[MAC]

So my mom has finally given up on trying to revive our Ford Taurus. Last week she bought a brand new '09 Chevy Cobalt LT.
The night we bought it I noticed it had condensation in the driver side headlight (Yes it was condensation not oxidation of the headlight).
My mom also noticed the driver side window isn't working properly.
I was speaking to her regarding my Grandpa's Lexus ES 330 I'm still driving, and what great gas mileage it has been getting (approximately 21 as of late which is Really high for this particular car) - It usually gets about 16 MPG on average.

My mom rented 3 Cobalts before actually buying one. The ones she rented were just the base Cobalt LS though. Usually she would average 20-25 MPG in the city, and she really enjoyed the thought of getting such great gas mileage.

The new '09 Cobalt LT is only getting; now get this: EIGHTEEN MPG.

Heres my question: WHY IS THIS BRAND NEW CAR GETTING SUCH CRAPPY GAS MILEAGE?!
It only had 6 miles on the od. when we drove it off the lot.

as for the headlight condensation and window - she has made an appointment to get them inspected/fixed.

[[KRPT]ECP]

could just be a lemon, my buddy's '09 cobalt lt is rocking around 28+ mpg at a very consistent rate in the city.

[SSmoked]

2 things.

1) its still gotta break in. my mazda3 was getting 20mpg when i got it now im averging 30mpg and 30,000km on it

2) could be a lemon like the above poster mentioned. i say u bring it to chevy and see what they can do with it as the warrenty and everything is still good.

best of luck

[Camaro_Corvette]

Totally agree with ssmoked, Give the engine time to break in, and the fuel mileage should improve. make sure she breaks it in properly as well, it will get you better fuel economy and longer life on the engine.

[roorback]

You should see a dramatic improvement in the Cobalt. My cavvy has 180K on it and I'm still getting 31MPG straight hwy and 28mpg mixed. The dealer will prob stand behind the car.

[The_Blur]

I'm not sure it needs much time to get that kind of mileage. I had a brand new Cobalt, and I easily drove it 27 miles per gallon before some reckless driver totaled it. I remember getting those numbers straight out of the factory. Go back to your dealer if conservative driving doesn't show a significant improvement.

[Georgie]

if you are going stop light to stop light in a city you may well get 18 mpg from time to time

[Sizzox]

Yeah my mom has an ss sedan and when i drive it i have a lead foot on it and i still get 22 mpg that revving it all the time to haha. Its a fun little car for a four door.

[Mr. Wyndham]

My Cobalt took a 1000 miles or so before I started getting really GOOD mileage. I was mostly highway driving at the time, and getting ~26mpg. +/- 2mpg. After that period I was, am, and will be getting a consistant 28 in the city, and 33 on the highway.

Good idea to take it in for the headlight and window issue. I didn't have any issues with my car, fortunately, but that headlight thing could be trouble, they aren't supposed to do that new, after all -- and I'm sure the window trouble is a pain.

Don't worry about the mileage, it'll go up significantly in time.

[bouncertime]

Give it time the MPG will go up, I have a heavy left foot and the 2.4 and still average 25mpg.

The dealer should take care of the headlights. The drivers window, she is probably talking about the auto down, mine has always been a hit or miss, sometimes it works and sometimes it don't. I think it is just set to auto down when the button is hit just right. They are good cars for the money, my wife and I love ours.

[Camaro_Corvette]

My moms Brand new 09' chevy impala, nearing 10,000 miles, only getting 20 mpg's highway.

Okay, how much time do you guys think this car needs to break in, it should be getting 30 highway by now shouldn't it. we have never seen the car get better than 22. Should I be concerned, i mean surely this car is broke in at 10,000 miles, comon how many miles does it take?

[MrIcky]

Well, let me tell you my experience from a very recent Cobalt SS purchase.

I bought it on a Wednesday, by Friday it was only at 13 mpg. By the following Wednesday it was over 21. I think part of that was the computer setting itself because the instant mileage read about where I expected it to be. I wouldn't worry about the mileage until you're on your second tank of gas.

[stovt001]

Originally Posted by camaro_corvette

My moms Brand new 09' chevy impala, nearing 10,000 miles, only getting 20 mpg's highway.

Okay, how much time do you guys think this car needs to break in, it should be getting 30 highway by now shouldn't it. we have never seen the car get better than 22. Should I be concerned, i mean surely this car is broke in at 10,000 miles, comon how many miles does it take?

Depends how you're driving, what you have in the trunk, how you're maintaining tire pressure, etc.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Tire pressure is perfect, my mom drives like an old grandmother, nothing in the trunk except the bodies.