Time Attack Results? http://superstreetonline.com/eventcoverage/130_0511_timeattack/

It has won many time attack events against cars with superior suspension configurations - EVOs, Skylines, STis - and against cars with much greater power advantage.

http://www.gmperformancedivision.com/content/vehicle/31/TA_Main.jpg
Specifications
• Stage 2+ Ecotec engine developed by GM Performance Division and GM Powertrain
o 264 hp @ 7000 rpm (344 horsepower @ 6800 rpm with nitrous boost)
o 230 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm (350 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3600 rpm with nitrous boost)
• Eaton M-62 Gen 5 Hybrid supercharger
• Carbon fiber body panels (fenders, hood, doors, roof, decklid, side splitters and spoiler)
• Modified suspension, tires and brakes
• Glass replaced with Lexan
• Corsa exhaust system
• Fuel cell
• Nitrous oxide system
• Race paint scheme with sponsor logos
• Race wheels
• Minimal interior trim
• Full roll cage and side net
• Sparco race steering wheel
• Safety system per National Auto Sport Association race rules
• Sparco carbon fiber race seat
• Race gauge package

Pictures of all the cars entered:

http://forums.superstreetonline.com/photo/showgallery.php?cat=548

cobalt has one of the worst reliability ratings

cobalt has one of the worst reliability ratings

Yeah, come back in 5,000 miles against even tuned-out Kia Sephia's, and we'll see

I think you guys are missing the point. It's about being a good tuner car, not about reliability...

GM spent so much money on that car.

I believe the 4th place honda S2000 had NOTHING done to the engine. C-west wanted to show what suspension alone can do to the s2k and I think that's pretty amazing since it's right behind the 800whp skyline.

GM spent so much money on that car.

I believe the 4th place honda S2000 had NOTHING done to the engine. C-west wanted to show what suspension alone can do to the s2k and I think that's pretty amazing since it's right behind the 800whp skyline.
exactly, it is GM sponsored tuner car...

People always forget that "Money talks, bull**** walks"

People always forget that "Money talks, bull**** walks"

Well, that's the whole point of this thread.....is this a bull * * * t car or not?

IMO...yes and no. I have not formally reviewed one, but what I have seen of it indicates that both its build quality and fit-and-finish is somewhat better than the Cavalier it replaces, though it still has someof that old GM cheapness about it.
Now...as to the question of it being a good tuner car, probably yes. A good deal of tuner and aftermarket parts are available at reasonable cost, though you have to be careful about modifying engines from factory settings. If you don't know what you are doing ( and too many do-it-yourselfers DON'T ) you can really screw things up.

I think this is a great showing for GM

The most notable thing about it is that it handidly defeated other cars that are technologically superior and much more powerful. From what I've read, they didnt modify it that much other than stripping it down. The engine barely produced more power than stock and the rear beam suspension was retained. In comparison the other cars went with expensive turbo set ups, advance awd systems, expensive brakes

The most notable thing about it is that it handidly defeated other cars that are technologically superior and much more powerful. From what I've read, they didnt modify it that much other than stripping it down. The engine barely produced more power than stock and the rear beam suspension was retained. In comparison the other cars went with expensive turbo set ups, advance awd systems, expensive brakes

The car has:

SC
NoS
CF body panels
Lexan windows
full cage
full suspension

This qualifies as heavily modified. If a stock engined S2000 with only suspension mods can come close, I don't think the Cobalt can be called the best tuner car.

How about best tuner car if the only thing you don't change is the engine block? :rolleyes:

The car has:

SC
NoS
CF body panels
Lexan windows
full cage
full suspension

This qualifies as heavily modified. If a stock engined S2000 with only suspension mods can come close, I don't think the Cobalt can be called the best tuner car.

How about best tuner car if the only thing you don't change is the engine block? :rolleyes:

Ok, with the SC, the car comes stock with a supercharger and makes 30hp more than the stock one

Time Attack Results? http://superstreetonline.com/eventcoverage/130_0511_timeattack/

It has won many time attack events against cars with superior suspension configurations - EVOs, Skylines, STis - and against cars with much greater power advantage.

http://www.gmperformancedivision.com/content/vehicle/31/TA_Main.jpg
Specifications
• Stage 2+ Ecotec engine developed by GM Performance Division and GM Powertrain
o 264 hp @ 7000 rpm (344 horsepower @ 6800 rpm with nitrous boost)
o 230 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm (350 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3600 rpm with nitrous boost)
• Eaton M-62 Gen 5 Hybrid supercharger
• Carbon fiber body panels (fenders, hood, doors, roof, decklid, side splitters and spoiler)
• Modified suspension, tires and brakes
• Glass replaced with Lexan
• Corsa exhaust system
• Fuel cell
• Nitrous oxide system
• Race paint scheme with sponsor logos
• Race wheels
• Minimal interior trim
• Full roll cage and side net
• Sparco race steering wheel
• Safety system per National Auto Sport Association race rules
• Sparco carbon fiber race seat
• Race gauge package

Hardly. You're comparing a fully tuned and heavily modded Cobalt FULLY factory supported by GM going up against cars from much smaller companies, as well as private ventures, who have much less money to spend on their cars than these. Some of those cars at the time attacks are even personal tuner cars. What I mean to say is some of those cars may have actually been driven to and from the time attack event by the owner, where as the GM modded Cobalt is likely a trailer queen and has to be trailered everywhere.

If Toyota had a fully factored backed TRD Corolla in this time attack, chances are it would have put on some serious pain onto most of the other cars ... but then it wouldn't be a fair comparison at all.

