I am absolutely fed up with SCC, Car & Driver, and several other automotive magazines making the Cobalt SS/SC and ION Redline sound like horrible cars.  "The ONLY good thing about them is the seats."  Give me a break.  I don't even own either of these cars and I am still appalled by your critque's of them.  First there was Lisa Kubo pulling off the FIRST EVER sub 8 second pass in a FWD saturn drag car powered by an ecotec motor.  Then the time attack cobalt SS goes out and creates a MAJOR upset at your wonderful little time attack event. And check the mods on the time attack car, stock bottom end, stock valvetrain, all they had was a $700 dollar GM stage kit, nitrous, a few bolt-ons, suspension work, and weight reduction and they owned the competition.  
But still, according to SCC this car is a no-go.  I mean, wow for around 17-18K dollars after rebates, its such a terrible thing that this car handles better, accelerates better, and brakes better than say a 23-25K dollar GTI.  I mean after all the nice noise free, sophisticated interior of the VW is what the true tuners are really looking for!  GIVE ME A BREAK!!  

Check out Car & Driver November 2006.   They Road Tested the CobaltSS, RX-8, MX-5, Civic Si, GTI, Evo, Mustang GT and 350Z at Virginia International Raceway - the most similar track to Nurburgring they could find close by,  and actually really liked the Cobalt over pretty much everything but the 350Z.  Never mind that the Saturn Redline wasn't invited, even though its slightly faster than the Cobalt due to a plastic vs. metal body (They're pretty much the same car otherwise).  It is really funny how Car and Driver hate ALL Saturns.  It must be the image hang-up still.  I knew the Redline was a good car since I first drove it,  and I know there all all kinds of faster and more expensive ones out there, but its still a lot of fun to drive.  And I just like having something a little different to drive around in.  

SCC should to a Cobalt SS/SC project car.  It is sad that this mag brushes away this car.  The engine has great potential just ask Jason Whitfield. The Cobalt deserves some respect for what it is, it was voted as one of the top tuner cars under $25k.  Just because its not AWD and is not putting down 300 horses doesn't make it a no-go.  

the cobalt SS built for time attact isnt as mild as you think.  its backed by the biggest auto maker in the world, they have an unlimited budget, literally.  the car is basically a stripped down, purpose built racecar.  going up against local small tuner shops with a budget no where near GM, its obviously going to be a little tough.  

I vouch for this, i have an Ion Redline.  We in the redline community get it worse than the SS/SC.  

I drove an Ion yesterday when I went to buy a new car and god *** that's a bad ass car. I wanted to buy it to be different cuz everyone here drives the cobalt LT you know it looks like the SS but it ain't. You guys should hear the arguments these guys make. "Its bigger so it has more power" Huh? I wanted to buy the Redline but it was out of stock, but they did have an 04 on their used cars that I liked. Compared to the other cobalt wich made me almost trow up. I don't know why people rant about Saturn Ion's and say that the Cobalt is "cool" and "sporty" while the Ion is "coarse" and "loud"  Itst the same freaking car. If anybody knows where I can find myself a Redline it would be of great help cuz no one is trading them in.

I couldn't buy the other Ion though a year of rallying can decrease a Benz's value tremendiously. $200 trade in. But I still want to buy it.  

Cool car indeed. But why make a project out of a car that is dead? I mean, They deleted the Redline from the Saturn line last year and they're doing the same with the SS/SC next year. Potential is there but as many people would agree, I'd go with a vehicle that has a better fit and finish. I've driven the SS/SC and its quick, but it feels so *** cheap. The manual gear box is laugh worthy in my opinion. And I know we've been wanting to see a domestic compact modified by SCC and the SVT Focus wasn't that cool.

I just feel like there shouldn't be a domestic compact in SCC until one of the big 3 step up and make a formidable opponent for the rest of the world that meets or even beats someone else in quality. One of them need to focus on matching reliability, fit & finish, and spirit the other major manufactures bring to the plate.  

you mean like the SRT4, which in the latest issue was stated as the most reliable and had the fewest problems, no matter what they have done to it.
so what if the redline/ss is no longer going to be made, does that mean that if they hadn't done the SRT yet then they shouldn't bother, or how about the AE86, MR2, 300ZX, CRX, any more?