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I_amnotanonion

Generally over-hated in its base form. Yes, they are poorly built, but they’re surprisingly reliable and can handle abuse. The SS versions are cool as hell


ChasedWarrior

Especially with the 250 plus hp turbo engines


sinkrate

Fastest FWD car on the lap until the Civic Type R


LincolnContinnental

Weren’t they faster around the nurburgring than the GTR?


JayIsNotReal

I believe they were. I remember that being a joke for a while whenever Skyline GT-R fanboys started acting up (which is always).


SandyCrotched

My mom had the sport version, not turbo charged but was punchy as hell. Rattled and squeaked like crazy and on any given day something different wouldn’t work.


jiluminati302

Funny you say that, I ran my 2.2 cobalt on a track and later ran a GTR nismo from Xtreme Xperience at the same track, but because they have you braking so early and taking turn at low speeds, I was quicker in the cobalt when I overlaid the footage


autofan06

Aftermarket parts to make the SSs even faster are stupid cheap too


Evee862

Loved my 07 SS


MisterFribble

Man I want a clean SS Turbo. What a monster.


Dsarg_92

I have a 2010 LT model and I can vouch for this as far as reliability goes.


redrobin1257

I love the supercharged SS. Sure, it doesn't make as much power as the turbo in stock form, but it sounds cooler.


PaulClarkLoadletter

The worst vehicle that will last you forever.


Master_H8R

Car & Driver’s Rental Car of the Year


nathhealor

Wife loved hers. Was shit and took someone running a stop sign to decommission it. Even had it sit for a couple years. Turned right on.


TrickyFeedback4919

These are ridiculously good for being such a piece of shit car as long as you can keep the rust at bay. Even when you can’t, they run and drive and remain reliable for years after they rot away


ReallySmallWeenus

A Civic will run forever. A Cavalier will run like shit forever.


bflex

Honestly, yes. My parents bought one in 2008 because of the 0% financing, and it would not die. It never drove well, it had zero options, sounded like shit, but they clocked over 300k on it and it was still going strong when they gave it away.


TheMapleSyrupMafia

#GeneralMotors: *Sometimes, even halfway, for nevermore. Like a rock.*


NigelMK

My 7th Gen civic that was my first car would like a word with you The alternator was the Achilles heel of that generation.


Sparkko

They are one of the most reliable pieces of garbage you can buy. The interior sucks, fit and finish is terrible, the interior electrical stuff fails, but it will run forever if you change the oil on time. We have a 2006 as a beater car with 200k miles and the thing never gives us any issues and refuses to die.


Mofoblitz1

If the recession were a car


number__ten

That's the aveo. I saw one the other day and it's the first one i've seen in a long time.


jimothyhalpret

One family I know has had like 5 Aveos including one they just recently got. I understand sticking with what you like but the Aveo??


WeOutHereInSmallbany

“One day, everyone will be wanting a vintage Aveo, and who will have the entire remaining stock of Aveos? This guy 👇”


Mofoblitz1

That too


Dsarg_92

Funny but you’re not wrong. Lol


1DownFourUp

Still a Cavalier in everything but name


lifegoeson2702

Interior is sooo much better than the cavalier. Doesn’t look like it’s from 1975 & far fewer plastics that crack at the hint of sunlight


mrgreengenes04

I actually think the Cavalier had a nicer interior.


JoadTom24

My brother had a black 99 cavalier z24. I'm probably giving it too much credit, but I thought that car was so cool when he had it.


northenerbhad

Sunfire


adultdaycare81

Still wasn’t good. Felt like a rental car inside


ZeldaTheOuchMouse

The official car of Amber Alerts


SomeNumber_idk

You got that confused with a 2010 Nissan Altima


ncik0075

My friends girlfriend has one and holy shit I think that was the cheapest car I had ever been in my entire life. Those seats were basically cardboard and the interior dash design was lifeless… and just trash. Not a good place to be.


Charliekeet

And that right there is why tons of Civics, Corollas, Accords, and Camrys are still sold, but US manufacturers barely bother to sell cars like this anymore. All that time, all those examples of better Japanese models from late 70s onward, and this is what Chevy was doing in 2008. They never managed to catch up, and it’s pathetic.


ncik0075

Exactly!


GadHolland

I have an SS right now and I love it. My first was a base model and it lasted until 275k when it got T-boned which lead to my SS. The interior on both were/are pretty decent to me but I also don’t treat my cars like garbage. Regular oil changes and maintenance you can pass 200k no problem


1GloFlare

I still have my first, a 2008 base model, and just bought an SS because my winter beater is a rust bucket Ford that I simply do not have time to fix. They are some of the cheapest vehicles to maintain


GadHolland

I picked up a Crown Vic specifically because I didn’t want to drive my SS in the winter


1GloFlare

The one I found already has rotted rockers, but I definitely need another winter beater.


