OSUGT Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I drove an ION Redline today. Not a bad little car at all. Pretty responsive, nice stock exhaust tone, handles nice, and nice bolstered seats. You guys seen them, driven them? Any thoughts about em? Later, Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excell Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 The Cobalt SS is better. I drove both, I'd rock a Cobalt for a daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conesmasher Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Still awaiting the verdict here. Wanna see a turbo kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 I completely agree with Chris. The Cobalt SS is a much better car. (out this fall) I drove the Red Line and compared to my Mazda I was only impressed with the seats. The clutch sucked, the shifter sucked, and the handling didn't come close. The Cobalt SS has a MUCH nicer interior, looks a lot better, has the same engine (205hp) and is boostable to at least 280hp. (probably performance packages from the dealer) The stock EcoTech internals are good to ~500hp, I'm told. [ 29. August 2004, 01:25 AM: Message edited by: Mallard ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excell Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by Mallard: I completely agree with Chris. The Cobalt SS is a much better car. (out this fall) I drove the Red Line and compared to my Mazda I was only impressed with the seats. The clutch sucked, the shifter sucked, and the haldeling didn't come close. The Cobalt SS has a MUCH nicer interior, looks a lot better, has the same engine (205hp) and is boostable to at least 280hp. (probably performance packages from the dealer) The stock EcoTech internals are good to ~500hp, I'm told. Yep, the EcoTech internals own. For a 4 banger, it's a pretty cool little motor. Unfortunately, the Saturn is still... a Saturn. It's like taking a Neon and putting in a better motor. It's still a piece of shit Neon. But no one would be stupid enough to make a....... oh wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 I dont know about the 2.0 internals but the 2.2 internals which are also forged are good to 300 -350 hp range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jpurdy2003 Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by Mallard: The stock EcoTech internals are good to ~500hp, I'm told.Unfortunately, this has only been done by mega-funded (factory-backed or not) race teams, and for the most part, nobody on the street or a traditional shop has come close to that mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Cobalt SS: Mmmmm, Leather http://www.msprotege.com/members/Mallard/Pics/DSC01923.JPG http://www.msprotege.com/members/Mallard/Pics/DSC01924.JPG http://www.msprotege.com/members/Mallard/Pics/DSC01925.JPG http://www.msprotege.com/members/Mallard/Pics/DSC01927.JPG http://www.msprotege.com/members/Mallard/Pics/DSC01928.JPG Damn Chris, you're about to hit 10,000 posts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by Golden Brown Jack Trump: Unfortunately, this has only been done by mega-funded (factory-backed or not) race teams, and for the most part, nobody on the street or a traditional shop has come close to that mark.That's because there are no stock boosted EcoTech's on the street. (Besides the Saab 9-3 and Ion Redline. The Saab is hardly a 'tuner' car, and the Ion has only been released recently) Give it more time and you'll see it happen. All that matters is that is was proven possible. I don't care if it was factory backed or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excell Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by Mallard: (...the Saab 9-3...) That's another car that I would fuck the ever living shit out of for a daily. smile.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 I'm sure theres a special forum you can join if your into fucking cars but no one here wants to know about your strange fetishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 THanks for the Cobalt pics! smile.gif Try to look at the interior shots without remembering that it's a Chevy. It is easy to look at the fit and finish and think that it's a Volkswagen. I have to admit that the quality has come (thankfully) a long way with our domestic automakers. Hot Rod had a suggestion that I'm waiting for as well...AWD Cobalt SS as a WRX-fighter. THAT would be my everyday driver. graemlins/thumb.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by zeitgeist57: THanks for the Cobalt pics! smile.gif Try to look at the interior shots without remembering that it's a Chevy. It is easy to look at the fit and finish and think that it's a Volkswagen. I have to admit that the quality has come (thankfully) a long way with our domestic automakers. Hot Rod had a suggestion that I'm waiting for as well...AWD Cobalt SS as a WRX-fighter. THAT would be my everyday driver. graemlins/thumb.gif The thing I was most impressed with besides the quality of the interior on the SS was the feel and sound when I opened and closed the door. No rattles, no squeaks, didn't feel cheap, the car felt solid. And Chris, again, I agree with you 100%. The 9-3 was on my short list when I went shopping for a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSUGT Posted August 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Just wondered what dealer has a Cobalt SS to drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excell Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by OSUGT: Just wondered what dealer has a Cobalt SS to drive? None, they are not out yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSUGT Posted August 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 The Cobalt SS is better. I drove both, I'd rock a Cobalt for a daily. Then how did you drive