well you can't drift with a Balt ... So if I didn't have a little one on the way I would probably go for the impractical car.. The solstice is rwd so eh ... Drag Race Road Course, Drift the Ponti really has more potential ..

Just my 2 cents


I would love to design the cobalt with rwd and keep the same motor. It is a personal dream of mine .... But maybe it wouldn't handle as well .... I have seen neons on youtube with LS2 motors in them..... lol

 

Wow... I'd probably go with the SS/TC. ONLY because you had a personal hand with the design of it. If you owned it, you could enjoy what you have done and also see where improvements might be made and do even better at your job. I'm in NO way implying you did poorly. The best competition is against yourself sometimes! Hey, and I'm 32... no biggie. Just enjoy what you drive. Screw everyone else. lol

 

You are not too old for a cobalt . I'm the same age , and the only thing that made me question it was the hi rise wing , it made me feel like i was trying to be a kid . I just got around to getting a low wing installed (car is over 2 yrs old hehe) , and to tell you the truth i kinda miss the big wing lol.

The Low pro is more my style thou, people don't look at me as weird now when i pull one of my kids out of the back .

 

ss/tc
it just doesnt get any better value-wise
the gas prices are crappy, the ss/tc gets amazing gas mileage
and it's fast a ****

AND you designed the car
ps. nice sketch

 

Well like it or not the ladies associate you by if you have a POS or a nice shiny new car doesn't really matter what it is in my experience of 700 miles in the balt LOL .. I do like the fact that my Sedan is a Super Sleeper SS as soon as they see them badges they all want a shot at the balt .. I got some kills already it makes me smile reguardless

 

Nice to see another GM employee on here.

This is a tough decision because I was in the same boat. I could have waited for the GXP coupe, but I need to be able to haul more than a medium sized backpack.

Recently, I had the chance to check out the G8 ST and the Solistice coupe...which is why I ended up going with the Cobalt. Yes, it is wrong wheel drive...but the practicality element slapped me in the face the moment I looked that car over.

Now, seeing as you already have a Solstice this appears to not be an issue for you. Do you have another DD?

 

Haha you and me both! I wanted the Coupe GXP so bad! Pure, with black powdercoated rims!

Yeah he does have another car for the winter...

Personally I'd save up for the Solstice GXP Coupe, it's RWD, I don't care how much fun our SS's are but FWD isn't nearly as fun to drive vs RWD, and has the LNF. And seeing that it looks like Kappa II won't be around just like the balt SS/TC it's going to be a car you won't see too much after they give it the axe... I see way more Cobalts, even SS's then I do with the Solstice...

But that's just my opinion.
Solstice Coupe GXP > Cobalt SS/TC

Unless we're talking about storage capacity...

 

The Solstices are sweet. However! They're also only a 2 seater. The Cobalt will be much better for a daily. Not to mention the t/c's a sick. I'd go for the t/c myself..

 

If you already have a beater/wintercar/daily driver type vehicle then keep the Solstice as a project car if you have the will & know-how. The SS/TC IMO is the best vehicle to have if you can't have 2 vehicles and want a fun car & winter car all in one, thus why I got one.

If I had the choice to get 2 I definitely would have some sort of fast RWD coupe in addition to a DD/winter car.

 

The t/c is sick for what it is. Great power, handling, breaking, and looks all in one. Enough said.

 

[QUOTE=gotwing;2887732]Cool, I am not too old, thats why the SS/TC is still on my list. I know I already had one, but, part of me really wants to have it again. It's hard to explain, having designed the car, its sort of part of me. Its cool, each of you sort of get that with the pride you each take in your cars. So mod em up and have fun!!!!

As a fellow auto designer (not stylist)...I would go with the GXP coupe. Assuming you do not need the room for family. We own a SS/Sc and a Sky Redline (LNF). THe Sky is a far superior road car. There is no way that any Cobalt will hold the same resale value as a Sky or Soltice. And since the new platform for the roadsters has been shelved...well, say no more. It is cool to drive around something you had an hand in design....so maybe buy a used Cobalt SS and a new GXP.

 

Sky
----
Solstice

Anyday. The Sky is NASTY!!!

 

The Cobalt SS/TC is definitely the best bargain, performance DD, hands down especially if you only can own one car, just like Krispy said.

But you have a 2nd car, so why have your 2nd car as a FWD, Cobalt if you already have a fun RWD, 2 seat roadster like the Solstice? The Solstice Coupe GXP, gives you much better styling, performance, it's RWD, it has a removable hard top for some open air fun... SOLSTICE COUPE GXP! Either way though you really can't go wrong...

 

Wow, I must know you if you know I have a beater. See if you can guess what it is?

I think my plan is to wait till spring, to do anything, but more than likely I will go with the GXP coupe, at least thats what my gut says. Now my head might say the SS TC is more practical, so I am not ruling that out.

My problem is I always make rash decisions and for some reason I never keep a car more that 2 to 3 years. I am a car Addict.

