R&T: "The SS gets manhandled by the SRT8 in just about every performance category"

[Red SS]

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[2002SLT]

What did you expect for stock? We all know they need help, that's why we get tunes. :thumbsup:

[TuneTimePerformance]

Good job R&T I'm glad the TB SS has a open rear ? That has to be one of the worst track time I've seen from a 2wd Bet trac was on . This is why I wouldn't give these retards any cars if I where GM unless one of us tuned it ! . There Job is to get the facts right they can't do that right what good are they ? At least all but the jeep look slow . How about them heating the SRT8 up alittle ?

[02-Bravada-88]

how'd they get a damn 14.3@97 with that thing? Did they launch it off in water or somthing?

I have a 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE with a L67 supercharged 3800 swap with quite a few complimenting mods... if you read my sig it runs 14.2@101... but tell me why when i ran at the strip that night, i got basically manhandled by a 2wd TBSS???? Hell even car and driver got a 14.1@100mph I believe, and that one was AWD...

[wannabeSS]

ROFL GO INFINITI!!! :)

lol sorry.

Yea i dont think they got that right at all. But atleast they liked it better than the X5.. :undecided

[TonyGXP]

"Manhandled" only "boys" get manhandled... send a Man to do a "Man's" job next time R&T.. that's why I get 3 Auto mags delivered monthly....and R&T isn't one of them.... I don't mind that it was slower than just about every test I saw (these are supposed to be professionals) but the idiot complaining about the "open-rear" is just a complete moron...what a moron.... did anyone E-Mail these idiots and ask them if they're sure they got a fully functional "SS", because they all come with Limited Slip (Posi) rears??

[rrmccabe]

Magazine Editors suck anyway.

I remember seeing an article recently comparing a Ferarri, Z06, Porsche and possible something else.

They did all these test and surprisingly the Z06 beat the others in 90% of every category. Skid pad and all. I was PLEASANTLY surprised.

So they get to the bottom and they had a test for "wow factor". The Ferrari was #1 followed by the Porsche and then the Corvette. Well first of all I think wow factor is a personal preference and I dont need them to tell me that. I fully understand when you see a Ferrari you go wow... Its automatic. Put 100,000 of them on the streets and the wow will probably go away.

So after the wow factor is added in guess where the Corvette rated??? $*@&$# last :mad:

Commies !

[Braves299]

Magazine Editors suck anyway.

I remember seeing an article recently comparing a Ferarri, Z06, Porsche and possible something else.

They did all these test and surprisingly the Z06 beat the others in 90% of every category. Skid pad and all. I was PLEASANTLY surprised.

So they get to the bottom and they had a test for "wow factor". The Ferrari was #1 followed by the Porsche and then the Corvette. Well first of all I think wow factor is a personal preference and I dont need them to tell me that. I fully understand when you see a Ferrari you go wow... Its automatic. Put 100,000 of them on the streets and the wow will probably go away.

So after the wow factor is added in guess where the Corvette rated??? $*@&$# last :mad:

Commies !

I read that same article and had the same reaction. They also did the same thing with the 2005 GTO vs. the new 05 Mustang. The GTO beat it in just about every category, but since the Mustang won the "gotta have it" factor, it won their comparison... gay.

Motortrend and C&D are some of the most biased magazines I've seen. They do nothing but bash American cars....

[Liquiddi]

looks good to me. Look at the price of the thing and it's right in there in every performance category. Good luck finding aftermarket parts for the BMW's and Landrover lol. Most all TBSS's will be modded considering there are so many mods out for the LS2.

[Hawaiian SS]

It's a historical fact that R&T hates GM products, they were kinda pissed when the Z06 did beat the other cars in that comparo and they were compelled to write something nice about it. I always liked Motor Trend the best.

[junehhan]

I don't understand how they came to the conclusion that the TBSS has an open rear diff. It's supposed to be their job to report facts. The Land Rover didn't even belong in that test, but did really well for what it could do.

As for that GTO vs. Mustang thing a while back, GM really screwed the GTO up by making it look like every other Pontiac out there. They could have done a better job by giving it a unique look. Instead, it looks like a hybrid between a Grand Prix and a Chevy Cavalier.

[Silver_06]

It's a historical fact that R&T hates GM products, they were kinda pissed when the Z06 did beat the other cars in that comparo and they were compelled to write something nice about it. I always liked Motor Trend the best.

Eh, the media is kissy, kissy with the SRT. It's not on my radar screen so I don't care.

I've always found Car and Driver to be trash, Autoweek much the same and Automobile has been horrible lately, David E. Davis where are you? My favorite auto rag is Car, but it's a British publication and it's just snotty about American cars but they have beautiful pictures, neat cars and it's well written so I like it can take their talk of the "colonies", for the queen!

