to cobaltSS or not

[suzbndt]

I am thinking about trading in my GTI for a new CoblatSS/tc. I have a daily driver so it would be just a weekend toy. It is a good time to buy one and my payment would be 200 bucks a month less for 24 more months. What would you guys do?

[crobin4]

Keep what you have, pay it off, and not have a car payment. You would be trading one FWD car for another. A less refined one and have an additional 2 years of car payments. Seems kinda a crappy deal to me. But, if you want to go fast in a straight line....

[suzbndt]

it is more a handler than any other fwd made. Kinda like a ITR just real cheap looking on the inside. It has a fwd lap record at the ring. check the vid here a stock 4dr with only a set of NT05 tires

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzbBRAc_N3M

It almost has me converted

[SentraWV]

As a MS3 owner, I'm legally required to point out that, regardless of how well it handles, it's still a Cobalt! Nowhere near as sexy as a tiny station wagon on steroids.

:biggrin:

[RobbieNelson]

It has a fwd lap record at the ring.

Was the car stock other than the tires? Got a video of that?

[ShortysTRM]

He's definitely not making this stuff up. The car wins nearly any [reasonable] competition it enters, makes lots of power, and gets great [performance] reviews.

Just because it's from your own side of the pond doesn't mean you should assume it sucks. Americans can build great cars, they've just chosen not to for the last 40 years...

In all seriousness, General Motors is obviously on the verge of disaster, and it sure as heck wouldn't hurt to help support them...not to mention that most of their cars are going for next to nothing right now. It's never a great idea to start over on car payments, but then again, if you don't like your current car, there's no reason to continue paying into it.

[Jason V]

the new Cobalt SS is supposed to be a very good performer!! If you can get over the interior cheapness it's a great choice. Personaly I have a Kart for all out performance.... so I will stick to the nice interior of my VW.

[suzbndt]

Well I dont hate the GTI, but I really dont use it anymore. I have a passat that I drive during the week(it has a really nice interior). I was adding up all the stuff to make the GTI as quick and competitive as the CobaltSS. It added up to 6k without install. I can get the cobalt for and additional 3.5k. It also comes with 0% and a 100k warrenty.

I would just use it for fun and take it to the track. The CobaltSS that took the ring fwd record was completly STOCK. I still like the GTI but the Cobalt is a beast for the way I use the GTI. My GTI is much better looking and is a better overall car, but I dont really use the GTI as a car anymore it is just a toy now.

To make the GTI equal to the Cobalt I would have to

1. Brake upgrade 1k
2. Chip 500
3. HPFP 500.
4. Turboback exhaust 1.2k
5 LSD for DSG 1.5k
6. Install for DSG 1k

For all out performance I have a 2006 ZX10r. I just dont want crash it on the track. I can push the car at a track without worry about death and severe injury. I do love riding and use to take the bike to the track until I dropped it at 140mph. So I would rather have a more track ready car. Carts are cool just not for me.

If I unload the GTI and trade in the Passat I could get whatever I want as long as it has four seats. The passat is the best car I have ever owned. It is the first car that I have owned that run pretty well, rides great, and get wonderful milage(30mpg at 80). So I would like to keep it and get a toy that is 25k or less with no work needed I dont have time anymore to work on stuff.

[suzbndt]

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

nurburgring cobalt vid with John Henersy

[crobin4]

Maybe, I'm just being a bit envious because the Cobalts seem to always clean up the ST class in the Koni Challenge. :whip: If I wanted to help GM out, (and other than the Vette and Med. Duty truck division I don't) I would look at the Solstice/Aura. That being said I haven't looked seriously at GM for a while, they simply don't make anything I truly want that I can afford. Not that they can't, they just don't.
I still think that taking on more a longer term on car payments is a bad idea. :wink:

[Hillbilly]

Get the Cobalt! Lower payment as well as faster seems like a no brainer to me.

