I already posted it. It's what the same Motor Trend test drivers got. 102.7mph. Which would be 4.5mph. .5 rounds up to 5. So that's the nearly 5mph I'm talking about.

 

Either way who cares? Its still fairly close.

The fact is the Coblat SS is a great little compact car.
Besides I'd rather drive a 2 door....some thing DCX doesn't offer.

 

Agreed, too much bench racing here. But seeing the data, it would appear the neon has a slight performance lead, but reading up on the article the Cobalt seems more refined and has more finesse.

 

The cool thing is, these cars being so close will naturally spark competition, SRT-4, SS, RSX-S, SVT Focus to a lesser degree. I wouldn't dare to call it a pony car war, but a compact war to say the least, cheap performance.

 

That's what I'm thinking.

 

I'll be interested to see if Chevy will offer dealer installed performance packages for this car like Mopar does. They have done it right...now Chevy needs to follow suit.

A dealer installed pulley swap and computer reprogram would yield some nice gains. We know that Ecotec can take it!

 

This is your cue....SLP

Remember they did dealer installed SLP parts with 3rd gen Firebirds from 89-92. This would be an excellent idea for SLP to break into the sport compact market.

Everyone here knew (or should have known) that the Cobalt SS was going to be slower. But when you look at M/T numbers--it is a bit faster then I thought and the trap speed is very good as is salom.

Does the Cobalt have to match or beat (hp. 1/4 mile ect) the SRT-4 top be succesful or competitive?? Not at all.

The fact is that the specs on price and various performance parametres are close. I think it would come down to individual preference.

Say I test drove the SRT-4--loved the power, hated the interior and the rest of the car. Then I go test drive the Coblat--a bit slower but great interior and brand new chassis. I like the Coblat more and would be stupid to buy the SRT-4.

For someone who wants a 4 door--the Coblat SS will not be a valid option.
Likewise for someone who will only accept 2 door--they won't look at the SRT-4.

Of course there are people who would look at both 2 and 4 doors.

 

It seems to me that the real limit for either car is going to be the capacity of the transaxle.

Either motor will most likely reliably make enough power with mods to destroy their transaxles, so the true pinch point in the aftermarket is going to be the ability to raise the power handling capacity there.

Whoever wins the transaxle war will win the aftermarket war.

GM's historic success in transmission engineering may be a significant advantage here.

Personally, if I could mod a Cobalt SS up to handle all but the most high-strung and rare modded SRT-4's, I would be very inclined to purchase one.


Besides, if I wanna truly go fast, there are turbo kits for Hayabusas out there.

 

If the performance/dollar ratio was all that mattered in the sporty marketplace, explain why F bodies didn't sell better!! Mustangs sold better because for many, they were a more livable, "better" car (not my opinion!!!) for the way people used them. To not agree a Cobalt is a better overall car is a completely biased opinion.

Seeing as how you own an SRT-4, question...do you like having your 6 CD changer (assuming you have one) buried under the dash? Or how about manual rear windows? How about interior plastics that aren't even up to grade with a Cavalier?

To not admit a Cobalt is a better built car overall is to have insane bias...

 

Pony cars are in no way, shape, or form related to the sport compact scene. So no, it's not the same market place. I'm talking about a market niche.

Bull****. It's my opinion. You have yours. Maybe yours is biased?

I don't have a cd changer, can't comment. Manual rear windows? How often do you think I ride in the back? Doesn't affect me one bit. The plastics are on par with a Cavalier/Cobalt. What makes you think they're not?

The same could be said about all the Chevy fanboys in this thread. I sat in a Cobalt, and frankly, it's a rebadged Cavalier. It's about the same difference as a 1g Neon and a 2g.

 

Sorry, but you're wrong. The Cobalt and Cavalier are night and day differences. Rebadged Cavalier my ****. It is quite a bigger jump than was the 1g to 2g Neon. Not to mention the delta platform has jack squat to do with the old Cavalier platform.

I'm not dissing your car at all, I think the SRT4 is a sweet ride, though a little odd looking from some angles. And the interior in that car is certainly nicer than the Cavalier interior. It is not, however, as nice as the Cobalt interior. The fact that you lump the Cobalt and Cavalier interiors together as one hurt the credibility of your post; calling the Cobalt a rebadged Cavalier (that was the Sunfire's role) destroyed what was left of it.

Pony cars may not be in the same niche as the sport compacts, but it is a similar niche. I'm pretty sure the Mustangs and Camaros were not all about refinement and luxury. They were about bang for the buck. The faster Camaro and Firebird lost the sales war, and in that case there wasn't much of a difference in refinement between the competitors. If all out speed is what you are after, the SRT4 is probably the better choice. If you want a better all around CAR, still keeping a strong emphasis on performance, then the Cobalt would be a better choice. Of course, it is several years newer than the current Neon, so it ought to be a nicer car. I'd be happy to drive either one every day, but other than the straight line speed advantage, I'd rather have the Cobalt based on my impressions of both thus far. To be fair, I've never driven an SRT4 or an SS Cobalt (though I've driven an Ion RL and was VERY impressed), so ...

 

We have a guy post he'd rather have a Ford Ranger than a Corvette or Caddy and someone say the Cobalt's interior is no better than a Cavalier - in the same day. It's not even April yet.

 

Just buy the damn bike already and shut the f up....ugh..
















Personaly, I think the Cobalt SS offers a lot more for the buck. I think that its awesome speed around the slalom (topping that of the Corvette mind you) offers Corvette-like handling for half the price. I hope the Solstice is just as nimble!!

 

And in you we have a guy who has GM Performance Parts as his avatar, yet drives a 91 RS.

 

rebadged Cavalier? you probably just sat in a 2005 Cavalier, I doubt you have ever even been in a Cobalt, and I know you havn't been in the SS since they aren't on dealers lots yet. Cobalt is on the delta 1.5 platform, Cavalier is a j-body. Next thing you will probably say is the neon is as good as it's now fellow DCX car the Mercedes .

I didn't know the SRT-4 had rollup windows, that is so outdated..... and to think people were b!itching that the Cobalt SS cost $50 more.