Guess where some of those fleet Cobalts went...?

[Flybrian]

Google Streetview Camera Car Fleet Set to Invade America

Link to Original Article @ Gizmodo

A camera-toting tipster saw what appeared to be a giant armada of Chevy Cobalt cars in the Google parking lot, getting ready to take pictures of the entire world (or thereabouts) with special 360° cameras. The tipster says he followed a Google camera van as it cruised back to its Mountain View, California, lair yesterday after that van finished a session of picture taking for Google's Streetview navigation site. Exactly what did he see?

It was an entire fleet of at least 30 brand-new Chevy Cobalt cars parked behind the building, most without license plates yet. As you can see in the pictures above, each had a metal device attached to its top, which looks suspiciously like a vertical extension for mounting Google's Streetview 360° camera.

Our telltale tipster tells us he thinks Google is "preparing their invasion of US cities with an armada of C.C.C.Cs (Chevy Cobalt Camera Cars). I guess Cobalts are cheap but they certainly will be conspicuous. Maybe that's what they want."

It looks like an auspicious addition to the camera car fleet, but it's going to take more than thirty Chevy Cobalts to take a portrait of the entire Earth, or even of the Silicon Valley. However, with Google's zillions, just about anything's possible. It's got its eye on you; the end is near.

[pow]

Wow, that's quite a site. It's nice to see Google using the Cobalt.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Odd, but in a strange way comforting!

[NOS2006]

I thought people with brains would have more sense than to like Honda. Oh, wait...

EDIT: Aww, damn, Fly!

Edited July 18, 2007 by NOS2006

[Flybrian]

[AAS]

Wow, that's quite a site. It's nice to see Google using the Cobalt.

Odd, but in a strange way comforting!

I agree... Don't know if they chose them for the reasons we would like (cuz it's American etc.), or if they just went on price, but I'de say that's the first time I ever felt good looking at so many fleet cars.

[Sixty8panther]

Cool, more sales for GM.

[knightfan26917]

Wow ... that's actually kind of neat.

Speaking of ... what a cool job that would be ... driving around capturing images for Google! Hmmm......

Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker

WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"An open road and a road that's hidden" ... Steve Wariner ... 'Brand New Life'

[Lamar]

No problems with this, but...

Why do they all have to be the same color (or trim line, for that matter)? Was it just easier to order? It woulda been hot to see some SS models in there.

[pow]

I would groan if it were WalMart buying these Cobalts, but it's Google, and last time I checked, they're still decently cool. What if Apple suddenly buys 50 new Astra XRs...

[Newbiewar]

No problems with this, but...

Why do they all have to be the same color (or trim line, for that matter)? Was it just easier to order? It woulda been hot to see some SS models in there.

probably because GM over buit one color... but maybe just cause its easier to all have the same color...

but i dont know why most people consider fleet sales as bad... the bad fleet customers are the ones that replace their cars once every 2-3 months...

but someone like google with a fleet that size will keep their vehicles for probably 5-10 years... and im sure they got some sort of corperate repair program...

if gm kept all its fleet customers except for budget and the car rental places... and only give them the higher quality vehicles so that it shows highly of gm not poorly...

if you got that fancy rate of 30$ a day or whatever on a cts... instead of an aveo... wouldnt you be happier? and wouldnt it show GM as a better vehicle?

but when companys are using the vehicles every day, professionals driving them as their mode of transportation... fleet is awesome...

a lot of times fleet vehicles see 350k miles... where as rental cars see 6-30k before they are turned back to the dealership network...

[Satty]

I saw one of these the other day. One of these, or some other Cobalt with a giant dildo on the roof.

[NOS2006]

One of these, or some other Cobalt with a giant dildo on the roof.

I was gonna stop to say hi, but I was trying to get to your mom's house as fast as possible for her special delivery...

[vonVeezelsnider]

I drove by one of these in the Cavalier last weekend as it was doing the rounds on my street. My car's gonna be famous!