I finally said goodbye to the neon....

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:25 pm

And hello to the Car I've wanted since I was 18 and looking to get rid of my 2002 Cavalier.

2006 Chevy Cobalt SS/SC
17,4xx miles and 211.1whp 180.3tq (Dynoed today after I picked it up from the dealership)

She's just a bit quicker than a Neon SXT.

I'm still getting used to driving a car that's twice as powerful. But, I am enjoying have leather interior, cruise control, a sunroof, and one nice stock Pioneer system. (Which will be removed in the coming weeks to replace with my Alpine components.)

On to the pictures!!

I noticed on the trunk just how badly a dealership sucks at detailing a car. I'm going to try and find a nice shop somewhere around Michigan and get the exterior waxed/buffed professonally. I noticed a few scratches here and there, some touch up paint on the bumper that could be done a bit better, and one tiny tiny little rock dent on the rear quarter panel. I guess it's the joys of buying a used car.

Oh, and NO ONE go and buy the 2003 Solar Yellow Dodge Neon SXT out at Whitman Ford in Temperance MI. No, seriously. I did a lot to that car I regret, and it was starting to have suspension problems when I traded it in. Mainly from the accident..... The dealership never drove the car or looked at it though. Just offered me (x) amounts of dollars. I didn't complain. A lot of the wires are cut short from me just pulling stuff out yesterday to take it to stock, interior was muddy, suspension was becoming screwed up, rust is forming is various spots.... Not a happy neon.

I'm in love with the new car right now.

Post by **Canada** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:28 pm

Nice ride Josh!

Glad to see you were able to move the SXT, I knew you had been wanting to move on for a while, glad to see you were able to do it.

Enjoy the new ride, and don't forget about us here!

Let the modding begin.

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:33 pm

Haha, this will be one fun car to mod for me.

Happen in the next few weeks:
-Nightshade all lights (tails, rear corner, projector headlights)
-Tint 20% all the way around
-Arm rest (yea, SS/SC doesn't come stock with these. Effing gay)
-Toss in entire Alpine system from my Neon
-Paint stock 18" rims black (or bronze)

Happen in the next few months:
-CAI
-Stage 2 installed from dealer
-Magnaflow Exhaust

Happen in the next year:
-Coilovers
-16" Rims (screw having 18's)
-More aggressive tune
-Meth/Alchy injection

After that... I'll focus more on suspension.
I think I have a good game plan.

nate-00neon · Post by **nate-00neon** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:38 pm

keep us updated...i wanna see how the tint looks cuz my gf has one but not the SS and i wanna know how it looks tinted.

also how do you like those doors...i think you could take off with em they are sooooo long lol

enjoy and be nice to her

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:17 pm

*Drools* My next car is probably going to be an SS/TC. Looks nice man. I agree that the wheels are way to large on those things. I think bronze would look amazing if you're blacking it out. Just don't black out the bow tie on the grill. I've seen it done on one in Flint. It makes it look like your emblem fell off.

Congratz!

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:30 pm

mmm... sexy. yeah, if i were to not have a neon i'd have a cobalt.

Post by **Diablo0** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:47 pm

Very nice Josh! Glad to see you went with Black too!

Looks great! The only real thing I have against the Cobalts though is the rear suspension... just wish it was independent but thats me

FTWNeon · Post by **FTWNeon** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:07 pm

Congrats man! Glad to see you were able to get something!

If you ever want to see some of your old car your can see some of your old yellow paint under my hood!

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:10 pm

Yea, I agree jason. I was looking at how it's set up, and I wish it was more like the neons. But oh well, it still handles rather nicely on the curves.

I would of LOVED to get the SS/TC, but honestly, there's no way I could afford a 24k car. I kept telling myself that my next car had to be fully loaded, and a fully loaded SS/TC is out of my price range, not to mention I owed 8k on the neon and didn't get a whole lot for is.

I figure in a few years after the TC's have been out for awhile, I'll trade this car up for one. Gives GM time to work out all the kinks as well.

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:14 pm

Diablo0 wrote:The only real thing I have against the Cobalts though is the rear suspension... just wish it was independent but thats me

I dont get it either?!

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:31 pm

^ The Cobalt is more like the P/T rear suspension iirc.

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:56 pm

^ true and pretty lame

Chibits12 · Post by **Chibits12** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:09 am

Congrats on the buy! It looks real nice, makes me wanna check out a Cobalt SS around here lol.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:19 am

I was right! You did get a Cobalt SS!

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=4814&start=7380

Top o page. See date.

You were in kind of a rush weren't you? I would of waited and got the Turbo Cobalt thats coming out soon. How much did you pay for it after the trade in? I am guessing right around $12k?

Enough of my blabbering, it looks great and you diserve it with all the misfortunes you lately have been having. Have fun!

