Chevrolet Cobalt

alpha01

The Cavalier in this iteration dates back to the 1995 MY, making it 9 years old, and even so, is still based on the platform that underpinned the 1982 introductory J-cars, making it a 22 year platform.

~alpha

theo2709

Not only does the J-body platform date back to the early 80s, it was originally concieved to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the era. The Japanese moved up, GM didn't.

dindak

Ok 9 years instead of 8. What ever it is, it's dated.

:-)

Check out the G6 pictures in the G6 forum. There is another looker coming next fall.

rctennis3811

You're right it is a looker! The only thing I hate is the fact that it has too much plastic inside and the side looks like a Camry. Overall, looks good! I actually would've liked to seen the new Cobalt steering wheel in place of the Malibu/G6's steering wheel which looks kinda odd. Not kinda, VERY.

jchan2

in my area, Honda has 2.9 APR slapped to Civics and Accords while Toyota offers up to $3000 cash or 1.9 APR on Camrys and Corollas. So, it's not just Detroit slapping cash on the hood. Tokyo is doing the same thing. The cashback and financing are for 2003 AND 2004 models.

dindak

rctennis3811 : I don't see any Camry on the G6.

jchan : I heard some areas have 0% on Corollas for year end.

rctennis3811

Oh, I only meant the side windows. Not the entire car.

jchan2

in the summer they actually had 0% financing WITH $500 cashback on Camry LE models. You had to buy the base LE- you couldn't get that deal with the SE, SE V6, XLE, or XLE V6. Just the LE and the LE V6 models.

alpha01

On Corollas and Camrys? In what state? The max factory incentives I have seen on Camrys are 1000 back and 2.9 for 60mo. on 2003s (but thats not in my area). Currently, the NJ incentives are 2.9% on Corollas for up to 60 mo. (with no cash rebate) and on the Camry, 750$ back OR 2.9% for 60.

~alpha

vcjumper

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/7572_image.jpg

jchan2

the $3000 cash I'm guessing includes a slight dealer discount but is otherwise part of the Toyotathon sale thorugh Monday. The sale is in Southwestern Ohio- There has been many TV ads screaming UP TO $3000 CASH ON NEW CAMRYS AND COROLLAS!! on TV.

dindak

Saw the new Ad campaign last night. Very slick though no Cobalts were included. New Corvette looked awesome though!!

speeds2much

I think the interior is very VW-like, which puts the Cobalt immediately at the top of its class for interior design. I like the coupe exterior styling better than the Civic coupe's. The sedan's exterior reminds me of a Jetta...not that exciting, but tasteful and not bad at all.

The list of available equipment is impressive. Anyone know what the Driver Information Center is? Does this include a map-based NAV system?

alpha01

to me, at least, shows that GM is sweating the details. Every time I see a picture of the interior or exteriors of this new compact, I'm impressed by how cohesive the design is. Finally, GM has thought to include the important subtleties.... like REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS.... that other mfrs. have included for years. The engines are from a proven family, many safety features are available.

I really hope that the ride and drive confirm the positive impressions that I already have of this vehicle. It will be interesting to read the reviews. I would actually love to see a car magazine do a simultaneous review of an outgoing loaded Cavalier LS Sport, then a loaded Cobalt. This would show just how far GM has come, and the benefits of starting with a clean sheet of paper.

~alpha

rctennis3811

Why wasn't the Cobalt in the American Revo commercials??

lmp180psu

I saw the "American Revolution" commercial last night, and thought it was very upbeat, especially with the new Corvette- which is looking hot. I am not a GM fan but their future offerings finally look competitive if not class leading in a couple of areas. If they could just redo the Ion and their stupid clown commercials, and the Malibu's styling and its commercials, then GM's advertising campaign would be a total success IMO. Will have to see if the Cobalt lives up to the hype, with an interior that is "looking" competitive finally, and styling that isn't looking bulbous like the new Malibu( I think the coupe is very good looking).

bigdaddycoats

Are there any interior dimensions listed anywhere?

dindak

Only reason I can think of is the Cobalt wasn't quite ready when they shot the commercial.

jchan2

Saturn ION clowns: The kids think it's pretty funny with the concerned clowns stuffed into an ION.

