People always say the Silverado SS was not intended to be compete agains the lightning and srt-10. But price wise, they look pretty close...

So unless there's giong ot be hefty discounts, is the Silverado SS really that more refined,comfortable, and livable compared to the SRT-10?

 

Yes, it is, and your first comment hits the nail right on the head. The SS is not the answer to the Lightning, and SRT-10, nor was it supposed to be. However, just because it has the SS nameplate on it, everyone assumes such. The SS was designed to be a factory sport truck by the traditional definition, not a hot rod. It's supposed to have an upgraded interior, better handling, good styling, and some extra horse power. Is it expensive, yes, t is. However, you need to look at all of what is included with that price. Also, while the AWD may not be what us "enthusiast" asked for, it has it's merits, and does what's it's supposed to do for it's intended purpose.

So, I think some people need to back off criticizing this truck so badly. GM will answer our calls in the future, but I'm thinking it wont be until the new Gen IV motor is fully realized (if they want to keep it N/A)

 

If its all about profits, why can cash-strapped chrysler and Ford find reasons to invest in such trucks?

They can because the real profit generators are the F-series, Ram, and Silverado/Sierra. These trucks (lightning and SRT-10) are just extras on the side used to boost the image of the brand while giving the serious enthusiast something in return.

Eventually, i think GM will give us a more serious option. Maybe they'll wait and see how the 2005 L and SRT-10 will do.

 

I think GM is just waiting for the new generation Silverado before they do something like that just as Dodge waited until their new ram came out in conjunction with the new Viper.

SRT-10 to new Ram and new Viper as SS is to new Silverado and new Corvette.

 

Uh...cuse me. Hasn't the Lightning been around a number of years? Perhaps it hasn't generated "buzz", but it's "ROAR" is pretty deafening.

Besides, as I've said before, by Chevy's own definition, the SS as used on Silverado falls flat on it's face. SS is Chevy's highest performing level of a model line. Even discounting what the competition is offering at cheaper or competitive prices, an AWD, 6.0L, automatic transmissioned, extendeded cab version of a Silverado most certainly isn't the highest performance level of this truck.

Also, if you are going to charge "big dog" prices for a "big dog" label, it isn't unrealistic to expect it to have "big dog" performance IMHO.

 

What he said.

 

Why bother comparing anything SS to the performance versions of the other guys?

It's plainly obvious that the SS moniker has nothing to do with performance. It's simply the top trim level of the particular vehicle. It's leather seats, monochrome trim, and 20 inch wheels.

Ford's got an all show and no go F150 too. It's called a Boss 5.4. Looks like Ford Lightning on bling steroids. 20in rims, Ram air hood(non functional), Color keyed stitched leather seats. 260 horse 2V 5.4. $37K, five more than a Lightning for nothing more than a pimped out step side. That's the truck we oughtta be comparing the Silverado SS to. And compared to it, I'd say they're about even in value. It'd boil down to personal taste on which truck to choose.

Even GM says the SS line is not about performance. It's about an overall package of something or whatever. WHATEVER

We're better off waiting for the Chevy Silverado SR or GT-R or SpecR Type S before an SS anything comes down with real mucle under the hood. Or maybe Chevy'll give us a funky named special vehicle group. Yeah the Chevy SVG Silverado. Makes more sense than thinking SS still means anything.

 

How do you know what the 'projected sales figures' are? The FACT of the matter is, Chevy full-size truck sales are up 15% for 9/03 vs 9/02 (from http://media.gm.com , click news - sales/production).

And there are different kinds of truck enthusiasts. Not all of them want to deal with having no back seat.

A couple other things have not been mentioned. One - fuel economy. It's likely a reason why we have a relatively mild Silverado SS - corporations have to meet CAFE on what they sell. Two - the Silverado SS is the only one of these three performance full-size trucks with AWD. Good luck zipping around in the winter or the rain in your SRT or Ford L

 

The 5.4 Triton has 300 hp in the current model, not 260. First you say that the SS is the top of the line but for some reason we are to compare it to the run of the mill F-150? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

Chevy expects to sell 15,000 Silverado SS's a year. I don't remember where that's from but I know they are nowhere near that yet. And no, I'm not talking Ford truck sales math about sales to dealers I'm talking about out the door and in people's driveways. It's nice Chevy's full sizers are up 15% but that tells me nothing about SS.

I can understand that, but to "muscle truck" buyers I don't think it's that important. Remind me again how many Lightning owners over the years have cursed their truck for not having a back seat and gaining hundreds upon hundreds of pounds in the process.

Yes, we all know CAFE only applies to GM. I'm growing tired of the "we must make a better profit" and "we must meet CAFE" excuses for having less exciting product. The CAFE thing is just fine with me if that means we're seeing other high-powered stuff from GM right now. Well wait we did this year, there's Corvette...and....Corvette....and.....

Doesn't CAFE count cars and trucks completely seperate anyway?

 

Ford's got an all show and no go F150 too. It's called a Boss 5.4. Looks like Ford Lightning on bling steroids. 20in rims, Ram air hood(non functional), Color keyed stitched leather seats. 260 horse 2V 5.4. $37K

Ok read that again. The only thing run of the mill about the Boss is its engine. Which puts perfectly inline with competing against the SS.

 

I've never heard of such truck. But in its defense, ford already has TWO much faster trucks in the stable in the form of S/c Harley and S/c Lightning.

Now take a look at the Harley. The engine is basically the L's blown motor with 20 horses less. It'll still blow the doors off an SS, has 4 full door and not the half-lings on the SS, bling bling Chrome 20's, fluffy interior, etc... and costs about $37k msrp. The Harley F-150 would be the closest competitor to the SS.

 

Oh I agree, the HD is a much better value. It gives you all the comfort plus actual performance.

I am being a little mean to the SS comparing it to the Boss. but here it is, anyway so everyone can make fun of it.

http://www.eurekaboy.com/misc/boss54.htm

 

Heres a link you guys might want to use as a reference...

I think the SS holds up right where it should w/ the competition...its a lil slower than the Harley, but has more utility plus AWD for the winter (that matters to us in the snowbelt). Your still getting a 0 - 60 in 6 1/2 second truck! Thats pretty damn amazing to your ordinary customer.

What is the top performer of the Silverado model line?

 

Bottom line: the Silverado SS was a disappointment. I doubt anyone stood up and shouted "I have to have that truck!" after reading about it the first time. Your halo needs to do that, and the SS does not. Sure its AWD is pretty nifty, and 345 hp is solid, but its not extraordinary like it should have been, esp at that price.

Post a link of the reg. cab Silverado SS and measure the positive reaction. There must have been a lot of **** going on behind the scenes when the decision was made on the production truck because from where I sit, even taking it as a nonethuiast, the choice was clear.