I’m toying with the idea of getting a new car, and I’ve been looking at the 2007 Chevy Cobalt (mostly online, though my boyfriend has one and I’ve been a passenger several times). It seems like a solid little car, and I can get a 2-door with 200 horsepower and some nice options for around $23k – that’s the MSRP, anyway.
The online reviews I’ve found for the car are mostly good, implying or outright saying that Chevy has finally made up for the Cavalier. Opinions differ on whether the interior materials are cheap (or seem cheap), but the inside of my boyfriend’s car seems nice enough to me.
I’ll admit to having some residual Cavalier/Chevelle snobbery inside me, but I also have to admit that this car is pretty appealing. What say the “car people?”
I rented a car a few weeks ago and their “economy” option turned out to be a Cobalt. I drove it around for a few days and liked it OK, but the one thing that really bothered me was the reduced visibility in the “blind spot” because of the virtually nonexistant driver’s side back seat window and large spoiler. I pretty much had to turn my head all the way around to see anything in that area. This was a two-door, and I don’t know the model year (probably an 06 I would guess, though possibly an 07). That was my only major complaint, but when you’re trying to navigate a bunch of freeways in the Bay Area that all come together in one spot, it’s kind of important to be able to see.
They both affected visibility, but I think the tiny window aspect was worse. I literally felt like I COULD NOT see in the blind spot and my boyfriend (riding as passenger) helped me look, and he (six inches taller and driving about 10 years longer than I have) felt the same way about the car when he drove it (and I helped do the looking, being the passenger).
Also, don’t ever plan on having adult-sized people in the back seat for more than a few minutes. It looked tiny!
I don’t really plan to have adult-sized people in the back for more than a few minutes; it’s why I’m looking at a coupe. I’ve had a sedan for the past 2 years, and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had people in the backseat!
Why not get a Japanese car? For the same price or less you could get a nice Acura or Honda or something that likely has better fuel economy, will hold its value, is sportier, and will last a long time.
I have a 2006 Cobalt 4 door. So far it’s okay for a car. (I am not a car person.)
However, I second the driver’s side blind spot problem. I thought it was just me, but I have a real hard time doing the left shoulder check before changing lanes. I don’t know how different the version I am driving is to the one you’re trying, but I echo this opinion. Again, I thought it was just me, and it’s a bit of a relief to know it’s not.
You find me a 2007 Acura or Honda with an MSRP under $25k that has the same horsepower and options (remote keyless entry, sunroof, etc.) and is “sportier,” and I’ll seriously consider it. Otherwise, why not get an American car?
Between you and mlerose, that’s definitely something I’ll have to look for if I get to the point of a test drive. Thanks!
Um, yeah?
I’m not out for great fuel economy – otherwise I’d be looking at a hybrid. I want something fast and sporty, and the MPG on cars like that is typically going to be “meh.” The other cars I’ve been thinking about have similar numbers. Hell, my current car – a 2002 Nissan Sentra – only gets anywhere from 22/28 to 27/33, depending on where you look.
Sorry to be so negative, but I’ve driven both two-door and four-door Cobalts as rentals and wouldn’t touch 'em with a bargepole as a car to own. I hated just about everything about the two-door, especially the visibility problem others have mentioned, but also the absurd heaviness of the doors (given its overall small size), its fat round plastic ass, its indifferent handling and power, and (for me at least) uncomfortable seats. The sedan was marginally better, as it was at least a bit more practical, if depressingly dumpy in appearance.
In both models, the interior materials seemed horribly flimsy, with hard plastic everywhere. The window cranks looked like they cost a dime each to make and would break in a year (I amusingly had one passenger stare at them in disbelief: “you have to actually wind down the windows!?”) Okay, so they were stripper fleet models, not the 200hp version, but jeez, were they banal vehicles. I seem to recall as well that Consumer Reports has rated the Cobalt pretty low on overall reliability. About the only thing I liked at all was the little display that you could switch to show gas mileage, outside temp. and whatnot.
One thing I was fascinated by: everywhere I went in the two-door, I had high-school-age males and 18-24 females coming up to to ask what I thought of it. Apparently the semi-sporty appearance and bottom-of-the-barrel price make it a top choice of people pining after their first new car. So what do I know?
American manufacturers still don’t seem to have much of a clue as to how to build interesting, reliable small vehicles. If it were me and I were bound and determined to buy a USA make of small car, I’d probably choose the Dodge Caliber, not that I’m totally in love with that one either, and despite the fact that many seem to find its styling laughably peculiar.
Don’t apologize, that’s why this thread is here! Thanks for your input.
Actually, that’s pretty damn close to what I wanted! I don’t know why I didn’t see that when I looked at Hondas. Aside from the styling (which is subjective), is reliability the only thing that makes it a better car than the Chevy in your opinion?
