End of the line: GM builds last Chevrolet SSR
03-21-2006, 05:45 PM
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End of the line: GM builds last Chevrolet SSR http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=109703
Chevrolet's gorgeous but ill-starred SSR pickup/roadster has reached the end of the line.
The last 2006 SSR rolled out of the General Motors Craft Centre here on Friday, March 17. During its brief three-year production run, GM built fewer than 25,000 SSRs, including just 789 units this year.
The SSR was plagued by issues throughout its short lifespan, including quality problems, too much weight, not enough power and a breathtaking sticker price. The bottom line was dismal sales, resulting in mountains of unsold vehicles that stacked up on dealer lots.
Despite numerous tweaks in performance and price, Chevrolet never did quite get the formula right. It replaced the anemic 5.3-liter V8 with a 395-horsepower 6.0-liter unit from the Corvette, added a six-speed manual transmission and, finally, dropped the MSRP from $43,180 to $39,890. Those changes barely moved the needle.
As demand remained flat, production plunged from 16,000 units in 2004 to 3,250 in 2005. Chevy sold 8,000 SSRs last year, but many of those were leftovers from the previous year.
Automotive News, the trade journal, reported that as of March 1, there were still an estimated 2,500 SSRs left in Chevy showrooms. GM is offering $1,000 rebates on the truck, and anxious dealers are shaving even more off the stickers, hoping to move their remaining units.
What this means to you: Another collectible. But this one came at a bad, bad time for GM.
The last 2006 SSR rolled out of the General Motors Craft Centre here on Friday, March 17. During its brief three-year production run, GM built fewer than 25,000 SSRs, including just 789 units this year.
The SSR was plagued by issues throughout its short lifespan, including quality problems, too much weight, not enough power and a breathtaking sticker price. The bottom line was dismal sales, resulting in mountains of unsold vehicles that stacked up on dealer lots.
Despite numerous tweaks in performance and price, Chevrolet never did quite get the formula right. It replaced the anemic 5.3-liter V8 with a 395-horsepower 6.0-liter unit from the Corvette, added a six-speed manual transmission and, finally, dropped the MSRP from $43,180 to $39,890. Those changes barely moved the needle.
As demand remained flat, production plunged from 16,000 units in 2004 to 3,250 in 2005. Chevy sold 8,000 SSRs last year, but many of those were leftovers from the previous year.
Automotive News, the trade journal, reported that as of March 1, there were still an estimated 2,500 SSRs left in Chevy showrooms. GM is offering $1,000 rebates on the truck, and anxious dealers are shaving even more off the stickers, hoping to move their remaining units.
What this means to you: Another collectible. But this one came at a bad, bad time for GM.
03-21-2006, 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Nautilus
It's about time! 
03-21-2006, 10:13 PM
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[QUOTE=2002BlackSSjust a "fun" car/truck/thing.[/QUOTE]
HAHAHAHAHAH. I think that's why it didn't sell. It couldn't really be used as a truck, and it's definitely not a sports car/roadster... Sure it's fun to drive, until you have to haul something in the bed. Who would wanna scratch that thing up?
HAHAHAHAHAH. I think that's why it didn't sell. It couldn't really be used as a truck, and it's definitely not a sports car/roadster... Sure it's fun to drive, until you have to haul something in the bed. Who would wanna scratch that thing up?
03-21-2006, 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by 2002BlackSS
Yes, but unfortunate, in my opinion. I liked it, but it was too much money, and didn't offer enough versatility, as it couldn't fully be used as a truck, and there were too many high performance vehicles for it to compete with as just a "fun" car/truck/thing.
(BTW, this is not fact it is just an oppinion and maybe a wrong oppinion... so no need to flame if you think I'm wrong
) 
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03-22-2006, 11:21 AM
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I wanted one instead of my Camaro but at the time they still had no delivery date and no real price. Original price was to be around $35K but costs escalated from the folding hard top and brought it north of 40K. Loaded with options they were just over $50K. I nearly traded my SS for a leftover 04 last January but my Fiancee talked me out of it. I'll probably pick one up down the road for a fun toy.
