Because of the new engine, I've been toying with the idea of trading in my '03 Slingshot Yellow SSR for an '05. So I put some feelers out at a couple of the dealerships here in Dallas. I bought my '03 a week before Christmas for sticker + $1,000, which at that time, in this area, was about as good as I could do. It has 1SB, Cargo Trim, running boards, saddle bags, cago net, hitch, premium paint - basically everything - and stickered for $46,840, so I paid $47,840.
Anyway, one of the dealers got a black '05 in on Thursday (9/16), so I went to take a look at it. Sticker started at $42,430, 1SB ($1,900), automatic (free), chrome wheels ($1,500), body color accent package, including painted running boards and auxillary guages ($1,400), cargo trim ($895), custom mats ($85), cargo net ($220), cockpit windbreaker ($350), license bracket ($15), and destination ($625) - total sticker $49,420. The manager implied they were selling this one for sticker, (but they had only had it for a few hours and it didn't even have the sticker on the window yet). By the way, they also had a base '04 on the lot - sticker of $42,020 (no options) that they are selling for $37K! - 5K off sticker! He said he thought he would sell the '05 for $49 before he sold the '04 for $37 - ouch.....
Here are my first impressions:
1> Truck looks EXACTLY the same - even the tailpipes (which I read somewhere were to change to 'dualies') are identical to the '03.
2> Integrated guages look very, very nice.
3> I would worry that the painted running boards would get scratched-up pretty easily.
4> I don't prefer the chrome wheels, as they don't 'fit' with the brushed aluminum look of the front grill, door handles, seat roll bars and dashboard. I think the stock wheels with aluminum running boards look better - but this could just be my personal preference.
5> Hard cover over the rear bed is now removable, I don't know how easily, - although we didn't try it for obvious reasons.
6> Flimsy hood prop has been replaced with dual struts that operate nicely.
7> Engine looks nice (and big), except the new plastic engine cover looks cheap and flimsy - even compared to the one on my '03.
8> We started the engine and the exhaust sounded exactly the same to me. I was really hoping 90hp would make a big difference here.
9> No one seems to know when we will see the first 6-speed.
I noticed all of the '05 SSRs in inventory in this area (as listed on GMs' web site) have trucks configured alot like this one - 1SB, chrome, etc. so it looks like the dealers here are loading up the options on the first '05s - just like they did on the first '03s. Another dealership gave me a 'soft' offer of about $35K in trade for my truck, which, by the way, is immaculate and has 5900 miles.
So my initial question is - Is 90hp worth $14K? Especially when no one except you and me, and my right foot (and oh yeah, my wallet) will ever know the difference. If my truck depreciated $13K in 9 months, why should I buy another one and probably experience more of the same? Don't get me wrong - I love my truck. I'm just mad that after only 9 months (and 3 models) we are just now getting the engine we ALWAYS deserved and should have gotten from the get-go.
Anyway, one of the dealers got a black '05 in on Thursday (9/16), so I went to take a look at it. Sticker started at $42,430, 1SB ($1,900), automatic (free), chrome wheels ($1,500), body color accent package, including painted running boards and auxillary guages ($1,400), cargo trim ($895), custom mats ($85), cargo net ($220), cockpit windbreaker ($350), license bracket ($15), and destination ($625) - total sticker $49,420. The manager implied they were selling this one for sticker, (but they had only had it for a few hours and it didn't even have the sticker on the window yet). By the way, they also had a base '04 on the lot - sticker of $42,020 (no options) that they are selling for $37K! - 5K off sticker! He said he thought he would sell the '05 for $49 before he sold the '04 for $37 - ouch.....
Here are my first impressions:
1> Truck looks EXACTLY the same - even the tailpipes (which I read somewhere were to change to 'dualies') are identical to the '03.
2> Integrated guages look very, very nice.
3> I would worry that the painted running boards would get scratched-up pretty easily.
4> I don't prefer the chrome wheels, as they don't 'fit' with the brushed aluminum look of the front grill, door handles, seat roll bars and dashboard. I think the stock wheels with aluminum running boards look better - but this could just be my personal preference.
5> Hard cover over the rear bed is now removable, I don't know how easily, - although we didn't try it for obvious reasons.
6> Flimsy hood prop has been replaced with dual struts that operate nicely.
7> Engine looks nice (and big), except the new plastic engine cover looks cheap and flimsy - even compared to the one on my '03.
8> We started the engine and the exhaust sounded exactly the same to me. I was really hoping 90hp would make a big difference here.
9> No one seems to know when we will see the first 6-speed.
I noticed all of the '05 SSRs in inventory in this area (as listed on GMs' web site) have trucks configured alot like this one - 1SB, chrome, etc. so it looks like the dealers here are loading up the options on the first '05s - just like they did on the first '03s. Another dealership gave me a 'soft' offer of about $35K in trade for my truck, which, by the way, is immaculate and has 5900 miles.
So my initial question is - Is 90hp worth $14K? Especially when no one except you and me, and my right foot (and oh yeah, my wallet) will ever know the difference. If my truck depreciated $13K in 9 months, why should I buy another one and probably experience more of the same? Don't get me wrong - I love my truck. I'm just mad that after only 9 months (and 3 models) we are just now getting the engine we ALWAYS deserved and should have gotten from the get-go.
