CTC Review: 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt LS XFE

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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Back to basics this week, with the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt LS XFE. Those last three letters are not a sport designation or an indication of any extra features; what they stand for is Extra Fuel Economy.  Chevrolet has taken the Cobalt LS and made a few tweaks to achieve some pretty amazing fuel economy numbers: 8.0L/100km (city) and 5.4L/100km (highway).  But when I say back to basics, I am not kidding -- I can't recall the last time I drove a vehicle so spartan.  More ...

[Cortina]

heck, the Elise doesn’t even have carpets! But the Cobalt does have carpets, so that’s a huge plus for the Cobalt right there — yet it is so “hardcore” it doesn’t have power windows (something the Elise does have).

You love that feature if you crash into a lake. Me old china.

I didn’t even think vehicles without a central locking system were still made!

Honda makes a Civic DX on the market right now without powerlocks. 

[guest]

what's the point of having a day by day review on a pizza delivery vechicle ? lolz

[Alex MacLean]

As much as I love GM vehicles, I am shocked at what $16000 DOESN'T get us these days. I men honestly, 16 grand is a lot of cash. That is 6 months pay for a lot of people, especially a lot of the type of people that would be buying this car. That is crazy. And there is no excuse for anything not having power locks...it's about 100 bucks worth of parts, no excuse at all. Power windows, I can see that, they are heavy and very expensive, but locks..not so much.

A car as base as this shouldn't be selling for anything over $12 grand here, not in this trim at least. I tend to like the Cobalt... but that much coin for that few features is nuts. I was actually looking at a nice loaded Cobalt coupe tonight, and I like it a lot, but the way this test car is optioned, I don't think I could ever imagine a situation that would lead me to buy it.

That kind of money would buy a VERY nicely optioned 1 year old Cobalt with maybe 20,000 km's on it. There is just no logical reason to buy this particular vehicle. I feel bad that you have to spend 5 days with it. you're gonna run out of things to write

[Honda Owner]

A Civic DX with a/c lists at $19,600 including freight and PDI and includes power windows. It is rated at 7.4/5.4 city highway. I qualifies for a $1000 Eco Auto rebate, bringing it down to $18,600. Here in British Columbia, it is PST exempt.

But if course, a Honda is a Honda. An extra few hundred bucks for the pleasure of driving one of GM's quality products would be well worth cranking your own windows.

[dasiuyan]

A car as base as this shouldn't be selling for anything over $12 grand here, not in this trim at least. I tend to like the Cobalt... but that much coin for that few features is nuts. I was actually looking at a nice loaded Cobalt coupe tonight, and I like it a lot, but the way this test car is optioned, I don't think I could ever imagine a situation that would lead me to buy it.

I personally did not understand why car manufacturer always send out top model trim for journalist to test. In my understanding, most of the cars are sold with low to mid trim level. These should be the model that let journalist to test drive. But now i can see that low trim level test car would just drive potential customer away.

[D70]

If the object is to achieve good fuel economy then this model has the right stuff.

My 1990 Miata has similar equipment specs and it not only achieves great economy but is also fun to drive.

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/c2100/miata

[Thinking Out Loud]

Wait a year until the new Chevy global Cobalt replacement. 

You'll be able to pick up a DECENTLY equipped 2009 Cobalt NEW for less than the price of the the usual 'gently driven rental car returns'.

Anyone remember the Cavalier/Cobalt overlap?  The Cav's were cheaper than dirt in their dying days.  Kinda like the $14,888 Montana's today.

[Blueprint]

Never forget guys that msrp's aren't the out-the-door prices.  These days you can get a Mazda 3 GX new for 13,495$, and since that's the advertized price, there's probably still wiggle room in there.  Base prices for Cobalts in paper ads are in the 12k$ range.

[Honda Owner]

The Cav's were cheaper than dirt in their dying days.

The last year of the Cavalier was my last year at GM. We were selling them at $8995 including freight and PDI. Sure, they were junk but everybody knew they were awful and that that price, nobody cared. I used to cringe when I had to drive one. The even smelled cheap.

I also agree with the above poster. Said Cobalt could be had for significantly less than the sticker price. Walk in with cash and you could swing it for $14,000 or less, in my opinion. Bank financing should be available at around 7%. Alternately, you can list it as an asset and add it to your line of credit.

[Blueprint]

Mmmm... Wing, with power windows, you still need a hand (well, a finger at least), to whir the window down.

Most if not all entry-level cars have manual locks & windows, so no need to go on and on about them.  Many compact car buyers I know want to avoid "gizmos" such as power windows (their term, not mine) to reduce the risk of gremlins down the road.

All it takes is a wasp in the car to truly appreciate the convenience of power windows

[johnnyboy]

looking at this car at $19000 + taxes , as tested , I 'd think one would hope to actually buy it for $3000 to $4000 less.
Why? A 2009 Corolla with a/c , power locks,power heated mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering, keyless entry, abs, 6 airbags, centre armrest,is $18000 + taxes, with better resale and better fuel mileage.

[agroal]

Why would anyone take a chance owning this car when a Civic is proven to be better built and more reliable? And another thing... um....I'll be right back.... I have to go take a wicked Cobalt. 

[Schmengie]

'And power windows — well, I was eating my apple and I ripped off the little stem.'

So....you guys eat while you're driving? 

[wing]

Sure, why not.  I was hungry. 

[safristi]

..i ripped off the head of a chicken.......................................................Wing from KFC..... Macho MACHO MACHO hungry MAN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Schmengie]

Sure, why not.  I was hungry. 

Are you serious?? You don't consider eating while driving a distraction? I guess talking on a cellphone or texting is OK too, right? Where do you draw the line?

[Mitlov]

Sure, why not.  I was hungry. 

Are you serious?? You don't consider eating while driving a distraction? I guess talking on a cellphone or texting is OK too, right? Where do you draw the line?

Do you listen to the radio?  Or do you only listen to your car's sound system while you're parked?  Isn't that technically a distraction?  If we're going to consider ANY distraction unacceptable, instead of looking at is as a spectrum of reasonable distraction and unreasonable distraction, let's go ahead and rip out your car's radio.

If we're going to look at distraction as a spectrum, I'd hardly put eating an apple anywhere near the same level as text-messaging.

[Alex MacLean]

Sure, why not.  I was hungry. 

Are you serious?? You don't consider eating while driving a distraction? I guess talking on a cellphone or texting is OK too, right? Where do you draw the line?

Everybody eats while driving. I do not talk on the phone or text though. If you really can't handle eating or having a coffee while driving, I don't know how you made it this far in life. Seems to me you'd have already run out of oxygen in that little safety bubble of yours.

[Schmengie]

Mmmmmm.....

http://www.drivers.com/article/705/