Cobalt XFE

[cousincletus]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
Got me beat then.

My saturn ion (same deal as a cobalt), has zero options.

Gets about 27.5 in mixed driving, 34 was the best it ever got on the freeway.


That was about the same mileage I got with an '06 Cobalt automatic. That's the reason I got fed up with it and traded on a 2004 Impala 3.4. Exactly the same gas mileage with a larger, safer and more comfortable car.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: 02Pilot
FWIW, my girlfriend's 05 Cobalt 5-speed gets around 30mpg in mixed driving and an honest 40mpg on the highway at 70mph. It is a base model with no extras, so it's about as light a Cobalt as you can find. Not a bad car, really, if you don't mind the simplicity and, erm..., "frugality" of the interior fittings.


Being careful, I can get honest 37.5-38 MPG calculated tanks in the saab 9-3, a far heavier, more powerful car, with MT and a 2.0L light turbo version of the ecotec.

JMH

 

[02Pilot]

How do you like that 9-3? I had a 9-5 for a while, and one of the things that my girlfriend has suggested might be an acceptable replacement for her Cobalt when the time comes is a 9-3. Good mileage just makes it more appealing. Any advice on what to look for or avoid?

 

[wapacz]

well saabs drop about 50% of there value in 2 years. There where a few years with sludge problems thought. Something about bad pcv design and placement of the cat or something that would heat up the oil. If i remember right.

 

[02Pilot]

Oh, I know all about the depreciation and sludge - I had a 9-5. I bought it for pennies on the dollar when it was 6 years old and had 100k miles on it, and I kept the sludge at bay with synthetic and PCV updates. This did not stop the turbo from failing spectacularly, but I stuck with it. Then the transmission gave up.

But the 9-3 is a completely different animal, which, given my experience, is probably the only reason I'd actually consider giving one my Boyfriend Stamp of Approval(TM).

 

[PF52]

I have a Cobalt 2.4 automatic, and can coax around 40 MPG out of it on the highway, if I keep it at 55 MPH. At 70 MPH its significantly less.

 

[The_Jeff]

This shames the aveo's 34 MPG with its 1.8L daewoo whatever.

GM has been able to coax amazing real world MPG from larger V6s and simpler 4-speed automatics for years now. Too bad they can't work their magic on something smaller. This cobalt is a tiny step in the right direction.

They need to bring back the aluminum hood from the Plymouth Feather Duster.

The toyota corrolla used to get 41 MPG under the "old" math (and Bill in Utah beats this at 45) and is now rated ~36, with the Focus and this Cobalt in company. So I belive its real world MPG will be forty-ish.

 

[BrianWC]

Originally Posted By: 02Pilot
Oh, I know all about the depreciation and sludge - I had a 9-5. I bought it for pennies on the dollar when it was 6 years old and had 100k miles on it, and I kept the sludge at bay with synthetic and PCV updates. This did not stop the turbo from failing spectacularly, but I stuck with it. Then the transmission gave up.

But the 9-3 is a completely different animal, which, given my experience, is probably the only reason I'd actually consider giving one my Boyfriend Stamp of Approval(TM).


A nice used 9-3 would be fairly economical. I've heard as long as you stay away from the 03 model, dependability is not bad.

BTW, I'm easy getting over 30 mpg in my sludge-o-matic 9-5. Kinda nice in a car that big.

 

[02Pilot]

Originally Posted By: BrianWC

A nice used 9-3 would be fairly economical. I've heard as long as you stay away from the 03 model, dependability is not bad.

BTW, I'm easy getting over 30 mpg in my sludge-o-matic 9-5. Kinda nice in a car that big.



That's basically what I'd heard about the 9-3s. Something about transmissions and some other stuff, IIRC.

I easily got 30mpg on the highway on my 9-5 as well (2.3lpt) - I think it managed almost 34 once on a long road trip. But its replacement, a 2001 BMW 525i, also gets over 30 in the same conditions and is better around town by a few mpg. I agree it is very nice get that sort of mileage from a big four-door sedan.

 

[BrianWC]

Nice! 525i would be the way to go for a 5 series if you're wanting to save. Don't feel bad, I almost bought an old bimmer last night on eBay. Good sense talked me out of it, though.

 

[MrCritical]

The Koreans don't quite have the high mpg thing going yet, for whatever reason.