I could also get just about any car tuned up. We have plenty of VWs pounding out 500 hp + south of the border and I hear B.S. all the time about what great cars they are, but what they don't tell you is how many things they have to endlessly fix to keep these cars running.

Granted, I would like to see Chevy do well just because it is an American company, but tuning up one of these things and not putting the same vehicle in the showroom for prices comparable to Japanese sports machines, won't get me into a Chevy dealer anytime soon.

I could also get just about any car tuned up. We have plenty of VWs pounding out 500 hp + south of the border and I hear B.S. all the time about what great cars they are, but what they don't tell you is how many things they have to endlessly fix to keep these cars running.

Granted, I would like to see Chevy do well just because it is an American company, but tuning up one of these things and not putting the same vehicle in the showroom for prices comparable to Japanese sports machines, won't get me into a Chevy dealer anytime soon.

They kept 'elements' of the rear suspension, but their front suspension geometry and linkage has been drastically modified and designed specifically for road racing. The car is no where near close to stock, and the body weight has been significantly reduced with 'minimal interior' and carbon fiber body panels/doors/lexan windows.

Less weight = always better for road racing. Better braking, better agility, better acceleration.

Most road race cars do not push much power, they are just stripped down, lightweight, have highly modified suspensions and chassis that run very sticky tires.

That Cobalt is a factory backed SCCA Touring car. Nowhere near stock, and has no semblance to a factory vehicle under it's outer skin. No one in their right mind would put that much money into a Chevy Cobalt. That much work and fabrication is easily over 150K, since many of the parts and suspension are fully custom. They had to have put their best chassis engineers to make it rigid in the right places and that isn't cheap.


I like Time Attack because the cars are still predominantly using 'bolt-ons' that are readily available to purchase anywhere.

It's like saying 11 second EVO's with bolt ons are comparable to 8 second tubbed out Scion tC's...no way...a world of difference

They kept 'elements' of the rear suspension, but their front suspension geometry and linkage has been drastically modified and designed specifically for road racing. The car is no where near close to stock, and the body weight has been significantly reduced with 'minimal interior' and carbon fiber body panels/doors/lexan windows.

Less weight = always better for road racing. Better braking, better agility, better acceleration.

Most road race cars do not push much power, they are just stripped down, lightweight, have highly modified suspensions and chassis that run very sticky tires.

That Cobalt is a factory backed SCCA Touring car. Nowhere near stock, and has no semblance to a factory vehicle under it's outer skin. No one in their right mind would put that much money into a Chevy Cobalt. That much work and fabrication is easily over 150K, since many of the parts and suspension are fully custom. They had to have put their best chassis engineers to make it rigid in the right places and that isn't cheap.


I like Time Attack because the cars are still predominantly using 'bolt-ons' that are readily available to purchase anywhere.

It's like saying 11 second EVO's with bolt ons are comparable to 8 second tubbed out Scion tC's...no way...a world of difference

Sure its nowhere near stock but the contenders are as similarly modified too. The Signal Auto R34 GTR and the HKS Evo are both purpose built time attack cars driven by the best drivers too.

Sure its nowhere near stock but the contenders are as similarly modified too. The Signal Auto R34 GTR and the HKS Evo are both purpose built time attack cars driven by the best drivers too.

You're still missing the point. The Signal Auto and HKS cars are not factory backed by Nissan nor Mitsubishi, and that is a BIG difference.

Not to mention, the Signal Auto R34 weighs over 3200 lbs, has almost no weight reduction, is using predominantly all off-the-shelf bolt-on parts, AND the kicker is, when it participated and took trophy at all of the events it participated in...it did it on *street tires*.

BF Goodrich KD's to be exact. :drool:

Sure its nowhere near stock but the contenders are as similarly modified too. The Signal Auto R34 GTR and the HKS Evo are both purpose built time attack cars driven by the best drivers too.


LoL, so which is it??? "nowhere near stock" or "didn't modify it much" which is what you said in a previous post. If you're trying to convince everyone that its the ultimate tuner car, I fear you're barking up the wrong tree... There are obviously too many variables here when comparing it to the other vehciles.

For me, an "Ultimate Tuner Car" are cars like the EVO, Civic, Supra, etc that have a lot of readily available bolt on performance parts, engine internals, etc

Ultimate Tuner Car examples could be duplicated without much custom work. (with exception to fuel management tuning.)

The Cobalt Time Attack car is a nice try by GM, but even with money, it will not be easy to duplicate the work and engineering they put into it.

For me, an "Ultimate Tuner Car" are cars like the EVO, Civic, Supra, etc that have a lot of readily available bolt on performance parts, engine internals, etc

Ultimate Tuner Car examples could be duplicated without much custom work. (with exception to fuel management tuning.)

The Cobalt Time Attack car is a nice try by GM, but even with money, it will not be easy to duplicate the work and engineering they put into it.

Here is the build book for the car:

http://www.gm.com/company/gmtunersource/downloads/cobalt_gmtunergrand_am_cup_accessories_composite_b ody_and_supplier_list.pdf

Many of the time attack cars are very extensively modified. Look at the HKS carbon fiber EVO that ran through Tsukuba. No one can really replicate that car.

Everytime I see this car on the street, I want to throw it a ball :p

http://www.arcadeshop.com/pics/3-inch-red-translucent-ball.jpg

Hey nothin wrong with Garnet SC's ;)

Hey nothin wrong with Garnet SC's ;)

??? We talkin bout my car or the Cobalts???