AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Car/truck/automotive news and discussion
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote:Life with an SS: http://www.ssforums.com/forum/2014-chev ... eview.html

Some highlights:
Modern infotainment GPS navigation integration is still improving. Take a look at this.
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/83578-post13.html

and this

http://www.ssforums.com/forum/86642-post31.html

Directions in THREE places if you want it. Pretty nice. Also you'll see the HUD G-meter.
Apparently the 2005 C6 with nav also puts the next turn up on the HUD, as well as some radio information. Impressive.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

Somehow I missed this: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sed ... cond_test/

MT compares performance test numbers between Detroit (done at 40°F) and LA (done at 54°F), explaining the SAE correction factors and everything.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

Interesting comment about the styling complaints:
Please give me an example of cutting edge styling amongst luxury sedans from Europe and Asia. You think the 3 series or 5 series represent fresh, daring, exciting styling? Most European cars are subdued in styling and this is what people want. The auto media used to criticize Pontiac for adding too many ribs, hood vents, cladding sections, etc. to its cars and praised the restraint of refined European styling. Fast forward less than a decade and now people are saying we want more outrageous styling from our American cars.
That's fairly true.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

This, too:
Exactly! The SS is much more of a drivers car than any of the MOPAR offerings. I've owned a G8 GT and have driven the SS, the Super Bee and the 300C. It's not even close when you talk about driving dynamics. The MOPARs are more like traditional muscle cars. They are great with straighline performance. The G8 and SS are about offering more than that. They are performance sedans. The Super Bee is damn fast and it's a blast to launch. But soon as you turn the steering wheel it's another story. The car just feels large. It's not nearly as nimble as the G8/SS. The looks are a subjective issue and while I feel the SS is too subdued, I feel the SRT8/Super Bee are overly aggressive in styling. Bottom line, I like to drive, not just accelerate. And the car that's easiest to have fun doing that in is the SS.
Remember when the Challenger was completely outclassed by the CTS-V on that Top Gear episode? Well nothing's changed, except now you don't need to drop $65k on a CTS-V, just $45k on an SS (and get a larger car).
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

Bob
Posts: 2470
Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:36 am

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by Bob »

When I clicked the link above and saw the picture, my initial reaction was "why is the 2014 Malibu on this list?" I am not joking.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

That's fine. 2014 Malibu: http://www.motorclube.com.br/images/wal ... 4_1600.jpg

1965 Malibu: http://www.barrett-jackson.com/staging/ ... -4_Web.jpg
1965 Impala: http://www.velocityjournal.com/images/o ... 149446.jpg

There is supposed to be a family resemblance. There always was.
Adam
Posts: 2267
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by Adam »

Have you bought one yet?
Bob
Posts: 2470
Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:36 am

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by Bob »

Saw this on MSN Autos today: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/comparis ... er-300-srt

Not sure if you had already read this, but it has some choice quotes:
While I enjoy driving the SRT, it feels more like an old police cruiser than a sports sedan. Everything feels so detached and far away from the driver. All four corners act like they're hanging out on flexible rods with the driver suspended in the middle. The car flexes and twists and the movements don't feel nearly as controlled. Undulations cause the car to float in the air and it never feels planted. The steering has a dead spot on center and then a quick build up in effort and reaction.
The SS, while appearing to have the technological handicap, shines on the track. Randy's comments were a series of "greats" followed by whatever component he was showering praise upon. "The brakes are so solid, exactly the same in the last corner of the last lap as the first corner of the first lap. I feel so comfortable and it gives me so much confidence. Turn-in is beautiful and mid-corner has a little understeer but nothing like the SRT, a 3/10 at most, and then just such gentle and controllable oversteer on exit."

I felt as though I could put the SS anywhere I wanted and keep it there. The SS carves a tight, controlled line. In the SRT I needed a lot of space as the car was flung around and rotated. Even sliding the back-end around didn't tighten up the line, it just rotated as the whole car slurred towards the outside curb. The natural track ability of the SS was backed up by lap times, the SRT turning a decent 1:27.74 compared to the SS's 1:25.71, those 2.0 seconds are huge on Streets.
And it comes up short in the usual GM areas:
The only complaint either of us had with the SS was a complete and total absence of lateral support in the seats. They look great, but you may as well be standing on your left leg while driving and save the weight of the seat.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: AutoWeek reviews the 2014 Chevy SS

Post by kevm14 »

All of those quotes are from the M/T article.

Also the seats in my CTS-V aren't that great from a continuous hard driving standpoint but the suede-like material on the seat helps.
Post Reply