If image isnt everything just get a Neon SRT-4.

 

yah ths is what i would do, if i had to choose between a SS and antoher car. once you put a boost controller the car will be even better. plus you cant pass up the lsd. any ways that is just my opinion.

SS is a awesome fwd track car. but for looks, i rather wait for the geninses ( and i dont even like the looks of that car, but prefer it over the SS)

 

I agree with PotatoSoup.

I don't think I could ever be obsessed enough with cheap power/bang-for-the-buck to get something like a Cobalt SS. I think of being a senior in HS or just getting my license wanting something like this. Either way if this is what your after the Cobalt SS has won a couple comparo's in the major car mag's with the tester's admittedly shocked and it seems GM has done a good job of tuning the Cobalt into a well performing car but form what I gathered all these tests were focused on performance only - not the overall car. Of the cars in these tests I would still take the WRX or MS3. The WRX with its recent power boost to 265hp is ridiculously fast (Motor Trend got a 0-60 in 4.8 sec and 1/4 mile of 13.5) and a new MS3 is coming soon plus there's the already mentioned Hyundai. I'm not sure what area you drive in but just the AWD of the WRX would be a strong consideration for my weather or in general for transferring high power to pavement when compared to FWD.

If the outdated/end-of-the-product-cycle body/interior this performance comes wrapped in doesn't bother you then go for it. Just don't let the cheap power/performance distract you from the other parts of the car you will look at and touch day in and day out and also picture yourself with this same car 4 years down the road and how it will stack up against what will have been launched in the meantime.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...gti_specs.html

 

Maybe 240whp was the starting point in the turbo setup. But in N/A mode the trassmission started grinding from 1st to 2nd above 4500rpm! I used to change the manual fluid every year with Red Line, but that didn't prevent the problem.

When it comes to realiablity the RX-8 wasn't the best. With only 40,000miles on it
I developed a trassmission problem, the coils were toast, Airbad sensor was replaced, Condensention was in both front headlights and rear lights, had the annoying squeaking brakes issue.

 

/\ still think you should persevere . One day you will be racing a well set up fi'd 8 and get wtf pwnd - that will suck even more ......

 

hmm, other than the tranny issue, those other reasons are pretty weak dog, not to mention really have nothin to do with the car's Reliability. More like typical RX-8 "quirks" that are either warranty covered or otherwise easily remedied.

Now.... blown engine or consistent engine issues, drivetrain component failure, failed brakes, coolent system failure, ect. Those are reliability issues. Not a replaced sensor or bad coils (which is not uncommon at that mileage). No offense, just sayin.

The RX-8 , or any series RX-7 for that matter, is a high maintenance car w/ little issues that pop from time to time. You just have to nip them in the butt early and keep up on maintenance...even then you will STILL likely have some issues depending on how long u own them Go's with the territory. Some can handle it, most cant. GL on ur new ride, post pics when u get em.

 

looks like some truth to the gl5 tranny fluid issue.

did you guys up north not get the 5 year 60k mile powertrain warranty?

just put a new tranny in mine at 103k miles. oil leak.. and sadly it seems like i did not have to replace the tranny.. but i had a spare..

coils. ok. you got me on that one. weak link.

come back, you were great to have around..

or you could buy a corvette. that is the one car that i would move to..

beers

 

I also driving a GM pickup with over 140k on it. The truck is not cared for, oil changed are done every 10k, still on original motor/tranny/clutch etc. The only issue that I have are that the blower fan is making noise. Other then that, its been a huge suprise with the realiablty of it. Don't forget the RX-8 was babied to the point where I didn't drive the car when it rained

 

The corvette would be a nice upgrade..... but I need a car with good fuel economy, thats cheap, and has some power.

