Cool car for its day for around $20,000 MSRP. I liked the SRT-4 too. I almost bought a 500whp build SRT-4 that was less than a year old, but got a Camaro instead.
@ I love the Elantra N! I’ve actually commented in the past on tophers other videos about how I want one just don’t have the space for a third car. All I’m saying is how cool would it be if GM had a sporty little 4cyl turbo car like the old cobalt SS. Having options in this space is a good thing!
True, it's a survivor from a owner that cares. Too many got clapped out from heavy mods and abuse. This looks factory fresh and a reminder of what cars used to look like in a different period of time.
@@pulsewound2677 I've seen some that are kept like they are in a bubble, I don't like those, I like more when they are used and loved at the same time. My bros' car is a bad example for that because it has 300k miles, even thou well cared, the turbo manifold just gave up so had to replace it with the only new option available, a Chinese rep.
Nostalgia is hitting hard right now. My buddy had one of these and my other buddy had an SRT-4. We were right out of high school, not a care in world and life was just fun.
The supercharged SS cars are nothing to sleep on. When turbo swapped, they outshine the LNFs. They're port injection, raw feeling in the way they put the power down, have great linear power.
These were serious performance bargains back in 08 and 09. Tons of aftermarket GM offers upgrades that wouldn't void warranty either. Fastest fwd around the ring for a long time also
Fun fact, the Cobalt SS has the f25/f35 transmission made by Saab, you'll find the identical trans in the NG 9-3 5 speeds. Even the shift knob is the same. There's a rod shifted version in the 9-3 Viggen and OG 9-5s. The original design was used in the Saab 9000s
@@hybridyd1305 the only difference between the f35 that the cobalt used and the f25 that the viggen and 9-5s used was cable vs rod shifted (cobalt and ng 9-3s were cable, older saabs were rod), everything else was identical, including the diff, which is why you can directly bolt the quaife from the cobalt into those. And I didn't mention the regular cobalt, I really don't know much at all about those
This is my go to car in NFS Most Wanted 2005. It's because I like how the Cobalt sounds like, especially when you upgrade it in the game. Thanks for driving it.
the LNF is such a fun motor. Great sounding for a 4 popper. My Saturn Sky Redline 5 speed has a tune an exhaust with this motor making about 300 crank HP and it's such a hoot to drive. Maybe I'll have to drive it over to you guys to drive next summer if yer interested!
I've had 3 Turbo SS's over the years, have a C6Z and still went back and bought another because they are such great cars. My most recent is a 2010 with 32k miles, full bolt on with custom tune making 344whp/370wtq. Super underrated cars and still to this day are quick af with the right mods and tuners. Loved seeing this video pop up (try and find a modded one to drive!)
I learned to drive stick shift in a 2008 HHR SS, which has the same motor, transmission, and chassis, just a different body. It was a POS and half the car didn't work, but it was hands down the most fun car I've driven, let alone owned. absolute torque monster. I will get another turbo ecotec some day, whether it be another HHR SS or a turbo Cobalt SS.
Man we use to make cool turbo cars as Americans...the Cobalt SS, HHR SS, Ford Focus RS, Fiesta ST... Such a shame that Americans want to drive pickup trucks and SUV's when half the people don't need such a large vehicle as most people buy a vehicle for their kids. #bringbackthesedan
When I was 18 years ago I thought I was so cool in my 2008 civic (not even an si 😅) and then one of these pulled up next to me on the highway and I watched his taillights go bye bye 😂
That things sweet! I love my little Cobalt LS. the standard ecotec is pretty groggy with the auto but mine has a 5 speed it feels pretty zippy it's a great gas saver. It came with nice rims and has a pioneer stereo too. 😊
@TheTopher Would love to see you drive some cars of this era (2000-2010). If possible a 955/957 and also 958 gen Cayenne, Pontiac GTO, old Range Rovers, a mix of American, Australian, Japanese and European vehicles. It’d be nice if you can get a chance to drive cars of the 2000. IMO this time period of cars had great mechanical simplicity, but also enough refinement with just enough tech. They were so raw and fanastic! Not only performance cars but normal SUVs and pretty much everything...
