[jwvrod]

My hopes for GM (in the future) is to get it right the first time. They get people interested in these vehicles and under deliver. Think of how customers would go nuts over all of these cars if they come bad ass right out of the wrapper. Everybody that pays big money on special cars want the best engine, brakes, suspension etc. from the beginning.

 

[motorman]

Kingelvis has looked into his crystal ball and seen the future. With an oracle's precision he proclaims:

"The bigger engine won't sell the SSR."

C'mon, 4700lbs? Jeezuz. It costs as much as the Corvette, isn't as cool, is barely more utilitarian than the vette (the passenger compartment is actually narrower), and runs about a second slower in the quarter mile. Yeah, mid 13s are great, but mid 12s are just plain awesome.

Who in his right mind would pick the SSR over the fabulous new Corvette? You'd have to be stark raving mad to blow $40G on this white elephant. The GTO has the same engine and can be used as a daily driver - even a family car, given the big backseat - and not just a 'third car' type of toy. Given it's weight it should split the difference in speed between the morbidly obese SSR and the lithe, grand touring Corvette.

I suppose you could say the SSR is in a class by itself, but it might be 'sui generis' or a class of one, because no one wants something this oddball. The recent Ford T Bird is the closest thing to the SSR, and it has been a complete failure in sales.

Kill the SSR.

Give us a 5.3L Displacement on Demand V8 Colorado SS, selling for under $25,000, instead.

I agree with other posters here like Tgagneguam. Pour the resources that go into stunts like the SSR into making a sexy, strong, stable, efficient yet powerful Impala.

Just curious. Does any GMI member own, or plan to buy an SSR? Who owns or plans to buy a Corvette or GTO?

i own a 2005 C-6 my 10th new corvette since 1959

 

[ibechip]

I think that this will definatley sell better than the old one. The 6-speed tranny itsself will make a HUGE difference. I personally love the look. Plus, how many cars/trucks have a retractable hardtop at that low of a price? Put the 400HP V8 in there with it and you've got a great deal.

 

[984mula]

JWVROD beat me to the punch. GM must learn to deliver what they promise first. The GTO should have looked like the 05 originally. The SSR should have had more power with the 6-speed originally.

It's sad when the public knows what GM has to correct before the product even hits the showroom, and then they have to scramble back because of low sales to give the public what they wanted originally. Then in the end, the excitement is gone to the regular public other than people like us who check up on future products.

 

[MCGARRETT]

It's either a good time to get a good deal on the 5.3 V8 SS-R's, or start saving up for the 6.0 litre SS-R.

Its as fast as a GTO. Thats awsome.

You know whats even more awsome, the 400hp GTO is as fast as last years Corvette, the new Corvette is as fast as last years ZO6 Corvette and next years ZO6 is going to.....?????, WOW, I'm getting dizzy.

0-60 in 5.2 is awsome!

It's like having a RAM-SRT-10 or a Lighting without having to worry about all those crappy Chrysler and Ford parts falling off!

Imagine what they could do with a fixed roof hardtop model with about 500-700lbs trimmed off?

390hp is the tip of the iceberg, whats next? Supercharging? an LS-7 version?

Meet the GM Powerhouse........all available for around $50,000 and under.

205hp Cobalt SS and ION RedLine
240hp Impala/Monte Carlo SS
255hp CTS
290hp Grand Prix GXP
390hp SS-R
400hp GTO
400hp CTS-V
400hp Corvette

All thats really missing is a 230-240hp compact car, but 205hp is good out of the gates, and since the SRT-4 should be going away for a redesign in a year or so, that would leave the ION and Cobalt as the 2 top dogs.

 

[desmo9]

Under 30K? Just curious, but have you driven one?

No, but when I sat in it, I realized the under $30K (street-price) GTO has better perceived quality and comfort, certainly handled better, and is faster. I understand the economics involved, and why it costs GM more to build an SSR than a GTO. But the market doesnt care about that. The fact that it's a limited run, yet is readliy available, tells us it's either overpriced or undesired ...or both. Given the catchiness of the concept, I think it's clearly a pricing issue (unlike the GTO, which has more of a desirability problem).

 

[ChevyLaxMan]

To remind you, both the GTO and SSR are both limited production niche cars....not Camaro, not Firebird, not Mustang. GM isnt pissed that either car sellls 100k units a year. So much for that idea.

And to thoes who say that the SSR is too expensive, the L was 38k, and it came with a 4spd auto and is a regular truck. SRT-10's gas milage is 9 and the SSR is cheaper by almost 10 grand. And the SSR is a hard top vert.
When all things come down, the SSR is the best sports truck out there.
People who want a Vette will get a Vette. People who want an SSR want an SSR.
In the same idea, the no one would buy a Viper because you can get the same engine and trans in a Ram for 30k cheaper.

