man i really like both cars...as far as in the scion tc and the cobalt ss/c, but my question is .....long term wise down the road which is gonna have more aftermarket support, and which would you be able to get more performance out of? in the near future i will be purchasing one or the other. seriosly im leaning more toward the cobalt, but im really liking the scion (they just had i big article on them in car and driver) because you can get a nicely loaded scion for about 17 grand. imagine putting another 4 grand in it , it would be just as fast as the cbalt with the $21,000 price tag.
ClassGlass / RkSport / Eibach / Motegi / Ractive / Borla / K&N
they will both prob have pretty nice aftermarket support. though id go with the tc due to resale value.
I have a tC, so im a little biased, but i can honestly say its a HELL of lot nicer than my Z24 Convertable (00) i got rid of. Not even close. As far as compared to a cobalt ss, i would say obviously the Cobalt would be faster, but in 5 years when you went to sell either, the TC would be worth way more and youd have an easier time getting rid of it. My tC is super smooth on the highway and has some real get up and go in the city. Its really comfortable inside, and i like knowing it was made by Toyota, this car should last me as long as i wanna keep it with barely a problem
Resale will be better on the tC and I know from working at a few dealerships that the tC will last. I saw Toyota's/Lexus's turn 300,000 miles and still start up okay every morning!!!
Both are no doubt very nice cars for the money. The Scion is cheaper in base form, but once you start adding up options, it can actually be more expensive than the Cobalt SS S/C for the same level of equipment.
I went on CarsDirect and Scion.com, and priced out both cars so they had comparable options and equipment:
I added the following options to the Scion to put it even with the SS S/C in terms of options:
18in. Wheels with low-profile tires
Bazooka Subwoofer
Ground Effects kit
Pedestal Spoiler
Fog Lights
TRD Exhaust
Scion Security
Rear Lip Spoiler
Leather Shift Knob
Cargo Net
The total price came to
$21,859. For
$800 less , you can get a Cobalt SS S/C, which is much faster, looks nicer (IMO), handles better, and stops quicker. The Cobalt came to
$21,086 with everything but side airbags and Recaros/LSD. Also note that Scion prices aren't negotiable. Apparently there is also a TRD supercharger coming out for the tC, rumor is it will bump up HP to about 200. So add about $3K to the above price, and it goes up to amost $25K - yet it still can't match cars costing the same or less (Cobalt SS, Acura RSX-S, Subaru WRX) in terms of performance or value for the money.
If you're going to just go with the base model Scion, then its a great value for the money. However, if you're looking for more performance and features, the Scion quickly outprices its actual value.
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I agree that the TC is probably going ot have a better resale value, but that isn't actually 100% accurate. No one really knows what the Cobalt's aftermarket is going to be because it's only been out for 1 year. The rebates are insignifant so far on them, so that's not hurting the resale value of them, and no one can possibly know about reliability.
It's all up to you. It's ultimately your car. All we can do is list the pro's and con's of both. And I'm a huge SS fan so I'm going to be biased. I do like the Scion's though, and for the money they're sweet. But here's my list of pros and cons....
The price points are about the same between the Cobalt and the TC considering what Wesman just posted. So equally equipped they're both going to run you 21-22 thousand.
The Cobalt has 45+ more horsepower, and I say + because people are claiming they're getting more than 205 out of the SS's at the wheels, stock.
TRD is coming out with a supercharger, which they claim to be "affordable" and warranted by Toyota, so that's nice. But I've also heard rumors of GM doing "stage kit's" similar to the Mopar kits for the SRT-4. One of the kits includes the infamous reflash, getting 16psi out of the SC instead of 12, and extending the redline to include the entire powerband, giving the Cobalt SS 272 hp, far greater than ANYTHING in it's competition, and placing it in competition with cars like the Evo and the Sti. Also considering the low displacement of the SS and the already built internals to withstand the existing boost, it's going to handle additional boost alot better than the TC.
Just my .02 so take it as you want, and good luck with whatever you end up buying!
wesmanw02 wrote:Both are no doubt very nice cars for the money. The Scion is cheaper in base form, but once you start adding up options, it can actually be more expensive than the Cobalt SS S/C for the same level of equipment.
