6:56 my Gearbox trailer makes a cameo. ;)

[@bennychan723]

Jessi Lang for president!!!!!!!!!

[@theseoldcarfilms]

We get the Sonic in the UK but it's called the Aveo. Fun little car, particularly the diesel one - odd, I know!

[@trefod]

Got it! It's an Enkei rim (NT03+M) I think.

[@TonyTube407]

Oh, Jessi...let me count the ways. *sigh* Great job on the autocross! Looks like you really enjoyed yourself. This will only add to your already stellar capabilities as an automotive journalist.

[@Tapage]

Hello Jessi .. I love the way you are doing your " programs " each episode it's ( IMOP ) better and you are transmitting that " wanna be there " feeling through your words and comments .. congrats, I'm really enjoying seen you each episode .. P.S. would be nice to see you in nice dress or skirt .. take that in mind ..

[@7stefan7vn]

anyone know what wheels on the evo at 5:20?

[@NeilParkerTX]

Great idea for an episode and Jessi needs to more of whatever it takes to get more laughing and/or unedited bloopers. Great job with the time improvement!

[@Mawerik024]

Great job as usual, Jessi. Just one thing, from the continent who's been using the "stick" since the car was invented. You really don't wanna change down into first gear. You'll ruin it. And you will lose time. First gear is just to take off.

[@Rob_Fe]

3:45 Guy says: "You can be pretty aggressive on the launch, rev it up til about 4k and dump the clutch" Chick hears: "I'm going to take off as slowly as possible"

[@chrismarco17]

The Sonic rocks! It looks so cool!

[@revverules]

Jessi must be really tiny because she make the Sonic look huge @5:51. - Also doing a great job Jessi - Always good to see you behind the wheel & having fun.

[@pedalsnkeys1313]

Pretty cool, I recognize a few of those cars from Nationals events with the SCCA! What class were you all running the Sonic in?

[@Conemangler]

Jessi beat 5 competitors in the novice class and two competitors in the H-Stock open class. There was certainly some potential shining through in her first competition.

[@fabulousprofound]

wow jessi you did great for your first time out. i wish i could say the same for myself... i ate so many cones the track people made me go out and reset the cones on my own as punishment lol

[@KurterinoVD]

Jessi, I would love to see you make a trip to Germany and refine your skills even more around the Nürburgring with Sabine Schmitz (she's a professional driver, probably best known for her 2 appearances in Top Gear UK, where she raced a stock Ford Transit Diesel van around the Ring in a little more than 10 minutes)

[@J33VANxD]

Finally im watching a video about the chevy sonic and guess what... no chevy sonic ad

[@TheJustin574]

Is the sonic front wheel drive?

[@exyiaevox]

1. I have a much greater respect for Jessi Lang after this video. I used to think she think she was always in over her head as far as reviews go compared to her presentation - not able to do more than say "it handles great, it sounds amazing". It's nice to see her experience that wakeup moment of the true limits of a car and it's capabilities. 2. Great to see autox exposure. People who consider themselves car guys and good drivers that have never heard of autox make me facepalm. GJ MT

[@YaBoiScrumpo]

Glad you had fun Jessi, and I want to try that (later in my life) myself! Meanwhile, I am debating on a good first car and I like the Sonic a lot. Having gone through an autocross with it, would you recommend the Sonic to a newer driver? Thanks!

[@MaxTorsen]

Great vid Jessi! Love it! I hope that this experience encourage you to enhance your driving skills (as for car racing). I think it would be a great thing to watch as you progress and maybe even becoming pro! :)

[@danhellerjr]

Oh yeah, I do remember that - it was introduced the very next year after the first EcoBoost. (1st EcoBoost hit the streets in '09)

[@RingerRacing]

good episode it was my first you should come to a track day next and try rear wheel drive ....

[@SteveHansen1]

Woot! More autocross!

[@TheBigBazzy]

did they make sure the front brake pads were in place first?

[@mikewhite1868]

the ending was pretty funny lol

[@marshallbrooksmusic]

That paint job looks good on the sonic.

[@kmac720]

What class it TO???

[@TheMarschmallow]

why is the chevy sonic everywhere on youtube but i have only seen 1 on the road?

[@poooooow]

Congrats J

[@DeftonesFan867]

...and GM had them before that... As a matter of fact the Corvair was the first mass produced American vehicle to feature a turbocharged motor.

[@rustlerboi1052]

Jessi Lang is awesome.

[@DJOgurchik]

Does anybody know if that sonic has some sort of body or lip kit? Please let me know

[@AuldeyST]

whats the difference between Gymkhana and Autocross?

[@alexander1485]

how interesting, i get the chevy sonic advertisement on a chevy sonic video

[@rcmaster1029]

So how did she do compared to others?

[@danhellerjr]

I don't consider myself an enthusiast - I pay attention to things that matter - those cars you mention were novelties.

[@IvesBraghittoni]

Dear Jessi, Good job. Next time, just remeber to put down the "glass" of your helmet. At that position ("up"), it's more confortable, but can hurt your eyes in an accident. Regards, Ives

[@JaySee5]

Great improvement from her ridiculous amount of oversteering at the beginning, but not hitting a cone means she didn't push hard enough.

[@The.Cycling.Therapist]

I could watch this all day 1:11.

[@rocketpunch12210]

What is a "professional" autocross event? Do you need a "professional" autocross racing license? or was it just another $35 bucks everyday joe parking lot event with your daily and magnetic numbers?

[@makofoto]

Auto Cross, officially called SOLO racing by the SCCA, our governing body, is faster, more open then traditional (English) Gymkhana, which features sections where one reverses, parks, etc. Obviously the Ken Block "Gymkhana's" are something completely different! Google SCCA > Solo or Solo2 n Southern CA, LA area, for much more info

[@ballzzo]

This sounds like the first time I taught my friend to drive a stick.

[@DaveR]

Jess, Did you ever drive a stick before this or was it that hard to get used to driving the Sonic?

[@122193]

i love this car i have one and its so fun to drive

[@pivot360master]

im not totally shure, drive is a pretty good channel

[@LM_Cams]

1:13 Why the fuc* they bleeped what he said? "Which is actually really good" lolololol

[@knack0125]

For some reason I so saw the parking brake being left on at the start of the practicerun of the MT autocross deal and Jessi just buring it up!!! Haha peddle to the metal Girl!! Go get em!!!

[@KurterinoVD]

For those who're interested...search for Sabine Schmitz's Nurburgring Van challenge part 1 and 2 here on youtube

[@mrdjsubz]

omg.. the music when she was racing cracked me up!

[@MrChacha2011]

dont get me wrong its a little cool turbo charged beast but it would be cool to see what it could do in better hands and more focus on the performance of the car.

[@mak450]

I don't know Jessi at all, but I would imagine she already knows who Sabine Schmitz is.

[@makofoto]

Nice Jessi ... but if you didn't hit any cones, you weren't trying hard enough. :-) You got four runs, you only need ONE FAST clean run. Hope we see you again ... Mako, the Grid Nazi while you were running.

[@jevchance]

When did Chevrolet buy MotorTrend? So much for unbiased car information.

[@OilBarron84]

she's gonna "snap her shit up" with that push-up form!