(scr4: the Honda website calls the Civic Si’s fuel economy “exceptional” with 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway … nearly identical to the Cobalt. :p)
If I were you I would just click around in the link I showed you, look at the interior and the bells and whistles it comes with. I think reliability is a big factor and the resale value for that car will probably be better than the cobalt. But dude c’mon look at its FUN! I really don’t know that much about cars though so maybe someone else could list the more objective aspects. 6 speed, 350-watt audio system, MP3 jack, digital speedometer, radio control on the steering wheel.
Well, the pure horsepower isn’t up to the mark of the Cobalt or the Civic Si mentioned elsewhere, and it’s not a coupe, but have you given any thought to the Mazda 3? Even with only 148 hp in the standard models and 156 in the high end models, it’s a blast to drive – better handling, acceleration, braking and overall driving experience than anything out there at a remotely comparable price (and the Grand Touring trim level with the optional Bose Audio and Moonroof package tops out at an MSRP under $23K). And if you really must have the horses, the MAZDASPEED 3 packs 263 hp, and if you can find a Sport model, it’s also under $23K – the Grand Touring models come in closer to $25K-$26K.
As for the Cobalt, I’ve had 'em a few times as rentals, and was pretty completely underwhelmed. Granted, I tend to have a bias against most American cars, but I’ve driven a lot of them as rentals over the last few years and when I get to drive something new I generally approach them with an open mind and willingness to be pleased – I rarely am. And the Big 3 have a long way to go to convince me that they’re capable of making a car as reliable as the long line of Japanese makes I’ve owned over the last twenty years or so – a few Nissans, a few Hondas, and four Mazdas (including my two current vehicles). Adding all of the Japanese cars I’ve had together, I didn’t have as many mechanical problems and repairs as either of the two American cars I’ve had in the same period – not to mention all the problems I’ve seen friends and relatives have with American cars. (And yes, I realize that Ford’s pretty much driving the bus at Mazda these days, but they haven’t screwed things up beyond hope yet).
I’ve driven the Cobalt, and it is lightyears ahead of the old cavalier. however, it is representative of cars from about 5 years ago. As mentioned, GM hasn’t seen fit to invest much money in small cars-so the Cobalt is not up to the best from japan(as yeat). however, the ECOTECK 2.2 liter engine is excellent, and with proper chassis tuning, the Cobalt could be an excellent car. Of course, GM also has a prediliction for cheap plastic interiors 9its the accountant mindset at work). With an extra $300 , they could have nice interior; just as good as mazda or honda.
its the accountants who are sinking GM!
Yeah, I did, which is how I know that it’s pretty damn close to what I’m looking for.
Reliability is, indeed, a big factor, but I’m not so much concerned with resale value because I tend to keep cars until I can’t drive 'em anymore. If I get a new car now, this will be the first time I’ve ever gotten a car when I didn’t need one.
Well, I think that the Cobalt SS runs neck-and-neck with the Civic Si in those regards. Have you looked at the specs for an SS? It’s not a bad little car!
No, and only because it doesn’t come as a 2-door. It may seem like a silly reason to reject a car outright, but I’m really not interested in another 4-door.
So you’re saying I could do better, but could also do worse?
I know you just said that you are not looking for another four door car, but you would be doing yourself a grave disservice if you were shopping for a sporty car in that price range and did not seriously consider a Mazdaspeed 3. And, hey, it’s a five door!
Also, if you enjoy your Sentra, they will shortly release the 2007 Sentra SE-R Spec V. Might be worth a look.
As far as a Cobalt SS, you could definitely do worse if you are looking for an econosport. They definitely are not slow. A lot of box-stock WRX people worry about getting beaten by the SS. You would have to drive one to decide if the cheap interior bothers you a lot.
I’ve rented the fully-loaded Cobalt and the bare bones version.
The upper version felt like a decent car, but when I found out how much it would cost to actually buy one, I laughed myself silly. It ain’t worth that much.
The stripped-down Cobalt feels very cheap-ass. Noisy, lots of jittery plastic interior bits, it’s a modern American econobox.
I want something fast and sporty, and the MPG on cars like that is typically going to be “meh.” The other cars I’ve been thinking about have similar numbers. Hell, my current car – a 2002 Nissan Sentra – only gets anywhere from 22/28 to 27/33, depending on where you look.
I don’t know why I didn’t see that when I looked at Hondas. Aside from the styling (which is subjective), is reliability the only thing that makes it a better car than the Chevy in your opinion?
I really don’t know that much about cars though so maybe someone else could list the more objective aspects. 6 speed, 350-watt audio system, MP3 jack, digital speedometer, radio control on the steering wheel.
