Anti-lock breaks

you hit it right on. my old car, a 1990 subaru wagon with front wheel drive and no ABS, still killed it in the snow. i learned to drive in bad weather in that thing, so i got very used to being able to have full control of the brakes as far as when they would lock up, etc. it was fun in the snow knowing when they would lock up. my new car, a 1998 subaru wagon with AWD and ABS took a lot of getting used to in the snow, not because of the AWD, but because as soon as my wheels would slip, the brake pedal would start attacking my foot, which is annoying as hell. i'd rather hit my brakes and know that point at which they are going to lock up and drive for that accordingly, than have the car automatically tap my brakes for me, and not know how that's going to affect my stopping distance. as someone above said, power steering and braking are fine, but ABS, and all the extra traction control bullshit companies are putting on cars now is just a hindrance if you actually know how to drive. oh, and do not get a cobalt. actually, dont get anything american. you can get higher quality, better performing asian or european cars for the same or less money.

Get ABS. The only time you'll ever not want ABS is if you're at the race track, which by the fact you're considering a Cobalt ain't going to happen. Its not like you'll use it often, but there will be some time when someone pulls out if front of you or stomps on their brakes and you'll panic and put the brake to the floor. ABS might keep you from hittin that car in a panic stop, otherwise with non-ABS you won't have a chance if you stomp on the brake in a panic. You'll lock the tires and slide right into someone.