Chevy Cobalt: Not a Lasting Relationship
I drove our long-term Chevrolet Cobalt last night. As you've likely gathered from our long-term updates
and last summer's economy sedan comparison test
, the Cobalt is not one of our favorite economy cars. Yet, I don't feel ashamed when I drive it: With its Blue Granite Metallic paint and chrome accents, our long-termer looks as good as any Cobalt is capable of looking.
Here's my big problem with the car: It feels disposable...
The driver seat creaks like a 50-year-old armchair. The sunroof has fallen out of its track and, until we visit the dealer, can't be closed (good thing it's the dry season here in California). The rear door seals are bad so there's a ton of wind noise from the back when you take it on the highway. The electric steering that's supposed to make the Cobalt so easy to guide in the parking lot is uncomfortably heavy. The engine sounds like a giant dust buster when you mash the accelerator pedal in traffic. And, by the way, that accelerator pedal is mounted in the extreme upper right-hand corner of the footwell -- on a completely different plane from the brake pedal -- forcing me to scoot the seat up so I can reach it.
There. I'm done now. All of this would be fine, of course, if the Cobalt was just a rental car. But we bought ours from a dealership where real people buy cars for their real lives. I'm not comfortable with a Cobalt being part of my life. I'll take a used Ford Focus, thanks.
- Posted by
- Erin Riches June 21, 2006, 5:33 PM
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Oh, dear. And the G5 is based on the Cobalt?
Why did you buy it if you don't like it? You couldn't hear the engine when you test drove it? You couldn't feel the tight steering when you test drove it? You didn't have to push your seat up when you test drove it? Get a Cadillac cry baby.