latest issue of motor trend compaired the two, thought yall would like to see the numbers.

Cars - SS / SRT-4
Engine - SC I4 / TC I4
Displacement - 1.998L / 2.429L
HP - 205 / 230
Torque - 200 / 250
Weight to power - 14.4 / 12.7
weight - 2959lbs / 2921lbs
weight distribution - (60/40) / (64/36)

Cobalt has less hp, less torque, and more weight...... looks grim

0-60 - 6.1 / 6.0
1/4 - 14.4 @ 99.3 / 14.4 @ 100.8
60-0 - 113 / 118
600 ft slalom - 67.2mph / 65.9mph
Lateral acceleration - .88g / .88g
1.6 mile roadcourse - 97.2 sec / 97.4 sec


Only slightly slower in the strait line, but brakes, better, and out handles the Neon. Not to shabby.

I wouldn't say that it outperforms the Neon in any aspect. Anyone who is familair with an Srt-4 knows that 14.4 on the quarter is a rather slow 1/4 mile time. They average roughly 13.9-14.0 with a good driver. Also you didn't post the 0-100 accelerations. The Srt-4 did it in 13.8 secs while the cobalt SS did it in roughly 15 secs (i think 15.1). Also the track times are almost identical showing very similar handleing characteristics.

Over all though i think the Cobalt SS is a better car. To me it looks ALOT better then meh Srt-4, and i love the cobalts interior. I would Love to Have a blue Cobalt SS with the Black and Blue Leather interior.

fair critique of my post, i actually didnt know alot about the SRT-4 and just recently found out that the one they tested was brand new, and like camaros, the neons tend to get faster as they get some miles on them. Gotta admit though, the handling on the cobalt does have to be a bit better if it ran faster on the road course with less power and more weight.

wow.... something tells me that this Cobalt will be the new fear of import tuners. ya know, the srt-4 seems to have a japanese style to it, but to me the Cobalt seems to be GM's way of saying that 'this is the NEW breed of muscle'. Maybe it's just the cool blower....lol.

well the ion redline and the cobalt are pretty much the same cars... and i've watched a redline locally that is completely stock and will beat srt-4s from a 40-60 mph roll... you should see the look on the neon owner's face.

about it being the new fear, i'd say so too because that redline sounds like and s/c svt cobra when you wind it out, not to mention it pulls almost as hard. seriously this guy has beat several 5.0 stangs, srt-4s, s/c grand prix (my mom's car w/ me driving, its when i first met the guy), and quite a few imports (actually too many to mention).

its sounds funny a saturn being so awesome, but all i have to say is that if the ss cobalt is just like it, then we have an up and coming 4 banger street king :evillol: . plus i think those numbers are underrated just like GM has underrated just about everything they put out...

i agree the SS is a decent car, but after driving a few at the dealership i work i am still more impressed with the srt-4. the srt-4 performance wise has teh cobalt beat after a driving cars numerous times. the cobalt is stil la decnt car minus the huge spokes on the wheels, but the srt has a much bigger and beter aftermarket. do not forget about the turbo vs the supercharger issue. the turbo top end will eat the supercharged cobalt. but if i was to buy 1 of the 2 id get teh SS becuase its chevy and the srt will need a new drivetrain by 70k

I wish you could get the SS without the ricey looking wheels and spoiler. Just a plain Jane car with a fast motor. I think the difference between the Turbo and the S/C engines are the S/C gives you power a little quicker than the turbo. I bet once you get both cars wound up the Neon would be a little faster in the top end. I would consider the SS but the wheels gotta go.

I wish you could get the SS without the ricey looking wheels and spoiler. Just a plain Jane car with a fast motor. I think the difference between the Turbo and the S/C engines are the S/C gives you power a little quicker than the turbo. I bet once you get both cars wound up the Neon would be a little faster in the top end. I would consider the SS but the wheels gotta go.

tell the dealer to swap trunk lids with a stock base model cobalt on the lot, im sure they would do it, or get some person with the same color car to swap trunk lids. and sell the rims and buy some aftermarket ones or something.

well the ion redline and the cobalt are pretty much the same cars... and i've watched a redline locally that is completely stock and will beat srt-4s from a 40-60 mph roll... you should see the look on the neon owner's face.


