TCC: '05 Cobalt-The only burden here is History

[nadepalma]

Source: http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehi...180.A8691.html

2005 Chevy Cobalt: The only burden here is history




Chevy finally has a compact car it can be proud of, one that can go bumper-to-bumper against the best small cars from Japan.

But will buyers give Chevy's thoroughly excellent little Cobalt a chance? Decades of mediocre Cavaliers, so-so Citations and just plain awful Chevettes have made Toyota, Honda and other import brands the default choice when many buyers go shopping.

Luring them back to the Bowtie may be as big a challenge as it was finally getting the Cobalt-which replaces the Cavalier in Chevy's product lineup-put together in the first place

Hard to fault

The car itself is hard to fault on any level. Fit, finish and the overall sense of build quality and attention to detail are comparable to class leaders like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Though inexpensive, with a base price of $13,625 for the standard trim level sedan or hatchback coupe, it's neither cheap-feeling nor sparsely equipped. All models come with air conditioning and a cabin filtration system (still an expensive option on the Honda Civic) and the Cobalt's standard 2.2-liter, 145-hp Ecotec four-cylinder engine is larger and more powerful by a significant margin that the Civic's 1.7-liter, 115-hp engine or the Toyota Corolla's 1.8 liter, 130-hp engine.

The Cobalt starts out with price advantage, too. It's about $1000 less than a Civic "Value Package" equipped with air conditioning, and about $150 bucks less than a base Corolla CE with A/C and manual transmission ($13,780). Plus, since Chevy is more strongly motivated to "deal" on its cars than Toyota , the actual out the door price difference between a Corolla and Cobalt is probably going to be significantly more, in favor of the Cobalt.

Fun shock

Driving the Cobalt was surprisingly fun. The extra 15-30 horsepower offered by the 2.2-liter, DOHC Ecotec four made all the difference on the divided two-lane roads I frequently drive, where having the reserves to make a fast pass around a dawdling "Farm Use Only" vehicle doing 40 in a 55 zone is almost as necessary as air conditioning in Phoenix. The car pulls well even at 70 or 80 mph, the range where 110-120-hp economy cars are beginning to feel obviously winded.

The engine doesn't vibrate or buzz, either, And the exhaust system tunes out any unpleasant tinny resonances, both at idle and under load.

I didn't get to drive a Cobalt with the optional four-speed automatic transmission, but with the standard five-speed manual, it was an enjoyable experience that never made me feel like the low man on the economic totem pole.

In addition to its "on paper" horsepower advantage, the Cobalt also benefits from an unusual high-tech feature at this price point: electric-assist (instead of engine-driven) power steering, which means less parasitic draw and more real-world horsepower. The speed-sensitive steering system provides light effort at low speeds, making manuevering the car easier with increasing effort for better road feel on the highway. It also improves the Cobalt's fuel economy potential.

Despite its fairly large (by the standards of this class), high-output engine, the Cobalt is rated by the EPA at 25 city/34 highway-and you can dog the thing pretty hard (as I did) and still put a lot of miles behind you before requiring a pit stop for fuel.

Standard stuff
Other niceties include the standard 15-inch aluminum wheels (not steelies with cheap plastic trim covers) and 60-Series Continental all-season tires - enhancements that help give the car a composed, comfortable ride and improve the already very competent handling and driving dynamics of this car.

The cabin on my mid-level LS tester (base price $15,920) did not feel like steerage compared to either a Civic or Corolla or any other import competitor. Far from it, in fact. The dash layout was especially nice, with semi-oval gauges set back in the pod and trimmed with chrome, very comfortable and supportive cloth seats and thoughtful detail touches such as an outside temperature monitor, chrome door pulls (instead of Tonka toy plastic ones) and easy-entry rear doors on the sedan that are cut surprisingly deep into the back quarters. This design makes it easier to jam boxes and other oversized stuff into the back seat area, in addition to giving passengers more entry/egress space.

You can get XM radio, OnStar, even leather seats if you want that (on the top-of-the-line LT model, MSRP $18,195). But the Cobalt's as-it-sits package at $13,625 is both attractive and extremely competitive with anything else currently available in its price range.
If you're at all generous-minded, give the Cobalt a look. This car has a lot to offer and might just rehabilitate your feelings about Chevrolet and General Motors.

2005 Chevy Cobalt sedan
Base price: $13,625; price as tested: $18,195
Engine: 2.2-liter four-cylinder, 145 hp/150 lb-ft
Transmission: Five speed manual, front-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 180.3 x 67.9 x 57.1 in
Wheelbase: 103.3 in
Curb Weight: 2868 lb
Fuel economy (EPA cty/hwy): 25/34 mpg (manual transmission)
Safety equipment: Dual front airbags, ABS, dusk-sensing headlamps (side impact & curtain airbags opt.)
Major standard features: Air conditioning, electric-assist power steering, tilt wheel, AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD player
Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles

[Swahili]

Another positive review for the Cobalt. Always good news.

In addition to its "on paper" horsepower advantage, the Cobalt also benefits from an unusual high-tech feature at this price point: electric-assist (instead of engine-driven) power steering, which means less parasitic draw and more real-world horsepower. The speed-sensitive steering system provides light effort at low speeds, making manuevering the car easier with increasing effort for better road feel on the highway. It also improves the Cobalt's fuel economy potential.

