I am new here. I've owned Corvettes but am now looking for an SSR. The local dealer has one on consignment that looks like a good opportunity. Red '03 with all options and only 7000 miles. One owner and priced around $24,000. It's an automatic. I have a few questions that I would like some help with:
1.) I am going to test drive it tomorrow. Can you folks give me any particular things to look for?
2.) I have the 5.3 L in our Surburban an it has plenty of pep. Should I be looking for a 6.0 L SSR or will I be satisfied with the 5.3 L? What are the pros and cons? My last Corvette was a '99 with the 5.7 L all Al engine. I loved the performance.
3.) I've been reading a lot here about roof problems. How is the best way to check this out. Maybe I'll go park somewhjere and just put it up and down 20 times???
My SSR: Everyday is Saturday plus an SSR This must be heaven
Dick I'm still a Corvette guy as well as are several others. If you are looking for the pep of a vette this is a 4700 pound truck so I would go for the 6.0. However my 5.3 SSR is running alot while the Vette sits you will not be disappointed with an SSR it is something very special. Good Luck Bill
My SSR: 2003 Redline Red #0733 Born on 10/20/2003 Arrived home 11/26/2003
Dick I'am also a Corvette guy, but you can not go wrong with an 03 with 5.3L. This trucks are 5000 lbs wet, there cruisers not Hot Rods as some of the Fantic's think. So even with a 6.0L LS2 it's still like a lead sled
Location: About as far East as you can go before you hit salt water.
Posts: 2,699
My SSR: 2005 Allstate 400 Pace SSR #2 of 2 Built
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssreal
this is a 4700 pound truck
The 6.0 Liter moves along pretty good. I can't imagine it with the 5.3 Liter in it. I had a Chevy Z71 short bed with the 5.3 Liter. I think the SSR is heavier. You should be able to find a low milage 05 for a few thousand more than the 03.
You Could Be Happy With An 03 , But Remember You Will Only Be Able To Cruise So Drive It Like A Cruiser. It Is True That The 6.0 Alone Will Not Turn It Into A Sports Car , But With Exhaust , Air Intake And 4.10 Gear Change For Around $1500 , Will Turn It Into A True Modern Day Hot Rod. Add A 6-speed For The Full Effects. All I'm Saying Is What Ever You Choose , No Regrets.
go w/ the 6.0L 6 speed, you wont regret it and the '06s dont have all the problems of the earlier years on wood!
ebay search or ask the dealers on here, good deals out there to be found. '03 VIN 00009 is for sale on ebay at $22K Buy it Now price. Prices be comin' down
the 5.3 will do everything you want it you do
trust me.if you look at the tv comercials for the mustang they brag about 300 hp which is what we have but there not carrying 4800 lbs.its a cool ride no matter what motor they put in it.i have seen alot of so called forieign and domestic hot cars fade away in the mirror.
I have owned both and the 5.3 works well in the SSR. The one big plus I see with getting an 03 is the low VIN number so in my opinion you will have a collecter car one day.
Put the top up and down a few times adn if all is well then I say it is good to go! 20 times in a row might want to creat a problem.
Let us know what the last 5 of the vin is as this will tell you what number the truck is.. Good luck and go for it..
Oh yea yea one little secret no one tells you... The Yellow ones have 10 more hp than any other color...
Location: Maggie Valley, NC (Smoky Mtns.)/On The Road For The Winter
Posts: 19,343
My SSR: 2006 Aqua Blur FPR Chrome Inside & Out , 2004 Redline Red,TAZMOBILE (deceased)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boosted
I have owned both and the 5.3 works well in the SSR. The one big plus I see with getting an 03 is the low VIN number so in my opinion you will have a collecter car one day.
Put the top up and down a few times adn if all is well then I say it is good to go! 20 times in a row might want to creat a problem.
Let us know what the last 5 of the vin is as this will tell you what number the truck is.. Good luck and go for it..
Oh yea yea one little secret no one tells you... The Yellow ones have 10 more hp than any other color...
I think you will be Ok with the '03.
I had no problem outrunning some of the 05's & 06's in my '04 over the dragon weekend!!!
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Open up the top and check for leaks in the hoses. Also check for wear marks on the hoses. Most of the top problems seem to come from either fluid leaks or the hoses not being routed correctly.
It sounds like a great deal. The 5.3 engine is going to get better mileage.
My SSR: 2006 black ssr final production run series
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawaiinfun
the 5.3 will do everything you want it you do
trust me.if you look at the tv comercials for the mustang they brag about 300 hp which is what we have but there not carrying 4800 lbs.its a cool ride no matter what motor they put in it.i have seen alot of so called forieign and domestic hot cars fade away in the mirror.
the first thing u should do is look for a black one! red is for carnies!
My SSR: '05 Concept Truck, powered by Heavy Duty rubberbands, and a really BIG WINDUP KEY!
The Aqua Blur one is by far the classiest! Oh sure you could get a Yellow, Red, Violet or even a black one, but the Aqua Blur changes colors with the season. However, that would mean you have to get a 6.0.
I am sure whether you get the 5.3 or 6.0 you will love the attention and the way it drives.
My SSR: "Babe" '06 Pacific Blue/Chrome/6pd #22407, born 10/14/'05, and #21393, died 2/16/'07.
Hi Dick
1.) Look for the big smile on your face. If it is not there, see your doctor.
2.) If you want pep, go with the 5.3L. If you want performance, go with the 6.0L. The six speed manual has a great rumble both accellarating and decellarating.
3.) If you put the top up and down 20x expect a big crowd.
As for colors, see the photo contest. I'm partial to the Pacific Blue... both ocean and truck. Wouldn't want to be in anything else or anywhere else!
