Exactly. It doesn't say they deleted the Auto. It's just not standard anymore.

 

They're identical from the A pillar forward. From the A-pillar rearward they're almost completely different (except for maybe the rear suspension). Try to find an A-pillar gauge pod for a sedan. I dare you.

 

The reason they likely removed the option to NOT take curtain air bags is this, taken from the IIHS crash safety website, under the side impact test. The Cobalt without the curtain air bags got a very poor safety rating.

PERSONAL STORY: I got hit on the passenger side last month, nearly t-boned by a 1982 Lincoln Town Car. It annihilated my passenger side door, car was very close to being totaled. My head however got completely owned by the driver side window, and I still have some pain from the lateral whiplash (I might have made up that phrase). I love my Cobalt but now I wish I'd bought one with curtain airbags.

 

ok, manual being "standard" makes sense, its like that on the GT mustang, etc...

 

Yea I saw the ratings on the side impacts I even saw that some cobalts got recalled because they didn't have them my car being one of them before I owned it .

 

I think it will be pretty hard to find a GM vehicle without them in the very near future.

 

The IIHS and other side impact testing does show the improvement with the side airbags, but that hasn't stopped GM from selling cars that have done "less than great" in impact tests over the years. I'd almost guarantee it wasn't due to the car being safer but because it costs less for them to offer two different versions when so few fleet cars are being sold without them (which was the only '09 Cobalts that you could get without the side airbags).

 

Wow so I have a one year run 4-door SS?!!

 

FYI crystal red is slightly lighter than sport red. At least the crystal red on a Corvette is.

 

Coupe is dead too at end of 2009

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...-for-2010.html

 

hmmm, interesting .... what does this article have to back them up though?

 

Jalopnik reports the same

http://jalopnik.com/5246047/gm-axes-...important-ones

Shittiest b-day present ever.

 

doesnt look like a bright future for GM

but the cancellation of the cobalt ss doesnt bother me, ill just buy partially used at carmax

 

They are simply not selling enough...around 4% of the model.

Still haven't pulled their heads out of the fifties...automatic option would have sold more...isn't it about making money?

 

x2. Waking up on my birthday to read this.. ugh. I think i better start saving.. and working a lot over summer.. because I HAVE to get my hands on an SS coupe by the end of 09.. otherwise, it'll be too late.

 

no fun at all if you need or want a 4 dr Idiots at GM. A dr S/C shouold be been done from 05 (and TC starting in 08) And an optional automatic...choice is good

 

saving my money now so when im out of basic i pay a good portion of my sc off trade it in for a ss sedan!!!! u know the small dealerships will have some new ones here and there but man i dont like gm's latiest moves.....sigh goodbye pontiac and now other performace cars....these are sad times for us performace junkies.....

 

I agree with this.

 

GM already tried it. Remember the GTO? IIRC, GM's business model has been to include the automatic for $0 cost, but offer the manual for an extra $1000 or so. Look how well it has done for the other performance cars.

It's not about automatics or manuals, it's about marketing your cars to the public. If everyone is high on hybrids or electrics, they're going to balk at performance cars that supposedly get bad gas mileage. Even then, hybrids account for a small percentage of auto sales. People seem to desire boring cars like the Camry.

 

No, GM didn't try it on the Cobalt -- that's what we're discussing here. Other companies have autos behind their turbo cars and they're selling. I test drove an 08 SS/TC and while the power is nice it's not enough for me to buy it when I really want an auto. Again, if it's about marketing -- and more people but it with an auto -- then obviously their marketing is off. There's no mistaking that Americans buy automatics. The manual is available for those that feel the need to shift. My real guess is they wouldn't be able to keep the MPG up.

 

With respect, GM did try it in the past by offering automatics: GTO, Trans-Am, Camaro, etc... and even with the LNF cars: Solstice, Sky, HHR, just not the Cobalt. Considering Pontiac and Saturn are gone for the near future, automatics are unlikely to have saved the Cobalt SS/TC. GM and Chrysler won't be allowed to make performance cars because they took bailout money. Ford has some flexibility in this department, but if they want to make money they will want to sell vehicles that move off the lots quickly: F-150, E-series, Focus, Fusion, and Escape. Even Mazda's best selling vehicle is the Mazda3, not the Mazdaspeed3 or Miata MX-5.

 

ooooooooooo so i have the ebony/gray interior... cool

 

Won't be "allowed" to sell performance cars? The automakers are looking forward and planning for the more stringent emission and economy standards down the road but you will still be able to buy performance models from GM in the future... if they're still around and if those performance models will sell and make a profit. That's the biggest thing, not some conspiracy theory that the government is planning what option packages and colors your next car will be offered in.

GM has to survive long enough to build any cars in the future but they aren't dropping these models strictly because they're performance variants or some government pressure. They're getting killed because the platform/model/division they ride on are going away or being updated. And while GM wants to present the picture of looking forwards to "green" cars like the Volt, they aren't going to stop making what people want. If no one buys their performance cars they won't be viable, but given the restructuring and regular base model replacements for many of these cars are just coming out over the next couple years, give it a little longer when the economy has turned around and you'll see them be able to spend the money to produce more performance vehicles.

 

we can add the display thing now asis... and i want to upgrade my sunroof for godsake why is it manual

 

You're supposed to do that with any FWD or RWD with a flat on the drive wheels and a donut. If you don't, the difference in wheel speeds could take out the front /rear diff.

Always, always, always... full size tires on drive wheels, and donuts on non drive wheels. Doesn't matter what tire is flat. Don't believe me? Read your manual!
Or you can just buy a new diff/tranny. That's cool too...