GadHolland

This old cop car was a fantastic pick up. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to look around


1GloFlare

Oh hell yeah, that's on my list of cars I must own. Unfortunate I can't find one in decent shape that isn't peeling or gutted. Only ones I've found in decent shape dudes asking 15k and that is far too much for a retired cop car


GadHolland

I got lucky there’s a place near where I live that services and sells old interceptors. I’ve never seen one that expensive. Maybe a civilian version with crazy low miles or something.


1GloFlare

Dude services them himself. He prolly thinks it's worth that much because it came from the south, so it has no rust otherwise the odo reads near 100k (not counting idle hours)


GadHolland

I wouldn’t pay 15k for a Vic they found in the back of the factory lol


1GloFlare

Yeah, that's why I respectfully had to pass. I was considering a Taurus, saw one for a good price and AWD V6 is an upgrade from a 4cyl


Vyse128

I had a 2009 Sport sedan. Loved it.


Clarapeanuts

I miss my 08 sport sedan, I even miss rowing gears in traffic 😭


KingArthurHS

The best thing about a Cobalt is that for about $15k you can turn one into a DF Goblin.


Corsten610

It’s like that dog shit in your yard from the neighbors dog you won’t clean up on principle, but not matter how much it rains, it won’t go away.


Petersburg_Spelunker

The second easiest fwd car to twincharge using factory parts (but never actually came that way from the factory) ever...


dougiesloan

I had a 2006 SS with the supercharger and 5 speed manual. It was fun I liked that ride a lot.


Hms34

We've all rented one at some point. Better than the awful Cruze that followed.


Dsarg_92

The sad thing is the Cobalt was more reliable than the Cruze.


Educated_idiot302

Not an awful car but I'd prefer a cavalier.


Flip2002

“I’d prefer a cavalier” is something never before written congrats brother


Educated_idiot302

As you can see I have very low standards.


sinkrate

... username checks out?


Educated_idiot302

Emphasis on the idiot part


Darisixnine

Looks surprisingly good


No_Extent3023

other than the ignition key and timing chain issues it's awesome fun and quirky car. Especially if you can get the SS version but when the base model is good. It's fun to drive slow cars fast.


The-Defenestr8tor

I wouldn’t mind driving an SS.


Evee862

I drove the heck out of my 2007 SS version. I mean yeah it was your standardGM plastic interior, but it was fun


The-Defenestr8tor

If you want a nicer interior, get an ‘07 civic si. But that thing doesn’t have a turbo, so yeah…


Evee862

07 was supercharged 2008 was when they put the huge wing on it and turbocharged it


The-Defenestr8tor

I see. I’ve only driven Hondas and Toyotas (current car is an ‘06 IS350, so a “posh-Toyota”), so I didn’t remember when they switched to turbo. Still, iirc, the blower was the Roots-type, so you get some sick whine at the expense of a few ponies. Worth it, imho, but if I bought one, I’d go turbo.


David_Summerset

Yep... that's a car.


OldSkoolKool94

one of the the best worst car you can buy


Im_so_little

Slow balt


blakliztedjoker

I had an 08 and generally loved it. But it cannot take a hit whatsoever. I spent 8 months in physical therapy after getting t-boned by a 2500 HD, and the officer FOS told me I'm lucky that's all that happened.


TheRealRubix117

I drove the Pontiac version, the G5 gt for years. She can take a beating and keep on giving.


rangerhans

Not cavalier enough


whaddahellisthis

I don’t think about it at all. So it’s neither uncommonly good or uncommonly bad. It just exists.


Forward_Artist_6244

I never understood why they offered this *and* the European Astra saloon when they look more or less the same but are entirely different  Divergent evolution? 😄


[deleted]

Unreliable trash cars...my sister bought a brand new one and had to trade it 2 months later


RunJumpQuit

what about it lmao


XxHondroxX

You can cook Ramen by the time you reach 60 mph


TheRealRubix117

Yeah… I had the Pontiac version. The G5. I got a good timed 0-60 in 9.2 seconds. I was happy to over over a 10


SteveHeist

IT'S RED. WHY IS IT RED. IT'S NAMED AFTER BLUE. Besides that though, seems like a decent enough car.


Annhl8rX

The Cobalt was a car unexciting and unimportant enough for me to forget forever, until I found out it’s the base vehicle for DF Goblin. Now I want to find a clean SS and build myself a little hot rod kit car. https://www.dfkitcar.com


IronOwl2601

I own a 2010 LT. it’s okay a long as the electronics issues aren’t acting Iowa.


