Some Cobalt SS Trivia

[opus1]

Came across this over on one of the Cobalt Forums I haunt

How many SS Turbos are there anyway?

So it turns out that I'm 1 of 474 '09 Sedans, and my Imperial Blue Metallic color is 1 of 40 built.

I feel so special....

 

[ViragoBry]

Gees...474? Never woulda thunk a Cobalt in any trim would be such a low-volume car.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: ViragoBry
Gees...474? Never woulda thunk a Cobalt in any trim would be such a low-volume car.


Well, its the turbo model, which probably only accounts for a few percent of total Cobalt production. The rest use the regular N/A engine.

Opus, which Cobalt forum did you find that on? I can just imagine the mopes on Cobaltss.net arguing their epenises over that one - "my color is RARE! No MINE'S rare!". I definately love my Cobalt but I'm not impressed by the various forums.

 

[opus1]

Cobaltss.net is the one. Someone posted a thread asking how many sedans were made and then next time I looked, the thread with the link above appeared.

Check your in-box for specifics in a few minutes.

 

[saberz]

I'd never blow 24k on a rebadged Cavalier. I'm sorry the car looks great, sure its kinky go fast, but 24k for a little coupe?(this goes for all base model cars(meaning one of the several entry level offerings). Not trying to be a jerk, just my opinion, nice rides though. But [censored] 24k?

I bougth my 01 Impala LS fully loaded for 22k NEW. A tC supercharged isn't near that price.

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: Anies
I'd never blow 24k on a rebadged Cavalier. I'm sorry the car looks great, sure its kinky go fast, but 24k for a little coupe?(this goes for all base model cars(meaning one of the several entry level offerings). Not trying to be a jerk, just my opinion, nice rides though. But [censored] 24k?

I bougth my 01 Impala LS fully loaded for 22k NEW. A tC supercharged isn't near that price.


If you've never driven/been in one, you wouldn't understand. The 260 HP turbo SS is nightmarishly fast for a 24k 'economy car'.....

 

[saberz]

I understand that they are fast, but for 24k there are a lot of alternatives out there(more practical). I mean in the end, its still a Cobalt is what I am getting at.

Like dumping 10k into a Civic, in the end it may be a 260hp monster, but its still a Civic. Only the Cobalt is OEM turbo charged for 24k.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: Anies
I'd never blow 24k on a rebadged Cavalier...


Well, there's always the LS models for 13K or so. By the way, the Cobalt shares nothing with the Cavalier besides its assembly plant and model positioning in the lineup.

Is a Focus a rebadged Escort?

Quote:
I bougth my 01 Impala LS fully loaded for 22k NEW. A tC supercharged isn't near that price.


Well... Neither is an Impala SS.

 

[saberz]

The SS wasn't available in 01. Secondly, the SS sold for upwards of 8-10k more and for what? a M90 Eaton SC? an already used and paid for R&D on the tranny from a Grand Prix GTP?


There is no justification on the 24k pricetag.

Other options in the price range:
Evo, STI, SRT-4, S4, SC TC, MS3

 

[ViragoBry]

If Mazda can sell the Speed 3 for $22K, Chevy could have (and should have) undercut it with the SS considering the vast difference in materials used on the interiors of both cars.

But who knows what kind of deal you can REALLY get on the SS if you go hammer on a hungry dealership's staff. I for one have NEVER paid sticker price for a car.

I was interested in an SS until I sat in one at a car show. A low-end hot-rod coupe is fun when you can drive it to its full potential, but slugging back and forth in traffic every day can give you quite a different view of any car when you have the opportunity to sit and pay attention to the details. Considering its performance chops, if you could somehow transplant the Speed 3's interior into a SS, you'd really have something extraordinary.

 

[SteveSRT8]

while the Cobalt is a great bang for the buck it's still a wrong wheel drive car. And the interior leaves me speechless.

Fast only gets you so far, sooner or later you need some content.

The Mazdaspeed 3 is a much nicer idea if you just gotta have a little rocket.

The EVO and the STI are way out in front of the WWD with all wheels driven. Not even comparable.

