*Disclaimer*
I know there are many posts about the Cobalt already so if you don't want to read another one hit "back" on your web browser. Please do not degrade this post into a name calling flame war
*End disclaimer*
I have been waiting for this car and following its development since before we even had the spy shots (you may remember the one with the taillights and that ugly woman). I have been waiting for the dealer to get one here in N.S Canada. It was the beginning of June before one appeared and I nearly sh!t my pants that I would finally have a chance to see this car in person and drive it.
Exterior Impressions:
It was orange (one of my favourite colours). The outside of the car was nice; not too flashy (I can even tolerate the wing) and not too dull so as to blend in with the crowd. I think a little more could have been done to the front to make it special, but then again most consumers don’t want that. At least the a$$ end is unique.
Interior Impressions:
The interior looks nice, and I got the impression that I wasn’t sitting in an entry level vehicle. Then I look at the price tag of $27,000 Canadian and realize it’s not an entry level price, so I guess it balances out. Sitting down the seats are supportive and quite nice, but the “leather” is not overly plush and looks like it would get wear lines very quickly, although I cannot say for sure. The dash controls are laid out simply for easy use and it came pretty natural to me. The fit overall fit of the interior was pretty good except for some of the weather stripping/door seals looked as though it was going to fall off. The dash is hard plastic on top and bottom and taking my finger nail to an inconspicuous place it isn’t hard to scratch, although not as easy as the Toyota echo. Some parts of the door panel are padded some aren’t and are less scratch resistant than the dash.
Enough about that since most of us know what the thing looks like by now; on to the test drive.
The clutch is pretty forgiving and was easier to drive than the RX-8 but not quite as smooth as the RSX. Even my fiancé had little problems driving it and she hasn’t driven a stick in almost a year. The shifter felt good in my hands more ergonomic than the RX-8 and the gearbox felt more precise than my old Sunfire. Again it was not as smooth as the RSX and not as short as the RX-8. I get used to the clutch friction point and start to drive her a little harder. From a near stop I floor it, the car accelerates for an instant and then loses all power as I run into the rev limiter. This car needs at least another 1000RPM’s if not more, because I did the exact same thing in 2nd gear. Other cars I had driven will rev fast until about 1000RPM’s under redline and then hover there for a second until it reaches the limiter, but this thing went straight into it with no hesitation.
The engine sounds pretty nice and I was impressed at how quiet the SC was (even though I would have liked to hear it more). It felt powerful but not spirited; I don’t know quite how to explain this other than driving a semi-truck. You know that it’s powerful but it doesn’t feel overly sporty because you’re strapped to 10,000 lbs. It doesn’t have a Jekyll and Hyde feel like the RSX and RX-8. More like a marathon runner and less like a sprinter. OK I’ll stop with the analogies.
It was quiet on the highway as well and had a solid feel more like a bigger car would feel, it reminded me of my grandfather’s 300M. Blind spots were awful in this car: ther is a thick b-pillar, small window that you can’t see out of because of the thick c-pillar and then a wing. If I can give one hint of advice to anyone driving this car it would be “use your mirrors”.
I regretfully did not get to test the suspension and handling very well as the salesman and my fiancé were in the car. The breaks were good though.
Overall I would consider the Cobalt SS as a daily driver if it were a few grand less or perhaps buy a used one if they depreciate quickly. It would probably be more for the woman than me. I would not consider it as my sports car. When I drive a sports car I do it for the enjoyment and the feeling. When I want to drive it hard I want it to look feel and sound like it is working as hard as it can, and the Cobalt SS didn’t offer this. It was more of a well mannered car, capable, but never appearing to push its limits. It would be something nice to drive the family around in and still have some fun on a daily basis, but it was not an exhilarating experience. I don’t have a family yet so I’ll keep looking for something else a little more fun.
L.S.
www.drluc.ca
Thx for that review.. I as well keep hearing bad things about the blind spots in the SS..
~2014 New Z under the knife, same heart different body~
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WHITECAVY no more
2012 numbers - 4SPD AUTOMATIC!!
