G8 and Cobalt SS

[GTPdriver]

I am old enough to have a sense of deja vue: picture 1970. Everybody was coming out with faster cars with bigger motors and then boom, the price of gas skyrocketed and insurance charges did like-wise and everything ground to a halt.
Update to 2008 and the car manufacturers are bringing out cars like the G8 GTP, the Camaro etc. And again gas prices are going up with no sign of abatement and insurance will go way up if a car has a moniker of GT or SS.
My point: That I'd love to have one of the new rear wheel drive vehicles and equip it with a six-speed but will have no way in hell of affording the cost and the gas and the insurance premiums all at once.
And all the new vehicles will carry extra weight and a gas-guzzler tax to boot adding to the expenses.
I read the early review in Motor Trend this month on the G8 GTP and particularly like the pick-up version but am afraid it will be just pie in the sky.
On one other note, the 2009 Cobalt SS with the 260 hp four cylinder is almost as fast in acceleration and faster on the top end! (The G8 is governed.) Just may be the ticket: performance with gas mileage. Wonder what the insurance will be with the SS moniker.
GTP driver

[earlbaer]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

Your right, but I have a feeling that by 2012 90% of cars will be hybrids with the way gas prices are going.

[Lmac83]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

Technology makes a big difference though. We have 4 cylinder engines making 260 HP, with low displacement.

[ElecBlueG6GT]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

The g8 GT with the Sport package is governed at 137.
Common sense should dictate what you buy. People who can't afford the gas, should not buy this car.

[WoodburyMan]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

There is not G8 GTP... there's the GT out now and next year the GXP.

[dre256]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

Am 24 in NJ with only one ticket 3 years ago for speeding doing 1-10 over (belive now it gone) but insurance was the same on the SS SC, G6 GTP, G6 GT, Solstice (before GXP trim) so the new SS will prob be the same I would think as it goes by tiers and colbalt SS-TC should be in the same tier, belive it or not the corvette as there getting older the 02-04 is the same tier (atleast with my insurace company) as the G6 GTP as it would be the same amount if I wanted to get one of them when I asked them before :P

From I understand the new SS is actually HP goverened in each gear 1st is only like 220 HP, 2nd is 240 HP, and after 3rd you have all 260 HP then as its FWD and trying to cut down on torque steer.

[stahlight]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

A tune should remove the governers on the cobalt SS?

I don't think gas prices will remain this high -- our consumption has gone down, but the prices have gone up due to a) China and India, b) Gas traded in (weak) US dollars and c) Speculation.

In 2001, big whig investors dumped their stocks and went into real estate speculation (subprime loan bundles, CDO's etc), so the real estate market shot up. Hell a beach-front house could be bought for $300k here in Naples in 2000. Now its $1.15 MIL +.

In late 2005 the real estate market dried up (subprime loans dont stay profitable forever) and the same investors switched to gasoline futures and foreign currency trading. As a result, the dollar weakened and the price of oil shot up. So far as I know, there is no shortage of oil, nor any reason to believe there will be in the next 20+ years. When you see the military switching from oil based vehicles, then you will know there is an impending oil shortage.

Gasoline futures will not sustain their up trend, and the true market value of oil is around $50-60 a barrel (based on 2004 prices, adjusted for averaged inflation, not including real estate or gas futures). However the outstanding market capitalization of the oil futures market is far in excess of that ($140 / bbl). Anyone remember what happened tot he last market where the capitalization/value ratio was so out of whack? *cough* DOT.COM stocks *cough* anyone?

So I stand by my prediction that gas prices will stabilize and drop, as soon as there are worries about the future profitability of gasoline options. One possible source of a lack of confidence in gasoline futures is an economic recession. Reduced demand for consumer goods will trickle through as a reduced demand for diesel, etc. Moreoever, the resultant higher unemployment will further reduce gas demand. All it takes is for a few cents drop in gasoline price vs. futures to cause a large loss in a options contract. I can not say if we'll ever see $1.50 per gallon again as was the 2004 prices (IIRC). But I doubt that $4 will last all that long, because it's already had a devastating effect on the economy. Even the Wallstreet Journal was reporting that the vast majority of the refund checks will be spend on gasoline rather than "real" economic stimulation.

What does this means for cars? I can't tell. The 35 MPG debacle will very hard to undo. The new CAFE will only serve to raise the prices of cars as additional technology is poured toward fuel efficiency. This isnt a bad thing per se, but already its extremely difficult to afford a new car -- even a loaded Aveo or Corolla can approach $20,000 now. A "decent" car like the G6 can easily approach $30,000 (especially if the dealer swindles you). One interesting aside is that 'niche' used cars have seen a resurgance. Example: Nissan 240SX, Toyot Supra, Mitsu 3000GT, Camero V8, Firebird V8, etc. Even these are starting to get expensive.

I know I wont have everyone agree with this, and I have some references, but I dont feel like citing them... LOL someone can pay me to do a market study But I think in the future, it wont be the cost of gas that drives the car market. Who's got $40,000 to blow on a hybrid technology 2012 G6. It gets 35 MPG if you drive at 45 mph, coast down hills with the engine off, and never exceed 1500 RPM while accelerating. Also you must take out the back seats. And go to the gym fat-ass, you late night trips to mc donalds are killing the fuel economy. MPG rating not gaurenteed, testing done in a vacuum chamber to negate the effect of wind resistance. Oh and due to wind resistance, the car is hideous.

Ok thats my two euro's

[newbiestyle]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

you know its funny, I hear people talk about the 1960s as the age of the muscle car. I think today qualifies more as the "age of the muscle car". I mean look at what we have on the market,

260hp cobalt ss (economy car)
260hp solstice gxp (roadster)
252hp g6 gxp (midsize car)
425hp charger srt8 / 361hp g8 gt (large size car)
425hp cherokee srt8 / 395hp trailblazer SS (suv)
425hp magnum srt8 (station wagon)
300hp mustang gt (sports car)
500hp shelby gt 500 mustang (really fast sports car)
625hp corvette zr1 (exotic sports car)
380hp dodge ram (pickup)

with the exception of a fast minivan, we have really fast versions of whatever type of vehicle you would want to buy.
If you were to take the 1960's counterparts of modern vehicles, the modern version is faster and more powerful than the 1960s versions.

[dre256]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

A tune should remove the governers on the cobalt SS?

Yea it would but not sure if you want 260 HP in 1st gear on a 2700LBS FWD car You wouldnt know with out trying it first to see how it is, the steering wheel my break your wrist (ovouly not literally) from the torque steer

[ahuhn]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

Your right, but I have a feeling that by 2012 90% of cars will be hybrids with the way gas prices are going.

no way there still 2 expensive for 90% of them to be

i betting on hydrogen cars comming out by then

[94thunderchicken]

Re: G8 and Cobalt SS

Am 24 in NJ with only one ticket 3 years ago for speeding doing 1-10 over (belive now it gone) but insurance was the same on the SS SC, G6 GTP, G6 GT, Solstice (before GXP trim) so the new SS will prob be the same I would think as it goes by tiers and colbalt SS-TC should be in the same tier, belive it or not the corvette as there getting older the 02-04 is the same tier (atleast with my insurace company) as the G6 GTP as it would be the same amount if I wanted to get one of them when I asked them before :P

From I understand the new SS is actually HP goverened in each gear 1st is only like 220 HP, 2nd is 240 HP, and after 3rd you have all 260 HP then as its FWD and trying to cut down on torque steer.

This is true. When I had my SRT-4, it would have been slightly cheaper to insure a c6 Vette than the econobox.