Hello all,

Test drove two 2009 cobalt ss turbos last week and I love how it drives. Lots of fun and I was really impressed with the handling. A few questions on the car though. I test drove one that was in fantastic shape with low miles ( 44k ), but it had a very odd hesitation at lower rpms. The owner says it needs tuning. No engine code. The other one I test drove was so so on the outside ( yes I am **** ) but it ran like a raped beast. This car has about 63k miles on it.

Needless to say neither car has a warranty so what do you look for? what are some common problems with this year model? thanks for any help!

 

Check the build date on them, if it says 09 it might have a coolant issue. the intake valves WILL be gunked. change spark plugs, change oil even though it might say 100% and be clear. From there just wait for a check engine light lol.

 

I'd guess one is stock the other is tuned? Any sort of link you can provide to them?

The common things are weak stock trailing control arm bushings. Rear brake caliper slide pins should be lubed every time you do a oil change. I'm sure someone will add more.

 

Valve coking, trailing control arm bushings, constant lubing of the rear brakes, end links, wheel hop, interior creeks and groans like the floor boards of a 100 year old house, no bloody arm rest, that rust spot on the bottom of the drivers door that every Cobalt gets.

These are quirky cars we drive, they have common issues, but those issues all, for the most part, have extremely good fixes or solutions.

 

The one that may need tuned might actually be coked valves causing the problem

 

Hmm from all threads I am reading would you rate this car as unreliable?

 

Every car has its issues. Coked valves are a product of direct injection, and no one has really gotten past it. Nearly every new car will have that issue. Some are worse than others.

 

No. I would recommend the more stock one of the two and see if either have even half assed service records.

I daily mine and it has yet to leave my stranded, but I also take care of mine. I bought it used and had to spend a little money to fix the back brake issue caused by a shop the over torqued/cross threaded the caliper bracket bolts (used a 4ft breaker bar).

 

Absolutely not, I drive my car hard every day during the spring/summer and it's never given me a serious problem.

 

Mine has been a good car

 

Driven daily for four years. Only wouldn't start once because the battery was done. That's gonna happen though if you let it go.

 

Nearing 122k miles and I have yet to experience a major issue.
Only reason my car ever never started was due to a shoddy alarm and DVD install the previous owner did that would constantly drain the battery, and I only caught onto it nearly 3 years into ownership.
Another (minor) issue I encountered was a coil pack going bad, so I took it to Chevy and paid $500+ for them to do what turned out to be a simple as **** job (replacing the coil packs).
Lastly, my CEL has been on for a few months. I don't remember the code, but it is telling me to replace the catalytic converter. I bought one from a fellow css.net member but I don't think I have the know-how to install it myself, so I'm going to have a mechanic do it some time before my SMOG check is due in Aug/Sep.
Other than that, the car is great. The engines are tanks. There are dudes with high PSI tunes who are still driving their cars without issues.
I switch between this car and my wife's car for my daily commute, trying to put even miles on the two. 70+ miles daily (100+ if I run errands) without issue.