With being new to the Cobalt environment I switching to a much lighter vehicle, I have noticed one stand out deficiency in the car: Wind.

Not only is the noise from the engine considerable (Though I think the radio compensates for that noise automatically... I could be insane and just be thinking that instead.) but the wind noise is very loud while driving in excess of 60Mph.

In addition to the noise, the car acts like Michael J. Fox while having a seizure.
Strong gusts will push the car left and right and trying to counter steer tends to be over thrown and sometimes ends up in the other lane you started out in.

Is this a common problem?
Am I just crazy?

I own a Red 06 LS.
I don't believe it to be anything mechanical, I think it's the design.
Of course, I'm posting because I am no expert with this car, so I need a more tenured opinion!

When releasing the wheel it stays straight, it does no hesitate left or right, the car does not shake violently, it just handles poorly in the wind.

 

yeah it's not technical..... lowering will help a little with the wind

 

Mine handles fine.. ive never over corrected into the other lane..

 

x 2

 

that's the difference between the ss/sc vs the ls in this situation though. the motor is quiet at higher speeds and the suspension and tires hold on a little tighter, but not much. these cars still get blown around a little, but counter steering isn't hard, at least not in the ss/sc.

 

With the standard suspension you are going to get a little wind control problem. I do with my G5.
The SS and the upgraded suspensions ar'nt so bad. Thats just the nature of the base suspension. The springs are soft and ride kind of high.

 

Actually I have noticed compared to other cars I have owned and trucks driven that this car has been the best in the wind.

Few weeks ago they closed the Throgs Neck Bridge for tall traffic due to high winds... My car never even swerved.

Granted the right gust is going to push any lighter or smaller car but you are lower to the ground and more aerodynamic so therefore I think I would have to argue that Cobalt > Wind

 

I've seen this problem with the Cobalts that have the FE1 suspension (LS, LT, LTZ). It tends to be really light. Lowering will help. I've noticed that the FE3 (SS/NA and Sport) and the FE5 (SS/SC, SS/TC) don't suffer from this problem as much (FE5 much less than the FE3). Another recommendation is to get the TTR rear sway and a strut tower bar. Reducing the body roll when the wind hits will help out. The strut tower bar will increase steering feel. My wife said it made her more confident in the cars abilities (she drives the car with the FE3 suspension).

 

true... I guess I am on The Pro Kit and 225 tires.. so my experience may be a bit different.

 

Wind noise only bothers me when i have the sunroof cracked.. other than that.. its not too bad. imo

 

Well once I get a new job I plan on doing some upgrades to the car.

How low would you recommend?
I've seen 1''F / 1.5''R Kits, and 2''F / 2.5''R Kits.
What kind of suspension would go, if any at all.
Would I need new struts?

I guess what I'm looking to do is improve the cars handling, (speed in the future), but I don't need it for racing - I want the most bang for a frequent driver, I commute to class each day and like to go on joy rides. So I don't need top end product, but I know you get what you pay for, so if there are some medians out there let me know.

I really want to get into the workings of my car, I know a bit here and there, but a lot of stuff I am green in. Performance being one of them.

 

on a day to day the only difference you will notice in your car regularly will be the height of your ride.

get a rear sway, strut tower bar, poly trans mounts, if you have an auto get a shift plus, and some springs. I have the Pro-Kit, maybe the only difference I would go for would be Sportlines. But when I got my springs, the roads I was on needed a little higher ride.

A good set of rubber will go a long way. I am on 225's and i love the wider stance. but even something as minimal increase to 205 and you will notice it.

 

18Mph winds, my car got tossed today.
I do not approve.

My car is 195 for the wheel base.
It is still under Dealership warranty (for another month I think.)

It does help to know that my GF hit a pot hole a while back, not terribly fast, but since then I have heard a thud at low Mph but I don't know if it is the front right end, or one of the clips that holds the plastic covers on the ecotec engine just rattling about from air flow.

Reason being is that it isn't really rhythmic.
It's a very low thud, hollow almost, like a plastic container that has something sticky on it and each time you lift it up you hear that sound.

That is what leads me to think it's the engine cover.
(The covers aren't flush to the car, they do bounce when you pop the hood and poke at em')

I would think if something was wrong with the tire or wheel or general area, the car would handle differently, like pull to the right, have lower air pressure, things like that.

I have no driven any other cobalts so I cannot vouch for my instance being rare in the LS class.

 

I don't care about the wind. It's the ride that is bad. This 06 SS/SC has one of the most horrible suspensions that I have ever seen. If I hit a bump in the road in my 09 Cobalt LT, I barely feel it. The same bump in the SS/SC shakes the whole car so bad that I thought a rim had to have gotten bent. The 06 SS/SC has the stock tires and rims.

 

40ish wind gusts and i feel it pull a bit...but ive never had it push me to another lane or counter out of my lane...perhaps its just you driving style overcompensating...not to come across as a dick or anything but i can imagine winds under 50 requiring that...anything over 50 and you should probably be considering finding shelter haha.

the other points here are valid...but its still not terrible. when in doubt just slow down and stay on the safe side though.

the wind noise is a bit excessive, but nothing outrageous...but ive always driven cheaper cars

id argue that the cobalt is much friendlier in the wind then my past ride or pickups/vans ive driven here and there too...

 

It defined is a victim to wind, I plan on test driving another one just to validate my concerns.

 

I havent noticed any problems with the wind and my cobalt here. Ofcourse it is lowered with sportlines and 215 tires. But the wind gusts recently in Arizona have been close to 45mph, which is insane. I hear more people with trucks complaining then small cars.

 

Stock FE1 Suspension, 195 Tires.
Also a potential alignment issue.

 

actually, this is another reason why i traded in my cobalt......

my 3 on the other hand....... PERFECTION

 

Sell the car.... sounds like a recall issue....

 

It's light, rather slab sided....yes, you are going to notice the wind more than a larger / heavier car.

Can't stay in your lane? Either there are cows flying by, you have a serious alignment issue, or you need a driver mod. The steering is pretty sensitive, takes a little getting used to. Wind noise....a bit worse than the wife's Taurus but not objectionable.

For what it is (an econo box with some ballz ) it does quite well imho.