Good article however to my eyes the door skins are carry over so I have no idea how they can claim otherwise.

 

Could be using a different steel in the stampings. If so, they could be citing that as one reason why they are in fact different even though they look exactly the same.

 

Thinner gauge steel is used for the door skins. However I would have thought they might add a crease or something to mix it up.

 

Plus different handle/location for keyless. I like some of the misinformation. Camaro is not 'zeta 2'. It's more like Zeta 1.5, and only because GM NA wanted some commonality with Sigma diff, axle parts for costs, which is natural

The rear suspension is dimensionally similar, but has different bushings, alloy upper control arms and other detail differences, yes, some based on Sigma and Camaro engineering experience.

Holden could not sell G8s as there were a lot of other differences down to ECU code apart from steering wheels on the wrong side, but had some limited models available with G8 panels, as did HSV.

And they're right, the SS if it is like the Redlne has a completely different feel to the old tune that was VE SS/G8 GT. GXP's FE3 is quite different to SS FE3.

 

Doors are most definitely thinner and is not a carry over part

 

Just like the new Challenger for 2015 isn't the same car as the current Challenger. Right. Okay. Please tell this to the non car enthusiast. My eyes fool me not. The SS is an "updated" G8 no matter how u spin things. It is NOT a completely different animal.

NEXT...

 

^^^ G8 GXP was pretty awesome that got so little play on the market that it deserves an encore, and none will be worse off for it. Bravo Chevy/Holden (same thing)

 

G8 GXP is still one of my dream cars...I have only seen one in the wild and it was in a parking lot in Chicago.

 

Man, I just hope all the great reviews lead to a Generation II, or somehow combine it with the Impala, but I do think the SS will be a hit. Can't wait for the 5 Series comparisons.

 

Agreed. A coworker has a 2011 BMW 550i and he was very impressed with the SS. He conceded that it is an amazing car and was shocked that GM could sell it for $45K.

 

Great article. I get tired of hearing folks complain that this is just a reskinned G8. Having seen both in person and sat inside each - the new SS is dramatically improved. Had this been a Pontiac - folks would be hailing the great improvement over the first generation. When you consider the four years that have elapsed since the G8 left the market - it is really dramatic how much content is included with a minimal price increase. The interior alone makes the small price bump well worth it. And for all the haters…please show me a comparable RWD sedan that offers anything similar to the SS for anywhere close to the same price?

The SS is a sleeper hit for Chevy. I just hope they sell enough of them this year to justify bringing a manual transmission option in 2015.

 

Great article...And for all the haters…please show me a comparable RWD sedan that offers anything similar to the SS for anywhere close to the same price?
The SS is a sleeper hit for Chevy. I just hope they sell enough of them this year to justify bringing a manual transmission option in 2015.

I can, but you won't like it... I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with Chodge Darger RT... and it can be had way cheaper if you want or loaded up with AWD, too, to put it right there at the Holden, er... uh... Chevy NameleSS's price point. Want more, go SRT8. Want a coupe instead, go Challenger. Want stick? Go Challenger RT. Choices are out there.

 

Where is the oil pressure gauge? Did not see one.

 

Its the same car and won't sell as the Chevy SS either I feel like.

 

Are you saying it won't sell as well as the SS from back in the mid 90's? I don't think anyone thinks that it will. That was based off of a rather crude Caprice and all they did was drop a bigger motor into it and make a few cosmetic tweaks which kept the price pretty low. This is a premium offering that the 1996 Chevy SS could never approach. The current SS can go up against the best in the business….where the old SS from 1996 was a high powered land yacht.

Again - the SS is not the same car as the G8. It would have been the second generation of the G8 had Pontiac survived the Bankruptcy…but it didn't. So instead chevy gets it. But go see one for yourself. Sit down inside and you will quickly see that this car has been heavily updated since the G8 left our shores.

 

^^^^ OK This is the SS with old LS3 rated at 415/415



DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 114.8 in
Length: 195.5 in
Width: 74.7 in Height: 57.9 in
Curb weight: 3931 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 10.5 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 28.6 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 5.1 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.6 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 3.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.9 sec @ 111 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 160 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 153 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.95 g


And here is the CTS-VSport with 3.6L TT rated at 420/430

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 114.6 in
Length: 195.5 in
Width: 72.2 in Height: 57.2 in
Curb weight: 3966 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 10.5 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 18.5 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 4.8 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.5 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 3.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.9 sec @ 111 mph
Top speed (drag limited, mfr's claim): 172 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 149 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.97 g



Now is it me? Or are these cars damn near the same in performance? Look at the 1/4 miles. Exactly the same

Looks like Cadillac should just keep the TTV6 as it's own so they will have an exclusive set up in the hiearchy. I also wonder if GM's upcoming 8speed is gonna knock more time off those CTS numbers. Also. What would the LT1 do in either of these cars but absolutely clobber the competition into a coma? 460hp and 460lbs thru either of these vehicles would yield much more interesting 1/4 miles times.

