 |
| 2005 Dodge SRT-4 (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
The people at Dodges SRT Department really want you to have a really fast car. That doesn't just mean throwing a huge engine in either. The SRT-4 has appropriate body cladding, like a huge spoiler, hood scoop, a bumper kit that shows off the intercooler, and dual exhaust which interestingly doesn't have any mufflers. The reason is that at idle and low RPM the sound is burbly and powerful, drawing attention but sounding delicious at the same time. It tends to be that when a turbocharger kicks in, the exhaust note of the car becomes subdued considerably, and this is the case here. For the SRT-4, which feeds off of boost from a very low RPM, mufflers would just slow it down.
You also get seats that hug you to death, a manual gearbox (of course) and a really nice limited slip differential- because you WILL be racing this car.
The SRT-4 has no imported competition in its price range, but Chevrolet has decided to try its luck at grabbing some of the hardcore-enthusiast-on-a-budget sales, with the Cobalt SS Supercharged. A supercharger works in much the same way a turbocharger does, except a belt drives the compressor pump, rather than exhaust gasses.
Starting under $28,000, the SS Supercharged package includes power accessories, a sunroof, remote, and a fantastic sounding 228 watt stereo
 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
with a built in sub-woofer for added kick. Speaking of added kick, under the hood you get a two liter Ecotec engine paired with an Eaton M-62 supercharger which develop 205 horsepower. You should see this coupe move- the SS Supercharged is a rocket. It does 39 miles per gallon on the highway, but give it some gas and the supercharger kicks up boost instantly The power is always on, always ready, and kicks in the very instant you prod the pedal, not a split second later like in the SRT-4. The supercharger adds a furious, high-pitched wail over top of the engines voice, and it accelerates relentlessly until you run out of courage, pausing only briefly as you row the short-throw 5 speed through its gears.
Lift the gas pedal when you're finished, and it's just a great looking economy car. If you weren't really paying attention, you would never know this car had boost. The A-Pillar boost gauge gives it away, as does the sound, but the whole execution of the package is a lot less obvious than that of the SRT-4. Guys, here's a hint: your wife will never know the Cobalt isn't just a flashy looking, sensible coupe, though most girlfriends will easily pick up the SRT-4's styling upgrades in about 10 seconds and start to wonder. The Cobalt has no hood scoop, no huge open bumper with an intercooler peeking through, and is otherwise a lot less obvious about the secret weapon which lies underneath its hood.
Compared to the SS, the SRT-4 is like an over-caffeinated 10 year old playing with a new toy- wanting everyone to know what he's got and showing it off to everyone who looks, while darting around quickly and making a lot of noise in the process. The Cobalt though, it's just sort of
 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
slightly sporty looking: more mature while just as fun. The driving experience is less rowdy too- the ride not as rigid, the seats more forgiving, and they have even installed a muffler, so the Cobalt SS is actually fairly quiet. Both cars work well to rush you off to wherever you have to be in a real hurry, but each accomplishes it in a different way. The Cobalt firmly grabs you and whisks you along your way instantly. It does so with authority and poise, but while slipping relatively unnoticed through traffic, never being violent, or dare I say it, frightening. When you ask the SRT-4 to take you somewhere fast, it punches you in the face, throws you over its shoulder, and runs, screaming, so quickly that its tires can barely keep up. Whichever one you pick, both will have you arriving with a smile on your face and more than a few curious stares.
