2004 Chevrolet SSR Review

Specifications

Not the Fastest but One of the Coolest

Not since driving a then new bright yellow Hummer H2 around town have I pulled so many eyeballs. But the SSR is even better exhibitionist material, as the top drops to let all see whos behind the wheel.

First off, Ive got to commend the bowtie boys for allowing this truck to exist. Sure, the halo affect of something this stylish wearing Chevys logo can only do positive things for its brand image, but if there wasnt some sort of business model involved (i.e. profit scenario) then it wouldnt have been possible.

As it seems, Chevy has found enough buyers who want to lay down a rather substantial $41,370 to $47,715, depending on options, for what is more or less a Corvette roadster pickup truck. But is it really?

Ive driven my share of Corvettes over the years, and unlike the legendary sports car the SSR obviously isnt as much about performance as it is about styling. Initially, when GM introduced the concept at the 2000 Detroit auto show, it featured the brands 6.0-L V8 mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

While I can live without a manual, being that automatic transmissions are true to hotrod heritage, the 360 lb-ft of torque that the 6.0-L makes would have added a little jump off the line. Instead the SSR sounds fabulous, rumbling at idle, but feels sluggish when attempting a stoplight charge. To drive this point home the rather heavy 4,760 pound truck was annihilated by an even heavier Dodge HEMI quad cab, making me shrink in embarrassment.

I had the same feeling once in an automatic equipped Subaru WRX. You see, everyone who pulls up beside you at a stoplight wants to see what the car can do, and when, in the case of the SSR, its 300-hp and 331 lb-ft of torque only results in a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.6 seconds and the ¼-mile in 15.9 seconds at 90 mph, well Id rather be in a PT Cruiser GT Turbo - at about half the cost. Really! Its four-banger might not sound as sweet, but the little Chrysler retro pulls 60 mph in about 7 seconds.

But before you start getting upset at GM for going cheap under the SSRs hood, give them some credit for fitting a completely new aluminum block to the 5.3-L lump. It saves 100 pounds over the previous 5.3-L, and should find its way into more mainstream GM trucks and SUVs soon.

The 4-speed automatic doesnt feature a manual mode, which would have been nice, but does cut off the traction control automatically if clicked back to the “1″ position. Just the same its a challenge to get any rubber out of the tires. First of all theyre so fat and sticky that they just chirp a little before gripping down and getting on with business. Secondly, first gear is either too tall or power too small to effectively spin the tires. Or maybe it has something to do with the weight issue?

Its excessive poundage made it feel ponderous in corners too, but nevertheless handled better than the majority of pickups Ive tried to date. This might have something to do with its low center of gravity and those meaty tires I just mentioned. Theyre P255/45R19 front and P295/40R20 rear Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires on 19- and 20-inch 5-spoke alloy rims respectively. But still, its no Corvette.

Rather, the SSR features conventional pickup truck body-on-frame construction. Its boxed frame uses hydroformed side rails for structural rigidity, further strengthened with seven crossmembers. This is probably the reason it feels as stiff with the top down as it does with it up.

The suspension consists of a double A-arm independent system up front and a creative bit of engineering in back. Its a five-link solid rear axle setup, tuned to optimize handling while still allowing adequate hauling and towing capabilities, or so the story goes. But I have to question the reasoning behind the choice of its Trailblazer-derived frame and solid axle rear end. After all, nobody will use this truck for hauling anything larger than a couple of golf bags. And towing? Well, I wouldnt want to mar the rear fascia with an ugly hook, would you? Besides, it is only capable of a 2,500 pound trailer weight, which makes it about as capable as an average SUV - in comparison a Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab with a 4.3-L V6 is capable of 8,397 lbs. In truth the SSR needed a readily available frame and suspension to keep costs down, important for limited run, low-volume vehicles. Unfortunately the set up makes it weigh too much to feel sporty.

Instead of looking racy, I pulled my seat back and took on the nonchalant image of a lowrider. You know, the “What? You wanna race me? Sorry, Im too hot for the likes of you,” attitude drivers of slammed Civics take on.

And the SSR is the perfect truck for cruising. Like I said before, it rumbles with the best of them, ideal for the stop and go traffic that crowds main street U.S.A. on a Friday night. If passersby havent noticed the extreme styling or the day-glow paint scheme, my tester was coated a bright yellow as can be seen in the photos, take a second to drop the retractable hardtop and the crowds will come. This one makes the Mercedes-Benz SLs top look conventional, splitting in two with both pieces simultaneously slipping in between the box and cab. Wind isnt too intrusive at highway speeds either.

When the top drops just wait for the gasps of pleasure the growing crowd lets out when they see the interior. Chevy added body-color painted accents to the dash and console, which joins a waterfall of color sweeping downward between the seats. Other trim details are finished in brushed aluminum, with the 3-dial heating and ventilation controls especially nice to the touch.

I wish I could say the same for the dash plastics, which being hard are hardly up to the trucks elevated price tag. Smokers wont be too impressed with the ashtray that pops out from under the dash either. After it dropped down with the grace of an exotic dancer attempting Swan Lake, it took four tries to close it. My three year old has better made dollar store toys.

The rubberized window switches and power top controller fixed to the center console, however, are first rate, probably better than anything in Chevys lineup. As are the leather seats. They not only look impressive, but deliver excellent support. Reaching their power controls without opening either door was difficult though.

Opening the tonneau on the pickup box only takes a flick of the remote mind you. Closing it however, first requires pulling open the tailgate, then dropping the tonneau, followed by closing the tailgate. Its easy enough, just a little odd.

The box is more of trunk inside, lined with carpeting and wooden slats, or at least they look like wood. I found it perfect for loading in my suitcase and laptop bag at the airport, with room to spare. My only complaint? My bags got soaked! It seems that Chevy needs to do a bit better job sealing the tonneau. The carpeting was wet too, which will no doubt start to smell and then rot over time.

In the end, while I was disappointed with the SSRs performance, and its build quality was an eclectic mix of brilliant and boneheaded, it looks so cool that I couldnt help falling for it. Its kind of like the Harley of pickup trucks, albeit the Milwaukee brutes are known for being quick off the line. On that note, Chevy should have stuffed the 6.0-L between the front fenders, theres just no excuse for that. Truly, if Dodge had of built it the SSR would have a HEMI up front, without question.

But Dodge didnt build it, Chevy did. And once again they should be commended for stepping up and taking a swing. The SSRs price tag is out of this world, however, but GM will sell every one of them so whats the difference. If it was me, Id save $10 large and get the Silverado SS, but obviously Chevy didnt build the SSR for me. For those that lay down the cash to take one home, enjoy the ride. Its not the fastest, but its one of the coolest around.