By Jonathan Mellberg
photos by the author*
The “SS” moniker has been a Chevy staple forever. In the
60’s it really meant something. It meant power; gobs of power. And since the
death of muscle beginning in 1971, its reputation has deflated. Even the
seventh generation Impala SS from 1994-1996 only made 260hp from its
Corvette-sourced 5.7Litre V8. But things are getting better. Today, Chevy no
longer carries the SS badging across most of its line. Instead, only one
vehicle currently uses the name (obviously, other than the Camaro SS). It is called simply, the SS (sedan).
Me personally, I’m kind of a big fan of the 2000’s myriad SS
variants that Chevy offered. From the 5.3Litre V8, 303hp Impala SS of
2006-2009, to the Malibu SS (and Malibu Maxx SS) of 2006-2007 that featured a
3.9Litre V6 making 240hp, the SS stamp was all over the map. It even found its
way into its truck lines.
And I’m not talking about the fat, old 454SS from 1990-1993.
While still a cult favorite, it featured only a garner-red interior, rear-wheel
drive, and a 7.4Litre V8 that, while producing a healthy 405lb-ft of torque,
could only muster 255hp to go with it. Other than drag racing and donuts, it
was a pretty useless truck in terms of performance. This brings us to the 2003
Chevy Silverado SS and the 2006 Chevy Trailblazer SS.
Why both? Or more appropriately, why both at the same time?
Dunno. You’ll have to ask my good friends Dustin and Cheyenne Sprague. They’re
the owners. I’ve known Dustin forever (roughly 25 years); we went to school together, graduated together, and even worked at the same Ford dealer
out of high school. While I consider myself a decent automotive detailer,
Dustin’s craftsmanship puts me to shame. But that’s not his day job; Dustin is
an amazing electrician. His attention to detail is evident in both areas. His
wife, Cheyenne, entered the scene a few years outside of high school and
they’ve been together ever since. They live forty miles outside the Minneapolis
metro area and raise their versions of children: two dogs, Zoe and Zeke. We've had a lot of great times: I sold them their current house, roomed with them, was an usher at their wedding, just as Dustin and Cheyenne were part of me and my wife's wedding party.
A little background on their vehicles: Their first
SuperSport purchase was their 2004 Chevy Silverado SS, which was introduced by Chevy in 2003. The drivetrain consists of the Vortec 6.0Litre V8 producing 345hp and
380lb-ft of torque mated to a four-speed automatic (the same combination as found
in the second-generation Cadillac Escalade). 0-60mph arrives briskly at 6.3 seconds. All-wheel
drive is standard; the system sends 32% of the power to the front wheels and
68% to the rears. Speaking of wheels, the Silverado SS features 20” stock alloys shod with lower profile rubber. In 2004, rear-wheel drive was introduced as
on option but without the AWD model’s rear disc brakes. In 2005 an “Intimidator
SS” special edition was offered as well; less than 1,000 examples were
produced. 2005 also saw the addition of a moonroof but with the tradeoff of
losing all-wheel drive. The original three colors were: Black Onyx, Victory
Red, and Arrival Blue Metallic. Blue was dropped the next year, replaced by
Silver Birch Metallic. Interiors of the Silverado SS feature black leather, front buckets, a center console, Bose stereo and SS-specific white-faced
gauges. In 2005, cloth interiors became optional.
Chevy Silverado SS
Dustin and Cheyenne purchased their second toy a few years
later: their 2006 Trailblazer SS. First offered in the same year, the Trailblazer SS features
an aggressively single-minded engine: the 6.0Litre LS2 V8 originally found in
the fifth-generation Corvette Z06 (the LS2 V8 was also featured in certain
Pontiac GTOs and Chevy SSRs). The LS2 is a fire-breather good for 395hp (400hp
in ‘Vette Z06 mode) and 400lb-ft of torque, its only flaw is being mated to an
inferior four-speed automatic (Z06 Corvettes were paired only with six-speed
manual transmissions). 1-2 upshifts are always met with a kick to remind you of
what’s lurking under the hood. RWD or AWD is available and 0-60mph comes much
quicker in the Trailblazer SS at 5.4 seconds, a full two seconds quicker than
the 5.3Litre V8-equipped non-SS Trailblazer. Like its big brother, the
Trailblazer SS is fitted with 20” wheels. It also features
Corvette brake pads on the front rotors and stiffened/lowered suspension. Oh,
and it can go 130mph.
