I don't think the SSR was meant to be a Corvette, Camaro, or a work truck, so why the comparos. Its not suppose to be quicker than a Corvette, or handle better than a Camaro, or haul heavy loads like a truck, its a styling statement more than anything. Its just a convertible blvd. cruiser that has nice power. I drove a LS2 auto and thought it was a fun drive. The bloated fenders make it look much bigger than it is. I would pick up a Yellow 6-speed in a heartbeat if they were more affordable, but they are way overpriced. Other than the price, I don't care for the bland looking dash. Maybe if it were available in other colors other than black it would help.

 

No. I agree. That's probably why it shouldn't cost as much either... it tends to confuse the buyer who would automatically make unfair comparisons.

Pricing is critical to the successful acceptance of a vehicle.

 

Chances are the SSR wont be around much longer. GM has announced that the Lansing Craft Centre, where the SSR is built, will be closing mid 06.

 

SSR would be cool if it did not have the driving characteristics of a dump truck. Honestly...it has sporty styling, and an LS2....but the suspension and steering is not up to the task at all. Try doing a 360 like they did in the one commercial and you would flip the thing is a ditch.

 

Good points.

First.....let's ask the question: "Who is this vehicle for?" Second: "Where did it come from and why?"

(and by the way, beauty is in the eye of the beholder......I can tell you that no matter where I drove an SSR, it drew crowds.....Ohio Turnpike 2:30am.....pulled into a service plaza and 7 cars and trucks followed me in..........driving thru Grosse Pointe....one guy was staring so much that he walked into a street sign.....)

Now.....back to those questions: First....I'm not thinking that many on this site would have an SSR on their shopping list.....the average buyer is in his or her early 50s......it's a third car....and the median income is off the charts. (by the way....I've spent time with SSR enthusiasts.....you think YOU'RE enthusiastic about your car?????...they're rabid.........) Second.....it was a GM Design Studio exercise......a concept.......that's it. It was so well received that the decision was made to see if it could actually be built....and keep the design integrity. Well.......as we all know, some parts were used 'off the shelf'.......(a notable aside.....it enabled the TrailBlazer SS....)

Planning volume was only for about 10K units a year.....and a short lifecycle.....I mean.........what do you do when it's time to restyle it? Make it into a modern 55 Chevy Pickup????

Now......I'd rather have used that money for something else. The fact is that it IS expensive.......it isn't cheap to build.

Finally......one must ALWAYS keep in mind that styling is subjective......we're all different......we all have our 'hot buttons'......just as you may not like the HHR, a lot of people do........because it's selling to the point where we've max'ed out production at the assembly plant.

It was never meant to handle like a Corvette or a Camaro......further, keep in mind that the backbone of the vehicle, after all, is a TrailBlazer.........

 

They're selling like niche hotcakes around me

 

I don't know, I thought it handled pretty nicely, considering what it is.

 

Another vote for way overpriced and I agree, to lower the price they should add a fixed roof.

 

I remember when I first saw it at the autoshow a few years back, it was a very sweet looking truck. Then I saw the price tag and wondered if it was a severe typo.

 

Do tell!

 

SSR is the type of vehicle that I might buy if I had extra room in the garage and a lot of extra money in the bank.

 

SSR is the type of vehicle that I might buy if I had extra room in the garage and a lot of extra money in the bank.

 

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't buy one but in my opinion it looks beatiful.
I remember the first time I saw one. I was walking down the street and I looked down this alley I was walking by. I stopped dead in my tracks and my Jaw dropped, it was an SSR and I thought it was drop dead gorgeous. As it pulled out everyone else was gaping at it like they were watching an alien spacecraft abducting people through its tractor beam.
That is why I think its a great car, its a jawdropper, and its a jaw dropper with a chevrolet badge plastered on the front and back of it; In essence its a wonderful advertisement, which is good for business.

 

Imo, it's ugly, useless, and overpriced. Performance is nice for a vehicle of its size/weight, but nothing spectacular.

I get that it's supposed to be a toy vehicle, but as z28marcus mentioned, toy vehicles are usually small attractive looking roadsters/sportscars...not 4,700lb trucks.

Nonetheless, it does come off as a "cool" vehicle....but it won't sell on that alone.

 

Personally I'd rather own and drive a holden ute ss which also comes with an ls2 and a six speed rather than a convertible pickup truck with a carpeted bed. It is a sort of hot rod although my definition of hot rod isn't exactly 20,000 of the same thing rolling off an assembly line. My dad likes them which strikes me as interesting...