From One 6.2L To Another

"Shane Moore" (snakesm13)
07/14/2017 at 10:39 • Filed to: chevy ss

2017 Chevy SS in Regal Peacock Green

Need Oppo wisdom before making a decision. I currently have a 2014 Ford Raptor “work” truck as my company pays a vehicle allowance instead of providing a work truck. While it is a great truck and fun can be had in it, I have taken a different job in which the company provides a work truck. My automotive ADD has kicked in and I am in search of a fun daily driver. I have looked at the following cars:

WRX

Golf R/GTI

Focus RS/ST

500 Abarth

Some of the requirements are as follows:

MUST be stick

We are going to be fostering to adopt starting in November so seat 1 possibly 2 children and stuff.

Fun, engaging, and eager to be driven.

Now I’m not much of a Chevy guy but I can respect the LS family and can pass off the SS as “Australian”. Plus it is great fun to drive, outstanding interior compared to the others I’m “cross-shopping” and good grief that sound!

Now if Oppo blesses this decision the next question is Heron White of that gorgeous Regal Peacock Green up top?

DISCUSSION (68)

CB > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:42

I’d go for the green SS, personally. The WRX and its ilk (well, maybe not the RS) will be around for a while yet. Might as well go for the one being taken out behind the shed.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:46

Personally I would go for the RS, but if you go SS, green. The answer is always green. I find the LS soul-less and truck like.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:47

Green SS without a doubt

Arrivederci > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:48

Tough call. I have a S3, which is the Golf R’s cousin and it’s a phenomenal little car. Practical, fun, quick, small and the MQB platform is tremendous. I dig smaller cars - if I wanted something bigger though, first choice would’ve been a SS, I think.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:48

I lke the SS best of all these cars, and that green is fantastic.

Textured Soy Protein > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:50

You posted “should I buy a Chevy SS?” here and you think anyone is going to say no?

I looked back through your posts and I see you only got this Raptor back in January. Are you going to end up taking a bath if you sell it this soon?

If you’re definitely getting rid of it, I can tell you our practical car is my wife’s 2016 Subaru Impreza hatchback. It’s fine for our “practical” needs which consist of occasionally ferrying her mom (and her mom’s walker) to church and dinner, or driving somewhere with another couple. I can’t help but think 2 kids, especially with 1 or more car seats, and a bunch of crap might be annoying in a vehicle of this size.

BeaterGT > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:52

As the others have said, that Green SS is magnificent.

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:52

I DD a 500 Abarth and can confirm the reports that they are stupid fun (and, after reading Clavey’s article yesterday about the loud Challenger, can also confirm that I am firmly in the always-blipping-the-throttle douchebag camp), but if given the choice (and the funds), I would go with a more “quality” option.

At it’s core, the Abarth is still a cheap econo-box rental Fiat, and all the red accents and the unbelievably addictive exhaust note can’t hide the cheap interior plastics and other compromises. Also, I’m a single guy and don’t have a full car most of the time, and definitely wouldn’t want it as a family car. That being said, I’ve fallen in love with the Abarth and it still makes me smile every time I see it/drive it.

Shane Moore > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/14/2017 at 10:52

Out of the ones I drove the RS was way stiff and finicky. It was fun, loud and made you feel like Ken Block but not in a good way. It also seemed to have the least amount of room in the back seat. I did not expect to feel this way as I am a Ford guy.

Shane Moore > CB
07/14/2017 at 10:54

True, if the STI had the WRX engine in it, I think I would have thought long and hard about it. But the WRX has some strange habits in the throttle that I could not get past. That and it looks like an ugly duckling from the side.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:54

Definitely go green....on the SS.

I’m spreading the word right now, but the Focus ST has massive rebates on it right now. If you want/need to save some cash then that’s not a bad answer. But if you can do the RS or the golf R, those make some strong cases for themselves too.

Shane Moore > Arrivederci
07/14/2017 at 10:55

My wife ruined some of the Golf appeal when she thought it looked like my buddy’s old Honda Fit... I think the R just wasn’t as rambunctious as I thought it would be, almost too refined.

Shane Moore > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/14/2017 at 10:56

Green is fantastic, the white reminds me of my Thunderbird SC though which gave it that sleeper vibe.

Shane Moore > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
07/14/2017 at 10:56

Thanks! I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:57

Green SS

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:57

SS!

