[z51vett]

I'm not much on writing long post so here goes.
1. Fuel economy 17.9 so far driving around the city and express ways. Was in mountains on express way reset it and was getting 25 to 26 mpg.
2. Handling seems a lot better than our 2013 Camaro 2SS and our old G8 I loved that car.
3. Power puts smile on my face every time I get on it. Feels more powerful than the Camaro it had 400 hp. Also this car has 327 rearend don't remember Camaro rearend ratio or the G8's it only had 350hp so yes this one is more powerful out of the box.
4. Interior very comfortable more so than the G8 or Camaro its the seats.
Love the mylink navigation and heated cooled seats only thing is the fan blows all the time. The lane departure and blind spot are fantastic along with the backup camera. I can't comment on the parking aid can't really ever seeing me using it. Keyless entry is great for wife no hunting in the bottomless pit of a purse. Oh the usb 32 is as large as you can go in the format, Pandora works great to so does find fuel.
5. Exterior styling I like it, maybe not everyone's cup of tea. The new Impala is a little more bolder I think. Badges They could be smaller not ashamed of it being a Chevy just feel they over power, they will get plastia dipped black.
6. Wish list garage door opener, more color choices ,diff brand of tires.
Wife will not drive stick so that's not one for me. Oh how about an 8 speed trans and a little more kick out of the power plant LT1 out of question for now.
If I left something off let me know what I can tell you about.
z51vett
Doug

 

[skeener]

I was actually wondering about the "refinement" aspect of the SS. This is what most reviews seem to emphasize as significantly improved over the G8 GXP, and surprising for Detroit Iron (I know, Aussie Iron).:biggrin:

 

[z51vett]

Well let me address that.
1. Gone are the hard plastic surfaces, the dash has more up scale look to it. The controls are more laid out to US use ie door controls for windows and locks. Love the electric parking brake. The slap shifter I like better than the paddles. Colored heads up display is upscale looking and has 3 different settings. Air controls are light years ahead and so is the radio. controls for making and receiving call as well as text messaging.
2. Gone is the trans delays when kicking down to lane change. Steering is rock solid and it corners very flat.
3. In other words the G8 is like a type writer and the SS is the computer. I loved the G8 would still be driving it, but don't drive wrecked cars if I can help it. Glad I bought the SS. Its like having a date with a girl who is a plain Jane ,give her a make over and she's the home coming queen.
4. Every bell and whistle is there for your entertainment fit and finish next to none yes more expensive materials could be used. With all the complaints about price that probably won't fly. Oh 2000 bucks for mag ride those who complained the loudest about price would roll over in there graves. The cost of a 1lt will not come cheap either.
Again anything not mentioned let me know.
z51vett
Doug

 

[2074]

Love the mylink navigation and heated cooled seats only thing is the fan blows all the time.

Which fan? seats or heater/aircon?

 

[LT5 John]

Hi Doug:
Have you used the Nav system?...What I did notice, when I plugged in my home address or destination, the system sets a route. When I changed the route some, it takes a long time to re-calculate...When comparing to, let's say a Garmin...For the H*** of it I put my home address into NAV, the voice started and goes through turn here, turn there and so on. Well I purposely continued straight when the Nav wanted me to turn. By the time it re-calculated I was almost a mile past where I should have turned before re-calibration...NAV seems somewhat slow with respect to deviating from the Nav calculation...Just my observation...

 

[z51vett]

Which fan? seats or heater/aircon?

The heating and air system is always blowing in auto.
z51vett
Doug

 

[skeener]

The rags have been referring to the SS as an American BMW M5 (apologies to Australia which should get the credit) in reference to the levels of refinement. I guess they mean the "feel" thing that German cars are known for. Anybody have actual German car experience with which to draw on?

 

[z51vett]

The rags have been referring to the SS as an American BMW M5 (apologies to Australia which should get the credit) in reference to the levels of refinement. I guess they mean the "feel" thing that German cars are known for. Anybody have actual German car experience with which to draw on?

I drive Corvettes for feel I feel I passed that bummer going to slow. My ride is a 505 hp 2012 z06. Only foreign car I ever owned in my 70 years was a 04 g35 coupe wife's car threw it out the window so to speak and she drove vetts till the g 8 came along. Don't mean to sound mean just ask what is it like compared to a bimmer.
z51vett
Doug
Sorry I did not meet your standards wish you had asked for bimmer comparison would have referred you to motor trend or as we vett folks say bimmer trend

 

[z51vett]

Hi Doug:
Have you used the Nav system?...What I did notice, when I plugged in my home address or destination, the system sets a route. When I changed the route some, it takes a long time to re-calculate...When comparing to, let's say a Garmin...For the H*** of it I put my home address into NAV, the voice started and goes through turn here, turn there and so on. Well I purposely continued straight when the Nav wanted me to turn. By the time it re-calculated I was almost a mile past where I should have turned before re-calibration...NAV seems somewhat slow with respect to deviating from the Nav calculation...Just my observation...

