I like the design of it. Its a neat vehicle. However, using a modified Trailblazer frame and suspension underneath it has left it somewhat heavy and less than sports car sharp in the handling department. Its also only available with the 5.3L Vortech V8 and an automatic which leaves it a little on the slow side for what its styling promises. For an over $40,000 (nearly $50K loaded) it is a little overpriced for the performance it offers. For similar money you can easily get a Corvette which will roast it in all performance categories. As I said, its neat, but would you really want to spend that much money on it? I didn't think so.Come on GM! Lets get a manual tranny and some more motor in there, such as the 6.0L Vortech or an LS motor!
Fformula88 = missing the whole pointWith this vehicle it's ALL about styling. The design is to cruise around town with, not run laps at a track.It's still just a chevy though - I hope it has a better quality than the average GM product.
P Warren, Columbia, TN, USA Traded my 03 Satellite Monotone Vibe "Slick" for a 05 Satellite Monotone Tacoma Double Cab PreRunner "Freak" in May '08
Quote, originally posted by pwarren4 »Fformula88 = missing the whole pointWith this vehicle it's ALL about styling. The design is to cruise around town with, not run laps at a track.Gee, Ford seemed to have the same idea with the new Thunderbird. Style over function for big $$. And look at the huge sales success they are having!
I am not missing the point, I am just saying its not a good point to have. I know the car is for cruising. Yet, cars that are "for cruising" are simply overpriced cars high on styling and low on performance. All show and no go. They also generally do not do so well in the sales department. The Thunderbird is but one example, exhibit two is the Plymouth Prowler. Both would have faired much better had they offered the performance to back up their price tags.Now in the case of the Prowler, DCX was a little tied because it did not have a good V8 engine or turbo V6 to use at the time. It did the best it could with parts off the shelf. Ford is limited with the T-bird based on the Dew98 platform, which I assume is not compatable with their modular V8's. They did develop a blown V8 for it, but after they had already announced cancelation. It was too late.As for GM... whats their excuse? They have all kinds of V8's available that would easily fit in the SSR. Using the 6L Vortech wouldn't cost hardly anything more than the 5.3L, and it would give it a significant boost in HP. Even a 5.7L would be much better.Again, for mid 40's money you can get a Corvette. It will cruise just as well as an SSR, but won't have to hide in the corner when it comes time to perform either.