 

...this ideas out in left field since u made no mention of it , but if you pop for a solstice GXP coupe , why not throw a Camaro SS into the possiblities too . It should wind up being a wash price wise as both should wind up around $32K with some options . The Camaro SS would actually be practical too family wise . I didnt know it was just a toy when you posted earlier . I loved my Cobalt SS , but dont think I could ever have one as the weekend/fun car just a very fun daily driver to compliment my toys .

 

lol, I only know that you have a "winter beater" from what you posted in your earlier posts. You mentioned that you have another car. Which is why I said that. But if I had to guess... You are a GM guy... Hmm I don't know, it could be a lot of things... A truck or SUV maybe? a FWD car?

I would go with what your gut tells you. My gut tells me to get a Solstice Coupe GXP too, however, I only can afford to own one car right now so in terms of practicality I had to throw out the possibility of getting one because I need more than the 5.6 cubic of feet of trunk space that the Solstice Coupe has... But seeing you have a beater/an alternative vehicle, getting the Solstice Coupe would be a no brainer.

You on solsticeforum.com? I may know you through there actually...

LOL ah yes the Camaro.

The pricing for both the 2010 Camaro and 2009 Solstice Coupe hasn't been released yet.

Although it's pretty safe to estimate that if the Solstice GXP (roadster) carries a sticker price of around 28k, I'd bet on the Solstice Coupe GXP costing around the same, 28-29k.

The Camaro SS's sticker is very controversial. Personally I think it's going to sticker somewhere in the 30-31k range, others say it'll sticker for like 29k (I doubt it personally) although that wouldn't be a bad thing right?

Unfortunately the Solstice Coupe, doesn't come out until Jan of 2009, and the Camaro doesn't come out until Feb... So we'll have to wait another few months I bet.

Personally when my lease on my SS/SC ends early next summer I'm going to look into a 2010 Camaro LT/RS. 6spd manual with the 3.6L DI, VVT 300hp, 273ft lbs torque. From what I've seen the V6 certainly sounds like it'll have some potential...

But, in terms of a practical DD is why I'm looking at a V6. If I can get one for around 25-27k after employee discount then I'll get it for sure.... If it costs more then I'll get a SS/TC...

But why not consider a Camaro SS?

 

You should come out to the Woodward meet next weekend.

 

Yeah, I'll be there as well. Plus there will be quite a few SS/TC's there that you can maybe get a ride in...

 

I think you are a bit off on both ends, I think it will be closer to $40k than it will $30k. The content compared to the competition (SRT8, GT500) would justify a higher price closer to those two (which are both above $40k).

 

Who knows what it's going to be. However the difference between the the Camaro SS & the Challenger SRT-8, & Shelby GT500 is that they both have lesser variants with V8's that are priced in the high 20's... i.e Mustang GT & Challenger R/T.

The only variants coming out at launch from what we know is just the (V6) Camaro, and the (V8) Camaro SS. Now again we don't know but If GM did give the Camaro Z28 the go-ahead, you know supposedly the Camaro with the 550hp LSA, then yes that would go for 45-50k I would assume and that's what would compete with the GT500 & SRT-8, but the Camaro SS is meant to compete with the Mustang GT & Challenger R/T. GM already said that at least.

But hey, your guess is as good as mine.

 

I think GM may have screwed the pooch with how they positioned themselves w/ the Camaro. The platform itself is more expensive than the Mustang and in the base Camaro they are giving everyone at least 300hp. The V6 Camaro is in a different class than the Mustang/Challenger V6s, it won't even be close in performance. As a result the higher content (IRS vs. solid just as one example) will mean the Camaro V6s will cost more at the same option level than the Stang/Challeneger. Then the V8 Camaro won't be in the same competiton class as the Mustang GT or the Challenger Hemi. Its got 25+ hp on the closest engine at the low end (automatic). It's also got brembo brakes, much larger wheels, better tires, better suspension, etc. This will definitely make it more expensive than the Stang GT/Challenger Hemi for the same option level, there is just no way around it.

The way the 422 SS is optioned out makes it much more like the Challenger SRT8 than it does the Hemi. It will be faster, handle better, out brake it, and likely have the better interior. On paper it is its superior, so I think that the argument that it will be priced more like the normal Hemi than the SRT8 does not hold much water.

 

I can't tell you what to do as far as leaving your current setup. But, I will tell you - if you do get rid of the car you have and are seriously considering the 'balt vs. the GXP, I say hands down...go with the 'balt!!! There's a reason why pretty much every magazine out there is screaming 'best bang for your buck.' It's a better all around car. The only performance draw back that it has IMO is the fact that it's FWD. Aside from that, I can't complain.

 

My old man(58) trades his Ram for my(21) SS/SC whenever he can, the trade just feels wrong.
But as biased as I'm obligated to be towards the Cobalt, if you have a winter beater/company car I'd go get a GXP if it's going to a be "fun" car

Hell, I was going to buy a Supra but Canadian winters and only owning one car convinced me otherwise.

 

Supra FTW.

 

A set of snow tires and the Solstice GXP would be fine in the snow.