It's easy to see why GM is in serious trouble. First the Cobalt.
This car, while a looker is a POS. Sure it's a rocket, although after test driving a Mustang GT and a V6 as well I think even the Mustang V6 will kill it on a real road with cornering.
The problem with the Cobalt SS is that while it has a lot of straight line power, the first curve you take leaves you hanging on for dear life. Who the heck designed the suspension? My old Cavalier RS can out corner the Cobalt SS, well maybe not but considering the price :)
On to the Monte Carlo SS....
Now this is a VERY NICE car...... However, I would not want to have to fix one :( Transverse V8, FWD, 4-6-8 Cylinder engine (anyone remember the Caddies they tried this on?)
Lot's of power, very smooth ride, but honestly BORING!! BTW who put the A/C controls behind the shift lever? REAL BAD.... Interior is a mess.
I suspect this one is going to blow half shafts like crazy....
Bottom line?
GM is in trouble because a trip to just about any GM lot looks like a trip to the typical Hertz "rent a car" lot.......... The cars are just plain boring, for the most part. The Cobalt and Monte SS are kinda exceptions, but even they suck when you look at the competition.
The Pontiac Solstice/Sky look like great cars, but now try and find one where the price isn't gouged.
Conclusions:::: I'm buying a Mustang.
Great looks. Old fashioned engineering (ie:parts are everywhere and cheap) No over-engineering. RWD (cheap to fix) And a decent price.
BTW my driver is a 96 Impala SS with 370,000 miles on it. Still runs fine and is all original.
GM better wake up......