I'm treating the SS as an economy car with alittle kick, the main issue that I had with the 8 was the fuel economy. Even if i was on the hwy doing a steady speed of 70mph I was still 20.5mpg!


by the way, the SS coupe 1/4miles in at 13.6 @ 104mph stock

 

ok,

the vette is not cheap.. but they have been getting almost 30 mpg on the hi way..

i keep on looking at them. yet i stay!

beers

 

This man, needs a Toyota Hilux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk


Sux about the 8 man. But I agree with others on looking at a WRX or MS3. When I think of the Cobalt I think of the 90s Cameros. It's like the sports car that every red neck in HS wanted. I don't like the looks of the Genesis coupe. Sure it looks good on paper (and in RL, saw one at Detroit) but so does the Tiburon and that thing is just a Korean Toyota Celica (chic car). I'm not quite impressed with Korea's moves in the sports car market... YET.

Hell, why not just get an Evo if you want ridiculous power with ridiculous impracticality. Sure it will be a bit above budget but you wont find yourself on a Cobalt forum or a MS3 forum 2 years from now complaining that you just did these mods to your Cobalt and a guy in a stock Evo is beating you around the dirt corner or dusting you off the line. This is true and if you ever make your way to the EvOwned forums you will notice no one ever complains about getting owned by a Porsche, GTR or any other car that cost 4X more than theirs.

 

I remember going from a RWD car to a front wheel drive, and at first it didnt bother me. A year down the road it still didnt bother me. And the limitations start coming around, and by the time I wanted to get rid of the thing, depreciation had killed the car. And the fact that the Cobalt is from GM means the depreciation will be even worse. Buying the car is going to result is massive loss money wise unless you keep it for well beyond the payment period. I am with the guys saying wait, and see what the reviews say about the Genesis. The car is very promising, and to get 220bhp to the Rear wheels, the car is begging for aftermarket support... I see this car becoming what the 240sx is to the aftermarket now... an awesome platform, and goldmine.

 

You can get a vette for $39k-$40k. I regularly get 30+ on the highway in my '08 Corvette.

 

I would take the 2005+ corvette, but the only problem is that it's 2x the cost of a brand new SS

 

Yeah right, I love hearing statements like this, such BS. I love the way people tag on the few extra MPG to make it sound good at 30. The MPG is good as it is, why do people have to embellish. My friend and I rolled in her C6 to the coast and she got 24mpg cruising at 70mph.

 

If you knew about Corvettes, especially the 2008's...you would know they run pig RICH from the factory. I have a tune, and also exhaust...and intake (as stated in my sig). This improved my mileage. Stock, I had 28-30.

 

Was it an automatic convertiable?

 

To the haters...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtPwnsyGTxw

It's all about how you drive the car. 30mpg is very achievable in an 8 cyl.

 

And here is a C6 vette WITH 4.10's that dropped the MPG a bit..still getting 31-32mpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGuaC...-worth-it.html

 

Corvettes interiors are no better than Hyundai accent interiors except with Navs...

Anyway I would still buy a used 2005 Corvette.

 

^^^.....im waiting for a youtube vid of some random vette with a sweet interior.....

LOL, seems to be the method of proof around here

 

I agree my cars interior isn't as nice as other sports cars. But when someone tells me that my car doesn't get 30+mpg on the highway...i'm going to show video proof of others that have.

 

I was recently at the chevy dealership and they had a few corvettes in the showroom, and I really don't understand why people are complaining about the interior quality of them? The interior is alot nicer then that of the RX-8. I do agree that the vettes interior below the year 2004 were not very nice.

 

I agree...I personally didn't care for the center console I had in my 2007 (it was a painted silver). Starting in '08 the center was changed to carbon fiber...so I like the look of my '08's more than the '07 I had

 

If its not a video of YOUR car proving YOUR claim, dont post it. Youtube is notorious for being completely biased and often times plain BS. Just because it has been done before by some dude with a vid on youtube, it doesnt prove anything other than THAT guy doing it, whether its legit or not. You dont have to prove anything to anyone here, if they dont believe you, who cares? The Vette gets great gas mileage and is a badass car, always will be. Period.