chevrolet cobalt ss

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2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Two
2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part One
ATTENTION: Engines Do Not Need To Run In Reverse To Make Your Car Go In Reverse

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danio3834
12/21/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
Remember folks, this car ran an 8:22 on the Nurburgring.

Faster than an E46 M3 and R32 Skyline.
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Evil-Jeremy
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
"Performance" sedan with a torsion bar in the rear? When will they stop trying to save money and make the car handle?

Besides, that's far too much horsepower for a front-wheel drive car. I'm going to take a guess that it has a dangerous amount of understeer.

It's not that it isn't a nice car, it's just that it's in a very competitive class. The WRX and Lancer and 4 wheel drive, and the golf, mazda and focus have better suspensions. It doesn't really have anything that sets it apart from the rest of the class and there isn't a compelling reason to choose it over any of its rivals.
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danio3834
12/19/08

@Evil-Jeremy: Put all your preconceived notions aside about what is "cheap" and "antiquated" or "better".

Regardless of what suspension is under this car, it out performs all the cars you mentioned save the WRX STI and EVO on the Nurburgring. Handily.

By the numbers, I'll say the Cobalt SS had a "better" suspension than the other cars in its class.
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VicVegas84
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
No matter how hard I try I cant see this car going 160mph Or the look on the cops face. I can though see exterior bits flying off at anything close to that speed.
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DoctorNine's D9 Cat
12/19/08

@VicVegas84: I think a three wheeler, with the two wheels out front a la the Peugeot 20CUP, might be an interesting mod on this thing.

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Paul Y. don't drive too fast.
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
It's nice to see that GM is teetering on the edge of failure, now that they've got a relatively competent, purposeful car out.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
Golfing grandparents, fer realz?
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
12/19/08

@Van Sarockin: That's what I said. Maybe if they dropped this drivetrain into the LaCrosse?
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mytdawg
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
You just don't hate it enough Ben. C'mon, get on the bus. I mean just because you've actually driven it doesn't mean you're entitled to an opinion.

Other than the fact that you get paid to do that which most of us would kill our immediate family for, you really can't win. No matter what your opinion is, somebody is going to know you are wrong because you don't agree with them.

Be an individual, be just like them.
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Ash Clutchem, Pokey Master
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
If I could get over the image the Cobalt projects in general, I'd be all over it. I don't consider myself image-conscious, but I have my limits.

I suppose HHR SS is more my style. Extra stealthy and roomier, too. Same basic car. Good job, GM.
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jbownsabmw- Koopas Beware
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
No to nascar dad's? Are you suggesting nascar kids or is the lack of RWD remove any connection to nascar?
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dwegmull comments for the purpose of obscurity
12/19/08

@jbownsabmw but still wants GM to survive: NASCAR dads are supposed to only buy the exact same cars they see racing on Sunday. In other words they don't buy anything...
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MushyHeirloom
12/19/08

@dwegmull: Outside of that, it's a "yes".
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danio3834
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
If my golfing Grandfather picked up one of these, I'd be hanging out with him more often.
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MushyHeirloom
12/19/08

@danio3834: Awh, fuck yeah. My "this-Sable-is-the-best-car-I've-ever-own..." grandfather is awesome enough without having a car that does righteous 0-60 times, canyon carving, and righteous reverse donuts in the McDonald's parking lot.

Okay, to be fair, I haven't tested the last one, and the 3.0 Duratec ain't bad.
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MushyHeirloom
12/19/08

@FuzzyPlushroom: Cock-gobbling Gawker ellipsis attack strikes again!

"...best-car-I've-ever-owned", I meant.
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Bret
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
I'm sold. Nice car, with an awesome engine, at a decent price. I've been waiting for the car companies to bring out a "standard performance car" product for a while - this is as close as we've come.

No pretense of luxury needed for this hoi polloi gearhead. I'll take a limited slip over navigation any day of the week (hell, I'd take limited slip over power windows and AC).

No if only I could get financing...
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JDickson87
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
Just for kicks, under "why you shouldn't buy this car" you should probably put "if you can see."

The exterior is ugly, as all Cobalts are. And in case you didn't actually SEE the interior, you don't need to be a fashion victim to not like that thing. You just need to be a sensible person. I would just have a tough time signing on the line for $25k when the car has an interior that looks like that. You do spend a lot of time in there.
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Mad_Science
12/19/08

@jdickson87: I can see why the term is "fashion victim". They don't even realize they've been victimized.
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oddboxalfa
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
I must fall into that Euro Snob category that feels that double stiched leather heated seats are nice and actual resale value might matter. I guess I will keep working on my MK1 TDI rabbit track car and enjoy my fancy MK5 for what it must be - a Euro Snob daily driver.
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Franzouse
12/19/08

@oddboxalfa: didn't know the Mk1's diesel version had a turbo...
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General Halfshaftery
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
What are Jurassic Park and the Cobalt?

Name two things i do not want a part 4 of.
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JDickson87
12/19/08

@General Halfshaftery: @BMRFILE: 260 in FWD is pushing it, no doubt about it. My Mazdaspeed 3 (263hp) is definitely exciting to drive, as it likes to twist in your hands, even in 4th at freeway speeds when you jump on the thing. But it's not bad, I think it adds some character, and it just makes you pay better attention. It's not as bad as you might think as long as you're not a 16 year old idiot who's just learning to drive, and thinks he's like Fangio.

But +1 to everything else you said. I could never bring myself to buy one of those things.
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dwegmull comments for the purpose of obscurity
12/19/08

@jdickson87: I don't think 16 years old kids know who Fangio was. Sad but true...
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Danimal
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
A little off topic, but I guess it kinda fits in with GM successes.

This little image was something I did out of curiosity if GM ever drops Pontiac, but doesn't want to get rid of the few winners they have....

It makes you think a little, doesn't it?
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UDMan
12/19/08

@Fourstring85: A Winner.... a winner? The Holden will sell in OK numbers dwn under, but the sales forecast here in the states are pretty dismal. There really is no short term success for this product.

And from what I see, now that GM has taken the apple from Eve in the appearance of dollars from the Fed, any red blooded performance cars, and gas guzzling SUV's are going to get dropped as fast as they can. Camaro Convertible? Watch, this will be one of the first things to go. The G8 ST? Already dead. The entire Pontiac Brand? RIP. and I predict that cars like the Solstice/Sky, XLR, and even the vaunted Corvette will be on deaths bed by the end of next year...
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pauljones
12/19/08

In reply to 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three
Thank you for the great review, Ben. It sounds like this sucker has the potential to be every bit as amusing of a weekend toy an SRT4 Neon. In fact, I would be interested to know how the two stack up against each other head-to-head.
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Mad_Science
12/19/08

@pauljones: I'd say headgasket-to-headgasket is the comparison you care about.
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