One more thing---wagons rule! At least compared to mommyvans---err....minivans. Remeber were not talking Caprice wagons--huge baosts, no power or handling (well maybe the LT1 was fun) but smaller, agile ones. Audi builds a kick *** S4 wagon with the 340hp V8

 

I agree. I believe I like the looks of the Malibu wagon over the sedan. Just not crazy about the name.

Are there no plans for an "SS" model for the sedan?

 

You can lump all "SSs" into the same family because they are ALL called SS.....Chevy trucks, sedans, wagons, FWDs and older muscle cars.

Z24 and Z26 are NOT called Z/28 .

BTW....the Z26 (formerly GTZ) was a very hot, no excuses FWD performance car.....too bad Chevy doesn't have anything like that now.

 

Actually, the LT1 wagons were pretty cool. There are quite a few out here with Impala SS grills & "massaged" engines.

I think the thing that took me aback was that instead of say, a "high content" high powered V6 sedan wearing SS, it's a station wagon. I think if it was at least shown as both a sedan & wagon instead of just a wagon, it wouldn't be as much of a shock.

Z26 wasn't really a bad car. For their day, Barettas performed very well.

 

Makes you wonder if the Camaro does return, Chevy may just offer a base/RS and then SS trim. Be funny if this time around it would be up to the likes of SLP to produce a Z/28 edition.

I'd be all for the return of Z26 and Z24 (and Z28). Z06 seems to be doing well.

 

I am sorry but putting a Z in front is exactly the same as SS. Just using a different number don't count. I actually would rather see a base RS, top of the line SS, and a limited edition Mach 1/Bullitesk edition called Z28 (**** the slash) it only used it in the first gen anyway, like 10% of the years that the Z28 was made. I think the car should have respectable performance, maybe even be lighter/strippeddown and handle better than an SS, but not have more standard power.

Also this opens the door for other niche cars like 2 years have a Z28, the have an IROC-Z, ect.

 

I can imagine the Z24 returning with a supercharged 210-220 HP Ecotec.

 

Actually, Z28 has always been an option code, so I wouldn't exactly say it's the "same" as an SS.

None the less, I see where you're going. But back in the late 80s "Z" at Chevrolet was marketed the same way Chevrolet is pimping the "SS" name now. In addition to Z24, Z26, and Z28, I believe that's when Z71 trucks came out (and are still here).

 

Since we're bringing up Chevy performance RPO's that begin with "Z".......how about ZR1, ZL1, Z16, Z11.

 

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but ... anyone notice dramatic changes to the current maxx from the one they were showing a few months ago?

old: http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/349518.jpg

new: http://osx.wieck.com/pv/WKA/2003/04/...2136396_pv.jpg

The rear end s/w section is completely different. Whatever they did, they did it right. The first one is totally mundane and self-conflicting, while the second one is at least acceptable.

I'm not too crazy about the Maxx, but I do enjoy station wagons. If they can steal sales from SUV's, more power to 'em.

gt

 

I think that is a picture of the Vectra...I could be wrong though.

 

Yes---thats an Opel allright

 

Actually the first Chevrolets to be called "SS" were Corvettes. There were several Corvette SS race cars from 1956 through to the early 60s, but SS has never been used on a production Corvette.

There's actually already been an SS station wagon - in 1973. You can find the registry site here: http://www.chevellesswagon.com/

And, as I always say (and no one ever listens), SS started as a TRIM package - wheel covers, bucket seats, floor shift, SS badging, not specifically a performance package so what Chevy is doing right now is far from unprecedented. While a Monte Carlo SS or Malibu Maxx SS certainly shouldn't get spanked by Altimas (I totally agree with everyone there) they are far, far, far, from the slowest cars ever to wear SS badges. How about a 1963 Nova SS? blazing 13.0 seconds, 0-60 with a 1/4 mile in 19.0 seconds @ 70 mph!

 

You're 100% correct on SS's beginings as a trim package. You could make a point that everyone (including myself) fell into the same revisionist trap I often rant about when it comes to some's views on car names from the past. But in this case I think it's different.

While it's true that there were station wagons, and straight 6 Chevelles and Novas that wore the SS badge, Chevrolet is marketing the name as a way to gain $3-5,000 extra from a regular vehicle, by linking it to performance. On a Camaro, that may not seem like a big deal (it's already a quick ride), but on a AWD extended cab pickup truck, and a station wagon (while the sedan is seemingly ignored) doesn't play into what Chevy's trying to sell.

The SS in the old days was also sold as a pretty cheap appearance package. You had the option of getting a more powerful engine that you couldn't get on other levels of that car. Today that would be the same as having an optional 6.0 V8 on a Camaro SS, or an optional 8.1 on the Silverado SS, or perhaps an optional higher output V6 on the Malibu SS.

I think that's the big difference.

 

I had GTZ with 2.3L Quad4 engine. That engine came with 5-speed manual, and that car outperformed later year Z26, which only came with 3.1L V6 and auto.

Went to the race track and ran the car 15.904 at 89.9x mph. For the year (1991) it was a very hot car and great performance.

Z26 was slower, running 16.2 - 16.4 most of the time.