I just wanted to thank everyone for posting so far, and while there isnt alot of updates to really give you guys we had some more opened ended questions...

Besides an active rear spoiler what other parts would you be interested in purchasing?

What do you feel would help the Cobalt SS compete better with the Civic Si? Or what would you think would help the car in general to do better in the market?

Is the Cobalt SS as good as the other cars in the class and its the brand image that is holding it back or is the car not as good (or some combo of the two of those)?

We are trying in general to re-evaluate the idea of the active rear spoiler and maybe move towards another product for the car.

An example is how would you feel about a... Active front splitter... E.g. When you are on the highway the front bumper has a section that lowers x inches to seal better seal the underbody of the car and get better MPG and more front grip as well... THis is just an idea thrown out there, any input however, would be great!

Thanks!

 

tell gmc to help tune are cars or atleast help companys like hpt get tunes for the 2.2s..

 

Ok, the Civic Si is only competition to people who love Hondas. Someone looking for straight performance and a nice car will choose the Cobalt. The Si does offer Nav, but has a weak engine and just mediocre materials and quality. The styling looks good, but other than that, not really a direst competitor. More like a similar alternative.
I feel, after working in sales for Chevy and now for Honda, that it is all about brand image. People accept that the Honda is a better car because it is what they are told. Chevy fights customers unwilling to pay decent money for cars due to the history of drastic discounts, rebates and such that Chevy has gone with to promote sales. There is no brand loyalty in GM, only in the trucks. Honda has people that would not even consider going to something outside of the brand.
Active front splitter..... Bingo!!! Effective, useful performance mod. I already scrape the front lip of my car at the stock ride height. I would love to lower it but don't want to think about the additional body damage. This sounds like a promising development. Go for something like that.

 

How about this:
300HP
6spd manual
active AWD
Stability trak
better NVH
real brembo brakes
Aggressive passive body kit(active stuff just adds weight and complexity)
Real HID headlamps

 

Well an active front splitter is nice but they usually get smashed up while backing out of a driveway or vice versa…so I’d say if you do make one its gonna have to be out of a strong material that can withstand a few scrapes and bumps.

Also,
1. Stop making Cobalt SS with such a large wheel gap.

2. Bring back the Recaro seats.

3. Make LSD Standard on all Supercharged Cobalt’s.

4. More aggressive headlight with an option of 8000K HID’s
(The car needs something along the lines of the new Evo X or Saturn Ion Redline, which have some badass looking headlights).

5. A hood scoop of some sort would be cool on the SS.

6. Side mirrors that are not so cheap looking, the mirrors on my 2003 Cavalier LS Sport looked better than the ones on my 2007 Cobalt SS.

Other than the items mention…I love my Cobalt

 

RWD conversion (or probably easier and more acceptable by all AWD)

 

EDUB hit the rear spoiler on the nose. Functionality will be key for all mods that you decide to do. Something a bit lower then the high-mount and it must contour with the body lines as well as be firm. I can understand maybe a little flex as to not have to worry about it snapping under due stress, but not too flexible.

Active front splitters would be pretty hot, I know the VR4's used an active rear and front spoiler setup.

HID headlight kits(the whole housing and HID lights, nothing cheap like what is offered aftermarket now), some nice LED taillights. The Cobalt SS has nice body lines and has a sharp body kit already, so it's small touches like these for the exterior that will truely help.

Not sure if you're looking for actual performance ideas also, cause I'm sure we could come up with one hell of a list to include; Supercharger replacement to something more efficient, stronger axles, nice clutch and flywheel package, ect ect..

Thanks for your interest and we all look forward to some good info and hopefully more parts for our ride from ya'll.

 

At this point the things that most owners would like to see changer are.

1: The head lights. No one likes them and there are alot of other cars in this price range that use HID lights. THis should be done for the Cobalt as well.

2: The cars suffer from wheel hop problems badly! More then any other car in this segment. Please fix this!

3: The stock brakes need more initall bite and better peddle feal. Fix this how ever you see fit.

4: How about a performance LSD kit that can but bout and installed for less then 1,200.

5: HARNESS BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some of us like to race the car and no one makes a good harness bar for the car that will meat the needs of the weekend racer.

6: Wheels!! We are having a big problem finding light wheels that will fit this car. Something like the wheels i have in an 8" width would be vary good. I get 3-5 PMS about my wheels a week!!!!!!!!!!

7: I hate the lower lip of the rear bumper! I want on that looks like the G5 GT!

8: Remove the center bar and chevy emblem in the grill of the SS. Replace with a floating SS emblem.

