okay, so like i've said in a few other posts... i'm looking (heavily) at a Cobalt SS/SC as my daily driver. i'm also considering the Mazda3, a Scion tC, and the RSX-S.

so, in other words, i'm looking at cars that get:

decent gas mileage
not terrible insurance
sporty
fast (or at least entertaining)
FUN
some utility
reasonable price

i go to college at the University of Cincinnati and may want to bring it down to campus sometimes, but i'd be worried that it would get broken into.

so, has anyone had any experience with your SS/SC (or any other Cobalt) attracting unwanted attention? i'm wondering if the big wing would be an attention-getter.


i personally love the SS/SC, because it has good gas mileage for a performance car, it's got great looks, it's a manual, i love the sound of superchargers, it's small, it's a chevy, and insurance for me wouldn't be too bad -- only about 200 more a year than if i was insured on my parents' Saturn Vue.

i'm also looking at getting involved in the Cincy chapter of the SCCA and starting to Autocross during the summer. it seems loads of fun and i've wanted to do it for quite a while.

do you all think that it would fit the bill for a good car?


any comments are GREATLY appreciated! i love the site here so far, and it seems that everyone has some good info to tell.

 

Out of a Mazda3, a Scion tC, and the RSX-S, the SS/SC would get hit first for a break in, in my opinion. It's the sportier, more expensive looking car by far over the Mazda and Scion. Plus, Mazda 3/6, Scion tC, and RSX are dime a dozen, the SS/SC isn't...

But don't let the break-in-ability stop you! Get one!

 

Dude get a ss/sc or ss/na they both are hella awesome. And you dont have to get the big wing if you dont want to.

I got Penn State... so far nothing has happened to mine. I get lots of compliments when the red paint is all shined up.

Cobalt man.. dont get a tC (i took one for a 30 minute drive and was very uncomfortable) then again I'm kinda bigger 5'11 225lbs.

 

SS/SC for sure! Cops do love the big wing... but you can order them without it now. You'll get a lot of looks from other tuners... but noone's ever bothered mine at home, at work, or on campus. Just watch where you park... and you'll be fine. The tC is a joke.. 2-door camry... Mazda 3 is alright... but you see a million of them every day... the only real competition is a RSX-S... but they're now out of production and are still expensive.

 

You'll be fine with the Cobalt. Universities like the University of Kansas, which I attend, are often loaded with cars like these. Mine has modified cars all over the place. They don't get trashed in public lots to my knowledge. If you're worried, get a two-way alarm. I'm saving up for a decent one.

You've listed good criteria for looking at a car. From what I know about the ones you've listed, the tC doesn't compete. If you care about emissions, they have the lowest ratings in the country. The RSX-S is a great car, but it has a ricer rep associated with it. If you don't mind that, it's a really reliable ride that will last a long time. The Mazda 3 is a decent car, but I personally don't trust anything associated with Ford. They're on a downward spiral and their cars, for the most part, aren't improving. The Cobalt is a really great car. It has a few kinks like all new models, but there are solutions to just about all of them. Moreover, it has a healthy amount of options that can easily improve it's speed and efficiency through dealerships and companies. The engine has been proven to last a long time under tough conditions, so I would seriously think about going Chevy.

 

haha well you dont live in cincinnati. from what i've heard UC isnt in the best part of town. I think you would be fine with any of those cars, just park it in the right place and like he said above get a kick ass alarm system. Or just dont put anything flashy in the car, that way they have nothing to steal haha

 

cobalt ss/sc ftw

 

dude the cobalt should be your only choice. im in college and have gotten lots of attention because of the car, alot from girls. unless you are a switch hitter that is not unwanted attention

 

Cobalt MAY look sportier, BUT... chevy parts really aren't what people pay top-dollar for. There are LOTS of mazdas and scions around, they are popular - so people want parts for the cars. I would think more people would go for those cars than a chevy.

Buy the SS/SC. It is an amazing car, definitely fun, and still gets great gas mileage.

 

If you really want attention, get an intake or do the airbox mod (around $50) and the whine should do the trick

 

someones sprapainted my spoiler , minor key mark, and the latest honey all over the front and back winshield honey on the ass and on the spoiler , college you should be ok its at your apartment complex you should worry

 

What about the mazdaspeed3???

 

cobalt with a good mouth = 20,000 mazdaspeed with the best mouth + new factor and probably limited availability = 25,000

 

thanks for all the responses, guys! i have been thinking that keeping a car in the parking garages would be a little safer than out on the street, and if i was going to get a SS/SC, i would want to swap out that high wing for something a little more low-key (i would love to put a scion tC-style pedestal spoiler on it).

i would love to own a MS3, except for that price. i could get a base model for about 19500, but after tax and all that, i would be making 300/month payments. do-able, but i don't want to have to afford that for five years. co-op money can only take me so far.

 

If you order your car, you can now order the low-profile spoiler available for the LS,LT,SS models - without costing more. That way you dont have the high wing in the back.

 

Look at the SS 2.4 - at least drive one and see what you think! It's slightly below the ss/sc and definitely above the tC and non-speed Mazda3.

 

get lojack installed... its only like 800 bucks and they can tack that onto the finance charges. so if ur car gets stolen... u call it in and the find it with the gps thing

 

I go to college at George Mason a couple times a week and so far nothing has happened. I do get a lot of attention on the road . Only thing so far is that I've been egged a couple of times in my neighborhood... freakin kids... it wasnt just me though the whole street got hit.

 

^^ Sure, why not. The dealer will probably tack on another $2,000 worth of crap you don't need anyhow if you don't watch them. If my car gets stolen, I'm not 100% positive I want them to find it - lojack or not. Just lock your **** and don't leave the keys in it and your chances of getting lifted go WAY down.

My insurance on my ss/na isn't that bad. It's about the same as it was on a v6 cougar. I'm not sure if a lot of insurers draw a distinction between the ss and ss/sc when it comes to coverage.

 

i found a good candidate for you, let's talk about pricing

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/complete-cars-101/sale-2006-ss-s-c-46502/

 

Hey. Go with a cobalt. The Mazda 3's are a bit heavy but their tranny's are okay. I wouldn't much go for a tC unless you're going to mod the freak out of it to make it fast. The optimum choice for you if you don't want to pay a lot and still have speed, get either a 2.2L cobalt (ls, lt, base). they're a bit more quick than what people give them credit for. Or, preferably, the 2.4L ecotec SS model. Fast, nice looking, low profile wing, for thjose who like it, and cheaper than the SS S/C

 

Yeah, that car would look pretty good in Bearcat country. I like that wingless look, very clean... almost euro-sport coupe looking.

 

i've got a black '06 cobalt ss and i get attention with it where ever i go. when i go to school (Southern Arkansas University), i dont worry about people breaking into it, just hitting it with their doors. to hell with the rest of the other cars you listed and get the cobalt. compared to everything else, in my opinon, there's not as many around, or maybe thats just me. im the only cobalt ss in my town which makes me feel special haha

 

the rsx-s is out of production?
they are expensive.. even for a used one


look at my sig to see a black ss s/c with black headlights and wingless. more recently than the pic, i debadged it.. also there are other pics on my myspace

 

yeah, i think that the SS/SC or just an SS looks very clean. the only thing that really draws your eyes to it is if it's bright yellow or if you see the wing

i'm still a few months away from actually buying, but the SS/SC is looking better and better!