The Ion will get a bit of a jump on the SRT cuz the SRT is turbo'd and the Ion is belt driven. The SRT people obviously weren't too concerned with lag...they were probably going for bigger hp numbers.

Strange...I read an article in either R&T, Motor Trend or C&D...don't remember exactly, where they compared the SRT-4 to the Redline and the SRT-4 smashed the Redline in everything regarding the engine...0-60, 1/4 mile, HP, TQ, just about everything you can think of. The Ion hung with the SRT-4 in the other areas but they said the SRT-4 was EASILY the winner. The SRT-4 spec you have of 6 sec to 60 is the slowest I've seen for this car. I've driven one and they're pretty mean little bastards...very fun. If the Ion Redline and the SS Cobalt are basically the same, I would put my money on the SRT-4 against the SS Cobalt any day...just my :2cents: .

I'd take the Redline over the SS. The quad doors are very useful, I'm used to the center panel enough to drive manual, and the 2005 models will be the last dent resistant cars Saturn will produce.

Aftermarket is in production to help the Redline see high dyno numbers in the future. Watch out for the next set of Saturn Redlines.

The BIGGEST draw back of all 3 in question, the SRT, SS and Redline, is FWD. I HATE FWD. Understeer (real common problem for FWD cars), torque steer and a not great weight distribution (60-40 F-R for the SS, 62-38 for the SRT and 59-41 for the Ion...none of which are "ideal" by any stretch of the imagination)...true sports cars, in my eyes, are RWD.

Found something neat in the process..."The ION, in its non-Red Line garb, is simply one of the most disappointing cars we've ever driven." Ooo...that's brutal... (http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/roadtests/0405scc_redline/)

The BIGGEST draw back of all 3 in question, the SRT, SS and Redline, is FWD. I HATE FWD. Understeer (real common problem for FWD cars), torque steer and a not great weight distribution (60-40 F-R for the SS, 62-38 for the SRT and 59-41 for the Ion...none of which are "ideal" by any stretch of the imagination)...true sports cars, in my eyes, are RWD.

Found something neat in the process..."The ION, in its non-Red Line garb, is simply one of the most disappointing cars we've ever driven." Ooo...that's brutal... (http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/roadtests/0405scc_redline/)

They screwed with it's performance numbers.
0-60: 6.1-6.3
1/4: 14.5-14.8
Same as the Cobalt SS Supercharged.

Saturn is coming out with the Sky Redline and it's RWD.

I must say that 0-60 in 6 seconds for the Dodge SRT-4 is under-rated. In the April 2004 issue of Car And Driver, the SRT-4 they tested got to 60 in 5.3-seconds - That's Mustang GT/Nissan 350Z territory! Maybe 89IROC was right in saying that it being brand new had something to do with it, you may have to break it in.

From a performance standpoint I would have to go with the Dodge SRT-4 hands down. From a styling standpoint, I have to give it to the Cobalt SS. I love coupes and it's too bad that Dodge discontinued theirs! The Dodge SRT-4 would look sharp with 2-doors!

The BIGGEST draw back of all 3 in question, the SRT, SS and Redline, is FWD. I HATE FWD. Understeer (real common problem for FWD cars), torque steer and a not great weight distribution (60-40 F-R for the SS, 62-38 for the SRT and 59-41 for the Ion...none of which are "ideal" by any stretch of the imagination)...true sports cars, in my eyes, are RWD.

Found something neat in the process..."The ION, in its non-Red Line garb, is simply one of the most disappointing cars we've ever driven." Ooo...that's brutal... (http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/roadtests/0405scc_redline/)

They screwed with it's performance numbers.
0-60: 6.1-6.3
1/4: 14.5-14.8
Same as the Cobalt SS Supercharged.

