2k8 MZS3 or 2k8 Cobalt SS

V

Vengure

Member
I'm currently debating between these two cars its hard to honestly weigh out one or the other but are turbo and similar HP. However the SS posted a faster time on the Nurburging that alot of high end peices at 8:22. The MZS3 posted a 8:39 if i remember correctly. My main deciding factor is not on some simple lap times but more about dealer location and service. I have a good chevy dealer locally,closest mazda speed dealer is 2.5 hours away and I was told by the local mazda dealer only mazda speed can work on the MZS3. This was kind of a let down. I considered the civic SI for a while but ruled it out b/c of lack of performance in my book for sheer upgradability and overall TQ. So I was hoping to get a few opinions and see what you guys might have to say.

Regards, Ven

P.s. Forgot to introduce myself I've read a few posts here and it seems there is a pretty neutral crowd here and that always good to see.
 
Vengure said:
New 2008 cobalt SS is turboed and is 260+hp and 260+TQ
Click to expand...

Also, 2008: Supercharged SS dropped from the model lineup, while the SS coupe and SS sedan were renamed to "Sport Coupe" and "Sport Sedan" respectively. XM Radio, side-impact air bags for improved safety, and MP3 player are now standard instead of options. StabiliTrak stability control system introduced. Other changes include the adding and removing of several exterior and interior colors. GM will be releasing the Cobalt as an SS package with a 260 hp (194 kW) turbocharged engine (LNF) rather than the Supercharged engine (LSJ) from 2005-2007.

wiki.
 
Maybe the salesman was being an asshole b/c I wasn't going to be buying a Mazda from their dealership. Also the SS is dropped b/c its coming out with a SS turbo model in jan or feb. My good friend works for a chevy dealership. Read the last section of your wiki quote.
 
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"closest mazda speed dealer is 2.5 hours away"

Concerning the Cobalt, a dog turd can be fast too if you shoot it out of a cannon. IMO it's a lousy package surrounding a great powerplant. Automotive journalists were not kind to the first SS for the this reason. Fast is great, but it's not fast enough to be a better car than the MS3. Unless you're planning to compete on the 'ring, you're not going to notice or miss the difference that the Cobalt somehow managed to gain on the 3.

As counterpoint, the dealer distance would be the deciding factor for me in your case (but I'd find an altertnative to the Cobalt). If a problem with the ingition system arose, (such as a coilpack failure) you wouldn't want to drive it that far to get it fixed. I guess, technically the roadside assistance plan should cover towing to the closest Mazdaspeed dealership, but what a pain. In your case, I'd have to vote that the MS3 is geographically undesirable for you (if the Mazdaspeed rule is actually true...that I don't know).
 
I'd wait on reviews from car mags and what have you. The numbers sound good, but advertising always does. Plus, it's a Cobalt. Build quality probably isn't going to be great, and it's going to be the first year of production on the new turbocharged drive train. Might want to wait a while for them to work out the kinks.

An 8.22 on the 'ring sounds great compared to 8.39, but they were both run with the public also on the course. I'd want to see an empty circuit run to see how that might change things. I don't doubt the time, and it's a pretty good time on the 'ring, but like any consumer, remain skeptical until you can get better confirmation from sources you trust. And right now, there isn't a lot of info out on the '08 SS Turbocharged at all.
 
I might try and talk to Mazda directly and explain the situation and see if it wasn't possible to get work done locally rather than "only at a mazda speed dealership".
 
maybe this will help make up your mind I currently own the cobalt ss/sc and im looking into the MS3. I also have pretty much all the bolt on but nitrous.
 
look buddy, this is my opinion. I don't know what kind of prevoius cars u owned, but to me, domestic car's are just not my style. Specially this new cobalt, in reality , it's still a cavalier. Same thing with the damn neons, u can make it a 9 second car,it's like coming out of the closet, in the end, it's still gay ;)...

so it's up to u what u want to buy, to me, mazda was my preference bcus it had 4 doors, and i think the interior is much livable than the cavalier. also, if u check the mags lately, ms3 wins most comparisons, so u can't go wrong ! :)
 
