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Cobalt Faster than STi & Evo X

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Old 10-22-2008, 12:43 PM
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^+1

impressed. just wouldn't want one. regardless of how ba it is.
Old 10-22-2008, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 9291150
It's weird that you guys are all freaked out, it's not as if we don't see well sorted & driven civics outdo any number of RWD's on any given track day. What shocks me about the Cobalt is substituting the supercharged engine with the 260hp turbo and some minor chassis tweaks took nearly 10 seconds off the times from the lightening lap the SS last participated in. Whichever engineer tuned that car for Chevy just saw their stock double...

Now as much as Chevy deserves kudo's, I'd never consider one, although it "resists" understeer I just can't stand that characteristic. The last "best handling" Motor Trend test, where their subjective rating of the SS was 9th out of 9th says it all.

The STi was a disappointment in this test, I actually had my eye on one.
actually think it was 9 out of 11, placing ahead subjectively against the cobra and the viper.
Old 10-22-2008, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by 9291150
The STi was a disappointment in this test, I actually had my eye on one.
Don't be disappointed. The STI has never been a track car from the factory. It takes a few tweaks to the suspension the reveal it's track potential.
Old 10-22-2008, 04:31 PM
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IMHO, the late Cobalt SS is an engineering/tuning triumph. I think it's fantastic despite its humble and ridiculed background.
Old 10-22-2008, 05:26 PM
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Its an SS motor in a Berretta!
Old 10-22-2008, 05:57 PM
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I guess I'm not quite so sure why this is a revelation. Chevy has picked up where the SRT4 left off. Fit and finish? Pfft - buy a good aftermarket stereo and you won't notice.


I'd much rather have a Cobalt SS than a Challenger/Camaro/Mustang -- which are all in the same price range. Then again, so is the MS3.
Old 10-22-2008, 09:27 PM
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In spirit and category, the Cobalt SS seems like a continuance of the SRT4. My feeling though is that the suspension tuning of the Cobalt SS seems to have refinement and finesse beyond not just the SRT4, but even beyond some non-FWD cars. IMHO the Cobalt SS felt far nimbler and buttoned-down than the late STI.

This car has surprised a lot of critics.
Old 10-22-2008, 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by BlueEyes
And, it's still faster than all of Mazdas sports cars, even the fastest of all of them, their hatchback economy car, the Mazdaspeed3.
if I want a truly fast car, I will get the ones that "worth it".

not a piece of **** Cobalt.

I wonder how long would this thing last b4 50 thousand problem pops up. Just like all other Chevy.

My RX8? Its working just fine. I just installed some autoexe sways and endlinks today. kick ***.

When was the last time that Cobalt won any major league ? I know RX8 did, quite a lot too.

Chevy is so darn good that no one wants their piece of **** ? rofl ? They're about to go bankrupt my friend. ahhh no fear, another bailout from the government so they can keep building PoS ?

Originally Posted by 9291150
It's weird that you guys are all freaked out, it's not as if we don't see well sorted & driven civics outdo any number of RWD's on any given track day. What shocks me about the Cobalt is substituting the supercharged engine with the 260hp turbo and some minor chassis tweaks took nearly 10 seconds off the times from the lightening lap the SS last participated in. Whichever engineer tuned that car for Chevy just saw their stock double...

Now as much as Chevy deserves kudo's, I'd never consider one, although it "resists" understeer I just can't stand that characteristic. The last "best handling" Motor Trend test, where their subjective rating of the SS was 9th out of 9th says it all.

The STi was a disappointment in this test, I actually had my eye on one.
nobody is freaking out, its just that not that many people here want some Econbox with SS from factory.

Last edited by nycgps; 10-22-2008 at 10:09 PM.
Old 10-22-2008, 10:25 PM
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actually the cobalt ss is really dominating the koni challenge.

http://tunersource.gmblogs.com/blog/...balt-ss-anyone
Old 10-22-2008, 10:36 PM
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one ? thats it ?
Old 10-22-2008, 10:37 PM
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one year? and they won the manufactuter, the team, and the drivers championship. thats 3 fyi.

that was the 2nd link in google. i did not spend the effort. the first link was another win btw.
Old 10-22-2008, 10:43 PM
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Cool.