Saturn is coming out with the Sky Redline and it's RWD.

The majority of that article is BS. "underrated it at 200 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque. " 149-lb feet of torque?! My stock Cavalier has 150! lol, must be a typo. The 0-60 mph of 7.1 seconds is a joke!

The majority of that article is BS. "underrated it at 200 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque. " 149-lb feet of torque?! My stock Cavalier has 150! lol, must be a typo. The 0-60 mph of 7.1 seconds is a joke!

Seeing that may be the reason the Redline didn't sale very well during 2004. The 05 RL with LSD sould have the same performance numbers as the Cobalt SS Supercharged. They do have the same engine after all.

Here...you guys should be interested in this.

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0505_joysticks/

six second 0-60 for a SRT-4? 14.4 1/4 mile? They are capabable of running with/beating '99-'04 mustangs stock for stock and running with the Mach 1, pre '03 cobras, and the new '05 mustang.
And with the last three cars, I mean that I have witnessed a stock SRT-4 only get pulled one car length by a mach 1 and 3/4 of a car length by '00 ish n/a cobra. Both races from a very low mph to 80-90mph Not bad.
Their 0-60 is in the mid 5's and they can run 14 flat in the 1320.

Not that the Cobalt isn't impressive. Japan still dominates the sport compact market(sales), but America bests it in performance.
Pt Cruiser GT
Neon SRT4
Cobalt SS S/C
Ion Redline
RIP: Focus SVT(great handler. Hope they come back F/I)

What does Japan have to compete. RSX Type S?
We have a little gang of domestic sport compacts, locally. Two SRT-4's, a Redline, a bolt on R/T neon, 1 SVT Focus(might just be a ricer Zx3 with bolt ons), 2 Pt cruiser GTs(one is just a stock drop top:(), but no Cobalt yet. There is also a bolt on Maxima in the group, which is capabable of beating the slower ones of the pack(eats the focus alive, which leads me to believe it is just a Zx3. This little group is drowning out the japanese sport compact group in this city, in which the only quick cars are a gutted 5th gen civic with a b18c1 w/ IHE and a bolt on Celica GTS.

America is really doing well in with their sport compacts, if you ask me.

six second 0-60 for a SRT-4? 14.4 1/4 mile? They are capabable of running with/beating '99-'04 mustangs stock for stock and running with the Mach 1, pre '03 cobras, and the new '05 mustang.
And with the last three cars, I mean that I have witnessed a stock SRT-4 only get pulled one car length by a mach 1 and 3/4 of a car length by '00 ish n/a cobra. Both races from a very low mph to 80-90mph Not bad.
Their 0-60 is in the mid 5's and they can run 14 flat in the 1320.

Not that the Cobalt isn't impressive. Japan still dominates the sport compact market(sales), but America bests it in performance.
Pt Cruiser GT
Neon SRT4
Cobalt SS S/C
Ion Redline
RIP: Focus SVT(great handler. Hope they come back F/I)

What does Japan have to compete. RSX Type S?
We have a little gang of domestic sport compacts, locally. Two SRT-4's, a Redline, a bolt on R/T neon, 1 SVT Focus(might just be a ricer Zx3 with bolt ons), 2 Pt cruiser GTs(one is just a stock drop top:(), but no Cobalt yet. There is also a bolt on Maxima in the group, which is capabable of beating the slower ones of the pack(eats the focus alive, which leads me to believe it is just a Zx3. This little group is drowning out the japanese sport compact group in this city, in which the only quick cars are a gutted 5th gen civic with a b18c1 w/ IHE and a bolt on Celica GTS.

America is really doing well in with their sport compacts, if you ask me.

Yea...The SRT-4 is MUCH faster than a lot of people think they are. I've driven 2 of them. 1 stock and 1 with a factory Mopar Stage 2 package which included an intercooler sprayer, 100+ octane race fuel switch, blow off valve, borla exhaust and some other non-performance stuff. That thing was F A S T. They're pretty fast stock...that thing damn near made my girlfriend, who was brave enough to ride shotgun with me, puke. Had to be in the very low 5 second range in the dash to 60.