I had no idea about this electric assist system. And people say that GM can't be high tech. This may or may not be rocket science high tech, but this is the first I've heard of it on any compact car (unless I've been hiding under a rock). Even with the history of the Cavalier, I think the Cobalt will carve out a successful path for itself.

[tgagneguam]

This is one way in which GM will get import-philes back into its showrooms: building vehicles at least on par with the best others have to offer in terms of price, [perceived and actual] quality, and design. In one way, it's simple, yet in other ways, it's quite difficult.

[tom3]

Time will tell, let's not forget that the Cavalier was the best selling Chevy for many years and sales in the top three in it's class. And not so bad even by the journalists ratings,(see link if interested) although it ranked last in depreciation in the later years. The Cobalt will sell ok, but time will tell whether it's price and quality will satisfy it's owners.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...0/page048.html

[paul8488]

Wow! Well written review... the guy really like the car! That's good to hear. Honestly makes me want one. Guess that shows how persuasive a review can be.

[Perian]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

It's about $150 bucks less than a base Corolla CE with A/C and manual transmission ($13,780). Plus, since Chevy is more strongly motivated to "deal" on its cars than Toyota , the actual out the door price difference between a Corolla and Cobalt is probably going to be significantly more, in favor of the Cobalt.

Let's try and give the consumer what he or she wants for a change - we've got a high quality, well reviewed vehicle; let's nail it down with some fair list pricing.

The announcement tomorrow of GM's big new incentive program(GM type employee pricing for all), could possibly be the first step in this direction.

Let's see what tomorrow brings...

[Perian]

Originally Posted by Perian

Let's try and give the consumer what he or she wants for a change - we've got a high quality, well reviewed vehicle; let's nail it down with some fair list pricing.

The announcement tomorrow of GM's big new incentive program(GM type employee pricing for all), could possibly be the first step in this direction.

Let's see what tomorrow brings...

Here's more on the program (Source: Detroit News):

DETROIT, MI, May. 28 (UPI) -- In an effort to boost U.S. sagging car and truck sales, General Motors Corp., is expected announce it will extend its employee discount to all.

GM is expected to announce Wednesday it will offer all buyers the same discount that employees get -- discounts that can amount to thousands of dollars depending on the vehicle, the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.

The discount, which varies depending on the model, will be available for all GM autos, trucks and sports utility vehicles -- except the Corvette.

With the increase in the price of gasoline, GM's full-size pickups and sport utility vehicles sales have suffered, according to GM dealers.

Dealers said models of the Cadillac Escalade SUV, once one of its hottest models, have been accumulating, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. The supply is higher for some other models including: the Pontiac Montana SV6 minivan, the Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck and the GMC Yukon XL SUV.

"GM still has to clear excess inventories, particularly of their trucks," said David Healy, an automotive analyst with Burnham Securities. "The new incentives suggest that sales were soft in May."

[jro4566]

Competitive vehicles will not get GM out of its slump, nor will they bring new customers into the showroom...class-leading vehicles will, and the Cobalt is a great example of this philosophy.

[gm_scott]

great review, has anyone even heard of a bad review, I sure have'nt and that makes me happy

[TaHoE]

Originally Posted by Swahili

Another positive review for the Cobalt. Always good news.
I had no idea about this electric assist system. And people say that GM can't be high tech. This may or may not be rocket science high tech, but this is the first I've heard of it on any compact car (unless I've been hiding under a rock). Even with the history of the Cavalier, I think the Cobalt will carve out a successful path for itself.

Electric Assist is standard fare on:
2005 Saturn ION
2005 Saturn VUE
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
2005 Chevrolet Equinox
2005 Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu MAXX
2005 Pontiac G6

As time goes on GM seems to getting better with the electric steering. The ION was terrible, the VUE was bad, the Epsilon twins & Equinox were just annoying and the Cobalt is actually GOOD! Way to go!

[s113]

I drove my Cobalt and a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire last Wednesday and the Cobalt is much easier to steer than the Sunfire, especially with one hand. I'm glad the Cobalt has electric steering.

[Firenze]

I gave my '02 Civic to my sister and picked up my Cobalt LS coupe on Monday and absolutely love it. The car is extremely well-made and very refined down to the very small details (the sound of the turn signal, the shape of the rearview mirror, chrome door handles, etc.). Not to mention the superior power output (even the automatic version is faster than any of the competitor's manual versions). It beats the Civic and Corolla hands down.

[plane]

It's great to see the Cobalt on the road. It looks awesome in motion. The few coupes at the local dealer looked sharp and the black SS that I saw today was out of this world. The Ecotec is one sweet smooth motor. Perhaps Chevy can upgrde to direct injection and have class-leading power with the same level of fuel economy that the Corolla and Civic provide. 25/34 isn't bad, but it would be nice if the Cobalt would kick butt in both power and economy.

[2005 Equinox LS]

I think Chevrolet could do it. I havent driven one but it looked really nice inside and out. Only downfall is the small sized back seat. I dont know if I would fit back there. The Ecotec engine in the last Cavalier I drove was really nice. Smooth powerful, I dont know fuel economy because I only had it for one day.

[Cphelps]

But is the seat small compared to other cars in it's class? I'd expect those looking to buy cars in the class might not think they were that small; if the other cars in the same class offer seats that are around the same size. I seriously have no idea. Havent been fortunate enough to sit in a Cobalt yet, and only been in the back seat of a civic and corolla a few times.