I am on the verge of buying a Cobalt SS/SC: sunroof, limited slip-diff, curtain airbags, and the optional sport paint (the dark red, a $380 option). I plan on putting in the Stage 2 upgrade immediately before i take delivery.

My question/concern deals with the quality of this car. I have read many threads on here to investigate, but Im looking for a consensus of what to look out for or consider before I make the buy. Ive seen concerns over clutches, poor paint jobs that chip/scratch easy, and weak steering knuckles that break premature, just to name a few. How frequent/widespread are these problems? What else do I need to look out for? Especially problems with the driveline?!

I have it narrowed down to the Cobalt SS/SC, Civic SI, and a 'new' but 2006 Acura RSX type-S. I know firsthand that the RSX-type S is bulletproof, cause i know one that's been beat on incredibly and kicks likes new. Am I making the right choice by goin for the cobalt, or am I gonna be hating myself for saving a couple thousand now, only to be blowing it on service in 3 years time? I wanna hear big time problems/concerns basically anything you can give me....

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Axels break if u launch it hard and sense wheel-hop,they will snap...other than that,i dont have any problems with my car,never did with any car i owned..no axel brakin or anything

 

Driving Too Fast!!!!!

Speeding Tickets!!!!

Import Drivers Doubting Your Cars Skills!!!!

Acuras are nice though...i'd be up in the air about the type-s and the ss/sc.

some problems people have:

sunroof button pops out
clutch slipping (maybe due to bad driving)
wheel paint flaking (non polished wheels)
jumpy idle (a few experience this and a flash takes care of it)
front bumper/headlights =small gap (we have to live with it)



all that i can think of off the top of my head.

 

My transmission is shot and gm wont warranty it because I have gm stage 2 so i "obviously use the car for racing".

As much as I love my cobalt it puts a smile on my face every time i drive it (up until now when its a chore to drive it because I dont have second gear and it wont stay in 3rd gear).

If I had to do it over again i would not buy another cobalt or any gm product for that matter due to their CRAP service

 

Rotors, some don't have problems, but most do. Try to negotiate some of the GMPP rotors for free with the sale.

I know you have probably already been asked.. but have you taken it to another GM dealer or called GM customer service directly?

 

yep just got one it sucks...


.

 

Got one the other day too...it truly sucks...

 

The only problem that I see as a persistent problem among a lot of owners is the axles. If you don't launch hard enough to get wheel hop you're safe. Also, the steering knuckles only tend to break in rally competitions or very hard turns. Clutch has mixed opinions, some people are running a lot of mods with stock clutch. Paint jobs all depend on how you keep it up...

only problem with cobalt... you're gonna want to keep spending extra money to mod it cobalt's are addictive to modding

 

ATTENTION A HUGE PROBLEM IS people like to hit our cars or vandalize them. :-(

 

really? what kind of vandalism specifically? I imagine maybe going after the Wing on the back?


Jigga, u in brampton? what dealer you get yours at? are they good?

 

If somebody ever broke into my balt, I've f'ing kill people.

The only problem I've had with mine is because of this website every time I see a SRT-4 I feel like I have to fight the guy, haha =)

Plus my friend has a 07 Civic Si with a few mods, and stock my car is faster than his, so now he has to run out and buy a bunch of stuff to try to be as fast as me.

Damn awesome Cobalts.

 

Crank shaft positioning censor

 

Alot of people complain about the interior compared to the other choices.

Personally if the Honda dealership would have given me a better price, I would have an Si or the Type-S they had...

...or the SS/SC if the Chevy dealership gave me a better trade in that is a very tough choice between the three...anyone have a three sided coid???:lol

 

If you want no problems get the type-s, i have had so many problems with mine, i just sold it, it has been in the shop i total of liek 10 times, first time within 650 miles, clutch, axles, steering knuckles, poor paint, poor paint on rims, pcm, chipping interior paint, the list goes on, but after the problems it was a pretty good car.

 

the better guestion is what are you going to do with the car and what suites you better?

I owned a 91 civic and now this cobalt from new. so far I have had more problems with the cobalt then the civic but I have had warranty coverage for everything. Clutch took a long time to break in properly. but the car I bought had 800KMs on it. I think through test drives the clutch could have been abused and burnt. when new that can happen easily. get one with 0 miles on it. might make the difference. break it in for a long time would be a good idea. 5000 miles say. then GMS2 if you want warranty or have concerns from the dealer. It is mainly about dealer when it comes to warranty issues. My car looks and is not stock. Their has been very little problems.

other than this the only other problem is traction. fast car when moving. LSD IS A MUST ..... really dont buy it unless it has it.

If you are planning on modifying the acura or civic would be great if you slip a turbo in. alot of people are considering that for the cobalt but it is expensive. Turbo does not mean just turbo! it means Turbo, Engine management, clutch, beefier mounts and control arm bushings, 400hp axles, pistons, rods while your at but not necessary, head work, cams, exhaust, clutch once it is burnt. $10000 should get it done. On a import I have no idea what needs to be done for 400WHP but if you would be happy with 300WHP it can be done with the cobalt with stock internals and just a head and cam job.

If you want step by step modding plan then PM or MSN me. I have a guide for you. basically what would I have done differently.
good luck with the purchase.

 

Wow, talk about a generalization.....

 

I think GM underengineered the SS/SC for the strain these guys put on it

If you drove the thing normal most of the time, and only let loose a every once and awhile, you'd probably have no problems at all.

I don't know how well Civic SIs respond to mods, but they are slower than Honda claims them to be. We've got several 2.4l SS guys that have beaten them.
Type S sounds good though, hmmmmmm

 

If you are looking for a new car, i would also consider, a evo, sti, or a good kept secret the new mazda speeds, or the type -s.

 

K20 is in both Type-S and Si Mokeiboy.... we all know what happens if you tickle those motors with a little boost

 

Didn't know anything about the Type-S.
And why does what you just wrote sound perverted?

 

I've never had a problem. A lot of guys around here have had no problems at all. Take care of it and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

haha axels breaking due to dam wheel hop!!!!!

 

For the people that say they never have problems with their SS/SC's. How hard do you drive them? I'm not looking to Auto-x this thing. But I don't want to drive it like a minivan either!? Having steering knuckles that break on me in a turn is pretty serious, not to mention dangerous! There are certain exceptions that Im willing to make by buying a car that is cheaper than its competitors.. But safety isn't one of them. Someone mentioned breaking Axels too? Can this car take 241 hp stage 2 reliably/safely?

 

axels will be fine on a stage 2 if you do the supporting mods to get rid of the wheel hop. Far as problems if you are going to run high boost prepare to relace the pistons/rings, headgasket etc... and clutch.

 

What are the supporting mods to get rid of the wheel hop? thanks