2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 SS | Review | Buying Guide
The most snarling and intimidating of all the ½-ton pickups in the Chevy arsenal, the 1500 SS is as rugged and fast as they come. The SS stands for Super Sport, and from the name alone you should get a good idea of what’s happening with this barely-legal pickup truck.
Chevy calls Silverado SS a contemporary expression of Chevy power for those muscle car enthusiasts who want the added versatility of a muscle truck. Basically, it is an extended cab short bed 1500 model that has a huge dose of power and plenty of attitude to match its speed.
If you really want to move in your pickup, there aren’t many better choices on the market than the 2005 Silverado SS.
Under the Hood
Under the hood of the unique Silverado 1500 SS is a 6.0-liter, high-output LQ9 version Vortec V8 engine. It cranks out an outstanding 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
The high-output prefix attached to the SS’ engine means it has been tuned for explosive acceleration out of the blocks, as well as a nice, smooth cruising speed for highway driving. It mates to a Hydra-Matic 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission, whose 3.06 first gear and 0.70 final gear also contributes to the truck's impressive performance.
The 2004 Silverado 1500 SS has a standard full-time, all-wheel-drive (AWD) viscous-coupled transfer case for exceptional on-road, wet or dry pavement handling. Its high-performance suspension allows it to take the bumps and pockets of the street and transform them into insignificant blips.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
One of the problems with engineering such a beast of a truck is how to handle all that power. To that end, Chevy gives the 2005 SS an innovative Z60 high-performance chassis and tire package that includes Silverado's largest ever 20-inch wheel and tire combination for exceptional road holding and cornering capabilities.
The 1500 SS is also decked out on the inside with premium appointments. Some of the names from the list include air conditioning with dual-zone manual climate control, a trip computer, a tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, the OnStar System, leather upholstery, heated front bucket seats and a Bose AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD changer.
For 2005, Silverado SS is available with a power sunroof option. Silver Birch Metallic is offered in addition to Victory Red.
|
