Has anybody checked out the Cobalt SS Turbo yet?

It seems like the best deal out there for the price. My B16 powered EK is getting up there in age. This seems like a better deal than a new Si or MazdaSpeed 3 or anything else for that price.

I was also considering a used Evo or STi , except I am a little worried about buying a car that has been driven really hard.

Plus it is something different from all the other imports out there.

 

with a good tune they will tear some **** up stock

 

A new/used WRX would be a better buy compared to a used STI, IMO. Just because you can do just a few mods to keep up with a stock STI (although you won't have the exterior bits, gauges, seats, etc).

But still, a WRX with a VF39 + supporting mods + 6spd tranny = fun stuff

 

what? This makes no sense at all.

He's talking about Cobalt SS's, not WRX's.

 

no but im curious even though cobalts are fugly.

 

0-60=5.5 seconds stock.they're pretty good expect for the looks

 

Pretty quick and actually handle good. All 6 guys I know that own them are complete tools, the one thought his engine was a "V4" haha, but if you're just wanting to go fast and don't care about looks or comfort, it's a decent route I guess.

 

^^
That 6-speed isn't cheap. It almost makes up the difference between a used STI and a used WRX of the same year/mileage.

At any rate, the new/current SS is a monster for the price. Outlapped an Elise, new STI, new Evo, IS-F, and a bunch of other cars in Car & Driver track test.

 

I'd rather take an srt-4. And that's saying something.

 

Im not saying it isnt quick for its price, its the quality. Yea yea, i don't want to hear "youre just going off of what you hear". Wrong. I work at a chevy dealership. their quality is garbage. The fact that when i have opened the door on 3 different cobalts and have had the handle break off (yes they were brand new) coupled with the fact that I've seen a chevy silverado blow a motor after 14 miles, in addition to seeing the paint rub off a brand new camaro when it was simply being dried, leads me to the conclusion that chevy makes garbage and id rather walk than drive a chevy.

 

Its a nice engine and decent suspension in a cheap econo box.

 

They are solid cars. DOHC 4V DI turbo 2.0.
As far as handling ..they have Brembo's and the suspension was developed on the Nurburgring.

Check this out, faster around the track than an Evo, Sti, S2000 CR, etc.
http://www.gtrblog.com/media/blogs/g...ing-lap-08.gif

Power wise they make ~240whp 250ft-lbs stock and are a drivers race with a GM stage 2 only SS/SC. (Though the GM kit is really weak) With a tune and bolt-on's they have seen 345whp and as high as 393wtq on the stock turbo. They make more power easier than the SS/SC on stock F/I, though it's pretty even once you go after market.
Highest power SS/TC - 509whp, 417wtq
Highest power SS/SC- 510whp, 421wtq

That's not including drag cars and both are on stock internals.

As far as track time they are a bit quicker than the SC stock.

Stock top 10 SS/TC times
13.564@104.35
13.66@104.25
13.8515@103.55
13.918@102.45
13.983@101.79
14.06@103.37
14.06@102.65
14.231@102.51
14.28@100.28
14.335@103.5

Stock top 10 SS/SC times
14.06@99.34
14.12@97.29
14.16@99.94
14.24@100.06
14.25@98.98
14.29@99.60
14.34@97.81
14.35@99.36
14.37@97.65
14.37@98.26

Fastest stock turbo SS/TC
11.997@114.06
Fastest stock blower SS/SC
12.235@119mph

Fastest aftermarket F/I SS/TC
11.4381@126.68
Fastest aftermarket F/I SS/SC
11.091@132.34

Keep in mind these cars are just off one forum, there could be faster. All in all it's hard to beat the car in price. Though if your looking to make "big" power the SS/SC could be a good option considering it's cheaper if you plan on a turbo swap anyways.

 

reading > you

He mentioned the STi, so I brought up how capable of WRXs are themselves while still maintaining a lower price.

 

If u can get past the exterior, u will be welcomed with speed and the steering wheel from the Corvette.

 

WRX's cost more to buy and mod, plus there pretty slow.

This is just what only a mail order tune does to the SS/TC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4NTjtEJYU4
That's what you get for $300 and a custom tune will be even faster.

Let's look at an 07 STI.. WRX doesn't compare that well..
Cobb Stage 2... $1875.00
Cobb says it dynos 277whp and 316qtq..

That's expensive when a SS/TC can make more with just a tune.

 

do you really want a car from a company the govt owns id take an 08 mazdaspeed3 any day over a cobalt.

 

08 looks a lot better than the new "smiling turd" front ends.
Meh, Mazda applied for a bail out, and so did Ford which owns a share of Mazda along with Toyota and even Honda was trying to get money.

 

$1875.00?!? uhh...no.

More like:
$200 street tune
$200 catless downpipe
$100 EBCS

Run low 12's with 110 traps. If you wanna bull **** about numbers, people have made 330whp+ on pump gas with those 3 mods.

 

i get alot of cobalts in my shop and they are junk broken door handles blown out lca bushings and wooped shock...car with only like 10,000 miles on them...just a turbo charged cavalier to me just cause u change the name dosent mean they changed the quality imo

 

Is that not what Cobb charges for their kit?

I don't know much about Subaru's have the links?

Here is some numbers from one of our "dyno thread" Those numbers really are not that hard to obtain.
345whp, 375wtq -Tune,Intake,Downpipe, Intercooler/C pipes
344whp, 384wtq -Tune,Intake,Downpipe,C pipes
331whp,393wtq -Tune, Intake, Downpipe

 

Not doubting your numbers I just couldn't find anything similar. This is from like ~9 pages off google.

http://www.ultimate-racing.com/Produ...S-Stage3.shtml
Turbo swap 319whp 282wtq

http://www.dragtimes.com/Subaru-Impr...lip-14064.html
More mods than listed 311whp 325wtq

http://www.dragtimes.com/Subaru-Impr...lip-18726.html
More than listed 321whp 349wtq

http://www.dragtimes.com/Subaru-Impr...lip-11520.html
Turbo swap 319whp 282wtq

http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/58...96605e17de9ec5
http://wrxmodders.com/forums/garage...._vehicle&CID=2
more than listed 316whp 337wtq

http://www.cobbtuning.com/images_products/3158.jpg
Cobb stg 2 277whp 316wtq

http://www.toronto-subaru-club.com/f...d.php?t=122466

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gr-membe...08-2009-a.html
more than listed 283whp 308wtq

You have me curious about STI's. The point was considering how the Sti and SS stack up the WRX wouldn't be as good/cheap of a performer as the SS if your buying it for "speed".

 

Cobb accessport is waaaaay over priced.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...ght=stock+vf39

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1625354

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1356463



With a good tune and driver, it's possible.

 

Have you really seen that many Cobalts where door handles fall off?

If that really is common there has to be a service bulletin or a recall or something over it.

I was looking around the Cobalt SS forums and the people there admit the car has some problems. They did say that once you swap out some of the cheaply made factory parts for aftermarket stuff that the car is fairly reliable.

It's tough to pass up for the price.

 

Forget about the price. The more I read about the problems people have had on the Cobalt SS forums, the more I don't want to get this car because of all the build quality issues.

 

That's the first I've ever heard the door handle thing mentioned. Go to cobaltss.net and ask about quality..most will just complain about random squeaks and the sunroof button trim falling off. I have 25K on my car no problems at all.