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Comments
My Cobalt was only built in April '08, but since I've seen your posts I've checked for water leaks. None visible to me anywhere. I do have a wind 'rustle' or slight 'roar' at the driver's door at about 70 mph, but I'm taking it in a week from now for that.
I have the XFE model. My wife took it to Rochester, NY and back this weekend, and I set the mpg meter before she left and when I filled the tank for her. It read 35.9 average mpg when she got back. I hope it's pretty accurate. If it is, I am delighted.
I'm sold on the satellite radio, too..I'm sure I'll renew it when the three months are up!
I got ABS on mine, too, which resulted in quite a search to find one (located one five hours away). Rare option on an otherwise-strippo LS with 5-speed.
They are built only about thirty-five miles from here, and I like that too...frosting on the cake!
You mentioned you had a Vega GT Kammback built at Lordstown. I know that Vegas are the Rodney Dangerfield of small cars, but for styling, they sure beat a Pinto or Gremlin didn't they (not to mention '70's Japanese cars). When you got a GT with the Custom interior, you had a great-looking car with a luxurious, Camaro-like interior! I'd want a '75 red Kammback GT with white side striping and black Custom interior.
Bill P.
Enjoyed reading your post.
I think my 72 Vega GT Kammback just might have been the prettiest car I have ever owned. This picture does not do it justice.
How did you get the build date on your car? Is there a tag on them somewhere that gives the actual date and not just the month?
Tom
About my Cobalt's wind noise from the driver's door..I know it sounds unbelievable, but today for the first time, I moved the remote mirror control (manual-remote) on the driver's door around significantly to get it right where I wanted it after my wife drove the car on a trip all weekend. Amazingly, I heard no wind noise at all on my 96-mile commute this morning at speeds of up to 75mph. I think the wind noise may have been coming through the mirror or its remote!
Bill P.
Bill P.
So to make my point - there is plastic everywhere you turn in your vehicle and not all of it is the same. Unfortuneatly GM in the past has chosen to use the hard stuff that looks cheap, although in the long run could be fairly durable. The interior of my '01 S-10 is almost 5 years old, has nearly 100K on it of good use and when I give it a good cleaning, looks as good as it did when I bought it new. It is no worse for wear.
The imports have long been praised for their "high" quality interiors and I have noticed it is because of the generous use of "higher" quality plastics. I was in a Honda Accord the other day and noticed it used a softer more supple material for the dash and door panels as compared to my Impala which was the same year and comparably equipped which had the hard plastic dash and door panels. It also had hard plastic covering the A and B pillars wheras the Honda had cloth covering the A and B pillars, thereby looking much better and had the whole car had a much higher quality feel to it.
GM has gotten much better at making the interiors of their cars much more livable in terms of quality and so in a sense plastic is not plastic?? It can be used to make a car's interior look high class or it can be used to make a car's interior look like it was designed and built by Fisher Price. It all depends on how it is formed and manufactured...
But I wonder, even though the Cobalt is this good, is it because I am used to a Cavalier which is so bad?? Or is it really that good?? And is it better than the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla? It's good enough for those of us who have been laden with the sub-par Cavalier since we didn't know what we were missing, but is it good enough to woo current Civic and Corolla owners when it time to replace thier cars? The Corolla doesn't even come in coupe form, but even still does the Cobalt Coupe have enough to woo even those Toyota Corolla owners looking for a Coupe? Or will the Corolla owner head over to Scion and the Civic owner upgrade to the new Civic because the GM still can't hold a candle to Japanese imports? The Cavalier was a horrid car. The Civics and Corollas it went up against were far above it in every catagory. But now that we have a whole new field of new cars (except the Corolla, but it is still a fresh car with the current design only a couple years old), can the Cobalt measure up.... what do you think?
Of course the experience could have been that it was a rental and so subject to much more abuse than a life as a regualr vehicle.
Is a Cobalt able to tow a trailer?
TOWING
2.2L ECOTEC I-4 454 kg (1000 lb.) maximum gross trailer weight*
2.4L ECOTEC I-4 454 kg (1000 lb.) maximum gross trailer weight*
*When properly equipped. Includes weight of trailer, cargo, passengers and equipment.
Now I'm a bit confused, all the utility trailers that I looked at are all over 1,250 lb. The lightness one that would be handy for me was a 1,250 lb 4 X 6½ foot trailer.
So I presume that the Cobalt can't pull a utility trailer at all or there's something I don't understand here.
Is it just a myth, or are there statistics to back up the assertion that cars built on Mondays have more workmanship related quality problems than those made on other days of the week?
Tom
But it only song lyrics.
Check on the net for the lyrics, kind of a funny song.
Here are the lyrics... have fun.