An American Revolution: Saw this last night, and it was pretty slick with the cars driving onto the truck as it was moving. Especially the SSR, which did a 180 degree turn and backed into the truck.
I think the Cobalt wasn't quite ready when they shot the commercial, and there wasn't enough room on the truck to fit it in.
Also, it would be interesting to see Motor Trend or Edmunds do a comparison test pitting the old Cavalier LS Sport Sedan and compare it with the Cobalt SS sedan and then describe the benifits of starting with a clean sheet. The interior is very nice, minus the plood which is optional.

dindak

I like the clown ad also. It's better than the dud ads they had for the introduction.

Chevy ads are getting heavy air play. Looks like the brand is getting a lot of attention in 2004. The Equinox, Colorado, Malibu, Maxx, Aveo and later Cobalt should easily boost sales in a big way this year.

regfootball

ad campaign is good.

mateyo

Liked it too but how can they put the Corvette and the Aveo in the same spot? After all those Corvette beauty shots that little Aveo looks positively alien.

jchan2

it's part of their American Revolution so they have to put it in the ad. The Cobalt wasn't ready.

theo2709

I thought they made the Aveo look pretty good.

ateixeira

I liked it too. The Aveo is tiny, but modern looking. Makes you forget bad Geo Metro memories.

The 'vette looks awesome. Very, very well sorted styling. From certain front angles I see some Ferrari F360 Modena influence. I never liked the C5, but the C6 is a knock out!

-juice

speeds2much

The C6 does have some F360 Modena styling cues, but I think it even more resembles the Ferrari 456GT, which also happens to be my favorite Ferrari design. I can't wait to see the C6, because pictures never tell the whole story.

jchan2

makes me forget all those bad memories at the Enterprise Rent a Car counter with the keys to a Geo/Chevrolet Metro.

martinko77

Chevrolet Cobalt in this body style is exactly OPEL ASTRA (OPEL AG a GM's Germany car maker) in Europe, which was introduced on European market around 1998 - 1999. OPEL is going to introduce a new ASTRA sometimes this spring (2004), so lazy designers and managers at Chevrolet took this body style, slightly re-desing front and back and new car was done. So excuse me if somebody call this revolution, then there is something wrong with GM and especially with Chevrolet, which have not introduced anything breathtaking in passengers car dividsion almost for 5 years. Shame on you GM...

dindak

Are you joking? Chevy is finally offering competitive product and you say shame?

Give me a break buddy!

theo2709

The Astra platform and the Delta platform are different.

alpha01

Do some homework, then feel free to rejoin the conversation.

~alpha
"ignorance: the cost to our socitey is rising"

jchan2

the Aveo is a nice little car, as owners on the Aveo board have praised it for a low price, and good value content. (lotta features) The Malibu has launched with favorable reviews from the toughest critic I think in Autos, Consumer Reports. In Feb's Motor Trend, the Malibu beat out the Camry in a comparison test of the Accord, Camry, Galant and Malibu. And the Cobalt will be a lot more competitive than the current Cavalier, I'm sure. And that's shame????

alpha01

The small 2 door coupe market looks like its in for a fun battle Chevy Cobalt SS vs. Scion tC

the 2005 Scion tC:

Engine
2.4-liter four-cylinder DOHC with VVT-i (2AZ-FE)
Horsepower 160@5,700 rpm
Torque 163@4,000 rpm
Fuel System EFI

Powertrain
Five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic transmission

Suspension
Front/rear Independent MacPherson struts/Double-wishbone

Wheels and Tires
Standard 7JJ x 17-inch split six-spoke alloy wheels with P215/45 R17 tires

Brakes
Four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS

Exterior Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase 106.3
Overall Length 174.0
Overall Width 69.1
Overall Height 55.7

noteable standard features:
Keyless Entry
Multiadjustable Drivers Seat
60/40 Split Fold Down Rear
ABS w/ 4 wheel discs
A/C
Cruise Control
Pioneer Sound System
Power Windows, Door Locks, Mirrors
17 in. 6 spoke alloys
10 Position Rear Seatback, w/45 degree recline
Panarama Glass Moonroof
Outside Mirrors w/ built in turn signals

Optional: TRD package w/ 200hp 2.4L supercharged DOHC engine

~alpha

rctennis3811

I'll take either a tC or a Cobalt Coupe SS.

