Own a 1LT, Rented a 2SS

[Meeper]

So I just got back from attending Blizzcon in Anaheim, CA. While I was there I rented a Yellow 2SS w/sunroof for my duration. These are my thoughts on it.

So after being told by several people (read dealers and other people who haven't actually driven the cars) that the SS handles differently from the LT, I don't see it. Maybe there's a handling difference between a non-RS LT, but I felt pretty much the same driving my 1LT RS as I did driving the 2SS. In other words I felt at home.

I love the growl and loved the extra get up and go, but at the same time didn't feel like I was blowing my own car out of the water.

Onto the Sunroof. I thought it was a great pick at first, the weather was great (in the 70's, low humidity, compared to Florida in August), but it's where I ran into my main gripe.

I know I've seen several threads about people complaining that there wasn't enough room with the Sunroof installed, and I remember thinking that even with the roof being lowered a couple of inches it wouldn't be a problem because the seats go back far enough, and low enough that you could compensate. Apparently I was wrong.

I'm 6' 3". Before I even got in the car, I went to push my seat back and lower as far it would go so I could adjust from there. The seats on the 2SS don't go back as far as my seats on my 1LT, and it doesn't go down as low.

In my 1LT if I put the seat all the way back (I'm talking about the bottom seat, not the back rest portion) and keep my seat upright, I can barely squeeze my hand behind me to fit between the front and back seat. With the 2SS I could make a fist and completely twist it around in the same space. Also with regards to the height, in my 1LT if I put it down all the way, and go to rest my arm on the window sill, my arm is at an upward angle, with the 2SS my arm was even.

So in order to drive "comfortably" I had to lean my seat way back to what seemed like a 45 degree angle, and I wasn't able to stretch my legs out all the way either like I am in my car.

I checked all around the seats to make sure nothing was obstructing movement from them sliding back/forward up/down, and nothing.

Is that how it is on all cars with sunroofs? or only 2LT's and 2SS's with sunroofs. I didn't think it would be a limitation of the leather seats, but I could be wrong.

Leather seats were comfortable, very very nice leather. However I and my friend noticed that leather seats are less bucket seats like the 1LT, and therefore aren't as deep and don't wrap around you so much. That's probably a limitation on the leather I guess.

Also I found that going from HIDs to nonHIDs kind of sucked, you don't realize what you're missing till you don't have it anymore.

It may sound like I'm whining about the experience, but that's not the case. I thoroughly enjoyed driving the 2SS. Driving on the highway was awesome.

But can anyone confirm/deny what I've experienced? Did I have a faulty rental?

[IROCanSS]

was it auto? search for slow L99 threads. There seems to be "maybe" a problem with some of them. I test drove a 1LT auto and bought a 2SS stick... WAY different.

[ahart04]

to be honest you are probably one of few who have actually made such a detailed comparison. You're the resident expert here, now.

btw i doubt it was a faulty rental. It's probably true that the seats are slightly different.

[Dan3]

Originally Posted by jrhaus76

was it auto? search for slow L99 threads. There seems to be "maybe" a problem with some of them. I test drove a 1LT auto and bought a 2SS stick... WAY different.

... did I miss something? He was complaining about seats, and you brought up slow L99s...

?

[CloudXTC]

glad to know someone else enjoys WoW!
yay for us nerds!

[KoTToN]

Maybe the seats in the 2SS had +15 Endurance so they were padded more than your 1lt?

[Teddydog]

He also commented that the rental didn't feel like it was blowing away his 1LT. It could be that the rental was one of the "slow" 2SS L99s.

Rob

[Dan3]

Originally Posted by Teddydog

He also commented that the rental didn't feel like it was blowing away his 1LT. It could be that the rental was one of the "slow" 2SS L99s.

Rob

Ah got it. That didn't jump out at me as an issue when I read it. Seemed to me his only real complaint was the seat.

Now I'm worried, I sat in a 1LT with sunroof to decide if I would fit, but ordered a 2SS w/sunroof...

[Meeper]

I was in a rush earlier to finish posting. Since it was a rental, yes it was an automatic. I definitely noticed the difference in speed. I could make it go off like a rocket, definitely wasn't disappointed with that at all. However, I don't feel like my 1LT is a slouch either (just saying). Driving it was an awesome experience.

But yeah my only real complaint was the seats, I guess no one here has really made a comparison yet. If others do though, I'd love to find out what other people's impressions are.

I do have to say though that even though I was sitting in a somewhat uncomfortable position, people looking at me assumed that I was so relaxed in the car.

Also a funny side bit (to me atleast). We were using XM and listening to classic rock stations as I was cruising around and having a blast. Sunday morning we're driving down through Marina Del Rey (was showing my buddy Venice Beach, Santa Monica, PCH, etc) when the signal ran out :( I guess the 3 month free sub that came with the car ran out. We then found out all over again how much regular radio sucks.

[AZCamaroFan]

I don't understand how the seats would be different.
As to the handling , i did read something in a magazine that they the SS suspension is only enough stiffer to offset the V8's weight. True?

[GTengineer]

I remember seeing magazine reviews where the V6 scored better on handling but not far. You may have not pushed the cars sufficiently to be able to notice any difference. However, nice review on the seats. That probably explains why some tall people fit just fine and others don't.

[Dan3]

I'm gonna repost some of this info in the "head room" threads. We had chalked it up to different torso heights, maybe it's different seats.

[Teddydog]

I can see how there could easily be differences in the seats between the cloth seats in the 1LT/1SS vs the leather "appointed" ones in the 2LT/2SS. The difference doesn't HAVE to only be in the fabric.

Rob

[bartking]

I'm pretty tall too 6'6 and mostly torso. I have a 2LT and adjust my seat all the way back even though I dont have a sunroof and I can't fit anything between my seat back and the back seat not even a pinky. I guess that makes my car a 3 seater