Dick I'am also a Corvette guy, but you can not go wrong with an 03 with 5.3L. This trucks are 5000 lbs wet, there cruisers not Hot Rods as some of the Fantic's think. So even with a 6.0L LS2 it's still like a lead sled
Carl
03 Red SSR
06 Corvette
Not hot rods as some of the Fantic's think
Humm lets see my 04 5.3 is a hotrod
It runs 1/4 mile in the 12's
It will smoke the tires all way through 1st. WITHOUT using the break
Get on it in 2nd. and the torque just pushes you back
I could go on but need to go to the track and watch the
Vettes and 6.0L GTO's cry when they get beat by a big old truck
There is a VERY well kept Yellow 2003 SSR forsale in Discovery Bay, CA. Has remote top and all kinds of extras.... I don't know what he wants for it. PM me and I'll give you his email.
Check out eBay - you'll find better deals by shopping around, even if you have to pay shipping costs. AND maybe you'll be able to find one of those way cool Pacific Blue 6 speeds.....
Last edited by Doug Allen; 05-22-2006 at 03:55 PM.
SSR's are cool, but I did not want a 5.3 engined SSR. When Chevy put the 6.0ltr LS2 motor in the SSR it was made for me. I've talked with owners of both and they say the 05/06 is worth the extra money. Saying this, each person knows themself the best and what they want in the SSR. Comes down to what you want-don't settle for less! Mine is the Aqua blur 6-spd!
Apparently you live in the north, San Clamente, can't remember, must be high or north enough, where you can only drop the top once in a while and the sun's coming from a different angle. I "promise you" if you are an arm hanger in particular, or just a normal human. Where "I" live in top down or don't leave home country and you can do that 340 days a year, you will raise blisters when you hand your arm across the door to profile of for comfort, as well as burn the dickens out of yourself if you leave it top down for twenty minutes in the sun... If you think seats get how in your "modestly warm weather" the metal will scald ya and sol will make you regret a dark color, as beautiful as they are. I "like" the black and that purple. I wanted yellow, but, man I stole a red one from a rural dealer GM required to purchase one.. Ya don't sell vettes and SSR's in da bayou's bro, I paid half sticker after three days negotiations for a brand new lot sitter. He finally capitulated as he knew it wasn't going anywhere, I was the only guy who had real interest in it and could afford it in 18 mo.'s of promotion..
Here farmers want BIG trucks, the ones with money want Special decked out BIG trucks..
I thought I'd bought a toad, maybe I was the only one to see the beauty and utility of a sporty car that you can actually leave town in and not have to fed ex clothes ahead..
Wrong, I get children waving and little old ladies hanging around with serious compliments and curiosity... I just LOVE that all ages and sexes approach me every stop ( nearly) to compliment it and it RED, RED, RED.... Ya gotta say that about redline red.. I'm so very glad they did not have the yellow one I set out to get..
No offense to the yellows, I'm just extremely happy with the red, which I too thought was just too flashy for a conservitive private fella looking for a fun car..
Grey is the same color as the pavement, can't see them against the road in early evening. Too dangerous a fault for me. Read the safest and most dangerous color list... Yellow gets the most tickets right behind Red...
Being rural, I don't have to change a thing, nobody's even seen a stock one, nice makes mods completely unecessary...
I talk too much, sorry.. chicago
My SSR: ricochet silver 2004 all options available for 04 born on 3-26-04
Quote:
Originally Posted by CQQL_SSR
The 6.0 Liter moves along pretty good. I can't imagine it with the 5.3 Liter in it. I had a Chevy Z71 short bed with the 5.3 Liter. I think the SSR is heavier. You should be able to find a low milage 05 for a few thousand more than the 03.
here we go again with the 5.3 stuff.yes its a heavy truck and off the line is not as strong as 6.0 but i have had no problem turning on the traction control off lite on at 100 and then getting to 120.not easy to do in hawaii as you can run out of road real fast.working at a chevy dealer i have driven both versions and the only ones that really feel stronger is the 6 speeds.the auto have torque management built in to stop drive train shock to the trans.the z71 also didn't have an aluminum 300 hp engine.just my 2 cents worth
The torque management on the 6.0 limits the 1st gear power through the auto trans to about the same level as the 5.3. If you want a stoplight bandit, you are looking at the wrong vehicle.... period. It's way too heavy to launch like a lightweight. That said, both engine models have more than enough poop to put you in jail.
Both power trains provide the same net result.... They propel you through life with a smile on your face..... Not because of how fast it gets to 45 mph... The smile comes from the ride........
My SSR: ricochet silver 2004 all options available for 04 born on 3-26-04
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike in AZ
The torque management on the 6.0 limits the 1st gear power through the auto trans to about the same level as the 5.3. If you want a stoplight bandit, you are looking at the wrong vehicle.... period. It's way too heavy to launch like a lightweight. That said, both engine models have more than enough poop to put you in jail.
Both power trains provide the same net result.... They propel you through life with a smile on your face..... Not because of how fast it gets to 45 mph... The smile comes from the ride........
My 2 cents.
so true mike thats all i really was trying to explain.
Dick,
Of course Red is the best color.
I when I was 1st looking for an SSR I compared an '04 and an '05 and went with the '05. They made a few improvements in the '05 that I liked. One is they were more powerful, quieter, leaked less, reinforced frame, and oh did I mention more power.
But good luck which ever one you choose, just as long it is a RED one.
Go for the LS2. If the SSR came with that motor it would still be alive today!! By the time it was installed the SSR had the reputation of a heavy pig with no guts..
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