Cobalt SS n Civic (Si) opinions

[-The Stig-]

Originally Posted by GForce957

Your mom's on my payroll

[BullDog71ss]

Originally Posted by RedNeck383

Dude, he so owned you with that origional.

[Gohan Ryu]

IMO magazines like Car & Driver and Road & Track aren't really meant for guys that are interested in street racing. Those magazines are more for people who care about road noise, interior design quality, how well the AC/heater works, resale value etc... They don't just focus on 1/4 mile and slalom times (things that AFer's would consider most important). With all of those things taken into consideration, a slower car can rank higher than the faster car if you can reach the radio buttons easily and read the speedometer at a glance (ergonomics).

[Ace$nyper]

Originally Posted by Gohan Ryu

IMO magazines like Car & Driver and Road & Track aren't really meant for guys that are interested in street racing. Those magazines are more for people who care about road noise, interior design quality, how well the AC/heater works, resale value etc... They don't just focus on 1/4 mile and slalom times (things that AFer's would consider most important). With all of those things taken into consideration, a slower car can rank higher than the faster car if you can reach the radio buttons easily and read the speedometer at a glance (ergonomics).

Hmm how to word this nicely. No offence meant.

Once you grow up you want both things.

the .2 sec faster 1/4 time doesn't matter if your backs sore to 99.5%
but they dont want to be 2 full secs behind either.

Yes I think C&D can be biased but I think the RSX is comfier and just as much fun to drive as WRX or SRT-4.

I like my little hatch but its loud bouncy and screams TICKET ME IM A 16 year old!

My new car couldn't dream of handling like hatchy can but Pulls almost as hard has a nice system leather power everything and is a blast to drive.

I like driving it every day more then my hatch.

I've ridden in ion redline short of the retarded gauge and saturn badge i liked it better then RSX but RSX is around 5 times as classy and pretty peppy as well. I feel they are biased alot but It was fair to say it was a better car.

[GForce957]

Originally Posted by BullDog71ss

Dude, he so owned you with that origional.

Haha, original insults are my stock of trade

I agree with you Gohan Ryu, with mags like that, i check the stats, and skim thru their review. It hardly ever concerns something i would personally not buy a car about. ZOMG 4 CuPhOlDeRs in the new mx-5!!11!

Who gives a donkey shit, how does it drive?

[Gohan Ryu]

Originally Posted by Ace$nyper

Hmm how to word this nicely. No offence meant.

I don't really see how I could take offense...you didn't contradict me in any way.

Age doesn't really have anything to do with what you want from a car. It's all about personal interest. I know a 51 year old guy who bought a real backbreaker of a car because he is an automotive enthusiast, not an old fart lumbering around in a 300hp Lincoln Towncar.

...and actually I've taken a few rides in an Ion and I thought it was a plastic piece of shit (brand new and the trim in the interior was starting to come loose ), but was fairly quick. My friend had to bring it back to the dealer a few times with the first month to fix a few things they didn't install right at the factory. I agree the RSX is 5 times classier. But it's still a matter of personal opinion which you would rather have. I'm pretty familiar with your hatred for all things Honda so I understand your opinion.

[BullDog71ss]

Originally Posted by Gohan Ryu

IMO magazines like Car & Driver and Road & Track aren't really meant for guys that are interested in street racing. Those magazines are more for people who care about road noise, interior design quality, how well the AC/heater works, resale value etc... They don't just focus on 1/4 mile and slalom times (things that AFer's would consider most important). With all of those things taken into consideration, a slower car can rank higher than the faster car if you can reach the radio buttons easily and read the speedometer at a glance (ergonomics).

As far as ergonimics go the SS/SC is one of the best I've ever been in. And if you're too lazy to reach the 12 inches from the wheel to press the radio controls then you can always use the radio buttons on the wheel. The steering wheel itself is also very solid feeling with very good grip. I really like the comfort and feel of this wheel.

The fit in the Cobalt interior-wise is a bit above average, but not quite as good as what's found in an Acura. My biggest gripe about the interior qaulity is the simulated brushed aluminium, which is really painted plastic. The door grips are have these plastic inserts and are all scratched up. But aside from the simulated metal door grip being scratched, everything else is still in like new condition. The rest of the materials in the interior feel very solid and "chunky" as they say on topgear. However, GM didn't use the best leather they could find, as it is a bit cheap and tends to wrinkle after a few thousand miles under a 155 pound ass. But, it's still cooler looking and better smelling than cloth.

