My SSR: 2006 Racy Aqua Blur 6spd Front end all Chrome/SS Tuned/ported
Diamonds dont incurr
Interesting reasons, some are worth re-telling. Its a truck not a car, but I say car all the time . when I stumbled on the Fanatic forum from the Corvette forum, I read thru HRG's post and within a month ordered my SSR as a Pac Blue but it arrived as a Aqua Blur. I tore up the contract to buy and the dealer did take 8 grand off the price a week later. Best move I ever did. The Aqua Blur in the Florida Sunshine is magnificent. That gold metalflake and navy blue to greenish hues gets a lot of comments!!
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Last edited by Beach potato; 01-30-2012 at 11:47 AM.
I was on a 7 day Harley ride up in Canada back in '03. This gorgeous, incredible vehicle turns into my lane. What the Hell is that? I say into my helmut.
My first take is that someone had done something really cool with a truck--which, come to find out, is what DID happen.
I was so taken with it that I followed it through town and when he pulled out onto the highway, I passed him and, with friendly hand gestures, bade him pull over.
He obliged. I de-helmeted. We talked. He willingly showed off the vehicle. I must have walked around it 5 times repeating "Wow, . . . . wow."
I was hooked . . . but broke.
I was then a 60-year-old kid, out on my bike. A college professor whose anticipated retirement had evaporated with the economic downturn. So I started watching the SSR's on Ebay.
The closer I got to my present age--65--the more I realized that at age 66 (my social security "doubledip" age) I could indulge my long nurtured passion.
I was watching a particular '05 yellow automatic that was apparently on a lot in St. George, Utah. Now I had shared my passion for this vehicle with my best students. One of them, the very day after my calling up the car on Ebay for him to appreciate, called me to say that an affiliate company in our area had the very vehicle I had showed him.
I drove down immediately to see it. It was 7:45 in the morning. I pulled into the lot in my '02 Caddy and was met by an optimistic salesman who said, "Sir, I think you're going to buy the SSR today."
I replied, "It all depends on what you can do for me on the Caddy." We played numbers for an hour.
I drove it home and have never loved driving so much!--even to the extent of parking my Harley Road King for months at a time.
It was love at first sight but wanted a bigger engine and when they said a bigger one was coming I had to wait . Then there was a 2005 of course yellow it had my name on it . I retired on 22 dec 05 so this was a good time to have a new toy to play with . At the last Laughan run there was this 08 solstice at the car dealers show. My wife saw this 08 beauty and informed me it was hers . Went there in one vehicle came home with two . Of course it is also yellow . Im happy shes happy we might be getting older but happy . Styles Sport Roadster
I never thought owning a SSR could make having lunch so much fun
I'm surprise that I've been able to maintain my weight as the "Wed Retiree Group of SSR Owners" have been eating out a lot lately.
Enjoying every mile of the road trip and every meal we've eaten.
I too, was kinda hooked when the concept came out at the Detroit Auto Show, but the price tag was too high. I never saw one until in 2005 there was a yellow one at a Chevrolet Dealership in Sturgis SD, I pulled my HD up and the salesman came out, it was a 2004, took it for a ride, liked it but I also own a Vette, so I knew the 05s had a bigger engine so I passed.
Back in Vegas the local dealer had a used 04 and a new 05 he let me test drive, I took the 04 first and hit the freeway, nice, returned and did the same with the 05 except when we hit the freeway, HELLO!!!! That was more like it, however still 50K.
We had not been back to Detroit in 10 years and returned for XMAS that year, the day we were leaving we stopped in at Les Stanford Chev a large Vette dealer to look around. It was snowing and cold and across the street I saw so many SSRs I couldn't believe it. The saleman told me how they made dealer trades for their vettes and had to also take the SSRs as most small dealers could sell Tahoes and Silverados like hotcakes but not Vettes and certainly not the 50K SSR. I briefly inquired with so many what the neighborhood ballpark price was they were asking and surprisingly it was acceptable. They had 34 SSRs on their lot that day, 17 right there and the balance offsite of every color and option both 05 and 06s
I flew home and thought, dreamed and decided with my wife's approval to begin our search locally. however Vegas dealers never deal, so I started the Ebay route, 2 times I got down to being beat by $100 for a used low mile unit. The wife then says if your gonna pay that kind of money for used one try Detroit again. So I emailed Les Standford's internet mgr at 3:00am and he replied the next morning with 3 loaded SSRs window sheets , I called to make sure he was talking true and the deal was done.