 

[saberz]

The MS3 is probably the best bang for the buck and you could shop around and possibly get one around or less than the SS. Materials, build quality are superior.

I'm just stating that GM has been making SS versions of nearly everything and should really consider adjusting their pricing as they aren't necessarily in a position to high perch the vehicles.

 

[ViragoBry]

The Malibu SS makes me laugh when I see one on the road. The Impala SS has a great engine surrounded by nothing that really supports having it in the engine compartment. Don't even get me started on the HHR SS. The TrailBlazer SS seemed like an entertaining idea (coming from someone who'd give his left arm for a Cherokee SRT-8), but the car mags SLAUGHTERED that truck.

If I had to choose between the multitude of SSs in Chevy's stable, it'd be the Cobalt. Thankfully I'm not faced with that choice. I do have to admit...my favorite change from S/C to T/C (besides the means of forced-induction) are the wheels on the latest Cobalt SS. I LOVE the wheels on that car.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: ViragoBry
The Malibu SS makes me laugh when I see one on the road.


I haven't looked, does the new Malibu have an SS version?

GM probably should have let the SS badge drop when the 2002 Camaro production ended. There's too much animosity associated with the badge now. RWD fans hate the FWD SS's; V8 guys hate the Cobalt SS's; Cobalt SC and TC drivers hate the 2.4NA/SS's; everyone hates the Malibu SS's... All over a few car models that sell, what, 2000-3000 each?

 

[zulu]

If the Cobalt SS is just a "rebadged" Cobalt, the SRT-4 is just a "rebadged" Neon and the MS3 is just a "rebadged" Mazda 3i hatch.

Seriously, 24k for an SS is a steal all things considering. And if you are talking about shopping around, then consider that the Cobalt can be had for less than it's sticker price too, just like the MS3. Compare apples to apples.

It may be FWD, but it is sitting in 1st place for FWD production vehicles around Nurburgring.

 

[ViragoBry]

Originally Posted By: css9450
I haven't looked, does the new Malibu have an SS version?


The previous-gen Malibu offered an SS. Hopefully they've thought better of doing that to the current one.

 

[spursfan600]

I agree with most on here, for the price of an SS, you can get a lot of better cars in my honest opinion. These FWD pocket rockets are good every day drivers (especially in Chicago winters) however I would much rather have a RWD V8 as a performance car.

 

[saberz]

They are all mostly rebadged, but you get refinement with some of the others compared to the Cobalt. This is strictly opinion and as such should be treated as that.

But if you sit down, think about it long and hard, 24k for a Cobalt, Cavalier, Neon, whatever.

Or 24k for something nicer etc(upper model vehicles etc. Also when I think of these cheap powerhouses, I think affordability and youth.

 

[ViragoBry]

I think calling them 're-badged' is putting it a bit mildly.

The difference between a Speed 3 and a 3i is like night and day as far as how they perform. A Speed 3 will run and hide from a 3i in any situation that involves power, handling, amenities and outward appearance. Sure, they share a long list of components with one-another (much like the Porsche GT2 and the 911 Carrera), but cater to a very different audience.

The unfortunate thing about the Cobalt / SS is that they both share interior materials. While this flies with the Mazda 3, I would expect better materials in a car sith the SS's performance credentials. GM obviously went to great lengths to tune this car's engine and suspension to kick some serious compact-car butt on the track, but ignored everything else about the car. But they've often been accused of doing the same thing to the Corvette, so hopefully they some day start listening to what car mag editors and the general public has to say about their cars.

 

[mstrjon32]

Originally Posted By: ViragoBry
The unfortunate thing about the Cobalt / SS is that they both share interior materials. While this flies with the Mazda 3, I would expect better materials in a car sith the SS's performance credentials. GM obviously went to great lengths to tune this car's engine and suspension to kick some serious compact-car butt on the track, but ignored everything else about the car. But they've often been accused of doing the same thing to the Corvette, so hopefully they some day start listening to what car mag editors and the general public has to say about their cars.


The interior of the Cobalt really isn't that bad. It's definitely nicer than the horrible Corolla interior, and those moro--brilliant magazine writers fall all over that thing.