TheRealBicycleBuck > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 10:59

My kids were a deciding factor in my purchasing decision. Having dealt with two doors and limited space for years, I was ready for a sedan or wagon. Four doors make ingress/egress so much easier.

I took the kids with me on all of my test drives. We picked the WRX because it is sporty, it is a manual, it is a hatchback (not available any more), it has plenty of room for the kids in the back, it is AWD, and the front seats are very comfortable.

While the SS is neat, I don’t think it’s worth another $20k over the WRX. Admittedly, that is my wallet talking.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:01

Isn’t the SS out of production? I know it is ending soon. I’m assuming it has to be new, correct?

boredalways > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:02

Regal Peacock Green FTW

get one before they disappear

My citroen won't start > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:03

Kinja'd!!!

Good for kids

Practical

Hatch (has one)

Multitude of colors

Same 6.2 but more WHEEEE

Shane Moore > Textured Soy Protein
07/14/2017 at 11:07

Good points all around! Definitely not upside down on the Raptor but is it smart to trade it so soon? Probably not but does someone that has had a V10 Touareg, Raptor, and Spitfire sound like a smart person? I’m a car guy and outside of that I don’t spend money on other hobbies so I put it towards vehicles that I enjoy driving.

The practical part of it is the reason I considered a SS in the first place. all the other vehicles on the list could do child duty but the rear seat space in the SS is massive. I don’t have kids so I may be naive but talking to other people as long as you don’t bring the entire toybox along a sedan should be plenty.

Thanks for the insight though!

Autophile412 - what's the world got in store? > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:09

That’s funny. I may be moving to a company that pays allowance plus all fuel from one that only provides Runzheimer. If I switch I will be trading my EcoBoost F150 in for a lightly used Raptor as soon as I find the right one. I drool everytime I see them and the only reason I haven’t pulled the trigger is because of fuel expense.

I drive 3000 miles a month on average and I only get 420 + .16/mile which would kill me in a Raptor. I break even with the EcoBoost

Flex my boost > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:09

Green SS without a doubt, but if you care about the resale value go white.

Shane Moore > wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
07/14/2017 at 11:10

I would selfishly get the Abarth for the sound/fun alone and make my wife give up the MINI Cooper. But she is a terrible driver and anything bigger would increase my insurance claim frequency.

Shane Moore > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/14/2017 at 11:12

Correct, finding used is very difficult in the SS world and they are holding value well right now.

Last shipment is on the boat right now so I would have to get what is on it way but I do have a line the two I am after.

Shane Moore > Flex my boost
07/14/2017 at 11:14

Resale wouldn’t be for at least 2 years, do you think color would matter when you can’t get one anymore? (serious question)

Shane Moore > My citroen won't start
07/14/2017 at 11:15

Counterpoint: $60K+

Future next gen S2000 owner > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:15

I’d go white but I’m biased. I like white on cars.

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:15

I am not ashamed to admit that the exhaust note accounted for approximately 50-60% of the reason I bought it (shortly followed by it being a stick).

Shane Moore > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/14/2017 at 11:19

When I drove the WRX the throttle did some funky stuff. At full throttle if felt like I was lifting midway through the rev range. I thought maybe it was me doing it but then I looked online and it seems to be a common problem with the newer models. A tune can remove it but I don’t want a tune on a new car to make it drive like it should.

Wagon may have changed my mind though. at the prices I was looking at the difference will be $10K-$12K over the WRX, a little easier to swallow.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:19

What bums me out about the SS is that the interior is so ugly (to me). Based on its exterior looks it’d be near the top of the list if I were in the market for a new(ish) sedan. The exterior looks are so traditionally “car” and so inoffensive, it’s like “yeah, I’ll take that, because 6.2L”. And I have to admit it looks fantastic in the green you posted!

My citroen won't start > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:20

Around 45 from my searches.

Unless you mean new.

shop-teacher > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:21

The backseat on those is tiny. I tried to buy a regular one for kid hauling duties. No dice.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:22

“It’s better to regret doing something than to regret not doing it”
- Some dude

Except if it get’s you an STD of course

Textured Soy Protein > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:22

Well I’ve also guilty of several not-the-most intelligent vehicle purchases over the years, so I hear ya. And now that I think about it, since your previous company was paying you a vehicle allowance, it’s not as big a deal to walk away from the Raptor.

