The Detroit Three ... Two? One?

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by Joe in T.O.

When the Cobalt came out, it and the Corolla were the only 2 vehicles that received 5 star side impact ratings (the Civic did not).

My point is this, as long as people keep over-hyping the imports, I will make the same case for the Cobalt and G-5. As a final note, the Cobalt SS rules in the performance department.

The Cobalt WAS competitive in the first year that it came out... But within 12 months Toyota and Honda had caught up and had cars for sale with NAV systems, and better transmissions, etc... Over at GM, as usual, we said (and are still saying) the car is good enough... Let them buy a truck.

That is the problem. Every year the Civic/Corolla get a little nicer... at GM we are now "cancelling" upgrades... and announcing that cars will just "soldier on"...

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by 2002 Caddy

The Cobalt WAS competitive in the first year that it came out... But within 12 months Toyota and Honda had caught up and had cars for sale with NAV systems, and better transmissions, etc... Over at GM, as usual, we said (and are still saying) the car is good enough... Let them buy a truck.

That is the problem. Every year the Civic/Corolla get a little nicer... at GM we are now "cancelling" upgrades... and announcing that cars will just "soldier on"...

Actually, the Corolla didn't get Nav until 2009, 4 years after the Cobalt debuted. The Civic did get Nav a year after the Cobalt came out, that's true, but with the 'no-stay-in-third' manual I'd have to say "Maybe not..." on the better transmission part. Oh, and the Corolla still uses a 4sp auto, just like the Cobalt...unless you buy the $20K 2.4/5sp auto version that gets 22C/30H which is no better than the Cobalt SS/TC and a lot less fun to drive.

It's blanket statements like yours that irk me and illuminate the problem with American cars. Perception is everything, even if supported with half-truths, exaggerations and an unwillingness to look up the facts.

[gardnet1]

Hey paintball emporium sounds kind like a good trade for Chrysler right now.