[00 SS]

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.

[00 SS]

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.

[Rob Hood]

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.

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.