How about the new '14 SS?

[nos4blood70]

I want to like it but all I see is a G8 with a sheet metal change and some doodads added. The price is a little up there if you consider that.

Also. Can we talk about how it's slower than the GXP?

[repinS]

I think it's a reasonable value for money, slotting right between a Charger R/T and SRT8.

If we're going to magazine race: Both Road & Track and Car and Driver got 4.5 seconds to 60 and 12.9 in the quarter mile, which is faster than the high 4's / 13.0 times I'm seeing published for the G8 GXP. Other publications who did slower were testing in cold winter conditions with poor traction, and even so, Motor Trend matched the GXP's numbers.

VF is more than just a reskin without updates, and I wish people would realize that. It is much more of a change compared to say, 92-95 versus 96-99 Bonnevilles: http://ls1tech.com/forums/automotive-ne ... et-ss.html

[yourgrandma]

My whole problem with it is that its a bandaid over the systemic problem with GM. The have no affordable rear drive cars. None. Cheapest I can think of is a base Camaro which isnt too bad and starts around $24k, but is as big as a house and really needs a styling update. The lack of a competitor to the CHrysler LX lineup has always driven me nuts.

[Jfridge92]

I feel like the SS is marketed more towards people like me. I like a car that looks aggressive, I would love a G8, don't get me wrong. But I love the SS because it doesn't look like it should be a fast car out of the box. It looks like a Chevy sedan, but has the wow factors on the inside and under the hood. If I want a car that looks aggressive and fast I'll get an F-body, but I like the fact that this doesn't necessarily look like a "mid-life crisis car" as my wife puts it hahaha. It's practical for someone who wants a fast car with a family, and wants to buy new vs. trying to source a G8 that may be scarce by the time I want to get a new car. Of course the G8 looks better, but I like the SS for what it is.

[00Beast]

That article made me notice a few things, like when I popped the trunk and it opened, not just popped. I also like that the trunk release is relocated to the door, where it aught to be...

[repinS]

GM seems to flip-flip between those two spots all the time.

87-91 Bonneville: Glovebox
92-99: Door
2000+: Glovebox
G8: Glovebox
SS: Door

[nos4blood70]

I think it's in the glovebox for security purposes. So you can lock access to the trunk away from valet.

[00Beast]

Our Passat actually has a special key that you set Valet mode, lock with the glovebox key and it disables the button in the door, or the key, etc. It's really slick.

[CMNTMXR57]

Actually the only reason it's been slower is because it's been on summer tires in winter climates, so they weren't able to "hook" the car.

ANd what exactly is "band-aided" about this car? It is a great car, that has continued to simply get better. Comparing it to the Chrysler, which one (C&D I believe), has already done, the SS bettered the Chrysler as an all around better performer because it's an overall BETTER car and possess better overall driving dynamics and manners. The current LX cars are showing their platform age. I'll take the "band-aid" if this is the case.

[yourgrandma]

The band aid is in the fact that rather than building a line of rear drive (normal?) cars, they have just this one with very limited production. It may very well be a fantastic car but it makes no difference to me or most other people who cant afford it. Its a chevy for cadillac money with buick style, IMHO. Not good value for what I see.

The chrysler LX cars are pretty crap, but at least they put out four distinct cars on a rear drive platform that has some potential as a fun car. They seemed to put the platform to good use and a LOT of units moved.

Im looking forward to the next wave of Alpha cars to come along. Hopefully that will be the begining of a good trend for GM. But for me, a single, house-priced luxury mantlepiece doesnt show a lot of promise.

[CMNTMXR57]

GM doesn't build them because the American public, in general doesn't want them...

They want Impala's and Malibu's with fuel miserly engines, practicality, and a long warranty.