Chevy Trailblazer SS
Saturday, September 27th, 2014
On what was probably the last beautiful Saturday of the
year, Tate and I were met by Dustin and Cheyenne over at our house. Into the
driveway entered the matte black Trailblazer SS, followed closely by the gloss
black Silverado SS. But before setting off to evaluate each ride, we took a
detour, heading into Anoka to Main Motors, a Chevy dealer. I had prearranged a
test drive with a very special vehicle, the all-new SS sedan. Powered by the
Corvette’s 6.2Litre V8, this relatively unassuming Malibu doppelganger gets up
and boogies as if its ass were on fire. With myself and our salesman taking up
residency in the rear (and spacious) seats, Cheyenne climbed into the driver’s
seat first, Dustin riding shotgun. For a woman who (on several occasions) has
demonstrated an above-average zeal for spirited driving, I was surprised in the
docile manner to which Cheyenne piloted this $47K super-sedan, though medium traffic
didn’t help. We eventually pulled off the highway onto a frontage road
that ran for about a mile into a dead end. Cheyenne switched spots with Dustin,
and that’s when the real fun began. Dustin had no qualms about putting the SS
through its paces. Within a couple blocks we were approaching highly unorthodox
speeds: 60mph, 70, 80, 90… And just when we began running out of road (not to
mention my “oh-shit!” radar internally blaring) Dustin dove into the brakes,
bled speed until we met legal velocity, whipped a U-turn, and repeated. The
second stretch proved more impressive that the first; the SS saw triple digits
for probably the first time in the 535 miles of its still-new life. I dare say,
the new SS sedan might very well by the apogee of the Super Sport moniker since
the beginning muscle's demise in 1970; the power of a corvette,
with five good seats, great visibility, and a paddle-shift six-speed
transmission. Seriously, given the choice between a Camaro SS, a new Corvette,
or the new SS sedan, it would take some serious convincing to turn me away from
this four-door wonder boy.
Chevy SS sedan
Dustin and Cheyenne Sprague
It took about ten minutes to get back home; just enough time
to let my pulse quiet down. The four of us piled into our living room for the
next forty five minutes. Below is the distilled extant of our conversations.
1.
Why the SS? More importantly, why two SS’s?
Cheyenne: They look cool and plus
they are fast! I loved Dustin’s truck and why not have the same power with half
the weight of the vehicle.
Dustin: Always wanted one, I like
the idea of a big motor in a 1500 pickup truck. Always wanted two and why not
have the matching SUV?
2.
Which do you prefer and why?
C: I prefer the trailblazer, not
only is it quicker but I like the sunroof with the cloth seats and the auto
start.
D: I like the truck; we use it more
than just a show truck. It’s an everyday vehicle.
3.
Both of you were previous Ford junkies. What
swayed you to Chevy, and did it have anything to do with the fact that Ford
(for the most part) doesn’t offer sport-variants of their trucks?
C: When we were looking for a truck
ford’s retail was very expensive and the resale was much less than Chevy’s, we
got a good deal when purchasing the Silverado SS since gas was so expensive and
we have to put premium in both.
D: At the time the only sport truck
Ford offered was the Lightning (F-150) and that’s not practical for what we
would use it for. The SRT Ram is great but I can’t use it hunting.
4.
What are your thoughts on the new SS sedan
offered by Chevy?
C: I like it, and wouldn’t mind
owning one!
D: Love it always been a fan of the
GTO with a 6.0 motor, haven’t gotten to drive one but guess it would be fun.
