This car is going to be sick at the autocross right out of the factory.

what makes you say that?

Its pretty light for one... good torque across the band, if you get the limited LSD... yah, should be a good autoxer.

Is there only ONE type of suspension available? I didn't see an option when I was "building my cobalt ss" quote earlier.




Bilsteins and SLP surely are going to be stepping up to the plate... can anyone confirm this?




Ruben F.

i thought that the lsd came stock? the battery in the back is a good help most people miss. i have an un confirmed sorce at hodskis saying the will have a sway bar and spring kit. and we all know ebiach will have springs.

what makes you say that?
Have ya checked out the specs on it yet?

this car is more of a handler then the SRT4. Granted some coilovers makes the SRT4 a beast on the roads and tracks.

the only thing i haven't got threough my head yet is that it's not IRS.

the other thing is the stupid torque steer. no matter of good shox will remove that. chevy waqs smart to make them equal length in the cobalt.

nivo are you getting an SS?

it will be killer on the auto-x course. when i drove the redline, the suspension was much more balanced than my sartie stock, thats for sure!!!

I think with of without the LSD the car will still do good for a stock car and it would be interesting to see the differece in times between one with LSD option and times without LSD option.

From the skidpad numbers the magazine got I would say it will be a great autocross car.

From the skidpad numbers the magazine got I would say it will be a great autocross car.

Yea that is why i can't wait to drive one.

both srt and ss can't outhandle a focus out of the box

Is there only ONE type of suspension available? I didn't see an option when I was "building my cobalt ss" quote earlier.




Bilsteins and SLP surely are going to be stepping up to the plate... can anyone confirm this?




Ruben F.

Don't forget about Eilbach and Koni. What about Sway bars and Anti-roll?

Really? What makes the focus so good? when chevy built this thing, they had something to shoot at, and they (get this) focused (hehehe) on the neon and the ford car! Cant say it is bad, when no one has it in hand! We will see.

bueller....bueller...bueller? Please, tell me how one car is better then another? What I really want to know..why are these other car owners so nervous of a car that is not even on the street yet? Does the car they drive suck that bad? I cant call it!! The cobalt might be bad, but you guys that have the piles of dung and try to make them look good, must be pissed!! A car that only has paperwork and nothing in public to make you look bad,and has you talking bad, only means you are jealous and cant admit you are on the wrong side is so funny!!! Come on, face the loss!!

Is there only ONE type of suspension available? I didn't see an option when I was "building my cobalt ss" quote earlier.

Bilsteins and SLP surely are going to be stepping up to the plate... can anyone confirm this?

Ruben F.

The reason you did not see an option while building your SS is that there is no suspension "option" for the Cobalt. There are two different suspensions for the Cobalt platform, but one (Premium Ride Suspension) is standard on all but the SS S/C while the SS S/C gets the "Performance Handling Suspension" which isn't even optional on the other three models.

The Premium Ride Suspension is described as follows:
Independent Front Suspension This front strut-type suspension is tuned to "give" with the road because of a long wheel travel. In combination with a hydroformed engine mounting cradle, this Premium Ride Suspension gives you a solid, precise feel. Hydraulic Rear Ride Bushing This Premium Ride suspension feature helps provide enhanced ride quality while limiting road noise.

The Performance Handling Suspension (SS S/C) is described as follows:
Tuned Rear Suspension This design features gas-pressurized monotube shocks and dual-rate springs that are tuned for balanced ride and handling.

Hope that helps!

Let me comment on the Getrag 5-Spd manual as well. I have a Getrag 5-spd. in my Daytona C/S (2.5L Turbo) and I love it. It's seriously hard for me to drive any other stick because of the ease of shifting the Getrag. You don't even have to move your arm, a simple flick of the wrist will do.

Also, I'm glad you mentioned SLP, I completely forgot about them.... don't know how :confused:

I'm off to check their site for Cobalt info!

Nothing for Cobalts at SLP - some nice stuff for GTOs though :p

The 6-speed Getrag in my car is nice and smooth, but I've had it in the shop twice already for problems, and now maybe a third time. If I hard launch, I can't shift into 2nd gear. IT WON'T LET IT ENGAGE! I have to let off the gas, then shift. I lost a good race to a Prelude to that shit.

Speaking of AutoX, have you seen the brakes on the Cobalt/Ion? 12" front, 11" rear rotors? Go get the C&D braking distances for the car the Redline stopped just a little bit slower than the LAMBORGHINI!

Lamborghini Gallardo - 158 ft.
Red Line - 162 ft.
Corvette C6 - 166 ft.
SRT-4 - 169 ft.
Nissan 350Z - 174 ft.
Pontiac GTO - 185 ft.

The Cobalt will stop just like the Redline did, that's great for AutoX!

Wonder how the SS will do with BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDs in a 225/40ZR18 size? They're 1/2" wider & 1/2" lower than the stock Pirelli 215/45-18s.

