2003 Chevrolet SSR Review

Most vehicles look pretty much the same to most folks, so anyone might have guessed that the retro-style Chevrolet SSR convertible-pickup truck with a retractable metal top would draw stares.

You might not imagine how many stares, grins, thumbs-up signs and curious glances this new two-seater elicited. Just lowering and raising the fast-acting top via a button is enough to draw a small crowd. When lowered, it vanishes under a metal cover and doesn't compromise cargo-carrying capacity. When raised, its "bubble shape'' enhances the slick SSR (Super Sport Roadster) styling.

Dodge sold a Dakota pickup with a manual folding soft top in the late 1980s, and Ford sold a big two-door car with a retractable metal top in the late 1950s. But there's never been anything quite like the SSR, although it's reminiscent of the fixed-roof Chevrolet El Camino combination car-pickup truck last sold in 1987.

Chevrolet is trying to get back in the passenger-car game in a much bigger way, and also is trying to outdo Ford in pickup-truck sales. The $41,370 SSR seems perfect to draw attention to Chevrolet's efforts in those regards--and shows that General Motors can match Ford and DaimlerChrysler when it comes to exciting, imaginative vehicles.

Originally a 2000 auto show concept vehicle, which few thought Chevy would put into production, the rear-drive SSR was the pace vehicle for this year's Indianapolis 500 race.

Styling of the limited-production SSR is influenced by Chevrolet's classic "Advanced Design'' 1947-53 pickup trucks; just look at those horizontal grille bars, sculpted hood and bulging flared fenders. All you need is the optional integrated running boards to complete the retro look.

The SSR sits rather high, and thus exposes the frame rails a bit too much, but it's hard to mass produce something like the SSR. For example, no automaker has created such "deeply drawn'' steel fenders since the early 1950s, when metal was different, so even the SSR steel fender stampings created a challenge. Using composite materials instead of steel would have made it harder to match the paint and resulted in a looser structure that would have hurt ride and handling.

As for the "SS'' designation, it dates back to Chevrolet's 1961 Impala, and was used on many high-performance 1960s Chevy models.

Chevrolet hopes to sell about 3,500 SSRs this year, and then 15,000 SSRs annually. It also figures the SSR will have a fairly long life. The annual sales number seems high for a two-seater with a small pickup bed and high price caused by the vehicle's specialized nature and fairly limited production. Virtually all domestic two-seaters have had limited life spans in this country.


I drove SSR Serial No. 000020, reserved for media testing. It's one of only 25 Signature Series SSRs built with a $5,000 package that contains such things as eye-grabbing Ultra Violet paint, unique badging, body color auxiliary gauge package, silver seat stitching and a body color engine cover.

Signature Series models are being used for promotional purposes, and Serial No. 1 goes to the General Motors vehicle collection. The rest will be sold at auctions. Actually, No. 000002 already was sold at a charity auction to an Ohio Chevrolet dealer for nearly $140,000.

The rear-drive SSR is much more of a radically styled boulevard cruiser than a sport roadster. That's largely because it has trucklike body-on-frame construction and shares major mechanical parts, including the platform, drivetrain and suspension, with the large Chevy TrailBlazer sport-utility truck, not with the Chevy Corvette sports car.

Those components have been adapted to needs of the SSR and the four-door TrailBlazer's platform has been shortened more than a foot for the two-seat SSR. But the width and track remain the same as the TrailBlazer's--giving the SSR a muscular look. And the SSR mostly drives like a car because the TrailBlazer has a rigid hydroformed steel platform, supple suspension, fairly strong V-8 and smooth transmission.

The SSR is heavy at 4,760 pounds, and thus needs all the power it can get for lively acceleration. The pushrod 5.3-liter V-8 that powers the SSR usually has 290 horsepower, but such things as a special, nifty-sounding exhaust system bump the rating to 300. That's enough to propel the SSR to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds.

Power junkies might wonder why Chevy didn't put a larger, more powerful V-8 in the SSR, but that might come later as the automaker attempts to maintain interest in the vehicle.

The aluminum V-8 works with a four-speed automatic transmission, which upshifts smoothly and downshifts acceptably for a cruiser. A five-speed automatic would have increased fuel economy a little. As it is, the SSR just delivers an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway. However, a large 25-gallon fuel tank provides a long highway cruising range.

The power steering is a little heavy, but fast enough. Enormous tires on huge wheels (19-inch up front, 20-inch in the rear) enhance the surprisingly good handling. And a long 116-inch wheelbase accompanies the stiff structure and modern suspension to provide a smooth ride--at least on reasonably smooth roads. Stopping distances are short.

Safety features include anti-lock brakes, traction control and side impact air bags.

The roomy interior of the well-equipped SSR has supportive seats and uses Chevrolet's "twin cockpit'' approach. The horizontal cross-car bar and body-colored accents bring much of the SSR's exterior theme to the interior. That's in keeping with the general retro style because classic workhorse 1940s-1950s Chevy pickups had metal dashboards painted the same color as the exterior.

Both the old pickups and SSR have easily read gauges, although SSR power seat controls should be easier to use.

There isn't a lot of wind turbulence with the top down at average highway speeds, and an optional "wind break'' metal-framed net that slips behind the seats further reduces turbulence.

The cargo area's weatherproof metal cover opens at the tailgate or can be removed.

The SSR has a definite "American'' feel not found in foreign vehicles. It's the kind of adventuresome vehicle domestic automakers need to help make them more visible.

CHEVROLET SSR
Price:
$41,370

Likes:
Radical retro styling. Generally fast. Sure handling. Retractable metal hardtop. Pickup-truck bed.


Dislikes:
Pricey. Low fuel economy. Sits high on frame rails. Limited-capacity bed.