The 2.2's extra low gearing pronounces the noise. In 3rd gear at 60, it's 3000+rpm. Gearbox doesn't make use of the torquey engine properly. The box will work better if it's mated to a high-rev engine so you upshift at 6000, but not to an engine that sounds like you're killing it when you rev it. It also forces you to keep shifting the notchy box. Economy and top speed also suffers.

I know I'm keep complaining about the drivetrain (engine/gearbox), but it's the first thing they need to improve a lot in the cobalt to have good sales. The engine has enough power but they need to make it much more refined. I'm sure the steering is probably quite good for a fully electric system, as well as the sound insulation and chassis rigidity and suspension, also change the gearknob on the way.

Anyone have other suggestions?

 

http://www.consumerreports.org/main/...=1113478653317
The cobalt and corolla are the only 2 medium vechicles to pass the IIHS side impact crash test. The test is the car being hit by a large pickup at 30mph from the side.

So safety is one area Cobalt doesn't have to worry about.

 

Thats with the side impact airbags though. Without them majority of the small cars fail (and even some of the midsize)

 

lol....its hokman again.......what do u mean by upshifts at 6000?.....mine does upshift at 6000 when i floor it.......and it sounded awsome.........

 

Are you refering to the manul transmission ? I haven't drive one of those yet (non SS/SC I mean).

 

i think he means that when normally shifting with the ss (while casually driving) you would shift at approx. 3000 rpm's. i think he wants drivetrain that u can really wind out to higher rpm's and not have to worry about abusing ur engine. so u would normally shift at like 6000 rpm's ..if that makes sence

http://homepage.mac.com/vendian/.Pic...C69FF711D9.jpg

u can see here that it redlines slightly after 6000 rpm's so shifting every tims at like 6000 wouldnt be the best thing

 

He refers to the 2.2 so it's not the SS/SC.

At in 3rd gear 60mph @3000 rpm's isnt that bad for either auto or manual. In both transmissions you still have either 1 or 2 more gears to downshift into.

It's a I4 so you aren't going to be turn 1500 RPM at hiway speed sorry
Get a V8 if you wanna do that.

 

Despite paper thin plastic body, the corvette idles at 100mph, that's awesome. Sorry, I meant 60 kph/40mph, 3rd gear 40 mph at 3000rpm is TOO high(unpleasant noise and economy and low top speed). I don't mean the engine has a low redline, but at least I don't want one that sounds like it'll break when I go over 2500rpm. Consumer reports has noticed this too.

 

Well, grab your shifter and shift to fourth.......

This message has been brought to you by Captain Obvious.............

 

Hok:
if they made the gears taller then you'd be complaining that the gearing hurts acceleration because our RPM's drop somuch when shifting.

 

\


The 2.2 does not have extra low gearing at all.

try driving my 323--its geared way lower--has 4.11s and 13" tires. At 3000rpm it makes the most annoying buzzing, resonance sound. When I test drove the Cobalt 2.2L 5 speed--I noticed how much faster I could go in each gear. Flet butettery smooth and quite.

If your crusing at 60km/h--couldn't you get away with going into 4th?

Back to your topic...

The Eco-tec sounds great to me.

I liked the steering and wouldn't have known it was electric at all.
Some 15" wheel should be an extra cost on the base model. Wheel covers blow.

 

i think the gearbox needs to be improved
when i shift fast, the engine still revs from my foot bein on the gas pedal

 

I wouldn't say that the Cobalt doesn't have to worry about safety. After all the rating was "acceptable" at 30mph. That's still a stretch from being a safe car in that test.

I believe that in that report "accpetable" means you'll survive, but you'll almost surely need a trip to the hospital.

Other things that I could suggest for the cobalt to improve is to get rid of that ancient twist beam rear suspension. A multi-link suspension would be light years ahead for the handling of the cobalt.

 

Gumby have you and Hok even driven the Cobalt??? Cause the car you guys are describing sounds nothing like my LS Sedan I've had no problems with that baby in Accelleration or handling.. and I Drive on some of the twistiest roads in the US. I swear the Indians were playing jokes on the People who explored the Pocono Mt. Region

 

Unfortunately I have not had the chance to drive the Cobalt yet. I am baseing my thoughts on the autocross' and Grand-Am races that I have seen lately. The Cobalt is notorious for lifting the inside rear tire under hard cornering. Having done some chassis and suspension design for the race team that I am involved in, I believe that there are other alternatives out there for the Cobalt.

This is last years car, this years car is almost ready for testing


I'm sure for everyday street driving when you are not pushing the car it its limits (this should really be saved for the race track) it performs like a dream and I hope to put in an order for my SS S/C in July.

 

Well of course if you're going to be racing it you should find ways to modify the suspension. But most of us who have a cobalt are never going to encounter racing conditions so for it's purpose even the SS Which is mean as a sporty coupe at an affordable price this is a fine system. Much sturdier than the dbl wishbone that I had on my neon as taking the car off the road (As I recently did) Didn't harm my suspension a bit as where I did so with my first Neon I had to replace several bits of that car's suspension.

 

I have driven a LOT of chevy manual gear boxs and I have to say the tranny that comes with the SS/SC is outstanding. It's smooth and percise, it doesn't thrash around like some of the transmissions I have had in the past. It's very had to grind the gears on a missed throw, ect. I have maybe ground the gears 2 times since I have gotten the car. In the past I have always ground the gears once in a while, especailly 3rd gear on my 2001 S10. Maybe I am getting better as a driver , but I am thinking it's the transmission

I have noticed that the drive by throttle control is a little laggy, and I think thats what your seeing tiny. If you sit in neutral in the car and just blip the throttle there is a noticable lag in the throttle response.

 

there is little throttle lag when you are actually in gear tho, and i dont like how it doesnt like to go into first gear sometimes, the manual says u should double clutch when this happens, so im practicing that now,
i have the sport coupe, and i chirp 2nd on half throttle! i cant wait til its broken in more and i can floor it!