N2TRUX Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 Let me start by saying, I am NOT trying to start a flame thread. I have been an avid GM truck owner for 25+ years. The past few years, I have become increasingly dissapointed in what GM is offering compared to the other manufacturers. I am trying to satisfy my curiosity- 1.What made you guys buy an SS? 2.What do you think about it so far? 3. Have you had to take it in for warranty work? 4.How did the service department treat you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcairns Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 1 - I had already been shopping for a new truck and had pretty much decided on the Chevy 1500 LS with the 5.3L. When I learned of the SS, I was hooked. It gave me the larger engine and uniqe look that would make it worth having for the next 10 years. Since I buy my trucks to keep for a while (my last purchase was in 1991) I was able to afford the extravagant price of the SS. 2- Love it. Could only ask for a supercharger and polished wheels. 3 - nope 4 - N/A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn_butler Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 It is the first truck GM built that fits my needs exactly! It is part Corvette, part Cadilac, and part Truck. Now that I am thirty something and live in Michigan (still snow and ice on the ground today). The ext cab and all wheel drive is perfect. I am a big advicate of two wheel drive trucks, but two trucks ago. I used to get stuck at the boat ramps and had to get out. My wife mandated me to get a four wheel drive. I have had 3 or 4 4x4 in the past and that is not my bag, I like sport trucks. I was looking at lowering my last 4x4. I do a lot of construction work as a hobby so I need a truck. I need a luxry car for the family. I like to go fast and around corners. The SS does it all. I have had my truck a little over two weeks. They have been on the road only since the last week of Feb. There are a couple of guys that have had minor things so far. I LOVE IT!!!! It maybe the best all around vehicle I have ever owned. When I need to go over 100+ I pull out my ZR-1 and take it for a spin. Yes, I thought it would have a little more power. But, for my daly year round driver I can smoke 95% of the average cars. Believe me where I live everyone thinks they are race car drivers, even the kids in GEOs. If I had to do it again, I would definately buy another SS. I don't care what anybody says, I is an SS and wears the badging proadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcswain Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 1) Looks, style, quality build, AWD, performance (enough horses for me), lowered stance (don't need a ladder to get in it), simple outer design, yet has a mystique look and feel about it, towing capacity 7500 lbs, more than enough features to please anyone. It short, it is a well balanced, versatile sport luxury truck that anyone should be proud to own and drive I almost forgot a heck of a good deal didn't hurt either 2) Absolutely the best vehicle I have ever owned or driven, completely satisified. 3) NO 4) N/A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwest1975 Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 1.What made you guys buy an SS? I have always wanted a sports car......Ram Air Trans Am to be exact. Well, that is not very practical to drive all year around here in Maine. AWD was one of the biggest factors! Also, having a decent amount of interior space and having up to 4 passengers + driver is nice. I wanted something that was sporty, quick/fast, and has great handling. I wanted something that not every one will have. 2.What do you think about it so far? I love it! It is certainly fun to drive! People give it lots of looks and I have had some nods of approval as well as thumbs ups. Every day people ask me if thats your truck out there.....of couse my answer is yes. They go on to tell me how sweet or nice that is. That reassures me that it is not an every day sight and that it does stand out while wearing the SS badge! 3. Have you had to take it in for warranty work? No. No complaints so far! 4.How did the service department treat you? N/A. I think that that is not the best question to ask because treatment at every different dealer will vary greatly. To conclude, if you read the posts on this board you will find positives and negatives. (more positives) One of the biggest complaints is that it does not have enough power. Well, it certainly has a respectable amount of power. Sure, we wish it had more......does anyone ever wish it had less? It has many positive things going for it. It is not a new model in the way that it is not built brand new from the ground up. It shares the majority of components with regular silverados. That gives it the advantage of proven reliability. It is distinctly different though on the outside and inside than a regular silverado. This is a truck that is great to drive every day no matter where you live. It has great power, great handling, and sharp looks to boot! Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcswain Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 Well put Justin, I totally agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N2TRUX Posted April 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 I see most of you are happy with what you bought. It appears the AWD swayed some of you guys from the north. I assume the prestige factor played heavy too. I'm just trying to understand what the motivation to own one is. I am asking this because I was so dissapointed when I realized GM was not going to build the SS as a legitimate contender in the "Performance Sport Truck" market. I might have been able to accept the low hp/tq numbers if they hadn't gone crazy with pricing. Their response to this is they weren't "trying" to compete with the other guys, and the price is in line with the market. This is not meant to be critical of you, or your truck. It's more like therapy for me, since I am rapidly becomig anti-GM, and I am trying really hard to understand what they are thinking. OK, one more question (for now). What did you pay for your truck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn_butler Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 