Problems with the tC:
-not many people know its a Toyota
-Scion not well established yet

Problem with the Cobalt:
-people still have bad memories of Chevys

That's all I could think of!

muffin_man

Why does the tC compete with the SS, and not the standard Cobalt? I think the SS is going to be a much sportier car than the tC.

alpha01

Perhaps it should be the Cobalt LS vs. the Scion tC. But the base, LS, LT(sedan only) Cobalts will only offer the 2.2L engine. The SS is the only model with the 2.4L 170hp engine, a closer match to the tC's 2.4L 160 hp engine. Additionally, the SS and SS Supercharged are the only Cobalts available with 4 wheel disc brakes and 17 in wheels, though, which the Scion has standard. The Scion tC may not be tuned stiffly and handle agressively like an SS, but its not going to be a Camry LE/XLE either.

http://www.scion.org for some tC details
http://www.media.gm.com/events/autoshows/04la/index.html for Cobalt details.

~alpha

dindak

Maybe they should have changed the name more than Cavalier to Cobalt.

muffin_man

I didn't realize there was a difference between the SS and SS supercharged.

tomcat630

"..so lazy designers and managers at Chevrolet took this body style, slightly re-desing front and back and new car was done. " Blah Blah, Blah......

Don't know what some expect these days. GM owns Opel, since the 1920's. And FYI, there are no separate "lazy Chevrolet designers", nor is Chevy its own manufacturer. This is the Delta platform, wholly designed by GM.

And another FYI, the Cavalier and Opel Kadette once shared the same J platform! Just that GM NA kept it here forever. So, the whole arguement is moot.

alpha01

From my understanding, the old Opel Kadett shared its underpinnings with our Chevette, which was cancelled after the 1988 model year.

~alpha

jchan2

is the Cavalier still using the J-Car platform?

ateixeira

I don't think so...the Chevette was RWD, the Kadett was FWD. My brother owned one of each (in Brazil they sold them both).

-juice

theo2709

What? No, it's on the Delta patform. Same as ION.

jchan2

I mean the current 2004 Cavalier, not the 2005 Cobalt.

tomcat630

There was a RWD Opel Kadette before the early 80's, which platform was used in Brazil and then on the Chevettes. Was also the platform for the 76-80 "Buick Opel" and the Isuzu I-Mark.

Yes, the current Cavalier is still the 'J platform'. In England, the J was sold as the Vauxhall Cavalier and looked very much like the Chevy.

jchan2

I saw a Toyota Cavalier that looked exactly like a Cavalier, only with a Toyota badge up front. I was passing it in a bus from the other side of the intersection, so I could only see the front. But that's the only Cavalier I've ever seen in Hong Kong. People much prefer Toyotas and Hondas. Maybe that's why the person bought it. It had a Toyota badge.

dindak

Toyota sold rebadged Cavaliers for a few years in Japan. Maybe they sold some in Hong Kong.

theo2709

Oh yeah, the current Cavalier is on J-body and has been for more than 20 years.

alpha01

That RWD Opel Kadett/I-Mark/Chevette was the one I was thinking of. The platform was GM of Germany's "T", hence the name for the Chevettes sister, the Pontiac T1000....

~alpha

logic1

It is almost impossible to sell used cars in Japan. What you saw must have been a right drive Cavalier originally sold in Japan by Toyota that was then exported to HK on the used market.

GM never made any other right drive Cavaliers in any event.