Kia Rondo Replacements

[kevm14]

From an old SS thread I had going (from Jan 2014):

Finally, a comparo between the Charger SRT-8 and the Chevy SS:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/20 ... rison-test

It played out exactly like I thought it would. The SS brings the kind of refinement that the E39 BMW was known for back in the day. It manages to out-handle the Charger while also having a way better ride. Better balanced, WAY lighter. It basically totally out-classes the Charger. And it was cheaper. Maybe some of my excitement for this car is becoming more clearly justified?

The Chevy SS is like a BMW E39 M5 combined with a Camaro SS 1LE, in a BMW E38 7-series package (both in terms of size and conservative styling).

I like that last line that I wrote.

From the article:

overall material quality and refinement fall short of the overachieving Chevy’s.
The SRT’s loud-and-proud character is true to muscle-car tradition, and that’s sufficient for many in the Mopar choir. But the SS is simply the better car in every other measure.

Largely inspired by the 1997–2003 E39 BMW 5-series, the SS’s Holden chassis is a monument to sports-sedan fundamentals. Whereas the Charger bucks about and struggles for grip on rough, twisty pavement, the Chevrolet’s nonadjustable, one-size-fits-all suspension keeps it compliant yet planted on sticky Bridgestones. The accelerator pedal can adjust the car’s cornering attitude as effectively as the precise steering, which progressively builds in feedback and effort despite some numbness on-center. With plenty of confidence, the SS’s lateral grip bests not only that from GM’s last Cadillac CTS-V, but the current Audi S6 and BMW M5 as well.

After our time in both comparo cars, though, the SS’s 45 grand feels completely justified.

[kevm14]

More old posts:

So I compared a 2014 Charger to a 2014 Chevy SS.

The Chevy SS has more room in every dimension, like front and rear legroom, front and rear shoulder room and front and rear hip room. Trunk space is the same.

When you factor in that the Charger is sitting on a 5.6" longer wheelbase with 400 extra pounds, it's hard not to be impressed with the Holden VF platform (and VE) packaging efficiency.

For similar money, it would be the SS all day for me. Problem is, there is no 2006 SS, so a 2006 Charger SRT8 is a damn good value in the $10k range. But so is the V1, which did actually exist, and is also in the $10k range.

[kevm14]

Pobst comparing to the 300 SRT:

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 on the street:

Lessons learned on the track sometimes don't translate to the road. In this case, many of them do. On the highway, the same dead spot we found in the Chrysler's steering made it feel ponderous on the highway. It floated around and required constant correction. The size is also constantly apparent. The nose swings way out in front of you and the trunk feels like a trailer forced to follow. Driving spiritedly on the road finds you aiming the nose in the direction you want to go and waiting to get on the gas until the car finds the right heading. The road manners made Kong wonder if 300 SRT customers even care about handling. "If I could guess the factors that led to a 300 SRT purchase, I'd go with (a) the 300's exterior attitude, (b) the 6.4-liter Hemi's pull and sense of urgency, (c) the Hemi's sound, (d) did I already go with attitude?" In contrast, the SS shrink-wraps itself around the driver. Every motion feels like it's happening to the driver, not at a distance as in the SRT. Turn-in involves the entire car. The front and rear of the car respond together and the car's first response is a rotation around the center. In short, the SS feels like a proper sports sedan.

We expected the Chrysler to run away with the highway cruising crown, but it didn't work out that way. The SS is slightly quieter with less wind- and road-noise. The Chrysler seems to wander around more, requiring more attention just to keep it going straight down the road. Even with the adjustable suspension, the 300 never out-comforts or out-sports the SS.

The SS is a good car in every situation, whether on the racetrack, your favorite driving road, or just cruising down the highway. I want a car that I can enjoy driving anywhere, not one I wish I could enjoy driving somewhere.

So it's better than the Charger SRT and better than the 300 SRT. And it was cheaper. At least it was cheaper then....

