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Well, today, after a couple of weeks of consideration and comparison (so I cannot claim temporary insanity), I finally did it: I bought a brand new 04 SSR.
It's black, has the preferred equipment package, the running boards, and floor mats.
I plan to add the trailer hitch, as I have a small lightweight aluminum trailer for hauling my other affliction: motorcycles.
It will be my primary everyday transportation. (yes!)
Some of you may be interested in the "process" that got me to buy this unusual vehicle as my daily driver.
Over the past 30+ years, I've owned something like about 35 to 40 cars, SUVs, and trucks, and about the same number of various motorcycles. I've never had more than 4-wheeled vehicles at a time, but have had up to 6 of the 2-wheeled critters at once (currently 5).
I am NOT well to do, just do reasonably ok, but have this severe need for both variety and vehicles that are at least somwhat "fun". I have restrained myself a few times over the years, and bought "sensible shoes" type vehicles, but can honestly say I've regretted it every time, and got rid of them as fast as I could rationalize it to my very understanding wife (she is a gem). I've learned that a "car reliable as a refrigerator" is also generally about as much fun to drive as a refigerator.
My wife was very suspicious of the SSR initially ("radical!!"), but came to admire it as she learned more about it through my research.
I started off this time wanting a "streetrod" or "street cruiser" - one with a retro exterior look, but fully modern underpinnings. High power was not a requirement, but snappy response from moderate power, via decent gearing, was. The typical street rods I saw for sale satisfied many of my wants, but fit into one of 2 categories: either very home-engineered with obvious missteps, or well executed but incredibly costly because of the fully custom nature of the pro-level work done to build one. I even looked at replica Porsche 356s from reputable builders. The high REAL cost, and the lack of liquidity, turned me off all these possibilities slowly.
So, I started looking at more modern, production vehicles that still have "something" that makes them a little classic, retro, timeless. or just special.
The Mercedes SLK folding roof series was a candidate, but the vehicle complexity and proprietary parts content scared me when I projected long term costs.
The Ford Thunderbird was a much more moderate while still pleasing possibility, and it became a serious contender, especially when I found that I could buy a new leftover 2004 for about $11,000 off list. That took care of a big part of the obvious greatest risk: depreciation (The new T-Birds long ago stopped commanding premiums and started becoming slow movers).
The SVT Cobra's exquisite supercharged 390 hp engine (REALLY nice) made it an unexpected short term contender after someone let me drive one. That engine almost feels like a good motorcycle engine (did you know it has an aluminum flywheel and mostly forged internals?). But the rest of the car was just too big a letdown, and the resale value of special cars that depend on being one of the fastest on the block is always very poor after 1 or 2 other cars come along that are faster.
The SSR wasn't initially on my list of contenders, because of the MSRP - far more than I wanted to spend. Then, I saw a few local ads that showed some very large discounts, especially on the 300 hp 04s, and the advertised prices started to make the car fit into my acceptable price range. The SSR's retro-combined-with-modern styling was a real attraction to me, given my initial interest in a street rod or street cruiser, and the folding hardtop, luggage space, and trailering capability fit me to a T. I researched it intensively, and the more I found, the more I liked it. I drove 2 of them, one new and one used, and was impressed with the solidness and quiet, and the fit to ME.
It took me 10 days to turn my wife into an SSR fan, but we got there.
One of the local Chevrolet dealers has only 1 woman on a sales staff of 30, and she was my pick to work with on this. To her credit, she provided exactly the type of help and service I needed, and today I called her to say the deal was hers.
She had worked on my behalf with the dealership management and staff, and put together a package that I simply could not pass on. Yes, SSRs are kind of slow moving right now, especially the 04s with the weaker engine, but for the price I paid, I am not worried about a lot of further short term depreciation. Heck, I paid only a very small amount more than you would pay for an 05 Mustang GT, and I think that what I got is worth a lot more than what I paid, especially to me.
So, there it is.
I am grateful that this website of experienced and knowledgeable fellow enthusiasts exists, and I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on how the story unfolds from here!
Hopefully, at some point, I can start CONTRIBUTING knowedge and assistance to other SSR owners as well as GETTING help.
