BouzoukiIt is easy to pick on GM in general, and the Cobalt in particular, due to the infamous ignition key cylinder issue/recall.
And yet, back in the day, even Consumer Reports commented how it was "fun to drive" and every Cobalt should drive like that--though CR noted was expensive (around $20k base, $22-24k MSRP typical sticker).
Car and Driver road tested one, with a mildly positive review, but not a rave.
I need a car in late 2006, when my boss informed me I was losing my company car, as I would not be travelling for work. I wanted an inexpensive car with a manual trans. I drove a plebeian used Cobalt. I actually liked it. I came back, and was told I should not have driven that car, it was sold. But I liked the car, and started looking for a used one.
So I went to another Chevy dealer. He had no manual trans Cobalts, new or used. No wait--he had this yellow supercharged SS. I could drive that. He unburied it (it had been sitting). It had the optional Recaro seat package. The car was a blast! If GM made a front-drive Camaro with a V8, this is what it might be like. I didn't like the color so I left.
Then I found Car and Driver's first "Lightning Lap" test, circa 2006. In short, the Cobalt SS Supercharged that some here mock was FIVE seconds quicker than an 06 VW GTI. FIVE SECONDS! Even more impressive, it was a fraction quicker than a ... Mustang GT 5.0. A car with an extra 100 horses.
So I looked and found a red one I generally like (options-wise. It needed the Recaro seats--best car seat EVER!). I had no problems with it over 4 years, 50k other than sliding into a curb on a snowy morning about a month after I bought it, causing about $2k of damage to suspension bits (the rim was gouged, but remained round! The tire was reused. The control arm and bearing and 1-2 other items needed replace, but car drove like new). I ordered some snow wheel/tires and put them on afterward.
It was a good car in general, and a great-DRIVING car. The steering, shifter, exhaust note, power, engine smoothness. It was hard to believe this was a GM vehicle....
The back seat was big--but the ingress/egress was awful. I had too many cars at the time So I sold it after four years, one of the few cars I regret selling.
JLGOLDENJeep, Dodge, and Chrysler don't have a suitable competitor for a high-volume segment such as compact crossovers. Abandoning Journey and Cherokee's $25K-$40K bandwidth, left the market to be eaten by Equinox/Terrain, Escape/Bronco Sport, Rogue, RAV 4, and on and on. Further, GM has reinvented entry-level with the striking new Trax and Envista. Nissan is swinging hard for new buyers with a re-invented Kicks. Instead of reading the room, Stellantis focuses on too many models with ambitious pricing at $50K and beyond.
ToolGuyThis might be a good candidate for an EV conversion.
TassosTHE PERFECT TRUCK FOR ROUNDING UP IMMIGRANTS TO BRING THEM TO JAILS FOR FORCED TRANSGENDERED OPERATIONS. I HOPE ABDUL BUYS IT
TassosBEAUTIFUL GRYLL ON THIS ITERATION. NOT ENOUGH FINS AND NEEDS MORE WOOD VANEER INSIDE. I WANT MY 60s CADILLACS TO LOOK LIKE LOOMER. FIT FOR A FIRST LADY
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