Yeah and your Cobalt weighed 2900 lbs, so almost 1k lbs less then a S550... I'm sure it was a blast. There's a big difference between peak power from a turbo small displacement engine, and what a large displacement engine gives you. I've owned a Forester XT, and a Saab 9-2X, it really is a completely different feel, kind of like a rubber band effect. I do like what they are doing with the twin turbo setups nowadays though
Also what happens when I put some money into my V8? 200+ HP is only a SC away. I can already spin my 295 rears going from 2nd to 3rd so maybe staying NA isnt a terrible idea.
All I'm really trying to say is that it's all relative. A v8 is a better platform to make power from then an i4