Chevrolet SS Test drive Oppo Review

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
06/25/2018 at 21:31 • Filed to: chevy ss, Chevrolet SS, chevy, Chevrolet, sleeper, Oppo review, unnecessary car shopping without E90M3, Car Review

I have been reading and watching a lot of Chevy SS reviews over the years. Always been intrigued by it but it was hard to get hold of an example at my local dealers. Finally got a chance to do a 1 hour test drive.

POWERTRAIN: 6.2-liter OHV V8, RWD six-speed automatic OUTPUT: 415 hp @ 5,900 rpm; 415 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm, CURB WEIGHT: 3,975 lb, FUEL ECONOMY: 14/22/16 mpg(EPA City/Hwy/Combined)

Link to changes by year: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

The Chevy Impalibu

Exterior: This has been discussed ad nauseam. You either hate the dull Malibu-esque looks or love how it flies under the radar. I do love a good sleeper so “It’s too boring” will not be a complaint from me.

Personally I prefer the newer versions like the one below with far less chrome and better front fascia and wheels like this:

Like this better

Interior: Visibility very good nice and airy but no sunroof.

Simple straight forward non nonsense controls including the infotainment, gauges, good switchgear, easy to learn and use. Suede and stitched leather looks good. Get rid of chrome put a wrap on it, seriously. Tacky and creates glare. Liked cabin overall. HUD is very good.

Very comfortable soft seats ventilation works great, needs more side bolstering though, felt it especially in off ramps, but great for highway. Back seats are equally good Over 6 inches of legroom behind myself at 5’11”, 4 inches headroom easy to get in and out, YUGE trunk. Loose gas pedal, I guess it’s a Chevy feature. Brake pedal feel was much better. Loved the steering wheel which very nice in hands.

The Drive: Artificially weighted steering but loose off center. Steering was better in the ATS and Camaro but it’ll do I guess. It gets heavier with speed but I wish it would be heavy all the time.

The Automatic keeps it around 3K in S , D keeps it at 2k, Downshifts fast, upshift takes a second and the same when cruising and you need to pass. I would keep it in S mode. Better Tuning should help. 6 speeds was perfect because this engine has such a broad operating range and was not hunting for gears. Felt better than the 8 speed in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Car is big but didn’t feel too big and especially not too wide like the Camaro. Handling is solid, very little body roll and suspension is softish, but not floaty and provides a great ride despite 19 inches but not tight and stiff like I wanted it. Dispatches potholes with a muffled “thud thud”. I believe does benefits greatly from adjustable magnetic shocks which you can adjust to make it firm or soft.

This car has great sound deadening. So quiet, V8’s the noise with the window open =Camaro’s noise with window closed. Needs a louder factory or aftermarket exhaust. Wakes up after 3K RPM and pulls hard. This thing eats up freeway onramps. 60-80 roll ons were also great. Obviously not as fast as the Camaro in the top range and it shows but the engine is truly the highlight of this car.

Brakes are fantastic! Traction control keeps you from doing stupid stuff, did not turn it off. Did allow for wheelspin but didn’t step out the rear as much as the Camaro, obviously.

Large size for a family of 4, comfortable, quiet, little bit of wind noise but not much road noise. Great on the highway. Unless you put your foot down this a relaxed American cruiser. It feels like 2 different cars in one.

Overall, I liked this car a lot. It never tries to be something other than what it is. It felt old school enough, a more mature American G37 with a quieter more comfortable interior and ride, electric steering a stonking V8. It’s definitely on my shortlist but I am sucker for luxury cars and I love a good turbo V6 as well - I should try a CTS V-sport sometime. The autos are cheaper than the manuals though but still have to deal with abysmal fuel efficiency. Sad to know that the 2017s are the last model year and they are already getting pretty care. Definitely a future classic.

Blacked Out Chevy Badges. Good decision

Edit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (38)

Nibby > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 12:12

nice holden calais bro

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Nibby
06/25/2018 at 12:17

I would totally do a Holden conversion if I got one of these

Kinja'd!!!

Quadradeuce > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 12:36

The du al mode exhaust on the 2016/2017 models makes a huge difference. Put it into Sport mode and the exhaust comes alive. Put it back into Tour mode and fly back under the radar.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Quadradeuce
06/25/2018 at 12:39

Neat! I am lucky I got to test a 2014 itself given how scarce they’re becoming . I assume yours has the magnetic ride as well? How is it?

Are you doing an owner’s review anytime?

Quadradeuce > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 12:41

Yes, I just keep forgetting my good camera at home. I want to take the pictures at my warehouse. Hopefully this week!

LOREM IPSUM > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 12:53

I really wish these had come to Canada. The looks do nothing for me, but mech anically it’s an attractive option... Assuming it's cheap enough.

Dark chocolate > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:03

HOLDEN Conversion man. Holden conversion.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > LOREM IPSUM
06/25/2018 at 13:05

I am seeing prices starting to creep up already.

LOREM IPSUM > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:11

It's unfortunate that other people want the same cars that I do. Really messes up my plans of buying all the cool shit after it depreciates.

Dark chocolate > Quadradeuce
06/25/2018 at 13:12

yes.. the dual mode makes a lot of difference. And truth be told, my SS has always been in the sport mode. Always.

Dark chocolate > Quadradeuce
06/25/2018 at 13:12

yes.. the dual mode makes a lot of difference. And truth be told, my SS has always been in the sport mode. Always.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > LOREM IPSUM
06/25/2018 at 13:16

It’s not always practically possible but that’s why you have to time it to buy it at the dip, 2 years back nobody was interested in this new ones were selling 20% off MSRP and used ones with less than 35K miles were going for low $30 Ks easy. Nowadays, production having stopped in 2017, it’s only going up because the used ones “They know what they have”

Quadradeuce > Dark chocolate
06/25/2018 at 13:17

Sport mode is so addicting...