[SentraWV]

The car wins nearly any [reasonable] competition it enters

Ahem (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/cobalt_ss_v_wrx_and_5_more_sport_compacts_comparis on_test).

:clap:

[johnnytavo]

I don't see why you want a cobalt to be you weekend toy. Why not a new miata, s2k, or kart or something like that. They definitely aren't slow (MS3, new SS, new GTI) but they are all FWD econoboxes with turbos and lsds. I don't think weekend toy includes any of these three vehicles, but that's just me.

[suzbndt]

I am looking at this from a different point of view. I think a FWD can be a good weekend toy. I have had AWD, RWD, and FWD. It really matters how well the car is prepared to how fun the car is to drive. They all have their merits.

My wife had a miata and I did not like it at all. Sorry
I had a 1999 Z28 SS and did not like it much either.
Have had a veiw Subies and they were not that performance oriented either.
I had a VW GTI 337 it was the best stock that I have owned.(most fun/well rounded)
The AWD R32 was not great until I spent about 2k on it(But after that it was near perfect)

I do like the solstice/sky but it is a much easier to bring a car how that is a four seater.
The four seat cars I like are few and far between. And out of these the cobalt would require less money to make it track ready. All it needs is tires and brake pads. The CTS and M3 would require the same(but much more money) the 135 would require tires, pads, Lsd, and suspension.
1. CobaltSS
2. 135
3. CTS-v
4. M3 sedan(E92)
5. New CameroSS

If I knew for sure that VW would make a R20(AWD, 2.0t) I would just wait. I think that VW will not bring it over anytime soon because of the economy. If I dont spend anymore than 25k I can keep my Passat. So that is why like the cobalt. If I unload the GTI privately and trade in the Passat I can buy anything less than 60k. But then I would have to drive a 60k car everyday.

[BacDoc]

Which CTS-V you talking about? :devil:

I really like the new SS btw. The interior is decent for a GM. Track ready. And much more suited for autox than a V.

[suzbndt]

the new cts-v it would be ok on a road course, just not at autoX.

[sts 50]

(Assumes "father" tone) Toys should be USED cars. New cars are a serious waste of money. Let someone else take the depreciation hit (and start listening to Dave Ramsey). New Cobalt money buys any number of fun toys with money left over. Want 4 doors? How about an E-36 M3 for low teens? Corvettes, mid 80's 911's, 951's, on and on.... Or, better yet, buy an old CRX, mod the hell out of it, take FTD's for comparitively little cash.

[crobin4]

(Assumes "father" tone) Toys should be USED cars. New cars are a serious waste of money. Let someone else take the depreciation hit (and start listening to Dave Ramsey). New Cobalt money buys any number of fun toys with money left over. Want 4 doors? How about an E-36 M3 for low teens? Corvettes, mid 80's 911's, 951's, on and on.... Or, better yet, buy an old CRX, mod the hell out of it, take FTD's for comparitively little cash.

Scott and I share the same ideas on toys. I believe very good advice.:biggrin:

[BacDoc]

the new cts-v it would be ok on a road course, just not at autoX.

Take some talent to dance 4200lbs through the cones for sure.

[RobbieNelson]

Buy this car (http://www.swvrscca.org/vb/showthread.php?t=1747)(Davis's STi)... end of story!

[crobin4]

Take some talent to dance 4200lbs through the cones for sure.

I'd probably like to take a stab at that some time!:biggrin: I've gotten kinda used to dancing big non-performance cars around cones. It'd be interesting with some power mixed in.:wink:

[BacDoc]

I'll let you drive mine next year. :)

[Hraefn]

I am trying hard to recover from car ADHD myself. I paid the Protege off early this winter using my 0% interest IRS savings account, and managed to keep it when I bought the new car.

1) My advice would be to keep the GTI.
2) Extra "toy" cars should be small and mid-engine :wink:

[suzbndt]

But the GTI is now the toy car.

