It's funny how many people just look at HP/TQ and performance numbers and make that the single basis of how enjoyable a car is to own/drive. FWD sucks end of story. There is a reason that BMW, MB, Porsche, Ferrari, and all other elite carmakers don't make a FWD car and that's because it's only use is for economy and commuter cars. Cars like the Cobalt SS and SRT-4 are fun stock but their handling is inversly proportional to the amount of aftermarket power you add making them more of a chore to drive at high speeds. I'm dating myself but many of us learned the hard way in the old DSM days that the modding Eclipse GST's was a waste of time and money as you always ended up lusting over the GSX's no matter how nice you made the car. I'm not a Subaru lover but I give them full credit for knowing FWD sucks and refusing to offer even an entry level FWD vehicle.

I am in no way saying the SS is a bad car but all the people backing it I suggest you buy one. I garentee you won't keep it for two years maybe even one.

 

In stock form, why would you hate the SS as a DD. How much torque steer etc are you really going to hate daily. I doubt many people launch or flog their car that much. I will say that on a wet street in second at full go, the front was slidding around on my SS test drive.

I agree that mods are not good and if you want a 500HP DD it is not the way to go. But, for 21k OTD, it seems like a huge bargain. Brembos, Near Recaro quality seats, an excellent shifter and a pretty good warranty. One other thing you overlook is the GMPP offers factory stage kits with tuning for $650 plus install and you still get your warranty if the dealer installs them. I think the results are about 290hp and 320 ft/lbs. While off the line, that me be slightly problematic with traction, it should still be VERY fast straightline for about 22k. When you are done with the EVO, you are talking 35k depending on mods. So, I think you can buy a lot of tires for 13k. Not defending the SS, just making a point to not dismiss the price point. If GM would make it AWD, WOW.

 

Heritage? World class car? You drive a Lancer. I drive a Lancer. Lancers are not world class cars, fast or not. WRC wins may mean something to you and me, but if you think the average person looks at our silly big-winged econoboxes and thinks of heritage, you're delusional.

 

GM made the Cobalt to give people something else to buy other than a Civic Si. It just happens to do pretty good against EVO's as well for much cheaper. How are you speaking from experience when you never owned one, but your buddies did? The Cobalts they owned are nothing close to what the new turbo model is.

GM is already making stage kits for the SS, just like Dodge did with the SRT4. Being a EVO owner, you should know that it doesn't take long to people to start offering thier own mods like ETS, AMS, and Buschur did within a few weeks of getting thier hands on a EVO.

FWD might suck, but they can still be competative. 400whp in a much lighter car works wonders when your competing against much heavier AWD cars. I agree that the EVO is a better modding platform that you can take further, but I just find it funny that everyone is taking away from the Cobalt.

Seems to be doing just fine without it...

Like I mentioned before, there is a small handful of people that will actually road race thier cars. Most people on here and other forums either drag race or hand tests of speed on the street which doesn't involve handling at all. Both the SRT and SS are leap and bounds over a 2G GST in handling.

Everyone keeps bringing up economy cars. Do any of you realize where our cars came from?

What it all boils down to is that the Cobalt is much cheaper than the EVO and stock for stock competes and everyone feels threatened. The same thing happened with the SRT when it first came out. It didn't handle as well, but it was just as fast. Other than that the only other reason for the hate is that the car isn't "mad JDM tyte yo."

 

We all drive econoboxes. Its just ours cost alot more.

 

We don't drive Lancers; we drive Evos that share no parts with the Lancer other than some interior trim, the front door skins, and the trunk lid. Hell, even the glazing isn't the same. The Evo is a world-class machine, as measured by every automotive constraint available. Gauging that factor from the POV of the ignorant is, well, laughable.

 

the evo is a lancer..more this generation than ever. similar body styles "4B11" engines shared which are of course totally different..its the straight definition of big brother little brother game..

when you look at the 2 you can tell they are both closely related both inside and out..but taking a good look u can tell that they are not the same..evos are for true car enthusiasts lancers are for people who want to save gas..any person who knows anything about cars shouldnt have a hard time telling the difference between a lancer and an evo i think the distinction that they made body wise was a good choice, i can tell almost immediately from the front or rear what it is..

 

The GTR uses alot of part from the Nissan part bin but it's a world class car. The EVO X world class in it's handling & AWD system and while it is based off the Lancer the only thing they share is the interior and platform. The EVO X has been invloved in numerous multi-car comparisons involving cars that cost more than twice the cost. To say the EVO is just a Lancer is a slap in the face to anyone that has purchased one for almost double the cost of a base Lancer.

BTW: The average person drives a Toyota Camry so really who here expects them to acknowledge anything you drive wether it be a Porsche 911 or a lowly EVO. Anyone that follows cars even mildly knows what the EVO is.

 

<grin> My response was aimed at the individual who has a CT9A. As for X, well, you make-up your own mind. With the CT9A, there was no big brother - little brother game. The cars are as different as could be from every perspective.

 

You don't understand what I was getting at. You don't have to tell me that the Evo isn't a regular Lancer. I wouldn't be driving one if I didn't know that.

There is, however, something very wrong with slamming the Cobalt SS because of your perceived lack of its "world class" status or heritage. You said the Evo will be remembered as an Evo in five years. By the average person? Dream on. By a car enthusiast? Of course. And you know what the Cobalt SS will be remembered as by a car enthusiast in five years? That $20,000 FWD thing that matched the $40,000 Evo X MR's performance in every head-to-head test. Oh dear, that's not good.

If you think the Evo's heritage (or whatever you want to call it) means it's a better car that the Cobalt SS, then you have no choice but to admit that the Corvette is a WAAAAAAAY better car than the Evo, having been in continuous production since the 1950's. Let's see what happens when you replace a few words in your original post.

"At least the Corvette has heritage and is recognized as a world class car and in five years it will still be an Corvette. In five years the Evo will be long forgotten."

Makes more sense to me than the Evo/Cobalt comparison. I wonder how you'd respond if you saw that written on a Vette forum, because I'm sure it has been many times.

By the way, ask the average person to pick a Corvette or 911 out from a crowd of regular cars and you'll probably have no problem. Then try it with an Evo. Especially a wingless one.

 

Closed until I have a chance to look though the mess....

...read though it. Run its course now its off. Not reopening.