I agree, some of the sticker packages out these days a just plain fugly and I've seen ricers add stickers to there cars.....All they need to do is take a look around and they will see what people are doing to there cars/trucks and create a package that includes those mods then cover them under factory warranty. For example:

I passed in front of a Nissan dealership the other day and they offer a lift Kit package that includes wheels and taller more aggressive looking mud/all terrian tire and is covered under factory warranty. If they had a sport truck package that came lowered with wheels and performance mods that would be cool but they are taking a step in the right direction with the 4x4.

It would be sweet if the Silverado SS had an added package that would include a 2/4 drop, aftermarket wheels and tires, and forced induction.
Or
A 4x4 Crew Cab Duramax package that includes a 6 inch suspension lift, aftermarket wheels (something aggressive like a beadlock wheel), aggressive mud tire and front and rear lockers. Just my $.02

 

My dealer has had a few 05 ccsb z71's with 4" lift and 33"s.(super swamper TSL radials to be exact, that aint an easy tire on parts).

They also have sold a few black ecsb 1500 with 20's and 22"s with 2" drop shackles(not much but more people would rather a leveled truck then an actual lowered. I would think.

OH btw their is a nissan and ford dealer on the same 2 mile stretch of road. Both ALWAYS have a lifted titan or f150 AND f250 outsdie. Nissan went with 315's and a 6". Ford on the other hadn has gone as high on 250's as 42" and on 150's as high 37".

The fords never stayed outside longer then a week or two TOPS. THE chevy's were out their for awhile. Nissan's I see a few around town but the same one still sits on the lot.

 

Around here I've only seen lifted Titan's and a few Suburbans and Tahoes with 20 inch wheels. I guess the Chevy and Ford dealerships around here need to get on the ball. The local shops are making a killing putting lift kits/lowering kits, wheels and tires on Chevys and Fords.

 

Don't forget about the 400HP SSR!!!! The majority of GM vehicles get their HP from a N/A form. Ford has to use FI to get bigger HP & TQ numbers for their high hp vehicles.
Dodge has to add 2 more cylinders to their fastest truck to compete with the smaller V8's Ford and GM use.
You just have to step out of the box for a sec and think about the whole picture.
I have several issues with GM, but it's not in the power department!

Jim

 

chevy's are known and always have been known as a vehcle people buy as a plat form to do all the modding, personally why pay an extra 5 grand for something already done when it only costs 3 grand and you get the personal satisfaction of buying and havnig the parts installed yourself. when they come in these visual or performance packages we as consumers and performance enthusiasts lose the before and after, wow that was aweome and worth it factor. when stuff already comes bolted on, not to mention more expensive, it totally takes the fun out of modification. i commend GM on not following the crowd and coming out with already FI SS's and super performance vehicles right off the lot. the zo6 is in a different category all together just because they can and the Z06 does not compare with the viper and ford gt being the z06 is 60kish viper is 80-90 and gt is ~150k... just my 2 cents.

 

Keep in mind that the performance vehicles aren't the real money makers for the manufacturer. Their main purpose is to drum up excitement and get the people into the dealerships. Once the people are there, more often than not, they go for the more economic purchase. i.e. there are more V6 Mustangs in production than there are GTs, and Cobras combined. Here are the numbers for 2003 (the latest I could find):

Mustang V6 (coupe & conv) - 86,443
Mustang GT (coupe & conv) - 41,756
Mustang Cobra (coupe & conv) - 13,476
Mustang Mach 1 - 9,652

What I'm saying is non-performance models are the manufacturers' bread & butter. Performance vehicles are made as an effort to keep interest and to get some good PR. What they are really trying to sell more of - ...is not what we 'the enthusiasts' are buying. That's why Japan is kicking our ***. It's all about fuel economy, vehicle longevity, and reliability. Because the average citizen doesn't give a rip about HP. It's just a gimick. The new thing to boast is high MPG, not HP. [/soapbox]

 

People still want better MPG's with more HP. I can still be done.

Jim

 

you can get decent gas mileage out of a stock ls1 f-body with a 6 speed if you drive it right.

 

My 99 corvette was very fuel friendly when I kept my foot out it. Even with full exhaust and engine mods I could still easily get 28-30 mpg on the highway.

 

You guys all missed the point. Get past gas mileage for a second. It's not about what is possible. We all know what is possible... It's about the bottom line when it comes to the manufacturers, and the performance lines aren't the most cost-effective product. It sucks to say because I'm a motorhead, just like you, and just like those that run special projects for the manufacturers. But we're the minority (translated: we aren't the ones doing most of the purchasing).