2005 Chevrolet Cobalt from North America - Comments

I remember having high hope for the purchase of a Chevrolet Cobalt.

I walked into the dealership, a salesman immediately ran over to me and the conversation started.

I sat down at his desk and we began to talk about the cobalt, price, options etc...

The salesman started to take my name along with Address etc...

Then out of the corner of his eye he spotted a person looking at a new Corvette on his lot.

He stated: excuse me for 1 min...

The salesman dropped me like a hobbit and immediately started the entire above scenario with the individual looking at the new Corvette.

I became extremely insulted, i stood and approached another salesman and said "that salesperson completely forgot about me concerning a purposed sale on a Cobalt"

The second salesman replied: Cobalt is Chevy's lowest priced inferior vehicle, perhaps you would be interested in something else?

WTF, here i am trying to buy a new car and was being treated like some poor white trash, both sales reps didn't even want to bother selling the Cobalt...

After a day i began to realize that the Cobalt along with many other low cost vehicles are treated by the dealerships as basic transportation for very low income people.

Sadly, i though i was making a difference with both the economy and fuel cost; I guess i was wrong...

I've driven the Cobalt, Focus, Corolla, Hyundai Accent, Dodge Caliber and Pontiac G-5 (same car as the Cobalt). I haven't bought yet, but will most likely buy the Pontiac G-5.

GM build quality is world class and they are thousands cheaper than the Corolla. In addition, the Corolla is, apparently, designed as basic transportation for elderly people who don't care about styling. It is only offered in a 4-door, only comes in very bland colors (no red, just an ugly burgundy) and it is slower than ANY of the other cars I drove. My second choice would be the very smooth and well-built Hyundai Accent, which surprised the heck out if me. It was faster than the Corolla and Caliber and was as smooth as silk. It also cost 7 grand less than the Corolla and 3 grand less than the Cobalt and G-5.

I'm aware of no less than three people who have had major engine failures in Toyota Corollas in less than 60,000 miles, and the ONLY car that ever left my wife stranded in traffic with a breakdown was a Toyota Tercel with less than 30,000 miles on it. I've never heard of a Cavalier having to have an engine replaced before 60,000 miles, and the Cobalt should be even more reliable than the Cavalier. I've test driven the Cobalt and I'm very impressed with it. We currently own two GM vehicles, one 6 years old and one 4 years old. Neither has ever seen the inside of a service department except for oil changes. Where the idea comes from that GM cars are so unreliable is beyond me. I don't even know anyone who has ever had trouble with one.

Sorry, but my family had a Tercel for seven years and that thing was abused like mad, from salty western New York winters to driving six people to dinner.

In that time it had one problem and only one problem.

Both my wife and I like the little Chevy Cobalt. I think this vehicle can compete with any other make in it's class. It offers good value, reasonable performance and reliability.

It is comfortable to drive and economical to operate.

We are thinking of buying a new vehicle and have taken the Cobalt on a test drive. It doesn't seem as solid as a Corolla or Civic, but it's a lot less money and besides, any mechanic can fix it.

My present car is a ten year old Hyundai Elantra which served us reasonably well. It is however very expensive to maintain when compared to other makes. IE: Timing belt replacement etc.

Personally, I don't think the prices of the Japanese makes are justified. I like the Corolla, but I just can't see paying three thousand more for basically the same features and performance. I suppose time will tell.