Lyrics A Wednesday Car
The assembly line is runnin' slow on Monday
They've been livin' it up and layin' up Saturday and Sunday
On Tuesday they're about to come around
But they still feel bad and they're kinda down
And mad cause they've got four more day before the weekend rolls around
On Wednesday they're feelin' fine again
And they're workin' like a dog and diggin' in
Tryin' to do everything they should puttin' 'em cars together good
And I got me a car that was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
If you're gonna boy yourself a new car
You just better hope you're lucky enough to get one made on Wednesday
On Thursday the weekend is in sight
And they're in a hurry and they don't do nothing right
Friday is the worst day of the week that's the day they make lemons dogs and freaks
If your car was made on Friday friend you'll soon be in the creek
Cause it's payday and the loafin' has begun
Lord them Friday cars just hope you don't get one
Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday
Are all bad days and the only try day is Wednesday
And my car was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
If your car wasn't made on Wednesday I'd advise you not to even leave home any
Thanks,
Chintan Talati
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Is it good or I'll just be trowing my money out the window?
Recent case in point.
One night my nephew was screwing around and locked my Jeep doors while the engine was running. No spare keys handy! Called AAA, they had a tow truck on the scene within 30 min. Got the doors open and off I went.
That one service more than paid for the cost of our annual fee.
I've also found in my work that most of my customers with AAA generally tend to get better and faster service than if they called some random name in the phone book.
Now, with our new vehicles I have an arguement with the wife on this. Since we have road side service as part of the warranty protection I've wanted to drop AAA but she won't due to past experiences.
Thanks for the reply. That's why I was wondering if I should join AAA because my vehicule just got off the G.M. roadside assistance plan and I want to still have some kind of protection. Thanks again.
Also, my insurance covers locksmith charges, and I don't believe I have to pay anything extra for that feature.
Tom
New for 2009
The Chevrolet Cobalt gets variable valve timing on its 2.2-liter engine in an effort to improve mileage. GM's OnStar communication system becomes standard on all models, and the high-performance SS model is available as a sedan.
Exterior
All Cobalt body styles feature a horizontally split grille with a gold bowtie badge. Built on a 103.3-inch wheelbase, the Cobalt measures a bit more than 180 inches long overall, making it longer than any of its competitors. At 67.9 inches wide, it's narrower than the Civic and Corolla but wider than the Focus by more than an inch. At 57.1 inches, the Cobalt is about half an inch taller than the Civic but still shorter than the Focus and Corolla.
New wheel options in 15-, 16-, 17- and 18-inch sizes depending on model
High-performance SS model available in coupe or sedan
Sport model dropped
Available Sport appearance package with spoiler, body molding, 17-inch wheels and other items
Different rear-end designs for sedans and coupes
Interior
With front bucket seats and a 60/40-split folding rear seat, all Cobalts seat five occupants, and the trunk can be accessed from inside the car. On models with an automatic transmission, an optional remote start system allows drivers to start the engine with a key fob. Seats with heated, leather surfaces are optional on LT models, and SS models have unique interior trim bits. Bluetooth connectivity is available. Standard equipment includes:
CD player with auxiliary input jack
Air conditioning
XM Satellite Radio on all models
Driver information center
Under the Hood
LS and LT models use a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with new variable valve timing. GM says the engine will be more powerful and fuel-efficient, but it has not been tested for fuel economy. The SS model uses a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which uses direct injection. The LS and LT are available with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, whereas the SS is only available with the manual.
155-horsepower, Ecotec 2.2-liter (150 pounds-feet of torque)
260-hp, turbo 2.0-liter (260 pounds-feet of torque)
New final drive axle ratio improves fuel economy
Four-wheel disc brakes on SS models
Standard electronic stability control on SS models
Safety
Antilock brakes are standard on 2LT and SS models and optional on LS models. Cobalts with the automatic gearbox and antilock brakes also have traction control.
Free one-year subscription to OnStar, which alerts authorities in the event of a collision and provides crash data
Side curtain airbags are standard on all models, but side-impact airbags for the front seats are not available
155-horsepower, Ecotec 2.2-liter (150 pounds-feet of torque)
That's SVT/performance car territory.
Hey, I'm a reformed "car trading junkie." I would LOVE to have the money in the bank right now that I have spent on trading cars over the last 35 years! I used to trade cars more often than most people change underwear. Car dealerships have named cubicles after me, and car salesmen have named children after me. There have been injuries as all the salesmen at the dealerships have tried to get out the door at the same time to greet me when I pulled up on the lot.
OK, there might be a LITTLE exaggeration there, but I really did make many, many unnecessary trades over the years. I was an "informed" buyer and got really good deals, but when you get right down to it, there is "no such thing as a good deal on something that you don't need."
If you consider the depreciation costs, trading every two or three years just does NOT make sense.
Cars are so dependable these days that you can easily get 200,000 miles out of them without spending a lot for repairs. Just keep the oil changed at reasonable intervals, and these modern cars will hang with you for many years.