4 Weeks later our brand new Black 6.0 SSR showed up on the back of a carhauler. My wife looked at it and said, see it has a smile on it's face, NO more cold OR SALT.
We just passed it's order date this week ( 4 years ago) It still is a garage Queen with a big smile still and only 8200 miles. I have left it stock except to black out the windows , so it looks super cool. It always gets looks when out, cruising the strip is a crowd pleaser, people look in disbelief and point as it moves down among the beautiful casinos. Putting the top down at the intersection , always gets the cat calls and thumbs up.
I will never sell this car, it is one of the few unique cars made in this timeline that in time will rival the 69 Camero, Mach-1 Mustang etc. The only Disappointing part is how GM at this point is making parts availability questionable, but that will not cause a sale.
Oh yeah, it like warm hot days, sunny skies and ZZ Top, Whitesnake, 39 Special rattling the airwaves. yeah the 6.0 definitely runs better that way.
And yes I do still stare at it in the garage Every Day!!!
It's the BEST RIDE Chevrolet has produced since 1969 i.e. '69 Z/28 & BIG BLOCK 'VETT which I have owned. I later built a '71 Z/28 that could run with, and CHASE DOWN the best of the offerings from FERRARI OF LOS GATOS that the yuppies drove over H.W. 17 ( Santa Cruz grade) That's another story
The SSR is, and will always be the BEST that Chevrolet has offerd to the public from the days gone by . Just think about it for a second or two.... Better yet.... Go out and look at your SSR and realize that Chevrolet made some 24,000 of these "RIGS" in the years 2003-2006. Truely a feat given by today's standards in the Auto World as we know it!
"Hot Rod" it, or just "Cruz" it..... Make's no never mind to me It's a SSR in my eye's. It was a breath of fresh air that came to the show rooms floors of Chevrolet dealerships across the U.S.of A. For many ..... They will never have a chance too "gasp" the ownership of a SSR..... That's just how it is
On a parting note..... Way "back in the day" when I got out of the 'CORPS . I built a '55 Chevy Short Bed pick up with a 440 magnum/727TF/Dana 60 (A REAL TIRE ROASTER) and I carried TWO SPARE TIRES IN THE BED One for the front (Chevy) and one for the back (Mopar) Now a days..... I don't carry any spare tire(s) .....I have a tire inflator behind my seat. I wouldn't want it any other way! The luxury of owning a SSR
My SSR: goodies by mike in az, lyndon wester, greg ducato, & sinister.
wanted one they came out, tooo much up here!! sitting in the doctors office one morning, looking in the paper ,see a purple advertized , go look at it, test drive, hooked, traded in my 04 merc marauder (very cool car), bought it home, wife comes home after work, she loves it. that was over 4 years ago since then have met many other ssr owners, most of them love their ssr's some just drive them like any other vehicle, each to his own i guess!!
bottom line is i wanted it, i bought it & still have it . wev'e had nothing but fun in it, traveled all over with it & still love it!!
My SSR: 05 Slingshot Auto # 20087 Brickyard Track Vehicle
I first saw an SSr for the first time in Las Vegas in 2006. Itwas at the front of a Toyota dealer, so I hoped out an took a couple of pictures.It was slong shot, and it made a huge impression on me. As I was driving downtown There was this huge Chevrolet dealer who had a black and silver on the front of the lot. I stopped the car and off I was camera in hand. A sales man came out to greet me. who told me "this car is a corvette in a truck body" I asked for a sales broucher but he said he had none left. The SSR stuck in my head for all the rest of the trip. As I packed my case to fly back to the land downunder I put the sales broucher at the bottom of the case.After getting home and giving my wife a number of gifts I pulled out the the broucher and said this was our new car, The rest is history.vavoom
Okay...so its New Year's Weekend, THIS just past one, right? My next door neighbor and I are having a garage sale. I've been thinking about a 'utility vehicle' for my jewelry business because Mark is returning to Active duty and taking our SUV to Ft Rucker with him when he goes. So this guy come pulling up to the garge sale and he's driving the WILDEST looking thing I have EVER seen. I guess I've just been sheltered, or never conidered a truck or something. I say to Mark, 'Isn't that the coolest looking truck you've ever seen.' HE knows exactly what it is, & just sort of nods. I love a convertible, by the way, have had three sebrings, a Mercede SLK 230 and was driving a PT Cruiser Turbo Gt Convertible at the time. So the guy stops at the sale, shops awhile, talks awhile, we kinda all hit it off, his name is Wayne, real nice fella from Georgia...and then he goes to leave, and he PUTS THE TOP DOWN!!! My husband lost all the color in his face. He knew he was done. That was, as I said, New Year's weekend. I (we) searched dealerships and Autotrader for 3 long weeks and on February 2nd, 2010 I brought my beautiful 2005 Redline with 21710 miles on her home from Ocala. Got a great buy. Two days later I'm at a convention in Cocoa Beach selling jewelry & theres a classic car show and some kook (the SSRFather) leaves a note on my