What he said

 

[spdwayGm]

To remind you, both the GTO and SSR are both limited production niche cars....not Camaro, not Firebird, not Mustang. GM isnt pissed that either car sellls 100k units a year. So much for that idea.

And to thoes who say that the SSR is too expensive, the L was 38k, and it came with a 4spd auto and is a regular truck. SRT-10's gas milage is 9 and the SSR is cheaper by almost 10 grand. And the SSR is a hard top vert.
When all things come down, the SSR is the best sports truck out there.
People who want a Vette will get a Vette. People who want an SSR want an SSR.
In the same idea, the no one would buy a Viper because you can get the same engine and trans in a Ram for 30k cheaper.

Exactly. But a SportsTruck! That's my larger idea for the gripe. It is neither sporty (4700#'s!!!) nor a truck.

Now, an LS-whatever in the next Holden Ute, built here would be awesome. The SEMA Colorado with the 8 is even closer.

But a Mustang-fighter ala stripped GTO or "Chevelle" would be dead on for $26k

 

[laserwizard]

GM needs to do something to justify the outrageous sticker price on this vehicle. GM has a propensity to overcharge on their products and this vehicle is not worth the sticker price.

 

[HEMI300C]

SSR is cheaper by almost 10 grand.

The SSR is $43,280. With the 1SB package, it's $45,180. The SRT-10 is $45,000.00.

 

[HEMI300C]

390hp is the tip of the iceberg, whats next? Supercharging? an LS-7 version?

Most likely the next fuel-crisis.

 

[cruzned]

Say what you want, but I love my SSR. I've worked three jobs for nearly 30 years to afford this amazing toy and does haul mulch, lots of trunk/truck bed space, and I can fit my paintings in the back too. I can't go anywhere without people asking about it and remarking on how awesome it looks. It isn't practicle nor is the corvette and right now the corvette is the exact same price. If you want to get an 04 or an 03 with the 5.3 litre engine, which has surprisingly great acceleration, they can be had for 38-35K. Don't criticize it till you drive one, they are a ton of fun to move around the road. For years we asked GM to build the thing and now here it is almost exactly like the concept and eveyone here seems to dislike them. Be careful what you ask for because they delivered this on on que!

 

[banzai79]

I'm joining in with the price-gripers. I don't care how much the retractable hard-top costs. 43K (45, really, who's gonna buy base?) This thing just costs too much. The GTO is a little overpriced...this thing is just silly.

You don't raise your market share by making attractive vehicles at their price point. You raise market share by making fantabulous cars at their price point, ala Corvette. Lower the GTO's price to 26K, and you will more than make up for the sticker price in volume. Lower the SSR's price to 33-36 and you could similarly sell thousands more. This does two things...it not only makes more money, but puts fantastic GM's out there, replacing the Celebrity, et al in people's minds.

 

[Rabbit]

It has a retractable roof, almost 400 hp, and a 6-speed manual. It is worth every penny, even though I will probably never be able to afford one. If I ever had the cash, I would have a real personal dilemma whether to buy this or the SRT-10 Ram. Both are amazing.

 

[banzai79]

^ Exactly. You're going to keep your money and be no more convinced you should buy a Malibu.

 

[spdwayGm]

Say what you want, but I love my SSR. I've worked three jobs for nearly 30 years to afford this amazing toy....

30 years! Toy! Thats another problem.

I saved for exactly 3 months to order my '89 Camaro RS (305, manual tranny, crank windows and cloth int.) and it still topped out at $13,5k NEW!

And i had a above min. wage job @ the time.

It was paid off in 48 months. It was everyday transportation. And the only races I lost were to stripper 5.0 Lx 'Stangs.

GM has nothing like that today, and wont for at least a few years.

 

[tgagneguam]

Well, Pontiac sales are up for 2004 over 2003, and Bonneville sales are up by like 33% last time I checked. The only new high-volume car in the lineup for this year was the Grand Prix - the rest were all at least three years old. Could it be that GTO, while not selling in high numbers, brought some new blood into the Pontiac showroom? How about the GXP's effect on Bonneville sales?

How is that proof? I don't follow. Toyota has increased sales in the USA - profitably - and what halo vehicle do they have?

 

[cruzned]

All I know is it gets me to the surf in style and I am having the time of my life. Is that such a bad thing? If I died today, I would easily be able to say, I did it...surfed Costa Rica 13 times and got the truck of a life time which I am painting myself next week. Life is good... Hard work pays off, minimum or maximum wage, whatever. Times are different and I am going to flow with the changes and seek higher ground and stay on top of my game.

 

[cruzned]

If you want to see what the aftermarket is doing with these vehicles, look around. It is just amazing what it going on today. If you are all GM enthusiasts as this site suggests, perhaps you should look outside the box.
http://www.ssrfanatic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1857

 

[cruzned]

one more for ya