Hello This question is for the 2.4 ltr SS owners:

I was wondering if it is "worth it" to upgrade from the 2.2 ltr LS to the 2.4 ltr SS. I stopped by my Chevy dealer to ask and my payments would be $20 more a month with $2000 down, but definately there's room to deal. The dealer has 2 supercharged SS's (nice! red or silver) but no 2.4 ltrs. They'd trade with another dealer to get one or I can order one from the factory and wait 6 weeks.

My question is this: since there isn't a 2.4 ltr for me to test drive, do you owners think it's worth the extra 30 hp, SS badges, different fascia and 17" 5-lug wheels for me to "move up"? What do you think about your cars? Does it require 87 octane like the 2.2 ltr? Is the 173 hp that noticeable over the 145 hp? Is the ride better with the sport suspension?

Thanks everyone for your help

 

It feels like another car. The suspension is very firm without being too harsh. From my research (e-mails to GM) I have deterermined that the suspension is 95% the same as the ION Redline.

The brakes are the same as the Redline and S/C SS.

To get the full 171hp you need premium gas (I would suggest you'd lose about 4-6hp using regular, the Pontiac G6 2.4L uses regular and is 167hp)

Wind it up and its pretty quick. Comparing to the 2.2L there is a significant difference.

I test drove several base 2.2L cars before I tested a 2.4L SS and the difference was immediatley apparent. The 2.4L SS is a much stronger performer in every cateogory. And the looks are better too.

 

the 2.4 liter is worth it if you have the means, my friend has the 2.2 and i test drove it and the difference is huge handling power and looks, also there is a guy on her that put in a short ram intake and ran a 15.1 which isnt far behind the ss/sc...

 

I owned a 2.2L for 6 months and then I traded it in for the 2.4L SS......it was so worth it and I will never regret it....you can definitely feel the difference in performance and it's not far behind the S/C.....with a few bolt ons...come one what's 30hp and .5 of a sec. in the 1/4?....hehe

 

Since i'm freakin tired right now i'll just say that I 100% agree with the comments posted above.

 

Forgot to add this Golf Girl:

If the car is traded from another dealer or ordered, just make purchase subject to a test drive. That way you wouldn't be on the hook if for some reason you did not like it.

 

I'd stick with the 2.2 if it is a stick. The 2.4 has a little more torque of course and over a broader rpm band. $2000 down and another $20 a month for 5 years is $3200, then don't forget insurance cost and gas mileage. You will not get better mileage with the 2.4 if my experience with the old 2.4 is any indication. As far as looks, I don't like the shiny wheels or the little wing. Give me big wing or no wing at all!

 

Thanks for your response everyone. I appreciate your honesty.

I am at the 6 month mark like Cobalt443 was. I hope I don't regret it either if I go through with it. avro206 made some good points--I never thought about the 'subject to test drive' statement to the dealer.

The mileage bothers me a little though. I am getting 28.6 now (best was 30.0) so I am sure I'll be a little sad when the 2.4 ltr gets less. Can you safely use a tankful of 87 octane now and then if primary fill ups consist of premium?

So concensus is I should go for the 2.4 ltr.? To answer giovanhalen's response, my car is auto I would like the SS to be manual. There are 2 cars that my dealer can get right now from another dealer: one is manual and sunroof, other is auto and no sunroof. Rest of the options are identical.

 

You can use the lower octane fuel as often as you like just don't drive hard when using it. I had the 2.4 Cavalier with the auto and got about 26-28mpg most of the time. On the interstate with the cruise on at 75mph it got 30mpg. As far as gas mileage, I believe you will get as good with a 2.4 manual as you would with a 2.2 auto. The auto transmission car will be easier to sell though. The 2.2 with manual trans never gets below 30mpg unless you are just flooring it constantly and you never need more than 87 octane.