Chevy Cruze

I stopped afterhours at the locl Chevy dealer and saw the new Cruze.
It was a base model in light blue, auto, air, looking very typical of a rental car. Not bad looking, mostly looking like a smaller Malibu. Overall, the looks were "un-noticeable."

A few things I noted there and on the website:
The base model has a 1.8L but the upper models have a 1.4L turbo. Both engines rated at 138 hp.
Suprise, the 1.4L turbo can only be had with a 6 speed automatic. The 1.8L can be manual or automatic.

Though the car is final assembled in Lordstown, OH; the domestic content of the vehicle is only 45%. Major contributing countries were Mexico (expected) and Austria. What comes from Austria?

Arnold the govinator, and lots of sunglasses (snow glasses really..) besides that, no clue...

Engine?

Half my wifes family, wine, schnitzel, Mozart, and Freud.

That's probably the same 1.8 that was in the Astre, also from Europe?

Maybe the upper models have lots of Steyr Augs, like 55% worth.

Maybe I'm just a hard guy to impress.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2011-chevrolet-cruze.htm

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20012167-48.html

retarded reviewer said: The Chevy Cruze, which replaces the "thank-goodness-it's-gone Cobalt," is a great place to start. .

The Cobalt has been out for all of 5 years, and is a good car.

Zomby woof wrote:

retarded reviewer said: The Chevy Cruze, which replaces the "thank-goodness-it's-gone Cobalt," is a great place to start. .

The Cobalt has been out for all of 5 years, and is a good car.

Where did you hear that?? It didn't stack up in any way to it's competition. That's why it has been replaced.

My wife owns one, and every time I drive it, I'm reminded what a capable car it is. So tell me what's wrong with it.

Drive a Civic (or any of it's competition) back to back against a Cobalt, and tell me that.

I did.

I love my Cobalt. Chevy mis-marketed it IMO. They thought it to be on-line with a civic.... NOT. WTF were they thinking? Thankfully I didn't want a civic.

Every NON-SS Cobalt i've driven or ridden in made me want to take my own life.

I'm hoping they come out with a Cruze SS using the drivetrain from the Cobalt SS. And some Heinricy-esque suspension tuning.

I'm guessing that they intentionally didn't want a manual with the turbo... Probably those bean counters wanting to preserve it from those darn kids... warranty questions, insurance rates, etc.

I'd bet manual swap + 1.4 turbo + exhaust + tune would yield around 180HP... That's competitive with a Civic SI... hmm...

the SS cobalt trashed most every other vehicle in ...and above its class at the ring and elsewhere. But I agree, a base model is a turd in the pool

jrw1621 wrote: Though the car is final assembled in Lordstown, OH; the domestic content of the vehicle is only 45%. Major contributing countries were Mexico (expected) and Austria. What comes from Austria?

Hitler.

Gotta say, my GF's 05 base Cobalt coupe has been really quite good for what it is over five years and 95k miles: a basic, simple car. It's held up well, had very few repairs, is simple to maintain, and turns an honest 40mpg on the highway. It's not the most dynamic vehicle on the road, but I really don't know what would inspire hatred; apathy maybe, but not hatred.

Oh, and to the original question, my guess is that the transmission is probably the major Austrian-sourced item.

02Pilot wrote: Gotta say, my GF's 05 base Cobalt coupe has been really quite good for what it is over five years and 95k miles: a basic, simple car. It's held up well, had very few repairs, is simple to maintain, and turns an honest 40mpg on the highway. It's not the most dynamic vehicle on the road, but I really don't know what would inspire hatred; apathy maybe, but not hatred. Oh, and to the original question, my guess is that the transmission is probably the major Austrian-sourced item.

You just described a completely mediocre vehicle. Not bad, but not good either. That's the point. That's why it was replaced so soon. The hope is that the Cruze is much better car, and able to compete against the Civic, etc...

If they were to give it a-arms all around, which they won't, they'd have a healthy bit of inquiry by tuners, ricers and racers...

bravenrace wrote:

02Pilot wrote: Gotta say, my GF's 05 base Cobalt coupe has been really quite good for what it is over five years and 95k miles: a basic, simple car. It's held up well, had very few repairs, is simple to maintain, and turns an honest 40mpg on the highway. It's not the most dynamic vehicle on the road, but I really don't know what would inspire hatred; apathy maybe, but not hatred. Oh, and to the original question, my guess is that the transmission is probably the major Austrian-sourced item.

You just described a completely mediocre vehicle. Not bad, but not good either. That's the point. That's why it was replaced so soon. The hope is that the Cruze is much better car, and able to compete against the Civic, etc...

Have you driven a non-si civic? Seriously? They are boring, slow, expensive and not that well made. The Cobalt was cheaper, faster and just as boring to drive and got better mileage consistently. Wanna kow whay hurt the Cobalt? GM. The people hate GM because they "took our monies".

First of all, I didn't intend for this to turn into a comparison between the Cobalt and the Civic. There are other cars out there that I would rate better than the Cobalt also. As far as your comparison of the two, I don't agree. I have spent at least 1k miles in a cobalt, and I sit in the passenger seat of an '08 Civic LX every other day car-pooling to work. The Cobalt isn't even comparable to a Civic. The Civic is quieter, rides better, has MUCH better quality interior materials, and most importantly, typical Honda reliability, something the Cobalt can only dream of. With two of us in the car, he routinely gets 38-41 mpg, driving at 70 mph and not trying to hypermile. I didn't measure the Cobalts mileage, but I would seriously doubt it's significantly better than that. Oh, and then there's resale value.
Could you go into how the Civic isn't well made? I never heard that one before. Do some research and find out why GM decided to kill the Cobalt so soon. It wasn't because it was a great car.

bravenrace wrote: Do some research and find out why GM decided to kill the Cobalt so soon. It wasn't because it was a great car.

Good point!

Incidentally, GM kept the Cavalier far longer than the Cobalt - and the Cobalt is light-years ahead of anything "sporting" the Cavalier name badge.

Yes, many things have changed in the making and marketing of cars, but the Cobalt doesn't meet market specs and capabilities.

The Cruze is intended as a Civic alternative; time will tell. Maybe, in a year or two, GM will even offer something in a Cruze that challenges the Civic Si - that would be nize!

Bobzilla wrote: Have you driven a non-si civic? Seriously? They are boring, slow, expensive and not that well made. The Cobalt was cheaper, faster and just as boring to drive and got better mileage consistently. Wanna kow whay hurt the Cobalt? GM. The people hate GM because they "took our monies".

I've driven both, not just sat in the passenger seat.

The Civic was AWFUL. It was slower, noisier, and the handling was atrocious. It reminded me of a mid 70's tank.

The Cobalt actually handles quite well.

I think you must have been in a zomby state when you made your comparison. BTW, I've driven the Civic also, not just ridden in it. Handling atroucious? Sorry, but no Honda handles atrouciously.

I was shocked. I consider the Cobalt to be competent, and was expecting the Civic to better it in every way. I'm no Cobalt fanboi. I bought it because of Cavalier-like resale pricing, and it's earned my respect.

I look forward to building one as soon as they get into my project price range.

I live in a Zomby state

bravenrace wrote: I think you must have been in a zomby state when you made your comparison. BTW, I've driven the Civic also, not just ridden in it. Handling atroucious? Sorry, but no Honda handles atrouciously.

Ummm, you're arguing about appliances with a Canadian who idolizes Russian bikers who split lanes at escape-velocity speeds.

How far do you want to go with this?