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Is this a "toy"....?

2506 Views 27 Replies 19 Participants Last post by fiftiesnut, Nov 30, 2004

redroadster

Discussion Starter · Nov 23, 2004

One of the (many) inane comments you hear from people, on their first look at an SSR (almost always from men, who are green with envy) is,

"That's a cute "toy"...

or,

"Well, it's certainly not very practical, but it's a nice little "toy"...

or,

"You must be in a real bad MLC (mid-life crisis), to have paid so much for a "toy"...

To which I now respond, to wit....

1. Can you put five (count 'em, FIVE) huge, overstuffed suitcases full of the wife's vacation clothes, makeup bags, shoes, more makeup, frilly unmentionables, more clothes, curling irons, hair dryers, etc., into the tonneau-covered back of a TOY??? Huh? Can you???

2. Can a "toy" take you 1,500 miles up into Canada, safely, swiftly, at 19.5 mpg's, in eye-popping style and head-turning beauty? Huh? Can it????

3. Can a "toy" blast both of you up a 3,000 foot mountain, with the top down, accelerating all the way, and topping out (literally), at 107 mph? (I didn't do anything, no-one saw me do it, you can't prove a thing!) Huh? Can it???

4. Can a toy drive me to work, every single day, for eight solid months now, without a burp, shimmy, flat, or boilover (I know some have had their probs...)

My point is, this is a hell of an automobile! It's not just a toy. It's a great, an awesome way to get around. I am still deeply in love.....

Let others drive their Volvo station wagons, their Mopar Mini-vans and their oversized Suburbans. I am having a love-affair with a sweet, red, growling, head-turning, leather-seated vixen. She's practical enough for me....

Cheers,

Randy:flag

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1 - 20 of 28 Posts

ricardo

· #2 · Nov 23, 2004

i agree except you obviously have taken out the saddlebags or never had them cause with the saddlebags it don't hold shi*

Buffy

· #3 · Nov 23, 2004

redroaster,

I'm with you 100%. My neighbor came over the day I brought our SSR home and while I was smiling from ear to ear, he says, "It's nothing but an over-priced toy!"

Now, even if he felt that (or worse if he was RIGHT), would any of us on this forum in their wildest dreams say that out loud! I don't think so!

So in 5 seconds, I went from total bliss to buyers remorse! But, that only lasted until I drove it again!

Poor pathetic neighbor. Probably will never know bliss!

Bill Bogert

· #4 · Nov 24, 2004

All:

It is (or can be) a toy... and I'm OK with that. I don't have mine yet, but do believe it will fit right in with the rest of my toys! It’s intentional... I love my toys!!!!!!

Most guys who make statements like "its a toy" are justifying in their own minds why they don't have one.... or something similar.... But really its because their wife won't let them!!!

PS – I started buying my “toys” in my Thirties… it has nothing to do with mid-life…. For me it had to do with when I could afford it!!!!

bgetz

· #5 · Nov 24, 2004

The #1 statement I always hear is, "it must be nice".
To which I reply "it is"

#2 "Who would buy a yellow truck like that?"
"I would"

#3 "You MUST be in a mid life crises"
"I am and enjoying every minute of it!"

Some people get jealous of what you have and put it down instead of enjoying the view.
If you don't have anything nice to say 'bout my SSR please pass me by quietly....

Right fellow SSR owners & friends??? :thumbs

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houtex

· #6 · Nov 24, 2004

toys

my orthopedic surgeon (who just chopped the hell out of my knee) is exactly my age - 59 said that it's not a midlife crisis - it's a midlife awakening. Whatever it is, it's my crisis/awakening and anybody that thinks that's bad thing can kiss my a$$.

G

· #7 · Nov 24, 2004

Lol, way to tell off the nay-sayers.

G

· #8 · Nov 24, 2004

Webster

Websters says: " Discontent aroused by another's possessions or qualities, with a strong desire to have them for oneself", (ENVY). There will always be those who want to judge, whom I dont waste my time with. The positive experience I get with the SSR is far greater than the negative. I have never driven any other vehicle that gets so much attention, it is truly unique. I mostly see grins, smiles , pointing fingers, (the good kind) and many thumbs up!! What a ride!!!!

1950 Chevrolet 3100 fully restored original pickup.
1998 Corvette 20,000 miles, (Recent theft attemp left $ 4,950.00 interior damage)
1998 Chevrolet 4X4 Silverado
2002 B.M.W. 745i
2004 S.S.R. Smokin Asphalt
2004 G.M.C. Denali (long)

Toy Truck

· #9 · Nov 24, 2004

Is It A Toy???

