2006 Chevrolet Cobalt LT from North America - Comments

Nothing.

This is probably the nicest "small car" Chevrolet has ever produced. While the handling is not quite up to the level of the Mazda3 or new Civic, the power is effortless in comparison. Fit and finish are first-rate for a domestic in this price class. All in all, it's a very comfortable and easy car to drive.

We have the LT sedan with the Sport Package. Do yourself a favor and blow off the base model. Hand-crank windows? Gimme a break. Also, the coupe (our first choice, initially,) had severe problems with rear visibility, which ruled it out upon driving it.

Thank you for your review. I am considering a Cobalt for my next car. One thing I have to take issue with you for. I am considering the Cobalt, in part, BECAUSE it offers hand cranked windows. Its hard to get hand cranked windows in a car anymore. I hate power windows. They are just one more thing to go wrong, and, anyway, what if your car falls into a river with you in it? The power windows can short out and you can drown in it, trapped like a rat. (Pardon the expression.)

In re the possibility of the power windows failing: Have you seen the factory service manual for this car? It's 4500 pages, and at least half of that relates to electrical issues. There are so many other things to go wrong that the windows are a tiny drop in the bucket. :^) FWIW, most other new cars are also similarly intense. Actually, my experience has been that hand-cranked windows are just as likely to fail if not moreso, unfortunately.

I wouldn't mind hand-cranks so much if I didn't have to contort myself out of the seat belt to roll down the passenger side.

In re taking a swim, if you involuntarily chose to do so, the usual trick is to wait for the water pressure to equalize, and then open the door. Also, you'd be surprised how easy it is to kick out the windshield in these cars, particularly if you're up to your earlobes in lake water. Don't ask me how I know this.

Thank you for your reply to my comment about the power windows. I just became suspicious of power windows because, two times in a row, I rented cars, and BOTH had windows at the driver's seat that were stuck all the way up. That wasn't so bad, but in addition, I have heard horror stories about drivers who had their power windows stuck in the DOWN position. This would be especially bad in the winter time! So, I will insist, no power windows for me! I do respect your opinion, and appreciate your reply.

In reading your review and comments, I was reminded of an incident my best friend's boss had some years back. She was on her way to work in her brand new and very expensive sports car when she realized, to her horror, that not only would her power windows not go down, but her DOORS wouldn't open either!! She frantically drove in to a dealer's service department and got someone's attention by yelling and banging on her window. They had to get her out thru the SUN ROOF!! The power locks and window controls had frozen everything shut. Hopefully steps have been taken by auto makers so that that can't happen now (I hope!!)

I am interested in the LT model mainly for the seats. I have sat in both an LS and LT and the seats in the LT just seem to be more comfortable.

I also have issues with power windows, even though I like them they were the first thing to go on all the older cars I've owned.

Its much easier to find a used LS and I'm having troublee finding a used LT 2006, but I keep looking just because of the seat.