GRM's take on the new Cobalt SS?

"The Ecotec Family II is a DOHC 4-valve design with an aluminum block and head (L850 for 86 mm bore applications, and L880 for 88 mm bore), designed for displacements from 1.8 to 2.4 L. It was developed by an international team of engineers and technicians from Opel's International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, GM Powertrain in Pontiac, Michigan, and Saab in Trollhättan, Sweden. Much of the development work on this project was carried out by Lotus Engineering, Hethel, United Kingdom. The engine uses aluminum pistons and cast iron cylinder liners. Vibration is reduced with twin balance shafts."

As an aside, the LSx has more in common with the original SBC 265/283 than the LNF/EcoTec has with the original Opel-4.

skruffy wrote: I'm sure the SS is a fantastic drive, buy I don't want my neighbors thinking I've gone and bought a rental car.

Ahh, vanity. Nothing to do with how good a product actually is, just how good you think your neighbors THINK it is.

You're really not buying what YOU like, but buying what you hope will make your neighbors like you for.

fiat22turbo wrote:

skruffy wrote: Indeed, choose the car you like the best. I absolutely fell in love with the GTi with DSG. I was looking at leasing one when they had that "Sign then Drive" deal, but they wouldn't give me a thing for my trade. I'm sure the SS is a fantastic drive, buy I don't want my neighbors thinking I've gone and bought a rental car. However, if I had the need for a FWD track car I'd buy the SS without even thinking about it.

WTF do you care what your neighbors think of your cars? Are they making the payments? Are they driving it? Comments like that piss me off. The sort of "I don't want to be seen in X" Honestly, it is none of their business and if they get curious you might just open their eyes. I had a recent discussion with some members of my car club about Miata's and Solstice/Sky's. I argued that they the Miata's are a better vehicle for their market and they kept harping on about the power of the GXP, etc. I had to remind them that the base Solstice while a nice car, isn't as good as a Miata and that comparing a base Miata to a turbo Solstice wasn't fair. Eventually they started talking about "Girl's cars, etc" and I told them that they were being childish and immature and to get back to the dicussion on the car's merits, not their homophobia. I'm impressed with the Solstice GXP/Sky Redline and the Cobalt SS looks interesting to me as well. However, I think I'd buy a Miata and put a turbo on it before I bought a GXP simply because the Miata's styling ages better and the trunk is a bit bigger making weekend trips better, for the type of trips I would do with it. With the Cobalt SS, I like the subdued styling and the power, if it came in a hatchback or wagon form it would get the nod over a VW. I haven't been in an MS3 yet so I can't say how it would compare to the others yet.

Worth mentioning: the 260HP/260TQ of the GXP comes with a 100k warranty. Also worth mentioning: GM is releasing an upgrade kit which boosts HP and TQ by a large amount and is also covered under warranty. I think the GXPs styling will age extremely well, which is why we picked it over the Sky Redline. From Autoblog: "The kit consists of a new engine calibration and MAP sensors that will push your turbo four to 290 horsepower and up to 340 lb-ft of torque with the six-speed manual transmission (315 - 325 lb-ft with a slush box). The new factory turbo kit also keeps the precious warranty intact, which is a huge bonus over other aftermarket setups."

My younger brother bought a 4dr Cobalt base model a few years ago. (rental car special) While boring, and uninspiring, it has given him ZERO trouble in over 60K miiles. The Cobalt's interior is pretty decent too, although maybe not up to a Mazdaspeed's standard.

If you haven't driven, or even sat in the new Cobalts, you may want to check them out. They are way nicer than the Cavaliers of the past. Pretty decent cars actually.

I can't wait to test out the SS, especially in 4 door form.

Sorry, I tend to root for the home team.

In spite of it being a 70's engine I fully intend to use it on a "little project" I have going. I just won't have to have the "plasticky interior", as someone called it, of the Cobalt.

In reply to fiat22turbo:

you sure the base solstice isn't as good as a miata? i seem to recall them beating the miatas in stock class at nationals recently...

skruffy wrote: I'm sure the SS is a fantastic drive, buy I don't want my neighbors thinking I've gone and bought a rental car.

Aw, see... I would like a Cobalt SS in either black or white, I'd debadge it, no wing or anything, and if I could find one I'd put the little green Enterprise "E" on the back.

The more I can make it look like a rental car, the closer it gets to awesome!

(The same thing goes if I end up getting a newer Mustang!)

Strizzo, go read and re-read my post.

My point was that the Miata was, in my opinion, a more practical car for the type of driving I would do and with a turbo would be fast enough for me and the roads around here.

