My son turned 16 in March of last year. Then the inevitable happened, he needed a car. After all, sixteen year-olds can’t be seen disembarking from the big, yellow, school bus. They have to get jobs, and have a ride for dates. We faced a dilemma, he wanted something sporty and hot. We, mom and dad, wanted something affordable. We were able to agree on one thing. We wanted him to have a late model car to avoid car trouble and break-downs. When we went out to “kick-tires” we all anticipated purchasing a late model used car. What we found at our local Chevrolet dealer surprised and pleased us all.
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt is new to the Chevrolet line. It is sleek and sporty, and very affordable. The Cobalt starts at just over $10,000 for a stripped-down standard. Even that is a car that still looks great and serves the needs of a new driver. However, we needed an automatic. My nerves couldn’t handle teaching my son to drive a stick.
The sticker price on the standard transmissions were also reasonable. As it happened, my son was able to get into a Cobalt LS, with standard transmission, leather seats, a pioneer radio system with a woofer factory installed. It also had a sunroof and spoiler. The whole package only cost $16,000. Considering the cost of cars, we were very pleased with the price.
The Cobalt couple rates 8 out of 10 in its class. Consumer guide tested the Cobalt for on-road performance. They rated fuel economy, acceleration, ride handling, quietness, interior controls, front seat room, rear seat room, cargo volume, and overall value. In the final analysis the Cobalt was recommended by Consumer Guide with an average score. Their test results are below.
The LS has 145 hp, which is plenty for a new driver. If you want to sport it up, the SS comes with 171hp, and the SS Supercharged has 245 hp. This little car can get up and go. My son’s gas consumption on the vehicle was little lower than the stated norms. He averaged about 25 mpg in the city and 35-40 on the highway. In light of the gigantic gas guzzlers on the road today, the gas mileage cut him a big break in the wallet.
The LS we purchased had 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, which was one of the most important features to me. The care would stop on a dime, and enable the driver to maintain control. The cars carriage and safety features were also important to me. The cobalt comes standard with front airbags, and side airbags. It has reinforced steel in the doors to protect the driver and passenger in the event of a T-Bone. In NHTSA tests the cobalt rated fours for all points of impact except the passenger side, which rated a five. A score of 5 indicates that there is a 10% or less chance of injury to a seat belted occupant. A score of 4 indicates a 10-20% chance of injury to a seat belted occupant. Overall, these are pretty good ratings in the safety game. I wouldn’t put my child in anything rated any less.
The cons found by Consumer Guide are the interior noise, which wasn’t bad for a teen, a little too much for those who have become accustomed to the quiet ride of better sedans. 16″ tires ride well on the Cobalt, but 17″ or 18″ absorb road shock better and make for a smoother ride. The only other con was the rear seat room, but what do you expect from a sports coupe?
The only problem we had was with a blown speaker, through no fault of the manufacturer, and because the care was under warranty, Tom Thornton Chevrolet had it fixed within a day. The car’s standard coverage was bumper to bumper, including corrosion 3 years or 36,000. As with all vehicles they offer extended warranties for an additional price.
The Cobalt is an excellent first car for teens. It handles well, has high safety ratings, including the braking system and all interior controls. The car looks sporty, and for the price, it’s hard to beat the peace of mind that your child is in a new car that offers free roadside assistance, and a bumper to bumper warranty. I was much more comfortable with the Cobalt, than a used car we didn’t know anything about.
Since the car’s purchase, a year ago, it still runs like it did on the day it was purchased. There was a recent safety recall, because an unsafe impact point was found on the models with a sunroof. The car had to be taken to a dealer and safety features were added, to bring the car’s safety rating back up.
