2010 Cobalt LT Sedan - 2 day review

[roosterk0031]

Picked it up yesterday for my oldest daughter. Salvage title front end collision all repaired, 27,000 miles, auto, power windows, locks, and mirrors with cruise. Once we got on back roads we filled it up with E0 and reset the factory gauges. Wife driving it about 90 miles at 55 with some small towns and little city driving with AC on 33.7.

I aired up the tires to 40 psi last night (were mid 30's) and drove it to work today to compare to my XFE. Drive was extended because son left his school computer in car and needed it today. Almost 3 hours later I got to work 39.2 mpg indicated. (wind was behind me part of the time). Will update when I get home to finish the round trip & refill. With todays weather and E0 I'd guess 43 indicated with the XFE.

Auto tranny shifts nice, even with moderate acceleration shifts at 2500 rpm, gets into OD pretty quick and holds it down to 35 mph/1200 rpm even up small grades. HWY rpm very close if not same as XFE. Torque convertor stays locked up down to 1300 rpm, so neutral coasting is required for good coast. Leave in D if you want engine braking.

Steering isn't as twitchy as the XFE, I suspect it has more toe in.

It doesn't have LLR tires, XFE has 195-65-15's, 195-60-15 on this LT.

I guess I could swap wheels and see if the tires make much difference. Planning on installing Nokian WRG2 or 3 on it this fall and I'll use up the factory tires on the XFE.

[Cobb]

Be interesting what e85 would do.

[roosterk0031]

WOW, calculate MPG way off indicated. Doubt I'll have her use E85, but she has a blender pump not far from campus so E30 (price dependent) would be fine.

[roosterk0031]

2nd half tank was way better, 36.8 indicated, 37.1 calculated. Change oil & rotated tires yesterday, she'll be taking it back to college and the 14.5 yo will start using the Stratus for track/baseball pratice when he can't ride with mom or sister.

[Miller88]

Your 14.5 year old can legally drive?

[roosterk0031]

School permit, back and forth to school for school events, and to go get fuel when needed, but I don't let them do that (that part sometimes gets abused). I refill on weekends. Because of before and after school sports/speech/drama stuff just make life easier, both of my girls had them without issue.

They can get a School Permit in Iowa 6 months after having a learners permit at 14, passing drivers ed, and get a school administration to sign off on it.
(learner permit allows to drive with parents or sibling over 21 I think).

Regular license at 16 if you've had a learners permit 1 year with some restriction for the first 6 months.

He did almost all of the driving of mom around the second fill.