ForeverMaker Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 This one is for you Doc... Motor Trend road course: http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p72/Waywardx/Light.jpg Lotus forum whining: link (regarding Ring times.) -------------------------------- A Time For Turbos // Road & Track Cobalt (sedan non-lsd!) vs. STi, Lancer, Speed3 Article Link Summary: The Cobalt SS won this test by virtue of being good (more often great) at just about everything. It won three of the seven Performance categories outright, while never finishing worse than second in the rest. In our Subjective section, it won six of the 12 categories, all of them performance-related. The WRX put up a phenomenal fight, and is a class act itself, but it just couldn't overcome the Chevy's performance advantages. Kim summed it up thus: "Dynamically, the Cobalt SS is the best — it completely shocked us." So for all those who have said, "I'd buy an American car if they made one that could compete with the Europeans and Japanese," Chevy is calling your bluff. Because the Cobalt SS doesn't just compete with the foreign cars, it beats them. It is the hottest-performing sports compact you can buy in the U.S. for under $30,000. That it's also the least expensive in this test is even more reason to rush to your Chevy dealer immediately. Not only will it help stimulate the economy, but every aspect of your enthusiast driving senses as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limitedslip7 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 You forgot to mention that they are fucking ugly... I would take the Elise over any Cobalt ever made in a heartbeat, even if I had to spend twice as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 There is no chance in hell it can beat an IS-F, EVO-MR and an Elise around a track ?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverMaker Posted October 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 hahaha I don't own the turbo so I don't feel I need to defend it... But 2 different magazines tested it. The results speak for themselves. If you want a beauty contest go that way ----> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sol740 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 I don't care for 'em myself, but that's a nice improvement over the previous years. New EVO MR ftl, fuck paddle shifters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buteo Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 It is a little weird to note that the same magazine ran a 3.09 with a 2005 Lotus Elise with only 190hp. I find it hard to believe there wasn't any driver error involved when you have essentially the same car only with an increase of 30 hp.--Could GM be purchasing some advertising space in the test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sol740 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 ^ I remember reading that they had overhauled a lot more than just ponies. I could be wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 I am not defending the Cobalt owners but has anyone thrown a Cobalt SS into a corner on here? I was surprised the first time i ran the shit out of a brand new one at the dealership. Those cars can handle. But i have hard time believing they can handle better then some of those cars. I also dont have any first hand experience with a Lotus. I did not get to try out one of the Turbo Cobalts but the powerband on the S/C Cobalts was a joke in stock form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/13.gif Turbo Cobalt...very interesting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've been reading where they are really touting the new SS. Meh....no thanks, I'll stick with the little MS3. She's definitely nicer than that cheap Chevy in so many ways, especially inside. If it means I'm a few ticks slower around the course, then so be it. It's going to boil down to the driver no matter what pulls up next me. IMO, with all the mags pushing it like they are, I can't help but feel there isn't a little sponsorship money at play to bump it up a few ticks. Either way, she's still a Cobalt :thumbdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 may have to get one come this May depending on what insentives they offer on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry_Trapp01647545522 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 the best part? in motortrends 'best handling car blah blah bullshit' test recently, randy pobst(amazing touring car driver, one of the best!) said the mini cooper S is a better car to drive than the cobalt SS(although slower lap time due to less power). so, basically, the mini cooper S has better handling than the STI, speed3, and lancer. boy would people be in a fit if that were the outcome rather than the cobalt SS. i would rather have a speed3 over any of those, and a speed6 over a speed3 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Sweet Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 The Cobalt SS/TC is the real deal. FTW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Apex Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Regardless, that is some fast company to be in and by far the cheapest car there. The warranty on it is a big plus as well, would make a great track car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderboy Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Ive read some articles about the new turbo cobalts and as much as i dislike gm, i must say that they got it right on this one. They did what all automakers should do which is, release a performance model, test it, see how the public responds, and then modify/ redesign all the issues it had. Like i said, im sorry to say that chevy did this one right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Ive read some articles about the new turbo cobalts and as much as i dislike gm, i must say that they got it right on this one. They did what all automakers should do which is, release a performance model, test it, see how the public responds, and then modify/ redesign all the issues it had. Like i said, im sorry to say that chevy did this one right. Sadly, when they finally got it right, it was a cobalt econobox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderboy Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Sadly, when they finally got it right, it was a cobalt econobox. Haha, very true. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Man 135i was booking around the track, how much of the track was straight with long sweeping turns? Did it say which track they were at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 It is a little weird to note that the same magazine ran a 3.09 with a 2005 Lotus Elise with only 190hp. I find it hard to believe there wasn't any driver error involved when you have essentially the same car only with an increase of 30 hp.--Could GM be purchasing some advertising space in the test? It's more extensive than an upgrade in HP. It got new shocks, springs, swaybars, Brembo brakes, some new interior bits, and I think it also got better knuckes and more geometry changes to help negate torque steer. Crossle - The first scan was from Car and Driver. It's their "Lightning Lap" at VIR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 I would consider one of these in the future if/when they put the powertrain and chassis setup in a better looking body. Even if it was a better looking cobalt body.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach1647545520 Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 darn cobalts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSSon Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 I wonder if that drive train will trickle down into the Pontiac G5... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry_Trapp01647545522 Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Sadly, when they finally got it right, it was a cobalt econobox. i would say they got it right with the ZR1, and got it damn right with the new CTS-V. the new V kicks some major ass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourString Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 I like the Cobalt SS as much as I hate to admit it. They really seem to be kicking ass on courses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Sweet Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Don't forget the new Malibu, G8, etc. In case you haven't been paying attention, GM has been stepping up their game lately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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