2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

Driving Impression:

GM’s new turbo charged Cobalt is a blast to drive. It is the best bang for the buck in the low 20K range. You get a turbo charged front wheel drive car with launch control, stability control and no lift shift. I would opt for the limited slip differential. The stability control in the sport mode was fabulous. The car should easily hold 1 g. on the skid pad. The car was very nimble and with a good power range and minimal turbo lag on the track. Most front wheel drive cars would have a tendency to under steer when pushed past the limit of adhesion. The Cobalt was actually very neutral. There was a hint of under steer then the stability control would kick in and drag the rear brake and the rear end would begin to rotate around and give the driver a neutral feel. The engineers from GM told me that they designed the new turbo Cobalt “one step away from going for the kill.”

For street driving leave the stability control in normal mode and enjoy the comfortable race inspired seats which works great for daily driving and for the weekend warriors track events. 

Suspension Changes:

• 4 piston Brembo front brakes with 315mm front rotors
• 2 piston rear brakes with 292mm rear vented rear rotors
• Upgrade brake lines and pads
• Rims have been increased .5” with 225/40/18 tires
• New steering knuckle with larger bearings that is race ready to hold the load for track events
• Raised the roll center
• Decreased the steering arm length to reduce the steering ratio to 14.8:1 ( supercharged cobalt is 16.5:1 )
• Changed the front sway bar end links to reduce torque steer
• Front strut has stiffer spring rates with revised valving with increased low speed rebound and increase compression
• Stiffer rear stabilizer bar, and increase the rear spring rate
• Stiffer rear axle bushing from 55 to 65 durameter rubber

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