I'm not the least bit offended if someone refers to our SSR as a toy... especially if they're driving a generic P.O.S. All of our cars are 'toys' but they also serve as transportation. Ya' got to drive something.... why not drive something that's fun?

Don't worry about the detractors and 'nay sayers'.... They just wish they had your ride. There are things in life that I can't afford but I don't take that out on those that can. The ones I really worry about are those that don't have the 'strength of character' to go after what they really want. How many times have you heard someone remark, "I really like that red (or yellow) color but I couldn't drive anything like that". WOW... it's only a color. Who are these people, funeral directors?

Buffy

· #10 · Nov 24, 2004

Toy Truck said:
I'm not the least bit offended if someone refers to our SSR as a toy... especially if they're driving a generic P.O.S. All of our cars are 'toys' but they also serve as transportation. Ya' got to drive something.... why not drive something that's fun?

Don't worry about the detractors and 'nay sayers'.... They just wish they had your ride. There are things in life that I can't afford but I don't take that out on those that can. The ones I really worry about are those that don't have the 'strength of character' to go after what they really want. How many times have you heard someone remark, "I really like that red (or yellow) color but I couldn't drive anything like that". WOW... it's only a color. Who are these people, funeral directors?

WELL SAID, Toy Truck!

cruzned

· #11 · Nov 24, 2004

I drive mine every day and drive it hard. YOu have all hit the nail on the head. ONe thing is for sure, when I die some day I sure won't have any regrets, or "man, I should have....could have, wish I had done...etc."

halifax

· #12 · Nov 24, 2004

judgements

Folks who judge others or their assets are really judging(rating) themselves.
They set themselves up to feel bad. Show me a happy person and I'll show you one who does not judge others.

coastalcutie

· #13 · Nov 24, 2004

toy

Exactly!
Life is too short not to enjoy it!
Too many people put off their enjoyment until...
we're older,
we're richer,
we're more secure...
etc, etc.

We are not promised tomorrow; ENJOY TODAY!

arty

cruzned said:
I drive mine every day and drive it hard. YOu have all hit the nail on the head. ONe thing is for sure, when I die some day I sure won't have any regrets, or "man, I should have....could have, wish I had done...etc."

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RickSSR

· #14 · Nov 25, 2004

Ditto!!:agree .....Enjoy Life!!

Everybody have a Good Thanksgiving!!

arty :cheers

arty

RickSSR :cool

SSRGUY

· #15 · Nov 25, 2004 (Edited)

Randy is RIGHT

Randy is right. :smash

No question in many folks’ minds the SSr is much more than a toy and not just a MLC, you just have to think out of the box a bit as we did when I went with a buddy last week to order his new C6…. I asked him:

• Where do you put your 3 sets of golf clubs;
• How easy is the C6 to get in and out of (he is an former Olympic skier and you can imagine what his knees and hips are like);
• Don’t you agree the creature comforts of the SSr are more than fine (he did expect automatic temp control);
• What about all the stuff your g.f. insists on bringing for even a weekend at the lake cottage (no way in anything but a small p/u or larger);
• How do you tow your boat (don’t ask me I can only tow one at a time and it's mine);
• Like the C6 it only has two seats but you don’t have to pay extra for the non-manual top;
• Is the new LS2 motored SSr a dog versus most anything on the road;
• Exclusivity…. It is a rare beast despite more than 18,000 made (but not sold) to date…. There are already C6’s all over and the prices are falling;
• Great to drive to work, if you need to, & most clients love to have a ride and then remember you (i.e. good for business?);
• What do you think about the fit and finish (superb, thank you LCC :cheers ); and
• Have you checked things like gas mileage and insurance > not bad at all which make the SSr a practical choice too

Reality check is that the SSr is a far more reasonable beast to own than many of us who bought it just for fun might like to think…. But you do have to deliberate for a moment but really not all that long because the argument is there.

arty Particularly now that you can buy a well equipped ‘03/’04 for $35k new with long term no cost financing!

Thank you Randy!

drc :seeya

BTW, he ordered an '05 SSr....

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redroadster

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 26, 2004

Here's another truth.....

Thanks, SSRGuy,

Here's another consideration that nobody talks about. If you have a bad wreck in an SSR, you are more likely to survive, because of the:

1) weight (4,700 lbs),

2) size (way bigger than a corvette), and

3) all steel construction - including that 600 lb roof (which will protect you better in a rollover) and a big, bulky V-8 engine.

In other words, you will much more likely be the "hammer", than the "nail"... The above is something to think about if you, like me, are a daily driver who takes your SSR out the highway on a regular basis!

