I was looking around at potential daily drivers when I came across the new Cobalt SS. It looks like it might be a fun comuter and be a decent AX car for DS.

Here are some of the pro's
1. 30 MPG HWY
2. 5 speed manual is good for fun and AX
3. 260 hp
4. Under 2700 pounds and could probably be closer to 2600
5. Brembos
6. FWD for winter
7. Small and manuverable
8. $23,000

Cons
1. FWD for AX
2. Small for the family
3. 5 speed manual in stop and go traffic
4. Big dorky wing (but I think it's an option)
5. 18" wheels and good snow tires don't mix well. (I don't know if 16's would fit over the brakes)
6. G8 is $31,000

I'd much rather have havce a G8, but the mileage, cost and AX potential are pushing me toward smaller cars.

We've seen an inordinate amount of hub bearing problems with this car at my shop. If that doesn't keep you from "tracking" it i don't know what will. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Imagine that, a GM with hubs that won't hold up to sticky tires and high side loads. Where have we seen that before?

How much does it cost to drive your current DD? Is it paid for? For either the Cobalt or the G8, what would be the total cost of either car to drive? Need to figure monthly payment, change in insurance cost, and gas cost against current DD costs. Nevermind that if bought new you lose a ton of money - buy 1 year-old used if possible.

FWD for winter is a myth IMO. I drove a lowered SS454 pickup in plenty of snow when stationed in Washington state. RWD, FWD, AWD - none of them stop any better in snow/ice conditions. I would get passed by Jeeps and VWs, only to see them spin out and end up in the ditch. Chances for an accident are greatly reduced if one drives according to conditions.

Howdy,

A friend who autoxes here locally has a Cobalt SS. Its a 2004 (?? I think) without a diff.

Make damn sure you get a diff.

Otherwise... Seems like a pretty nice car actually.

Mark

The cost is obviously an issue, but keeping the current car (99 Malibu with 190K) is likely to get very expensive soon. The likelyhood of a major repair cost seems to go up exponentially when the clock tops 200K. I bought the Malibu 3 years ago for $3k and have put over 80K miles on it since. I only have about $3500 total in the malibu with maintenance in the last 3 years. If it breaks, I'll pull the plates and leave it where it sits. It isn't worth fixing any major problems. I definately got my monies worth out of it, but I've already kept it a year longer than I had intended. When I say I need a new DD, it's not just a desire for better mileage or something like that, I'm begining to lose faith in the reliablility of the existing car.

I agree to a point about the drive wheels being a non-issue in snow. The right tires can make anything do pretty well. My wife, however, does not believe me. That's why she has a 4x4. She would need to drive this car sometimes and would probably be more comfortable, even if it's all in her head, driving a fwd in the snow over a rwd. Gotta keep momma happy. I usually agree about buying 1-2 year old cars. The time I don't agree is if you intend to keep it a long time, then resale is a non-issue. A cars value verses what you pay is only relavent if you intend to sell it. The other problem I have is that there are damn few 1, 2 or even 3 year old cars I'm intersted in. The few I do like are just as much as the Cobalt is new or more. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a used -08 G8 GT this fall for cheap.

I gave consideration to the exact same car.

After putting much thought into it, I came to the conclusion that, in my situation, I'd be best served to stay away from a car with a "power adder" and autocrossing it......even stock

I will say, thought, I read somewhere that the 09's (I believe) will receive some "tweeking" that might help make it an even better contender for DS

Good luck in your decision.

So...say you put another 3K into the Malibu for whatever pending preventive/corrective maintenance is coming. That's still 20K less than the Cobalt, your insurance doesn't change, and your overall household budget's overhead isn't increased with a new payment.

OR look at it this way - that's 20K that can go for other go-fast stuff for the Camaro. If you've already decided that you can afford to spend 23k (which is probably closer to 26K for the Cobalt after taxes, license, etc), why not spend it where you really want to spend it? Upgrades, advanced driving instruction, etc...

And take the 23K out as a home equity loan - at least you get a tax break that way vs a regular auto loan.

Well, I just bought a 99 Miata Sport as an economical commuter. Miata owners may not think so, but even the most expensive tires are dirt cheap. I've been getting around 33mpg on the interstate, 27~28 mpg commuting, and have never dropped below 26mpg even when tossing it around a bit and keeping the revs up. It also uses regular gas (2001 is the first year requiring premium). I'm still keeping the Silverado for rural property maintenance and its seating for six (in a pinch), but won't be putting as many miles on it (already has a lot for it's age).

The Miata is set up for C-Stock, except the previous owner kept the race wheels for his other Miata. I'm kinda torn on that, though. While there's just a little bit of mild cone rash, the car is in pretty good shape. It will be due for its 60K timing belt replacement soon, but other than that the maintenance is all caught up. Part of me wants to just retire it to street use and confine the competition wear and tear to the ferocious Camaro. Part of me is drawn to cheap race tires on the oh-so-nimble little Miata. My build is better sorted to a car with torque, but the 99 1.8 DOHC solid-lifter motor (pre-99 had hydraulic lifters) has a fairly wide power band for what it is. I'll probably at least take the Miata out on street tires for a few events.