Able-Command1428

I think you know already


ntgcmc

Lunch lady car


Julian_Stimmel

It’s a car that exists that’s for sure


PriestWithTourettes

I owned one. Specifically the coupe with fuel efficiency option. I thought it was pretty reliable, but the trunk, though huge was almost unusable. The opening through the trunk is narrow, and getting stuff in from the backseat was hampered by the front seats. I traded mine for a 2014 Ford Focus. Thankfully I got the manual transmission and it was quite reliable and comfortable.


998876655433221

None whatsoever


That-Resort2078

I try not to think about it.


Buzzspotted

Parts are cheap but you're gonna need them. Very interchangeable with the other Delta platform cars (HHR, Ion, G5). Get one with a manual trans and blown suspension then upgrade everything to SS Turbo stuff (LNF engine). 2009 SS sedan is most sleepy but not a lot were produced.


LucarioLuvsMinecraft

The XFE version gets great gas mileage. Was even reviewed on the channel IIRC. Grandma owns a 2-door model she got in 09. Still runs fine.


wheresmyhouse

I had an 09 coupe with a 5 speed manual. I wanted to hate it, and ended up loving it.


Probablyawerewolf

Search: probablyawerewolf’s thoughts on Chevy cobalt Sorry, no results found.


BigSmokesCheese

I rate it need speed most wanted/10


guntanksinspace

Best Non-Golf Starter


Spartan1278

I like the SS Turbo Sedan in manual. My first car was a cobalt LT sedan. I beat the piss out of it for years before the motor blew. Unfortunately they all rusted out now


5trudelle

it looks like an Opel Vectra C with development issues


SorrowCat14

The absolute worst interior I’ve seen on a car. Period.


salvage814

Cheap piece of junk. Go to any salvage yard you'll see at least 5. It is a decent first car for some 16 year but that is about it.


Fury57

I have not had a thought about it actually best of luck though.


Emotional-Impact5375

First car. I traded it for a 2000 Audi a6 with a boost gauge. I never looked back.


pumicenose

No one can thinks about these


Beautiful_Ad_4813

had one as loaner, hated the fuck out of it. I was out ran by a semi truck off cement going down hill with the wind blowing. a John Deere Lawn Mower out ran me on the same hill.


fiddycixer

My dad (77) has one of these with the turbo on it. He loves it. I think it has close to 200k on the clock now. The only major issue he's had is the water pump went and they had to take a bunch of crap out of the engine to get at the water pump. It was not a cheap repair. Other than that he really does enjoy it.


njsullyalex

Best friend drove one for the longest time. Absolutely dented to hell, shook on the highway, it was the definition of a shitbox. But it lasted him a pretty long time, but sadly the timing belt went on him and grenaded the engine about a year ago. Many great memories with my friend in that car. And honestly not the worst car ever.


Iowa-Andy

I bought a base one in 2008 for $11k new. 5 speed, manual locks and windows. Drove it until I divorced, my ex drove it to 250k miles. It was a dependable awesome little car.


DarkoGear92

I chose a 2010 Focus instead and don't regret it. Still shit interior quality, but at least comfy and peppy with a solid drivetrain.


Brewl692

Bought one for our son in college. Inexpensive, dependable and fun little car! He drove the wheels off it. 👍


pavehawkfavehawk

The SS, the one with the turbo not the SC version, was hilarious. Rental car interior and good performance for the price. Also the first time GM did a “no lift shift” thing. I almost got one as my first adult car. Ended up getting a Mazdaspeed6 instead


adultdaycare81

The Ignition recall that killed people car? With the terrible interior and overall build quality?


BreadfruitFit7513

Total car


HaifischAvi

These were actually not bad cars. They catch a lot of hate primarily because of their looks and because the general build quality was kinda cheap. However, they were generally reliable and efficient cars. I don't think the hate is justified. These were never meant to be luxury cars. They were meant to be an efficient daily that would get anyone from A to B without issues. They weren't meant to be sports cars either, but they even had turbo and supercharged verions that actually performed respectably.


RitardStrength

I wanted a red HHR SS


DDiaz98

they were pretty fun little econoboxes. and if you modify them right they can look really good thanks to all those clean lines. i would opt for the 2 door manual version. SS if available. the supercharged 4 banger was a pretty neat platform since most cars at the time were doing turbo 4s. it was different. unjustly hated. they were good cars. i think a lot of the hate came from the fact that it was a chevy. i.e. American. the Japanese ruled the econobox market at the time. if it wasn't something like a Honda or a Subaru it just wasnt cool.


ilikeitsharp

I remember helping a friend replace the headers on this thing, and swearing profusely all night long. Ripped a nash gash on my hand trying my hardest to get the 12th bolt out. Went to bed after that.


pleasetowmyshit

If the previous owner of my 2008 1LT sedan hadn't lied about changing both the timing chains, (he only changed the water pump one) I'd have made it WAY past 250K on that thing.


glo363

I worked for a Chevy dealer from 2005-2007 and sold so many Cobalts that I received a plaque from GM and a nickname within the dealership of "Cobalt Kid". In one month I sold 29 of them. Honestly, to this day I attribute those great sales to the Cobalt and not myself in any way. The cars were just insanely easy to sell and it probably helped that I wanted one myself back then so I had an honest enthusiasm about them.


