by Courtney Caldwell Our test
car this week was a 2009 Chevy Cobalt 2-door LT Coupe XFE. This cutie patootie coupe is a step
up from the 2009 Chevy Aveo, which we tested two weeks ago. The Cobalt XFE
sports 15” Wheels, XM Satellite Radio, power door locks and windows, split
folding seats, and a remote trunk release, very nice for arms full of kids (or
crap). For safety and security mortals, the Cobalt comes standard with free
OnStar service for the first year, has both front and side curtain airbags with
4 and 5 star government safety ratings, a theft deterrent system, battery
rundown protection, a latch system for child seats, and an emergency trunk
release for little ones, or big ones, who think a trunk makes a good hiding
place. Not!
We
put a lot of mileage on this sporty little 5-speed coupe this week. Normally,
I’m not a big fan of stick shifts in areas congested with stop and go traffic
because all that shifting can sometimes be a pain in the parts but I have to
say that the Cobalt’s gearbox and clutch worked in smooth tandem no matter how
little or how much traffic there was. Fuel economy is pretty darn good in the
Cobalt with about 25MPG city, and 37 on the freeways. The manual transmission
also provides better gas mileage than an automatic for those more eco-conscious
or fear the looming gas hikes this summer. The one thing I didn’t like about
this model was the firmness of seats… a little too firm for my liking, but you
can’t expect to buy a sporty car without a sporty ride. It comes with the
territory. For the standard $16,460 price tag this coupe is pretty cool and
comes loaded to the grilles even before adding more stuff.
Overall,
my first impression of the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt was positive.
With gas prices on the rise many Americans are adding small cars to their consideration list. Import brands like Honda and Toyota have long held the dominant position in the subcompact category, but what about buyers who prefer to shop the domestic brands? Enter the Chevrolet Cobalt, an American take on the small car.
While previous small General Motors like the Chevy Cavalier might give you pause, the Chevrolet Cobalt is a different animal. Good fuel economy, attractive styling and high value make the Cobalt worthy of consideration.
A quick look at the average number of days a Cobalt sits on the lot (around 60) suggests that good deals can be found if you make dealers compete. Tip: When you go into the dealership, use these magic words: "out the door price." It is the price you will pay after all fees, taxes, incentives, etc. The other prices are generally teaser rates. If you want the real deal, use this process: http://excarsalesman.typepad.com/cars/chevrolet-cobalt/
Posted by: Jaxon | July 27, 2009 at 08:01 AM