one? (My bad for screwing up the quote feature) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Originally posted by Mallard: I completely agree with Chris. The Cobalt SS is a much better car. (out this fall) I drove the Red Line and compared to my Mazda I was only impressed with the seats. The clutch sucked, the shifter sucked, and the handling didn't come close. The Cobalt SS has a MUCH nicer interior, looks a lot better, has the same engine (205hp) and is boostable to at least 280hp. (probably performance packages from the dealer) The stock EcoTech internals are good to ~500hp, I'm told.well is you dont like how the ion drove you will not like the cobalt they are the same car (platform) Mind you the int in the Cobalt is words above the Ion. the clutch shifter suspension are all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Originally posted by Speci@lized.: well is you dont like how the ion drove you will not like the cobalt they are the same car (platform) Mind you the int in the Cobalt is words above the Ion. the clutch shifter suspension are all the same.#1: English is your friend tongue.gif #2: Yes, they are on the same PLATFORM, but the beautiful thing about platform engineering is that 2 cars can drive completely different. The interior of the Cobalt if 40376239854089437855 times better then the Ion. The lack of plactic body panals helps body gaps, appearance, and NVH. The suspension can modified differently, and they coud generally refine a lot of the things that the Ion lacks. The problem is not the clutch par-se, but the pedal feel. The shifter was rubbery. etc. These are all minor details that can be fixed, and I'm hoping they have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Originally posted by Mallard: #1: English is your friend tongue.gif #2: Yes, they are on the same PLATFORM, but the beautiful thing about platform engineering is that 2 cars can drive completely different. The interior of the Cobalt if 40376239854089437855 times better then the Ion. The lack of plactic body panals helps body gaps, appearance, and NVH. The suspension can modified differently, and they coud generally refine a lot of the things that the Ion lacks. The problem is not the clutch par-se, but the pedal feel. The shifter was rubbery. etc. These are all minor details that can be fixed, and I'm hoping they have.right now english and me are not on good terms. (things were said so we are not talking to each other) tongue.gif As for Platfrom Engineering and GM the 2 cars will more than likely share supspension, brakeing,obviously engine and drivetrain. Clutch pedal feel(its a getrag thats by design, it's like that in all 2000 and up sunfires and cavs.the shifter feels the same in the regualr Ion. The nice thing about the Ion being out now for the last year or so SPS should already have Preformace parts aot for it. Also I'm sure RKSport will hop on the bandwagon as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excell Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Originally posted by OSUGT: Then how did you drive one? (My bad for screwing up the quote feature) I have friends at GM. smile.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Originally posted by Speci@lized.: The nice thing about the Ion being out now for the last year or so SPS should already have Preformace parts aot for it. Also I'm sure RKSport will hop on the bandwagon as well.Actually GM Performance Division should have some nice things out for it. I was told by a higher up at GM that the SS would have 280hp and they wanted it to beat the SRT-4. My guess is that hp will come through dealer supplied performance packages, much like Mopar has. The EcoTech has also had a few years of racing development under its belt and there's a lot of stuff out from GM for it. As for the clutch, there are things that can be done for pedal feel. Same with the shifter. I work for the company that makes the Ion clutch and the SS probably will be the same, but the feel can be helped while still using most of the same hardware. I am also fairly critical of those aspects. After driving a CTS-V my only gripes were clutch and shifter feel. It's something that's hard to get right, but for some reason my $16k Protege has it right, while a $50k sports sedan doesn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinergi Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Originally posted by Obsequy Empire: None, they are not out yet.I haven't done a search anywhere, probably will after I get done posting this. (This is the first I have heard of the Cobalt.) How much are they expected to go for? Just curious... Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 I beleive they'll go for 16-21k (ballpark from a base Cobalt to as SS) You can look at them on www.chevrolet.com [ 31. August 2004, 07:46 AM: Message edited by: Mallard ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSUGT Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 A base Redline is 20k. I dont see the SS being any less than that. Right now there is 2k off the Redline in incentives. later, Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Originally posted by Mallard: I am also fairly critical of those aspects. After driving a CTS-V my only gripes were clutch and shifter feel. It's something that's hard to get right, but for some reason my $16k Protege has it right, while a $50k sports sedan doesn't.It's probably a design compromise between what you, grandpa, the teenybopper and the soccer mom considers 'right'. That doesn’t surprise me at all with the Cobalt, but I’m surprised to see you say this is the case on the CTS-V. Probably just GM mental retardation (I’m not bashing GM, every very large car company really). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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