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Comments
That black coupe with the chrome wheels is a sharp looker.
The Malibu is much bigger and heavier than the Focus, of course it is slower.
The new Cobalt will probably be "a rocket" compared to the 160hp 2.3liter Focus, with its 2.4 liter 170 horsepower engine.
This ecotec is the top 4-cylinder pro drag racing engine, and holds the 4-cylinder bonneville record. What more do you want?
~alpha
But still, Opel soursed engines are not refined enough. They could definitely do better. Compare with engines made by VW e.g.
I couldn't care less how refined a derned engine is when it won't start!
Your turn...
I've driven a 2.2 LT sedan, a very nice car... but I'll be waiting for the 2.4 SS coupe. My wife doesn't do manuals, but even with the auto I'm expecting it to be a pretty hot sport-compact.
Well then you'll be waiting forever, because the SS coupe is going to be a manual transmission car only, the way it should be. "Sports coupe" and "automatic transmission" don't go together. Instead of saying your wife "doesn't do manuals" why don't you take a Saturday and teach her how, just like I did. My wife won't ever go back to an automatic again, with any luck you'll have the same results.
I read the review of the SS coupe in the new Motor Trend yesterday and that car is the new benchmark in the under $25K class. The SRT-4 may be faster in a straight line, but that's it. The skidpad, slalom, and braking numbers are phenomenal, and they blow away all comers, including the RSX-S which would get smoked on a race course. I think it pulled over .90 g's. The car looks great too, although I'm not fond of big wings that are all the rage with the kids these days. But, I guess that's exactly who they're marketing the car to.
After a couple of years when Chevy has worked all of the bugs out of that car, this "36-year-old" kid is going to seriously take a look at the SS as an early mid-life crisis car. For now, I'm still waiting for my damn 2005 Ford Focus ZX5 SES I special orderd six weeks ago.
Sigh.
Wrong-O!!!
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/articles/cobalt_ss_preview.asp
Quote from the article:
Cobalt SS is available as a four-door sedan or two-door coupe. It has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower, 30 more than the 2.2-liter of base, LS, and LT models. Available transmissions in the SS are standard 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic. Also included in the SS are sport-tuned suspension; disc instead of drum rear brakes; 17-inch alloy wheels; and unique trim.
"Sports coupe" and "automatic transmission" don't go together."
Well, I guess the Vette's right out then.
"Instead of saying your wife "doesn't do manuals" why don't you take a Saturday and teach her how, just like I did."
Because she has no interest in learning how and it would be her car. And now that we all know that there will be a 2.4 SS with an automatic, it's no problem.
Yes, your wife will be able to get her SS with an auto sludgebox after all.
The car does exist, because I drove one a couple of weeks ago. Don't think there are any coupes yet, only sedans.
I had a couple of Cav rental cars last year and they were ridiculously dated cars. Even for the price, no way. Completely not acceptable in the year 2004. They've been talking about the Cobalt for two years like it's some kind of savior and it looks exactly like a Cavalier???? Now I know why all of the commercials for the Cobalt show the Vette more than the car it is supposed to be advertising.
Local dealers only have Sedans. For some reason there is a delay on the coupes. That's too bad, because I like the look of the coupe more. The coupe also has more head/legroom in the front, and (oddly enough) more cabin space than the sedan.
You obviously have not seen or driven one. There is nothing carried over from the Cavalier aside from the 2.2L Ecotec. This is all new and thoroughly competitive.
People, drive the car then decide for yourself. It's your money. Spend it as you see fit!
The fact of the matter is, objectively looked at, this car is miles from being a Cavalier. What you want? I have no idea. Only you can know that.
- The dimensions, stances, and sillouhettes of the Cobalt are the same as the Cav, therefore they look alike (in the front more than the back)
- The configurations available are the same as the Cav. By only offering a couple and sedan, GM missed an opportunity to distinguish the car as something truly "new". With the increasing popularity of wagons and 5 doors, Chevy could have made a bigger splash by offering other body styles
- Ford did the same thing with the Freestar. It's all new but looks exactly like the Windstar.