new car asking me to call him! Next thing I know I'm a fanatic, too and spend this past weekend at a Rally in Kissemmee with a bunch of other fanatics who end up being some of the nicest people I've ever met! Sooo, the moral of this story is: Ya never know WHAT you'll find at a garage sale!!! (Even when you;re the one giving it!) Love you all!!! Craftybeth & Mark
Okay...so its New Year's Weekend, THIS just past one, right? My next door neighbor and I are having a garage sale. I've been thinking about a 'utility vehicle' for my jewelry business because Mark is returning to Active duty and taking our SUV to Ft Rucker with him when he goes. So this guy come pulling up to the garge sale and he's driving the WILDEST looking thing I have EVER seen. I guess I've just been sheltered, or never conidered a truck or something. I say to Mark, 'Isn't that the coolest looking truck you've ever seen.' HE knows exactly what it is, & just sort of nods. I love a convertible, by the way, have had three sebrings, a Mercede SLK 230 and was driving a PT Cruiser Turbo Gt Convertible at the time. So the guy stops at the sale, shops awhile, talks awhile, we kinda all hit it off, his name is Wayne, real nice fella from Georgia...and then he goes to leave, and he PUTS THE TOP DOWN!!! My husband lost all the color in his face. He knew he was done. That was, as I said, New Year's weekend. I (we) searched dealerships and Autotrader for 3 long weeks and on February 2nd, 2010 I brought my beautiful 2005 Redline with 21710 miles on her home from Ocala. Got a great buy. Two days later I'm at a convention in Cocoa Beach selling jewelry & theres a classic car show and some kook (the SSRFather) leaves a note on my
new car asking me to call him! Next thing I know I'm a fanatic, too and spend this past weekend at a Rally in Kissemmee with a bunch of other fanatics who end up being some of the nicest people I've ever met! Sooo, the moral of this story is: Ya never know WHAT you'll find at a garage sale!!! (Even when you;re the one giving it!) Love you all!!! Craftybeth & Mark
My story...saw the concept and loved it. 1st run production price (and all those after) and said, nope-too much for what it is. Well, every time I saw one I thought, dang, I like that ride.
Well, a couple who are friends came by and he's 73, drives a Honda 2 seater soft top. As they left I said to the missus...why do I always go conservative (I have an 06 black Colorado-4 banger as a daily driver) she said, Hon, you sold the Harley when we got married, you said you wanted a hot rod to replace it and I've never said no to that....well, 10 days later, after multliple and long searches my 05 SSR sat in my garage.
Yeah, it's got 33K miles on it. No dings, no imperfections but it's mine. We garage it for most of the winter (ok, Dallas...so that means what, 60 days?) and I drive it to work and back after that. 16 miles a day...so what? Top down, heat on when it's cold, ac on when it's hot...who cares?
At the end of the day, I never had a hot rod, always wished for one but never had one. I'm 55 and now I have one and every day I look at it or drive it I think...Man, I'm soooooo lucky.
Today, I'll never sell it. Why (to make money later...nope)...just have no designs to sell my 55 years of dreams to have a hot rod.
My SSR: R&R-#18510 Adopted 4/18/09 Mikes Tips, Muth mirrors, Sirius, S44, V-LEDS, GTO Spoiler, LED WindJam'r
Everybody wanted one - but the price scared most (including me) away in 2003 to 2006. Then, they announced that there would be no more produced after 2006. I kept kicking myself in the arss through 2007 and 2008 - then - in April 2009 - found one in the 'right' color - AQUA - for way too much money - and way too many miles (45,000) but bought it anyway. THEN - afterwards, I found the Fanatics website - duh. Anyway - I've got R&R (Ron & Robin) now, and they are going to have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers (sort of sounds like Charleston Heston doesn't it?). So now I've got the 2005 SSR - a 2007 Corvette (Atomic Orange - THAT BEST COLOR) - and my 2008 Screaming Eagle Ultra - in the 105th Anniversary colors - Crystal Copper and Black Onyx - (Harley's best color combination) - oh yeah - and Robin's Escalade. The first three will be going into the hole with me I understand - so stand by with the backhoe when I'm ready to go.