 

I forgot you posted this before. But, I am talking more than numbers. Your post probaly gives us a hint at a next gen SS. Maybe the Alpha will be used to replace both the Impala and SS. Then again, what would the price point be to keep the weight down.

 

WHoah whoah whoah. LS3 runs with the TTV6

 

Cadillac needs that TTV6 to appeal to some of the younger market that thinks OHV V-8s are antique. The fact that they run nearly a dead heat on the track is spectacular and quite a coup for Caddy. That said, I love my GXP, and I think its the 6spd manual that makes me smile the most on the drive home (besides the LS3 that is). I haven't driven a SS (haven't seen one in person) but I can tell you my GXP is actually a relatively narrow car (for all the space inside and in the trunk) and drives like a lot smaller vehicle. I've had V-8 Camaro's for years, but this is at least as fun and doesn't require some of the tradeoffs.

 

I can't believe GM is still using these crap junk side view FLIMSY mirrors on this $45k car... My biggest complaint about the G8 was the side view mirrors. they're junk. and all these years later the same mirrors? lol

to me, that alone shows you they cut so many corners I would never consider buying one. I'd be afraid of what other archaic technology, design etc still exists in the SS... It's 2014 and that car was out in '07?? Man I can't believe they kept those mirrors. When they come out with a new corvette or Cadillac do they keep the same 10yo mirrors?

 

I can't believe GM is still using these crap junk side view FLIMSY mirrors on this $45k car... My biggest complaint about the G8 was the side view mirrors. they're junk. and all these years later the same mirrors? lol

to me, that alone shows you they cut so many corners I would never consider buying one. I'd be afraid of what other archaic technology, design etc still exists in the SS... It's 2014 and that car was out in '07?? Man I can't believe they kept those mirrors. When they come out with a new corvette or Cadillac do they keep the same 10yo mirrors?

View attachment 18041

Be careful! I heard they might be using similar carpet in the trunk. So relevant.

 

The article mentions $5k off G8s, and then mentions a $37k price tag. I think there was one price bump, and that $37k didn't include gas guzzler tax. I also never saw a GXP at $5k off in my area (tried). GTs and V-6s yes.

One of the reasons these didn't sell as well (although all the mags loved them) is that the climate for GM was so very bad at the time. The Halo Car for Pontiac comes out and weeks later word is that the brand is going by-by and the corporation is going bankrupt. With all of the risk and unknowns that brings, can you believe they sold 1800+ GXPs at $40k+? In better times the G8 GXP would have much bigger numbers.

Sorry TonyGXP, I respectfully disagree about the mirrors. I've had my GXP since late May 2009 and I don't see the issue. Mine don't appear to be flimsy, don't rattle, good view, not a lot of wind noise and I think they are small enough to be attractive, but large enough to be usable.
My biggest complaint with the GXP was taking the oil gage/ammeter package out and the boring Blaupunkt radio/media screen.

 

Of course people are going to compare the current Chevrolet SS to the Pontiac G8 GXP... They're the last two V8 performance sedans offered by GM's "mainstream" (non-luxury) brands in the U.S.... And they're too similar not to at least have questions asked about them... But I don't think anyone who keeps up with modern performance cars believes they are the exact same thing...

Yes, the SS is totally modernized, as it should be... It's 5 model years newer, on an updated platform, selling at a price point where most every other vehicle is quite up to date... The relatively spartan interior of the G8 GXP, which was considered relatively low rent in 2009, would be laughed at today. I love the interior of the SS, and if I was to pony up nearly $50k for a car, it better be up to the level of the SS.

I honestly did not mind the interior of the G8 at the time. I really don't ask for much in a performance car: Power under the hood, manual transmission, good suspension system, and a somewhat decent factory sound system. That's all I really need, and the GXP offered just that.

After driving the SS last weekend, I had a few observations on the actual experience with the car vs. the G8 GXP, which I have a lot of experience driving. First off, the SS is a much more civilized car. As mentioned earlier, its interior design and execution is fantastic. Everything is within easy reach and the seats themselves are quite comfortable... I always found the seats in the G8 and more so the last gen GTO to be fantastic as well... The SS is smoother over the pavement than the GXP and is somewhat more composed in turns, which is saying something as the GXP was a very composed large sedan itself. I also noticed that the SS has a much more quiet interior than the GXP at highway speeds. I noticed very little "road noise", though the exhaust itself is a bit louder at lower speeds than the factory unit on the GXP.