Havent' heard much about them. I know Ford won some. Chevy ? not much
Old 10-22-2008, 11:12 PM
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too bad lap times mean nothing to me, otherwise i would be peeing all over myself.

i'm guessing it has to be driven like a blunt weapon to make it handle. unless the laws of physics were uplifted and fwd cars cars can now float gracefully through curves, using the gas pedal to steer.
Old 10-22-2008, 11:27 PM
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I'd take one for my daily driver. I'm sure its still a pretty fun car to drive on the street. I'm not huge on the styling, since it basically is a new cavalier, but seriously it's got decent performance and reliability (i think)
Old 10-23-2008, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by nt5k
too bad lap times mean nothing to me, otherwise i would be peeing all over myself.

i'm guessing it has to be driven like a blunt weapon to make it handle. unless the laws of physics were uplifted and fwd cars cars can now float gracefully through curves, using the gas pedal to steer.
if you read probst opinions on the handling characteristics from the motortrend article, you'd be surprised as to how close on the money you are. you really gotta force the hell out of the little beast to get it to do right.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:09 AM
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Did anyone mention the Road & Track article. They seem to be impressed w/ it...

It won first place over 2nd place WRX, 3rd place Mazdaspeed 3 and 4th place Lancer Ralliart though the 265 hp WRX still barely beat it on their track test. I'm more impressed w/ how fast the WRX is in general after the recent power increase.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=7103

The Cobalt SS may be the most underrated car in the world. We're about to set it free of that title.
"Dynamically, the Cobalt SS is the best — it completely shocked us."
So for all those who have said, "I'd buy an American car if they made one that could compete with the Europeans and Japanese," Chevy is calling your bluff. Because the Cobalt SS doesn't just compete with the foreign cars, it beats them. It is the hottest-performing sports compact you can buy in the U.S. for under $30,000. That it's also the least expensive in this test is even more reason to rush to your Chevy dealer immediately. Not only will it help stimulate the economy, but every aspect of your enthusiast driving senses as well
That's all good but based on its looks, interior and nameplate, I still wouldn't drive it. Curious to see what performance variant will come from the new Cruze that will replace the Cobalt.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:18 AM
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Impressive writeups in Car & Driver and Road & Track. Looks like a bargain rocket.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:22 AM
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That it's also the least expensive in this test is even more reason to rush to your Chevy dealer immediately. Not only will it help stimulate the economy, but every aspect of your enthusiast driving senses as well
Why would I want to buy a PoS Econbox ? My lose for their gain? no thx.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
Why would I want to buy a PoS Econbox ? My lose for their gain? no thx.
Though I haven't agreed with your 'cobalt sucks, end of story' thoughts...I agree with your statement above. I get a car for what makes ME happy...not others. A lot of people on the corvette forums have an 'anything japanese sucks' attitude. I still feel the Japanese cars are built better than american...so why did I get a chevy? Because I liked enough of the corvette to get one. Love the new carbon fiber interior...love the interior...love the drivetrain. The cobalt is good for what it is, just like the RX8 is good for what it is...just as the Mustang GT is good for what it is.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:38 AM
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dude I so dont buy this. Common. FWD beating a skyline? Evo? STi? Get serious. Car and Driver, as well as Motor Trend are both bought and paid for by "domestic" auto makers, none more involved than GM. I don't buy it. I smell.... bullshit.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Blackout04RX
dude I so dont buy this. Common. FWD beating a skyline? Evo? STi? Get serious. Car and Driver, as well as Motor Trend are both bought and paid for by "domestic" auto makers, none more involved than GM. I don't buy it. I smell.... bullshit.
The times I posted were not from car and driver and motor trend...most were done by Sport Auto...a german company.
Old 10-23-2008, 09:49 AM
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and you are a conspiracist. XD

numerous tests from many people say it. and i can't speak for motortrend, but i can for car and driver. the only gm car they like is a corvette. they have denounced and criticized gm for years.

the same thing was said when the evo started to whoop up on big engine muscle cars. "i can't believe this japanese fourbanger is rocking the world..."

change happens. ew.
Old 10-23-2008, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by LostAngel
The times I posted were not from car and driver and motor trend...most were done by Sport Auto...a german company.
True; however, the Cobalt's time was a manufacturer's recorded time without third party citation.
Old 10-23-2008, 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by kersh4w
we arent freaked out, i think everyone is pretty impressed. we just wouldnt want it.

you even said it yourself..
Exactly.
Old 10-23-2008, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Musker
True; however, the Cobalt's time was a manufacturer's recorded time without third party citation.
GM has always been pretty truthful on their said times. They want things to be 'by the book'.


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