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Only a few of us are lucky enough
to have a BLUR under their saddle!
My SSR: 2006 Red # 2238, 2005 Red #17046 (RIP) 2006 Pacific Blue #122857 06 black over silver 22946
I saw my first SSR at the 05 Texas State Fair ,it was Red, Tressa's Favorite color. We were hooked and started a long one month search ,Found two in Irving ,one was a 6 speed ,just what Iwanted But then found out you could not tow it behind a motor home so I ended buying ( leased ) automatic. While I was at Woodard Dream Cruise I was surprised to see a SSR with a ft. tow hitch ,Needless to say I was tow mine by the following Labor Day . When the lease was about to end ( 35,995 miles)we bought the second 06 red . In the neantime we have purchased 5 more ./, . We must stop now ,It's getting Expensive.
My SSR: #23198 06 Blue 3SS #375 of 532 - Birthday 12/21/05 - Took delivery 9/5/06 (2nd owner)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc NY
Furkay I would love to own 5 SSRs $$$$$!
5 garage queens. Your garage would have to be bigger than your house!
And with the weather you guys have you could drive one a week and still call them garage queens
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Use the SSR Parts Exchange It works for us all BlueStreak - One of the Blues Brothers
I saw one at a car show,and loved it. always wanted one from day one but never could justify the cost with growing kids and college costs. when i would see one on a lot or at a car show i would always check them out, Every month or so i would check prices and what and where one was for sale. fially found a deal in knoxville TN, and my wife said just get one already........she loves it so i finally got my cool crusier......never sell it the grand kids will have to fight over it some day
Last edited by rogerdoger; 03-01-2010 at 11:20 AM.
My SSR: USED TO BE--06 Ricochet Silver, 3SS, VYJ, FPR #81 of 111, Born March 14th, 2006
It was late 2003 and the wife & I were on a motorcycle trip covering all the states west & north of Oklahoma. We were in Colo. and had to stop for a construction zone. I had pulled off the hi-way onto a large pull out area and was just setting there when this wild looking Red truck ( With top down) pulled up next to me and stopped. I had to ask questions. The driver was a GM employee on a tour showing off the SSR at different places ( wish I could remember his name) anyway, after a lot of questions about the SSR and 30 min. later the road open for us to go. Got back on the Bike and told the wife that if and when we got rid of the bike, I was going to buy me one of those trucks. Sold the bike Sept. 23rd,2009 and bought aFPR with 4850 miles on it Dec. 9th 2009. Just love it.
Lloyd & Eileen
hmmm...so why did I buy it??Pure lust...thats why!About 20 years back I built a '46 Chevy pickup...350 horses...5 speeds...flames...waaay cool.But lets be honest, it handled like a school bus and was a bear for long trips.Ten years later I sold it to build a house.Ladies, do our attitudes change when we part with a favored vehicle?My wife told me to quit moping around the house and get something else.Oh Joy!!There was a gorgeous 05 SSR at a local dealership I had beenwatching for some time.By the time I got there it was gone.Six months later I went into another Chevy store and asked if they could find me a new '06.Yes they could.After signing for my new '06 demo I stopped for a coffee on the way home and re read the contract.Wait a minute!This SSR was an '05...not only an '05 but the same one I had been lusting over at the first dealership.Turns out it was a GM promo vehicle used for car shows,etc.Back to the negotiation table and my beautiful silver SSR had a new home.Some things are meant to be...once you have built a hot rod or two you really appreciate this fabulous vehicle...
beautiful lines...convertable hard top...power...handles great.What a bargain!I truly feel blessed.Now I just mope in the winter...
Thanks for bumping this up.. Lots of GREAT stories.. and permagrins I know!
My story is like many, first time I saw one sitting on a lot in Maine (2004), my thoughts were: I hate that painted dash and armrest.. It was yellow. Then I saw a red one, and same thought. BUT, I loved many things about it, including what was under the hood. And I also hated the price sticker. At the time there were $20 grand over list.
Now, fast forward to 2010. We retired to Florida and decided we wanted to be snowbirds. Made the trip back up north ONE time and that was it for us. Enough of that! I thought I had found the perfect truck that I was looking for. A used 2007 Ford Ranger. Loaded and had less that 6,000 miles on it. After driving that back and forth to Maine, I decided that vehicle was not for me. I could not keep up with my wife's subaru.
