[Jim Doran]

Earlier this week I bought a 2016 Chevy SS at 20%+ reduced from MSRP. After 500 miles I love the car as my daily driver. As someone who puts 20k+ miles / year with family of 4, I needed a four door car with trunk. The easy choice was camry, subaru, honda , or SUV. I decided to practice what I preach and step up with a performance DD. I'm coming off a 2008 G35 with 237K miles ( passed down to wife ) so I know how much fun a good DD can be. Given the traffic and many hours, I went A6 and not M6, but my GTO and Truck are manual, and I have nothing to prove at my age. Did I mention I luv the new dual-mode exhaust system. Ya Ya, I know it is a chevy. I wish it was a G8 body on the new platform, but that isn't an option.

The SS kind of reminds me of how we talked about the good ole big cars. Not the way they were, but the way we thought they were. It's not so much a throwback to a specific moment as a specific idea about what cars are supposed to be.

In other words, the SS somehow manages to capture the idea of the recent past without actually living in it.
They updated the Chevrolet SS for 2016. Maybe you missed it. Maybe you missed that the SS exists at all—the car sells in microscopic numbers, with a blueprint that few people want these days: naturally aspirated V-8 LS3, rear-wheel-drive, an available manual transmission.

These things are equally likely, but it doesn't matter, because the SS seems to exist apart from logic. It will pull a whopping 0.97 g on a skidpad and rip to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. It produces an EPA-certified 15 miles per gallon in city driving, less if you're being rude. It has Delphi magnetorheological shocks as standard, technology shared with Ferraris and the odd Corvette. And it is everything we don't need right now, at least in terms of carbon output and automated solutions to the traffic problem.

[70L34]

Australian engineering...it's an excellent car.

[The Champ]

Great car. Enjoy!

[Simple Man]

What car is that? Cobalt? Or just SS?

[getmygoat]

I was looking at those myself. Bought a challenger hellcat last year - two door makes it tough to drop off the kids every day for school.

Was pricing out blue SS with manual trans. There was only about 4 for sale in the entire US. Saw one for $38k, gone now. Hard to find used with a manual anyway.

Still considering it.

Is yours blue like the pic you posted? - I think its the best color - also like the orange.

[mgarblik]

I have driven one myself and really liked it. At the time they were selling for MSRP + additional dealer mark-up and were hard to find in specific colors and equipment. So you solved the one issue that left me a little cold, the price. A great car you should enjoy for years to come. With current gas prices, why not enjoy a high powered performance sedan.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

What car is that? Cobalt? Or just SS?

Far from a Cobalt...

The SS is a V8 powered RWD full size performance sedan.

[66sprint6]

Nice machine. You can't get one here in Canada. But my son's friend got ahold of an off-sale caprice cop car, which I believe is the same platform. It's super basic, with a Spartan interior and rubber floor. But man it's a blast to drive.

[Jim Doran]

The rear tires on the SS are 275/35R19. Huge rollers that can still go up in smoke with TC turned off. For the price $38.5K it is only slightly more than the typical commuter car. Yes there are some hidden costs like need all season tires and maybe winter rims, but that is to be expected when driving something more purpose designed.

In no way does this take away my enjoyment from the weekend GTO romp, but for daily driving work, kids, 2 hour family visits, sporting events - I enjoy the drive alot more than the other alternatives.

PS, looked / drove camaro, but too small backseat, crap visibility and I felt 'small' in the seat compared to the belt line. But it is a faster car for sure.

[Simple Man]

Originally Posted by The Champ

Far from a Cobalt...

The SS is a V8 powered RWD full size performance sedan.

So, it's just a Chevy SS. Not Impala, or Cobalt, just SS. Interesting....

[flyingn]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

What car is that? Cobalt? Or just SS?

Colbolts have not been made since 2010

[Simple Man]

Originally Posted by flyingn

Colbolts have not been made since 2010

Shows my knowledge of Shivvy....

[68pongto]

I drive a 2009 G8 GT as a DD. 115K on it and it is still a blast to drive. I looked at the SS, there were a couple on new features on it I liked. But overall I prefer the G8.

[6567GTO]

Definitely a good choice for a DD. How's the cockpit?

[keith k]

Originally Posted by Jim Doran

Earlier this week I bought a 2016 Chevy SS at 20%+ reduced from MSRP. After 500 miles I love the car as my daily driver. As someone who puts 20k+ miles / year with family of 4, I needed a four door car with trunk. The easy choice was camry, subaru, honda , or SUV. I decided to practice what I preach and step up with a performance DD. I'm coming off a 2008 G35 with 237K miles ( passed down to wife ) so I know how much fun a good DD can be. Given the traffic and many hours, I went A6 and not M6, but my GTO and Truck are manual, and I have nothing to prove at my age. Did I mention I luv the new dual-mode exhaust system. Ya Ya, I know it is a chevy. I wish it was a G8 body on the new platform, but that isn't an option.

The SS kind of reminds me of how we talked about the good ole big cars. Not the way they were, but the way we thought they were. It's not so much a throwback to a specific moment as a specific idea about what cars are supposed to be.

Neat car.
It amazes me that Chevy doesn't sell more of these...

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by 66sprint6

Nice machine. You can't get one here in Canada. But my son's friend got ahold of an off-sale caprice cop car, which I believe is the same platform. It's super basic, with a Spartan interior and rubber floor. But man it's a blast to drive.

The Caprice is built on a longer (station wagon) wheelbase. I was in Adelaide about 2½ years back and went past the Elizabeth assembly plant. You could see a whole bunch of those Caprice's in the lot waiting for shipment.

I bought a 2000 Caprice back in 2002. Still got it. 270K on the speedo. Being a Caprice here means it has the full package, still super smooth to drive, and the body finish has held up remarkably well although I need to get the drivers seat redone. Leather is simply worn out. No plans on moving it along at this stage.

Ian

[Will]

Would love one of these with a manual. Too bad I can't afford one.

[Jim Doran]

Will, the 'new' 2016 with a manual are almost all snapped up; You can order a 2017 if desired. ( rumors of LSA motor are false ).

There are more used manuals coming on the market as folks who need to have the latest / greatest upgrade to 2017. Keep an eye out.

So far I luv the car. Other than the mylink info entertainment system, I have no real complaints. If not for my commute and kids going to school in NYC, I'd have gotten the manual also.
I would not have paid $52k for the car, but for $39k + TTL I'm happy. Just needs to last me well past 100k miles.

I know we share a like for the WRX cars. On the SS forums, amazing how many STi/WRX prior owners have moved over to the SS.

[GT182]

A friend of mine bought a Silver Ice Metallic SS early this past summer. He loves it. So much so in fact that he's buying another one to have out in Reno. Must be nice. He even blacked out the yellow in the Bow Tie just to be a bit incognito.

There's one other out and around here in DE.... Jungle Green Metallic. It didn't sell as fast as the dealer wanted so the added Carbon Fiber racing stripes to it... for 998.00.

[ssj71]

Here's my brother's 6-speed manual SS that he parks next to his SSJs...