Face-Off Tournament: Chevy Cobalt SS vs Volkswagen GTI
The Best from the West. The Battle of the Atlantic. World War II Part 2. Whatever you call it, this Western Division final should be good. The European rival is the hot hatch that arguably started it all, while the American upstart produces numbers that'll have you double-checking that "Cobalt" didn't somehow get mixed up with "Camaro." Heck, it even has launch control - in a front-wheel-drive car!
In the red, white and blue corner resides Automotive Editor John DiPietro and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, a car so good the dodgy Dodge Caliber SRT4 couldn't put up a fight (by failing to yield a defender who supported it). But even if we could've resurrected Johnnie Cochran, it wouldn't have mattered. In the black, red and yellow corner is Automotive Editor James Riswick and the Volkswagen GTI, a hot hatch that emerged victorious from our tightest and most contentious voting round to date.
Remember, your votes determine which hot hatch (or in the Cobalt's case, hot coupe) meets the winner of the Eastern Division (voting is still open
). The two final cars will meet in the Face-Off Tournament Final on Monday July 6.
Opening Statements
John DiPietro for the Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Hmm, I like both cars here. But given that this is a sport compact segment, I gotta go with the one that's more of a kick to drive. Car guys love to drop numbers on each other when comparing performance cars, so cover your head James, cuz these digits are gonna be pretty heavy. With its 5.8 second 0-to-60 and 14.0 quarter mile, the Cobalt SS will embarrass the GTI (6.7 and 15.3) so much the VW will be pulling into the nearest Hofbrauhaus to drown its sorrows. And not only does it rip in a straight line, but the SS will also dance circles around the German in the handling department - it feels buttoned down as opposed to top heavy. Numbers? The SS will whip through the slalom cones at 69 mph versus the GTI's 66 mph. Oh, and it'll stop from 60 mph in 115 feet.
Yes, I can do without the SS' juvenile rear wing (thankfully optional) and we all know the Cobalt's cabin can't hold a candle to the finely crafted GTI's. But the important things in there are done right - comfortable and supportive sport seats, a solid shifter, user-friendly controls and a thick-rimmed steering wheel.
All this performance with fuel economy ratings of 22 city and 30 highway? And a better reliability record than VW? Better go with the bowtie in this one.
James Riswick for the Volkswagen GTI
Yep, I can't argue with the numbers here. On paper, the Cobalt SS cleans the GTI's clock, along with everything else in this tournament. But I've never been one for numbers or "on paper" arguments. While some fantasy baseball geek goes on about this guy's OPS or that dude's WHIP, I prefer to note unquantifiable qualities like hustle, grit, defense and the intangible values that make a player truly special.
With the VW GTI, those unquantifiable qualities are refinement, perceived quality, style and every-day drivability. Although a weekend romp through a canyon road would be a treat in the Cobalt SS, Monday through Friday would be depressing. I'd look at that goofy wing or the plasticky front fascia and be reminded that I passed up the taut, classy lines of the GTI. I'd sit in the Cobalt's supportive Recaro driver seat, but then behold a third-world taxi cab interior and be reminded that I passed up the finely crafted materials, pleasing contours, better driving position and snazzy plaid seats of the VW. I'd never shake the feeling that I purchased a rental car, even if it's a bad-ass rental car.
Skidpad, slalom and 0-60 make for good bragging rights, and surprising Camaros at traffic lights is certainly fun, but in the end, I'm willing to trade better numbers for refinement, while still enjoying the GTI's torquey turbo-4 and responsive handling.
Rebuttals
DiPietro:
Funny, I've actually said similar words many times ("The numbers don't tell the whole story...") when I've favored a car that's not as fast or athletic as another one because it happens to be superior as a daily driver. Given its compliant ride and comfy seats, the Cobalt actually does makes a pretty good Monday to Friday car as well as a weekend play thing. As far as looks go, some people prefer a coupe to a hatchback, though I'll concede that I think the GTI is the more handsome of the two. But as I said earlier, the SS' "goofy wing" is thankfully an option. And by design necessity most vehicles' front fascias are made of similar, energy-absorbent "plasticky" material.
However, all those persnickety concerns fade once I'm behind the wheel and enjoying the car. You can have your GTI's soft-touch materials and soft performance; I'll gladly take some hard plastic trim in exchange for more hard-core performance.
Riswick:
I resent having to exchange hard plastic trim for that hard core performance. I wouldn't have to in England, where I could essentially buy the Cobalt SS in the form of the much finer Vauxhall Astra VXR. Yep, a souped-up version of the Astra that lived a miserable year of existence as a Saturn here in the United States. Perhaps that car would've had a fighting shot if it was blessed with the SS and VXR's performance virtues, while the SS would have a better shot of getting my sorta-hard-earned dollars if it had the Astra's higher quality interior. That's a hypothetical matter of principle, though.
