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Chevy Cobalt vs. Ford Focus

76 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2008 at 1:31 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Cobalt Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Sedan

Messages Page 7 of 8

#57 of 76 Cobalt.....Opel Astra by randydriver

May 31, 2006 (8:11 pm)

I heard on a side note the same platform ...Opel Astra..Chevrolet Colbalt...will be the new small Saturn

#58 of 76 Re: Colbalt vs. Focus vs. others [spchampton] by vanace

Jul 06, 2006 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: spchampton (Aug 06, 2005 6:30 pm)
So you base your car opinions of "better" based on speed? That is your bussiness... but that is down on the list for most people. Styling is a personal thing. So your comment about cobalt styling being better is your opinion. Also your comments about sitting "high" is your opinion. Fact: the focus handles better than a cobalt. All tests I have read say so. Fact: the hi tech solid rear axle on the cobalt is inexcusable. It does the job. But think of why gm put a solid rear axle on the cobalt and it's momma... the ion? It is because it is cheaper to build that way. A 1980 escort had independant rear suspension on it. There is no excuse for a 2005 model front wheel drive car to have a solid rear axle. Look at the cobalt forums on this site. Look at the problems people are having. I wouldn't touch this car with a ten foot pole. Gm (Gods mistake) is the biggest reason everyone is buying japanese.My 2005 focus ST has 45,000 miles on it and has had no problems. It is an extreemly fun car to drive that puts the cobalt to shame for the many problems the cobalt has. It is amazing what people accept as good in a car. Truely amazing. Sure a cobalt ss is faster... so what?

#59 of 76 Re: Only if [nifty56] by vanace

Jul 06, 2006 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: nifty56 (Nov 17, 2005 2:59 pm)
I have gotten as high as 36 mpg in my focus ST and get 35 mpg regularly back and forth to work. the 2.3 seems to get better milage than the 2.0 in the focus. same basic engine but smaller displacement.

#60 of 76 Re: Problems and Solutions [nifty56] by vanace

Jul 06, 2006 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: nifty56 (Nov 17, 2005 3:10 pm)
Check again... there are PLENTY of problems

#61 of 76 Cobalt vs. Focus by drivinncryin

Oct 13, 2006 (7:56 am)

My last company car was a Focus, my current one a Cobalt. I'm in my work car several hours each day. I used to complain about the Focus until I got the Cobalt.
My biggest complaints of the 2006 Cobalt: ">
1) The seats give very poor body support. The headrests are permanently tilted forward. You have to recline the seat quite a ways back to have the headrest in a vertical position (not an option for me, because now I can't reach the steering wheel.)
2) This car has ELECTRONIC power steering. Be warned that if you have a habit of "dry steering" - turning the steering wheel when stopped - the system can get screwed up, making it almost impossible to turn the steering wheel. This problem may occure sporadically and self-correct, or may require a trip to a mechanic. Note: I dry-steer only when I park on a steep hill, which is every day, and had this happen to my car.
3) The "auto" headlights feature is awful. On a very dim and rainy day, it only activates the parking lights. This could get a driver a traffic ticket, or worse - an accident.
Switching to "manual" headlights is equally disappointing. The headlights activate, yet the instrument panel lights are still activated only by the photosensor on the dashboard. It must be VERY dark to activate the instrument panel. I covered the photosensor with a piece of electrical tape so the "auto" lights and the instrument panel are always illuminated.
4) The turn signal lever is overly sensitive - it is too easy to accidentally activate high-beams, and can be difficult to manually return the signal to the neutral position.
Other Cobalt complaints: Cheap little tires, and wheels that make annoying little clicking sounds; a rear window that likes to open on its own about a quarter of an inch every few weeks; cheap little sun visors; very poor interior lighting; cheap seat fabric and carpet ("hairball" effect.)
The 2001 Focus that I used to drive gave much better body support than the Cobalt, but I would still rate it only as "OK". I never felt safe driving that car at highway speeds or in the rain/snow. It felt a bit out of control in those conditions. The cheap little tires had much to do with this problem. The Focus was always in the shop. It had lots of problems with the engine.
My final recommendation: Buy something completely different.
Good luck!

#62 of 76 Re: Cobalt vs. Focus [drivinncryin] by deftone4u

Nov 01, 2006 (3:45 pm)

Replying to: drivinncryin (Oct 13, 2006 7:56 am)
I don't seem to share the same complaints about the cobalt. I currently own a cobalt LTZ. I have no complaints about the electronic power steering. The "auto" feature isn’t as bad as it seems. The parking lights turn on automatically; day or night. The headlights turn on at the slightest hint of darkness. And the instrument panel lights turn on way before I even notice it's getting dark.
It also came with Pirelli p6's, which aren't exactly cheap tires. I do admit that the sun visors are a bit cheap. My girl friend always complains that the mirror doesn’t come with a light so she can do her touch-ups of make up at night.
And the car came with leather, so I don't have that "hairball" effect. And the radio and pwr steering controls on the steering wheel is a plus.
If you're going to get a cheaper version of the cobalt, of course it won’t come with much of the good stuff. Even fully loaded, the car still sells at a good price. It’s a great car to own but my advice is...spend a little extra, for the extras.

#63 of 76 Re: my room mate [randydriver] by wooble

Dec 15, 2006 (9:52 am)

Replying to: randydriver (Apr 28, 2006 9:09 pm)
I have a 2001 Ford Focus about to hit 150,000 miles... I loved it. I've only had to pay for routine maintenance, brakes... that's it.

#64 of 76 2008 Chevy Cobalt's factory tires by pjm16

Jan 23, 2008 (5:42 pm)

I love that the Cobalt has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS), but if you buy new tires like i did (even though the factory tires we're new) the TPMS has to be relearned in order for the DIC(driver info center) to read the correct position of the wheel. I have learned the hard way. My dealer where i purchased the Cobalt told me only after i asked. He said that the place where i got the new tires should have done it, but didn't, and now i have to take my car back to dealership so they can "Relearn Position" of each tire!

#65 of 76 Re: focus v cobalt [welcenbach] by mosfetman

Jun 25, 2008 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: welcenbach (Nov 02, 2005 9:37 am)
I just bought my first car on my own my parents bought me a ford ranger as my first vehicle and it kept breaking down and all i did was put money into it so i decided to get a new car and i got a 08 chevy cobalt ls and i love it even though it only has a 2.2 instead of the 2.3 in the focus it still has a good amount of power and incredible handling the only thing i dont like is that it has an extremely plentiful amount of trunk space but not a big enough opening to fit anything large and the seats in the base model are extremely light and will be easily stained so i had to get seat covers and another reason that i decided to go with the cobalt instead of the focus is because my sister has one and it is always in the shop but she didn't buy it new so it could just be cause the original owner ragged on it and it is also a older version so it really would be unfair to judge it just on those grounds

#66 of 76 Re: 2008 Chevy Cobalt's factory tires [pjm16] by okko1

Jun 25, 2008 (4:22 pm)

Replying to: pjm16 (Jan 23, 2008 5:42 pm)
your owners manual has the procedure for the relearn. next time you have a tire repaired or rotated have it at the ready.

Messages Page 7 of 8

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