Motor Trend is one of my fav's too but I'm kinda biased cause I had dinner with the editor after the Indy F1 race a couple of years ago.

[Dave]

Didn't they also mention that the TBSS didn't deserve the SS badge on it. Yeah they are pretty pitiful.

I remember that GTO article and I was not surprised they picked the Wustang to win even though it was beaten in every performance catagory by the GTO. That is their way of promoting their BS. If the GTO was a $33k BMW, they would have nothing bad to say about it.

Their editors' articles are pitiful also, especially C&Ds.

[04trailblazerLS]

As for that GTO vs. Mustang thing a while back, GM really screwed the GTO up by making it look like every other Pontiac out there. They could have done a better job by giving it a unique look. Instead, it looks like a hybrid between a Grand Prix and a Chevy Cavalier.

GM screwed up nothing with the GTO, I may be a bit biased with driving one all the time and all, but the original GTO was actually a performance variation on a very average looking car(the lemans) The new GTO was also exactly that...a performance car with average looks. MIne is the quicksilver and I blow alot of cars out of the water and people are not even sure what kind of car beat them(a sleeper, if you will)! I agree with the comments about the magazines being biased towards jap crap, I guess honda just throws more advertising money towards them...I also have an aztec, it doesn't hold a candle to my TB but it is comfortable, roomy, goes in the snow(AWD), is very reliable,and gets great fuel economy. All the magazines ripped it apart, I have had 2 now, first was an 03 FWD, 2nd was an 04 AWD. For the styling, I think it was just ahead of its time, Pontiac sold a ton more when they took all that grey plastic body cladding off the front and sides.

[Dave]

I don't think many people would argue about the current GTO's power but it's looks is very argueable.

The magazine editors also seem to like Chrsyler a lot more now that they are owned by Mercedes so it doesn't surprise me that they love the SRT8 but don't care much for the SS.

[Liquiddi]

The TBSS doesn't deserve the SS badge? Hmmm I wonder why there are so many people on here that love them? I own a C5 and it has not been out of the garage since I bought mine 6 months ago. I guess it's not worth of an SS badge.

[fredg369]

The price on the TBSS was $30k...lol...I find it funny it was the lowest price vehicle and gave you just about the same performance.
Even funnier that its in the same category as a $90k porche.:rolleyes:

Now that we all say how much bang for the buck we get with the TBSS over the GC srt-8.....but look how much bang for the buck the SRT-8 guys are getting compared to the price of the other suv's in the article.
I guess there is something to be said about out performing $90k suv's.:undecided

[Sport_truck]

what magazine is that... looks like road & track....

motor trend rules:D

[vizsla1822]

Has there ever been a good review of the TBSS? First, that awlful video from Automobile magazine and now the Road & Track review. Talk about media bias!!!

Vizsla1822
red jewel tintcoat SS

[rrmccabe]

The TBSS doesn't deserve the SS badge?

Well that might be true. It deserves more. Chevy has turned out a TON of SS Badged vehicles over the years that are nothing more than stickers and wheels.

Classic example is my wifes 03 SS Jeff Gordon MonteCarlo (deflamed of course). Its a great car and she loves it, but its nothing more than stickers and wheels and "sport suspension" Yea, OK..

Sure there is some stuff that GM could have done to make the TBSS better, but look at what they did right. I love mine. Its a kick in the pants to drive and should be even more fun next with with about $1500 in ADM goodies.

I never have understood Magazine Editors motivation on how they review things. I know what I want and it rarely is anything the magazines like anyway. Thats OK by me !

[Hawaiian SS]

Short of maybe the 1970 Chevelle SS 454, which SS car in the last 40 years is better than the TBSS? The TBSS does not deserve the SS moniker? I have been looking at the stats of all the SS cars Chevy has produced in the last 40 years and the TBSS spanks everyone of them in all catagories, how can that magizine say that?

[Liquiddi]

They complain about the tranny? Well how are you supposed to put all the goodies of the SRT8 in the TBSS for $30K lol. It's a great truck. They did by far the best job for the money. Not everyone wants to go pay over $50K for a car. That's it it's just a car. I wanted something fun with some muscle. Chevy got it perfect with the TBSS. Keep in mind that the TBSS is safe as well. It's a big truck. I don't feel safe in my C5 at all. Coming from being in a head on car crash with a drunk driver in my old envoy I feel safe and great in my TBSS. It's the perfect car.

[Dave]

Yeah, the 4 speed tranny really slammed the TBSS in the editors' opinions. I believe one even preferred it to be an manualmatic.

