http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=7103

http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...risonchart.pdf

 

Initially, I thought that the latest version of the Cobalt SS was going to be a great engine in search of a proper (read: RWD or AWD) chassis, but clearly, GM hit a home run with this car. It's a damn good example of what GM engineers can do when given free reign. I suspect it'll be cancelled now that it's been perfected

Too bad for Mitsubishi that the Ralliart is such a porker and has been detuned to maintain a gap between it and the Evo.

 

The Cobalt has awesome performance, but I feel Chevy is loosing a lot of customers due to the car's interior and exterior design.



Granted the coupe looks better, but styling is important in the "sports car" segment. IMO its easily the most plain Jane car in the test.


The Ralliart is a disappointment to me... but I'm sure its easy to add another 100hp with a someones discarded twin scroll, exhaust and a tune....

 

I'll take "plain Jane" over three other options that include "scary," "tasteless," and "hideous."

 

Score another one for the Cobalt SS. It appears to be unstoppable in this segment.

I'd like to see an Evo/STI competitor. The LNF has a lot of potential. Maybe call it the Cobalt Z24?

 

i'd probably have a cobalt SS right now if it didn't look like a cobalt

 

Hows the aftermarket for that engine? Thats always been a huge strength with the Evo. Simple computer reflashes are putting them in the 12's. I'm sure things will open up for the Ralliart fairly quickly. Thats nuts that the Ralliart wieghs almost 550 pounds more than the Cobalt.

 

For the Cobalt's LNF? Or the Ralliart's detuned Evo engine?

The LNF, if I remember correctly, hasn't had it's ECU cracked yet. This is holding the aftermarket back. The LNF definitely has more potential, as evidenced by this dyno graph:



That's from an HHR SS, although I wouldn't be surprised if the Cobalt SS's graph looked exactly the same (as the Solstice GXP has the same graph also). The torque hits a ceiling just before 2000 RPM, and stays there until about 5300 RPM. It's definitely being held back.

 

The Ralliart is a disappointment not because of lack of power. It has PLENTY of power! Just look at it's 0-60 and 1/4 mi times.

It's a disappointment because of its suspension components that results in poor handling, it's a disappointment because it is significantly heavier than its competition.

I like the SS a lot. Did you see what it traps? 104 mph! That's 2-3 mph higher than the rest of them. If you add LSD, it should run mid 13s.

In Canada, Mazdaspeed3 is overpriced. It's about $31K, and WRX is higher than that. The only cars in the reasonable price range, IMO, are the SRT4 and SS, which are sub-$25K CDN.

I just don't see spending over $30K for WRX or Mazda... I will much sooner get a G8 or add a couple of thousand for the GT version.

SS for sure lacks in its interior materials, and yes, the exterior looks rather, well, bland and dated, especially the rear. But it's a great sleeper car, and its phenomenal handling would put a smile on my face regularly.

 

I didn't know they were going to make a 4-door SS that was actually an SS. Damn, now I want one!

 

first off i didnt know they were offering a turbo ss in the 4door. Also The appearance of this ss is much less flashy than the previous gen. The lack of the wing (which i always liked cause it set it apart) and these new wheels that are rather bland (but imo better looking, bigger i believe, and im sure way lighter than the old wheels that almost looked solid...) it just makes the car look even less ss-ish, which is fine, because it goes like hell which is plenty ss-ish... Also, i cant believe they still havent cracked the ecu... the solstice gxp and sky redline have been out for a few years now... that would be one thing that kept me from getting a hhr ss or cobalt ss right now...

 

The Cobalt. My understanding is that the direct injection makes it hard to tune. People need to see 400-500hp Cobalts running around to really give it some street cred. Even though most Evo's are only mildly modded, the fact that its possible to make crazy numbers with them really adds to the appeal.

 

Most of the appearence differences are now an option sinstead of being standard.

 

Hahn racecraft and a few other members have 12 second potential cars . Hahn with a canned tune , 3"catback using the stock catted downpipe and a pair of 245/45-18 MT ET street drag radials went 13.12@108 . The bigger picture there , is theres much more left in the ET as the tire pressure monitors kept wrecking havoc on all the runs . This was one of the 1st turbo cars I saw anyways that kicked off the modding . Hahns shop has been busy so we havent seen any updated on this car in awhile . They plan to swap out the turbo soon . As well as a few more shops .

Updates since then .....HPtuners released software for the Bosch pcm and most of the cars being tuned ( bye bye $1000 canned tunes ) ...even with the limited access they have are going north of 300 hp with just a stock tuneup and nothing more . The feature of the stock PCM that detunes to maintain stock power level is defeatable now .

GM just got CARB approval for their stage 1 kit for the Solstice , sky , HHR SS and Cobalt SS . The kit comes with a tune and maf sensor /IAT sensor upgrades . 50 state legal , and the Cobalt version is said to have 315 hp .

One member of SS.net that has a 06 cobalt SS converted to a turbocharger currently making 440 hp to the front wheels has started work on a 2009 SS/TC with a goal of 400 hp within a couple months with bolt ons .

...so the future looks really bright mod wise for them ...and way cheaper to make more power over the outgoing supercharged LSJ . And lots of folks who otherwise wouldnt touch a Cobalt with the supercharger seems to have their interests piqued .

 

Me too...


er....wait...