Am I crazy for considering buying a Cobalt?
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Am I crazy for considering buying a Cobalt?
Seriously... this is getting hard to pass up.
Gas prices are getting high. No I'm not hurting financially but I don't exactly like just throwing away money, either.
I'm thinking about, when my BMW lease is up, moving on to as practical of transportation as I can possibly find.
It used to be that the Cobalt got much worse gas mileage than the Civic and Corolla but now with the 148hp XFE motor for 2008, it gets pretty darn good mileage... 25/36.
The best thing of all about the Cobalt is that the dealers around here have specials on them where they sell for ridiculously cheap prices... like I've seen them advertised for as little as $9,988, brand new, when the rebates are right.
Add to that fact that I have a GM card with a $1500 rebate cap on the cobalt... that means I could walk up there, write a check for $8,488 + taxes and have a brand new very fuel efficient car with a 5 year 100k powertrain warranty.
Am I just being too cheap?
Gas prices are getting high. No I'm not hurting financially but I don't exactly like just throwing away money, either.
I'm thinking about, when my BMW lease is up, moving on to as practical of transportation as I can possibly find.
It used to be that the Cobalt got much worse gas mileage than the Civic and Corolla but now with the 148hp XFE motor for 2008, it gets pretty darn good mileage... 25/36.
The best thing of all about the Cobalt is that the dealers around here have specials on them where they sell for ridiculously cheap prices... like I've seen them advertised for as little as $9,988, brand new, when the rebates are right.
Add to that fact that I have a GM card with a $1500 rebate cap on the cobalt... that means I could walk up there, write a check for $8,488 + taxes and have a brand new very fuel efficient car with a 5 year 100k powertrain warranty.
Am I just being too cheap?
When I read your subject line I thought "A Cobalt...seriously?!" but looking at the fact that you could potentially get one for less than 10 Grand, it looks like a pretty good deal.
Only thing is that I don't know how reliable they have been. I recall seeing them on some sort of "worst rated" list for that if I am correct.
Only thing is that I don't know how reliable they have been. I recall seeing them on some sort of "worst rated" list for that if I am correct.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I sure doubt the Cobalt has won any quality awards... the interior on those cars is pretty crappy... but in terms of point A to point B mechanical reliability they're actually very good, and also very inexpensive to keep running. The cost of your 90k mile routine service on a Lexus, alone (not including the services before and after it or any repairs), would probably cover the entire first 100k miles of all service and repairs on the Cobalt!
Also... I wouldn't be doing this for another 15 months... when my BMW lease is up... by then the all new 2010 Cobalt will be out. GM has really been doing well with its redesigns starting with the Silverado, CTS, and Malibu... I suspect they'll do similarly well on the new Cobalt.
Also... I wouldn't be doing this for another 15 months... when my BMW lease is up... by then the all new 2010 Cobalt will be out. GM has really been doing well with its redesigns starting with the Silverado, CTS, and Malibu... I suspect they'll do similarly well on the new Cobalt.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
It's pretty impressive... it ran the course at nurburgring significantly faster than my 335i for half the price and with better fuel economy.
However I wouldn't consider one... they're ~22-24k depending on options which is too much when I'm talking about getting one for under 10k. Defeats the practicality of it.
However I wouldn't consider one... they're ~22-24k depending on options which is too much when I'm talking about getting one for under 10k. Defeats the practicality of it.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: WI
Yesterday, you said this:
And now you are considering a Cobalt 
?
I'm not knocking your logic, I just found that to be interesting
(I start thinking the same way when I find a good deal, even if it's not something I necessarily even want
)
I don't think I would want to live with a base 328i on a day to day basis.
?I'm not knocking your logic, I just found that to be interesting
(I start thinking the same way when I find a good deal, even if it's not something I necessarily even want
)
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,204
Likes: 11
From: The Woodlands, TX
I've rented them at least 4 times and have gotten great MPG with both the sedan and coupe...36+mpg
for under $10K, I think they'd be a great option for a commuter car - it was very comfy and it survived a bump into the back of an old 318i with barely a scratch while the BMW had $700 in damage.
much better than those $7999 Kia Rio's they are advertising.
for under $10K, I think they'd be a great option for a commuter car - it was very comfy and it survived a bump into the back of an old 318i with barely a scratch while the BMW had $700 in damage.
much better than those $7999 Kia Rio's they are advertising.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
A 328i would be 3.5 times as expensive as that Cobalt to buy, get worse gas mileage, higher insurance, and cost dramatically more to maintain and repair after 50k miles than the Cobalt would.
And yes a 335i is even more expensive to buy, maintain, and insure but it's also dramatically more fun.
I guess what I was saying is that I wouldn't be happy daily driving a base 328i because it's still a moderately expensive car to daily drive without nearly as much of the thrill.
Consider it a thrill per dollar ratio that a car must meet.
The cobalt has very little thrill but even less dollar.
That in itself could be very thrilling for a cheap bastard like myself!
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
It's usually the ones that don't drive flashy cars that are the wealthiest anyway.
I'd drive a nicer used car but they tend to get worse gas mileage and cost more to maintain. My GS400 for example... my purchase price at 3 years old and 30k miles was 26k dollars... great deal, but then factor in the fuel economy and especially the cost of maintenance and that car had a lot of hidden costs not apparent on the front end to me.
