Community Question: What Would It Take For You To Purchase A 2016 Chevrolet SS?
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Today’s community question is a tad loaded. While some say Chevrolet simply doesn’t want to sell many Chevrolet SS performance sedans, just have a look at the car’s marketing resources, Chevrolet dealers certainly still want to move their inventories.
Therefore, we ask: what would it take to put a 2016 Chevrolet SS in your driveway?
Of course, there are simply many people who aren’t in the market for such a car. But many certainly are. Have a look at how many Dodge Chargers have found homes compared to the SS, and you’ll quickly get the idea.
Chevrolet recently revealed the 2016 SS performance sedan with a handful of new additions via the 2016 VF Holden Commodore Series II, but has not announced revised pricing for the sedan. We don’t expect the MSRP to fluctuate to drastically, but still, it’s an essential component to a purchase decision.
Currently, Chevrolet is being aggressive with a 72-month zero-percent finance offer on the 2015 SS sedan, something that should tempt any buyer considering the car, but, again, its merely one sales strategy component.
The Chevrolet SS could surely benefit from a repositioning in the brand’s lineup, dropping the “halo performance vehicle” moniker, and, subsequently, dropping the price. Because, as it stands, the car is sold as-is, loaded to the gills with features and performance. Maybe a more stripped-down variant would find more homes? It’s impossible to tell, as that’s not in the cards.
Or, you may feel the car’s positioning is just right. In fact, 2015 Chevrolet SS sales shot up over 100 percent last month, as the car’s cult following grows larger.
But, we want to hear from you. We’ve laid out a few possible ideas above, but feel free to add your own opinions in the comments section after voting in our poll.
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I like the Chevy SS and considered replacing my 2012 SRX with one, but it is not available with AWD.
In NJ your daily driver needs AWD.
Neither is the Camaro, Corvette or Mustang. I do not see your point.
What would it take to have one in my driveway? How about selling it in Canada.
Yes, this is asinine and still reminds me, that even though changes have taken place, GM is sometimes extremely tone deaf….
8 speed DSG automatic and newest generation magnetic ride. Also, agree with several comments regarding keeping the model around past 2017. I drive a CTSV Wagon with 6 spd now. Looking for a commuter car (that and a bad left leg/knee)…hence need for automatic…but would like to avoid going to an ATSV.
Some of this will be redundant however it may help the cause.
Would buy without reservation IF…..8 spd automatic DSG. Current generation magnetic ride control with more modes. Would like to see the fog lights come back..purely a cosmetic thing. A bit more power would be nice, but not required as it can be found with some aftmkt mods and we know the engine can handle the additional punch.
A Recaro option would be nice.
My concerns are similar to Scott3…is something in the mule stage?…hell given what Caddy is doing on the ATSV/CTSV side there is architecture and powertrains out there.
My driver now is a 13′ CTSV Wagon with 6 spd. I am looking for a commuter with some soul. GM’s passion seems to be well placed and executed upon…and I hope a muscular 8 will continue to be avail outside of the Vette, Camaro and truck/SUV’S within the Cevy channel.
Yes Jim, I agree on your last statement. Hopefully there will be one more Chevy car available with the V8 alongside the Camaro and Corvette.
I own a 2015 Heron White SS. I waited many years for this vehicle to return to the USA. I had a offer on a G8 GXP in 08′ but dealer took a higher offer, and I regretted that for 7 years. Glad to be able to purchase a SS this year. But to answer the question asked…I only wish it had All-Wheel-Drive and maybe a 8 speed automatic DSG.. And like so many other owners after a few months with it…a supercharger and/or more HP! As for why Chevy can’t unload these cars I can only say that more often than not when I answer an inquiry about the car such as “now what is that?” people still don’t listen to what I tell them. They’ll actually argue that it is a Malibu or Impala SS. PUZZLING, but I think there in lies the answer to public perception about the vehicle and the very simple thought process when it comes to thinking about cars. I don’t think that anyone with a “simple” thought process buys a SS Sedan. As for the comment above on poor styling…don’t agree. Any car people that I come across love the styling of the SS. To each his own. I am currently playing the lottery in hopes of winning (LOL) so that I can buy 10 of these SS Sedans to drive exclusively for the next 40 years. If GM wanted to sell a bunch of this cars… a SUPER BOWL ad with perhaps a NASCAR driver comes to mind. If your local Highway Patrol was chasing you down in these, that would work too! PREDICTION: 5 yrs from now there will be many many folks regretting not buying a SS Sedan for 47K!