In addition, don't forget about the overkill of airbags (that's another good thing). As these posts and replies all point out, the SSR is NOT "just a toy"!!!

Cheers,

Randy :flag

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Marc NY

· #17 · Nov 26, 2004

SSRGUY said:
Randy is right. :smash

No question in many folks’ minds the SSr is much more than a toy and not just a MLC, you just have to think out of the box a bit as we did when I went with a buddy last week to order his new C6…. I asked him:

• Where do you put your 3 sets of golf clubs;
• How easy is the C6 to get in and out of (he is an former Olympic skier and you can imagine what his knees and hips are like);
• Don’t you agree the creature comforts of the SSr are more than fine (he did expect automatic temp control);
• What about all the stuff your g.f. insists on bringing for even a weekend at the lake cottage (no way in anything but a small p/u or larger);
• How do you tow your boat (don’t ask me I can only tow one at a time and it's mine);
• Like the C6 it only has two seats but you don’t have to pay extra for the non-manual top;
• Is the new LS2 motored SSr a dog versus most anything on the road;
• Exclusivity…. It is a rare beast despite more than 18,000 made (but not sold) to date…. There are already C6’s all over and the prices are falling;
• Great to drive to work, if you need to, & most clients love to have a ride and then remember you (i.e. good for business?);
• What do you think about the fit and finish (superb, thank you LCC :cheers ); and
• Have you checked things like gas mileage and insurance > not bad at all which make the SSr a practical choice too

Reality check is that the SSr is a far more reasonable beast to own than many of us who bought it just for fun might like to think…. But you do have to deliberate for a moment but really not all that long because the argument is there. arty Particularly now that you can buy a well equipped ‘03/’04 for $35k new with long term no cost financing!

Thank you Randy!

drc :seeya

BTW, he ordered an '05 SSr....

:agree :cheers :agree :cheers :agree

nostoc

· #18 · Nov 26, 2004

Careful...

SSRGuy,

I don't think the C6 and SSR fans are necessarily the same. I don't expect to convince a true Vette-lover that the SSR is better. I know there is some overlap between the two, but noticed a lot of the disappointed SSR owners on this board were Vette owners. I personally never had an interest in buying a Corvette, but couldn't wait to get my hands on this truck. It is not a Vette!!! And I for one am thankful it's not.

Your comments are well-received here, but I suspect it would be met with disdain on a Corvette forum. Those people knew they were getting a sportster with no room for golf clubs, g.f. stuff, low (hard to egress) seats, and high insurance and fuel costs. They still wanted one.

Most people here could have had either one (and several have or have had both). Generally speaking, I think we love our "Toy". The ones most disappointed thought they were buying a retro truck version of a Corvette.

Let your buddy enjoy his C6, but don't envy him. Travel with him a few times and see which one gets more looks. Just my two cents.

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pherrley

· #19 · Nov 27, 2004

Life is too short if it makes you smile who cares what others think... It makes me smile everytime I drive it and I drive it as much as I can......Rock on!!

fiftiesnut

· #20 · Nov 27, 2004 (Edited)

pherrley said:
Life is too short if it makes you smile who cares what others think... It makes me smile everytime I drive it and I drive it as much as I can......Rock on!!

I must say that the quest to satisfiy the SSR owners from GM is far more less than the C6 owners. I would like to ask the Corvette owners who try and convince us SSR owners that we bought a sports car instead of a sport truck a few things. First of all we all have the common sense to know the difference. Do you have wind noise with the top up and the doors closed?, Do you have windows that will not go up under the weather stripping?, Do you have a rear end that whines when you decelerate?, Do you have a trunk that will not open without pulling it up?, Do you have windows that are scratched because the rubber seals do not have felt on them like "EVERY" car made on the planet has?, Do you have drink holders that will not come out of the dash each time you push them?, Do you have unbearable road noise from the holes behind the seats that corvettes don't have? Do you have the deployed air bag light and message showing all the time? Do you have GM reps saying that they never had any other complaints like this? Well it is quite simple, I paid nearly $50.000.00 for my SSR and I expect not to have the defects that we are having. It seems that GM did not prove the SSR as they did the C6. So why should we expect less. If you are one of the very small percentage that has a trouble free SSR and is 100% satisfied, then pardon me! I love my SSR, but hate knowing that the amount of complaints I have seen and read on this forum has warranted no recalls or upgrades to solve any of these issues. It isn't as though GM has made 10's of thousands of these autos. Probably the least production car on their inventory with the least attention to correcting some very simple mistakes. How much would you say that felt cost on the window seals? Maybe 50 cents or less? And how much for the continued replacement glass. $300.00 each?

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