I drove the Cobalt today and it isnt bad but not light years ahead of my GTI.
But I did try what every said, I stopped and looked at a 2002 vette will a 6speed.
It had 35k on it and I am going to see about making a deal tomorrow.

[johnnytavo]

there ya go!

[Hraefn]

there ya go!

+1

.

[crobin4]

But the GTI is now the toy car.

I drove the Cobalt today and it isnt bad but not light years ahead of my GTI.
But I did try what every said, I stopped and looked at a 2002 vette will a 6speed.
It had 35k on it and I am going to see about making a deal tomorrow.

Now your talking!:wink:

[snake bit]

But the GTI is now the toy car.

I drove the Cobalt today and it isnt bad but not light years ahead of my GTI.
But I did try what every said, I stopped and looked at a 2002 vette will a 6speed.
It had 35k on it and I am going to see about making a deal tomorrow.

6 speed good
6 speed with Z51 better
Z06 best

Spectacular fun per dollar quotient - good luck!

[suzbndt]

Well I am about to purchase a left over 08 Sti.

They are offering a little less than I want for the Gti, but the deal is 32k plus they are throwing in a SPT cat back. I will do it if the CU comes through with 4.5% on the loan.

It is blue, I like the blue(remembering the R32) with the gold BBS wheels, short throw shifter, and some stuff that I dont need. It isn't a vette, but I really miss the r32 and it will do as a good replacement.

[suzbndt]

http://www.auction123.com/showroom/ganley_westside_imports/2008/Subaru/Impreza_WRX_STi/WRX_STI/JF1GR89698L836013.html?showroom_dealer=7035&wait=false

here is the link to the pics of the car what do you guys think, deposit is going down on monday

[BacDoc]

Why not save some money on the WRX and get better performance. :lol:

[suzbndt]

I drove a WRX is does not drive nearly as good as the STi. I think the price diff you can make the wrx as fast and handle as good, but the sti has better stuff all the way around. Also 4-5 years down the road the Sti will be worth alot more. And I will buy another car I always do, so the resale is always important to me.

[BacDoc]

I agree the STi is a better overall car however Subaru screwed up (and it may be just the '09's) by making the WRX as good if not a better stock performer than the STi. I like the older gen STi's as the hatch Hyundai style never grew on me. I used to own a Legacy GT and I will say it was one of the best cars I've ever had. I would love to have an older WRX wagon but the prices are still a bit out of my range for a 3rd car.

[HiHoSilver]

awh man, I was looking forward for another vette to run with, Its not Monday yet, you can still change your mind. go with the vette!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!:clap:

[suzbndt]

awh man, I was looking forward for another vette to run with, Its not Monday yet, you can still change your mind. go with the vette!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!:clap:

I was on vacation two weeks ago and went down to purchase a silver z51 6 speed, and well the wife threw one hell of a fit. I told her that we almost never use my car(Gti) and it should not matter if I have four seats or not. Well she does not see it that way, I told her if she really wanted/needed four seats she would come with me to track days/autox. She still said even if we wanted to take it out on the town we would have to take two cars to the sitter. So I told her I want a better performance car! She said I quote "as long as it has 4 seats I don't care why dont you go look at a new M3" Then retort was OK a 70k M3 sounds good to me and that was the end of that.

So I looked at a GT500, Sti, and 135. I like the Sti the best out of all of them. I found a left over 2008 in a town close to where I work so I stopped in to check it out. I think the Sti is a really great car that just happens to be not any faster in a straight line than the WRX. BUT it is a very good starting point for a Toy. There was almost no push, power was adequate, and it put the power down. It is what I missed from my old R32 without having to modify it. But I know I will do a little to it like wheel/tires, spring/shocks, turbo back exhaust, and a reflash. But after all of those additions it will be FAST on the track. The Gti would be better and not as fast or easy to drive as fast.

So right or wrong I will be in one hellava fast wagon before too long