Mailbag: Looking To Replace An Aging 2006 Chevy Cobalt
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This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations on the blog, each and every Sunday.
This one comes to us from Josh in Washington, D.C.
“Hey guys. I currently have a 2006 Cobalt coupe LT with 70,000 miles. It’s getting old and — no matter how much love and care I put into it — it’s aging badly. There are tons of squeaks and rattles, the engine is about to go bonkers (I can feel it), not to mention the lack of a USB port for my iPod. Fuel economy, to say the least, sucks outright.
So I’m looking for a new car and have been really considering the new Cruze. As you discussed on yesterday’s podcast, it looks great, drives great, has almost all the tech I need, and I have to be honest — that OnStar app is really enticing! I’ve narrowed it down to the 2LT with the sound system or the LTZ without the Pioneers. Only problem is, I don’t want a sedan — that’s why I bought the Cobalt in the coupe flavor in the first place!
So here’s my question, which may not be very GM-centric: if you were in my shoes, would you hold your breath for a Cruze two-door or get another coupe in the compact class? I have plus or minus $21,000 at my disposal and I’m really liking the Kia Forte Koup and the (as you would call it) segment stalwart Honda Civic; the Scion Tc ins’t in the cards — too Toyota soapbox for my taste. Thanks for your help and I really enjoy the site — keep rocking’!”
Josh — I can see your dilemma. I wouldn’t wish it upon any self-respecting motorist to be behind the wheel of an aging Cobalt, especially one from the first year of the car’s existence. I remember driving an ’07 Cobalt sedan myself with only 25,000 miles on it — and it squeaked, rattled, and shook like an industrial washing machine; I can only imagine what you must be going through at 70k.
In any event, you’re in a good position: whether it’s the Forte or the Civic, you can’t go wrong. The Civic is about to get a new model while the Forte — as your know — is brand new.
Personally, I’d go with the Forte Koup — Kia is on a roll right now and the Forte is an excellent vehicle with great handling, power, and style; the UVO infotainment features are (dare I say) far superior to those offered on the Cruze. Granted, you can’t get the OnStar goodness in the Kia (or Honda), but as far as iPod/iPhone in-vehicle integration is concerned, the Kia is simply superb. In fact, it’s second-best (if that) to Ford’s SYNC/MyFord Touch. The Civic, unfortunately, is the laggard of the three. Add to that the additional benefit of a more powerful engine (vs. the Cruze) that’s good for 173 horses and 168 lb.-ft. of torque, and the Forte looks like an all-round winner. In fact, reading all this may leave you wondering whether you’ve landed at a Kia fan site. Nope — all this praise is coming directly from the founder of GM Authority. The Forte adds insult to injury in that you don’t have to spring for a special trim package to equip the car with a pair of fog lights — something that’s only offered on the super-duper (expensive) RS appearance package on the Cruze.
Cruze Coupe?
All this brings me to what is perhaps the most important point in this mailbag segment: why doesn’t Chevrolet offer the Cruze in a coupe variant? The top players in the segment (by volume) each have a two-door version of their compact offering: Honda Civic, Toyota (Scion Tc), Kia Forte Koup. Why the Cruze isn’t available in a two-door body style is beyond me, especially given the fact that it has been around for nearly three years now (counting the original Europe-only launch in 2008).
I certainly hope that GM turns the Cruze into a full compact line that includes coupe, wagon, and three-door hatch body styles joining the current sedan and upcoming five-door hatchback. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard anything that would give reason for hope.
Off the soapbox, I’d like to open it up to the GM Authority readers at large — what would you do if you were Josh? Does he opt for the Civic, Forte Koup (with a better engine and infotainment system), or does he wait? Let us know in the comments below!
This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies your questions, comments, and observations on the blog, each and every Sunday. Submit your question or comment today by clicking here.
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I know this one is different segment, but I would just get a Camaro v6, close to 30 mpg on the hwy, starts at just 22k. Or better yet Camaro convertible but then it’ll set you back 29k. I understand that this car is bigger then the compact and consumes more fuel, but it’s the style, fun to drive and attention that you’ll love.
