1 Year With the Chevy SS: AMA

"Where have all the lightweights gone?" (sniderjadam09)
05/26/2020 at 15:30 • Filed to: AMA, CHEVY SS

Yesterday marked my one year anniversary with my 2016 Slipstream Blue SS. It has been my daily driver, and I have been thoroughly enjoying it. AMA!

DISCUSSION (56)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 15:35

Can I have it?

Poor_Sh > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 15:37

Have you done any performance driving in it? If so w hat’s it like?

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 15:47

How often do you walk up toma blue Malibu and mistake if for the SS?

All kidding aside, the SS made me feel things I didn’t expect. If I were in a different place in life, I might have jumped on one.

How well does it meet your expectations, prior to ownership?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 15:56

There’s a name that I haven’t seen in a long time...

CRider > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 15:57

When is the twin turbo kit getting installed?

Where have all the lightweights gone? > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
05/26/2020 at 16:01

I obsessed over it for a very long time. I had seen nearly every review, both from the US and Australia, and I was thoroughly looking forward to getting one. After having it for a year, it has 100% lived up to my expectations. I’ve had a blast driving every day, and I’m looking forward to many more with it!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Poor_Sh
05/26/2020 at 16:02

I have not. This is a big step up in power, and it’s my first RWD car.

My plan was to give autocrossing a shot this summer, but that plan is on hold for probably another year.

Tripper > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:03

Are you on tire set #2 or #3?

Where have all the lightweights gone? > CRider
05/26/2020 at 16:03

When I decide to add power for this, I am leaning toward supercharging it vs twin turbos. The TVR2300 Heartbeat package from Magnuson ticks a lot of boxes, mainly for its heat management and the sweet, sweet whine it produces under load.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Tripper
05/26/2020 at 16:09

That’s a trick question. I am on set #1 of summer rubber, and I bought a used snow wheel/tire package late last year, so...technically 2.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:12

My only question is should I steal that or would you willingly hand it over? Jk of course!

How many times have you started off in 3rd thinking its 1st and not noticed? I've done ut a bunch of times in my C5Z

Tripper > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:14

obamanotbad.jpg

412GTI > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:16

Have you seen any other ones on the road? I used to always see one in that light green color before I moved but now rarely do.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:16

She’s a big, heavy girl for autox. A track day might be a better time.

benn454 > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:24

Auto or 6 speed?

gettingoldercarguy > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 16:52

How many thumbs up do you get from other enthusiasts who are in the know?

Where have all the lightweights gone? > 412GTI
05/26/2020 at 16:53

I live in the Chicagoland area, and I’ve seen quite a few. There’s a local owners club that I’ve met up with a few times at cruise nights/C&C’s a few times, too.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
05/26/2020 at 16:53

I bought an auto, so I can’t relate to you on this one.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > benn454
05/26/2020 at 16:54

I went with an auto for 2 reasons:

My wife wanted to be able to drive it, and she admits she doesn’t have the patience to learn.

I wanted the ability to remote start it. It’s disabled on manual cars.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2020 at 16:56

I have 0 experience doing either, and my thought process was to start in a place where I have less chance of wadding it up against a wall.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 17:09

Not a bad idea, just mind the curbs!

Regardless of which you chose, the weight will chew up brake pads and tires faster than a “normal” sports car.

How does it do on tight & twisty backroads?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 17:16

Shane Moore > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 18:15

May I recommend the stepping stone towards your supercharger? Kooks headers, Roto-fab intake and livernois tune. Woke up the car , mine was a manual, but I hear the auto shift points are improved. The headers sound amazing with the exhaust flap open and restrained when closed. Actually closed it sounds somewhere between stock open and stock closed just deeper. It will make you appreciate the supercharger down the road. Fun car but Chevy just wasn’t for me.

Itsmemupos > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 18:46

Any problems/issues with the MRC? I have a 2015 that one of the rear struts f ailed at 37K. Was considering saying to hell with it and swapping all out for coilovers , but ended up just replacing the strut.

CRider > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 19:18

Sure, superchargeing is easy, cheap, reliable power and you can’t deny the way they drive and sound. And 650HP (From the Lingenfel ter SS) is really nice. But there’s something about the ~100 horses blowers soak up that turbos let you keep that makes it (possibly) worth the extra work.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 19:24

Nice, I love the sleepers!!! ;)

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 19:25

Does it bang like a dunny door?

Maxima Speed > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 20:01

How has the paint and chrome stood up to road wear. When I looked at one in a dealership right after they came out I got this impression that the paint and chrome was super cheap . What are your thoughts?

Jason T > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 20:14

So how does this handle in the snow with the snow tires? Does it make a big difference? RWD make it squirrely at all?

Spanfeller is a twat > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 20:40

Average mpg?

Nuke3ae > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2020 at 21:36

It’s not terribly heavy, Google says 3600

QCGoose > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/26/2020 at 22:16

You mentioned you’re in the Chicago area: Have you considered looking into a trackday at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet? I’d b et that’d be a great course to learn on with your SS, and it has plenty of room for run-off should things go sideways.