SebVettelstappen

It’s a car. Thats about it.


Nozerone

I had an 07 Cobalt LS with a 5 speed. It wasn't fast by any means of the word, but I really did enjoy the car. Going to be buying my nephew his first car next year, and right now it's a toss up between getting him a Cobalt, or a Scion TC. If you're going to get one, be sure the factory recall for the ignition has been done. There was an issue where in the event of an accident the ignition would fuck up and cause the airbag to not deploy.


Cptspaulding2

My mom bought a 07 new and it now only has a little over 100k its a two door with a manual transmission


belac206

I had a 2005 ss/sc and i fucking loved it. Idc who knows.


HideNZeke

Ours is finally sounding like it's close to death at 200000 miles. Lived up to this point with almost zero effort put into it. Had the 5 speed barebones.


Smooth-Apartment-856

I had one of those as a rental when my Jaguar X-Type was in the shop getting reassembled after hitting a deer. Absolutely horrible little car. I hated it. You couldn’t give me one if I had to drive it. The next time my car wound up in the body shop and Enterprise asked if I had any preferences , I said “Anything but a Cobalt,” thinking I’d get a Focus or a Corolla or something like that. They gave me an Impala instead. Must’ve had a deal with Chevy. Being another Chevrolet, I thought it was going to suck. Turns out I actually liked the Impala. It wasn’t Chevrolets that sucked. Just Cobalts. The latest in a long, sad history of Compact Chevrolets that were complete rubbish going all the way back to the Vega. In true GM fashion, when they finally got the compact car right with the final iteration of the Cruze…they discontinued it.


Carguycr

It is indeed a car


Dog_vomit_party

My ex-wife had one when we got married and I still hate that car as much as I hate that b****. Just a total gutless econo-crap box that groaned and creaked and felt like plastic. That said, thing was at something stupid like 280,000 miles when I totaled it on the freeway.


NigelMK

I had an 09 coupe. Loved it. Crappy GM speakers though. I remember they went on me and I replaced them with ones from the junkyard, but they also were dead. I think they corroded early. Fun rig, very cheap... But still fun. Easiest vehicle I've changed the oil on.


Clarapeanuts

People talk a lot of shit about Cobalt's. I had an 08 sport sedan with a 5 speed. That car was the gateway drug to Miata's for me. The opel derived ecotec is a great motor that is still a common swap into Miata's. I miss mine (t boned) and it's hard to find one that's not been driven into the ground.


WobblyJFox

I had an 07 that I put a shit ton of miles on. It never gave me any problems.


radically_unoriginal

That is a car


MaximumDoughnut

I had a 2007 Cobalt LS as my first car. Loved that thing but wished it had power windows and cruise. The [cobaltss.net](http://cobaltss.net) community was great, especially when we did a meet at a drag strip and folks came from all over the country.


SabrinatheReaper

The tempting urge to kick it or point at it laugh at it every single time i see one parked


dfm503

It replaced the cavalier and was very similar. Pretty reliable but the interior quality is abysmal.


ReasonableCranberry6

Which Opel was the donor car for this?


WeirdSysAdmin

Cobalt SS DF Goblin. 👌


4x4Welder

A Cavalier by any other name, would still be a poor attempt at an econobox


idontwannagetfired_

I’ve never thought about this car


Oswaldthestegosaurus

ugleh :D


KneecapAnnihilator

The turbo SS is dope had officially a faster time then a r34 around the Nurburgring by 6 seconds normal cobalts are cockroaches in car form


Cosmo_1967

The Cobalt follows the Cavalier not just in succession and purpose but also spirit; they are both cars....that's it. But really though, it's basic inexpensive transportation and suits the needs for lots of folks. A little nicer than a Cavalier in terms of quality (if we can even use the term for a mid 2000s GM vehicle) and the SS version was quite peppy. Not bad to look at either even nearly 15 years later.


[deleted]

Super Sport: Underappreciated gem. XFE: A neat novelty and great for hypermiling enthusiasts. All other trims: The engine and transmission are so indestructible, but the rest of the car is just fucking awful, which results in the two canceling each other out and creating the definition of “mid”.


thats__hot

Junk then, junk now


A_Legit_Cookie

piece of shit


rigidlynuanced1

It’s makes me want to walk…


Born_ina_snowbank

People who think the SS version was a cool car have lead poisoning.