[kevm14]

I think this was from an SS forum:

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 is exactly right.

[kevm14]

From a Youtube comment from 2014:

Yep, I knew the "modded vs. stock" argument was coming. That's how I spot the idiots. Like I said, I owned an STi, and it was modded. And you know how much it cost? Fucking damn near $40k, and I didn't even get it with all the options that were available. Only some of them. The SS at $45k is fully loaded, and much faster than the STi, completely bone stock. My STi had about 350 HP, and I still don't think it was as fast as a stock SS.

And there's more - the SS's magneride suspension is better, it rides much better than the STi, the noise it makes is better, it has more room inside, it's better designed with higher quality materials, the STi still uses super cheap econobox plastics for everything.

I liked my STi, but the SS is a great car. You would know that if you had driven one but you obviously haven't. It handles WAY better than you think it does - trust me, I know what STi fanboys are like - you would drive an SS, then go back to your STi and wonder where the hell all the power is.

Unfortunately for you, GM is actually making some really great cars now. If you were more open minded about it, you would be justifiably excited about this car. It's not much more than a loaded STi, and it offers a hell of a lot of bang for the buck.

And the engine is a proven LS3, you can take that shit to the track every single day and drive it home. You know you can't abuse the EJ257 or it will eat a ring land. And seriously, the sound of that LS3 V8.

Preach! The SS was not too expensive. The worst thing you can say about the price is that there was no cheaper, lower trim model, perhaps with a 5.3. But the SS, loaded as it was, and good as it was, was priced very well.

[kevm14]

I forgot about this!

Doesn't help in the US market that the Malibu was based on an early VF Commodore concept styling exercise and got into production before the VF. When people see the Chev SS they think it looks like a Malibu, when in truth the story is really the other way around.

[kevm14]

Of course this shows up today as well: https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/ ... 12339.html

Good price for a manual car and looks clean. Too bad manual is off limits - I might have to give this some thought. This probably won't lose much more value, ever. I sent it to my Dad in case he's interested.

Still available. May not be as amazingly cheap given the higher miles (for 2015 and comps). It is a good deal, but it is also a private seller. So the price may not be like that crazy - maybe a couple thousand at most. I think between the MR suspension, manual trans and PSS tires you will find this SS more sophisticated and engaging than the 2014s you drove. Plus likely increased reliability compared to the Vsport. Or do I then really throw a wrench and wonder about replacement parts given that Holden shut down this entire line.....man I need to stop ruining everything. It probably won't be a major issue during your ownership. Maybe at the 20 year mark.

[kevm14]

This is why SS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yi-RKS3cB0

[Bob]

Of course this shows up today as well: https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/ ... 12339.html

Good price for a manual car and looks clean. Too bad manual is off limits - I might have to give this some thought. This probably won't lose much more value, ever. I sent it to my Dad in case he's interested.

Still available. May not be as amazingly cheap given the higher miles (for 2015 and comps). It is a good deal, but it is also a private seller. So the price may not be like that crazy - maybe a couple thousand at most. I think between the MR suspension, manual trans and PSS tires you will find this SS more sophisticated and engaging than the 2014s you drove. Plus likely increased reliability compared to the Vsport. Or do I then really throw a wrench and wonder about replacement parts given that Holden shut down this entire line.....man I need to stop ruining everything. It probably won't be a major issue during your ownership. Maybe at the 20 year mark.

I have found that for most cars with a passionate owner base, parts availability isn't an issue. People will find a way even if the OEM isn't supporting it.

[kevm14]

Super ducks fan reviews 2015 manual:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqGq7e44xzQ

I really like that dark green.

He makes a Vsport comment. It is what you would expect.

Great conclusion around 12:40. Drove it for a week. He says if he had the budget he'd buy one. He loves it.

His comment about MR modes is exactly like how I do the STS. Touring 95% of the time. Sport for more serious back road runs where you want it to feel firmer.