I didn't say the was faster, just that is was better in its market, which is the Sports Car you could actually use daily, which means having enough trunk space to haul a couple of suit cases for a weekend trip. Believe me, I can't not do that, nor can I expect the better half to not pack a full suit case (she is getting better, but I don't want to have that type of argument before taking a trip)

I've seen the GXP and a MSM go at it on an AutoX course a few times and the GXP was very impressive, so was the MSM. the MSM wasn't stock, but they were both very well driven. However since no one has had a base Solstice out, locally, yet, I can't say how it would compare with a base Miata. It certainly probably can't compare with the original lightweight models on our tight courses here in the PNW.

Add a V8 to either and you have a very, very fun car! I don't like how heavy the Solstice is compared to the Miata, but then the Miata has gotten heavier as well so their differences aren't as bad as it seems at first glance. Again, give me some practicalilty in the GXP and I'll head that direction (actually I like the Sky's styling better)

Lugnut wrote:

skruffy wrote: I'm sure the SS is a fantastic drive, buy I don't want my neighbors thinking I've gone and bought a rental car.

Aw, see... I would like a Cobalt SS in either black or white, I'd debadge it, no wing or anything, and if I could find one I'd put the little green Enterprise "E" on the back. The more I can make it look like a rental car, the closer it gets to awesome! (The same thing goes if I end up getting a newer Mustang!)

AMEN!!! Sleeper FTMFW!!!! Keep your wang, keep your bling. Give me speed over looks, handling over flash and best of all make it fast!

I wish the current Cobalt SS had been around for comparison purposes when I bought my MS3. I, too, am excited to drive the Chevy. My MS3 on the S plan pricing went for about what a similarly equipped Cobalt SS looks to go for.

Personally, I still think I'd have gone with the Mazda for a couple of reasons:

1. Hatch. You can put stuff in there. I like hatchbacks.

2. Resale. I'm wagering that my MS3 will have more resale value than a similarly aged and worn Cobalt SS would.

3. Loyalty. I have friends at Mazda, and they advertise in our magazine. Now, maybe that borders on a conflict of interest, but I feel good supporting the folks that help give me a paycheck when I can. Speaking of which, do any of our readers own a rib restaurant or porn store? If so, we should talk.

4. Lust. I drove the MS3 and loved it. I drove the supercharged Cobalt and liked it. Those are purely subjective positions, but when I'm cracking my wallet, that counts.

jg

I'm with stupid ^

but replace "MS3" with "MINI"

...but....

I would like to build a Cobalt project car when they're sub 10k. I'm just hoping the aftermarket steps up to the plate. I talked with a guy today that's got a replacement billet turbo compressor wheel (just the wheel!) that adds 40hp...with no other changes. ...interesting.

I didn't match price with picture, I just kinda slapped them in there. Thanks for the clarity. I do know that there are NO rebates or offers on the MS3. Not sure about the SS. And $40K was a shot in the dark for the 3-series, they can be had for less, and MUCH more.

I just know someone at the MSCC club around here brought one to an autocross and it was great fun to watch! It basically smoked both front tires throughout the entire ~50 second course and got a decent time IIRC

Aren't the MS3 and Cobalt SS really different though? I mean I really, really, like them both. But the MS3 is a 5-door hatch that's useful all of the time and the SS is a 2-door coupe with Q-ship styling (in the right color). I'd say the MS3 is more in line with the old WRX wagon and the Neon SRT4 even. The SS is more like a Civic Si or Integra Type R competitor (with turbo). If I had the money I'd have both (and the WRX...).

P71 wrote: Aren't the MS3 and Cobalt SS really different though? I mean I really, *really*, like them both. But the MS3 is a 5-door hatch that's useful all of the time and the SS is a 2-door coupe with Q-ship styling (in the right color).

Also available in sedan...FYI

^ Sedan is the only one I'd look at personally. Functionality, speed and economy. What more could one ask for besides the winning lotto ticket?

When I bought my MS3 I was ticked that it only came in the hatchback version. I wanted a sedan with that motor. So I sucked it up and bought the hatch.

I have a house that I'm renting. It's my old bachelor pad. The g/f makes decent money so we didn't sell and just decided to hang on to my old "Sin Bin". I had to go over there with a ladder, a patio blind, and some other odds and ends. The hatch swallowed it all. I couldn't do that with a sedan.

That Cobalt pictured above is a good looking car. I'm hoping it's a good car as well. I haven't driven one so I can't comment on it. This is the internet so I could say a bunch of stuff I think is true but I'll save that crap for the political threads.

Sedan isn't half bad looking, and that color is gorgeous! I do like the sleek look of the coupe though. Especially in white with no wing...

And the S/C Cobalt SS I got to borrow for my Florida visit. I dropped by the GRM office in this.