I went on CarsDirect and Scion.com, and priced out both cars so they had comparable options and equipment:
I added the following options to the Scion to put it even with the SS S/C in terms of options:
18in. Wheels with low-profile tires
Bazooka Subwoofer
Ground Effects kit
Pedestal Spoiler
Fog Lights
TRD Exhaust
Scion Security
Rear Lip Spoiler
Leather Shift Knob
Cargo Net
The total price came to $21,859. For $800 less , you can get a Cobalt SS S/C, which is much faster, looks nicer (IMO), handles better, and stops quicker. The Cobalt came to $21,086 with everything but side airbags and Recaros/LSD. Also note that Scion prices aren't negotiable. Apparently there is also a TRD supercharger coming out for the tC, rumor is it will bump up HP to about 200. So add about $3K to the above price, and it goes up to amost $25K - yet it still can't match cars costing the same or less (Cobalt SS, Acura RSX-S, Subaru WRX) in terms of performance or value for the money.
If you're going to just go with the base model Scion, then its a great value for the money. However, if you're looking for more performance and features, the Scion quickly outprices its actual value.
Why in gods name would you add two spoilers??
Personally, most people wouldnt add any or very few of those options
^^^^ He's adding the options to the TC that come standard on the SS. Otherwise they're not equal cars.
And the double spoiler thing is obviously a mix up.
If you want a nice car with great quality, value, resale, and potential I would look at the RSX. There are lots of them for sale, shouldn't be too hard to find a nice used one.
Cobalt SS has SC but no IRS. It is a grocery getter with bolt-ons.
Joe Kidd wrote:If you want a nice car with great quality, value, resale, and potential I would look at the RSX. There are lots of them for sale, shouldn't be too hard to find a nice used one.
Cobalt SS has SC but no IRS. It is a grocery getter with bolt-ons.
please, drive one then tell me it's a grocery getter.
jkhd03cav wrote:Joe Kidd wrote:If you want a nice car with great quality, value, resale, and potential I would look at the RSX. There are lots of them for sale, shouldn't be too hard to find a nice used one.
Cobalt SS has SC but no IRS. It is a grocery getter with bolt-ons.
please, drive one then tell me it's a grocery getter.
The point is it is a mom and pop entry level Chevrolet, Cavalier replacement, that has been jazzed up.
I do not doubt its performance, however, regardless of its performance, it shares much with its humble sibblings (the other Cobalts).
Kinda the same idea as that juiced up Neon or any of the modded J's here that everyone seems to bitch about.
Yes it shares alot with it's "humble sibblings", but the base model Cobalt didn't go through the strenuous testing in Germany that the SS did, and it doesn't have the performance parts like the SS does. Please go to your local Chevrolet dealership, tell the salesman that you are ignorant of the facts and need to drive a Cobalt SS, then talk, until then STFU.
Well, with the SS, you can get your engine up and well over 400+ HP all been proven already from GM. Check out the GM Sport Compact Performance Book.
With the LSJ motor: "Power levels of up to 400 horsepower can be achieved with the installation of connecting rods and pistons, a new head gasket and head bolts, adjustable cam gears and a nitrous oxide system or a turbo kit. No modifications to the cylinder head, block, main girdle or crankshaft are required."
PARTS LIST
Stock Head Gasket
24444091 GM
Stock Head Bolts
11518066 GM
Stock Piston Rings
21018813 (4 req) GM
LSJ Connecting Rods (less than 300 hp only)
12755162 GM
Piston set for LSJ Rods (less than 300 hp only)
88958634 GM Performance Parts
Performance Connecting Rod
various Eagle/Manley
Performance Forged Pistons
various Wiseco/JE/Diamond
Street Performance Wrist Pin
various Manley/JE/Wiseco
Adjustable Cam Gears
88958613 GM Performance Parts
Nitrous Express Nitrous Kit
various Nitrous Express
2.2L Supercharger Kit
17800003 GM Performance Parts
Hahn Racecraft Turbocharger Kit
— Hahn Racecraft
Bates Engineering Valve Springs
ESGV0001 Bates Engineering
LSJ Piston Pin
12791503 GM
LSJ Piston Pin Retaining Clip
12755171 GM
So performance wise, I'm gonna have to go with the Cobalt.
Reliability wise, we'll have to wait and see. The Camry engine in the tC has been proven reliable. We'll have to see if the Cobalt can be reliable as well.
jkhd03cav wrote:Yes it shares alot with it's "humble sibblings", but the base model Cobalt didn't go through the strenuous testing in Germany that the SS did, and it doesn't have the performance parts like the SS does. Please go to your local Chevrolet dealership, tell the salesman that you are ignorant of the facts and need to drive a Cobalt SS, then talk, until then STFU.