To me, the a Raptor feels like the kind of vehicle that’s best to sell on your own rather than trade. Any dealer you trade it to would be looking to max out their potential ridiculous markup for when they turn around and sell it. But...the difference between trade-in and private party sale prices might be worth avoiding all the assorted dumbasses I’m sure a craigslist post about a Raptor would bring out of the woodwork.

I don’t necessarily love hotted up awd econoboxes, but they make sense here in Wisconsin. I personally wouldn’t drive a powerful rwd car like the SS as my year-round DD here. WRXes are probably the most common performance cars I see around Madison.

But of course, I didn’t go the hotted up awd econobox route and instead drive a somewhat dumb, thoroughly modified BMW 335xi coupe that works very nicely in winter with snow tires. Well, at least as long as the snow doesn’t get too deep, what with it being lowered.

Since you’re not in Wisconsin, and could use the extra room, I think the SS makes the most sense of the choices you listed.

shop-teacher > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:23

Definitely the green SS. Manual SS’s will hold their value well. Just look at the price of G8's for proof.

Forget the 500 completely for kid hauling. Not gonna happen.

Shane Moore > Autophile412 - what's the world got in store?
07/14/2017 at 11:23

Yeah I was getting $600/month plus all fuel paid, not just while working, any fuel that goes into the vehicle. MPG didn’t bother me. 2014 Raptor SCrew with ~65,000 miles make offer, #IknowwhatIhave #nolowballers

TheRealBicycleBuck > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:24

There are two new ones available in the Baton Rouge area, one blue, one white, both over $50k.

Shane Moore > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
07/14/2017 at 11:24

It is a Chevy interior, you get what is expected I guess.

Arrivederci > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:25

I mean, they’re both hatchbacks :). That’s part of the reason I got the S3 - I like the sedan look a bit better, even if it means I lose a little utility. The Golf R and S3 are both very svelte, though. Rambunctious or hairy aren’t adjectives anybody uses to describe them.

If that’s what you’re after, you might like the FoRS or a STI a lot. We drove both after the Golf R and the interior felt much lower-rent in both, but both were a little more fun to drive.

While I know you said you don’t want an automatic, if you like the SS but want something a little more rambunctious, you might want to check out the Charger Scat Pack. I had a pile of fun driving that thing, and its automatic actually rips off really quick shifts for a torque-converter unit.

Autophile412 - what's the world got in store? > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:26

if all service has been done and you have new tires I will go $32,000.00

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:26

Regal Peacock Green is the best color on the SS by far next to Alchemy Purple.

Arrivederci > Textured Soy Protein
07/14/2017 at 11:27

Raptor may be specialized enough that he could consign it at a higher-end dealer. They’d get their cut, but he wouldn’t have to deal with the dumbasses.

Shane Moore > My citroen won't start
07/14/2017 at 11:28

Show me your ways!

I did a quick autotrader search just now because I thought I considered those and they were too expensive.

Flex my boost > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:30

I believe that the SS will be a lot like the G8 and hold it resale value very well. Unfortunately though the public is boring and it’s easier to sale white,grey, and black than it is blue,purple, or green.

https://www.autotrader.com/car-tips/does-color-affect-resale-value-210965

Shane Moore > Arrivederci
07/14/2017 at 11:31

Yeah, I’ve given up manuals in the past for Autos and always miss the clutch. Compared to the SS the Charger to me drives bigger and heavier, something I expected from the SS but was pleasantly surprised. Plus FCA quality.

citizennick > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:31

Trust me when I say the SS interior is light years ahead of the Focus ST/RS and WRX.

citizennick > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:36

I’d be weary of the RS unless you pick one up used for a decent deal. It seems like so many guys have been getting “bored” with them and putting them up for sale. Personally I think it’s because it doesn’t feel 15-20k better than an ST.

The SS would be my suggestion for many reasons. Better fit and finish than most the cars listed, but it also is in a higher segment, so that’s to be expected. As a daily driver it would be more enjoyable and comfortable. If you don’t like it you probably won’t take much of a hit when you sell it.

Arrivederci > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:38

Fair point, but with FCA quality, you did list a 500 Abarth, so I figured you liked to live dangerously ;).

