True Z284ever, but it's pretty hard to compare a current vehicle to one that is 40 years old. I would surely hope the new '04 Impala SS would be able to use its 40+ years of technology to produce a better all-around vehicle. I think that you have to look at the time period a given car was produced. Did 60's Impala SS's perform near or at the top of their class...you bet. Does the current Impala SS perform near the top of its class.....umm...


-Mike

 

That's what we were comparing to in that post.

Don't get me wrong.....I'm not saying that Chevy shouldn't turn up the wick. Getting the whole Comp G package would be a start.

 

Now...this seems to be a good thread! No name calling...well thought out points, for the most part.

Keep up the good work.


(lurking in cyberspace.......)

 

All I know is if you talk to the general public or other car brand enthusiasts they all see the SS as the fastest Camaro. Right now SS makes people think that the model it's attached to is something really special. Now this may not really be the case to some here, but I can see why GM wants to ride this out.

Personally I will always follow the peformance, it doesn't matter what it's called. I am going to buy the better performing version of whatever, and I think most true Camaro/GM enthusiasts will agree. The name thing should be something that draws in people that know nothing about the cars, and maybe the "SS" designator will do it.

 

Ok, i guess I can put in my two cents....

Honestly , I think Chevrolet is washing out the meaning of SS, and what it stands for.....

Take any SS, Impalla SS, or Z28/SS, those cars were significntly faster than competition, that is what the SS stand out. Esp the impalla, the SS doesnt need to be much faster than the base, but it at least needs to be better then the competition at a reasonable price.

Compare the new Monte Carlo SS, or Impalla SS of today, you mean to tell me that they would be able to comepete with its immediate competition....
For example, from chevy's website...
MONTE CARLO SUPERCHARGED SS - $27,795. Why would I waste $28k on that when I can get a 350z, or spend a few more bucks and just get an Infiniti G35? Hell, a Honda Accord v6 coupe comes in fully loaded with as much power for under $26k. Fully loaded with every option.

Granted the Supercharged SS sure beats the regular monte, but what about the competition.


Next, our Impall SS Supercharged....IMPALA SS
Starting at $27,995*

Humn, where to even begin, Fully loaded Nissan Maxima or Nissan altima 3.5 with options and money to spare? What about a few grand more and go for the Infiniti G35. Fully loaded honda accord v6?



The bottom line is this....the SS moniker is good for Chevrolet for their own vehicles, but the point is, they are lagging behind in the car sector behind imports. Given the choice of a Fully loaded Nissan altima 3.5 or Maxima SE, I am sorry, but I am picking the maxima.

 

Since SS doesn't mean high performance, will Chevrolet have their own SVT-type performance models? If so what will they be refered as? Any ideas? I've been on the other side (w/mustang guys) and they never refered to the Camaro SS as an SS. They were always called SLP's.

 

I'm not sure what year it was bit I think around 98 or 99 GM took the Camaro SS in house....so, SLP wasn't supervising the program the last few years.

I think the main reason why SLP was called in was to create excitement and press for the car with a minumum of investment by GM due to lack of funding.

 

I trust Scott, It's Corporate GM that worries me.

 

the term SS is just in the right position for gm to exploit it, in my opinion of course. it's in the middle. the people that are really into performance know about it and that it means performance (or atleast used to) and the people that are just trying to purchase a new car know that it means performance (but really believe it). in my opinion it shouldn't of been done, but if it wasn't, know one would know what to look for in a new car (performance wise). if someone wants someting faster and he sees SS, he will think fast, but if he sees someting like CE or QQ he's just gonna be like wtf??? some car companys if not all put different abreviations on a car. the corolla alone has a CE, LE and S model(sorry to compare toyota). i think that SS is the abreviation most frequently asociated with performance.(for chevy anyways) i don't think it should of been done but its toolate. i just hope they don't ruin other names like z06, I DON'T WANT A CAVELIR Z06 so please don't make one. but anyways its the right way for them to go(finanially) even if the performance enthusiast don't approve