- It's a typical GM rollout with the cars being hyped for too long and then trickling onto lots with limited models and overpriced. By the time they get their act together, the model will be devalued and the incentives will be kicking in. They did the same thing with the G6. The run all these commercials like it's world class and then they put it out there with an old pushrod 6 making 210hp and a $28k sticker.
btw: that 2.2 L Ecotec that I had in two rental 03 Cavs was about the thrashiest thing that I've felt since I stopped buying 70s cars. The 1.6 in my 99 Civic was just as powerful and far more refined.
You can accuse me of hating, but just maybe I'm hearing from GM loyalists who want to love everything that they put out. I wish that I could get behind this company, but they just don't get it.
Before you pre-judge, go actually sit in on and dare I suggest drive one.
Looks are subjective and if you don't like them and that's your reason for not liking the car, fine. Just don't imply it's a carry over.
p.s. If your Civic is "just as powerful" it must be modified cause it has no where near the hp or torque of a Cobalt.
The Civic is no longer with me but dare I suggest that you drive them side by side. The General can claim that the Cobalt has whatever horsepower they want. Maybe the Cav was rated higher, but the power wasn't making it to the pavement. The Civic was rated at 127 horse, but with the stick, it felt quicker than either Cav that I had the poor fortune to rent.
Also, the Ford Freestar remake is actually very closely related to the Ford Windstar, so your analogy doesnt hold very strongly. The Cav and the Cobalt are on completely different platformns. Not so the Freestar and Windstar.
~alpha
I've driven both 5 sp and auto Civics, and in either case, the refinement was not in the same universe as the thrashy ecotec. I'm the only import buyer in a family of domestic loyalists and I was raised on GM iron. To this day, my favorite car that I'll ever own was my 1970 Chevelle. However, after my 85 Regal and 89 Camaro, I was turned off. However, since them I have had a great deal of experience driving GM products owned by family members.
When I last bought a car in 2003, I was very careful to cross shop domestics and imports, and I ended up with the Altima (which is 100% US content).
Again, I would like to get behind this company, but they consistently shoot for the middle.
I understand where you are coming from with the GM "shooting for the middle" comment- but this Cobalt seems more fully realized than any of GM other recent offerings, save the Cadillacs, which have done very well at turning that company's image and profitability around.
~alpha
PS- Which Altima do you drive? The VQ is excellent, but the 2.5L is not a refinement leader, and I'd put it on the same level as the GM Ecotec motor. Neither come close to the Toyota and Honda 2.4L mills.
If GM wants to add value to the nameplate, they should have offered some new configuations such as a 5 door to make it seem "new" in the minds of consumers. By sticking with just a coupe and sedan with almost identical silohhettes as the old car, it's going to just seem like the new Cavalier. It also shows typical lack of forward thinking.
My Alt is the 2.5. It is less refined than the Honda and Toyota powerplants, but in return I get 175 hp and a timing chain instead of a belt. When I drove the Alt, Camry and Accord all of the same day, the Alt did seems less refined but clearly quicker and sportier. That's what I went for. The engine is far superior in refinement and power to the ecotec however.
~alpha
Like I said with the style, if you don't like it that's fine. Just don't translate that to the car being old fashioned or a carry over mechanically.
Alpha, if memory serves from two years ago, I believe that the Camry has a chain but I am sure that the Accord has a belt just like my 99 Civic and 89 Accord. I can't stand belts.
Ecotec is a solid power plant, I have little doubt the Cobalt will be a strong entry.
Someone wanted new Opel Astra - wait for the new Saturn instead. Saturn will be an American Opel for you. If you compare new Astra and Saturn Aura concept - they look very similar with same headlights and grille but with different badges.
Cobalt looks like it would be a good little car. So if ya like it, buy it and have fun. It is one to consider in it's class. The tC Scion is also good in the sub $17k bracket. So far, my pick is still Mazda3, if going with a FWD. My next car may be another RWD one.
Look at "Prices paid and Buying exp"...3 entries.
My last issue of Car and Driver had three pages of Cobalt ads. Maybe Chevy should just sell ads.
WRX or Cobalt SS? WRX or Cobalt SS?
If the Cobalt isn't available to test drive by tax refund time, I guess it becomes a one-horse race.