Bought a new silver one in 2010 only option LSD. Traded it in for a new 2014 SS 1LE. I remember being behind a 2000 Trans am at 150 mph and he couldn’t leave me. Though I had a few bolt on’s and a ZZP tune, set of light weight racing wheels.
I drove a cobalt (non SS) and even though the interior and rest of the car was pretty garbage, the drive-train drives like it did day 1 (my dad bought it brand new for a commuter car). 200k+ miles on original clutch.
Nice car! I have a 09 SS in yellow. 60 something thousand miles. What other tires have you had on it? I have the Continental extreme contact dws06+ on mine because I need something that can handle freezing temperatures. Mine also has the quaife limited slip so it does well in snow. The tires do well in the dry and fantastic in rain. I also put carbon ceramic pads and drilled slotted rotors. They squeal at first. Most brembos do that even on Subarus and Mitsubishi.
Now realizing that this cobalt and the saturn sky/pontiac solstice are basically the same car. Would be interesting to see how this compares to either of those cars!
Would you at all be compelled to review a r56 mini with a bigger turbo and stage 3 tune that is currently at 253,000 miles on an unopened engine in the future lol
The fact that this is his first ever car from 10 years ago and he only has 57k miles on it is insane, makes me feel like a shitty first car owner ahaha
@@JOONWOOKIYOTAKA not salty at all I literally thought this guy was tophers substitute. I didn’t take into consideration the possibility that his name was also topher.
Twin Tophercharged
Can’t believe this car is faster than an R34 GTR
Really?
@@sambitdas9416yes
Faster around the nurburgring, you left that part out
@ doesn’t take a genius to understand what i implied
Cool car for its day for around $20,000 MSRP. I liked the SRT-4 too. I almost bought a 500whp build SRT-4 that was less than a year old, but got a Camaro instead.
God, there is something so unique and charming about the Cobalt SS & Neon SRT. What wonderful products of the 00's era of cars.
Don’t forget the Mazdaspeed3
Illegal to be this early to a Topher video - feat substitute topher always a classic edition
Duo topher vids always have me wanting a Topher podcast
I second this
@@Stratozfearzi third this
I saw a podcast with Substitute Topher and another guy "Daily motor" I think. I don't know exactly the name.
The Tophers, Charlie, and Tedward together for a car podcast would be awesome!
@@rolasleyva8602 The Daily Motor Podcast with Charlie!
I wanted one of these so badly in high school. Such a cool car, wish GM still made something like this
Elantra N is a better option these days
@ I love the Elantra N! I’ve actually commented in the past on tophers other videos about how I want one just don’t have the space for a third car.
All I’m saying is how cool would it be if GM had a sporty little 4cyl turbo car like the old cobalt SS. Having options in this space is a good thing!
@Sairos-Plays I agree but they only like selling boring crap these days
Better option than what? We don't know if it's a better option because GM doesn't make anything like it.@@MeltingRubberZ28
@@deviouslaw better option than the Cobalt SS
Driving cars as a job is so fuckin cool man
Effin’ A man.
Facts
It's always been a dream of mine.
@@HoldTheDark-o8e me too man, best of luck 🤞
@@xMug-w9k all the best to you too, brother
Honestly it’s refreshing to see this “STOCK” and intact. Would never find a SRT-4 or Focus SVT like this
True, it's a survivor from a owner that cares. Too many got clapped out from heavy mods and abuse. This looks factory fresh and a reminder of what cars used to look like in a different period of time.
There are a lot of SRT-4s like this, but you need to know where to look, my brother's SRT-4 will always be my first example...
@ maybe theres a gem of someone who kept it forever. there’s clean ones for sure. Stock wheels, intake, and original turbo? Don’t see them
@@pulsewound2677 I've seen some that are kept like they are in a bubble, I don't like those, I like more when they are used and loved at the same time.
My bros' car is a bad example for that because it has 300k miles, even thou well cared, the turbo manifold just gave up so had to replace it with the only new option available, a Chinese rep.
I haven't seen a stock SRT-4 since at least 2007. I still see SRT-4's occasionally, but they never look stock.
I had this car. It was tuned and it ripped.
Nostalgia is hitting hard right now. My buddy had one of these and my other buddy had an SRT-4. We were right out of high school, not a care in world and life was just fun.
Can't get over how factory fresh this looks. It's like they just got if from the dealership in 2009.