03-22-2006, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by GETGONE
I wanted one instead of my Camaro but at the time they still had no delivery date and no real price. Original price was to be around $35K but costs escalated from the folding hard top and brought it north of 40K. Loaded with options they were just over $50K. I nearly traded my SS for a leftover 04 last January but my Fiancee talked me out of it. I'll probably pick one up down the road for a fun toy.
Everybody complains about them and ya they don't sell (mostly due to the price tag) but overall the fit n finish and feel of driving it is like nothing else. It will be the next 57' chevy everybody hated it in 57' but today its such a collector car.
03-22-2006, 03:12 PM
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I'm glad to see it go too. I never really liked it to begin with. It was too overpriced... and ugly IMHO.
Maybe GM could bring the Holden Ute to the states and rebadge it as a Chevy El Camino... now that would be cool. It'd be more affordable and more attractive over the SSR.
Maybe GM could bring the Holden Ute to the states and rebadge it as a Chevy El Camino... now that would be cool. It'd be more affordable and more attractive over the SSR.
03-22-2006, 03:51 PM
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Never liked the looks of those things... Plus wasn't it over 5k lbs, yet wasn't really good as a truck? Whats the point? Unique yes, but also overpriced and not quite so practical, IMO.
03-22-2006, 05:22 PM
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Yah who authorized this one over at GM? Dumbasses. "Quick someone give the green light to the Super Shitty Roadster." That's what'll save this company, not a well built RWD platform from Austrailia.
03-23-2006, 05:24 PM
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I remember when the concept was new, and the public demanded GM produced it. So they did. Now it's the gayest thing ever? Sometimes I really don't understand GM fanboys.
Personally, I think it's a real headturner and one of the more unique vehicles GM has ever made. The retractable top is super-slick and the LS2/six-speed option is killer. It's a cruiser, not a sports car or truck. Similar to the Thunderbird or Prowler, a real weekend showpiece for the street. I appreciate it for what it is.
I think it's great cars like that are produced and I'm sad to see another one go.
Personally, I think it's a real headturner and one of the more unique vehicles GM has ever made. The retractable top is super-slick and the LS2/six-speed option is killer. It's a cruiser, not a sports car or truck. Similar to the Thunderbird or Prowler, a real weekend showpiece for the street. I appreciate it for what it is.
I think it's great cars like that are produced and I'm sad to see another one go.
03-23-2006, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by TriShield
I remember when the concept was new, and the public demanded GM produced it. So they did. Now it's the gayest thing ever? Sometimes I really don't understand GM fanboys.
Personally, I think it's a real headturner and one of the more unique vehicles GM has ever made. The retractable top is super-slick and the LS2/six-speed option is killer. It's a cruiser, not a sports car or truck. Similar to the Thunderbird or Prowler, a real weekend showpiece for the street. I appreciate it for what it is.
I think it's great cars like that are produced and I'm sad to see another one go.
Personally, I think it's a real headturner and one of the more unique vehicles GM has ever made. The retractable top is super-slick and the LS2/six-speed option is killer. It's a cruiser, not a sports car or truck. Similar to the Thunderbird or Prowler, a real weekend showpiece for the street. I appreciate it for what it is.
I think it's great cars like that are produced and I'm sad to see another one go.
03-23-2006, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by TriShield
I remember when the concept was new, and the public demanded GM produced it. So they did. Now it's the gayest thing ever? Sometimes I really don't understand GM fanboys.
Personally, I think it's a real headturner and one of the more unique vehicles GM has ever made. The retractable top is super-slick and the LS2/six-speed option is killer. It's a cruiser, not a sports car or truck. Similar to the Thunderbird or Prowler, a real weekend showpiece for the street. I appreciate it for what it is.
I think it's great cars like that are produced and I'm sad to see another one go.
Personally, I think it's a real headturner and one of the more unique vehicles GM has ever made. The retractable top is super-slick and the LS2/six-speed option is killer. It's a cruiser, not a sports car or truck. Similar to the Thunderbird or Prowler, a real weekend showpiece for the street. I appreciate it for what it is.
I think it's great cars like that are produced and I'm sad to see another one go.
everyone wnted gm to build it then was like oh nevermind.