Test Drove Cobalt SS Turbocharged

[cereal83]

Originally Posted by Excalibur

Our door handles fall off?

We can't go fast enough for that to happen unless we spend $10k minimum

[civicracer32]

I would have no problem with the Cobalt SS if it wasn't so darn fugly. I don't mind a cheap interior, but I wouldn't want anyone to think that I actually thought my car looked cool! I would for sure remove the rear wing first thing if I bought one. Big rear wings a la Evo 8 or 2004-2007 STI's are out. And at least on those cars, they looked proportional/cool.

[Excalibur]

Originally Posted by civicracer32

I would have no problem with the Cobalt SS if it wasn't so darn fugly. I don't mind a cheap interior, but I wouldn't want anyone to think that I actually thought my car looked cool! I would for sure remove the rear wing first thing if I bought one. Big rear wings a la Evo 8 or 2004-2007 STI's are out. And at least on those cars, they looked proportional/cool.

I would have to keep the bigger wing b/c if I didn't, it would look like the rental car I had back in the day. Plus, the wing's really not that big when you compare it to the evo, sti, ctr, etc. Just looks really big b/c of what it's on.

[I Vtec, do you?]

All the bickering with this car is stupid. Can't we just accept the fact that it performs better for less? It's really as simple as that. Yes, I think inside and out the Civic looks / feels better, but as far as performance goes, the SS wins in every way.

[rmfa]

This is so pimp:

Reconfigurable Performance Display - a set on Flickr

["Ridge"Racer]

Originally Posted by I Vtec, do you?

All the bickering with this car is stupid. Can't we just accept the fact that it performs better for less? It's really as simple as that. Yes, I think inside and out the Civic looks / feels better, but as far as performance goes, the SS wins in every way.

people dont buy hondas for their "performance" ( the si is peppy, but by no means fast) its a solid built car, and with tuning can be a performer.

if your a real tuner, and you know what im talking about, once you tweak a honda, if you dont know what you are doing then you're going to have more problems than a stock cobalt ss ever will.

people dont buy chevys for their "reliability", they buy cheap horsepower, the promise of problems down the road, and the american name. these cars, as we have seen in the past are a pain in the ass to tune.

Take your pick.

[I Vtec, do you?]

People swing back and forth so much it's ridiculous. If the SI is a better performer than a car, they picked the SI because of that. If the Si is worse, then they picked the SI because it's 'so solidly built and refined". It never ends lol

["Ridge"Racer]

Originally Posted by rmfa

This is so pimp:

Reconfigurable Performance Display - a set on Flickr

im not gonna lie, that is cool as hell!

["Ridge"Racer]

Originally Posted by I Vtec, do you?

People swing back and forth so much it's ridiculous. If the SI is a better performer than a car, they picked the SI because of that. If the Si is worse, then they picked the SI because it's 'so solidly built and refined". It never ends lol

like you said bro, its preference, i didnt buy my Si to take to the drag strip. i bought it because of the looks, reliability and resale value, and its pretty peppy

i actually like the srt better than the cobalt as far as looks.

[Design]

Originally Posted by Monty

Can someone tell me what makes a Cobalts interior seem cheaper than an Si?

Disregarding the fancy speedo up high on the dash, what makes one "nicer" than the other. Is it really possible that the Cobalt's plastic scuffs more, interior pieces rattle more, door handles fall off more, the cloth wears more than my 1 and a half year old Si? If so then it's gotta be a terrible vehicle. These are low 20k cars, who's setting the luxury baseline?

I've driven the Cobalt and agree with the OP. Cheap thrills; great performer... hands down the best bang for your buck under 22K. But the interior falls a bit short with fit & finish along the edges and between the seams. The plastics/vinyls are of lower quality, and they're much less textured than Honda/Mazda which takes away from the overall "feel" of the car. Design & layout is straightforward, but the ergonomics in the Civic/Mazda are more intuitive and oriented around the total driving experience (as opposed to just randomly placing a button/knob somewhere because it's expected that the car must have it).

Originally Posted by Monty

I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder but the MS3 is really a fugly car. The Cobalt is somewhere between the Si and MS3.

Ok, so it's a bit off topic, but the MS3's are getting no love at all. IMO, they have a pretty commanding presence.







/threadjack

[Crucifer]

I'd have one request if I was to ever by a Speed 3....take off that Mazdaspeed3 decal on the back and slap a Mazda3 on there.

9 dollar sleeper switch. Hello watching kids in their 350z's cry when they look at the rear of your car and go "STOCK MAZDA 3 WTF" haha rivers of tears.

["Ridge"Racer]

yeah, ive got mixed feelings about the ms3, i like it, but something is preventing me from wanting one, but they can be clean if done right, and they are kinda quick lol.

[NightFlight]

Originally Posted by "Ridge"Racer

yeah, ive got mixed feelings about the ms3, i like it, but something is preventing me from wanting one, but they can be clean if done right, and they are kinda quick lol.

They are very quick, and handle pretty well too.

I just would never buy a vehicle whose engine requires you to short shift from the factory to extract maximum performance. That to me seems like an oversight on the engineers part.

[jsb03f]

the ms6's have the same problem probably cause the car has two cats factory installed, a downpipe would fix that problem real quick!

[NightFlight]

Originally Posted by jsb03f

the ms6's have the same problem probably cause the car has two cats factory installed, a downpipe would fix that problem real quick!

Many people aren't interested in modifying their cars though, remember that everyone isn't a true enthusiast.

I don't want to have to resort to installing aftermarket parts that could possibly void my powertrain warranty to rectify a problem from the factory.

[Excalibur]

I think if I could go back, I would try the ms3 out. I could have got one with an employee discount last year. I chose the si. I'm happy with it now that it's s/c'd, but I would like to have a little extra room and have the upgradability of the turbo. I love them in silver (just like every other car I buy).

[Crucifer]

Originally Posted by NightFlight

Many people aren't interested in modifying their cars though, remember that everyone isn't a true enthusiast.

I don't want to have to resort to installing aftermarket parts that could possibly void my powertrain warranty to rectify a problem from the factory.

I do!

[NightFlight]

Originally Posted by Crucifer

I do!

...and you would represent maybe 5% of the people that own that particular model.

[jasz71]

OP, you guys are right. I have an ss/sc and the interior does lack refinements. I will say this it is steps ahead from previous GM models, though. They are headed in the right direction with the malibu,G8, turbo cobalt.
Little off topic, what I really want is a 95 to 2000 civic si in that pretty blue color! Man when I read that sport compact mag in 95, I wanted one ever since. I have no idea I never got one. Oh well maybe when the ss is paid off.

Thanks,
JasZ71

["Ridge"Racer]

Originally Posted by jasz71

OP, you guys are right. I have an ss/sc and the interior does lack refinements. I will say this it is steps ahead from previous GM models, though. They are headed in the right direction with the malibu,G8, turbo cobalt.
Little off topic, what I really want is a 95 to 2000 civic si in that pretty blue color! Man when I read that sport compact mag in 95, I wanted one ever since. I have no idea I never got one. Oh well maybe when the ss is paid off.

Thanks,
JasZ71

i had one of those pretty blue Si's, miss the b16, but im pretty sure they were only available from 99-00, someone correct me if im super wrong.