So I'm a Cobalt Owner Now

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars) 02/07/2016 at 21:55 • Filed to: None

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I’m still trying to come to terms with saying I’m a Cobalt owner, but here it is. A 2009 Cobalt SS. Also known as the Turbalt.

I got it dirty cheap because that’s the only way I buy things. The Mazda is now up for sale. I’ll most likely put the Cobalt up for sale once the title comes in. However with that all being said, I’m genuinely shocked how well this car drives.

Dynamically this car feels far superior to the Mazdaspeed3 or the Mk5 GTI. It’s faster, it handles better, it steers better, it sounds better. However, it’s still a Cobalt, so all the typical GM rattles and such still apply. As a daily, it’s a stiff ride, but I expect that from a sporty-tuned vehicle. Basically it’s a shitbox, but it’s a really fast shitbox.

This car was formerly ricer owned, so there’s a DC Sports exhaust, K&N Cold Air intake, some brand short shifter and a no-name blow off valve. Also, the wheels are either powder coated or painted. I don’t like them, but that’s something I’d change if I were to keep it.

Also, the taillights were painted black. Painted. Jayhawk Jake helped me out in stripping the paint off and returning them to stock. I’ll post about the de-ricing process later.

All in all, it’s an OK replacement for the Mazda. I bought the Mazda as a dependable vehicle for my move to KC. The Cobalt is far more fun than the Mazda. It’s a manual whereas the Mazda was an auto and it cost me less than half the Mazda’s price. So win win win in my book.

DoYouEvenShift > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:01

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Nice! Always loved the Turbo Cobalts, underrated in my opinion.

EL_ULY > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:03

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Niiice dude congrats

TheOnelectronic > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:08

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Wait, weren’t these supercharged? Did they change at some point during their run?

jkm7680 > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:08

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Needs low. Looks like a 4x4.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > TheOnelectronic 02/07/2016 at 22:12

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Yes, 08 to 10 were turbo.

TheOnelectronic > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 02/07/2016 at 22:12

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Huh. I think I vaguely remember knowing that at some point.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:13

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Hrm. It looks stock height, so I’m confused why the ride would be so rough...

DasWauto > TheOnelectronic 02/07/2016 at 22:15

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There were two different SSs. Early cars were supercharged, later ones turbocharged and more powerful. The switch happened to meet changing emissions regulations.

Jay Lauer > DoYouEvenShift 02/07/2016 at 22:16

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I’m inclined to agree on the underrated part, but I’m biased.

Jay Lauer > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 02/07/2016 at 22:16

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Stiffer springs and shocks.

Jay Lauer > jkm7680 02/07/2016 at 22:17

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Not happening.

Gone > TheOnelectronic 02/07/2016 at 22:17

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2008-10 were turbos - the 2.0 from the Solstice/Sky. They also got no-lift shift and launch control at the same time.

Jay Lauer > DasWauto 02/07/2016 at 22:18

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I like to think of it that GM got the reviews of the supercharged SS, went back, got their Vette guy (Henricy) to do the suspension, went to the Nurburgring and came back with a proper car.

But emissions is right too.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:20

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Nice looking car. Very underrated. Back in ‘09 Car & Driver had one for their lightening lap at VIR. If you look up its time around the track, it laid waste to much, much more expensive and powerful cars. It was a full 7 seconds faster than an ‘06 Cobalt SS with the supercharger. If it was better built, it would probably be a more sought after car,.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/light…

Jay Lauer > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 02/07/2016 at 22:26

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Holy shit. I hadn’t read this before.

I mean, I’m kinda being a bitch about the ride. I had to drive in what’s effectively downtown, so the streets are terrible. It’s also got 104k miles, so rattles may be expected, but it’s got more rattles than a gti or ms3 would.

There’s things I may change, but I’d much rather this car than the MS3 or the GTI.

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:28

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These came out when I was still in high school, and I wanted one as my first car. Didn’t end up buying a car until long after these things were out of production, and got something easier on the insurance rate....

A missed opportunity.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:30

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Heinricy was involved with the earlier supercharged models as well, he helped them win in Time Attack. The contract GM had with Eaton to supply the M62 was up, so they went turbo which also helped with emissions.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:30

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What brand?

