Ardskoay

Please do not think less of me, but do you think i can special order a SS SC with an auto? I just never had a manual car and never learned to drive one. Are there any physical reasons they could not do it. I have heard of people ordering non-stock interior colors from GM, so I think this would be just as hard as that. Thanks alot.

Vector

its possible to be done but expensive just learn manual thats what i plan to do.

EvenStar

Learning manual on the SS should be no problem, every car is different although. But once you learn you can drive any manual car, you just have to get used to it. Altho I wouldnt want to learn on the SS..ouch the poor transmission
I learned on my Civic, and picked it up on my own. As long as you know the jist of it you should be ok
If Auto is still your preferance, well GM won't do anything from the factory, so you'll be out of luck unless you want an auto swapped in there..and that costs big bucks

zomghax

The Sunfire I am driving now is my first 5-speed. I just got someone to show me the basics, and then took delivery of my car. You learn pretty quick when you have no other choice

Wag

If you really want a high performance car you're better off with manual anyways.

That said, I see no real use for it for everyday driving. On top of that I have a bad back and don't want to do a lot of shifting.

osmose

Learn to drive a stick (get parents / aunt/uncle /neighbour to teach)... then see if you still WANT an auto. Since i learned to drive a stick i never want to go back, if you still want an auto after you have learned stick (and drive it well) then you can wait for the 2.4L coupe, it will have an auto and 170HP 170 lb-ft torque + VVT.

turbostang

The SS/SC will NOT be available with an auto.

Blk01GTP

It's my understanding that the 2.4L SS coupe will be available with an Automatic

Impavalier

The reason it would cost big bucks is because the Transmission in the SS is specifically designed and tuned to be manual. It is not the same transmission that is used in the Base cobalt. The manufacturer would not do it, you would have to have that done after you bought the car and it would have to be taken to a body shop that would be willing to do that. It would be VERY expensive. if you go to chevy's site and look at the cobalt, if you scroll down to transmissions..it tells you that it is it's own transmission Chevy Cars

BigRed

you COULD mount an auto up to the engine easily, it is, after all, the same block(basically). The problem is, you'd need a ECU to control that auto..... Big $$$.

zomghax

That's your best bet, the 2006 Cobalt SS 2.4 (If what we're hearing is true). Can't wait to see what those guys do with their cars

Ardskoay

Thanks for the replies. I have driven manual before, but only in parking lots. It is just not something I am really interested in doing. My IROC is getting very old and i need a replacement. My IROC is an auto and i like not having to worry about shifting. But I was planning on waiting until the 2006's came out anyway. So maybe the 2.4 is the way to go. But with the stats of that engine there is a good chance it will be slower than the car i have now.

BigRed

is your iroc 305 tbi, tpi or 350?

if it's tbi(manual usually runs mid-high 15's, not sure about auto), the cobalt will, without a doubt be faster, tpi(low 15's with 5spd) would be close, and could go either way(assuming the 2.4 lives up to it's promise).

if you have a 305 carbed, ANY cobalt will smoke you.

JonyyB

Driving a manual is really easy. I learned it on my own when I was 14 in a 10 speed farm tractor! No one ever shoed me how to drive stick! It will come to you naturally….just do it!

97z24

Yeah, you could just wait until the 2006's come out and get the SS (not the SS SC) which will supposedly come out with auto. I'm looking to replace my 97 Z24 5 Speed with a Cobalt SS auto.

Plus, buying a car the first year it is availible is kind of a gamble, as there can be kinks they have yet to work out. Shouldn't be much of a problem with the Cobalt, the 2.2 eco has been around for a while, as has the 2.0 SC so they have had a chance already to work out any minor flaws that could have come up.

Ardskoay

My IROC is a 305 tpi with 190 hp and 285 ft/lbs, at least when it was new, i imagine it is less than this now. Do you still think the 2.4 would be faster than my current car? 0-60 is more important to me than 1/4 mile because i doubt i will be racing it, i just want nice acceleration on the street.

avro206

Power to weight ratio is a good indicator.

You IROC likley weighs about 3500lbs and has that crappey "peanut cam". Probably 2.73s.
18.42lbs per hp

A 2.4L 170hp Cobalt at 2900= 17.05 lbs per hp

Probably close off the line but then the 2.4L would pull ahead.

DEI99662

From what I have heard/read, I dont think you can get a SS with an Auto, at least for now. Learning standard is not hard. The key is to find where the clutch catches.

BigRed

the 5 spd tpi's usually run low 15's, so I'm assuming a auto will run high 15's or low 16's(older auto's are less effecient than newer designs, plus the rear end is probably higher)

auto z24's usually run low to 16's, some may hit mid-high 15's, that's at around 2700lbs and 150hp - 18lbs/hp

the cobalt will weigh around 2800-2900lbs.... let's say 2900 to be safe.... 170hp, that's 17.05 lbs/hp, plus better gearing and final drive.....mid 15's perhaps??

cobalt should win in acceleration( out of the 3 cars, close with the iroc). BUT, you still have the fact that it is fwd.... mostly opinion, but to me that's a major strike against it.

cobaltss87

the cobalt def wont take the camaro in the long run.....all that torque will leave it in the dust once it gets off the line...that is the 2.4 cobalt....i think the sc will be a lot more competition...also the irocs have a lot more potential...if you just want a fast auto then i would consider rebuilding your engine with some quality performance parts for the money depending on how many miles you got...the aftermarket is full of mods for those....check out jegs.com or holley.com or summitracing.com they all cary a ton of stuff...but if your car is def on the last leg mayb you need to say goodbye....or get a daily driver cobalt and keep the iroc in the backyard for fun

rm25x

Sorry but my buddy has a '91 RS Camaro, 305 TBI auto with the 2.73 gears and he can't touch my BASE 5 speed cobalt. Not around town or on the highway. Its a turd.