I don't care what it drives like, or what German tested it. It is still a Cobalt. There are alot of J's here that go like mad and corner like crazy. They are all still J's. (Entry level grocery getters with bolt ons (or performance parts. Whatever. )
I love my J. But I wouldn't mind an RSX or Mazda 3 for a second car. Something a little more advanced than a beamed-axle Chevrolet. And I couldn't give too hoots about some snot-nosed street racer with clear corners blowing my doors off.
Joe Kidd wrote:jkhd03cav wrote:Yes it shares alot with it's "humble sibblings", but the base model Cobalt didn't go through the strenuous testing in Germany that the SS did, and it doesn't have the performance parts like the SS does. Please go to your local Chevrolet dealership, tell the salesman that you are ignorant of the facts and need to drive a Cobalt SS, then talk, until then STFU.
I don't care what it drives like, or what German tested it. It is still a Cobalt. There are alot of J's here that go like mad and corner like crazy. They are all still J's. (Entry level grocery getters with bolt ons (or performance parts. Whatever. )
I love my J. But I wouldn't mind an RSX or Mazda 3 for a second car. Something a little more advanced than a beamed-axle Chevrolet. And I couldn't give too hoots about some snot-nosed street racer with clear corners blowing my doors off.
I like your last sentence. Im the same way, im not looking for speed. I was looking for a quality, reliable car that was sporty yet functional. Thats why i settled on the tC, i looked at tons of cars, none met my needs better than the tC
2005 Scion TC
Options:
SE tC Release Series 1.0 $1,775
37 TRD Performance Exhaust $525
V5 SCION Security $469
7S VSE Subwoofer by Bazooka Mobile Audio $449
LJ Fog Lights $425
RF Rear Pedestal Spoiler $423
GN Cargo Net $49
MSRP...$16,000/Total of Optional equiptment...$4115.00(MSRP)
Grand total w/Dest charge: $20,630 (per Edmunds)
2005 Cobalt SS
Options: CF5 Power Sunroof $725
MSRP...$21,430 + Optional Equiptment(Sunroof)
Grand total w/Dest. Charge: $22,720 - Whatever Rebate applies to you...$500, $750, or $1000.(per Edmunds)
I say drive both and see which one you like! I would choose the TC over the SS if it were me.
They are both grocery getters... so thats irrelevant.
What else would you clasify them as?
Sport Compacts? Guess what... sport compacts are a sub-catagory of grocery getters...
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Don't forget about Mazda.
I say get the TC it looks better, won't lose value as fast, and if you want all the upgrades go on e-bay and get them for half the price dealers are charging. I laugh at scion guys that have there upgrades added to the price of the car. Financing mods is dumb IMO, by the time you pay the car off you could have bought the same mods you financed three times or more over.
YEAH I WENT PREMIUM. SO BITE ME!
VID GOD wrote:I say get the TC it looks better, won't lose value as fast, and if you want all the upgrades go on e-bay and get them for half the price dealers are charging. I laugh at scion guys that have there upgrades added to the price of the car. Financing mods is dumb IMO, by the time you pay the car off you could have bought the same mods you financed three times or more over.
Yeah, ive already bought several things off of ebay for like a third of what they were at the dealer, exact same stuff too
joe kidd: didn't quite get it...........i was just being alittle sarcastic........to be honest,
I WANT one of these cars in the future......and i was just inquiring about alittle input. me personally dont care if theyre grocery getters or not, i think both cars are nice and for the money you do get alot in both.performance as well as QUALITY.
ClassGlass / RkSport / Eibach / Motegi / Ractive / Borla / K&N
here is my two cents....both are going to have a great aftermarket, so i dont think thats really what you should worry about
they are similar in comfort, ride quality, and interior quality.... the tc probably has a little edge, but the cobalt beats it in every performance aspect
i love how everyone is saying the cobalt ss s/c has a worse reslae value of the two??? the car has just hit the dealerships how do you know what the resale will be like??? yea most likley it wont be as good because its toyota, but i hate when people just make @!#$ up to try and prove a point
warranty, i know the cobalt has a 6 year 60,000 mile at no extra charge, and the tc has 3 year 36,000 miles full coverage and 5 year 60,000 miles powertrain, so the cobalt wins that area
reliablity overalll, well both are new cars so no facts there, closest you can get is to take comsumer reports data from the other scions, both are rated well above average, and the ION is rated above average, and so far the ecotec has prove to be a good engine.... so i think both will be dependable cars.
its all up to you, what you would rather drive, but if your not planing on modding the hell out of it, get the cobalt ss s/c....its just gonna be more fun to drive with a few of the same bolt on's, but if you plan on heavily modding the car look into the tc adding the supercharger to that car and a few other things from TRD would probably make the car awsome.