I also get what you’re saying about driving big and heavy (it is a 100-year old E Class platform after all), but if you haven’t driven a Scat Pack, just drive one before you buy the SS. I think you’ll still get the SS (because manual), but the Scat Pack was simply fun to drive. And I say this as someone who roundly abuses FCA every chance I get.

I gave up a manual for my S3, which is DSG-only, and haven’t missed the manual (yet, at least).

My citroen won't start > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:41

Now that I think about it, I never checked for manual/auto price differences. So you might be right about the higher price tag.

WiscoProud > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:47

I looked at the SS with the intention that it would have 1 or 2 car seats in the back. I think it would handle the job well. Plenty of room in the back seat. I think it would even be fine with rear facing seats, which eat up an ungodly amount of room.

Chariotoflove > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 11:49

If you are about to bring kids into your family, I recommend not taking on more debt and staying put with your truck for right now. Fostering may provide an allowance, but if you know you want to adopt, you need to start saving up that cushion because kids cost $$.

All that said, if you are going to get an SS, then please get the green. It transforms an otherwise boring exterior into something that catches the eye. Also, as a large sedan, it will do kids nicely.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 12:04

keep the raptor. Its already a fun daily.

Shane Moore > citizennick
07/14/2017 at 12:39

The RS felt like it would become a one trick pony after a while.

Shane Moore > Chariotoflove
07/14/2017 at 12:44

Excellent advise! Thankfully my previous job allowed us to get in a financially comfortable position to even consider this. Also taking a Dave Ramsey class at a fairly young age REALLY helped put things in perspective. As I mentioned in a previous comment, the only thing I really spend “extra” money on is cars. So this is one budget I have available to get what I will enjoy for several years. So either large portion down up front or paid off in full depending on how the dealer prefers to get the final price lower.

Shane Moore > WiscoProud
07/14/2017 at 12:45

The other cars I looked at I thought “I could make that work”. The SS on the other hand was “Look at all the space for activities!”

Shane Moore > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
07/14/2017 at 12:47

The reason for the Raptor was oil field lease roads and long highway comfort. As a daily around town and in parking lots (most of which it will be for now) it feels like a wide truck. Also no clutch.....

Shane Moore > Autophile412 - what's the world got in store?
07/14/2017 at 12:50

Next Oil Change due at 69,000 BFG KO2 A/Ts with 12K on them but trade in offers have been around $40,000 so a little low.

Bytemite > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 13:18

Does it have to be new? The older cars will be more eager to be driven and you won’t be making monthly payments. Rule of thumb would be to keep your depreciating “assets” or motorized toys at 10% of your annual take home pay.

The older WRX 02-05 are very fun and they have already reached max depreciation.

WiscoProud > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 13:21

I thought it was surprisingly roomy on the inside. I would love to get one, but I need to pay off my current truck before even broaching the subject of buying a new car. You can bet you ass I’ll be monitoring the used market though.

Shane Moore > Bytemite
07/14/2017 at 13:26

Doesn’t have to be new but does need to be reliable, wife drives to work, I drive us everywhere else. Will likely be low to no amount financed.

Chariotoflove > Shane Moore
07/14/2017 at 14:49

Well then godspeed. Having something that makes you happy and serves as a stable base grounds the rest of your life.

Shane Moore > Chariotoflove
07/14/2017 at 15:12

Thanks! and agreed, contentment is key in the quest for happiness.

Shane Moore > Arrivederci
07/14/2017 at 15:41

Touché on the Abarth.

I drove a Scat Pack Challenger and while I was able to make the salesman check his underwear, it still felt a bit big. Come to think of it I drove a 2012 SRT8 Charger and didn’t get excited.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Shane Moore
07/15/2017 at 03:24

i mean you could probably swap a 5.0 and tremec from a mustang...

pip bip - choose Corrour > Shane Moore
07/15/2017 at 09:36

SS = great choice, go with regal peacock.

Autophile412 - what's the world got in store? > Shane Moore
07/16/2017 at 10:34

If you can get 40 on a trade take it. I’m allergic to spending money. Hockey and dance and private catholic school precludes me from owning the vehicles I want.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Shane Moore
10/14/2017 at 11:06

The Focus ST is all the car anybody could ever need. It’s the best combination of fast/fun/practical you can currently get.