Cobalt SC - vs - tC SC

I'd take the tC...feels and looks classier IMO...

if I didn't have a tC yet though, it'd be a tough decision for me... :oops:

 

I've autocrossed a Saturn Ion Redline and they are HORRIBLE.
Even if the interior was nice, their real problem is that there's no traction for the power. It needs an LSD very badly. I predict the Cobalt will have the same problem, and then in '06 they will put an LSD on them much like Dodge did for the SRT-4 in '04.

If speed were more important than looks for me, I'd take the Dodge SRT-4 in a heartbeat over the Cobalt SS. period.

 

Has anyone here bashing the quality of the Cobalt actually SEEN one, much less sat inside and driven one? These things are a HUGE step forward compared to the sh*tbag Cavalier. And despite the fact that the Cobalt is taking the Cavalier's place, it is in no way a Cavvy. They are completely different cars with completely different platforms. The Ion does suck and the Cobalt does share that platform, but GM has had 2 years to tweak it and most real car magazines (no, Sport Compact does not count) are duly impressed with the amount of refinement in the Cobalt. To make a blanket statment like "All American cars have no resale value" or "All Toyotas are amazing, bulletproof cars" are a quick and easy way to show everyone how ignorant you are.

That said, I'm still not running out to buy a Cobalt, supercharged or not. I prefer the looks of the tC and the bang-for-buck quotient. However, for extra $5.5k on the Cobalt SS Supercharged you get two-tone leather interior, a supercharger, a seven-speaker stereo (including sub), steering-wheel radio controls (and yes there IS cruise control), and 18-inch wheels (oh, and everything that the tC comes standard with except the moonroof). That's not a bad deal at all, especially once you factor in some of the likely rebates.

I think that a LOT of you need to research the car before you start automatically bashing it because it's a Chevy. Many of you had very important specs (such as the brakes - the are 4-wheel discs, NOT rear drums) completely wrong.

 

Um yes, i have personally driven one and sat in one.

I'm so glad I have a tC. It was roomy, but the tC is just 5 steps beyond the Cobalt

 

"(and yes there IS cruise control),"

Available, but not standard like on a tC.

And what's up with those ads on tv? First off, they've got the same music in them as the vonage ads. The tagline in vonage is "People do stupid things... like pay for long distance". Combining it with the Cobalt ads, I find myself thinking, "People do stupid things... like buying Chevy"

The ones where they bounce around a rubber ball shows an articulated spoiler on the SS supercharged, but apparenly that is in advertising-land only. From what I could tell the spoiler is not actually articulated.

The ones where they show the Cobalt playing with the Corvette must be an insult to the Corvette owners. If anything they should have a Cavalier in the Corvette's place so they could say what a great car the Cobalt is compared to the Cavalier. Instead its, "look at this half-assed Corvette wanna-be!"

 

I've also been in a few Cobalts, and while the interior is far above the Cavilier, it stills leaves a lot to be desired IMO. Plus, I personally do not like the exterior of it at all.

I think for $22k you're better off getting a lot of other cars.

 

mfbenson, according to chevy.com, cruise control is standard on the SS (that is the only Cobalt worth talking about anyway). My point was just that you do pay $5,500 more for a Cobalt SS Supercharged, but you get a lot more features, as well. Considering that a blower is usually a $3,000 investment on its own, getting all that other stuff for an additional $2,500 isn't too bad at all. My other point was that this is NOT a next-generation Cavalier. It's a completely new vehicle that's still entry-level but on a completely different level than the Cavvy.

As for the ads with the Vette... personally I thought that they were hilarious. Don't read so much into it, it's just funny. They weren't trying to compare the Cobalt to the Vette, they were comparing Chevy to a family.

 

I know, I take it all too seriously. GM's intent was to build a fun car, and it looks like they probably succeeded, assuming the quality is at least good enough to not detract from the fun.

On that site I quoted is where I got the (apparently wrong) info about the cruise on the SS.

 

You do kinda have a point, BUT general statements are not totally ignorant. Its based on a PROVEN track record of crappy Chevys (especially the cavalier). I personally have never driven a cobalt, nor do I want to. Its just plain ugly. And If I am spending my hard earned money on a brand new car at full price, you better bet yo azz Im gonna go with the brand that is KNOWN for reliability rather than a manufacterer like chevy where they get all the jokes about how they fall apart at 50K miles. To me, why take the chance?

Until chevy comes out with a few more (or even one I should say) good car known for reliability and durability, I will continue to pay them no mind.

Note: I am an engineer, so I know a little something about the manufactering process (ie. quality control, six sigma etc). And it is a fact that Japanese Manufacterers are on top of their game. That is why Toyotas and Hondas last forever.

 

Captain,

I too am an engineer, and the Japenese do have it together with their manufacturing, but you should watch your statements too.

I have owned (own) three GM vehicles in my time

95 Monte Carlo - 171,000 miles - still runs great
89 S10 Blazer - 155,000 miles - sold for monte, still regret it to this day
03 Alero - 48,000 miles - only problem with it is the nail in the tire I ran over the other day... I guess I only have 2,000 more miles huh?

