The Lightning Lap, 2008: Part II of V - Car and Driver

Round 3 of our performance benchmark at Virginia International Raceway, LL1: Cars less than $30,000.

The Lightning Lap, 2008 - Feature http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_class...

The Lightning Lap, 2007 - Feature http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_class...

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[VAspeed3]

Not to persecute VW fans, but what the hell is the R32 good for? Small, slow, heavy, and expensive. I guess they do sound pretty nice, and they go if it snows, but that certainly would not do it for me.

[Scorpius366]

One hell of a Cobalt...

[c0nv1ct1337]

Looks like a rental car and the interior looks really cheap. Overall, I'd still take the 350z over it.

[mpalm887]

Sadly I have to agree. May as well save the money and get a GTI if you need a VW hot hatch. but either way you'll get crapped on by the way, way faster, and way cheaper Cobalt SS.

Too bad the cobalt looks like a rental car though.

[Towelman20]

The cobalt ss is so freaking good only 3.13 round the v international race way is incredable the cobalt ss is a serious bargin infact i love it i really do the caliber srt-4 is absoutley crap compared the cobalt ss gm is capeable of making the best car's in the world chrysler is just crap they dont know what there doing the dodge caliber srt-4 is a horrible car they dont know what there doing oh yes and when ford bought volvo they just screwed it up 1st hand example in this vid.

[MAGeffingNETO]

Omg the cobalt beats an IS-F......

[HeadTater]

Can't wait till the next Lighting Lap test. By then they shoulkd have the Camaro in the test. Depedning on which trim level they pick, it could be interesting. I have no doubts that a LS or LT Camaro could dominate the LL1 class. If they manage to get the SS under $30k, then there will be no competition at all. If they can't, the SS should still do well in the LL2 class.

[hartsickdisciple]

I know they can't because it's no longer in production.. but I'd much rather see an 04 or 05 Neon SRT-4. The Caliber is a disgrace to the SRT-4 name. The old SRT-4 was so much better in almost every way.

[JustDuck]

Kudos to GM for the Cobalt SS. Now if only GM can save themselves.

[sleeksilver]

Not so much, pick up last years copy with the LL and prove yourself wrong.

The Cobalt beat the MS3 by three seconds, that is a large margin...

[tekkaboy80]

the viper wasn't wearing R compounds i believe and its in the same LL class as gt-r