I'm not biased towards the new turbo cobalt I'm just merely deciding and seeing which one is overall a better choice considering dealer locations and price to performance. I currently own a 04 civc ex 5psd, but I owned a few old school hot rods. I ended up with the civic b/c of gas mileage for a daily driver. However a civic ex isn't my bag of tea anymore. Personally I dont think you can compare a SS interior to cavalier. Sure the general looks are similar to the cobalt but they are different animals. I do have a passion for japanese cars no doubt about that. However I'm not gonna turn my back on a car just because its american. I can live with a 2 or 4 door car so amount of passenger space is not much a big deal as long as I can haul some baggage and more than 2 people in the car. I'm not concered for passenger space since I'll be driving they'll just have to live with it :D

whapshh: You can't really compare the LNF engine to the LSJ two different designs, also two diff types of forced induction.
 
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Ive done a lot of research on both, The SS isnt a bad car now it has a no lift shift (power shifting) tranny (its built for this). It has torque dampners to eliminate wheel hop upgraded brakes, the engine is the exact same out of the solstice/sky GXP/red line, just mounted transversly and with a new tranny. It will probably out perform the MS3 stock, and will have a stage two option with a new borg-warner turbo pusing output to roughly 290 hp and 280 lb-ft. no slouch anymore that cobalt. However, the MS3 is a mazda and nothing more any technician can work on the car at any dealership, you wont get mazdaspeed parts like the CAI or exhaust from the normal mazda dealership but they can work on it if they say no you need to complain or get to a manager.

Now as far as practicality goes, i have a friend with a SS its the supercharged version but besides engine and suspension and brake work the new SS has nothing different with it despite the loss of that horrible wing that starts shaking over 15 mph, its trunk isnt small for such a small car but the opening is tiny like hard to fit a large watermellon in the opening(thats an exageration but its not far from the tuth). so the MS3 kills it here not only do you have a VERY capable machine but you have the utility of the hatch and USABLE back seats, the seats in the MS3 are by far much better, other than that the interiors are pretty much just plain econo car intereors with the SS getting lots of SS badging here and there.

So in performance the SS will probably win, but just by a little, and i mean little. In practicality the MS3 wins by a lot thanks to the room of a hatch. Im a die hard Chevy fan but in real life the MS3 is just a better all around car. Hope this helps, but I highly doubt that either car will dissapoint.
 
asking a bunch of mazda fans which car they would recommend... haha nice!

seriously though, the new cobalt looks pretty sweet. but come on! how can you be cross-shoppin the 2? one is a 4 door wagon and the other is a 2 door coupe! lol That's like me saying... i'm thinkin about getting a hummer or a miata. anyone have any opinions on this? haha just bustin your chops... even though the new cobalt looks pretty sweet, the MS3 is the s*** and definitely gets my vote.
 
Just remember something:

You have to sit in the car you own to drive it. Which means, you'll be looking at the interior of either car you choose, every single time you get in to drive. This alone would steer me clear of the Cobalt. YMMV.
 
The interior is easily beat by the MS3 against it's Chevy component IMO. But the car isn't all bad. Comes with some nice seats, touches of American styling and nice meaty Brembo brakes. In fact the engine (don't quote me) if im not mistaken are similar to the one found on the 2.0T Saab cars. These are reliable Ecotec engines.
 
Well it will never handle like a MS3, its interior is typical GM, crapalistic. The looks of the thing are left to be desired. Of course, you will have an excellent powerplant. I guess, if you dont care about what your driving, it would be a good choice based off performance numbers. However, imho, it looks like s*** and handles just as much like a lump of turd. The MS3 is an all around car with lots of mod potential coming down the pipe. Not to mention, it feels better contructed, looks fantastic and can out handle a lot of cars out there. Next to my Focus RS, one of the most fun cars ive ever driven.
 
flipstylex said:
look buddy, this is my opinion.in reality , it's still a cavalier. Same thing with the damn neons, u can make it a 9 second car,it's like coming out of the closet, in the end, it's still gay ;)...
Click to expand...
Hey now, that's like saying the MS3 is just another MZ3....oh wait! (evil)
 
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