Ha chris that is great about trying to stock pile 10 of the SS’s.
WHY DOES EVERY CAR WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND A V8 (A REAL CAR) HAVE TO COST MORE THAN $50,000.00??????
1. It doesn’t, its $45,700k. Which, since the average car costs $35,000 is not that much of a premium for the performance, or the 4 doors. Gas Guzzler tax is NOT on the stick.
2. You could never get a proper car this cheap. In 1993 for example, this would be equivalent of a car in the low 20s. So that would be like complaining in 1993 that you couldn’t buy a luxurious V8 RWD car for $22,500. In 1980 it would be under 10k. Inflation is crazy isn’t it?
3. Why the V8? V6s put out more power today than V8s did 10 years ago.
4. If you are price conscious and just care about a V8, The Dodge Charger RT at $35k gives you RWD and a V8. If 4 doors aren’t important, the possibilities are endless…
If it were available in Canada I’m sure it would be in my driveway now. I guess it has that forbidden fruit factor.
You missed the vote option…more horsepower. If it had 500HP… I would have had 2 if them by now…
Always have people who have excuses for not buying when the real reason is they are broke. “If it had 1000 horsepower, if it was $10,000, if they made a different color blue etc”
Not exactly what I wanted as it has standard features I don’t want or need such as navigation and wifi and would rather not have it to save money and not break. For me, I live in the Southwest so only having black interior is miserable when we try to own light colored interior. So it is easy to justify not buying.
I bought one anyway. I would change some things if I could but it is a good car for the money. My weekend vehicle is a Viper so I know what badass is. This cars job is the “sleeper” look.
Some of the concern is legitimate, after all other cars that cost more sell better.
I for example am not broke. After unable to get a non-sleeper look out of it via GMPP at the dealer, we settled for a porsche, and let me tell you- the porsche cost more than the SS!
We are currently looking for a car for my wife. We went to the Chevrolet/Buick dealer she got her Lucerne from. They have a couple SS’s. My wife said they looked cute so we looked at them but when we saw the 50K window sticker we quickly ruled it out. She likes the LaCrosse but we can only find it in white, silver and black. She wants blue, green or purple.
Currently we are looking at a 2015 Charger SXT AWD v6 power with just about every option. Price after rebate and dealer incentives 35K.
GM does have better quality than FCA but does not have anything like this for the same price range. The Regal would be the closest but it is around 40K or better for the same options as the Charger. But it has a noticeably smaller interior. A Lacross 45-50K. And again the dealers only have old people colors. White, silver and black. She likes the Impala but it lacks AWD if it had AWD there is a good chance we would get one. GM pretty much optioned and priced itself out of us buying another GM pruduct.
I find it interesting that you call white, silver, and black old people colors. I thought the same thing, but white is actually very popular with younger women, and black is primarily purchased by younger buyers. Older buyers purchase greater quantities of blues and reds!
It should have stripe packages to make them as attractive as the ones nascar drives and uses as pace cars. Make it a little more like Camaro packages. Colors available are also a turn off.
I cannot fathom why there is no stripe packages either. That can definitely make up some for the lack of aggressiveness to the cars look since it is no longer the G8.
make it into Camaro Right hand drive
Its too expensive for a malibu or an impala… Those both cost much less. I was disappointed to see “Styling” wasn’t on the voting block.
I would never buy a sleeper. I know I read some people here saying “Its a sleeper isn’t that great?” But when I look back at all the sleepers in the past, they were poor sellers. I can’t even think of an exception, although I’m sure someone on here will point one out- thats it, they’ll point one or two out. Would the corvette sell well if it looked like a chevy Cobalt? I highly doubt it. There’s a reason why Ford wouldn’t introduce the fox body mustang TODAY.
I’m not paying THAT much money for a car that looks JUST LIKE what my neighbor buys for $23k. Not happening. I even talked to the dealership about a body kit or something, and there weren’t any in the GMPP catalog. I have been having trouble finding good options in the aftermarket too. I tried those avenues.
