So I was just curious....opinions please

[Keith]

I been looking for quite some time now for a "swift" compact, manual, daily driver that would just be very comfortable, respectably peppy and not too ugly. Not to sound too narrow minded but an import of any kind is just really out of the question. My first pick was the SRT-4. Can be sickly fast, small, manuverable and the independant-suspension kind of agile. Then, I read more and more about the Chevy Cobalt SS supercharged car. The interior appointments are a bit nicer and the car has cruise control (not an option on SRT-4 from what I've been told) Does anyone know about this car and what do you think. Again, i'm looking for an enjoyable daily driver and I've owned mostly Chevy's my entire life; this will be my very first new one and I was thinking about going to the dealership and ordering one as they won't be available until March/April (just in time for my 25th birthday)

http://www.tuningnews.net/news/040405a/chevrolet-cobalt-ss.php

BTW- I plan to immediately ditch the rear spoiler

[will69camaro]

I think that little cobalt looks like it'd be a pretty fun "around town" car. The spoiler isn't the worst i've seen (its not as bad as the SRT-4)...Oh and another thing is has over the SRT-4 is it isn't a dodge.

William

[Keith]

Haha..so true. I hate being old enough to know better and still making a major purchasing decision based solely on brand preference. I like the overall build on this one and the motor/supercharger platform is shared with the Saturn Redline so it's not such a proprietary design. Final drive ratio is 4.05:1 and the last two of the five gears are actually OD, something like .89 then .71
The rest of the gear spread seems good for the 6500 redline and the 215/45/18s. I figure I can change the intake and get a less restrictive catback system, then change the pulley on the Eaton M62. As soon as the software is released, we'll tweak the ECU. Then I'll leave it alone! It'll be good for 300HP in a 2800lb car when I'm done. :D

[hotwheels]

lol, bet you get alot of opinion's on this one...myself, i would look at the new focus...specialy if you can get the saleen n20 model....comes set up with a nitrous system, but still can be used as a daily driver with excellent fuel economy.....hotwheels

[rwhite692]

Being a chevy guy, I'll probably get in trouble for saying this but, a buddy of mine bought an SVT focus for commuting, he loves it, says it goes like stink and handles really well....it was like 14.5K or so.

[Keith]

My step-brother used to be a mechanic at Ford and he took a SVT Focus as his driver for a few days when Ford sent him out on some training sessions.... all that I can say is that I was severely impressed with the handling and brakes...acceleration wasn't all that I wanted but it was a nice vehicle.

[hotwheels]

heck, after doing some looking into the cobalt, that looks like a pretty sweet car.....for your first brand new car, that may be the way to go.....pretty sharp......i do agree, i would loose the wing first thing.......hotwheels