2005 Chevy Cobalt SS ... - Page 3

LateNightCable · 12-12-04, 09:16 PM

The SRT-4 has an LSD, but the Cobalt SS does not. We've been discussing these two cars in relation to one another.

AWD in a performance car is overrated, it just adds weight. One of the vurtues of a car like this is it's low weight. Converting the SRT-4 to RWD would be close to making it a different car, unless the standard Neon was converted as such, which would be pretty cool.

I think there is still a lot of room in the SRT-4 to make it a handling machine as well, with enough development.

Has anyone seen a road test of the Cobalt SS?

thepolarfoxqx · 12-12-04, 09:31 PM

the standard neon has one selling point, it's cheap. AWD doesn't fit there. If you don't want the SRT4 to be running 0-60 sprints that are close to 7 seconds, i wouldn't put AWD on that car. It would be too expensive to do anyhow, you'd have to change too much. The SRT works because it is cheap. it doesn't have too many unique parts from neon (driveline aside), and didn't cost much to develop. AWD would only break that. SRT4 is first and foremost a straightline car. If you want to spend up to get a more versatile car, there is the WRX which is an able track car too, but for the money, getting a car as fast as SRT4 isn't bad, even if it isn't the best handling car.

wEstSide · 12-12-04, 10:03 PM

I heard some guys at srtforums discussing this exact same dealie. The answer is that you would have to do a whole re-do of the car. Some guy said he'd do it for 7000 dollars. Basically its not worth it. I doubt there will be AWD from DCX untill the SRT-4 and Evo are one and the same.

By the way, the Cobalt does look pretty refined.
Edit: the Cobalt supposedly has a suspension tuned on Nurburgring.

bleh · 12-12-04, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wEstSide

By the way, the Cobalt does look pretty refined.
Edit: the Cobalt supposedly has a suspension tuned on Nurburgring.

exept for that wing... and headlights.

Nur bur gring? ohh they ment to say, mar ket ing.

wEstSide · 12-12-04, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Nur bur gring? ohh they ment to say, mar ket ing.

My thoughts exactly.

LateNightCable · 12-12-04, 10:57 PM

Has anyone ever seen photos of even half the cars they say were tuned on Nurgurbring, actually on that track? Funny how "tuned on a Nascar curcuit" never fits ino their equation.

There is a big difference between a $20,000 car and a $30,000 car. More than in any other price segment. WRX or Lancer Evo are reletive bargains, but still expensive. The SRT-4 achieves a whole hell of a lot on 20k. Probably as much as a WRX or Evo would if they were to cost 10k less.

wEstSide · 12-12-04, 11:29 PM

They meant Nurburgring the NASCAR circuit in Alabama.

thepolarfoxqx · 12-13-04, 07:40 PM

GM has had opel do nearly all of their suspension tuning of late. The cadillac CTS, STS, it wouldn't surprise me if opel calibrated the cobalt on the gring. Just cause they used the track to calibrate it doesn't mean they calibrated it for all out track performance. I'd bet the cobalt has a very well balanced suspension that handles well and rides decent too, it's platform mates from europe are all impressive. too bad dodge doesn't have global platform sharing going yet, it would likely help SRT, the lancer suspension is definately more promising, and would make SRT more competitive.

LateNightCable · 12-13-04, 08:12 PM

No matter where the Cobalt was tuned, I don't see it being very competiteve against the SRT-4 in anything other than ride and comfort. And the SRT is not axactly a tin can with a rat motor anyway.

On the subject of using the Lancer platform for the Dodge, this would also make SRT a bit more expensive. At the end of the day, the Lancer is still an econo car, like the Neon. There is nothing amazing about the Lancer platform either. Everything that makes it a performance car is what makes the Evo twice the price of a base Lancer. Plus, it's a Jap car. The SRT-4 is the anti-Jap car. Also, recognize that the Neon is only in it's second generation. Until two years ago, Dodge only made half efforts to make it a sports competitor. I assume a third gen Neon platform will be a little more sports oriented. Lancer based or not.

If the SRT were to ever cost 25k+, than the point of it's existance would be lost.

thepolarfoxqx · 12-15-04, 06:39 PM

the 3rd generation neon platform is going to be shared with mitsubishi, and possibly hyundai as well.

It's going to get lancer underpinings sooner or later, which are more sophisticated, refined, and provide better ride and handling. It wouldn't be more expensive either. Even if SRT is an anti japanese car, the bean counters pull rank on engineers in the auto industry. the neon is ranked bottom of the barrel in its segment. that should be duely noted. cobalt will likely keep with SRT in handling. NOt in striaghtline, but there is the tradeoff.