I don't have a car payment, and it only takes a few tanks to pay for the insurance. I still have other options when I need to haul the whole family. It works for me (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This post has been edited by sgarnett: Jun 7 2008, 02:57 AM

With 2 small kids (4 and 6) we need a car that at least has a back seat. So, no Miata, Solstice or Corvette for me anyting soon. I went and drove the Cobalt SS this afternoon. It's fun. It has pretty good seats and seems to have lots of power. The LSD is good and this is the first fwd car I've ever driven that exibited no torque steer. The clutch was a bit sensative but very light, the shifter has good weight and reasonably short throws. I could shift much quicker than I can in the Camaro. It pulls strong all the way to redline, but there is a noticable kick around 4k rpm. The ride is firm, but not harsh, the handling seemed good, but I couldn't push it much. It definately does understeer. There is NO front or rear camber adjustment but according to the tech I spoke to, there is a TSB for slotting some holes as needed but I didn't read it. Fitting much more tire would be a challenge at best. 245's MIGHT fit. All in all I like the car, but I'm not sure it's the right one. The dealer I went to is also the one I bought the Camaro from 8 years ago. The same salesman was still there. He told me he'd order what ever I wanted, sell it at invoice and I received what amounts to a $2000 coupon in the mail last week. So the car would be about $20 out the door.

As for keeping the Malibu and just fixing what ever breaks, I know that the smartest thing to do financially, but I just don't like the car that much. I originally bought it to be something cheap to throw miles at and I think I'm ready for something different. If worst comes to worst, I will keep and and keep it running. The only problem with that it, right now that car has been essentially free. I can still sell it for $1500 or more. So that leaves me with $2000 in it for 80,000 miles. That's $0.025 per mile. If I have to put $3k into repairs, that more than doubles the cost per mile. As it is if I keep it beyond this summer it will need tires. I bought it right before gas really started to go up and there is no way I could get a similar deal today.

Maybe I should keep looking, at least for a while.

Buy the Cobalt, it looks like a pretty cool ride to me. The G8 is a nice car, but the lack of a manual kills it for me. Traffic shmaffic, I am fine with a manual commuting every day.

My daughter is four, but she doesn't go to work with me. She likes riding in the Miata on weekends, though. It wouldn't be practical for me to make payments on a new two-seater at this point, but paying cash for a nine-year-old little car that's fun and cheap to drive alone was workable.

That rules out the S2000 and Solstice, and I had to grudgingly admit that I don't need another 3000 lb++ V8.

When did the Cobalt go into production? Maybe you can find a used one that already has the front swaybar and Konis (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Frankly though, the hub bearing issue would be a big concern for me. I don't know any more about it than what's in this thread. I'm pretty quick at Camaro hub swaps now, but I'd expect it to be more hassle on a FWD carr.

This post has been edited by sgarnett: Jun 7 2008, 03:20 PM

When I spoke the tech, I asked if they had any issues that they saw them come in for often. He said the only thing he's seen as a repeat issue was the cruise control switch on the clucth. Whe you side step the clutch, it apparrently knocks the little switch out of the bracket. I believe rsmith350 when he says he's seen several hub failures, but the tech I spoke with had not. I wonder if the hub failures he's seen were due to "tracking" of something else?

The 08 with the turbo is just now hitting the showrooms. It's a very new model. The rest of the car is basically the same as the last few years. I doubt there are many (if any) for sale used let alone with upgraded shocks and swaybars.

With all the miles we put on cars I think I really want a low mile used or a new car. We put over 30k miles per year on the daily drivers. Either will be relatively expensive compared to the deal I got on the old Malibu.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u...mp;cardist=1469

Here's a black 2007...

I was talking about used 08's. The newer one has 55 more hp, 60 more ft-lbs, 300 less pounds, the same gas mileage and it's only $2k more. I like the 08 much better than the previous version. The numbers are from edmunds for the 07 and GM for the 08. I have a feeling the 07's will be dropping in price once the new ones become more prevalent since the new one is so much better.

so i assume a motorcycle is out of the question (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/lmao.gif)
On a more serious note, have you considered the Mitsubishi Lancer ? or you just don't like it ?
I know its not a EVO, but it's AWD, and has "Decent" power (164hp)... but much cheaper than the SS.
There's the Subaru WRX for ~24k$... not the STI, but close in price to the SS... 224hp.
Another option is to get Kevin's MazdaSpeed6, sedan awd, turbo w/ plenty of zoom-zoom... used car, and good for your budget... wife would be happy too.

My wife wants to trade in the Suburban. She has been looking at a WDUB. The Passat wagon turbo, 21-29MPG, $23,500 invoice. 200hp@5100rpm, 207tq@1800rpm, 3300 LBS, 6 speed manual. Could be a fun car.

Run away from VWs! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I never had one, acctually never even sat in one. What's wrong with them?

Truer words have never been said!

The possibility of the problems I've seen with the hubs being from track use are a possibility. I've only seen younger kids with those cars. Abuse may be a big factor.