Car & Driver '08 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - First Drive Review

[davidlane]

GM’s Performance Division turns out a doozy of a Cobalt.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...eview/(page)/1

"...because the new Cobalt SS is very fast and very good."

[Stéphane Dumas]

another good exterpt

...The Cobalt SS treats mid-corner bumps with indifference and features ride characteristics that remind us of—gulp—the Volkswagen GTI. Lumpy, bumpy roads unfurl beneath the new SS with no drama; this car is very well damped....

[member12]

I am really impressed with this car.

I never thought I would say this....but I wish GM would put as much effort into the Impala and mid sized trucks as they do the small and mid sized cars.

[Ach]

160 mph, 30 mpg, and a balanced chassis. Wow. Is the Turbo sedan confirmed? If so that is moving to the top of the list when my lease is up next year.

[jzchev28]

Originally Posted by member12

I am really impressed with this car.

I never thought I would say this....but I wish GM would put as much effort into the Impala and mid sized trucks as they do the small and mid sized cars.

what are you talking about? GM dosen't put any effort into their small cars, just ask people on this site.

p.s. i'm seriously concidering purchasing a turbo cobalt.

[BerettaZ]

A $275 in dash nav for 2009??? I find that hard to believe...

[mkaresh]

I've very happy to see a sedan SS coming for 2009. Every time GM offers a coupe but not a related sedan in top performance trim it's like they're stuck in the 1960s.

In-dash nav for $275 sounds like a different system than those that sell for $900+.

Full price list for the 2008 anywhere? I'd like to get it into TrueDelta's pricing database.

Edit: seems that the short list of options in the Motor Trend preview is the entire list of options. So the SS will be in my next upload to the server, maybe tonight.

[CobaltSScrazy]

best review of the Cobalt SS yet! All seems accurate based on my limited experience in it thus far. This is a great vehicle and I hope it gets all the respect it deserves, AND SOME ADVERTISING HELLO GM that would be nice too!

CobaltSS

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

best review of the Cobalt SS yet! All seems accurate based on my limited experience in it thus far. This is a great vehicle and I hope it gets all the respect it deserves, AND SOME ADVERTISING HELLO GM that would be nice too!

CobaltSS

How'd you get some experience in it? I'm looking forward to taking one for a spin. The sedan might even work for me, though I'd rather have a hatch.

[paul3230]

Although it would have been nice to throw some money at rocker panels..or new rims. Or hell, a revised front facia??

[GMusa]

If this car is as good as they say it is.. the next-gen Cobalt SS should be crazy awesome!!

[davidlane]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

The sedan might even work for me, though I'd rather have a hatch.

A question if I may, why a hatch as opposed to the HHR SS?

[01IntrigueGX]

Originally Posted by member12

I am really impressed with this car.

I never thought I would say this....but I wish GM would put as much effort into the Impala and mid sized trucks as they do the small and mid sized cars.

I agree with you, but I still remember consumers and editors griping about the fact that GM used to dump too much of its resources into the mid-sized trucks before they dealt with their smaller vehicles. Times have changed.

[regfootball]

SS sedan? that may make me want a small car! the ion redline i once drove was awesome. this can only be much better.

[johnd89]

way to go GM!

now they will only have to offer some stage I,II, etc turbo kits.
this may very well become the quintesential sleeper (if deprived of the rear wing). much nicer than the old wrx or neon r/t.