Cobalt SS S/C

What are the board's opinions on these? This is the description I got when I asked the seller what was up:

$8500

Intense racing stage 4 kit: 2.6 pully, 60lb injectors, zzp heat exchanger, zzp double bypass end plate with option b

freshly rebuilt motor bored .20 over, upgraded pistons and rods, arp head studs

g85 package with recaros and lsd

I'd obviously ask for receipts on everything. I'm checking it out tomorrow. Opinions?

My almost entirely uninformed, basically useless and probably unwelcome opinion: these seem like great cars until you realize you're driving a fast Cavalier.

Not a huge fan. Can be fast, hear tell the trannies are weak. Sold in small enough numbers that the goobers would avoid them. Sold with a Chevy badge so the goobers will want them. I'd probably pass.

I know there were goober mags that actually gave them thumbs up...not sure how much of that was corporate pressure influencing the literature. I've personally heard an owner saying great things about the HHR SS, which is nearly the same thing...

I enjoy mine, but mine's only the 2.4.

Only thing that I know to watch for is the timing chain tensoners sometimes fail. GM sells an updated replacement, and so does Rockauto and the like IIRC.

Bolt pattern is 5x110, so that limits your wheel choices a bit.

i'd probably enjoy one, if i hadn't paid $8,500 for it that is.

Bought one new in 05. Still have it. 124,000 miles on it now. All stock 31.5 mpg every day driver. Plenty quick and fast for a DD. I like it better then my wifes 09 WRX as my power is smoother then hers has a lag. If your looking to do other things with it I've got no idea how it will do. I just wanted a nice DD with power to get out of its own way. No G85 package here i wanted to try on out but there were none to sit in an my back was/is not great i have to be very picky on my seats, the wrx kills my back the cobalt is nice. Mine has seen the dealer twice (for work 4 times total twice with usless dealer now folded), once for cracked CAT replaced under warenty once i found a dealer who had someone that looked at the system and understood i was not a nut... and the second time for a minor clunk in the steering i had not noticed but a freind i loaned it to did the good dealer fixed it under warenty.

'Vette to Cobalt?

alex wrote: My almost entirely uninformed, basically useless and probably unwelcome opinion: these seem like great cars until you realize you're driving a fast Cavalier.

Change that almost to totally. These cars have nothing in common with a Cavalier.

They're fast, handle great, are reliable, and get very good fuel economy. Bang for buck is huge and the aftermarket is strong. I wasn't crazy about the look when they came out, but I've grown to really like the SS cars. I will own one someday.

Not a big fan of the supercharged ones, but the turbo ones look to be a bargain. I keep forgetting they made those every time I'm car shopping.

Id give you a +1 if you meant the SS/TC sedans.

Well that's gotta be a record - it only took until post #2 for the GM Hate to pop up.

BTW for the record - my driveway
- Subaru
- VW (2)
- Ford (just sold)

I have owned a couple of GM's and I put over 200K kms on them with basic servicing and one claim on the extended warranty (AC condensor).

I know a fellow that has a SS Cobalt SC and he loves it.

Personally, I avoid cars modded by PO - never know how well it was done.

rotard wrote: $8500 Intense racing stage 4 kit: 2.6 pully, 60lb injectors, zzp heat exchanger, zzp double bypass end plate with option b freshly rebuilt motor bored .20 over, upgraded pistons and rods, arp head studs g85 package with recaros and lsd

and only driven on Sundays by a gray haired old lady

A friend has the Ion redline, same basic car with a little more weight on it. (The plastic body panels + reinforcements are heavier.) It's actually really comfy and fun to drive. The rev limiter is too low but the stage 3 kit raises it; I assume the stage 4 does too. They haven't had any problems with it other than an occasional check engine light; apparently that engine is known by enthusiasts as "The Code Thrower."

Other than that I would say the standard "buying someone else's heavily modified car" caveats apply. Be careful checking out the quality of work and the guy himself. Does he seem like he ragged the car out every day? Are there missing trim bits or screws loose? I love the idea of buying a radically souped up car ready to drive but the reality of it scares the crap out of me.

NGTD wrote: Well that's gotta be a record - it only took until post #2 for the GM Hate to pop up. BTW for the record - my driveway - Subaru - VW (2) - Ford (just sold) I have owned a couple of GM's and I put over 200K kms on them with basic servicing and one claim on the extended warranty (AC condensor). I know a fellow that has a SS Cobalt SC and he loves it. Personally, I avoid cars modded by PO - never know how well it was done.

Not GM hate, Cobalt. Never liked the car. Got no problems with most of their other offerings.

SilverFleet wrote: Not a big fan of the supercharged ones, but the turbo ones look to be a bargain.