It pisses me off that the import guys just seem to refuse to play. The selection of new, really fast, true sports cars are quite limited these days. For instance, Nissan has the 350Z, which is a great car (driven 2 of them...love it), but will get beat by some of the very mediocre domestic crap that's out there. It's just wrong cuz that car has great potential but the Nissan guys have to keep the price down. I wish they'd turbo it and make it what it should be. Hope they come out with a turbo "350ZX" model in the future...so it could slaughter all this domestic crap that's out there...I'm tired of all the damn mustangs and everything taking the lime light (and that part of the market). What's toyota have to offer? The MR-2? Those are weak. What's Honda have to offer? The RSX-S, like you mentioned? Just not up to snuff. The import guys need to get in the game with MAKING fast cars...they make great cars...they make cars that, generally, can be made fast quite easily, but from the factory, there's not much choice.

The 90s were the best time for sports cars because of the competition between them. The Supra was at its best, the 300ZX was at its best, there was the NSX that was/is an amazing car, the RX-7 of the day is the shit...all this going on because Nissan, Toyota, Honda (Acura), Mazda, Chevy...all these companies were trying to out-do each other...I wish a time like this would come again.

I have driven both and the SRT 4 would tear the SS Cobalt a new one

Haven't driven the SS yet, but still... :iagree:

I think Japan is "charging up" so to speak. I think in a few years they are going to release some INSANE vehicles... they have been taking it easy and keeping all the good stuff to themselves, but i dunno.

I hope they are. They're NOT very impressive right now as far as USDM offerings go. Japan has very few true sports car offerings for the US and nothing that can compete with some of the faster domestics out there. All the fast cars are in Japan. There are still some great cars out there, but they're no where near their potential. For example, the new mustang GT will out run the 350Z in a straight line AND on the track...it pains me to say it, but it's true...AND IT'S CHEAPER. Granted, the Mustang has 2 more cylinders and a lower top speed, but still...it's just not right. I'd still take the Z cuz I think it looks better and is more unique...plus it's not Ford...but still. The Z could EASILY crush the mustang but Nissan chooses to keep it on the mellow side. I'm tired of it. But on the other hand, I'd rather Nissan offer good quality, decent performing cars like they do than super performing pieces of shit. Nissan needs to step it up...come on, Nissan! Take back the crown!

LonglivetheZ: Just curious but why do you hate the mustang so much? The new ones are quite impressive. What's so wrong with America making great cars that aren't outrageous in price?

Back on topic heh, don't know much about the cobalt (thats why i'm checking out this forum) but does it have a positive displacement s/c or a centrifugal? If it does have a Positive displacement s/c then i'm sure companies like JDM and Kennebell will quick to release an upgraded twin screw s/c for the cobalt. Which is just as good as a turbo if you ask me.

LonglivetheZ: Just curious but why do you hate the mustang so much? The new ones are quite impressive. What's so wrong with America making great cars that aren't outrageous in price?

No prob. I hope you're not referring to the 4.6L generation as "great"...

Keep in mind, I specifically detest the 4.6L generation. The newest ones haven't gotten on my nerves yet and I believe they are a VAST improvement over previous generations and the 5.0L fox body doesn't bother me too bad, either. I actually wouldn't mind picking up an SVO...I4 turbo...my kind of mustang! There's more than just one simple thing that I don't like about them. Some reasons are personal, some are factual.

1) They're quite mediocre in many performance aspects. They go in a straight line ok, but that's about it. They don't turn very well, they don't stop very well, they aren't very aerodynamic, the engine is nothing marvelous for its time (SOHC 4.6L? Not too impressive.) and it just generally never really impressed me. I'm referring to the V8 through this...keep that in mind...I'm not even going to TALK about that waste of road that is the V6 incarnation of this generation...what a peesashit...

2) Personally, damn near every person I've ever met that drove one of these damn cars was a complete ass hole and thought their car was the best thing rolling on rubber...sure this didn't help me like them much.

