Cobalt SS/TC vs Mazdaspeed3

[Stoßtrupp]

Originally Posted by Nismothecat

constantly trying to one up each other is what makes these kind of cars. if there is no competion then there is no reason to constantly changing things.


and the Cobalt SS can do way more than 1/4 and 0-60. in the Lightning Lap the Cobalt SS out ran the Evo X.

Yeah that extra 500-600lbs the EVO X carries around doesn't exactly help it get around the track all that fast in stock form. This still doesn't mean the Cobalt SS is a superior car, its just light weight with decent power/ chassis. The EVO with its sophisticated AWD system will benefit a lot more from extra power on the race track. The Cobalt like the MS3 is quite limited being FWD and much more power over stock probably won’t help its case too much around a race track.

My point with the 1 up menship is that I'm not as impressed with it like I'm impressed with a company that has the balls to try something new to begin with. It's like the 8 min abs gimmick, a couple months later someone comes out with 7 min abs and boom! Big f'n deal. Sorry but I just don't look at the Cobalt as the 2nd coming of Christ, just a classic case of 1up menship of an orginal idea. To be fair I guess the neon srt-4 sort of begun all of this.

[jnr5005]

The Cobalt beat the following cars around the track, in Car and Driver's The Lightning Lap at VIR (2008, Great Article!):

Evo X MR
BMW 135i
Lexus ISF
Audi S5
Honda S2000 CR
Dodge Challenger SRT-8
Lotus Elise SC
Infinity G37 S
WRX STI
SRT-4
VW R32
etc.

[Stoßtrupp]

Originally Posted by jnr5005

The Cobalt beat the following cars around the track, in Car and Driver's The Lightning Lap at VIR (2008, Great Article!):

Evo X MR
BMW 135i
Lexus ISF
Audi S5
Honda S2000 CR
Dodge Challenger SRT-8
Lotus Elise SC
Infinity G37 S
WRX STI
SRT-4
VW R32
etc.

Sure and you'll also see one year before on the same course (Different conditions and probably driver) the MS3 finished in 3:16 which is also just as fast or faster than alot of the cars on that list.

http://www.fastestlaps.com/track20.html

26. Chevrolet Cobalt SS/TC
3:13.0
´08 260 / 1352 Car&Driver
27. Mitsubishi EVO X MR SST
3:13.3
´08 299 / 1675 Car&Driver
28. Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX
3:13.5
´05 290 / 1482 Car and Driver
29. BMW 135i Coupe (E82)
3:13.7
´07 306 / 1485 Car&Driver
30. Lexus IS F
3:14.0
´07 423 / 1732 Car&Driver
31. Audi S5
3:14.6
´07 354 / 1630 Car&Driver
32. Pontiac Solstice GXP
3:15,7
´06 264 / 1337 Car And Driver
33. Honda S2000 Type S
3:15.0
´07 242 / 1270 Car&Driver
34. Mazda 3 MPS
3:16.0 06 260 / 1485 Car and Driver

35.Dodge Challenger SRT-8
3:16.3
´09 431 / 1904 Car&Driver
36. Lotus Elise SC
3:16.6
´08 217 / 913 Car&Driver
37. Infiniti G37 Coupe
3:17.5
´08 335 / 1710 Car&Driver
38. Dodge Charger SRT-8
3:18.2
´05 431 / 1887 Car and Driver
39. Mazda RX-8
3:19.0
´02 231 / 1379 Car and Driver
40. Subaru Impreza WRX STI (2.5l)
3:19.0
´07 300 / 1527 Car&Driver
41. Chevrolet Cobalt SS
3:20.6
´05 208 / 1273 Car and Driver
42. Dodge Caliber SRT4
3:20.8
´08 288 / 1505 Car&Driver
43. Ford Mustang GT
3:20.9
´04 300 / 1580 Car and Driver
44. VW Golf R32
3:21.8
´05 247 / 1510 Car&Driver
45. Mini Cooper S (Mk II)
3:22.9
´06 174 / 1206 Car and Driver
46. Honda Civic Mugen Si
3:24.8
´08 200 / 1337 Car&Driver
47. VW Golf GTI Mk V
3:25.1
´04 200 / 1303 Car and Driver
48. Honda Civic SI
3:26.5
´06 197 / 1330 Car and Driver
49. Volvo C30 T5
3:26.6
´06 220 / 1453 Car&Driver
50. Mazda MX-5 2.0 MZR
3:29.3
´05 160 / 1150 Car and Driver

[jnr5005]

Thanks that is what I was looking for- couldn't download the PDF on this computer so I just broke out the mag haha. ^Good stuff^. I can't believe our car is faster than an Elise S.

