Cobalt's Radioactive Isotope

[91 s-10baja]

I want everyone reading this to do me a big favor: Take all of your past GM small-car experiences and throw them in a lake. Forget about the girl in high school with the cheetah-fur steering wheel cover on her Pontiac Sunfire (you've probably been trying for the past ten years). Ignore the utter garbage of the 80s, the unforgivable interiors of the 90s, and the distasteful stigma that has, as a result, carried on through this century. Don't even bother going back to read Motive's HHR SS review you ignored after brushing the poor thing off as ugly and pointless despite the strong numbers it can put down. The new Cobalt SS is even better — in fact, it may be the best small car Chevrolet has ever built.
http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature...obalt_SS.shtml

[FStephenMasek]

I read the article, and the new Cobalt SS sounds very desireable. It certaainly reminds me of the Sunbird I once owned, but has many very significant improvements, in addition to the expected air bags, and so forth of modern cars. However, the following statement by them is way out of line:

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

Ignore the utter garbage of the 80s

The 1984 J2000 Sunbird LE four door with the turbo package and 4 speed I had was far from garbage. I had good looks (much better than subsequent versions), handled well, was quick (for the time), and achieved excellent fuel economy. The engine was still running strong and it still looked excellent when I included it in a deal for a house at 160,000 miles in 1994.

My Sunbird cost about $23,000 in today's money. The new Cobalt SS also costs $23,000, but it is faster, probably handles better, has better seats, has better brakes, has air bags, has stability control,a nd has a structure designed to do well in current wreck tests. That represents tremendous improvement in value for the dollar by GM!

[coaster.n3rd]

Wow... that was a great review. I'm sort of surprised there was no mention of the lackluster interior or lack of this or that.

Can't wait to drive one.

[Ambalanche]

Where's Cobaltsscrazy? He's gonna be stoked!

[geozinger]

Wow, I'm glad to see that the Cobalt in it's advanced age, is getting such good reviews. I read on Wired's Autopia that the Cobalt has had a 50% increase in sales recently. How come I never see those statistics on other sites?

I'm not really the target market for this car (I'm 45), but maybe down the road this wouldn't be a bad little toy to keep in the garage. Or a Solsitce.

dream on...

[PeterPuck]

Originally Posted by geozinger

Wow, I'm glad to see that the Cobalt in it's advanced age, is getting such good reviews. I read on Wired's Autopia that the Cobalt has had a 50% increase in sales recently. How come I never see those statistics on other sites?

It's a car that definitely grows on you. When it came out, it seemed like a bit of a dud for some reason. Now, it seems pretty desirable. And the coupe is one of the best-looking small cars on the market imo.

Maybe it's higher gas-prices that make it seem like a better car.


I wonder what would have happened if GM kept the "Cavalier" name. Sometimes I think they should have.

[ogg vorbis]

respect. it beat the cayman s on the nurburgring

they need a delete option for those seats and wheels/tires, so you can put real racing seats in. contisports are good, but there are better, cheaper tires out there (and lighter wheels). i don't understand the *optional* lsd.

[CobaltSScrazy]

just got back from my GF's formal at the Roostertail in DEEEETROIT it was a blast! Going to bed, got an interview in the morning.

This and MT were slightly shady / ****ty reviews...will explain later.

CobaltSS

[packardlust]

Originally Posted by PeterPuck

It's a car that definitely grows on you. When it came out, it seemed like a bit of a dud for some reason. Now, it seems pretty desirable. And the coupe is one of the best-looking small cars on the market imo.

Maybe it's higher gas-prices that make it seem like a better car.


I wonder what would have happened if GM kept the "Cavalier" name. Sometimes I think they should have.

I attended the KC International Auto Show Wed evening. A lot of car mags have ragged on GM interiors for a lot of years. From my perspective GM had the best interiors overall at the Auto show, certainly upstaging Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, and Nissan in Model to model comparisons. Gm had fine looking vehicles, including the Cobalt, with fine looking interiors, including the Cobalt

[jkennedy293]

I don't know why everyone seems to keep ragging on GM for not putting a slush box in the SS. You can't get one in the MS3, but no one jumps down Mazda's throat.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

just got back from my GF's formal at the Roostertail in DEEEETROIT it was a blast! Going to bed, got an interview in the morning.

This and MT were slightly shady / ****ty reviews...will explain later.

CobaltSS

I actually thought it was a pretty good review. I haven't read the MT review yet. Good luck w/your interview!

[mjd1001]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

The new Cobalt SS is even better — in fact, it may be the best small car Chevrolet has ever built.
http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature...obalt_SS.shtml

The problem is...without an automatic transmission (even if it requires a detuned engine like the HHR SS), how many people will actually go out of their way to even check it out at the dealership, let alone test drive one to notice the new seats, the suspension tweaks...etc?

The Automatic will fit, GM really needs to offer one in this package. They can throw a bone to the "A sports car should only come with a manual transmission" crowd by having the manual have a few more Horsepower, but if this car is really so drivable and sporty and balanced feel...let more consumers see that.

[big swede]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

The new Cobalt SS is even better — in fact, it may be the best small car Chevrolet has ever ]

Isn't that like saying car @@@@ is the most exiting car in Toyota's lineup. Talk about faint praise. I think it is a very sweet little car though but even though I hate this saying. It is what it is. A cheap econobox with a nice interior and a great powertrain.

[geozinger]

Originally Posted by packardlust

I attended the KC International Auto Show Wed evening. A lot of car mags have ragged on GM interiors for a lot of years. From my perspective GM had the best interiors overall at the Auto show, certainly upstaging Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, and Nissan in Model to model comparisons. Gm had fine looking vehicles, including the Cobalt, with fine looking interiors, including the Cobalt

That's been my experience with most of the cars that I see at the shows. The interiors in any GM car usually compare well with any other makers.

I've often thought that this is a lame kind of critcism, i.e., since we can't really find anything else to complain about, we'll complain about something that isn't easy to quantify. To each their own in regards to that argument, but I think if people didn't know what they were in, they wouldn't know what they were in, understand? There are very few cars with huge ergonomic mistakes anymore. It seems like it's mostly a matter of taste.

Anyway, I'm still glad to see that my hometown boys (and gals) in Lordstown are pumping out a world class hot rod! Good news, definitely good news.

[K Dawg ONE]

Give me a 4-door GXP G5 (id even settle for a 4-door SS Cobalt) and id have my new daily driver.
IMO, GM is missing the boat with guys in their mid 20's who started families young but still want a bit of a 'tuner' car. Insurance is still a tad high on a coupe for anyone under 25 (not to mention the need for easy back-seat access for child seats, etc). GM hit the nail on the head with the ION redline Quad Coupe.
I think not having a FI 4 door causes some buyers to look at SRT4, Mazdaspeed3, EVO's, WRX's and GOLFs...

...give me a damn Turbo sedan please Bob!