[SSS]

So all the hubbub here about the SS price I thought I would have a little look into what exactly is available in the SS price range either lower or higher on the scale. I tried to keep the comparison to vehicles able to provide the same kind of fun in a daily driver that a RWD V8 sedan provides. I’ve ignored the 300/Charger because we’re all aware of them and if they was anything special none of us would be here right now...

Chevrolet SS
We all know what it has and what it doesnt, we all wish it was a C63 AMG but its not. Its a NASCAR family hauler, and no that's not derogatory.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The spunky lightweight is a hooners dream come true family or not.

Ford Taurus SHO
With a twin turbo V6 lurking in the shadows this is not your average taxi cab

BMW 335i
Beemers are beemers, no sex, no style just perverse German sterility, efficiency too.

Jaguar XF 2.0
The English cat has come to play but was severely neutered in the process.

Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan
7 series size, performance engine, priced right?

Infiniti G37
The car that first put the Germans on notice, **** of a deal. Comes in stick too.

Infiniti Q50
G37s younger brother just bowed with the G37s hand me downs dressed in a brand new cloak.

 

[SSS]

MSRP from Base:

SS: $44,470
STI: $40,690
Taurus SHO: $48,849
335i: $53,295
XF: $55,643
Genesis: $55,259
G37: $32,550
Q50: $36,700

The long in the tooth G37 takes the MSRP crown, when Infiniti debuted the new Q50 the G37 was given a price cut to make it more appealing to price shoppers. $32,500 for a RWD sports sedan is a downright steal, the $4k jump to the Q50 is also well worth it IMHO as a bevy of technology is packed into the Q50. Although at the top end 55 and change for the beastly RWD Genesis
R-Spec Saloon should be given consideration, it’s more car after all.

 

[SSS]

ENGINES:

SS: 6.2L V8 415hp/415 lb-ft
STI: 2.5L H4 turbo 305hp/290 lb-ft
Taurus SHO: 3.5L V6 EcoBoost twin-turbo 365hp/350 lb-ft
335i: 3.0L I6 Twin Turbo 300hp/300lb-ft
XF: 2.0L I4 Turbo 240hp/251 lb-ft
Genesis: 5.0L V8 429hp/376lb-ft
G37: 3.7L V6 328hp/269 lb-ft
Q50: 3.7L V6 328hp/269 lb-ft

The Genesis boasts the most powerful engine of the bunch and rightfully so it is the biggest in this comparison. There is no engine on this list that matches the grunt of the SS 6.2L LS.

 

[SSS]

DRIVE:

SS: RWD
STI: AWD
Taurus AWD
335i: RWD
XF: RWD
Genesis: RWD
G37: RWD
Q50: RWD

 

[SSS]

GEARBOX:

SS: 6 speed shiftable automatic
STI: 6 speed manual
Taurus SHO: 6 speed shiftable automatic
335i: 8 speed auto, optional 6 speed manual
XF: 8 speed automatic
Genesis: 8 speed automatic
G37: 6 speed manual
Q50: 7 speed shiftable automatic

Should I say something about the SS only coming in auto? If M6 is really what you want I recommend the G37, its priced right RWD and tons of fun. Max fun factor though goes to the STI with its spunky Turboed H4, AWD and rowable gears.

 

[SSS]

MPG:

SS: 15 City/24 Hwy (estimated based on Camaro with 6.2L)
STI: 19 City/25 Hwy
Taurus SHO: 17 City/25 Hwy
335i: 23 City/33 Hwy
XF: 19 City/30 Hwy
Genesis: 16 City/25 Hwy
G37: 19 City/27 Hwy
Q50: 20 City/29 Hwy (Hybrid-29 City/36 Hwy)

The 335i surprisingly runs away with the mpg comparison, although it only drinks the top shelf premium stuff so prepare yourself. The Q50 Hybrid sports the best numbers but its like having Doc Halladay pitch little league. SS numbers have yet to be released but I don’t expect them to move much from the Camaros numbers.

 

[BahamaTodd]

The G37 will no longer be available with the manual next year.

 

[SSS]

The G37 will no longer be available with the manual next year.

Luckily we're still in this year...The G37 will no longer be available next year. Nissan/Infiniti is transitioning M6 out of the lineup except for bare boned versas/sentras. A luxury car like that for $32k is larceny. But i'm not a big fan of the Infiniti exhaust note it sounds like it was engineered by computer. No growl, no howl.

 

[BahamaTodd]

Yes the G and 350 coupes have that distinct sound, but they also have a good deep sound from the inside of the cab. Not the smoothest engines, but that gives them good character. My brother put the resonator from the coupe on his G35 sedan and it gave it a nice deep sound (though he was hoping for the coupe's high pitch exhaust note).