328 HP
306 TQ
Yes the blind spots in this car are a B!TCH!!! LOL
Everyone who has driven mine has loved it, (ian lacey, skilz10179. etc). I have enjoyed beating 2 GT mustangs in quarter mile runs also.
Although I got spanked by a str-4!!
Your review was respectable. Although I HATE the clutch, too springy it needs to go. The shifter also needs to be a b&M unit.
Cool that it was sunburst orange, that's the rarest of the colors.
Nice review. Didn't know the blind spots were that bad.
Luc
2 questions
You state:
"Some parts of the door panel are padded some aren’t and are less scratch resistant than the dash."
1.Were you talking about the the vynyl section on the door. Because if I remember right, there was no padding or soft feel on dash or doors.
2. What happened to the midget? No midget this time?
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
I am not trying to be an a** but redlining a unbroken in car that is not yours is a little disrespectful. If people keep doing stuff like that more and more dealers will be asking for deposits before test drives.
AmazingJay
Cobalts computers are set to keep the engine from being abused before 1500 miles for something. What I hear....
A.15 wrote:Cobalts computers are set to keep the engine from being abused before 1500 miles for something. What I hear....
I believe that was a rumor
eh sounds similar to my review.....i liked it, and will consider it but there are a few more cars i want to test drive
I know that the tach in my red line is about 500 rpm behind actual engine speed in first gear. if youre not used to it, you hit the redline. i havent gotten the chance to drive a SS/SC yet so i dont know if it has the same problem, but i havent heard of anyone noticing it.
i drove 1 tonight , and its a heavy pig
my 2.4 auto has a more balls out feel to it , and all i got is a intake and cat back
the car rode nice , and drove nice the s/c made more noise when i was in the pasenger seat , than the drivers , lol
gm put to much stuff on the drivers side of the engine compartment , making a good flowing intake a pain
also the lack of a lower grill makes it look like someting is missing
overall , i liked the car , id own 1
but the minute the 2.4 was avaliable , the 2.4 bottom end would find its way into the SS , and id ditch the 18" wheels for some light weight 17"s with better tires
I was not impressed... didn't seem to have the get up and go that my LS Sport has or Eric's 2.4 has... I was hoping for more out of the Cobalt... I don't know that I would buy one... I think I will wait for the Saturn Sky
i also want to note the boost hit 11-12 psi on the gauge , and the car had 6 miles on it when the test drive started
^Confirmed by 3 GM personale around here, it is infact a rumor. The rumor started when people started driving the car and felt the car not as quick, so the excuse was; "the car is in 'break-in mode' which is why the car felt not as quick."
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
yeah ive seen a few people mention it , so i figured id post what the gauge read since i watched it like a hawk , lol
i can think of why GM would spend the money to put a break in setting in the computer , that would take alot of programing , and alot of $$$$$ to do
and how many after?
09 HHR LS, Wife's Car
05 Cavalier, Clarion DXZ375MP, Autotek MM8000.5 & 13Kv.2, wife's old car, updates coming soon
Here's a review from someone on Srtforums, he owns both a SS and an SRT-4.
so far i love the car . has awsome power feels very comparable to the srt-4. things i really love the short throw shifter and trans is very smooth. leather seats are comfortable but not boulstered as good as the srt-4. stereo is waaaaaaaaaay better, all pioneer with sub, rides smoother than the srt has excelent turning radius the speed sensitive power steering gives you a better feel than without. honestly as far as interior design, and features i rate this car above the srt.Suspension higher than the srt. performance pretty close to the srt but not quite the power. i figured posting this because there has been many cobalt vs srt threads and being the fact that i own both now i can really state the facts.
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2005 cobalt ss
2003 Srt-4 508whp 492 torque
2004 Srt-4
97 Mirage & parts sitting here for evo 6 conversion
Coming Very Very Soon 2005 Mitsubishi Evo 8
www.revitupmotorsports.net
click here to see my car
i didn't have a CD so i didn't bother with the stereo.
I remember reading that Review by the SRT guy.
Goodwrench: No midget. I wish, maybe that would have made the car feel a little faster.
www.drluc.ca
