[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]

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.