The 4 speed works and it is a great tranny but it is behind the technical power curve. The problem with GM is that they don't want it to compete with the Escalade for thousands less. Imagine what a 420+ hp V-8 with a 6 speed semi auto tranny would do for the SS.

I believe the SS deserves the badge, contrary to some editors out there. It definitely deserves it more than other Chevy SS cars but they are really abusing the SS nameplate. Maxx SS, Impala SS, Cobalt SS, Silverado SS, TB SS, etc. If anything they devalued the SS name by putting it on anything that can move. Before I get any flames, I do believe the TBSS deserves to have the name.

But I believe the magazines forget to mention towing ability in which I believe the GC SRT-8 has practically none. No surprise with that though

[junehhan]

I think there are several reasons why GM chose not to use the 6 speed Escalade/Expedition transmission(my understanding is that Ford and GM has partnered in a 1.2 billion dollar deal to share trannies, correct me if i'm wrong). The 6 speed transmission is likely not as cheap, and would drive up the low-low base cost of a TBSS. With the SS also being a performance vehicle, it's also very likely that GM looked to see how a typical TBSS driver was going to drive their vehicle, and mod their vehicles. They may have come to the conclusion that the 6 speed might be tough, but it might not be able to handle the kind of abuse some TBSS owners will be putting out. Also with the space limitations in a smaller platform vehicle, a 6 speed automatic may not even have been physically possible in the given space without some sort of major redesign of the chassis, costing lots of money.

[Dave]

As far as abuse, I bet a C6 Vette owner can give the 6 speed semiauto tranny a real good work out and probably is harder to fit it inside a Vette compared to an SS.

[junehhan]

That might be true, but the C6 Vette is around 1800 lbs less in weight, and wouldn't be doing any towing. I'm really glad to see that GM finally gave the Vette a real automatic, as I thought the C6's still used the old 4 speed auto. If that's the case, it's also likely that they specifically designed the C6's chassis to fit a 6 speed auto. When they built the TB a long time ago, they probably didn't even anticipate making an SS version of it. I'm just throwing this out there for conversation's sake, but it's likely they never anticipated adopting a 6 speed automatic into the chassis when they designed this thing.

[Dave]

I agree with you there. GM seems to be happen with tried and true parts then attacking the competition with their best.

Yes, the C6 Vette comes with a 6 speed, either a manual or the semi auto with paddle shifters. Semiautos are really taking over the industry. They are just as quick or quicker than a pure manual and their is no clutch. I would probably go with the semiauto even in a Vette if I had to choose. My joints are a little older now and I even had to get rid of my CTS V because driving it in stop and go traffic was too much of a pain for my hip.

For those that say true sports cars don't have semiautos, I would like to point out that Formula One race cars have had them for years and Champ race cars will be using them starting next year.

[vetruck]

I think they were right on with the GTO/Mustang comparo. The GTO has the power but not the eye catching looks. It was boring when it was brand new. And no duh it won in the performance categories, everyone whines on here about how we can't keep up with the SRT 8 and shouldn't because of the $$$ factor, but put the $$$ saved on the Mustang into mods and watch that Cavalier, oops I mean GTO front bumper disappear in the rear view.

BTW, I'm a little biased \/ \/ :)

[junehhan]

I agree with you there. GM seems to be happen with tried and true parts then attacking the competition with their best.

Yes, the C6 Vette comes with a 6 speed, either a manual or the semi auto with paddle shifters. Semiautos are really taking over the industry. They are just as quick or quicker than a pure manual and their is no clutch. I would probably go with the semiauto even in a Vette if I had to choose. My joints are a little older now and I even had to get rid of my CTS V because driving it in stop and go traffic was too much of a pain for my hip.

For those that say true sports cars don't have semiautos, I would like to point out that Formula One race cars have had them for years and Champ race cars will be using them starting next year.

I think looking at this and the TBSS forum watching threads about people having problems speaks for itself here. There are lots of threads on various problems, and even one I found on a blown motor. However, I don't think I saw a single thread about someone having transmission trouble. I have gotten to a point where I now prefer a good automatic over a stick. Automatic trannies have a level of consistency, that you can't get with a manual. The icing on the cake, is that they are geared so well these days, that they can actually perform better than their manual counterpart. The big problem when driving hard, is heat and a good aftermarket cooler can help with that. C&D tested a Mustang auto and a stick a while ago, and they were within 0.1 seconds of each other in both the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.

As for our TBSS, we just have to work with what GM gave us. I'm very happy with the WOT performance of our transmissions, but wish that GM would have given 3rd gear a slightly shorter gear ratio since it seems too tall. I also don't like that sloppy 1-2 slip-bang upshift you get sometimes when you are light on the throttle.