Ok, so I cant choose a car now...lol

[TGilb2007]

Ok, I know I made a thread here before about me possibly getting a tC, but something has changed. Learned I can get GM cars at emp. disc. prices, which means, it might be cheaper to get a Colbalt SS/SC instead. Now, I am looking into these, and again, have some questions, even though I have not seen too many TST'ers with these cars.

1. How is the ride quality? Long drives? How are the seats? Shifting, interior? I know its a GM, I know the quality of parts isnt quite that of Toyota or Honda, but how good (or bad), is it?

2. Performance. How does it compare to cars in its class? I know more sport-compacts (esp. the factory boosted ones) are generally higher in HP, like the MazdaSpeed 3 at 265hp or so at the crank. How does it compare to say, a TRD s/c tC, or a Civic Si (non-boosted).

3. Aftermarket - I have seen some good options for these cars. Hp Tuners, headers, smaller pullies, that kinda stuff. I know the factory warrenty will be bye-bye, but then again, i also want something that is tunable over time.


Again, thanks people.

[freebmx444]

i raced a ss/sc in my gst ... it stayed with me a while but i pulled top end. so there some what quick with a sticker price of around 22k

[Sberk06]

scion is a better built car, cobalt is faster stock and easier to make faster(s/c model) but i tihnk im gonna have to go on the scions side because they gave me some nastyy hats for free at HIN.

edit: but honestly, you'll have more fun in a supercharged cobalt over a scion unless you have plans to turbo the scion.

[jspek]

tc tc tc tc.

watch this
http://www.zeropointindustries.net/gallery/videos/tcsti

and then this
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ClTjZcEG3s

just some of the possibilities...but they are nice as cars. but the car could go on a diet.

[99SL2_Modder]

As far as the SS/SC...

An IS300 and a MSP3 were racing. Alex didn't know they were trying to race from a light, and went around them in his Saturn Ion Redline.

They're faster than the MSP. The IRL is about 3-4 tenths faster than the cobalt because the cobalt is a pig. That's about it.

Ride quality, they're very nice and comfy. Other than that, you'd have to ask the few people on here that had them at one point. BlackbulletTSI and SilverbulletRL.

[1gmfanatik]

I don't know about the Cobalts being pigs, considering they weigh in at 2900lbs. I have seen timeslips for 14.1's bone stock with 98ish traps. With just suspension and wheel hop mods, you are talkin high 13's with no performance mods at all.

You can do performance upgrades through GM while retaining your factory warranty, the motors are very strong with alot of potential if modded right, HPTuners does support our cars and with a slight tune makes some nice gains.

Look for an 06 or early 07 model year. This way you don't have quite as many rattles as the first year, and you can still get the G85 Performance Package which is Recaro Racing Seats and LSD. The Recaros are most definitely worth the money. Very comfortable, nice looking and hold you in the seat very well.

I have an 07 SS/SC with GM Stg2 (Dropped pulley size to 3.10 I believe, 42lb injectors, smaller belt, and computer flashed for the changes to include a 7K redline.) 2.79" pulley swap which bolts right up and you have no need to put larger injectors in, just a tune, Injen CAI, Vibrant 3" Cat-Back (BIG future plans. lol) Cobra HE, ZZP front tranny mount, Eibach springs, and one-step colder plugs. With these mods, I should be an EASY low 13 in the quarter.

I've beaten Mustang GT's with Exhaust, K&N Intake and a tune. I walked on a Mercedes AMG not sure of what class it was. Went up against a local guy with a 300Z TT from a roll before my tune and he had me by about 2 cars, he was boosting at 16lbs. I drove away from a Honda S2K with exhaust, not sure what else was done.

ALOT of potential for these cars, and yes I am biased. lol...There is always going to be something faster out there, but until you find that car, you'll be eatin up on the slower ones all day long. Hahaha....An you are right in the middle of having a couple shops that you can go to that can hook you up performance wise. I know some peeps in New York area that are working on a HUGE turbo swap that will be a BEAST when done, I also know of a damn good shop out in Toms River out my way that works on the Cobalts alot. The owner of that shop an I should be working on a nice lil project this winter hopefully. The Scions are aight cars, and from what I've seen have some decent potential too, but what doesn't with the right kind of money these days.

Anywayz...Sorry bout the long post. Hope this helps, hit me up if you have any further questions. Good luck with your decision

[1gmfanatik]

By the way, don't let the advertised numbers scare you off. GM has long been known for advertising low numbers for lower insurance an other reasons. They are right on the money when they say 205 at 5600rpms, but what they don't say, is that the numbers climb all the way to the stock redline of 6450rpms. The Cobalts are puttin down anywhere from 210 to 225whp stock, and in the high 190's for wheel torque.

With no tune, and stock exhaust, I put down 230whp and 217wtq on a Mustang Dyno which is known for posting lower numbers then the Dynojets that people normally use. On a Dynojet, that's closer to 250 and 227 or so. This way you have an idea on the hp numbers for these cars as well.

