Not the Fastest but One of the Coolest

Not since driving a then new bright yellow Hummer H2 around town have I pulled so many eyeballs. But the SSR is even better exhibitionist material, as the top drops to let all see whos behind the wheel.

First off, Ive got to commend the bowtie boys for allowing this truck to exist. Sure, the halo affect of something this stylish wearing Chevys logo can only do positive things for its brand image, but if there wasnt some sort of business model involved (i.e. profit scenario) then it wouldnt have been possible.

As it seems, Chevy has found enough buyers who want to lay down a rather substantial $41,370 to $47,715, depending on options,

If you want to turn heads and get noticed, to have perfect strangers come talk to you whenever you park, Chevys new SSR is just the ticket. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

Ive driven my share of Corvettes over the years, and unlike the legendary sports car the SSR obviously isnt as much about performance as it is about styling. Initially, when GM introduced the concept at the 2000 Detroit auto show, it featured the

Despite its exhaust rumble the SSR isnt as much about performance as it is about styling. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

While I can live without a manual, being that automatic transmissions are true to hotrod heritage, the 360 lb-ft of torque that the 6.0-L makes would have added a little jump off the line. Instead the SSR sounds fabulous, rumbling at idle, but feels sluggish when attempting a stoplight charge. To drive this point home the rather heavy 4,760 pound truck was annihilated by an even heavier Dodge HEMI quad

Due to its hefty curb weight, the SSRs 300-hp and 331 lb-ft of torque only result in a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

I had the same feeling once in an automatic equipped Subaru WRX. You see, everyone who pulls up beside you at a stoplight wants to see what the car can do, and when, in the case of the SSR, its 300-hp and 331 lb-ft of torque only results in a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.6 seconds and the ¼-mile in 15.9 seconds at 90 mph, well Id rather be in a PT Cruiser GT Turbo - at about half the cost. Really! Its four-banger might not sound as sweet, but the little Chrysler retro pulls

A low center of gravity and big meaty tires make the SSR one of the best handling pickups Ive driven to date. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

But before you start getting upset at GM for going cheap under the SSRs hood, give them some credit for fitting a completely new aluminum block to the 5.3-L lump. It saves 100 pounds over the previous 5.3-L, and should find its way into more mainstream GM trucks and SUVs soon.

The 4-speed automatic doesnt feature a manual mode, which would have been nice, but does cut off the traction control automatically if clicked back to the "1" position. Just the same its a challenge to get any rubber out of the tires. First of all theyre so fat and sticky that they

The SSR needed a readily available frame and suspension to keep costs down, but unfortunately the set up makes it weigh too much to feel sporty. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

Its excessive poundage made it feel ponderous in corners too, but nevertheless handled better than the majority of pickups Ive tried to date. This might have something to do with its low center of gravity and those meaty tires I just mentioned. Theyre P255/45R19 front and P295/40R20 rear Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires on 19- and 20-inch 5-spoke alloy rims respectively. But still, its no Corvette.

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