Cobalt opinions

[my1tonrat]

I will be driving about 2 hours a day for work soon and have figured that it would cost about $700/month or more for gas for my old one ton.  I am instead going to buy a car and pay GM instead of the gas station.  I am looking at Chevy Cobalts or Pontiac G5's since they are the same car (and it is not worth it to have to drive an Aveo to get three more miles per gallon).  Has anyone had or know of someone who has had a really good or really bad experience with these cars?  I have also considered a Civic, Jetta or Golf, but am leaning heavily toward the GM lineup.

Thank for the input.  I am not a really big fan of little cars, but the price is right and you can't beat the mileage, plus I could never sell my truck to buy a smaller one. 

[ssgoodman]

a friend i work with has a cobalt base model and he hates it, he is just leasing it but he wants to get rid of it really bad.  i personally would look for a slightly older smaller car.  growing up my mom had a 1994 olds cutlass ciera 4 door.  that thing got good gas mileage, was tough as nails, was simple to work on and was comfortable.  i remember going through an empty lot full of snow, there was snow up to the middle of the door and the olds pulled right through it.  i was trying to do fish tails with it on gravel and over corrected, had it on 2 wheels at probably a 25 degree angle, it landed on its wheels and i was able to turn around and drive it home with no problems.  my mom bounced it off 2 guard rails and ended up in a ditch full of water, they pulled it out and were able to drive it home with water standing on the floors.  it finally met its match in a large whitetail.  if i was going to get a little realiable, economical car i would get a mid 90's cutlass.

Sutton

[chevyguy5894]

Its not a bad car me and my wife had one. The only problems we had were problems with the front end and wind noise from the doors. We ended up with a Impala because we were going to take it in little less than a year that we had it. The dealership screwed us and Gm wouldnt do anything about it. I would look at a Impala or a G6. Both get about the same as the Cobalt.

[VileZambonie]

One of my students just bought one and loves it.

[joesgarage71]

I have also considered a Civic, Jetta or Golf, but am leaning heavily toward the GM lineup.
  I am not a really big fan of little cars, but the price is right and you can't beat the mileage, plus I could never sell my truck to buy a smaller one. 

 I'm not a big fan of foriegn cars, We as american should buy goods for our own country. But this gas price gouging of late has started to make me crazy. Last month I bought a 96 Jetta GL 4cyl.that was crashed in the front left $500. the owner just put $1000. of parts on it and wrecked it and wasn't going to put anymore money in it. I replaced the sheet metal and slaped some plates on it. Not a bad little car 35MPG and it stays in overdrive when going up hills. It has 183K on it now and I'm glad the per. owner replaced the timing belt. I'd say this crap box is good for another 120K.
BTW I got this car for momma, It replaced old betsey 93 caprice w/294K and I don't let my friends see me driving it!

[HAULIN IT]

I'm able to spend more money fixing wrecked, last couple of years of Cavaliers & Grand Am's now than I could 2 years ago before they total. The prices on them has gone up conciderably around here, all of the used car lots are having bidding wars over them. Most of the people I talk to feel it's because no one likes the Cobalt & G5-6. I don't know, I  never thought much of the Grand Am - Alero personally. I was at the in-law's yesterday & there laid the Consumer Report "Best & Worst" cars, I look in there & one of the worst mid. size SUV's (in there opinion) was the S-Blazer, I've had a few, my brother has had several. They have some issues, but I feel there a pretty good vehicle, so who knows? The bottom line is this: If you can use it for years without giving you much trouble "it was a good one", if a nickle & dime's you or you have a BIG problem "it was a piece of @#$%. I'm not hearing BIG problems out of the Cobalt's. I don't think the Civic & Jetta are really in the same price grouping, are they? . The Civic's are great cars & the Jetta, well I just don't like those, hard to work on or find friends that work on them. I'm just not ready to go for the import vehicle yet. Lorne

[my1tonrat]

thanks for the input, guys. 

Oh, and, I thought the same thing about Civic and Jetta prices, Lorne, but around here (southern Ontario, Canada) a base Cobalt is around $15 100, base Civic $16 300, and Citi package Jetta $16 000.  That surprised me. 

[123 pugsy]

I'd go for the Honda. The wife has a Civic and no problems with it. I don't have any faith in the new GM products.

[79diesel]

thanks for the input, guys. 

Oh, and, I thought the same thing about Civic and Jetta prices, Lorne, but around here (southern Ontario, Canada) a base Cobalt is around $15 100, base Civic $16 300, and Citi package Jetta $16 000.  That surprised me. 

where in southern ontario do you live? i live in orillia but im currently in lindsay for school

[eventhorizon66]

I would definitely go for the Civic.  A vastly superior car to the Cobalt or G5.  Check out crash test ratings (not just frontal), resale value, fuel economy.  There's really no comparison.  If the prices are that close, it's a no-brainer.  The Civic is definitely worth another $1200.

I love this country, and it pains me to say it, but as far as new cars go, the Japanese makes, in general, are superior in virtually all areas.  I'm glad that the big three are finally feeling the sting from Toyota and Honda.  Maybe they will shape up and I'll be able to buy an American-made car I can be proud of.

[JJSZABO]

I have a civic and love it - 40mpg and no maintenance except for routine oil and filters.  Honda Civics ARE built in the USA - East Liberty Ohio.  Built with good ole American workers!! 

Have you ever researched where GM parts come from?  Mainly Mexico and Canada, are only assembled in the USA just like the Honda's, Toyota, Nissan, etc......  Wether we like it or not, we are in a global economy now.

[the_legend_1981]

the new malibu's are nice

[dumbucket1]

I used to have a 98 cavalier the cobalts are just rebadged cavaliers. Anyways that cavalier was a great car i say go for the cobalt.

[smitty77]

My wife and I owned two mid-90's Saturns that got about 35 mpg on the highway with a 5-speed.  A lot of people bash Hyundai, but my parents, mom-in-law, and aunt-in-law all own an entry leevel one (Elantra?) and they've been decent.  Good gas mileage and decent power, no major repairs on my dads in 3 years at 75,000 miles.  I drive mom-in-law's every weekend on shopping trips since she doesn't use it much, and it seems like a nice little car.  I think you can get them pretty stripped down for about 10,500.  She paid just under 13,000 and got power windows/locks, cd player, auto trans, A/C, etc.  Could probably get yourself a pre-leased one for around $7500 if you look around.  The only problem with Hondas is they tend to be a tad more expensive to insure as the incidence of theft is higher.  Check with your insurance company before you buy to see if you'll get socked on your fire and theft premium.

This is a wise move.  If you can double the mileage over your truck, you'd save $350 a month.  Keep your car and insurance payments under $350 monthly and it's a good deal.  If you go new, bargain for zero apr and let the car company sit on the big nut for 5 years.  When the loan is all over you still have some residual value in the car, and you still get to keep "old faithful".

Good luck, gas prices are only going up this summer.

[BeaverBanker]

i Don't know how much money you want to spend, But i have a test drove a base cobalt, its ok.
My buddy owns a cobalt SS and that is a mean little car.
But if your on budget i say go VW the city golf or jetta. they handle 20x better then the cobalt(base at lease) and have a way nicer interior.
If your not on budget...VW GTI 2.0l turbo all the way, i was very impressed by this car. Go drive one your "fast" (vw thing inside joke) will be very happy. plus its good on fuel