I have used it once on trip voice commands off wife doesn't like anyone talking to her she can't control. It did what I needed but all have issues got mis directed where I wanted to go was across the street. Sorry not much help with that part if it gets me close I'm good .
z51vett
Doug

 

[FSTASNTZ]

I have owned both 335i (2007) and 550i (2010) and have driven the 2014 650i Gran Coupe X-Drive. Have never driven or owned an M5.
The SS mostly reminds me of a twist between the 550i and the new 650i Gran Coupe. The supportive seating is most like the 650i. The fit, finish, refinement and overall quality remind me of the 550i.
The SS is faster than the 550i and should be faster than the 650i. I feel the car, while near the same size as the 550i, is better in the turns and better to get in and out of. Something about the 550i I felt like I had to crawl out of it and the way the rear seating was cut made it difficult to get in and out. Defiantly more space in the back of the SS than either the 550i or 650i.
The MyLink is leaps and bounds better and easier to use that the iDrive in the BMW.
I like the exhaust note of the SS more than I do of either the 550i or 650i.
I feel that some basic things were missed like home link and interior LED lighting.
Then there is the price, roughly 47k for the SS, 76-82k for the 550i and 92-102k for the 650i Gran Coupe X-Drive. I feel the SS was as BARGAIN when taking those numbers into account.

 

[z51vett]

I have owned both 335i (2007) and 550i (2010) and have driven the 2014 650i Gran Coupe X-Drive. Have never driven or owned an M5.
The SS mostly reminds me of a twist between the 550i and the new 650i Gran Coupe. The supportive seating is most like the 650i. The fit, finish, refinement and overall quality remind me of the 550i.
The SS is faster than the 550i and should be faster than the 650i. I feel the car, while near the same size as the 550i, is better in the turns and better to get in and out of. Something about the 550i I felt like I had to crawl out of it and the way the rear seating was cut made it difficult to get in and out. Defiantly more space in the back of the SS than either the 550i or 650i.
The MyLink is leaps and bounds better and easier to use that the iDrive in the BMW.
I like the exhaust note of the SS more than I do of either the 550i or 650i.
I feel that some basic things were missed like home link and interior LED lighting.
Then there is the price, roughly 47k for the SS, 76-82k for the 550i and 92-102k for the 650i Gran Coupe X-Drive. I feel the SS was as BARGAIN when taking those numbers into account.

Thank you so much for answering questions I had no clue about.
z51vett
Doug

 

[jdurhan]

Colored Heads up display ????? I better get my manual back out. How do you change colors ?

 

[z51vett]

Colored Heads up display ????? I better get my manual back out. How do you change colors ?

Should read heads up display in color sorry get in hurry when things are not smooth here.
z51vett
Doug

 

[2074]

The heating and air system is always blowing in auto.
z51vett
Doug

My Yukon and Enclave both do that in Auto too it varies the fan speed and blend door position up and down/warmer or cooler depending on the load.

The owner's manual says something about using the personalization settings to set the auto fan speed to low/med/hi. Another thing I am planning on fiddling with when I get her because the Y and E don't have that.

 

[VQ35DE]

I currently have a 2013 2SS Camaro auto. All the other Holden cars I told you about are gone now. Did you say that your new SS feels more powerful and handles better than your 2013 Camaro SS ? Can you go into some more detail about this ?

 

[firehawk238]

The heating and air system is always blowing in auto.
z51vett
Doug

I noticed this in my SS as well and figured out that you have to turn the fan all the way down, give it a second then give it another turn counter clockwise and the mylink display will show the fan and HVAC system is off.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

Something about the 550i I felt like I had to crawl out of it and the way the rear seating was cut made it difficult to get in and out. Defiantly more space in the back of the SS than either the 550i or 650i.

Thanks for confirming this. It's super hard to get in and out of my buddies 535. The B pillar is forward of the front seat back, so you really have to squirm around it to get in...and is especially hard to get around to get out of the car.


I 'd like to hear more about the SS ride quality overall. I was surprised at the firmness on my test drive.

 

[fincherific]

I 'd like to hear more about the SS ride quality overall. I was surprised at the firmness on my test drive.[/QUOTE]

I bet the dealer left the spring blocks in, they were in on my test drive too and it makes the ride stiffer. Several stories out there of dealers forgetting to take them out. I'd take another ride and make sure they're removed first (front springs, they're a pinkish red).

 

[z51vett]

I currently have a 2013 2SS Camaro auto. All the other Holden cars I told you about are gone now. Did you say that your new SS feels more powerful and handles better than your 2013 Camaro SS ? Can you go into some more detail about this ?

Better seats easier in and out, the steering and handling is better the auto Camaro has the l99 engine 4/8 operation not as powerful as the ls3 but does get 20 mpg around town. I don't feel closed in the low roof line, can see out better except for bustle back trunk lid. My link is great heat controls and radio better laid out and rest of switch gear. The parking brake handle is gone frees up that area quite nicely. I owned an 11 SS Camaro as well the 13 is head and shoulders better than the 11.
z51vett
Doug:biggrin:

 

[z51vett]

The rags have been referring to the SS as an American BMW M5 (apologies to Australia which should get the credit) in reference to the levels of refinement. I guess they mean the "feel" thing that German cars are known for. Anybody have actual German car experience with which to draw on?

Sorry for my rant late you know and things are not as smooth around here at times. This I guess affects me at times. I see one of our members who has more foreign car experience replied to your inquire.
z51vett
Doug