Lex — thanks for the suggestion! The Camaro was an option initially, but isn’t any longer. I’m a guy who appreciates the light and nimble driving experience of a light front-wheel drive car; having driven the Camaro — the heavy pony car is quite the opposite. I do love it, but it’s just not what I’m looking for. Add to that the fact that I live in snowed-out DC, and RWD is a problem.
Also, the Forte Koup (or Cruze Coupe if they made one) would be fully loaded at $21/22K — whereas the Camaro would be bone-stock. I just drove the Forte Koup and loved it — plus it has the sick iPod/iPhone integration Alex described, on top of leather, moonroof, and a nice-shifting stick. It stickered at $22,225. The Camaro, at the same price, is cloth, no moonroof, steelies 🙁 and not much else.
Alex — thanks for publishing my letter and pointing out the Forte Koup features such as the infotainment stuff (UVO I think it’s called). The guy at the dealer told me that it’s actually based on the same underlying platform as Ford SYNC.
I just played around with it at the dealer — and fell in love. I can just say the name of the artist and it starts playing it! it also transfers my iPhone’s phone book to the car and I can dial using my voice by name! Even cooler – I don’t even have to take my phone out of my pocket and hook it up via USB — it streams using Bluetooth audio! I wish that Chevy builds a Cruze Coupe in the future with all these infotainment features, but it’s looking like the Forte Koup for me! It’s a shame, though — I really wanted to stay American and within GM. Oh well.
Yes it’s a shame that you can’t buy Cruze coupe or hatchback or sport version. Also I think that GM is a little too slow on bringing cars to market. Camaro showed up as a concept in 2006 and came to as 2010 model. Cruze was selling in Europe for 2 years now (as least what I’ve heard). Volt was being developed for quite some time. I know GM don’t want to rush anything to production and get a bad reputation, but i’m sure that they can work faster.
before I’d buy a kia I’d look at the upcoming chevy sonic. Coupe like four door body style….140 hp 1.4 liter motor getting 40 mpg on the hwy..
The reports of the kia coupe might have mentioned a very course engine or possibly (autoblog Dan Roth goes on and on about the horrible shifter and dip in as you pull away from stop in the manual version of the kia coupe)
Go for the Sonic…In my opinion and have a few bucks left over …
I love the details of the headlights and taillights…I dig the motorcycle inspired dash.
Just an opinion for the moment..
No wrong choices and in fact there are so many its crazy! Take your time to decide..
Sonic Z spec! 😉 JMO
Just bought a fully loaded Forte Koup SX auto with 2,4L..this thing has got some serious power and well worth the money paid for it. The Bluetooth system in the car is awesome.
You won’t regret buying a KIA Koup plus you get a 5 year 60,0000 pretty much bumper-bumper warranty. You just can’t beat that and KIA isn’t going anywhere.
I wish you would run an article about the different platforms…Alpha, Beta, Lamda, Theta, Theta plus, etc.
Ken — we’d love to. What in particular would you like us to discuss in such an article?
Your an idiot!!! i have a 2006 cobalt to and my car isnt nearly as shitty as yours you retard i have almost 115k miles on it and it still runs like a champ. maybe if you werent so dumb and beat your car it would be better you dumb ass lmfao
I also owned a Cobalt, loved the car, got great mileage, and the car had a really nice ride for a small car. However, the nice ride was probably from soft sway bar and suspension bushings that wear out around 25-30K miles, causing the above mentioned clunks and rattles. While annoying, they are not real expensive to repair, but I would expect the problem to return. I had mine fixed, and the car was like new. I wasn’t really looking to replace it yet, but I got hooked after test driving the Cruze (esp after comparing it to the Civic, Impreza, and Focus). GM put so much more effort into the Cruze, it feels like a lot more car, very quiet, safe (10 airbags, abs, etc), and even greater MPG’s. Also, I got the RS package, which gives it a little sportier look. If a 2 dr was available, I might have considered it for even sportier looks, but the four dr is definately more convenient!