It walks the walk, so it needs to talk the talk and I’ll buy,.. Seriously I love the car on the inside, in the engine bay, and the driving experience. I have the money, on paper I should buy it, but I can’t buy a car that looks like an impala or malibu. In fact, 99% of the people I know who have ever heard of it, know it as the impala SS.
This car to me is a performance daily driver- its not a race car. sure I can drive a race car thats a sleeper, but I don’t want to show up at work in one. Today I race a corvette, but I’ve got plenty of respect for the 75% of great race cars that don’t look like a race car!
But for a “Performance Daily Driver” I’ll spend a little more for a BMW, porsche, or Cadillac, even though I don’t even care much for the name. My wife and I own those 3 makes and I’m in the market for a new car. I bought the first “luxury” marque just because I wanted a big 4 door stick for my growing family, and that was hard to come by. I’m actually going to hold off until I find out what the SS’s future looks like- if they make the holden and import it in a car that looks like a performance sedan, I’ll buy. Otherwise I’ll settle for something else.
If you really can’t tell the difference between a Malibu, and Impala and an SS, then perhaps you’re not as much of a car guy as you seem to think you are, because I’ve seen several SSs on the road, even at a distance, and I’ve NEVER confused it for a Malibu, or a Cobalt, or the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile……and if you’re trying to impress people you don’t even know with an SS, again this isn’t for you either, I’m sure there is an 299/mo V6 vinyl interior E-class lease you can snag to impress muffy and buffy at the club….
I don’t get confused, but I’m not going to wear a t-shirt and shorts to a black tie affair either, even if the tshirt and shorts were designed by louis vuitton and cost 20 times the price.
Would someone who has never heard of the SS know it is a high performance sports sedan? Would 12 year old kids come up to me and say “Wow thats a cool car”? Could I pull in next to Mercedes and BMW driving executives and feel like I’m on par? I’d have to say “no” to all of those. In fact I bet my 84 year old mother would explicitly state that she’s glad I gave up on those sports cars and bought a normal car.
I don’t want a normal car. If I wanted a normal car I’d buy a normal car.
The “SS” is a great fit for the buyer of a sleeper car. But the question posed is, “What would it take to get you to drive one”. I don’t think there are enough sleeper car fans to support it, that simple. I for one, am NOT a sleeper car fan. I have no interest in sleeper cars. I don’t have a problem with other people buying sleeper cars, but I won’t be one.
If I look at market statistics, I think there are more buyers like me than there are “sleeper car enthusiasts”.
Once again, not saying a sleeper car is a “bad” thing, but the cars not selling, the author of this article asked why. I want the same car in a non-sleeper format, and if it wasn’t a sleeper, I’d buy one.
How about just an enthusiast body kit? charge $3k more and change the lines a bit and they’d have me! They do it for the camaros and such!
If impressing 12 year olds is that important I’m sure the Chevy dealer can hook you up with a nice Transformers Camaro, and then add some neon underbody kits.
And I say this as an Inferno Orange Camaro owner.
Already did that… I had a G8, but then after that I bought a 2010 Camaro SS Transformers Edition in yellow…. and those kids loved it. I loved that car, and would still drive it today if it had 4 doors! I sold it and bought a Cadillac + corvette combo, but now that I’m putting the miles up on the cadillac, I need something new.
I want a 4 door camaro, thats exactly what I want, and I wish the SS was that. For all of us who drive a 4 door not by choice but by force, who would much rather be driving a camaro or a corvette, don’t have a lot of options out there, especially if we want a stick and performance… Even the CTS-V and BMW 5-Series M-Sport Dropped the stick 🙁
They would have to offer it in Canada. Is that so much to ask???
If the MSRP for a ’15 SS were $42-43K, I would be driving one right now. For myself, that extra $7-8K puts the car “out of reach”. Most of the ’15’s are $49,440 MSRP (with spare and roof). I expect the ’16’s will be $51-52K. Obviously, I think these cars are $5-7K too high for the audience they are primarily aimed towards, as a result I’m forced to get a used one.