Started looking for something fun to drive. I really was looking for a suped up roadster. Could not find what we wanted, so kept looking. Each time one of these "SSR's" passed me, it appealed more and more. But was it for me?
So the search started, and looked for months. Found this forum searching for info about these trucks and am still stunned by the genuine people here willing to help when needed.
Well, after driving vettes and fastest thing on the block when I was a kid, I needed something fast. Hot rod didn't cut it, cause I needed to haul stuff sometimes. FAST was a requirement. And I still have a heavy foot from time to time.
Finally my wife gives me the heads up.. WHY NOT GET AN SSR?
Rest is history and months of searching. Found a silver, and didn't mind the painted dash and armrest, as it blended in and not so bright.
Purchased a 05 silver with 43,000 miles. Absolutely love this thing. AND the people. Believe me once you go to group meeting and see all those smiling faces, it speaks volumes, and their stories like the ones here.
Now, I hope to replace the motor and tranny with something a little more potent. 400 HP isn't enough. I can not stand the thought of a Hyundai beating me out of a red light!!!. And I hope to do some body work customing with two paint colors.
So either a 572 or a LS9 is going to sooner or later find its way under my SSR's hood.
Love this truck and the people!!
Charles
My SSR: Ricochet Silver built 11-8-04, #17696. K&N, headers, Flowmaster,Trifecta Tuned, Phoenixed Tranny
i saw the prototype and loved it. read and read
finally saw it at the Car show
when the 03's came out i went and drove one and loved it but i was shocked at the take off.
i didnt have the money then to get it and when the 05s came out i test drove again and loved it
christmas of 04 my son Sean and daughter gave me a silver model for a gift. sat on the fireplace mantle and never left my site daily
also Stan Silver CRZSSR on this forum totalled his silver HHR and his wife got him a silver SSR 05 and he has tweaked his alot. that even got me more interested.
i met them for lunch and then drove over to laps for charity at TMS and had a good time. i was in the HHR then
my Mom passed this past Feb and i ended up w enough cash for deposit and some fixing up on it if i wanted to.
i looked for a standard Pacific blue and found one but couldnt make the deal
so
i then started looking and found a 05 silver one like the one my son gave me as a gift. In Lubbock there was a black and a silver and the black was stock and lil lower miles. personally i like the silver over black so for me it was a no brainer. it had 34000 miles on it and had some goodies i already wanted.
headers
true Magnaflow duals
K&N intake
and when i test drove it and heard the headers, had to have it
got the paperwork going and while we did it i installed a tune i ordered from my tuner. drove it and datalogged it. sent it to him and he tweaked it. drove it home w a tune and a smile on my face. Between Post and Sweetwater i left town and passed a semi, nissan van and a kia and got to 130.
i was home
we cant wait to go to some more meets. we have Maggie Valley and the Badlands run
Made the decision to buy a R in Feb '12 and purchased a Silver '04 on March 14, 2012.
Why, well we had a vette for 16 yrs and it was time for a change as my wife was having a lot of trouble getting in and out. And, we therefore could no longer enjoy the vette together at shows, dinner, trips and the like.
At first began to seriously look at local Street Rods as they have been a interest of mine over the years. But, frankly became concerned about the builds, the components and reliability. Then started to look at newer GTO's and then finally started to get seriously interested in the SSR. And the rest is history........really happy with it and no question made the right decision.....And wife likes it TOO....DOESN"T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!
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. when I stumbled on the Fanatic forum from the Corvette forum, I read thru HRG's post and within a month ordered my SSR as a Pac Blue but it arrived as a Aqua Blur. I tore up the contract to buy and the dealer did take 8 grand off the price a week later. Best move I ever did. The Aqua Blur in the Florida Sunshine is magnificent. That gold metalflake and navy blue to greenish hues gets a lot of comments!! 
Talk about the Wed Retiree....
I later built a '71 Z/28 that could run with, and CHASE DOWN the best of the offerings from FERRARI OF LOS GATOS that the yuppies drove over H.W. 17 ( Santa Cruz grade) That's another story 
. Just think about it for a second or two.... Better yet.... Go out and look at your SSR and realize that Chevrolet made some 24,000 of these "RIGS" in the years 2003-2006. Truely a feat given by today's standards in the Auto World as we know it!
. I built a '55 Chevy Short Bed pick up with a 440 magnum/727TF/Dana 60 (A REAL TIRE ROASTER) and I carried TWO SPARE TIRES IN THE BED 
, 
Your garage would have to be bigger than your house!
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