9: Put this car in a diet! It need to lose 150-200lb.

10: Offer a track version with adjustable struts, lower stiffer springs, no power options, no radio, stage 2 stock, no wing, an LSD and Recaro seats, and lighter wider rims with better tires.

11: IRS!!!!!!!!!!! its a 20k car and dosnt even have IRS? Why?

12: How about a turbo motor with say 280hp and 270lb in a 2.4L with a 6 speed?

13: Put and arm rest in the thing stock for gods sake!

14: Stock hurst shifter?

15: Would a temp and oil presser gauge kill some one here? Its a performance car and dosnt even have full gauges in it.

16: A 12" sub instead of the 10" that in there now? With a bit more power? The 10 is just a bit weak.

17: Better wiper blades. My stockers fell apart in less then 30 days. GM puts Boush Icons on the HHR stock but not the Cobalt? WTF?

18: A Power anttena!

19: Remote starter and make it so you can roll the windows down when you unlock the car by remote.

20: Better peddle placement. Heal Toe shifting is hard in this car. And why is the clutch peddle closer then the rest of them?
I hate that!

21efroster thing like whats on the rear window where the wiper blades are. Mine keep freezing to the window.

22: Heated sidevew mirrors! My 86 concuest had this option but my 20 year new car dosnt?

23: Why is there no dome light in the sun roof cars? I cant see **** in my back seat at night.

24: How about a 120v plug in the car. I have to use an inverter so I can run my laptop in the car.

25: WHITE FACE GAUGES stock!

Thats all I have right now.

Brand image is not whats holding this car back. GMs lack of support for it and there warranty polacys are.
GM needs to promote the car more. Hold press days for it and get it in the mags more. People dont even know what kind of car it is when I take it to shows. This is the problem.

We need more aftermarket support and more options from GM for the car.

The cars in compatition with this car are faster in most cases and have more options and more Standard parts then we do for about the same price.

This is a realy good car that could be a great car if GM put a little more time and cash in to it.

Later

 

Okay, time for an EDUBS rant…

Screw more OEM parts, that is why there is an aftermarket. The problem is that an aftermarket can not exist if sales are dim. To increase sales, GM needs to change their strategies to compete in a consumer market. Consumer markets are not just one group of people who want to buy one group of cars. They are specific groups that want specific cars. If GM is going to produce specific cars for each of these groups, they have to offer specific support for each group. Our niche, "tuners," will always have the struggle with warranty. GM is defensive because we defraud them by putting stock parts back on to get warranty work done. We are defensive towards GM because they void the whole damn warranty when we change out things like intakes and can not get the cruise control button fixed without having to quote the Magnuson Moss Act.

If GM wants to become innovators of the auto industry, and continue to be a powerhouse, they need to draw the line between a customer that wants a car for transportation and a customer that wants a car for customization/tuning/performance...

GM should offer different warranty options for consumers when buying a car:

You want to buy a Cobalt SS/SC to drive back and forth to work everyday? Fine, here is your 5 year/100K mile full warranty. Have a nice day!

You want to buy a Cobalt SS/SC and change the cams before it is a year old? Well guess what, if you sign our "Tuner" warranty agreement, we will give you a limited warranty on the parts that will not be modified. You can change whatever you want, but warranty work will be evaluated and only offered if the issue in question was not caused by any modifications to the vehicle. You do not have to hide stuff from us, and we do not have to worry about you coming in with a 3" pulley after you have been running a 2.8" on your GMS2 because your sunroof lining is falling off. It is a hassle on both ends. Technicians can not properly diagnose problems with a vehicle if they do not know specifically what has been changed from stock specifications.

The problem is that we need to be held accountable for our decisions as performance enthusiasts. You should not be modifying an engine if you can not afford to fix it or replace parts when something breaks. But you should not be punished for lightly modifying your vehicle with harmless parts if you have a legitimate issue with a manufacturer defect. GM could even take it further and prepare their GMPP certified dealerships to fairly deal with our market. Organizational development is expensive, but necessary in today's automotive industry. Our "tuner" market is only going to grow larger and if auto makers do not prepare for us, they will most definitely take a hit. The idea is to protect your money while protecting the customers. A happy customer is a returning customer. Having clear communication and agreements from the beginning will avoid hundreds of arguments that take place everyday between paying customers and service managers. If you are a crook that just wants free hand outs, then this does not apply to you. You are what gives us “tuners,” as a whole, a bad name. If you are someone who enjoys being an automotive enthusiast with legitimate concerns about warranty coverage, then you are exactly what GM needs to support. The traditional GM warranty is not designed for a vehicle that will be modified when it leaves the lot. Changing this warranty will not solve the problem; therefore, a specific warranty option directly designed for our market is the most appropriate strategy.

