The new Cobalt SS is amazing! A turbo 2.0L making 260hp and 260lb-ft (AT 2000RPM ). The suspension and brakes are supposed to really make this car track worthy, but what do you expect from a pair of four piston fixed Brembos on 12+ inch rotors. You're supposed to be able to shift the car without taking your foot from full throttle, keeping the engine revved and the turbo spooled! It took the North Loop at Nuerburgring in only 8:22.25, a new front-wheel drive track record.

Yeah, I was actually extremely impressed with that. If I had to get a 4 cylinder, I'd definitely get one of those. It seems like a really great little car, but the fwd does limit it all they need to do is waste some money (which they dont have) and slap an awd system on there.

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02 Ford Mustang GT
4.6 L - 2V - 5 speed
thunderhorse

I really like the Cobalt SS, I have since they first released the supercharged SS of old. What I don't like about the Cobalt SS is that it is $20,000+ new and it's hard finding a decent low mileage one used for less than $15000. And I'll agree with Apollo, 260hp to the front wheels is going to create some hardcore performance problems on the limit, that sort of set up is not the best with that sort of power. Chevrolet should take some cues from Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division and consider doing an AWD model.

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2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1993 Mercury Topaz GS coupe (soon to be deceased)

That setup does create some advantages over RWD. It puts the weight over the drive tires, and also gives the car the better stability inherent in an FWD. Worrying about the price and wanting an AWD system causes a conflict. Putting in an AWD system would mean a near complete reengineering of the car, which would naturally cause a great price increase. Also, the Cobalt's Dodge competitor, the Caliber, only comes in AWD with the R/T package. The highest performance model (SRT-4) still comes in FWD. The SRT-4 and the Cobalt SS are both priced pretty close to the same, the Cobalt SS's base MSRP being about a grand cheaper, and cheaper still than a basic WRX sedan. Frankly, this is still a car that someone can hop into, get a good feel for, and hit the track, no mods needed, and it's still one of, if not the, cheapest car(s) in its class.

Those are all good points, but I would love for GM or Ford to get serious and make something that competes with the WRX STi and the EVO. Ford should brign the Falcon over here, and Chevy should make this bad boy awd.

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02 Ford Mustang GT
4.6 L - 2V - 5 speed
thunderhorse

The R/T may not be the top of the range, but AWD cars are still quicker off the line with less energy lost to wheel spin. Of course an AWD system will add a good $5000 to the price of the car but it's worth it. I have an AWD Talon right now and I've driven Turbo FWD DSMs as well, off the line a FWD car with the same power couldn't hold a stick to the AWD, it just leaves the FWD cars in the dust. The only two disadvantages come in the form of price and weight, otherwise AWD cars provide the usability of a FWD car, the sportiness of a RWD car (especially with an adjustable center diff), and the stability and control that makes AWD the choice for inclimate weather. Since the Cobalt is originally a FWD car, it wouldn't be too hard to convert one to AWD. Minor tweaks to the transmission, exhaust, rear suspension and floor pan are all it takes, GM could easily handle that.

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2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1993 Mercury Topaz GS coupe (soon to be deceased)

My grandma's got one, I like it, I told her I was gonna take it

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-Escort Racing Development Team

You really know that the SS means super slow (just kidding) but thats really cool that you have all the stuff in it

I'm afraid your Talons are also a little bit out of date. the Cobalt SS comes with a Traction Control System to counter spin happy wheels. So it really costs the driver a lot extra to get an AWD system in the car. He gets at least as good a launch, without dropping at least an extra $5000 or adding all the weight, and it comes out to be cheaper for GM because they don't need to drop the extra money that, lets face it, no one can really afford these days, let alone the American car companys.

And before anyone starts off on American cars being inferior to Japanese ones, let me just say I've had at least one of each, and it'll be a long time, if i ever do again, before I look forward to getting another Japanese car. I have never seen a thermostat that was as hard to replace as on my '89 Integra. And i don't think it was as reliable a car as the rotted '91 Dodge Shadow America, and certainly not as comfortable. Not to mention it doesn't handle as well as my '97 Cavalier with KYB shocks and struts. But then, i don't remember the last time i saw a car crumple the way it did when it went head on into the lumina that turned left in front of me.

I LOVE CHEVY COBALT SS.

THE answer to the import mess....LOL.

In 2004 chevy made 1000+hp from the 2.2 eco tech.... why mess with four Hamster when you have V8 HP in the new cobalt.

this might be my next sport compact to dumb the imports down....

GENERAL MOTOR is the GENERAL of HORSEPOWER..

Remember the 88 dodge horizon with a 225HP turbo 16 valve (lotus cylinder heads) 2.0 motor.

A V8 in a Cobalt will make it too front heavy no to mention lower the fuel mileage becaus you got to feed twice as more cylinders than originally

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-Escort Racing Development Team

"V8 HP"... horsepower numbers comparable to a V8.

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02 Ford Mustang GT
4.6 L - 2V - 5 speed
thunderhorse

The ss is great because i dont know if you have read i believe it was road and tracks article the fast and the frugal. But not only does this car get great gas mileage even with the 260hp 4cylinder. They said that it has some of the best handling of most cars they even said that to say it was the best handling fwd was and UNDERSTATEMENT, they said it should be considered one of the best. So just some uhh food for thought i guess.