Just something to consider.

Tapas > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 00:14

Is it a good replacement for an E39 M5? I have been considering this every time my M5 gave me issues.

SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 01:06

This is on my list as a potential next car (I previously owned a Pontiac G8 GT). Granted prices are still all over the place, especially for manuals, so who knows.

What did you own before it, and how does it coma re? Anythi ng you don’t like?

Other cars I am considering:

-Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

-Cadillac ATS-V

-Cadillac CTS-V (2nd gen)

-BMW M3 (E9x)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 07:56

have you stocked up on parts if you intend keeping it for a while?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nuke3ae
05/27/2020 at 09:31

And Google be wrong...

Kinja'd!!!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/27/2020 at 09:43

That’s the surprising part about this car. It’s really nimble!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Shane Moore
05/27/2020 at 09:44

There’s a guy that’s part of the Chicago Holden Connection with a blown SS who has nearly this exact setup. It sounds amazing!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 09:45

Like my E90 M3. She’s a big girl, but she can dance! =)

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Tapas
05/27/2020 at 09:45

What sold me on this car was Motor Trend’s comparison to the E39 M5. If you have MT TV, search for this review, and you’ll get your answer there.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > gettingoldercarguy
05/27/2020 at 09:46

I’ve had quite a few thumbs up from knowledgable car folks, and I’ve had some confused people see the plain sedan with a V8 burble. They light up when I tell them what it is.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > pip bip - choose Corrour
05/27/2020 at 09:46

The scarcity of parts is in direct proportion to the amount of room in my condo.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Spanfeller is a twat
05/27/2020 at 09:47

Under normal driving, 15-17mpg, highway cruising at 75-80 I got 20 over the weekend.

benn454 > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 12:27

I feel you on the remote start. I don't know how I survived all those winters without it.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 12:27

At first glance I wondered why you had put KIA rims onto your Chevy . Not a criticism, I just wasn’t aware factory SS rims looked like that.

Kinja'd!!!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > QCGoose
05/27/2020 at 12:51

I’ve been there a couple of times. I’ll keep my eye out for open days or days with other clubs I can tag along with.

Tapas > Where have all the lightweights gone?
05/27/2020 at 13:48

I looked into buying one just after commenting. Turns out, they never sold the Chevy SS in Canada :(

Where have all the lightweights gone? > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
05/27/2020 at 15:03

I was not the biggest fan of the stock wheels for the 16/17 MY’s, but after seeing my car on my winter wheel/tire combo, they’re growing on me.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja
05/27/2020 at 15:05

The used market for these cars is just as crazy as the G8 GXP’s were after GM shuttered Pontiac. Of all the cars you listed, the closest in power will be either the E9x M3/ATS-V, but I’d spring for a good condition 2nd gen CTS-V. Bonus points if you can find a manual for similar/less money than a manual SS.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Tapas
05/27/2020 at 15:09

The SS has a really bizarre story. From my understanding, it was only made to satisfy an agreement between GM and the Aussie government. GM promised to export X amount of cars, and they fulfilled it by exporting the SS and Caprice police cars.

Aside from making the SS Chevy’s NASCAR body, there was 0 advertising for this car. It really seems like they did not want anyone to know about it.

I’m fairly certain the car will be legal to import as is to Canada, but I’d double check. If you do, it would be a unicorn in the Great White North.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/17/2020 at 13:46

Do you still have your SS? Still loving it? Any issues?

Is the MagnaRide thing overblown?

Where have all the lightweights gone? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/22/2020 at 01:14

I have not taken a drive in it without really enjoying it, and it’s been trouble free. My wife and I took a road trip in it to Niagara Falls around the 4th of July, and we had no problems averaging 20MPG most of the way.

As for the MagRide issue, I have not experienced any issues. I believe the 2015 MY had a bad issue with it, but I haven’t heard the same about 2016 (my model year).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/22/2020 at 09:27

Awesome. I pulled the trigger on this one yesterday! =)

How many miles on yours so far?

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppo-please-convince-me-to-keep-the-m3-and-not-buy-a-1845094971

Where have all the lightweights gone? > CRider
10/15/2020 at 15:31

Lingenfelter uses the Magnuson blower as part of their package. It sounds a lot like the VE Commodore that Jeremy Clarkson described as sounding like a “Victorian woman having a... crisis .”

Where have all the lightweights gone? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/15/2020 at 15:45

Excellent pick-up! I bought mine with 21k miles on it, and I have driven it about that amount in 18mos.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Where have all the lightweights gone?
10/15/2020 at 15:52

Thanks! I loved driving it for the 4 days I had it before it sprang a big fuel leak. LOL... Has been at the dealer for 10 days now , and they’re still waiting on parts. The replicated the leak, but couldn’t find the source, so they’re replacing the tank and more. Hopefully I’ll have it back sometime next week... and that this will be the last time it goes in for anything but maintenance for a long time.

Thankfully still under warranty - I went ahead and bought the GMEPP extended for 5 years and 50k more miles.