FYI: Cobalt = Cavalier

[Holyterror]

It seems like a lot of people are buying the hype of the commercials and letting GM get away with pretending it's some new "high-performance" vehicle, even going so far as to compare it with - holy crap - the Corvette! In actuality, the Cobalt is simply the next generation Cavalier. If you don't believe me, read this article from June '03: http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/...3_20030603.htm

So, plain and simple:

The Cobalt IS the new Cavalier!

So the Aveo is GM's dirt-cheap econo-box, and the Cobalt will retain the Cavalier's place as the second tier of the entry-level. Updated styling, new engine, and an SS Model (to compete with SRT-4, etc.), but still just a cavalier. If you are a J-body fan, then don't let me curb your excitement. But if you're buying the hype and think that the Cobalt is somehow the Vette's "little brother", I'm afraid not.

Okay, I'm done.

[y2icon]

hey capt obvious want a medal?

they market the vet with cobalt as humor. watch the commericals there fun and you remember the cobalt this way.

you want to bash the cobalt do it in the import
section. here in the cobalt forum should be for postive cobalt stuff not crap

[Holyterror]

Read the other posts, pal. However "obvious" it is to you, other people hadn't caught on yet. For example, read this thread and see how many people seemed to think that the Cobalt and Cavalier were two separate models being produced at the same time.

Originally Posted by y2icon

Is there any car coming out in 2005 that can compare to the style and great gas mileage of a cobalt?

[snip]

i was thinking cav but always thought of it as a "girl car"(no offense ladies)

All I said was that "The Cobalt IS the new Cavlier", and that it isn't the Corvette's little brother. If you call that "bashing," then either you have a problem with the Cavalier, or you're being unrealistic. There is no rational comparison between a $50k RWD V8-powered legend and a brand new $20k FWD I4 economy car.

And, BTW, advertisers rarely associate things randomly, or just to be "fun." Pick up a psychology textbook. Chevy is trying to get the I like the Corvette but I can't afford it crowd to think "Hey, I can afford this Cobalt, which must be the next best thing." It's the same reason that Fox uses ads to associate its new series House with 24. Audience by association.

I'm not trying to praise or bash anyone or anything. I'm just telling it like it is.

[Zero8985]

Originally Posted by Holyterror

And, BTW, advertisers rarely associate things randomly, or just to be "fun." Pick up a psychology textbook. Chevy is trying to get the I like the Corvette but I can't afford it crowd to think "Hey, I can afford this Cobalt, which must be the next best thing." It's the same reason that Fox uses ads to associate its new series House with 24. Audience by association.

I'm not trying to praise or bash anyone or anything. I'm just telling it like it is.

Your right about GM advertising the Cobalt as the younger sibling to the Corvette, but in no way are they saying that it's the next best thing, or the alternative for someone who can't afford a vette. GM is using the comparison of Cobalt and Corvette as comedic humor. The cobalt is being the annoying little brother to the older brother corvette in a.) The garage commerical when the cobalt beeps and flashes it's lights, waking the vette, b.) following the vette really closely and tapping it from behind constantly until he abruptly turns around, and c.) when he races him, taunts him, until he fires back and leaves the cobalt in the dust, resulting in the vette getting in trouble with the parents (the cops).
If GM had any other meaning behind it, i would only come to the conclusion that the younger brother Cobalt would appeal to the "Younger" crowd as it stirs things up a bit. Your right about there being no rational comparison between purchasing a vette or purchasing a cobalt, but that was never the comparison. There are alot of people in the "I like the corvette but i can't afford it crowd", but GM has a bunch of other cars it would like to sell also, so they'd be out of there mind just to focus that aspect of it on the Cobalt SS, especially when they have a Monte Carlo SS and an Impala SS to market in a perfomance aspect. I'd think in the purchasing aspect of the commercial, GM is trying to say "Hey, look it me, i'm just like the SRT-4 but better".

[greendayhbt26]

ive known for over a year that the colbalt is the new cavalier, ive read numerous articles stating this. the only reason they added a new name with the re-styling is so the general public wouldnt relate the cavalier with this new car, its like wiping the slate clean. to the everyday consumer they dont care what chassis its on or anything technical. this is also why they re-named the grand am the G6

[gonenuts15792]

It is not the new Cavalier. The cavalier was the Aveo of its time. Then the Aveo came along to fill that void, and GM decided to do away with the Cavalier and move upstyle a little more. The Cobalt starts off in price almost where the Cavalier topped off. It is a Premium Compact sedan. The Cavalier was a budget sedan, and thats what the Aveo is. People who would have bought a Cavalier might buy a Cobalt but its a totally different beast. Remember Car and Driver called it a Mini Lexus, can't say that about a Cavalier. So rather you think so are not the Cobalt is not a spiced up Cavalier, its a completely different vehicle that is more upstyle and a much better. I would even say its giving all the imports in the premium compact section a good run for its money. They are solid well performing cars, contrary to what a lot of people want to tell you on this board. Which seems to lean heavily to the import loving ricer crowd, which is to bad, it would be a great board otherwise.

[89IROC&RS]

again i throw out the comparison of the cavalier and cobalt to a comparison of the 350cid sbc and LS1. They appear to be the same, they share similar dimentions and characteristics, but they are very different animals.

Motor Trend has a very informative review of the new Cobalt, and it is quite impressive. although i would have preferred, as would the sport compact crowd i assume, a turbo instead of a supercharger, and did have dreams of an AWD setup, im certainly no dissapointed at Chevy's first shot at the sport compact market.

[gonenuts15792]

AWD, not many other Sport compacts offer that, and I think this is the best sport compact you can get.

[89IROC&RS]

the only reason i was hoping for it, is i did some design work, all theoretical of course, regarding grafting the awd system from a venture van into a cavalier. its small, lightweight, and would need some R&D in order to handle any level of performance power, in fact i dont know what its safty rated power level is, but it would be lightweight, and relatively easy to modify to fit the J-body frame, creating an AWD sport compact. However i have only figured out the automatic tranny equipped version thus far. While i dont really know, i assume the Cobalt suspention setup is similar to the Cavalier as far as design, and the same AWD setup would be a possible modification to the car. I have several ideas about GM cars that i thought up over the years that have come into production (alla the 7.0L LS1 in the vette) so i was hoping that this would be another, like i said, just dreams.

[gonenuts15792]

Is the review of the Cobalt in the Current Issue? The one with the CTS-V, 300C SRT8, and GTO on the cover?

[88novarules]

It would have been nice to see the ss version have a turbo. They could have gotten alot more hp out of the car, but superchargers tend to be a little more torqier than turbos.

[gonenuts15792]

Does any other Sport Compact have a Turbo?

[88novarules]

Originally Posted by gonenuts15792

Does any other Sport Compact have a Turbo?

yes yes indeed, neon srt4, mr2, evo VIII, celica, wrx, citreon xsara t4, over in japan silvia s13, 180sx, skyline gts. American manufactures sway from turbo charging thier cars, plus they tend to under power thier cars.

[gonenuts15792]

Originally Posted by 88novarules

yes yes indeed, neon srt4, mr2, evo VIII, celica, wrx, citreon xsara t4, over in japan silvia s13, 180sx, skyline gts. American manufactures sway from turbo charging thier cars, plus they tend to under power thier cars.

Yeah right, V8 powered Sedans, such as the Impala, Monte Carlo, 300C. Not to mention the SUVs, I'd hate to break it to you but I think America has japan beat on HP. Remember the Buick Grand National, I believe that had a Turbo, don't forget SAAB either, they are owned by GM.

[gonenuts15792]

SuperChargers are usually more reliable also.