The pedals are spaced very comfortably, even for people with larger feet (I wear a size 11 1/2). Heel toeing is a snap and for a car like the SS it's a nice thing to be able to do easily. There are also many cubby holes to stash all kinds of things which I was very surprised about and it's got four usable cupholders! (Americans love cupholders) One thing about the front ones is that if you have two large sodas in the front ones then they can get in the way of the shifter, but this is solved by moving one to the rear cupholders.

Overall, the cabin of the SS/SC is a very comfortable environment to travel in and it's got just about everything one would need to make life in a vehicle tollerable and none of the junk that doesn't belong in a sports car. Comfort and minimalism at it's best...I like that. Yes there are better interiors in better cars out there, but good luck finding one for $21,500 US after tax/title with the thrills that come with the Cobalt.



I attached these pics so you guys can make your own opinions on the interior for comparisons' sake. If you're interested is some different angles then just lemme know.


This one was shot from my exact driving view.

[Right_LiRrr]

How do you Americans shift with your right hand...i'll never understand...

[clawhammer]

After seeing Bulldog's pictures I'd like to see another picture of the tach. It seems kind of hard to read as in where the redline is, but I guess you'd only need to see that once.

I'm absolutely disgusted with the quality of the door insert. I mean imagine what it's going to look like 15 years from now with 200k miles.

As for the whole magazine discussion thing, I agree that it is a matter of personality and not age. I'm 18 years old, and I'd be more interested in having a car that's comfortable for every day driving, rather than being .2 seconds faster in the 1/4. That's probably because for the past year I've been driving a really beat up CRX with absolutely no comfort. No AC, no power anything, manual steering (which I absolutely love), no ABS, etc, so I kind of feel the need for comfort.

[carrrnuttt]

^ That didn't help your case, or your car's resale value at all, mang...

Your car isn't even a year old.

Not saying that to support, or denigrate either car being discussed in this thread, because personally, I'd rather use what I'd have to put down in downpayment for either car, and buy me an MR2 cash with that same money, or another beat-up SE-R like I had, and have the time of my life, while not worrying about the car getting stolen (well, maybe the MR) and having insurance rates that'll allow me to have extra gas for "fun".

[L98Driver]

IDC, GM IS MAKING such a great effort to win ppl over again, with better higher quality cars, COBALT supercharged ss is my choice, plus i like the 210 hp, vs. the civic's LAUGH 160 hp, plus like i said i'm buyist towards GM products anyway

[BullDog71ss]

Mine is the only door grip that I've seen that's doing that. The passenger side is perfect as well and my buddies use it all the time. I think the culprit is my hands. I do construction work and my hands are horribly callused and rough. Rough enough to scratch the finish off I believe.

The reason I showed the pics of it is because I don't want to throw out a biased opinion and try to sugar coat it by hiding the faults. It's in no way a perfect car. However, I still love it despite it's faults because it's such a nice car to drive.

I've also heard that on some VW's that the same type of plastic grip thing on the doors wears very badly from women touching them with lotion on their hands. So even German cars aren't perfect.

I'm going to see if I can get it replaced by the dealership soon. If they won't do it I'll just replace it when it comes time to sell.

[BullDog71ss]

Originally Posted by Right_LiRrr

How do you Americans shift with your right hand...i'll never understand...

Being right hand dominant it's very easy for me.

[2000LS1Z28]

Originally Posted by clawhammer

This thread is trying to pick the best overall car as well. Nobody here argued that the Si outperformed the SS, all we were saying that overall it's a better car than the SS.

The Civic Si is an overall better car, due to sheer quality and refinement. Of course when you're at a stoplight with a honey, and some dude in an S/C pulls up to you, look the other way, cause you're gonna get smoked.

To me keeping face is more important then refinement. I don't like seeing taillights.

[Right_LiRrr]

Originally Posted by BullDog71ss

Being right hand dominant it's very easy for me.

Dont' worry, I shift with my right hand sometimes as well...when my left is busy ;-)