[Super Unique]

I have said it before, and will say it again. The people who design american cars have always known how to put together a great handling/performing/driving car. Getting it past the comittees and bean counters is the issue for most. We can only hope the recent batch of designs out of Detroit are only a preview of better things to come in the near future.

[dizzin9]

we could only dream of these kind of #s...

CLIK MEEH

[jnr5005]

^I believe that one just has intake/exhaust/downpipe lol.^

[Stoßtrupp]

Originally Posted by jnr5005

^I believe that one just has intake/exhaust/downpipe lol.^

umm no, not if its running 10's. Probably a different motor/turbo all together

[Stavesacre21]

I had it narrowed down to the 2009 SS and the 2010 MS3 myself. Everyone here seems to be saying that they're completely different machines...really? a vette and a chevette are completely different machines...SS and MS3, not so much. One's an american sedan and the other's a japanese hatch...that's about it. Interior and general feel are what sold me to the MS3.

Being a few tenths of a second apart in times, it's almost a drivers race...if you're even racing. I bought mine purely because it was quick, fun and had 4 doors so i'd be able to seat the kids coming in the future. That and the fact that every other kid that owns a lil pocket rocket like this slams the @#$% outta it, so buying anything used is almost a lost cause in terms of condition.

In my findings, they are both great cars and you couldn't really go wrong with either one. SS had 2 things that the MS3 didn't....sunroof and a USB drive. The MS3 has something the SS didn't...a step-up interior and feel.

I went with the 2010 MS3.

[Ricktalife]

You know i really don't even care about the Cobalt SS/TC. Like it was said above, the MS3 just has a better feel to it, and it looks damn good going down the road whether you're inside or outside of it. The Cobalt has a little more power...big deal. It's not like you guys are driving an MSP...LOL bashing on myself. If you want cheap power and don't care if people make fun of your car because it looks gawd awful, go buy a civic hatch and drop the famous GSR motor in it. OHHH BIG POWER! If you want a car that is all around nice and doesn't break the bank...MAZDA FO LIFE.

[boosted1]

If you want a 'rental car' on steroids,buy a Cobalt SS. Just don't complain when the car begins to self-destruct, after 8 months of ownership.

[Ricktalife]

Originally Posted by boosted1

If you want a 'rental car' on steroids,buy a Cobalt SS. Just don't complain when the car begins to self-destruct, after 8 months of ownership.

don't forget how awesome the resale value will be.

[Stavesacre21]

Originally Posted by boosted1

If you want a 'rental car' on steroids,buy a Cobalt SS. Just don't complain when the car begins to self-destruct, after 8 months of ownership.

Don't be ridiculous. You'd have at least a year.

The fact that all the SS sedans I was looking at had almost 200 miles on them and had been on the lot for almost 11 months kinda spoke louder then the salesman. And trust me, that was hard to do.

The SS woulda certainly been the cheaper choice, that's for sure. I had the $25,700 sticker knocked down to $22,500 without even trying. Probably coulda got $21,500 for one if you had some cash to do the talking for you.

All said and done, even for almost $3,500 more, i'm still happy I chose the MS3. It's engine just feels so much smoother too. Mazda has always made their engines so buttery smooth that it's just untouchable.

[ElGaspo]

Originally Posted by Stavesacre21

The fact that all the SS sedans I was looking at had almost 200 miles on them and had been on the lot for almost 11 months kinda spoke louder then the salesman. And trust me, that was hard to do.

Ha! Good 'un!

[boosted1]

Originally Posted by Stavesacre21

Don't be ridiculous. You'd have at least a year.

The fact that all the SS sedans I was looking at had almost 200 miles on them and had been on the lot for almost 11 months kinda spoke louder then the salesman. And trust me, that was hard to do.

The SS woulda certainly been the cheaper choice, that's for sure. I had the $25,700 sticker knocked down to $22,500 without even trying. Probably coulda got $21,500 for one if you had some cash to do the talking for you.

All said and done, even for almost $3,500 more, i'm still happy I chose the MS3. It's engine just feels so much smoother too. Mazda has always made their engines so buttery smooth that it's just untouchable.

You made the smart choice by purchasing the '10 MS3.