Ubetit

I get 33-34 on the highway and 28-29 in mixed driving in my 2006 Civic Si.

Slithr

I guess you have to look at what is important to you. If performance and combined with practicality and a killer price are the primary focus then I'd go with the SS.

If you need more refinement with significantly less performance, then the Si is a good alternative.

In five years the Cobalt might not be worth as much as some of the alternatives. The grin factor might help with that.

Johnny Sack

SEARCH.

Legal Bill

If I was shopping at this price point I would probably buy one. Quality of interior materials would not be a high priority for me at this price point. I would gladly discount interior materials for this level of performance at this price point. Even the best interiors at this price point are not very impressive, in my opinion.

The body style has the distinct advantage of NOT attracting attention. Some actually like that. If you need a car that gets you noticed for some reason, then I'd look elsewhere.

All that said, go and look at one and sit in it. The interior may not be all that bad to your eyes, and the body style is something I think most folks can live with

suprmonky73

if i needed more space than the S, i would pick the mazdaspeed3

rockville

The mileage of the MS3 isn't impressive. From what I've read the handling isn't as good as the SS (but it is good). However I would go MS3 because it's a hatch and the Chevy isn't. If it were the other way around my choice would also change.

TheDonEffect

Well said.
Honestly, the wrx interiors of yore weren't anything to be impressed about either, now they;'re better but they do cost more. However, teh civic has the cobalt in spades, the price difference is minor if you're comparing msrps but we all know you can get deals on cobalts, civic not so much.
Resale values for regular cobalts suck, but the turbo SSs might be different, only time will tell.

My R2

Powertrain is great but the shell it is in, as others have stated above, is less than eye-catching...nonetheless it seems to fit your criteria...GL

I would probably spring for the Si as I love its interior....but after I drove both I would probably park the SS in the garage....

Legal Bill

If the goal is to keep the car short term. Say 4 years or less, this should be factored into the buyer's analysis. But buyers should start with the actual sale price when making this calculation, not the sticker price.

If you plan to keep the car longer, it becomes less of a factor in my experience. Again (and I hate to keep using this term), at this price point, the difference in value after five years will probably be a couple of thousand dollars. The Cobalt SS will not lose value like the base model IMHO.

turbosix

before i got the S in may, i had looked at a cobalt ss/sc. good looking car outside and inside. i dont agree with the rental car interior thing people keep spouting....

2006 with 35k miles for $15k

i found my 03 with 32k for $18.5 and decided to spend the extra money for less weight and more power

if the SS was the turbo model i dont think i would be driving a honda right now.