3) Also, I think they're VERY boring looking and look nothing like the original Mustangs. The interior is lame, too. Not very comfortable...not much to look at...I think they dropped the ball on the interior big time.

4) The BIGGEST thing I have against them is this -- YOU SEE THEM EVERY-FUCKING-WHERE!!!!! I've been calling them the "bacteria of the road" for a few YEARS now because I SWEAR they have to be meeting up on some little back road somewhere and SPAWNING. It's not too uncommon to see 2...3...even FOUR of these damn things at one fucking stop light!! That's just rediculous. For this reason ALONE, I'd PAY FOR a Geo Metro before I drove a FREE mustang.

Sure, they're cheap. This just goes to show you that you can put a cheap price on a new, mediocre car and sell a trillion of them. Sure, you can mod them and make them better, but that goes for any car. They actually look boarderline GOOD when they're lowered and have the little front lip spoiler do-hickey on it. Saw a black one like that and it looked ok. (Can't remember what the little spoiler thing is called...it's the little chin spoiler from that model that had the engine that stuck out of the hood...brain fart...)

To get any level of performance out of them that is even near the realm of impressive, you have to either mod them or get one of the nifty special ones...a cobra or a saleen or whatever. In that case, they're not cheap any more...they lost the one point about them that was good. $30,000+ for a mustang?! A car you see a million times a day!? No way! I laugh when I see people driving Cobras and Saleens and all...so funny...they could have spent that big wad of money on so many cars that would perform as well, if not better, and would be more unique. Why be like everyone else?

As for the topic at hand, I believe the Cobalt has a screw type S/C. And no, a S/C is not as good as a turbo.

longlivetheZ,

Are you referring to the new 2005 Mustang?

LonglivetheZ,

I can understand your point about the V6 stangs. A waste of money by ford indeed. However none of the other reasons seem reasonable to me. Maybe i'm biased but just my opinion. And the s/c vs turbo. I only said its my opinion that the Twin screw was better than a turbo. I have my reasons for why it would be better but i'm gonna quit getting off topic before ppl get mad.

Cobalt vs. SRT4: i think it would be interesting to see a Kennebell Cobalt (LOL) vs. an AGP SRT4 that would kick ass. Maybe someday down the road it'll happen. hehehe.

longlivetheZ,

Are you referring to the new 2005 Mustang?

K...

Keep in mind, I specifically detest the 4.6L generation. The newest ones haven't gotten on my nerves yet and I believe they are a VAST improvement over previous generations...

There you go...

I can understand your point about the V6 stangs. A waste of money by ford indeed. However none of the other reasons seem reasonable to me. Maybe i'm biased but just my opinion. And the s/c vs turbo. I only said its my opinion that the Twin screw was better than a turbo. I have my reasons for why it would be better but i'm gonna quit getting off topic before ppl get mad.

It's all good if you don't understand. If you get curious or would like more explanation, lemme know. I'm well versed in what I talk about and have good reasons for my beliefs, be it about the whole 'turbo vs supercharger' "debate" or my personal despisal of the 4.6L-generation mustangs. Feel free to PM me.

K...

Is that a yes or a no?

Jaguar, it was a yes. The new ones are 4.6l v8's (you already know that i think) so yes he doesn't like the new ones either. Anyways it's going to PM's.

No no no...I mean the first gen of 4.6Ls. I posted a quote of myself to answer your question...guess you didn't get that...

everybody....put down the haterade before somebody with a mustang.....or a v6 mustang busts in and a full out flame war busts out....i'm with you guys in thinking that the v6 mustang is a waste of metal...however the cobras are very nice cars...they're not all bad....i think that the foxbody ones however were ugly as hell, but since they are light they are somewhate respectable in my book (however a guy with a foxbody wanted to race my bike...told him to save his gas...he was pissed...hehe)....i think that if the 4.6 would've been DOHC they would've been good cars...

I'm gunna say just one more word regarding those damn mustangs to put an end to this.

Bleh.