Disclaimer - if you hate rambling posts then dont read.. i am only trying to save you time and avoid flaming

Hey everyone. I just wanted to give an update on my cobalt now that i have roughly 6100 miles on her. She still pulls as hard as she does the day i bought it. i have done 3 oil changes. 1st at 1200 miles. 2nd at 3500. 3rd at 5200. 3rd oil change i used royal purple instead of mobil and i think it likes it better.

Problems & issues

She has caused me a little problems but not much. i had the rotor fix at 5000ish miles.. pads were squeeking when i first replaced after about 500-1000 miles it is smooth.. only squeeked at low mph. the rotors are a little thicker then the last ones which doesnt help my unsprung weight issues... Other problems are the paint on the wheels doesnt seem to be as durable as i hoped for. i dont have any curbage but some minor knicks and scratches. the front bumper does have a few knicks but this is too be expected. i have minor rash on the oil pan from scrapping. this is very minor but the car does sit a little low for my city (hampton roads). worst of all the plastic interior scratches wayyy too easy.. i have scratches on the center console and near the ignition from the key. i dont mind the plasticness as long as it doesnt scratch..It needs a protective coating. also the silver/grey paint on the drivers side windows switch is rubbing off a little bit.. this is a easy fix but they should have put a coat of clear on this.. the (high rise) spoiler wobbles a little bit and the sunroof sits up a little bit doesnt cause the dreaded wind noise others have experienced. also the paint scratches easy.. i have ZERO dents but a few hairline scratches near the keyhole and gas cap. these can be clay barred out. my exhaust blows out condensation on cold starts which scared me at first. you can see the water drip and feel the moisture in the exhaust and its not a blue color. I have also noticed that it takes about 2 minutes or so to warm up and is pretty loud for the first two minutes of operation. this is good for me b/c turbos need to warm up and this sound prevents me from driving it until its ready. there is also a little bit of transmission noise.. like clutch chatter and some minor lsd whining. this is expected with beefy clutches and lsds that are cut a certain way. i think the stereo kind sucks stock but im spoiled in that department and havent done anything about it because i dont feel like adding weight. the front console rattles a little over bumps. cheap rearview mirror.. onstar sucks would rather have xm for a year and onstar for 3 months. these are very minor problems with the integrity of the vehicle but are worth noting.

driving problems.. this car eats tires.. im hoping to get 20k out of them.. i dont launch at 5100 more like 2300. additionally during high speed corning i do notice understeer. the car doesnt want to turn right away.. the ass end will rotate if your not going too quick.. but i have noticed some understeer pushing it harder then i probally should. The handling is fantastic dont get me wrong but at the limit i found a little bit of understeer(wheels kept spinning but not going in the direction im pointed till i backed off the gas). I have noticed a little wheel hop especially on bumpier roads.. also again minor misfire when cold.. this has got to be an easy spark plug gap fix or need better sparks..minor torque steer but its controllable for the most part

Praise: I love this car.. it is the best fwd car i have drivin. i am coming from a 00 civic si with modded suspension and this car is just as good. although i do believe the civic had potential to be better being 600 pounds lighter. the engine is smooth nice power curve. below 2000 its a slug and close to redline it falls off. never experienced any brake fade!!! seats are soo comfortable and the material is really really holding its integrity (unlike s2000 seats). the highlight of my day is driving too and from work. the car puts a smile on my face... rwd is such fun to drive but for a fwd car i dont think there is a better choice. while the mazda 3 is quick its a hatch. also the brakes arent as good and the ass isnt as pretty aside from the long ass antenna. the mazda does have a pretty face but no ass.

changes: if i was gm i would make the following changes
1. interior - add some clear coat to the painted items in the interior.. coat the plastic interior peices with something to prevent scratching or vinyl wrap them.
2. exterior - better paint, updated front end (maybe hids and no grey plastic grill), low key spoiler, more clearence for wider range of rims, color options for wheels (better paint on wheels), shortee antenna, and maybe 17s instead of 18s and the elimination of some wheel gap.
3. engine / tran - better i/c piping, less restrictive downpipe, engine dress up (engine looks like a rats nest), ecu retuned - comp mode should turn of torque management i want everything stock until i hit comp mode, i want valet mode for the girlfriend too so she cant ball it out, better trany mounts/ traction bars (wheel hop elimination)

future plans:
1. i have like 600 saved to either put towards the 4000 i still owe on this vehicle or mods. i like hp tuners the best but they have not yet incorporated the 2 step rev limiter into the ecu settings.. i need to be able to lower launch control. i like hahn too because it is simple . but my choice is going to be hp tuners if they add some of the missing features. ecu mod should be the first thing done, then the downpipe.
2. maybe sell it at 30k miles depending on what happens to the economy may keep it for a while longer.. only other car i really like is the 06 evo mr and the 03 s2000.

Previous cars owned
1st car 94 geo prizm
2nd car 95 nissan altima
3rd car 01 toyota rav 4 4x4
4th car 00 civic si
5th car 08 cobalt ss (current) best by far

 

You sure like changing oil, don't you...?

 

good honest write up! Sounds like alot of things have changed but some of the trouble area's of the SC's are still there.

 

im glad your honest. good write up!

 

i own a sport tint red T/c in hampton roads. i also enjoy driving it. comparing the S/c to T/C big difference. my car was in the shop at Bay chevy for the air bag light. this was a pain. it happened at 8500 miles. they had to replace the whole seat bottom. and mess witht he sensors. it took 3 trips to get it fixed.

 

it is very important to change your oil. i would change it every 1000 miles if i could afford it. i notice a performance difference. those bearings need to hold up. especially with our economy as fuct as it is

srod were we rolling together a few weeks back headed towards downtown norfolk.. i was in a black ss rear is shaved except the turbocharged symbol.. i think you had a buddy in the car if this was you..