As long as you've got something to control first gear. With the LSD it would be great, but I think the taller stock tires will help control some of the spin in first gear, of course a wider tire could help even more I suppose. Can you really get much wider of a tire on these rims? The ones on my Redline are already sticking over the side of the rim, kinda like a Maxima or 350Z tire does. I know the rims are an inch bigger on the Cobalt, but are they any wider of a rim? Mine are 17x8.

Unfortunately the SS's rims are 18 x 7"; however even though BFGoodrich recommends that their g-Force T/A KDs in a 225/40ZR18 size be mounted on 7.5 to 9" rims, it should work. The only question in my mind is whether there is dynamic clearance for tires that are about 1/4 of an inch wider on the inside and outside. Since they are a 1/2" less in diameter, the SS will sit about a 1/4" lower - great for autocross (lower center of gravity). The KDs are great on dry pavement (but not that hot, in the wet). There's no substitute for bigger tire footprint area when traction is ideal; for poor traction (like on ice or snow), the opposite is true. Most of us will not buy slicks or drag radials or racing tires (even if they have DOT approval), because of the quick wear. ;)
It appears that the Potenza RE050A is superior to the g-Force T/A KD in a 225/40YR18 fitment:
Treadwear Grade of 140 vs. 200 and Tread Width of 8.1" vs. 7.3".
Hence the Bridgestones are softer and wider.

No doubt that wider is better, I was refering to that little wrinke effect that you get from the taller sidewall, but wider is still better when talking about 1/2". Have you looked at the Ion or Cobalt wheels? I was a little shocked when I saw how the tire fit on the rim, the tire has a little 'shelf' that the rim sinks down into, so as it is the tires are already sticking out about 1/4" on the outside. I don't know about when turning in a parking lot, but there should be enough room to go a little wider.

Yes Sp00ner . . . we seem to think alike. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a SS or RL yet. I was looking at the SS to replace my lady's 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. I've had a lot of fun with it, especially with the tires. For summer she has Toyo Proxes T1-S in a 205/55VR15 with a 23.9" diameter and for winter - Bridgestone Blizzak MZ-02s in a 185/70-14 with a 24.3" diameter. The stock 15" rims came with 195/65-15s that had a diameter of 25.0". They are both absolutely fantastic. I bought the Toyos from http://www.tiretrends.com (you have Tire Rack in the US). They gave me the standard answer, "I would not suggest using this size." I am including my response for your entertainment, "It's too late - I placed the order - and you filled it. For your information the differences are not extreme: Diameter: 25.0" (stock) vs. 23.9"; Circumference: 78.54" (stock) vs. 75.08" (this is static; dynamic will be smaller); 4.6% difference at static. Hence, at 104.6 kph indicated, the car is going at 100 kph and at 52.3 kph, the car is at 50 kph. Since we all travel at 10 over, it will be safer. As well, the effect achieved will increase acceleration (w/o changing the differential gears); if I desired better gas mileage, I would get taller tires. Since the mileage will be greater, the oil will be changed more frequently & the motor will live longer. Since the car will be .55" lower, it's center of gravity will be lower - it will be safer and handle better. I do not intend to go off-roading in this Grand Am, and the odd scrape, will put a smile on my face. I could go +1 or +2, but the light-weight rims will me cost more money and I will end up with a higher unsprung weight, anyway. I have gone -1 for winter (as I stated previously), and found 24.3" d, to be acceptable. I am sure that another 1/5" will be OK. Thanks for your response and do not be offended at mine."

Aren't the Potenza's being phazed out and rebranded as the Bridgestone's Fuzion line?

What about the BFG g-Force T/A KDWs? Once I'm done with my Yoko AVS ES100s, I might be up for trying out something different.

Hey CamaroBill! I'm from Edmonton too. :)

Edmonton is a perfect place if one doesn't mind a half year of winter . . . at least it's better than Winnipeg. :D
Although the BFG g-Force T/A KDs that I had on my Camaro, only lasted for 2 years, they are absolutely the best DOT approved, dry summer tire that I have had; their performance in the wet is marginal, though. Unfortunately, the KDWs are all seasons and as "jack of all trades", are "masters of none"; get a second set of rims and be safe in winter - our side streets in Edmonton are gutted & bumpy ice rinks now.
The Potenza RE050s are OEMs on many high-performance vehicles, like the BMW Z4. The Potenza S-03 Pole Positions are another top end Bridgestone brand. The Fuzion ZRis are harder at 320 (vs. 140) and are .3" narrower than the RE050A in a 225/40 18 . . . but they're almost half the price.

RKSport already has springs, coilovers and, anti-roll bars:

RKSport: suspension (http://www.rksport.com/index)

RKSport already has springs, coilovers and, anti-roll bars:

RKSport: suspension (http://www.rksport.com/index)

Yes, but tyres do more than anything! Except the driver . . . LoL :D