Goodevening gentleman, my name is David and I just joined this forum last night. I'm looking (and most likely buying) a 2009 Cobalt LT this Saturday morning and had a few questions. The car is at CarMax and was previously a rental car in Virginia Beach so it has 34,000 miles on it. My question is: are there any problems specific to Cobalts or the 2009's for that matter that I should look for while test driving it on Saturday? Being that the car is at Carmax I know that they certify their cars and don't sell them if they have any major problems or rust or body damage etc.. so i'm not too worried but was still curious as to things I should look for. I've already heard that the sunroofs are crap and it doesn't have a sunroof and I've also heard that the rotors in the front suck.

Here she is:

 

Welcome, looks pretty clean, don't be surprised if it sounds like someone's shaking Yahtzee dice when you drive over 30 mph. It's just the interior rattling. Turn the radio up.

 

Thanks man! and yeah she does look really clean, I can't wait to drive it on Saturday and see it in person. And yeah I also did hear that the interior pieces rattle at times.. It's ok though - I like my music loud anyways!

 

The rotors on my car are horrible, they are warped to the point that the wheel almost shakes out of your hand when braking a little stronger than necessary. It's a pretty easy fix, you just need better rotors.

I wouldn't suggest getting the old ones turned down. They warp because they get too hot, making them skinnier will just make them warp faster the next time around. If they are not warped already go easy on the brakes and they'll probably be ok.

My car is an 07, so the rotors issue might have been fixed by 09. Someone else would need to comment on that.

 

Yeah i'm pretty mechanically inclined so I can always change the rotors and pads out myself whenever the time comes, and i'll get some higher quality rotors. - The rear has drums correct?

 

Yep, only the SS'es get disks. You are looking at a 5 lug car though which kicks the crap out of the crappy 4 lug cars!

 

Maybe a stupid question, but what's the difference? I'm assuming your talking about the wheel lugs?

 

Yes he is

5x110 is the pattern of the 08+ 2.2 cobalts and any SS model

4x100 is the rest

 

What effect does that have?

 

You could swap to rear disks a lot easier and the options for rotors might be greater.

5 Lug looks better too.

 

5 lug is less likely to blow apart if you are road or drag racing

However if you ever want to buy rims down the road, 4x100 is much easier to find

 

Hmm, I see. - Thanks for all the help so far guys! This forum is great.

P.S - what are my options for a CAI for my 2.2? I see a lot for the SS but not the 2.2

 

What price are they asking for that 2.2?

lots of options for the 2.2

 

Their asking $11,998 and im trading in a 1997 Ford Taurus with 100K on it. I'm financing it with a monthly payment of around 300ish and im going to try and get them to figure in some kind of warranty too.

 

way to much my friend.

You can almost find ss/tc's on here for that price, if not for sure SS/SC's

 

not to mention ,its a 09 with 34,000 miles. Did no one catch this? 34,000 miles in one year. thats a lot on a fresh motor

 

Well i'm going to try and get them to bring the price down, or at least get a lower monthly payment or APR rate. - And it is a 2009, in immaculate condition with not a scratch on the car and with no known problems.

Well it was a rental car, in Virginia Beach.

 

also remember, bringing down the monthly payment does not necessarily mean a cheaper vehicle, just means they have financed it with a lower rate or over more period of time.

Tell them its worth 9,000 MSRP and thats what you will pay them. and you will worry about the financing

Trust me, as someone who knows a lot of car salesmens and has been but fucked twiced by them. i know how the game works

holy **** i missed that part

STAY AWAY

never ever ever buy a rental car, sir i promise you this car will bring you trouble in the future.

STAY AWAY!!!!

 

Hmm, well if it was messed up or had issues I doubt CarMax would sell it seeing as all their cars are certified used and go through a crap ton of inspections - Also I'm going to have my mechanic check it out before I buy it, I know him personally and he owns his own garage.

 

Its not about the current problems, its about the problems its going to bring. any knowledgeable mechanic will tell you to never purchase a rental car.

 

Good luck bargaining with Carmax. Those guys stick to their "no haggle pricing" last time I checked.

Carmax! Where you can buy a used car at new car prices!

Also, do you baby a rental car when you rent one? I know I don't. There are lots of things Carmax or your mechanic won't be able to see that could come up as serious problems later.

 

I think that's a lot of milage for sure and as some have pointed out, he could get a 2007 SC with less MI for about the same price. Hell, I paid only 4K more for a 09 TC with 8K mi!
Having said all this.....the is certified and has a warranty, so why all the concern about getting a F##KED up car? Secondly....as far as "do you baby a rental car when you rent one?" . Most poeple renting a car like this don't want to F##K it up cause they don't wanna hastle with bringing back a car they screwed up. Also, they rent it to go *from A to B*..not drag race it. So on balance, I don't think the argument on buying THIS CERTIFIED CAR is a problem. Just the cost.

 

why in gods name are you gonna pay 300 a month on a USED cobalt? i an financing my 08 ly at 162 a month... with a trade you should be looking at around the same amount... check the math boy-o... somethins not addin up! for that same price you can find one of the few remaining SS/tc's around or have one shipped from where ever and get more bang for your buck... just saying... but i love my LT... i dont know what everyone is talking about with the rattly interior... mine is really quiet... cept for my exhaust lol. as or the intake... do the air box baffle mod and get a K&N... 50 bucks or less and you have a few extra ponies to play with! then look at the Tsudo exhasut, best sounding for under $300. and go from there!

ps i want your black interior lol

 

in 08 I got my 2007 LT for $11,988 and it was only $224.24 for 70 months with $500 down. so idk how they got 300??? unless your upside down on the tauras! lol.

and P.S. my 2007 LT was a 5x110 car........

 

I say is too much money and you must stay away form rental cars, if look hard enough you will find something better for that amount of money
I got mine for 3,200 with a slavage title its a 07 LS 5 Speed with 5x110.....