The turbo cars are faster, and a better car out of the box, but the SC cars are a lot easier to mod.

My Dad bought a brand new SS/SC Coupe base in Yellow (no giant wing or anything). He's got well over 100K on it now and has done only oil changes, with it getting warranty work once for lifters (IIRC). Now that the warranty is up, he's thinking about the GM kit (pulley, tune, etc). I've driven it a lot, and it's a very comfortable car, that gets well over 30MPG easily and is pretty quick to boot (faster than a WRX and a Mini S).

He's right by GRM World HQ (hint-hint for an article/buyer's guide).

I wouldn't buy one that heavily modded though.

Rxbalt wrote: Id give you a +1 if you meant the SS/TC sedans.

This. Honestly, if they had a SC sedan, I'd be looking at one for a DD. They are great cars, but I just don't like the really long coupes.

And dculberson - the reason the Ion RL is heavier has a lot to do with it having the reverse opening doors, where the cobalt only has 2 doors you could drive a smart car through.

On a related note, someone on the Saturn forums just finished a LSJ (2.0 S/C Ecotec) swap into a SC2. Pretty cool. If only there were a kit for this.

My only experience with them is once when a bunch of ms3 guys were hanging out after a meet one time and a couple guys in a ss/sc pull up. Now we were all driving mazdaspeeds except for one, which was a turbo'd 3. These guys pull up, obviously looking for a race, and ask Whig ones turbocharged? "heh, all of em". As soon as he hears that, they slink off across the parking lot and back onto the highway.

z31maniac wrote: 'Vette to Cobalt?

I'm trying to keep an open mind. Most of what I've tried really sucks in comparison to the Z06.

Zomby Woof wrote:

SilverFleet wrote: Not a big fan of the supercharged ones, but the turbo ones look to be a bargain.

The turbo cars are faster, and a better car out of the box, but the SC cars are a lot easier to mod.

How so?

Can't you spend $600 on a few sensors and a tune from GM and add like 50hp and 80lb ft TQ and keep your warranty?

mndsm wrote:

NGTD wrote: Well that's gotta be a record - it only took until post #2 for the GM Hate to pop up. BTW for the record - my driveway - Subaru - VW (2) - Ford (just sold) I have owned a couple of GM's and I put over 200K kms on them with basic servicing and one claim on the extended warranty (AC condensor). I know a fellow that has a SS Cobalt SC and he loves it. Personally, I avoid cars modded by PO - never know how well it was done.

Not GM hate, Cobalt. Never liked the car. Got no problems with most of their other offerings.

You were post #3

In reply to z31maniac:

I meant easier to mod yourself. The turbo cars have direct injection and more difficult to tune yourself.

ProDarwin wrote:

Rxbalt wrote: Id give you a +1 if you meant the SS/TC sedans.

This. Honestly, if they had a SC sedan, I'd be looking at one for a DD. They are great cars, but I just don't like the really long coupes.

They were available, but not many people bought them.

Take it with a grain of salt, but it's Nurburgring time is rather respectable, ahead of many "better" cars (Especially considering it's FWD).

I rode with one when I went autocross a few weekends back, it felt very quick, good throttle response, and had a nice interior to boot (IMO).

Zomby Woof wrote: In reply to z31maniac: I meant easier to mod yourself. The turbo cars have direct injection and more difficult to tune yourself.

ProDarwin wrote:

Rxbalt wrote: Id give you a +1 if you meant the SS/TC sedans.

This. Honestly, if they had a SC sedan, I'd be looking at one for a DD. They are great cars, but I just don't like the really long coupes.

They were available, but not many people bought them.

I thought the 1st "SS" Sedan was just a 2.4 with a sport package or something? I didn't think they had a boosted SS sedan until the TC.

Wikipedia said: Of the five engines General Motors has placed in the Cobalt since its launch, three have been designated SS. The first was launched in 2004 as a 2005 model with a new powertrain that had debuted one year earlier on the Saturn ION Red Line. It was available as a Supercharged coupe only.[7] The naturally aspirated 2.4 L LE5 engine was the next SS to launch in late 2005 as a 2006 model, available as both a coupe and sedan for the duration of its run.[8][9] However in late 2007, at the same time the announcement cancelling the SS Supercharged was made, GM also announced that the 2.4 L would be renamed "Cobalt Sport", rendering Chevrolet without a Cobalt SS for the first half of the 2008 model year. The 2.0 L LNF turbocharged Cobalt was the last to launch in the second quarter of 2008; initially available only as a coupe until a sedan option was offered for the 2009 model year but again deleted for 2010 after less than 500 were produced.[10]