With tax title and transfer 36,500. Fully loaded with every option except Onstar. Sticker was 40,500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsen Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 my father, brother and i have a bunch of fast cars from camaros to corvettes to chevelles. i was looking at just geting a regular chevy truck, but a fully loaded 2wd ext cab is $34,000. so i figured for another three grand i'll get the baddest truck chevy makes and i don't regret it one bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N2TRUX Posted April 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 With tax title and transfer 36,500. Fully loaded with every option except Onstar. Sticker was 40,500. So did you find a dealers out there that was willing to deal? I have always bought my GM trucks at invoice, but my Chevrolet connections are at GMC, Dodge or Ford dealers now. It seems all the dealers around Houston think they should get sticker plus a premium for their SS trucks. Does anyone know what the actual invoice is? BTW-How did you get it withour Onstar? The last GM truck I bought, you had to get Onstar if you got the premium sound package. When I looked at a Denali XL for my wife, you had to get Onstar, and XM radio. Doesn't GM realize some us don't like ugly anteneas sticking out of our roof? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcswain Posted April 7, 2003 Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 Price is an important factor for some and not for others. It was for me. I shopped around thoroughly and came within 2500.00 of the very best deal on a Lightning and within a 1000.00 of a Harley. I needed AWD, and am glad I choose the SS even though the L and Harley are very good trucks. I also needed the extra towing. SS 7500 lbs., L 5000, Harley 4500 The final cost factor to me was a no brainer. Good luck with your decision(s) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsen Posted April 7, 2003 Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 With tax title and transfer 36,500. Fully loaded with every option except Onstar. Sticker was 40,500. So did you find a dealers out there that was willing to deal? I have always bought my GM trucks at invoice, but my Chevrolet connections are at GMC, Dodge or Ford dealers now. It seems all the dealers around Houston think they should get sticker plus a premium for their SS trucks. Does anyone know what the actual invoice is? BTW-How did you get it withour Onstar? The last GM truck I bought, you had to get Onstar if you got the premium sound package. When I looked at a Denali XL for my wife, you had to get Onstar, and XM radio. Doesn't GM realize some us don't like ugly anteneas sticking out of our roof? i just happen to find mine on the lot and it does'nt have onstar or xm radio, and i'm glad, cause like you, i hate those anteneas also. the sticker on mine was $40,250 and they had a dealer mark-up of $5,000. i was'nt going to pay that mark-up for anything so they took that off and also gave me another 3 grand so i paid $37,250 and then add all that tax and all the other happy-horses**t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn_butler Posted April 7, 2003 Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 Well I went through a whole bunch of dealers. The first one was the local dealer who I did not want to deal with. I did one of those serches on the net and get an email from the local dealer. They tell me they are getting one and they will take two grand off the sticker. The truck basically has six disc in dash and towing package. I really want the auto climate control. Anyhow so exicted that I found one I put money on it (by the way that was three months ago and they still have not got the truck in). I figured that I would go to the biggest dealer in my area. They promise to beat anyones deal and they did 3,200 off sticker and the truck I wanted except it had Onstar and no Xm. I waited two months for that one to come in and the date kept sliding. Mean while I sold my truck and my wife get tired of driving me around. The saleman tried to trade with another dealer in the mid west. No one would give up the SS they had. I test drive SS with Xm, I thougt it was pretty cool. Did not want it or Onstar originally. Anyhow, I find the truck I want a 100mi. away at a large dealer. I call them up and ask if the truck was still for sale and they say yes. I ask what the price is and they say what do I want to pay. I tell them I have money down on one and what the deal was. They said they would match it. So I go back to the dealer I was dealing with and tell him they have the truck and it is for sale. They tried to get it for me but would not give it up. My salesman said that I waited long enough and just get it from the other dealer. I thought about it for two days and it came down to I could not justify the onstar. It is 700 on top of the price of the truck and 17 a month. I would proably never use it. So I got Xm and love it. On top of that the XM is 400 cheaper the Onstar. I love this truck! It is everthing I could dream of and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N2TRUX Posted April 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 Shawn, You really put some serious effort in to your purchase. You may have mentioned it, and I missed it. What did you have before the SS? I drive an 02 GMC 1500HD every day. It has a 6.0 and 373 gears. I am very un-impressed with it power. I'm afraid the SS will perform about the same, even though it has more hp and less weight. It seems the AWD will pull it down to about the same level. Has anyone been on a dyno, or had it at the track yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcairns Posted April 7, 2003 Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 I have been to the track, (see this thread Carlsbad Raceway ). The short answer is, I was able to do a 15.339 @ 86.27 for the 1/4 mile (with some adverse weather). Motor Trend got a 0-60 time of 6.96 and the 1/4 mile is 15.22 @ 89.36mph. Dyno testing yet to come ;) General feel, is quite peppy, not a Lightning, but still a kick to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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