In the end, this is a classic America versus Europe car comparison. Muscle versus refinement. Shock and awe versus civility. In my opinion, the best hot hatch (or coupe) needs to be a well-rounded package that doesn't have such an obvious, glaring trade-off. That's the GTI, not the SS.
So, which car wins and moves onto the Face-Off Tournament Final July 6?
- Posted by
- James Riswick June 25, 2009, 8:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Face-Off, Volkswagen
I'm going GTI with this one.
The extra athleticism of the SS is just not enough to justify the lame wing, blah-styling, and aweful interior over the GTI.
Maybe I'm not hardcore enough, but the GTI would just be a more enjoyable place driving at any rate less than 10/10th's, which is likely what I would be doing 363 out of 365 days of the year.
GTI FTW!!! Its not a numbers game anymore. Its all about the refinement.
Btw, speaking of vw's "horrible" reliability record, why does the often brutal consumer reports Recommend the Vw Rabbit/GTI and not the Cobalt?
As much as I hate the styling of the Cobalt and its low rent interior, I think DiPietro is more convincing here. I'm going with the SS.
Where is the MINI? Oh well.... Drove both cars in 06. By numbers the 09 Cobalt SS beats the GTI.
GTI
Cobalt SS
I think you guys made a mistake here. MINI got more votes than GTI in last round, so GTI shouldn't be here.
I think I will have to give the GTI a slight edge here.
Chevy Cobalt SS gets my vote!
"With the VW GTI, those unquantifiable qualities are refinement, perceived quality, style and every-day drivability."
Riswick, no! Hot rods are not luxury cars. My major beef with the GTI is that, since the 3rd generation, it has become too much luxury car and too little hot-rod! In short, the GTI is a fraud.
"I think you guys made a mistake here. MINI got more votes than GTI in last round, so GTI shouldn't be here."
Yeah, didn't the Mini win the last time?
Sorry JDP, I vote for the GTI FTW!
Okay, let's go by the numbers. The Cobalt is a great car for 5% of my driving, and an awful car for 95% of it. On the other hand, the GTi is great car for 95% of my driving, and merely a good car for the other 5%.
GTi. Easy.
Bowtie takes it here
"I think you guys made a mistake here."
No we didn't. The Ayatollah has spoken. Please expect a man with a billy club at your door in a few moments.
The GTI has an easy win...much better car overall while still being a hatch. +1 for the GTI!
GTI vote. +1 on sabastian's comment and arm51's
Going with my man in plaid.
GTI.
GTI
GTI is slow, overweight and looks girly. I don't like the styling at all. The Cobalt SS murders the GTI with a superior engine. The interior isn't as bad as people like to pretend and it has plenty of useful Monday-Friday features like a trip computer, auto lamps, USB jack and a nice pioneer sound system.
I'm going to go Cobalt SS. I think its an underrated car.
Part of the problem with the Cobalt for me is that across the showroom you'll probably find a V6 Camaro for the same price. Oops.
GTI all the way.
Funny the argument for the GTI would be better made for the WRX which actually gives you some performance with your daily-driver goodness.
I vote Cobalt SS on this one. The 'balt is daily driver livable and hands down the best total performance machine for the price. In that way FWD is a livable compromise.
But the GTI is an "all around" car. I guess that means you either see it as "good at many things" or "not so great at anything" your pick. That's great for some, but not enough to raise my pulse.
GTI
GTI is a blast a 10/10th's or anything less. It'll easily run down far more expensive cars in the corners, its only downfall is faster cars will pull away at the sign of a straight. I have yet to hear anyone describe the GTI as slow... everyone who's driven one thinks its faster than it is. (and that's due to the massive torque)
If its about getting the fastest times, then the Cobalt SS. Yes, the ride is decent as well. De-winged and it looks like a rental car, which makes for a nice sleeper. (a plus in my book) It is the king of FWD performance, outgunning even an NSX around a track. Nothing bad you can say about that, but its... blah.
I did the same car shopping with the same cars and I ended up with a GTI as i found its handling to be my favorite. However, being that I am single and still somewhat young and I've been racing for like 10 years now driving some insane cars, it isn't quite enough to keep me entertained. I feel like I need something else, but this is too good a car to not own.
Cobalt. It's more of a performance bargain.
Cobalt.
I'll give a little bit on the performance side for a better overall car, but here the gap is a little too wide.
