First post...long time reader
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Joined: 05-26-07
Posts: 16
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From: southeast
First post...long time reader
Hi, All
First, let me say that I am a fan of the cobalt. In addition, I am a fan of domestic cars. I came very, very close to buying a cobalt SS/SC when they first came out.
When I was shopping for a car late in 2005, the two cars that made my want to have list, were the 2005 SRT-4 and the Cobalt. I had a VERY difficult time in deciding which one to get.
I knew I liked the SRT-4 a lot, but I was unsure of the cobalt, because at that time, it was new. A friend I worked with had just bought an orange cobalt and after seeing his, I felt that was the car I wanted, because of the cobalt just seeming to be a little more civilized than the neon.
As I was talking to the dealership about buying the cobalt, the guy that already had his car comes to tell me that he has transmission problems that the dealer wouldn't cover. His car, at the time, didn't have 3,000 miles or so on it. I am SURE that his transmission problems were due to his racing it, but still, it didn't seem like it should have gone bad that soon. As you might guess, this spooked me.
I go to the GM dealership and I ask them about how liberal they are about doing repairs on cars that are being driven hard. They were quick to say that they won't cover any kind warranty on cars that were abused. Now, to me, if a car is marketed and advertised as a tuner car and is meant to be driven harder than average, then I felt that it should be covered and that this was a cop out on their part.
I go to the dodge dealership and I shot them straight JUST like I did GM. They told me, and I had it in writing, that they would cover the car for warranty issues as long as I didn't do serious mod's on it. The gray area is, of course, what are serious mod's. I bought the car and decided to do nothing other than light mod's. In other words, just a stage one and changing out the exhaust.
I have, for almost the past two years, ran the car at the track multiple times. It has been driven hard, but I wouldn't say abused. I've never had any kind of transmission or axel break. I've had small warranty work done, but have never had anything major, but I feel if I did need warranty work done, the dealer would have covered it.
Therefore, for all of you who are waiting to buy a cobalt, then I STRONGLY encourage you, before signing the papers, to get, IN WRITING, that the dealer will warranty your work. Be honest with the dealer. Tell them what you intend to do with the car. Your strongest bargaining point, regarding warranty work is BEFORE you buy the car. If you have something in writing, then you are covered if you do simple mod's. If you plan on doing serious mod's, then I think it's foolish to expect the dealership to cover them. However, with intakes, stage one's, or exhaust, then I think it should be expected for the dealer to cover warranty work for light modifications.
The cobalt is a great car, but no car is indestructible, so try to guard yourself as much as possible with dealers who just look for reasons to deny warranties. Before buying the car, meet with the service manager and build a relationship with the people there who will be making a decision on your future warranty claims. If the dealership really wants to sell the car, then they will bend over backwards to meet your needs, which does include getting something in writing. Any car warranty is a good as the dealer who stands behind it.
First, let me say that I am a fan of the cobalt. In addition, I am a fan of domestic cars. I came very, very close to buying a cobalt SS/SC when they first came out.
When I was shopping for a car late in 2005, the two cars that made my want to have list, were the 2005 SRT-4 and the Cobalt. I had a VERY difficult time in deciding which one to get.
I knew I liked the SRT-4 a lot, but I was unsure of the cobalt, because at that time, it was new. A friend I worked with had just bought an orange cobalt and after seeing his, I felt that was the car I wanted, because of the cobalt just seeming to be a little more civilized than the neon.
As I was talking to the dealership about buying the cobalt, the guy that already had his car comes to tell me that he has transmission problems that the dealer wouldn't cover. His car, at the time, didn't have 3,000 miles or so on it. I am SURE that his transmission problems were due to his racing it, but still, it didn't seem like it should have gone bad that soon. As you might guess, this spooked me.
I go to the GM dealership and I ask them about how liberal they are about doing repairs on cars that are being driven hard. They were quick to say that they won't cover any kind warranty on cars that were abused. Now, to me, if a car is marketed and advertised as a tuner car and is meant to be driven harder than average, then I felt that it should be covered and that this was a cop out on their part.
I go to the dodge dealership and I shot them straight JUST like I did GM. They told me, and I had it in writing, that they would cover the car for warranty issues as long as I didn't do serious mod's on it. The gray area is, of course, what are serious mod's. I bought the car and decided to do nothing other than light mod's. In other words, just a stage one and changing out the exhaust.
I have, for almost the past two years, ran the car at the track multiple times. It has been driven hard, but I wouldn't say abused. I've never had any kind of transmission or axel break. I've had small warranty work done, but have never had anything major, but I feel if I did need warranty work done, the dealer would have covered it.
Therefore, for all of you who are waiting to buy a cobalt, then I STRONGLY encourage you, before signing the papers, to get, IN WRITING, that the dealer will warranty your work. Be honest with the dealer. Tell them what you intend to do with the car. Your strongest bargaining point, regarding warranty work is BEFORE you buy the car. If you have something in writing, then you are covered if you do simple mod's. If you plan on doing serious mod's, then I think it's foolish to expect the dealership to cover them. However, with intakes, stage one's, or exhaust, then I think it should be expected for the dealer to cover warranty work for light modifications.
The cobalt is a great car, but no car is indestructible, so try to guard yourself as much as possible with dealers who just look for reasons to deny warranties. Before buying the car, meet with the service manager and build a relationship with the people there who will be making a decision on your future warranty claims. If the dealership really wants to sell the car, then they will bend over backwards to meet your needs, which does include getting something in writing. Any car warranty is a good as the dealer who stands behind it.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 05-26-07
Posts: 16
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From: southeast
yes, the name is just like the pharm company.
Thanks for the welcome!
And I only wrote the post because of reading all the abuse some of the dealers put you guys through, and for all those who are in the process of buying a new car. It's amazing how they just look for ANY reason to deny a claim.
Thanks for the welcome!
And I only wrote the post because of reading all the abuse some of the dealers put you guys through, and for all those who are in the process of buying a new car. It's amazing how they just look for ANY reason to deny a claim.
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