Quote:
Originally Posted by mgescuro
Actually.... No....Aero is the performance model and pre-dates the Viggen.
Aero is more than just a trim level. It involves modification of the suspension, lowering of the car, a more powerful engine, more aggressive performance tires, tweaks in steering response and transmission. Not to mention a body kit, better seats, and an interior trim change.
Now... are you going to tell me that this so called "Aero" model is going to incorporate all that with a less powerful engine? Or is this "Aero" going to throw down the same 280HP, but with better fuel economy in a 4-cyl package? Because I'm down with that... that's what Saab's are supposed to be in the first place. V6's should be disallowed.
SS has no cachet for Chevy. They were fooling themselves into thinking they could call a car SS becuase it had 10 HP more. IMpala SS is a joke. Cobalt SS is finally decent. SSR didn't quite have enough HP. And the list goes on.
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SS has no cachet?
So let's disect your analysis.
1. SS has no cachet for Chevy.
Answer, I guarantee you that every Joe Blow associates SS with Chevy and also the SS badge with the mind-blowing performance attitude of the 60's.
2. 10 more HP = SS badge.
Answer, When has this been the case? Even the non-supercharged SS Cobalt model for 2006-2007 made 15+ more horsepower then the base model. Now all things being equal, the Cobalt base model already had class leading HP and in 2005, Honda had a 160 HP Civic Si, so a 170 HP SS model is appropriate.
3. Impala SS is a joke.
Answer, Impala SS is a joke, but only because of the lack of attention to detail, especially on the interior. HP is not the problem. Acura gives Type-S badges to 300 hp FWD cars all the time. For the fuel-economy that it get's, the Impala SS is perfectly acceptable. Remember, the 1996 Impala only had 260 HP and was much slower then today's FWD Impala.
4. SSR didn't have enough power.
Answer, It made 305 hp. for 1 year. The rest of the time it made 395 hp. Since when is that not enought. That is basically the same as the base model corvette. Is that not enough for you?
5. And the list goes on..............
Answer, what list? Chevy has always made the SS model the top performance machine of a particular lineup. Historically, has the SS always been the top performer in the segment? The answer is no. In fact, real world numbers indicate that the Z28 was right up there, if not better then the SS models in the Camaro line. Faster in a straight line? Yes.
Just because the Impala SS, a sub $30,000 car is slower then a car costing $10,000 or more then it does not meen that all SS cars are lacking.
Simalary, just because GM choose to use the SS badge on a souped up 4 cylinder car does not mean Chevy lost cachet.