Hey, Grosloup, it's all about what it's worth to you. If you are aware of the costs involved and still want a new car, then good luck in finding just the right car at a great price.
Tom
Tom
When I trade cars, I am usually in a frenzy, just dying to own whatever it is that I am trading for. Trading cars has always been a "passionate" thing with me, a decision made in the heart, not in the head.
I have really warmed up to the Cobalt, and even though it is practical, it is still fun to drive. I am impressed with its looks, its quality, its ride, its handling, and its power.
It's a keeper.
Tom
I'm glad you dig your Cobalt. I'm considering purchasing a 2009 version of this machine. I'm not looking to impress anyone with this vehicle, and I'm sure some peeps out there will assume that I'm a loser for purchasing such an automobile, but I don't care. They say that you are the car you drive, as you are what you eat...blahblahblah...I don't play that game. I could go and purchase a preowned Bimmer 3 series, or anything in that groove (if you know what I mean), but I repeat: I'm not looking to impress anyone...living in NYC and driving an impressive vehicle is just asking for trouble, in a way. I'd rather play it safe and not have to worry if I'll find my Cobalt, safe and sound, from being ripped off. I know there are better machines from which to choose from, but I do want a simple machine with all the toys (so to speak) to run from A to B and back. Follow? Anyway, it's nice to read of someone who purchased a Cobalt and enjoys it instead of the many who put it down for being "junk"...I've read some posts here and elsewhere that put this machine down. Wotta shame! It's no BMW, for sure, but it's easy to buy and get fixed if need be with dealers from coast to coast. Not venting, mate...just sharing some observations...speaking for myself.
Good luck with your Cobalt!
Peace!<=AladdinSane-<- :shades: -
I don't see how you could beat a Cobalt for the money. Mine stickered at $15,530, and GM had a $2000 rebate going at the time I bought it. What could I have possibly purchased for $13,530 that would come close to that Cobalt in terms of the whole package: room, comfort, ride, handling, acceleration, looks, fuel economy?
I can see myself putting a couple hundred thousand miles on that puppy.
Tom
Which model did you get? Color? Sedan or coupe?
Forgive all my questions, but I'm interested.
Hope to hear from you soon, when you can!
Peace!<=AladdinSane-<- :shades: -
Tom
If they are warped they need to be replaced. Push for replacement no matter if teh dealer says GM won't pay. I had warped rotor on the rear of a leSabre and they turned them. But within 10K that was back. Once warped, always warped.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
G.M. called it "premature use". Don't let your dealer get you. If you need advice call G.M.'s 1-800 #.
I am more amazed all the time by the styling, quality, performance, and economy of a car that only stickered for $15,530 and had a $2000 rebate on it!
Tom
But, Uplanderguy, for only another $50 you can get the jack, too! What a deal!
Just kidding about the jack, but that really sucks that you have to pay extra for a spare tire, especially when it is not a full size spare.
Tom
I now have 3000 miles on my Cobalt, and the DIC says that I have only expended 25% of my oil life. This would mean that I could go to 12,000 miles before changing the oil. No way I would wait that long. What do you guys do???
I plan on going with Mobil 1 when I do change the oil, and I guess I would be willing to go 10,000 between changes, but no more than that.
I would like to hear from others in here on this subject.
Tom
I've always had S.U.V.'s or Vans, ex... (Blazer, Venture, Safari, Equinox) but with the price of gas these days and the kids gone, I might as well buy something smaller and more economical. But I'm still not certain that I'm making a good move.
1. Most people don't know how to change a wheel or are afraid to do it. So inflation kits are better for most people than a spare tire.
2. Most punctures can be fixed by the sealant (I carry a can I bought at a parts store).
3. The manufacturer's kit includes a battery operated air pump to get you back to operating pressure.
4. The kit weighs less than a spare tire, even a compact one, and therefore saves gas.
5. Too many people don't take the warning about only using a compact spare tire to get to a tire repair shop seriously. You've seen them driving on those tiny spare tires. They put us all at danger. The traction is too different on that one axle. As a result, you have impaired handling.
6. The compact spares are limited to 50 miles an hour, but people drive much faster on them.
7. Tires chemically degrade over time without regard to use. So old (more than 5 years old) compact spares are a hazard.
8. No one checks air pressure in compact tires.
In short, compact tires take up space and are a hazard when new and worse when old. MINI and BMW have been including inflators in lieu of spare tires.
Honda's Fit is going to have more storage space due to use of an inflation kit.
In modern America tires stores are everywhere and tires are cheap. Conversely flats are rare, and many can be repaired by plugs or patches and plugs. Compact tires are about as useful as a hand crank on an electric start car.
I'm more tempted to get that "string repair" kit since all my flats have been from screws and nails leading to slow leaks. Once that sealant is sprayed in, the wheel is an awful mess.