GTI
Screw the plastics! You're sitting in recaros! Delete the wing and get a four door. Perfect sleeper. Get the Cobalt and count all the $$$$ you saved.
"You're sitting in recaros"
No, you aren't. No Recaros in the turbo SS.
Factory Recaros used to be an exclusive treat of GTIs and GLIs back in the 80's.
Must be getting too expensive to have the branded seats, as long as the seats are good it doesn't really matter. Subaru quietly dropped the Momo steering wheels and the new ones are just as nice.
"It'll easily run down far more expensive cars in the corners"
With all due repsect to all the racing experience you claim, which more expensive cars can a GTI run down? It can't even run down ANY other car in this entire bracket, and most of them are cheaper to buy.
"it isn't quite enough to keep me entertained. I feel like I need something else"
And you paid your own money for that?
Cobalt. Cheaper parts and labor.
I don't understand the comparison. Obviously the Cobalt SS is a better performer than the GTI. Obviously the GTI has a more refined interior and ride.
If you're comparing pure speed.. Cobalt SS wins.
If you're looking for the complete package.. Neither delivers.
It's a choice between unrefined speed or refined mediocrity.
I vote Mazdaspeed 3.
colbalt.
GTI for sure, besides the power the cobalt has on the gti which i easily fixed with a $600 Unitronic Stage 2+ file I got, I am now at about 270-280hp 310-320lbs of tq, I smoke them cobalt ss/tc everyday in my town, I also own a Audi A4 which is the more luxorious version of the GLI Jetta. When I drive my car it turns heads everyhere i go people constsnlty ask me about my car, my GTI is Fully loaded with options that American Cars Suck at offering or putting in like Navigation, Ipod Dock,bluetooth (not plug actual dock), AUX IN, Leather Recaros (btw for those that dont know all gti and gli seats leather or not are made by Recaro)BI-Xenon Headlights with Auto Adjust Motor Projectors, Full MAF Screen in between the speedometer and tachometer that shows outside temp, directions and info from the dash navi system like turn by turn directions and what time i will be there for example as well as things like being able to adjust the sideview mirrors at same time instead of one by one or winter tire settings, floor lighting levels.speed warnings for long trips,digital compass,heated seats,heated side mirros,heated washer nozzels,rain sensing wipers,power lumbar, more cup holders then people,heating and cooling for rear passengers through a center vent besides the standard under seat vents, 12v sockets everywhere,very rare votex lip kit i got as a option,cooled glove compartment for drinks and other things,a DSG transmission VW borrowed from its other companies they own like porsche and lambo, its a AUTO Manuel, i normally would have never bought a auto but because its manual with auto clutches the has better mpg and shift speed than any pro stick driver,sunroof with lit up night controls and two led lights for night lighting of the center area so you dont have to use the cabin lights unless needed, a engine far more advanced with FSI technology way better than some american garbage ectec engine which is why all american brands are getting bail outs where as VW sales only went down 3-5% compared to 2007 so basically this puts the vw in its own class the cobalt ss doesnt even deserve to be next to a VW but only thing kept it ahead was the slight power difference but now with my small $600 investment in a ECU Tuning ill smoke them all day everyday even from a 2nd gear start lol put another 4k for EURO S3 conversion for the K04 turbo kit which is all OEM parts from a Euro Edtion 30 VW GTI/Audi S3 which puts it close to 400hp mark and spend another 500 then for a DSG Flash and your transmission will re adapt itself with new values to enjoy your upgrades overall i went into serious detail to cover the word refined mention above by the defend of the GTI and there was even things i didnt mention anyway like said there is no way this taxi cab pimped out car is better then well engineered car that has been around for a while and wins pro races all a cobalt is another Dodge Neon SRT-4 pos american junk with a turbo that will get discontinued in few years, I can slap a turbo on a kia and it will be faster too doesn't mean its good, a Cobalt ss is for a market of redneck tuners, not sophsticated classy tuners with deep pockets.
GTI is slow, overweight and looks girly. I don't like the styling at all. The Cobalt SS murders the GTI with a superior engine. The interior isn't as bad as people like to pretend and it has plenty of useful Monday-Friday features like a trip computer, auto lamps, USB jack and a nice pioneer sound system.
this is to the above poster regarding the M-F features!
(lol at the above giving thumbs to the cobalt for having a trip computer lmao something germans had like since 60's) this is why americans cant sell cars thier designs and technology are way outdated in the 70's and before i would buy only american but now things have changed and imports rule in everyway compared to americans one things american car do still offer is good pick up trucks and cadillac one good brand left.