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:24 am

nice upgrade. how is the power difference compared to the neon? total better car all around? The whine of the SC sounds sick as hell

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:52 am

Congrats Josh. I looked at Cobalts myself a few months back when I was in a financial panic and tried to sell my SRT (everyone remembers that I'm sure

). I'm starting to see a trend of Neon owners going for Cobalts- this just proves what I've said all along about DCX screwing up royally by thinking that the Caliber would be a Neon replacement.

Anyway, back on topic- it looks really good and I think that you did the right thing by buying an older one with the SC instead of the upcoming turbos... kind of like buying an SRT for the "limited edition" kind of thingy (well that's how I think anyway

).

kplaya186 · Post by **kplaya186** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:26 am

Congrats on the new ride Josh! Definitely an upgrade! I have been looking at those as well!

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:51 am

MyNeonSaysHi wrote:I was right! You did get a Cobalt SS!

http://forum.2GN.org/viewtopic.php?t=4814&start=7380

Top o page. See date.

You were in kind of a rush weren't you? I would of waited and got the Turbo Cobalt thats coming out soon. How much did you pay for it after the trade in? I am guessing right around $12k?

Enough of my blabbering, it looks great and you diserve it with all the misfortunes you lately have been having. Have fun!

I was a little in a rush because my neons suspension was starting to act up, but I didn't rush into buying the car. I took my time, shopped around, went to a few dealerships. As said earlier, there's just no way I could of afforded a Turbo cobalt right now. I priced it out in every way possible, and it just wouldn't of worked.

I wont say exact prices, but put it this way.... I owed 8k on my neon and only got 4.6k for it. (after fighting with them even) I spent a -bit- more than 12k, but a lot less than a SS/TC

Adionik wrote:nice upgrade. how is the power difference compared to the neon? total better car all around? The whine of the SC sounds sick as hell

There is no comparison going from a regular manual neon to a SS/SC cobalt. It handles, drives, and performs 10x better. I can't say for the SRT though considering I've never done more than just test drive one. Considering I couldn't find a SRT with low miles at a dealer, and the interest rate on an 05 would of sucked, it was the Cobalt for me. (Hell, it was even cheaper.)

In terms of price, bone stock Cobalt SS/SC > bone stock SRT-4

Midnight_Rider wrote:Congrats Josh. I looked at Cobalts myself a few months back when I was in a financial panic and tried to sell my SRT (everyone remembers that I'm sure ). I'm starting to see a trend of Neon owners going for Cobalts- this just proves what I've said all along about DCX screwing up royally by thinking that the Caliber would be a Neon replacement.

Anyway, back on topic- it looks really good and I think that you did the right thing by buying an older one with the SC instead of the upcoming turbos... kind of like buying an SRT for the "limited edition" kind of thingy (well that's how I think anyway ).

Yea I remember that very well. I still want your SRT

And I agree, there is -no- Dodge out there I would own in this price bracket. The looks are TERRIBLE. Cobalts looks > Neon/Caliber
I just prefer coops though

Main reason I went for the SC is because of price, and I really don't like to buy -brand- new cars. I'd rather let them go through a owner, deal with the warrenty work, and then me pick it up.

KrackstaR · Post by **KrackstaR** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:49 am

sweet find josh glad you were FINALLY able to unload the neon. congrads!

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am

nice man....glad to see you got something nice!

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:56 am

nice upgrade you got there! glad to hear that you finally sold the neon (even though I am partial to a neon over a cobalt). i look forward to seeing some mods.

don't paint your wheels black! i think stock color or bronze. just my two cents, though.

yellowpatrol · Post by **yellowpatrol** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:08 am

That's badass that you dyno it right after you buy it.

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:32 am

btw, where did ya get it dynoed at?

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:35 am

i heard if you did any mods to one though that you get a cel right away?

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:42 am

Chris: I went to Speed Industry up in Troy. (not too far of a drive from where I live now)

It depends on the mods with the CEL. Certain CAIs will set it off because the sensors are in a wrong spot... just gotta buy a high quality one. Same goes with the exhaust, certain companies screwed the sensor placement up and it throws a CEL.

Just depends on the mod you do and the company you buy it from.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:32 am

congrats bro. sucks that the neonsgone though

Neonix · Post by **Neonix** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:07 am

Congrats Josh on the upgrade!! You'll have to post lots of pics on the progress of the car.

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:36 am

Congrats Josh, you deserve it.

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:05 pm

Neonix wrote:Congrats Josh on the upgrade!! You'll have to post lots of pics on the progress of the car.

holyshit you're still alive??

I do plan on creating a progress log....as soon as I start making progress.

I debadged it a bit last night, but there are so many tiny scratches/swirls in the pain in don't want to take pictures until the car is detailed.

lambostealth wrote:Congrats Josh, you deserve it.

Thanks man!
Now come out to Michigan and shine my car up like yours

No, seriously... i have GOT do do something about this paint. Effing dealers "detailing" the car for me

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:08 pm

GM Stage 2 is the way to go. There is a guy out here in Kansas City that makes killer tunes for the car.

I love the sound of a supercharger whine.