Any newer car is going to last you at least 5 years if you take care of it.

I do think that GM's designs have been definately lacking the past few years, but certain divisions are starting to pick up the pace. The Cobalt is a huge step forward (believe it or not), although most people don't like the styling, the new GTO is a pretty cool car, and exactly what the old GTOs were (small fast car), and the pontiac solstice is a really differant direction for GM. If people give GM a few years I think they are going to pull out of this design slump they are in.

I chose the tC because it is a great value, I considered the Cobalt, but just didn't like the styling of it.

I think people need to back off a bit and look at this thing from an unbias point of view, this thread is as bad as the one on the domestic forum.

 

I've driven the new GTO quite a bit, and they are very cool. LOTS of power, and good control and style. It's too bad Pontiac's having poor sales with them....they may discontinue it soon if things don't pick up. I think poor advertising is one reason for it.

I also love the Solstice. When pics were first released of it and they said it would be sub-20k range, I planned on buying one. My plans may have changed, but I still like that car a lot.

I understand that it's profitable to make the Cobalt a base vehicle, and to only change a few things for the SS Supercharged version, but I'd hate to spend $23k on a fast version of a car that others have bought cheaply for $14k. That's my big beef with the SRT-4. If they had made it its own car, with its own body, it'd be MUCH better than what it is now--a suped up version of a base Neon.

 

holy crap, I can't believe I'm standing up for the cobalt (yick), but this dick-waving is getting rediculous.

First off: The Cobalt SS will walk all over the tC, and Cobalt SS vs tC SS is purely debateable seeing as the tC SS isn't out yet. Regardless, unless Scion does some MAJOR work to the suspension, the Cobalt SS will crush it on a road coarse. MT recently tested the Cobalt SS and said it had the fastest slalom times for any FF car they've ever tested, and faster than many of their rear wheel drive cars. Our panoramic sunroof is HEAVY, and our cars aren't going to handle as well regardless.

Second: The Cobalt SS is offering things not available on the tC, like speed sensitive power steering, and steering wheel mounted radio controls. Plus many of our options come standard (18" wheels, short throw shifter, subwoofer, supercharger).

Lastly, the SS isn't even OUT yet. So before people start claiming that the inside sucks, blah blah blah, at least wait till they arrive at dealerships before claiming to have sat in/driven one.

Of course, the tC will walk over the normal Cobalt. Not offering 4-wheel discs until you get to the 22k SS model was a mistake. The 2.2 is a great engine, but not quite as good as the 2.4 will be. So the 2.2 will always be slower than the 2.3 Mazda, the 2.4 tC, or the 160hp Civic si. And while the interior is much MUCH better than the previous Cavalier, it remains to be seen how nice it is compared to the tC.

But this American vs Japanese thing is rediculous. Japanese cars are built here, American cars are built overseas, American companies own Japanese companies, German companies own American companies, hell, my Jeep had a Toyota transmission in it (I think... :?: ). Resale value drops for American cars b/c they a) sell a ____load and b) sell to rental fleets. VWs are the WORST for reliability but have some of the highest resale values out there. Explain that.

Ok, rant over...

:twisted:

 

I guess people here are being a bit too harsh, so we'll just have to wait and see. There probably wont be any information for years since any new car nowadays will go many years problem free (even american and crappy korean cars).

 

What he said.

 

i am not bashing the cobalt SS but i am bashing what they said about the tc...thats all

 

Ya, I really like those GTO's too, had I not been in a position earlier this year where I needed a second car (03 Alero), I would be purchasing a 05 GTO right now instead of a tC.

My chief complaint about the Cobalt SS is that rear spoiler, it looks like, well, I dont know exactly, but I personally think its ugly. If it came with a spoiler delete option, I would consider that car a lot more.

The auto industry anymore is so intertwined its unbelievable. For instinace, the Pontiac Vibe (GM product) shares the same chassis as the Matrix I believe. So in essence, are all these people complaining about GM sucks really saying Toyota sucks too?

Like I said earlier, this thread is about as bad as the one on the other forum.

DISCLAIMER: I know there is a GM car that shares with Toyota, I believe its those two, but am having a brain lapse at the moment

 

I saw this car at the L.A. Autoshow and it was weak forget about it meng its crap I can smoke that car with my 5pounds of boost and still get a huge lead on it its crap.
I understand that you dont understand us scion owners because you are still a future scion owner but once you get the scion tC you will understand that there isnt another car in this class or price range that can compare to the tC. pe@ce! :twisted:

 

Ever heard of the MT Auto Show or SEMA!? Don't tell me I haven't sat in them, they were all over the place at both events.

 

The Cobalt is the replacement for the Cavalier-the cavalier in all its forms and versions over the years that it was produced was crap-you're an idiot if you think anything has changed at Chevrolet. All this hype and number playing is the best Chevrolet can do to hopefully minimize the loss of thier market share. They need to produce quality vehicles-stop playing the stupid incentive-devaluation game and improve thier cutomer services-not attempt to devalue obviously superior vehicles.

 

i love the space on the tC compared to any other 2 door and maybe even some 4 doors.