[TGilb2007]

Yea. I know the potential of the Ecotech when it comes to after market mods, espically after seeing what people are doing on JBO with their eco cavs. Well, its off to GM i think to test one out.

[BlackBulletTSi]

Yes def test one out, I miss my redline a lot. Thing was such a sleeper and was so much fun. I ran 14.8 completely stock my first time ever drag racing. My friend currently owns a cobalt SS and he loves it. There fun little cars. and agreed the redlines just a bit fast cause its lighter

[Intercooled T]

OMGz Turbo has one

[TGilb2007]

Ok. had a chance to test drive one, and i like it. nice low end power, able to keep itself climbing pretty easy. shifting feels nice, seats are nice. looks like i could have a winner.

[cxrock16]

dont get a cobalt ss someone i know works for the gm production team and their changing the chassis and putting a turbocharger thatll be putting down 265whp id just wait haha

[foss]

do it! the black ones are so sexy. how about an srt4 or msp/ms3 though?

[TGilb2007]

dont get a cobalt ss someone i know works for the gm production team and their changing the chassis and putting a turbocharger thatll be putting down 265whp id just wait haha

Ive been hearing this rumor since the car came out. And since I dont feel like waiting to see if its true or not, im gonna get it. Besides that, there is no need to a chassis change. The delta platform is only about 4-5 years old in the states. Too new to develop something else.

do it! the black ones are so sexy. how about an srt4 or msp/ms3 though?

Thanks for the suggestions, and I ahve been looking at the MS3, but insurance is a little too much. The MSP is nice, but im in the market for a new car, and those arent in production. That, and i cant stand SRT-4s. No offense to those who have em, I just done like em.


Its funny you mention black too, cause that was the color that I drove today. Black w/ black leather, no Recardo seats or LSD though.

[cxrock16]

its defenitly true and their changing it because it couldnt handle the torque but their putting the turbo solstice engine in it for 2008 but if you dont feel like waiting then get orange

[cxrock16]

do it! the black ones are so sexy. how about an srt4 or msp/ms3 though?

i was looking a msp so i went to drive one and i floored it and the boost gguage went to 5lbs i was like wait i must have done something wrong so i floored it again and it went to 5 i was like what thats it haha i didnt like the idea of that but their nice cars if you want to put the time/moiney into them

[TGilb2007]

its defenitly true and their changing it because it couldnt handle the torque but their putting the turbo solstice engine in it for 2008 but if you dont feel like waiting then get orange

Colors are hard to come by for me in NE. Most people are only wanting black and silver it seems, so the dealers are only stocking those. That, and the engine in the Solsitce is the same as the Colbalt (ecotec), but its just turbo'd instead of s/c. As for the car not handling the tq is lays down, that can be an easy issue to resolve. Some solid mounts and a good suspension, and boom, power to the ground.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

i like the cobalt. actually, i like the g5 better, but i dont think they come in the SC trim. but i havent come across one that can keep up with me. and i dont think my car is all that fast. i dunno, maybe its just that driver mod:mrgreen:

[TGilb2007]

Your SRT4 has more power, and better gearing IIRC. Then again, it could be a crappy driver too.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

are you sure you can get employee pricing on that? im just asking because i know that when the companies have popular cars, they usually dont offer it on them. my friend works at dodge and he couldnt get it on the srt and i couldnt get it on the mustang gt when i was at ford. they offered me a price on a six banger and i laughed. which is probably the reason that i have the SRT.

[TGilb2007]

Pretty sure it includes all gm cars, minus HUMMER and the Vette, i will get better answers for this though. If it doesnt, I think I was sold on it anyway. Was a nice car to drive around.

[1gmfanatik]

You will love it. As far as the Cobalt going Turbo in 08, I wouldn't hold my breath. I have seen GM's paperwork where it says that the Supercharged Cobalt is going to be no longer made after 07, but there is NO mention of it going Turbo. Not to mention, that the Solstice is rear wheel drive. So it wouldn't be just swapping the Turbo LSJ 2.0 in from the Solstice, you would also have to change a few things around.

The Cobalt has done 14.1 bone stock, and with suspension and wheel hop mods is well capable of high 13's. As far as the SRT comparisons go, I am a die-hard GM fan, sorry no Mopar here. Yes they have alot of potential, but it is nice knowing that people are STILL underestimating the potential of the Cobalt. I raced an SRT tonight with exhaust, wastegate and Stg1 and we were neck and neck. Hell, there is always a turbo swap for the Cobalt that can be done for fairly cheap with massive gains. ;-) I have been thinking about that one, but will be tough to give up the supercharger scream.

[foss]

you could always just get a more aggressive pulley set up right?

[1gmfanatik]

you could always just get a more aggressive pulley set up right?

Yes, which is what just about everyone that owns an SS/SC does, but you have to make sure that you do the appropriate cooling and fuel mods. Some youngins just want to drop the pulley sizes for instant boost increases, without doing cooling mods, which is a BIG no no.

The potential is there, it just needs to be tapped into. Hopefully, I will be able to get a real job sometime soon so my winter project will still be on track. :cool: