Now guys my cousin who is 20 years old is looking to buy a new car, well hes either with the Cobalt SS S/C and if he gets that itll be laser blue, and he also wants the Mazdaspeed 3, so guys tell me what is better for his money? and hes also looking for a good car to mod, and we all know cobalts are easy cheap and fast to mod, thats what he likes, he also likes the fact the cobalt has onstar.

 

Mazdaspeed i've heard is a little better stock, but being so new, it doesn't have much of any aftermarket.

 

so it doesnt have much of an aftermarket? hmm that may have decided on what hes getting now, he wants to mod like crazy lol, and he also loves the supercharger whine, so i think hes leaning towards the cobalt

 

I'm sure you know that you're probably going to get a biased opinion on here, but here it goes anyway. Having never driven a MS3, I cannot comment on it, although I have been in a Mazda 3 and can say the interior quality is better than the Cobalt's. However, the place where I would think that the Cobalt would win out is in the looks category. It's a great looking car IMO and the tiny performance margin that the MS3 has over the SS/SC is not enough to get me to buy a hatchback. So if you break it into 3 categories--looks, performance, and interior quality--I would say they are dead even. It all depends on how often your cousin drives other people around (need for 4 doors) or needs to haul large items. That is the only reason that I would ever choose a hatch over a coupe. Another thing I can say which you may know already is that the MS3's numbers seem to be slightly inflated, in terms of brake hp/tq compared to wheel hp/tq. Search around for some dyno numbers if you think he cares about that.

I love my SS/SC and think it's an excellent car. It is well built and has a few small quirks (mostly interior stuff), but overall it is a great small performance car.

 

I'd say it goes down to which he likes the look of better, and what the test drives prove to him

 

cobalts aftermarket didnt blow up until around feb 06 march 06 which is AT LEAST a year and a half after release , so mazda will have to wait sometime

 

These are also the 2 cars in which I need to decide what to get . I have a 2.2 Base Cobalt, so either is a huge upgrade . I love how the cobalt looks, but I think the MS3 looks just as good, even better with the hid's . Personal tastes there though. They both have power, the MS3 has some aftermarket for it, and it is growing, just do some searching in google for it . I already see them with some mods dynoing up around 280, higher than most of the cobalts, which is why I am leaning towards the MS3, plus stock I think they get low 14's high 13's in the quarter depending on the driver. (Dont flame, just what I have seen on some forums). Of course I won't know till I drive them around the end of the year . But over all, I love both cars, but I have a feeling I will end up getting the MS3. Good luck with your buy

 

It depends on how much torque steer you want. Of course both these cars have this problem but from the reviews on the ms3 I have seen (I haven't driven one) it's pretty bad. Plus if modding is your plan, any more power will just make this worse. The only problems I really have with it are the looks (hatches ) and the fact that it's pretty heavy (3200 lbs.), which is your enemy no matter what you plan on doing to it. Also, like others said, the hp numbers seem to have been inflated some but then again it's still faster than a cobalt ss/sc stock for stock. I say just go drive them both and see which one feels right.

 

I would deff get the MS3, I love the interior and Man its turbo, so much potential, Theyll be in 300whp in no time.

 

I would deff get the MS3, I love the interior and Man its turbo, so much potential, Theyll be in 300whp in no time.

 

I would deff get the MS3, I love the interior and Man its turbo, so much potential, Theyll be in 300whp in no time.

 

man after reading it twice just wasn't enough... lol

 

I'd have to say a MS3. I love those cars. Interesting, sexy body shape, fast, and not too common. Go with the mazda!

 

If the MS3 was the sedan id say get that

but its the hatchback

get the cobalt ss/sc

 

All depends on his needs,I came from a simular vehicle>vibe/matrix and I do miss the utility aspect of having a hatch

 

imo it would be styling that would decide me.
Its nearly impossible to compare a new platform to ours, because we have no idea how well those engines will handle 300+ for the long haul.


there are very very few hatchs in the world that Id want personally.
the MS3 isnt one of them.

 

lmfao thats funny you mention the vibe, he actualyl currently owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe AWD and hates it to death, and he doesnt want another hatch, so maybe he wants the cobalt, loves the handling and power, but he rarly drives people, the car would need to get him back and forth to work, have style, and also have some pep when he needs it, so he may just get a cobalt, but not sure, i will deff let you guys know wat he decides

 

The Cobalt should be considerably less expensive out the door. So they're not entirely comparable in terms of price.

Another thing to be sure to check is insurance cost, which could be very different.

My site can be used to compare prices and features. Page for the Cobalt:

Chevrolet Cobalt price comparisons

 

true and the other reason i just remembered he wanted the cobalt is because he also gets GMS pricing due to my other cousin working for GM

 

I wouldnt say at all the cobalt is cheap to mod, or cheap to make fast, because its not, from **** breaking, and going through parts, just performance stuff, i dont wanna think about how much it cost for me to just go 13s.

 

If hes blind tell him to go with the MS3... what an eyesore

 

I love the MS3, sexalicious.

 

personally i like the way the ms3 looks... now i like my balt better but I wouldn't put it down

 

what kind of situation is he in? married? kids or looking to possibly have them in the next 2 to 4 years? I know that when I have kids in the next couple years it's definitely bye bye time for the cobalt and hello MS3 or some other quick, cheap 4 door. I babysat for my cousin a few weeks back and getting a carseat into the back of the balt was a pain at best.

 

For a family car for me it would either be a MS3 or the CX-7. CX-7 is awesome!