Yesterday my parents decided (I didn't even know) to go to our local Chevy dealership and check out a Cobalt that's been marked down drasticly (Some special they do towards the end of the month). Anyways, we got there and we find out the cobalt we were seeing in the paper is a 2006 Cobalt coupe LS. This thing is basic as basic can get. It was a very nice color, white, interior was nice, I liked the idea of a 5 speed, and it was spoilerless (not really into the spoiler/wing thing). I'm pretty sure they added some additional stuff to the cobalt (safety features or whatnot) cause the MSRP turned out to be around 15k. They lowered the price to about 13ish and the add lowered it further to around 11-12ish. Just by that, we can probably haggle 300ish off for loyalty discount and then whip off an additional 1k with our GM card. so it would be about 10ish in the end. To me, that's not a really bad price for a BRAND NEW car. But the only thing that sets me off is there isn't any power windows or locks (plus others, but i'm not crying about it). I was wonder how much it is to convert manual windows/locks to power?? and what are ya'lls suggestions on the car and how much it is?

I need some Co-help-balting

Thanks!
D

 

It'll probably cost you the same to convert said car to power windows and locks as it would to order one from the factory with those options.

When it comes to "Adding" power locks and windows, you either order from the factory and roll the slight cost increase into your payments or you pay in cash, up front for dealer add-on or aftermarket equipment.

Its generally cheaper to roll the options into your payment from the factory. Not to mention the factory parts are warrantied, more easily serviced, and look alot cleaner than some aftermarket hack jobs.

Oh. Its also cheaper to order a package with the options you want instead of picking them out separately. IE, Ordering a Base/LS coupe with power windows/locks, keyless entry and ABS is more expensive than just ordering a 1LT which includes the above and 15" aluminum wheels etc etc. You get the idea.

 

We're probably going to wait til a "better" Cobalt comes around with "better" options and a "better" price.

 

Yeah that's a wise idea. It's too much of a hassle and probably going to cost just as much to add power windows than to have them added in at the factory or dealer. $13,000 is a good price though. My brother bought his 2.2 base model for $12,000 brand new.

 

adding a power feature would be more then what the factory option costs. Parts and labour could really add up.

Parts--well just look at the upgrade it cost you for the 16 rims. Few hundred bucks. wheels and tires. Then go price them out at the parts dept.

Consider the labour in the factory. It doesn't cost GM anything extra to add pw locks. They have to pay the guy the whatever he does.

 

DDDrummer..... When I was looking for a new Cobalt, I to looked at a "base" Cobalt. My father-in-law is retired from GM. I used his discount to buy mine. The salesman figured out my price for a base car and a well optioned car. As the price of the car went up....so did my discount. I have a well optioned 05' LS Sedan, it has everything but a sunroof. The difference in price came out to about a $1,000.00. My sticker invoice was $18,756.00, I got my car for $13,700.00. So, maybe you should see what your dealer can do for you.

 

if you go base and are looking to mod the car at all you will regret it, go with at least an all power optioned cobalt ss coupe with the 2.4 liter engine and youll be alot more happy

 

Anyone else? I like to hear more opinions.

 

I'm guessing he's pretty young since his parents are going with him/buying the car for him. I'd say the 2.2 is the better starter car than the 2.4 and the insurance rate should be lower as well. He can end up getting at least the same power out of the 2.2 and if he can get a deal like the one he's talking about in getting the car for $10-11k he'd be stupid not to take it and run. He can easily make up the 22hp difference between the two cars for WAY less than the difference in sticker price. And ultimately, if the parents are buying, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

As far as options, get what makes you happy. I never had power locks or windows until I bought my SS/SC and I never found it to be a hassle at all. Plus it's less weight. Price one out online, then search to see if a dealer has one near you.

When do you need to get the car by? Can it wait 3-4 months? If it can, get in on the model year end sales. Right now around here we've got auto show sales going on, 0% financing and all that jazz. But the longer you wait, the lower the prices on the '06s are going to go. By summer you're really not going to have to haggle much to get an LS in the $10k or less range. Last summer I saw a couple dealerships with base models listed for around $9500. When it comes time to clear inventory, you're going to see some kickass deals.