0:01 It's about time to name the substitute Topher
The supercharged SS cars are nothing to sleep on. When turbo swapped, they outshine the LNFs. They're port injection, raw feeling in the way they put the power down, have great linear power.
This guy Cobalts.
Well said
These were serious performance bargains back in 08 and 09.
Tons of aftermarket
GM offers upgrades that wouldn't void warranty either.
Fastest fwd around the ring for a long time also
Yeah GM can give us cool stuff when they don't want to make boring turds
Fun fact, the Cobalt SS has the f25/f35 transmission made by Saab, you'll find the identical trans in the NG 9-3 5 speeds. Even the shift knob is the same. There's a rod shifted version in the 9-3 Viggen and OG 9-5s. The original design was used in the Saab 9000s
Cobalt SS has the f35 only. Base models had the f23.
@@hybridyd1305 the only difference between the f35 that the cobalt used and the f25 that the viggen and 9-5s used was cable vs rod shifted (cobalt and ng 9-3s were cable, older saabs were rod), everything else was identical, including the diff, which is why you can directly bolt the quaife from the cobalt into those. And I didn't mention the regular cobalt, I really don't know much at all about those
Figured when I saw that shift knob. I miss Saab.
NFS: Most Wanted first car
I almost full complete the game with it 😁
I had a feeling these were pretty rare. According to Jalopnik only 3,168 Turbo SS coupes were made and 474 sedans. 🤯
Awesome, just saw it on his channel. My grandfather had a Black one, such a cool car until Louisiana flooding decided to say no haha
I remember it was one of the fastest production fwd car around the Nordschleife at the time.
I made sure allllll my friends knew that back in the day 🤣
I look at the older cars more then the new ones
This comment hits home for me. I think we are very nostalgic.
This is my go to car in NFS Most Wanted 2005. It's because I like how the Cobalt sounds like, especially when you upgrade it in the game. Thanks for driving it.
the LNF is such a fun motor. Great sounding for a 4 popper. My Saturn Sky Redline 5 speed has a tune an exhaust with this motor making about 300 crank HP and it's such a hoot to drive.
Maybe I'll have to drive it over to you guys to drive next summer if yer interested!
I've had 3 Turbo SS's over the years, have a C6Z and still went back and bought another because they are such great cars. My most recent is a 2010 with 32k miles, full bolt on with custom tune making 344whp/370wtq. Super underrated cars and still to this day are quick af with the right mods and tuners. Loved seeing this video pop up (try and find a modded one to drive!)
I learned to drive stick shift in a 2008 HHR SS, which has the same motor, transmission, and chassis, just a different body. It was a POS and half the car didn't work, but it was hands down the most fun car I've driven, let alone owned. absolute torque monster. I will get another turbo ecotec some day, whether it be another HHR SS or a turbo Cobalt SS.
That's the same steering wheel I have on my C6 corvette :D
Man we use to make cool turbo cars as Americans...the Cobalt SS, HHR SS, Ford Focus RS, Fiesta ST... Such a shame that Americans want to drive pickup trucks and SUV's when half the people don't need such a large vehicle as most people buy a vehicle for their kids. #bringbackthesedan
Elantra N, GLI
@ I mean American manufacturers making cool turbo sedans in 2024. There is none. That’s why I turned to the Koreans for a small turbo car.
@@noriceformeplz Focus and Fiesta were technically products of Ford Europe weren't they?
Seems like it pulls really strong and healthy! What a clean car. Crazy to think that original video was 10 years ago!
Honestly, I think the Cobalt Coupe is a great looking car in general
Chris and Chris, The rest is history.......
I also had one of these in high school. I still consider buying another one 13 years later, if I could find one that isn't rusted out.
When I was 18 years ago I thought I was so cool in my 2008 civic (not even an si 😅) and then one of these pulled up next to me on the highway and I watched his taillights go bye bye 😂
That things sweet! I love my little Cobalt LS. the standard ecotec is pretty groggy with the auto but mine has a 5 speed it feels pretty zippy it's a great gas saver. It came with nice rims and has a pioneer stereo too. 😊
NFS MW 2005!!!
I love your videos! That's a nice car! Looks like what I call a "cozy coupe" I love it soo much!
friendships start from somewhere.