As for the exterior, the SS is like most other modern GM vehicles in that it is much better looking in person than in photos. It is still a little bland, in my opinion. The "face" is what kills it for me. It's simply too generic. The body lines of the SS are fine, strong and simple. In my opinion, the G8 is still a much better looking vehicle than the SS, and better looking than any other VE or VF model in general. The Pontiac front clip allowed the car to look mean without being too flashy or over the top as most every other modern Pontiac sedan has been... Frankly, it looked like a perfectly executed modernization of a 1960's Pontiac to my eyes.

Would I buy an SS? Even with its somewhat bland front clip, it would be a strong "maybe". But if offered with a manual tranny, I would probably take an SS over a comparably priced Camaro... Which is saying a lot as I love coupes and really have no need for 4 doors.

 

The Pontiac front clip allowed the car to look mean without being too flashy or over the top as most every other modern Pontiac sedan has been... Frankly, it looked like a perfectly executed modernization of a 1960's Pontiac to my eyes.

BINGO, I completely agree!! Hence we'll keep our G8 GT long term and pass on the updated, over optioned SS. Far too many forced nanny gadgets for my tastes. The visceral driving experience is lost when the onboard computer overtakes actual driver skill and seat of the pants thrill.

 

Pontiac was pretty beat up by the time the G8 came along. Years of selling economy cars like the Vibe and G5 and the Torrent with that horrible chinese made engine had didn't help. The G8 was certainly nice enough to be an American BMW but Pontiac wasn't able to attract enough buyer.

I'd guess Chevy can move more a lot SS's with a larger franchise network and a brand in better shape despite the heavy price tag. Chevy moves some very expensive vehicles which is impressive. If I had to guess it'll go down like the Ford Thunderbird. Move a lot quickly at launch and after the inital demand is satisfied it'll trail off strongly.

I think Chevy should have built a more affordable RWD sedan and added an SS version of it for the higher end of the market similar to what you see with the 300 or Charger.

The cops I've talked to (instead of using my right to remain silent) says the Aussie cop car is fantastic - almost too fast and they don't like having to buy an Australian product and the ordering process. If Chevy could build the SS and Caprice state side they'd probably do better in both the police and retail markets with RWD sedans.

 

When I bought my G8 GT I loved the interior. After owning it for awhile I have quite a few complaints about it.

Lots of squeaks and rattles especially in the cold
Those seats...ugh
Radio and speaker system
Cheap plastic in the center console.

The SS seems to address all those concerns. And introduce all sorts of features. So what is difference? The SS is a better car (although the G8 is way sexier).

Also I read someone hates the mirrors on the G8. I personally think they are not out of date and very appealing on the car. My issue is the paint on it was crappy and the very edge of the mirror on mine seems to be delaminating.

If I wanted to spend 45k on a car I'd jump on the SS. However I wouldn't want to drive it during winter which is why I want a new Colorado

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What's the difference? this Holden has a Chevy badge (all bow).

 

Right now, from what I understand, the SS will be short lived. The question is, will it be short lived on Zeta or will it be produced on the Alpha platform? If so, would Chevrolet then decide to merge the Impala and SS? Does ceasing Holden manufacturing (in Australia) have any effects on how Alpha will be proliferated/used?

 

Is it the same car?????? YES and NO. We car enthusiast know the difference and that's all that matters. This is just making "mountains out of mole hills." Besides you can buy a more equipped technology wise (stupid name) SS for the same price as a nice low mileage manual, GXP.

Sorry I'm a HUGE fan of a manual GXP but it would be hard to sell me on one with the SS on the "select" lots. Especially with that exhaust note

 

The GXP sounds euphoric with a full Kooks Exhast. I'm talking long tubes on back. Imagine what an SS sounds like.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Folks - while the G8 had more variants - it was the closure of Pontiac and the resulting fire sale on G8's that drove the transaction prices lower. Even with the other options (like a V6) it still didn't sell that well. I think GM took the right approach by minimizing the options. It allows the vehicle to have a higher premium market and achieve economies of scale for US sales. And as far as the pricing…it is only a few thousand dollars more than a fully loaded Impala. The SS is a premium product - to decontent it would cheapen the brand. If you want a stripped down RWD sedan…go get a challenger. For all others that need a basic full size sedan the Impala covers that segment.

 

I've figured out the difference. The Pontiac G8 was the last decent RWD sedan from a deceased company, the Chevrolet SS will be the last decent RWD sedan from a soon to be deceased company. There seems to be an omen in this, every time Holden exports the Commodore to the US, bad things happen to bring it down

 

Chevy is no where close to being a deceased company but I know what you meant.

 

With the demise of Holden the SS just becomes the Pontiac G8 GXP revisited.

 

Yes…and the hopes that GM might bring power train upgrades for 2015. I just hope the SS runs until Holden closes.

 

No difference now! They'll both be dead 2 years after into.... Sorry Aussies, you made good cars.