Base MSRP Range: $42,555

Base Invoice Range: $39,789

MSRP As Tested: Not Available

Versions: None

Vehicle Category: Compact Pickup Truck

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Rear-Wheel Drive .

Standard Engine: 6.0-liter, Overhead Valve, 16-valves, "> V-8, 390 - horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 405 lb-ft torque at 4,400 rpm.

Transmission: Four-speed automatic, Six-speed manual.

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Six-speed 13/20, Four-speed 15/19.

Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Side Airbags, "> Antilock 4-wheel brakes, Daytime running lights.

Competition: Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Blaizer, Chevrolet Corvette, Chrysler Crossfire, Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Prowler.

If you're the shy type, don't ever ride in this Chevy.

From the moment you step inside this wild truck -- a power-top convertible, no less -- you become the center of attention wherever you drive.

People roll down their windows at stoplights to ask what it is; you can't fill the gas tank without being interrupted at least twice; little kids stare at it with open-mouthed amazement; and cops pull you over for no apparent reason.

That's the power of the SSR.

Nobody really needs a truck like this, especially for the nearly $50,000 sticker price on the test vehicle I drove for a week. It has only two seats and a small truck bed, and it makes gas disappear faster than the pizza buffet at Cici's when a starving football team walks in. It's safe to say Chevy won't sell one of these trucks on the basis of practicality.

Maybe that's the reason it's been a major sales flop for the past two years. Unlike the similarly retro-styled PT Cruiser -- which is priced like a compact car but has the practicality of an SUV -- the SSR is almost useless except as a rich man's toy. From a sales standpoint, that's clearly why the PT Cruiser is hot and the SSR is not.

In any case, Chevrolet adds a little sugar to the already sweet convertible truck by tossing in the LS2 engine from the Corvette. A 6.0-liter V8 monster that powers the latest generation of GM's famed sports car, this engine fires up with the kind of deep-throated rumble that could be heard from here to Australia.

When coupled with a six-speed manual transmission, the SSR is an awful lot of fun to drive. Imagine getting behind the wheel of a low-rider Chevy Trailblazer with a humongous engine, and you'll have some idea of what this truck feels like.

But, as everybody who sees it can tell, the SSR is more about looks than anything else. It has an exaggerated, heritage-inspired body that people either love or hate, and it certainly draws attention everywhere it goes.

For extra boulevard-cruising fun, you can drop the hard top with the push of a button. It splits into three parts and neatly folds away underneath a hard cover, perfectly hidden from view until you push the button again to quickly raise it. It takes less than 30 seconds to complete the transformation.

Chevrolet also takes away the SSR's truck-like steering feel this year with upgrades that provide a more precise on-center feel, smoother overall operation and reduced effort at lower speeds. It's more car-like, which is a good thing.

All in all, the SSR is a great vehicle for a couple of reasons. One, it gets more attention than a Ferrari at less than half the price. And two, it brings back good memories for people who remember Chevrolet's pickups in the '40s and '50s.

Still, I can't help but think that Chevrolet is going the wrong direction to fix the SSR's core problems: it's too expensive and too impractical. If it had a back seat, more efficient engine and half-price sticker, Chevrolet couldn't keep 'em in stock.

Until then, it's just a fun toy for the rich ... and those of us lucky enough to mooch one for a week.

Pros: It's great for getting attention, if you like that sort of thing. It's also lots of fun to drive now that it has a 6.0-liter V8 from the new Corvette.

Cons: It's probably the most impractical pickup truck ever made, with a small bed, only two seats and awful gas mileage.

Ratings (1-10)

• Style: 10
• Performance: 10
• Price: 3
• Handling: 4
• Ride: 4
• Comfort: 6
• Quality: 9
• Overall: 8

More Data

Where Built: USA

Major Options: Heated front seats, Tonneau cover inner trim, Running boards, Wind blocker, Chrome alloy wheels

Seating: 2.

Number of Rows: 1.

Length in Inches: 191.4

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles Bumper to Bumper, 6 years/100,000 miles Corrosion protection, 3 years/36,000 miles Roadside assistance.

Weight in Pounds: 4760 lb

Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available.

Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.

Towing Capacity in Pounds: 2500 lbs.

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 25.0

Destination Charge: $625