Wish it was all wheel drive. (questions were answered before driving the SS on the date of the live interview)
5.
Does the SS line of cars appeal to you? Or is it
just the trucks you find attractive?
C: Yes I have always loved the SS’s
as far back as I can remember I was in love with the cars first starting with
the Monte Carlo SS late 80’s body.
D: Just the trucks, the only other
SS I would like to own someday would be a 95-96 Impala SS.
6.
What advice can you give to those who are
mulling over buying vinyl body wraps for their vehicles?
C: Do your homework and don’t
settle on just one company….interview a few different companies. I know it
looks cool but don’t do your entire vehicle, do accent pieces, there is up-keep
to the vinyl with living in Minnesota!
D: Don’t do it. They look amazing
and turn heads, but they are high-maintenance and not good in MN winters.
7.
If you could swap both SS vehicles for any other
GM specialty vehicles within the last 30 years, what would they be (GXP
Bonneville, GXP Grand Prix, Buick GNX, Typhoon/Syclone, Corvette ZR1, Corvette
Gran Sport, Impala SS, etc.)
C: Hmmmm I’d have to go with the
GXP Bonneville, but I do love the Buick Park Ave Ultra!!
D: GMC Typhoon (white with white
wheels) and a Chevy Reaper (black with black wheels)!!
8.
If you could start a project car, what would it
be?
C: Monte Carlo SS
D: I would love to slam a diesel. A
98’ 454 Duelly all black.....lowered!!
9.
What’s next, after both these SS’s are gone or
sold?
C: I wouldn’t mind having a car
next (the SS), otherwise we will be looking into a 4 door Chevy pickup truck.
D: I would like a (Chevy) crew cab
Duramax, and a short box (Chevy) 454 SS from 1995 or 1996.
10.
Does the current Ford SVT Raptor hold any
appeal?
C: I bet they would be a fun truck
to drive; I personally am not a fan of this body and the plastic looking parts
on it, but I do like the look of the Chevy Reaper.
D: Yes and No, I love the concept
but I like the first generation Raptor with the super-charged V8.
The Trailblazer SS is definitely the athlete of the two. Its
hustles harder and makes a bigger noise doing it. With less weight and more
muscle, the T-Blazer snarls from a stop with a distinct disregard for tactful
take-offs. Under throttle, the Trailblazer’s exhaust rumbles like a baritone crocodile
chuckle. The smaller SUV dances through curves much better as well. While you
can attribute these moves to the aforementioned lowered and stiffened
suspension, we mustn’t forget the Trailblazer SS is quite a bit smaller than the
more intimidating Silverado SS. The Trailblazer feels sportier too, with its
snugger seats and console-mounted shifter.
Picking a favorite is easy; the hard part is admitting it.
You see, Dustin claims the Silverado SS, while Cheyenne’s daily driver is the Trailblazer
SS. Now, if I wanted a great, full-size pickup truck that looked good in a
tuxedo and had muscle behind its handsome looks, the Silverado is what I’d lean
to. But I’m a car guy; I like smaller, sporty vehicles I can toss around
without concerning myself with terms like “top heavy” and “center of gravity”,
not to mention “understeer”. It’s this reason that the Trailblazer SS is the
truck I could see myself owning. Or maybe it’s just the fact that GM was crazy
enough to shove a Corvette Z06 motor into their otherwise pedestrian SUV.
Post script
A special thanks to the sales crew at Main Motors for letting us take their baby out for a spin!
A special thanks to the sales crew at Main Motors for letting us take their baby out for a spin!
A very special thanks to my friends, Dustin and Cheyenne,
for letting me throttle both of their automotive babies, and subsequently
scrutinizing them afterward. There are no losers in this comparison, only favorites
and lesser favorites.
-Thank you for reading The Wheelspin Journal-
photo by the author
*All Photos by the author except:
--Chevy Impala SS
--Chevy Malibu Maxx SS
--Chevy 454 SS
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