[00Beast]

While I liked Jalopnik's article a few weeks ago about whether the automakers are listening to enthusiasts (they said they are, and there is good evidence to support that) they can't base their lines around enthusiasts. Hell, enthusiasts are the reason we have the SS in the first place. But, they're mostly focused on selling good, reliable cars that make good margins and inspire confidence in people to buy GM. Oh, and trucks. Lots and lots of trucks. If you looked at the profit margin of the SS, Camaro and Corvette, including R&D, testing, etc, I'd venture a guess that it's pretty tight.

Yeah it's expensive, but it's not out of proportion expensive. Look at how a Bonneville SSEi/GXP compared to a decent pickup or Suburban back then (02 Suburban LT: MSRP $42k, 03 SSEi: MSRP $34k) and it's not that far out of line. Vehicle prices (especially luxury/performance) have skyrocketed since the beginning of the recession, for a myriad of reasons.

The SS basically is a rebadge of the Holden Commodore (SSV?). Look at the pictures. The grille, badges and centercaps are different, along with the LHD conversion. That's basically it. So you can blame Australia for the styling, and Chevy for not being able to do much about it.

[yourgrandma]

Doesn't the Chrysler 300 come with a warrantee? I'll bet the Taurus does as well. Between the three, the impala is the only one that insists on dragging its back wheels around no matter what the buyer wants. So the ss is a token enthusiasts car. That's okay, and I never said the car itself is bad. The bad part is the rest of the line. Boring as ever. So what does this car change for the other 99% of perspective tm buyers who might want something tha doesn't put them to sleep?

Basically my problem isn't as much with the ss as with everything else. Hard to say, but I'm holding out for what o hope is an exciting future with a smaller, sportier camaro, rwd buicks, and hopefully a rwd Chevy sedan that doesn't cost as much as a corvette.

[repinS]

GM doesn't build them because the American public, in general doesn't want them...

They want Impala's and Malibu's with fuel miserly engines, practicality, and a long warranty.

So what do you make of appliance-maker Toyota selling the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ like hotcakes?

[00Beast]

Stolen from: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthre ... 66&page=17

Still a small number compared to the #'s of Camrys, Corollas and other cars sold in the same time periods...

[J Wikoff]

Sure you could get A Cadillac for the mid-high 40's. But that's the base price of the '14 CTS with a 2 liter turbo. Try to get at least LS3 power and size out of a Cadillac, and you're looking at a much higher price. The CTS Vsport starts at $59,995. The XTS has similar base prices.

The SS is a GXP with improved/lightened chassis and much better interior and features, for only a few thou more. Price validated.

[CMNTMXR57]

GM doesn't build them because the American public, in general doesn't want them...

They want Impala's and Malibu's with fuel miserly engines, practicality, and a long warranty.

So what do you make of appliance-maker Toyota selling the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ like hotcakes?

To piggy back Ed, here are the appliance sales (December YTD), of toyota's three heavy hitters and I'll throw the Avalon in for kicks just to get it over 1 million;

Camry: 408,484
Corolla: 302,180
The dreaded Prius: 234,228
Avalon: 70,990
That totals: 1,015,882 cars sold YTD in 2013.

Scion FR-S sales December YTD: 18,327

Or essentially 1.8% of that total.

http://partsblog.olathetoyota.com/5179/ ... s-figures/

[nos4blood70]

Oh man I really want a Vsport.

[CMNTMXR57]

V sport! LOL! I'm impatiently awaiting the next "V".

[Merrillspontiac]

Doesn't the Chrysler 300 come with a warrantee? I'll bet the Taurus does as well. Between the three, the impala is the only one that insists on dragging its back wheels around no matter what the buyer wants. So the ss is a token enthusiasts car. That's okay, and I never said the car itself is bad. The bad part is the rest of the line. Boring as ever. So what does this car change for the other 99% of perspective tm buyers who might want something tha doesn't put them to sleep?

Basically my problem isn't as much with the ss as with everything else. Hard to say, but I'm holding out for what o hope is an exciting future with a smaller, sportier camaro, rwd buicks, and hopefully a rwd Chevy sedan that doesn't cost as much as a corvette.

The Taurus is also front drive.