DoYouEvenShift > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 02/07/2016 at 22:34

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http://m.caranddriver.com/features/light…

I love looking through these times

Jay Lauer > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 02/07/2016 at 22:36

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Stock. I just mean the whole SS suspension is stiffer than a standard cobalt.

Jay Lauer > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] 02/07/2016 at 22:38

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They’ve come down a lot in value since then. A good one could be had for $9k I’d imagine.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:43

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That still isn’t adding up. The stock suspension could barely be called stiff, even over the base model stuff.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:46

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Sell it to me. *cries in corner*

boxrocket > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 22:48

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...I’m so sorry.

I hope you can sell it soon.

Jay Lauer > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 02/07/2016 at 22:57

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It could be modified for all I know.

I don’t plan on keeping it so I’m not too concerned.

Jay Lauer > boxrocket 02/07/2016 at 22:58

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Haha not a fan?

FromCanadaWithLove > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 23:07

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This car was formerly ricer owned, so there’s a DC Sports exhaust, K&N Cold Air intake, some brand short shifter and a no-name blow off valve.

This sentence perfectly describes ricers.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jay Lauer 02/07/2016 at 23:41

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Oh yes.

Jay Lauer > FromCanadaWithLove 02/07/2016 at 23:50

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This also gives the real indication of it’s former rice life. The whole console was wrapped as well.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Jay Lauer 02/08/2016 at 00:08

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I read long ago that GM put a ton of (thankless) hours into its handling dynamics on the Nurburgring, it and its Saturn ion-redline counterpart.

Wanted to drive one ever since. I’ve pushed mkV GTI’s and R32's mighty hard, not too surprised this would be more spritly. Er more raw and lighter, neither of which are bad things.

boxrocket > Jay Lauer 02/08/2016 at 00:16

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Not really. I acknowledge its performance, but the cobalt was/is such a crapcan I cannot give it any respect.

Jay Lauer > boxrocket 02/08/2016 at 00:27

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Crapcans are fun.

Chumpcar and Lemons, homie.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 02/08/2016 at 07:12

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Still faster than a current GTI and within a second of a current Golf R. And faster than an Boostang.

BKosher84 > Jay Lauer 02/08/2016 at 10:06

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Dat Ricer Lyfe.

wiffleballtony > Jay Lauer 02/08/2016 at 17:10

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Your license plate says Hue. HUEHUEHUEHUE

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Jay Lauer 02/08/2016 at 18:50

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I loved my 06 SS/SC. I guess you really don’t have an appreciation for what they’re like until you’ve driven one. Also those Recaros (became not available mid-07 due to side impact laws changing for manufacturing in calendar year 2007) were the most comfortable seats of any I’ve owned. And that’s comparing them with the GTO seats that followed them in my timeline.

Jay Lauer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 02/08/2016 at 20:42

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I don’t think the Recaros carried over into the Turbos.

I’ve owned a GTO. I would consider the Goat seats more comfortable, but that’s just me.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Jay Lauer 02/09/2016 at 10:56

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They weren’t carried over into the Turbos, no. They stopped being available in calendar year 2007. I just liked them so much that I had to mention them.

I just fit in the Recaros perfectly, I suppose. I have done a 950 mile, 19 hour trip in the GTO, and never grew tired of the seats. I never got to try that in the Cobalt, so maybe they would still take the lead.

The SS/TC seats aren’t bad, either. Certainly they’re miles ahead of the standard Cobalt and standard SS seats.

Oh, and if you haven’t seen it before, check out how well the SS/SC and especially the SS/TC did at the Lightening Lap comparisions.

Jay Lauer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 02/09/2016 at 12:45

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Yeah, the SS/TC are acceptable for sure, but it’s still not on the level of any Recaro. And as you know, GTO seats are effectively La-z-Boy’s fitted to a GT car.

The standards seats aren’t worth replacing, so I’ll deal. But, I’d be curious the price of a Recaro retrofit.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Jay Lauer 02/09/2016 at 13:08

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If you’re searching for used Recaros, the Saturn Ion Redline all had them as standard. They didn’t have any embroidary on them, but the fabric mesh did have a blue tint to it... which doesn’t generally go well with many interiors / exterior combinations. They might be cheaper, though.

La-z-Boys with bolstering . They will hug in a corner... but not like a Recaro.