The ultimate sleeper tuner car. Beats even the legendary SRT4
bro was giving me anxiety going around those corners so fast 😭
I love this. I had a 06 ss sc
The turbo one with LSD had the fastest production fwd car lap time around the nurburgring...i believe
@TheTopher Would love to see you drive some cars of this era (2000-2010).
If possible a 955/957 and also 958 gen Cayenne, Pontiac GTO, old Range Rovers, a mix of American, Australian, Japanese and European vehicles. It’d be nice if you can get a chance to drive cars of the 2000. IMO this time period of cars had great mechanical simplicity, but also enough refinement with just enough tech. They were so raw and fanastic! Not only performance cars but normal SUVs and pretty much everything...
Why the owner complained the plastic interior? that cuz it's a car from a mainstream brand with a sport vision..
i wanted one of these so freaking bad
Bought a new silver one in 2010 only option LSD. Traded it in for a new 2014 SS 1LE. I remember being behind a 2000 Trans am at 150 mph and he couldn’t leave me. Though I had a few bolt on’s and a ZZP tune, set of light weight racing wheels.
@@johnmarshjr928 150 in a Cobalt is brave
I can’t even comprehend keeping a car bone stock for a decade. 😂
I drove a cobalt (non SS) and even though the interior and rest of the car was pretty garbage, the drive-train drives like it did day 1 (my dad bought it brand new for a commuter car). 200k+ miles on original clutch.
very fast car for its time
Did Saab 9-3 of this era have this drive train (2.0L turbo)?
Nope, completely different 2.0
The Saab 2.0 Turbo only had like 215hp
Is it American version of Opel Astra Coupé?
I would assume so? They were built here locally in Lordstowne I believe so perhaps not?
Similar
Nice car! I have a 09 SS in yellow. 60 something thousand miles.
What other tires have you had on it?
I have the Continental extreme contact dws06+ on mine because I need something that can handle freezing temperatures. Mine also has the quaife limited slip so it does well in snow.
The tires do well in the dry and fantastic in rain.
I also put carbon ceramic pads and drilled slotted rotors. They squeal at first. Most brembos do that even on Subarus and Mitsubishi.
Now realizing that this cobalt and the saturn sky/pontiac solstice are basically the same car. Would be interesting to see how this compares to either of those cars!
Kappa and Delta are completely different platforms.
The only thing they share is the LNF
@ lol
12:17 sad. Nls worked really good in sstc
14-15k is way on the high end, In my personal opinon. Cool car though. I would love to own one and use it daily.
My NFS MW fav car 😁😁
Same steering wheel as the c6 corvette :P
How's the fun factor on the street vs the FL5 Type R? I had a sedan version and curious.
Wait.. their are 2 car channels that i just got recommended back to back.. AND THEY REVIEWED THE EXACT SAME CAR..
Would you at all be compelled to review a r56 mini with a bigger turbo and stage 3 tune that is currently at 253,000 miles on an unopened engine in the future lol
My first car was a 2006 HHR, literally the same steering wheel 😂
Same steering wheel on the C6 corvette
Whaaaaat??? NOOOOOO 😂 @@SCHMALLZZZ
He gone do some modes to it
So which one of these guys run the channel cause if they both go by Topher then who runs the channel unless they both run it, lol
The fact that this is his first ever car from 10 years ago and he only has 57k miles on it is insane, makes me feel like a shitty first car owner ahaha
A cobalt rugged reliable and cheap
Fun fact: this car was faster around the ring than a R34 GTR. I don't get it either.
You don’t see them on the road anymore because they all rusted out and were abused and trashed.
I see a lot of Cobalts here in the Midwest as of fall 2024, but sadly, very few SS models.
Can I get a shotout?
nah
@lflcoast 😔
Toofer
3rd comment kind of early 🥸
Earlyyyy
How is this guys entire identity “substitute topher” that’s kind of sad. Just say his name, let him have his own personality.
My name is literally Topher
@ so your name is topher and you substitute for another guy named topher?
Why so salty bro.
@@JOONWOOKIYOTAKA not salty at all I literally thought this guy was tophers substitute. I didn’t take into consideration the possibility that his name was also topher.
@@shoshagreen3402 Oh ok