 

The only reason i am getting a SS/SC is because of the relatively cheap power you can get. plus i love the way it looks. the sound system is good, and thats just about the things i am looking for in a car. if you are only looking for simpler things, such as power locks and windows and such, go for the slighter higher up base model w/ the power stuff. but make sure to get it in stick, thats the only way to go in my opinion. makes driving actually interactive and fun instead of going into idle mode with an automatic

 

Actually the insurance companies haven't gotten around to putting a performance charge on the 2.4 or 2.0. They seem to have no idea how quick these cars are, and they probably won't get a clue until lots of them start getting wrecked. I hope that doesn't happen.

 

LOL State Farm has! I don't know about the 2.4, but the 2.2 was going to be the slightly less than my Cavi. The agent thought that's what I had got, she got the VIN and it came back as a 2.0 Supercharged and it went up $400/year.

 

I've got a base coupe and frankly, it's a good car. If you want to mod it out anyway, you might as well start with a blank slate than get the wing and wheels you don't want.

 

Thanks for your input guys. Technically, yes my parents are paying for my car, but I want to pay for part of it (Planning to get a job after I turn 18 and work hardcore during the summer). Yeah, I like the idea of waiting and start looking during the summer, it was my parent's idea to check it out. I guess right now i'm torn between the coupe and sedan. My parents want me to get the sedan cause its the cheapest insurance-wise, but the things I don't like about the sedan are the rear doors (for some reason, it really turns me off) and the rear (it seems the front and rear aren't balanced, cosmeticly, well). I really love the coupe and everything about it except it costs an additional 200 bucks every 6 months for the insurance.

Thanks for the responces everyone, I like to hear more peoples' opinions.


P.S.- I'm 17 :-P

 

no job at 17... wow rich boy :P. My sedan was stickered at 19. i got it for just under 13500. Fully loaded, leather sunroof the works. Get a sedan. I think it mroe exciting to see a sedan thats fast and the same ol coupe. + you will not have room issues either. just my .02

 

the coupe looks way better, worth the extra money a month

 

I hate, hate, HATE sedans, but that's just me. If you want/need the extra room then go for it. Again if your parents are paying at all, you're at their mercy. I worked in my mom's home business for 6 years about 30 hours a week and never got paid...instead she bought me a car (which was still WAY less money than paying me), so she let me have SOME say in it (meaning I got to pick the color...) but she basically picked out the car and I didn't complain. If all else fails, offer to pay the difference in insurance yourself.

 

Haha! I used to have a job last year... but the place closed cause my boss didn't pay his rents! Again, thank you all for your inputs. I guess i'll be taking a great deal of thought and whatnot.

Thanks!

 

i would agree with alleycat, go with the coupe... i also HATE most sedans... i love my car and everything about it, but i have to say... if i HAD to get a sedan, it would definately NOT be the cobalt... i think the sedan is ugly as hell...

 

So how much of that price is yours to carry. By that I mean I am under the impression that your parents are footing the bill since they took you shopping. Which to me means if they say this is the vehicle with the right price...take it and don't **** them off by demanding to much. If your footing the bill wait and get the electric options.

 

Like I said before, as soon as I turn 18 I'll get a job and work from then til a month or a couple of weeks before summer ends. I'll take 80-90% of what I make and put it towards the car (need the rest for college). So far i've seen base models that are pure basic for prices like that around here and some in Atlanta. I'm probably going to take some of the cobalt members' advice and wait til around summer. More options for the vehicle with a semi lower price since it would be swinging around the year-end sale.

 

wait for a better price, i got mine for 10500 but mine has no power anything, it wasnt worth the extra 3 grand to upgrade, they wont ever have a super good deal on a loaded cobalt, they always do it to the base models

 

Maybe I'm alone here, but I've never seen the big deal with power windows/locks. Sure, they are nice and convenient, but definitely not a necessity. Would I take them? Yes. Can I just as easily do these things manually though? Yes. Just something else that may go wrong later on and need maintenance.