Here is another comparison: The last year of the Impala SS was 1996 or just about 20 yrs. ago. Those cars listed for about $25,500, that is approx. $39K in todays money. If you add on another $3-4K for items like MRC and Brembo brakes, you get $42-43K. The Impala SS was a big success, nearly 70,000 produced over the 3 year run.
Plus another couple of grand for the indy rear, nav, better seat, memory seats, another 200hp, a trip computer, HUD, more airbags, a couple of more gears in the autobox, a body and frame that wasn’t designed when Nixon was president….the availability of a manual, which wasn’t available in the 94-96 Impala SS any price……. it all starts to add up.
I think one of the things that hurts the SS is the fact that the Impala name isn’t tied to it, if it would have launched with a “real” name instead of just SS, it probably would have done better, SS means nothing without a name in front of it.
I agree about the name thing. I can’t even search for it online without getting inundated with Camaro SS and other SS variations.
I think the real question is, who is this thing marketed towards? Its in No-Man’s land. If you call it the Impala SS and drop it down a few thousand bucks, then it has a clear market buyer, and the right look In my opinion. Then it would be in competition with the Taurus SHO, and could justify a higher price tag than the SHO.
But if your going to price it at 50k, with no discounts and rebates, you are $10k higher or more from the Taurus SHO- You are on par with S4s, In shooting range of M3s and ats-vs(albeit we are talking smaller cars there), pricier than a Charger (that sports 70 more HP), on par with a BMW 5 series, so who do you get? Who is the “customer”? And how does it beat out the others in that avenue? You need to look sportier (be the 4 door corvette) and round out the vette, camaro, SS group, or you need to go cheaper and round out the “performance trim of the sedan line”. The guy who wants a more powerful Sedan is priced out. The guy who wants an edgy showpiece is out shown by the other options. The guy who wants the best performance sedan is also edged out. I think in marketing they call this the “deadly middle”, where you don’t really capture a market. I think “everyone” is right. If your one kind of buyer, its not powerful enough. If your one kind of buyer, its not cheap enough, and if your another kind of buyer, it doesn’t carry the look and stigma you are looking for. Any one of those changes (or all via model variations) could shift the needle.
I have an industry consultant friend who said the Impala SS is kind of like the Kia K900. It is a great car, but it just doesn’t quite fit and make sense to anyone buying, except the rare one-off.
Side note, since I didn’t see it on GMA yet, 2016s are seeing a new bumper and functional hood scoops, plus LED Lighting. New wheels and a revised exhaust system.
Give it a little clever front facia work to make it more distinctive, make available a cheaper version with less options , and give it a proper name. Also, make it available at more dealers and in Canada and Mexico. That would make it sell. I’m convinced by those that say this was never meant to sell, they just wanted a high performance car to fill a gap in the Chevrolet line up and something to represent Chevy in NASCAR. No marketing, it’s almost a secret deal for hard core enthusiasts. A great pity because this is without a doubt a great sports sedan, as anybody fortunate enough to have driven one knows.
Excellent post arach, and Steve also has a point about availability at dealers, in Canada and Mexico and marketing and Chevy just wanting to plug a hole in their line up. A few thousand off the price shouldn’t be difficult now the Australian dollar has dropped thirty per cent against the US dollar. Surely they could at least sell it for no more than 45 k max. Pricing in the mid 40s instead of near 50 k might cross a mental threshold in potential buyers’ decision making.
Take the motor out of the Z06 Corvette the 6.2L Supercharged V8 and put it in the SS and make a SS 1LE
also AWD!!!!
As a current Pontiac G8 GT owner, I was really hoping for more horsepower. A bump up to 435 HP would be nice. This would fall in line with the other GM product lines, and does not step on the toes of other four door products from Cadillac. We know that Holden has produced the Holden HSV Senator capped at 455 HP, and I believe that is without the Supercharger! Why not bump up the Chevy SS to 435 as a going away celebration. That would be nice! I would definitely consider purchasing a 2017 Chevy SS if that was the case!
The idea of a RWD V8 manual sedan that handles well is right up my alley. Yeah 415 HP isnt very impressive, but the potential for and easy 600 hp with the addition of a Whipple or GM supercharger is. Im not a fan of the tail lights, excess chrome trim, or leather only interior, but I would still love have one in my driveway. I just hope cars like this will never die out.