LOREM IPSUM > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:23

Truth. Problem is, I’m not interested at 30k. I want them to depreciate like almost e very other A merican car, losing 50% of their value every year until I can buy one with whatever change I find in the couch.

If the CTS-V wagon could go ahead and become worthless as well, that would be just great.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:43

ugh. The wheels are too far black, don’t provide enough contras t. Should’ve been a dark grey or silver.

AfromanGTO > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:48

Sounds similar to the review I did on my SS almost 2 years ago. The chrome trim inside has a tendency to blind you when the sun hits it. Also there is a difference in handling in the 14 SS compared to the 15-17s.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/2014-chevy-ss-review-1784998623

AfromanGTO > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:49

The mag ride cars handle worse and stop longer than the 14s. GM softened them up for the US market starting in 15.

AfromanGTO > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 13:49

That’s Louie’s car!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > AfromanGTO
06/25/2018 at 13:57

Surprised to hear Mag ride cars handle worse than the regular ones.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > AfromanGTO
06/25/2018 at 14:01

Nice! How the hell did you manage 28MPG! ? The terrible fuel efficiency is a big minus but it’s more than compensated by the performance comfort and features.

WiscoProud > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 14:51

I drove an SS and a Camaro SS back to back last year. Loved them both, but my money would go towards the SS. I have to agree with your review.

Dark chocolate > Quadradeuce
06/25/2018 at 14:55

Inf ac t, the only time I was in tour was when I wanted to see how quiet it was (110 mile commute ) put it in tour mode. stomped the gas in 4th.. meh.. back to sport.

I would like to make it a tad louder (than sport) though.

Dark chocolate > Quadradeuce
06/25/2018 at 14:55

Inf ac t, the only time I was in tour was when I wanted to see how quiet it was (110 mile commute ) put it in tour mode. stomped the gas in 4th.. meh.. back to sport.

I would like to make it a tad louder (than sport) though.

Dark chocolate > Quadradeuce
06/25/2018 at 14:55

Inf ac t, the only time I was in tour was when I wanted to see how quiet it was (110 mile commute ) put it in tour mode. stomped the gas in 4th.. meh.. back to sport.

I would like to make it a tad louder (than sport) though.

Quadradeuce > Dark chocolate
06/25/2018 at 16:08

The tour mode helped sell the car to my wife. She thinks our Saab 9-7x is too loud with the 5.3L. That knob is sort of a “his” and “hers” dial.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 16:39

a more mature American G37

Ha! You think you know a thing about maturity?!

AfromanGTO > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 20:10

Finally Kinja is letting me respond.

28 mpg was fairly easy. I drove from South FL up 95 to GA a few miles short of SC. Plus there were a bunch of cops out, so the speeding was minimal. If my SS had an intake, exhaust, and tune it probably would do closer to 30 under those conditions.

Also the mag ride shocks are tuned for comfort and not performance.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/25/2018 at 21:00

Just an FYI, the 2014 wheels are forged, while the other ones are cast, IIRC.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
06/25/2018 at 21:26

Hmmm... Forged is better obviously but I cannot get over the chrome it’s too tacky. I guess plastidip is the solution. And based on AfromanGTO’s comments the later ones with Mag ride apparently don’t handle as well due it being softer than regular suspension.
I guess the only way to really know is to drive them back to back.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/13/2018 at 09:37

Nice concise review. Did you have time to try out the infotainment? Apple Car play? I’m seriously considering this for my next DD. I’d be getting the auto because I want remote start.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
07/13/2018 at 09:46

Thanks! Didn’t plug in my Andorid phone, just tested the Chevy system but I use Android Auto in my wife’s Kia all the time and it’s fantastic! Does the experience vary across brands for the same interface? If not, it should look feel and work exactly the same in the SS.
The Auto is perfectly fine. It has a lot of torque across the board so you it doesn’t need to downshift so often.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/13/2018 at 09:56

Cool, thanks. My wife has a 2016 CTS and to me CUE is fine after a few days with it. I now want something with CarPlay so bad. Plus those vented seats... drool.

What do you think the SS would be like with a blower on it?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
07/13/2018 at 10:02

Sorry, I ‘ve never liked Cue, even with the improvements. They should have just made a version of the Chevy My Link with physical buttons. It’s not even the touchscreen it’s those haptic feedback no physical button “buttons” I absolutely hate.

WIth a Blower the SS becomes an Australian HSV GTS :)

https://www.hsv.com.au/see/gts/

Kinja'd!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Quadradeuce
03/29/2019 at 11:47

Considering a ‘15 SS manual sedan. Are there any areas of concern as it comes to reliability? No regrets?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AfromanGTO
03/29/2019 at 11:48

Considering a ‘15 SS manual sedan. Are there any areas of concern as it comes to reliability? No regrets?

Quadradeuce > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/29/2019 at 15:54

No regrets. Just lookup the changes they made to the ‘16 in case you might want to “upgrade”, like the exhaust modes.

I don’t have any reliability concerns, other than long term electronic stuff, but that’s true of any modern car. The engine, transmission, suspension, etc, have all been thoroughly vetted in the rest of the GM lineup. In fact, the SS doesn’t have DoD, so I expect the motor to last even longer.

I love this car. After I bought it, I stopped cruising all the car buying sites. I have no desire to buy anything else. I need to post a review at some point since I’ve had it a year.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Quadradeuce
04/01/2019 at 16:42

Thanks - great to hear. Not sure if I can make it happen (it’s my wife’s turn to get something new), but it feels like the right move.

Write that OPPO review! =)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
09/17/2020 at 13:55

Real question: s hould I buy one of these?