 

I agree with Edubs, it's insane that I have to worry about adding something like a cold air intake and voiding my entire warranty. GM ought to have to prove that the CAI did any damage before voiding any part of my warranty.

I'm not neccessarly intersted in more OEM parts, I just wish that I could mod with aftermarket, myself without having warranty concerns. I know that these engines can handle up to 300 HP safely, why can't we unleash it without voiding our warranty?!

 

more horsepower stock is my biggest concern along with a spoiler that looks good but doesnt block the whole rear view window. I would like rwd and awd but you know if that doesnt happen it doesnt. you know alot of ppl have summed up what i want. alot of the problems i incounter are that ppl still think of the cobalt as slow because of the stock sc.....

 

lol since everyone is ranting i might as well too... why is my floor mats dissolving after 3 months and the dealer says its my fault?...

 

I like the idea of the active front splitter.... has to be EZ to install and functional!!
but cost and weight to me is a huge factor....

 

its the simple things in life this car doesnt have that could make it better is the point ppl are saying.

 

Wish i saw this sooner....For a spoiler i would like something similar to what the SS/SC already has (high level) but with a hollow carbon fiber middle plane that is gas/pressure injected. Lightweight and sturdy. Same mount points as stock.

 

how are people asking for more features, but a lighter car?

hmm i don't think that will work for some reason

 

RRRRREEEEEECCCCCCAAAAARRRRRROOOOOO seats or better stock seats as good as the SI's. I cant believe i had to order my car without the recaros Now im gonna always wish i had the better seats

Active front splitter sounds good to me tho, even tho i dont know wat that is...

 

Haha, the day you see 8000k Xenon lights on a car from the dealer is the day I'll give you my life savings!

4300k>8000k

Maybe just some super awesome projectors that have an insane color cutoff!

 

Ok so maybe 8000k was a lil high...but I really just want some better looking headlights PLEASE, The stock ones are way ugly.

I would hope that these mods you guys are possibly going to make will be able to fit the 05-07 Cobalts because I’m not buying a new car just to acquire a few new things.

 

Not trying to be a dick, because there are some really, really good ideas here.
But wouldn't it make more sense to start a new thread directly with the intent of asking GM for these changes and email the thread to someone at their small cars division, instead of just telling some college kid working on a research project...

 

His name is Mark Strasnick and he's working in a group at Lehigh University on project with GM.


I think we have a better chance of seeing some changes through here cuz GM isnt gonna listen to a few emails, IMO.

 

The Cobalt really needs a 6 speed and LSD standard. The drive train could use some work too, better clutch and stouter axles. And also had GM used something besides used condom rubber to make the motor and tranny mounts there wouldn't be quite so many busted trannies. Now for the real customer winner, fix all the backwards ass stealership service departments. The stealership and not the car drove me to a non-GM vehicle inside of 6 months after purchasing my Cobalt SS S/C. The stealership and not the product is hurting GM right now. I refuse to buy another GM product until I feel comfortable that the dealership will stand behind the product.

 

Well, here's some background.

http://fyi.gmblogs.com/2007/02/the_b...nd_beyond.html

I mean, you may well find success and I hope so, because like I said there are some awesome ideas, my favorites of course a functional hood, and a bumper replacement to create a floating grille emblem.

But, at the same time - if GM doesn't have a specific team in Detriot who's entire job is to listen to ideas consumers have for how to improve their product, that we all bought, they're in a bad position... just saying there is likely a direct route, as well. I'll research it a bit.

 

I like the idea but would make it similar to a Porsche or Crossfire-- one that is flush-mounted and pops out when you're going say...65-85mph+ -- my friend's 3000GT VR4 has an active spoiler system and I love that thing. I would have to agree on the six-speed issue. Every single time I'm going down the interstate in 5th, sitting at 3K RPM, I think to myself how much better the mileage would be and how much longer the engine would last if I had a 6th gear in a close-ratio transmission.

 

Guys:

We are continuing work on the spoiler and should have some CAD models and CFD analysis to show soon.

In the time being, we have to do the business case. So, we have a question for you all.

If you had $750 to spend, would you buy an active spoiler or the GM engine upgrade kit (the one with fuel injectors, etc. that gains 35HP)?

How much would you spend on an active spoiler for the Cobalt?

Let us know. Thanks!