A good example of a V6 with no sound is the Accord's. Way too quiet and smooth... though it does sound good when teh vtec kicks in... y0.

 

[SSS]

Yes the G and 350 coupes have that distinct sound, but they also have a good deep sound from the inside of the cab. Not the smoothest engines, but that gives them good character. My brother put the resonator from the coupe on his G35 sedan and it gave it a nice deep sound (though he was hoping for the coupe's high pitch exhaust note).

A good example of a V6 with no sound is the Accord's. Way too quiet and smooth... though it does sound good when teh vtec kicks in... y0.

Yea I've heard about people swapping the down pipe on their sedans with the one from the G coupe.

 

[brianch]

What? No C63 AMG or Nissan GTR?

 

[chevypwr]

Yes the G and 350 coupes have that distinct sound, but they also have a good deep sound from the inside of the cab. Not the smoothest engines, but that gives them good character. My brother put the resonator from the coupe on his G35 sedan and it gave it a nice deep sound (though he was hoping for the coupe's high pitch exhaust note).

A good example of a V6 with no sound is the Accord's. Way too quiet and smooth... though it does sound good when teh vtec kicks in... y0.

a number of Japanese 6 cyl engines are like that too, supra, skyline, etc.

 

[ChevySS]

I take it you didn't mention the Lancer Evo because it's so similar to the STi?
IMHO, one difference between driving a quick little EVO/STi vs driving a V-8 SS or perhaps SRT8, is image. I'm nearing 30 and it may be just me, but everytime I see an EVO or an STi I think "boy racer." When I look at an SRT8 or one like it, I think MAN CAR! haha.

In my early 20s I really wanted an EVO, but since I couldn't afford it, I went for a 98 Eclipse GS-T. Now that I can buy one, I don't want one

 

[ChevySS]

What? No C63 AMG or Nissan GTR?

Hard to read sarcasm on here but if you're serious, you could buy 2 and half Chevy SS for the price of one GTR.

I'd rather buy an Audi S4 if I'm going for a prestige car.

 

[SSS]

Hard to read sarcasm on here but if you're serious, you could buy 2 and half Chevy SS for the price of one GTR.

I'd rather buy an Audi S4 if I'm going for a prestige car.

That was a shout out to TTC 6 actually, he used to compare the SS to the C63 almost daily..

 

[SSS]

I take it you didn't mention the Lancer Evo because it's so similar to the STi?
IMHO, one difference between driving a quick little EVO/STi vs driving a V-8 SS or perhaps SRT8, is image. I'm nearing 30 and it may be just me, but everytime I see an EVO or an STi I think "boy racer." When I look at an SRT8 or one like it, I think MAN CAR! haha.

In my early 20s I really wanted an EVO, but since I couldn't afford it, I went for a 98 Eclipse GS-T. Now that I can buy one, I don't want one

I've always seen the STI as a more grown up than the EVO. the EVO has never ever appealed to me, where as i fell in love with the STI the minute i saw my first rally race.

I see an SRT8 and i think bad decision...

judging by your age now, you were in your early 20s when Fast and Furious was decimating car culture as we knew it. Boy racers were one of THE biggest trends during the 2000s...

Honestly i think the SS is about 10 years too late, the SS should have shown up before GM got themselves into trouble, gas prices where more accommodating for a 6.2L 8 (were never seeing the south side of $3/gal again), credit was laxer and people were more willing to take on debt. Not to mention people had real jobs...

 

[SpeedRacerX]

I like the effort you put into this. Pretty cool. Thanks.

 

[SSS]

I like the effort you put into this. Pretty cool. Thanks.

Cheers speedracer, $40k is a lot of money, its nice to look around at what else that money can do for you. The SS slots itself into some interesting territory price wise, especially for those interested in the SS as a performance daily driver.

 

[chevypwr]

Cheers speedracer, $40k is a lot of money, its nice to look around at what else that money can do for you. The SS slots itself into some interesting territory price wise, especially for those interested in the SS as a performance daily driver.

I always felt that looking around for where else you can spend the same coin and get better bang for it is what should be done.

doing that...it's very tempting to get cars like the C63 AMG, BMW M5 V10, etc.

 

[black magic]

So now that the VF has been on sale to the folks down under, are there any true performance times? The reviews that I have seen have all been all about the fit/finish and feel of the car, but nothing with hard numbers. I'm asking in this thread because if we are to compare the performance/value of the SS, we need to know the true numbers.