The Cobalt is a Front Wheel Drive econobox with a supercharger duct-taped to it's face. The spoiler is rickety, the interior build quality sucks, the styling sucks, the engine makes funny noises (According to Car&Driver). And for the love of god...it's a ******* CHEVY! Need I remind you all that this is the company that nearly went under not too long ago? And you want to be riding in a car that THEY built? **** no. I'm never riding in one of those death traps! Fast in a straight line, maybe. But that's not fast at all... What's the point of 0-60 in under six seconds if the first corner has you going..well...literally in a straight line?

Straight line fast isn't fast..it's quick. Fast is overall track time. The Cobalt is not a performer when it comes to turning, no where near the agility of the RX-8.

The RX-8 is also built better, is more fun to drive, will hold it's value better and looks wayyyyyy sexier than a ******* plasti-box.

End of story.

 

The cobalt finished 1 sec behind the Rx8 in that same car and driver mag going around Virginia speedway. Obviously it CAN handle...

 

its supercharged..

 

RX8 owners shouldn't be mad because they can't have this written on their rearview mirror:

 

it's FWD... Think about it... If the car tries to fishtail it has to use its PARKING BRAKE... That doesn't even make it fun at all...

 

One second is a long time. And it's still FWD...

 

I guess that means 6 seconds is a lifetime. I guess the 350Z is >>>>>>RX8 but the RX8 is only > Colbalt SS.

 

ok it's well done!did you really forget why you have what you have?at what point and or time did anyone who checked on the output of this wonderful machine think it's super fast? all in all it really stands alone in i t's own class of sport cars!there are old sayings that i always take in to account THE BADDEST PUNK IN SCHOOL ALWAYS FOUND SOMEONE WHO IS BADDER !!it don't matter if he blew you away just think of why most of us got this car in the first place!!!!!there are very few cars in this class of style and performance.nuff said do as i do let him have his glory for someday we will find it won't last long.

 

Wheeeeee.......

 

The Colbalt handles pretty well from what I heard, which mag (C&D, R&T, something like this) was the one who said it was probably the best FWD handling car they've ever tested.
Yes yes I'm disappointed that we are getting wiped by econo boxes, but how many chicks have they picked up in their cars? that is my justification!

 

Oh stop it! The Cobalt SS is a decent car and a surprising effort from GM. Can anyone name a better car for less money?

 

lol, this thread grew fast. touchy subject?

A friend of mine bought a Cobalt SS a month ago. Quick little car. Fantastically engineered engine, and handles very well. The interior is so-so, but a step up from anything GM put out in the previous generation of econo cars. All in all not a bad ride for the money.

 

I don't know what the fuss is about. the 8 is an excellent platform with unknown potential. So a Cobalt spanked you. A Cobalt spanked a rack of WELL tuned cars at the redline time attack. It's an incredible little FWD platform. A platform that should actually be respected for it's potential.

As far as the 8 is concerned, it's still in it's infancy, the ECU still isn't totally cracked (although there has been progress), and the engine and tranny limits still aren't fully known. I mean, lets face it, the Cobalt's technology (engine, SC, ECU, etc.) aint nothing new; the 8's is. Our engines are freakin hand built for crying out loud! And it's a ROTARY!!!!

The Cobalt is FWD anyway. After 400whp, good luck handling that on a track. Torque steer is going to haunt you big time. Not saying it can't be done but it aint easy to deal with.

I got my 8 used (pretty much new) in march 2005 for $23K. If I spend $7K - $8K more (making it cost the same as a 350, STi, or EVO), even with the current aftermarket upgrades DONE RIGHT, I should have NO problem with taking on AMGs, M5s, and Porshes ... not modded of course at the track.

All I'm saying is, the 8 is well balanced to begin with. Keep that balance as you make upgrades and IMHO the 8 will show that it's a better all round car than most with similar mods.

 

It's less about Cobalts programming language being hard to crack and more about GM's willingness to share it with tuners so it doesn't have to be. If Mazda cared about the tuner market of the RX8 then they would release information on the program language.

You haven't driven a powerful FWD car in a while huh? LSD in FWD applications virtually eliminates torque steer. If an LSD isn't a factory option you can be sure it's available in the aftermarket. I had an LSD in my Contour SVT and it had more than 250fwhp with the supercharger I had. There was almost zero torque steer.

 

hahah i reeally like that!

 

Looks that way...

 

Wonder how many of the Cobalt bashers have really driven one...

 

Exactly. Same can be said for many cars including the 8.

 

Cobalt sucks. RX-8 owns all. kthxbye

I'd even take an RX-8 over any Porsche or Lambo you could offer me. That's sad.

 

People turn their heads for RX8

People wants to sit inside the Rx8

No one gives a **** about the plastic econbox.

That econbox is butt ugly and it comes with a shitty piston engine and its a FWD car. Fuxk outa here.

Period.

 

I had a 2006 Saturn Redline which is basically identical car as the cobalt SS. A good driver of a Cobalt SS or Saturn Redline will smoke any non-turbo 8 in straight line. No questions asked. I ran low 15's in the quarter mile at 5200 ft elevation on stock tires in the Saturn. If I had racing tires 14's would be no problem. But get them on an AutoX track and 8 will dominate no questions. Also they now offer stage 2 supercharges for the Cobalt and Saturn Redline. Stock boost is about 12.5 lbs and stage two bumps you to 15lbs. I owned my 8 before getting the Saturn; the ex took the saturn. I race auto x and beat many wrx sti's, ect all the time.

 

Hurray for fanbois!

 

To be very honest with you, I would have never bought this car if I constantly wanted to do 100MPh on the street with tis car. I wanted a car that put most cars to shame in corners but at the same time had a lil more umph than the average car. To me the 8 has prolly the most refined driving experience in its price range.

The cobalt is the not the only car that will beat the 8 stock. With that being said, go hit a curve and trust me you will feel a whole lot better.

I do plan on getting a fast car eventually but for now the 8 will do just right. My next car will either be the Z06 or something in that league. Have to drive a 505hp car before I die

 

People love to hate FWD but seriously the Rx-8 was having issues keeping up with an Integra(RSX) type R on a track. That doesn't mean I want my rx-8 any less. The Cobalt is a good car for a good price. I am happy with the 8 and if I have to I will mod it to make it faster.

 

Yea, pretty sad you can't recognize a supperior car. Go figure?