Thanks for being here, and for the way you have ALREADY helped get me this far.
Jim G
It's black, has the preferred equipment package, the running boards, and floor mats.
I plan to add the trailer hitch, as I have a small lightweight aluminum trailer for hauling my other affliction: motorcycles.
It will be my primary everyday transportation. (yes!)
Some of you may be interested in the "process" that got me to buy this unusual vehicle as my daily driver.
Over the past 30+ years, I've owned something like about 35 to 40 cars, SUVs, and trucks, and about the same number of various motorcycles. I've never had more than 4-wheeled vehicles at a time, but have had up to 6 of the 2-wheeled critters at once (currently 5).
I am NOT well to do, just do reasonably ok, but have this severe need for both variety and vehicles that are at least somwhat "fun". I have restrained myself a few times over the years, and bought "sensible shoes" type vehicles, but can honestly say I've regretted it every time, and got rid of them as fast as I could rationalize it to my very understanding wife (she is a gem). I've learned that a "car reliable as a refrigerator" is also generally about as much fun to drive as a refigerator.
My wife was very suspicious of the SSR initially ("radical!!"), but came to admire it as she learned more about it through my research.
I started off this time wanting a "streetrod" or "street cruiser" - one with a retro exterior look, but fully modern underpinnings. High power was not a requirement, but snappy response from moderate power, via decent gearing, was. The typical street rods I saw for sale satisfied many of my wants, but fit into one of 2 categories: either very home-engineered with obvious missteps, or well executed but incredibly costly because of the fully custom nature of the pro-level work done to build one. I even looked at replica Porsche 356s from reputable builders. The high REAL cost, and the lack of liquidity, turned me off all these possibilities slowly.
So, I started looking at more modern, production vehicles that still have "something" that makes them a little classic, retro, timeless. or just special.
The Mercedes SLK folding roof series was a candidate, but the vehicle complexity and proprietary parts content scared me when I projected long term costs.
The Ford Thunderbird was a much more moderate while still pleasing possibility, and it became a serious contender, especially when I found that I could buy a new leftover 2004 for about $11,000 off list. That took care of a big part of the obvious greatest risk: depreciation (The new T-Birds long ago stopped commanding premiums and started becoming slow movers).
The SVT Cobra's exquisite supercharged 390 hp engine (REALLY nice) made it an unexpected short term contender after someone let me drive one. That engine almost feels like a good motorcycle engine (did you know it has an aluminum flywheel and mostly forged internals?). But the rest of the car was just too big a letdown, and the resale value of special cars that depend on being one of the fastest on the block is always very poor after 1 or 2 other cars come along that are faster.
The SSR wasn't initially on my list of contenders, because of the MSRP - far more than I wanted to spend. Then, I saw a few local ads that showed some very large discounts, especially on the 300 hp 04s, and the advertised prices started to make the car fit into my acceptable price range. The SSR's retro-combined-with-modern styling was a real attraction to me, given my initial interest in a street rod or street cruiser, and the folding hardtop, luggage space, and trailering capability fit me to a T. I researched it intensively, and the more I found, the more I liked it. I drove 2 of them, one new and one used, and was impressed with the solidness and quiet, and the fit to ME.
It took me 10 days to turn my wife into an SSR fan, but we got there.
One of the local Chevrolet dealers has only 1 woman on a sales staff of 30, and she was my pick to work with on this. To her credit, she provided exactly the type of help and service I needed, and today I called her to say the deal was hers.
She had worked on my behalf with the dealership management and staff, and put together a package that I simply could not pass on. Yes, SSRs are kind of slow moving right now, especially the 04s with the weaker engine, but for the price I paid, I am not worried about a lot of further short term depreciation. Heck, I paid only a very small amount more than you would pay for an 05 Mustang GT, and I think that what I got is worth a lot more than what I paid, especially to me.
So, there it is.
I am grateful that this website of experienced and knowledgeable fellow enthusiasts exists, and I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on how the story unfolds from here!
Hopefully, at some point, I can start CONTRIBUTING knowedge and assistance to other SSR owners as well as GETTING help.
Thanks for being here, and for the way you have ALREADY helped get me this far.
Jim G
