With so few enthusiast cars available today, it sometimes takes looking back a few years to find something fun. And if its the ultimate sleeper car you’re looking for, the 2017 Chevy SS has to be on your shortlist. Complete with a supercharged V8, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive, this rather ordinary looking four-door sedan packs a punch most won’t see coming.

2017 Chevrolet SS specs:

• 6.2-liter V8
• 415 horsepower
• 415 lb. ft. torque
• 0-60: 4.5 seconds
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Rear-wheel drive

Understated design sets the Chevy SS apart

The 2017 Chevy SS was one of a rare breed of legitimate sleeper cars designed with just that concept in mind. While other cars like the Volvo S60 Polestar are unintentional sleeper cars, the Chevy SS was deliberately focused on performance and understated style.

As such, it featured a rather anonymous design with subtle curves and simple grille layouts. The body featured just a few creases and little in the way of the harsh angles we see on newer options like the CT5-V Blackwing and Dodge Hellcats.

That lack of expression hits at a narrow section of the market that wants performance but doesn’t want anyone to know it. That said, connoisseurs will still immediately recognize the SS on the road, often with an excited point and gasp. After all, the SS wasn’t exactly a huge hit.

A genuine grand touring experience

The unflinchingly honest Jason Cammisa doesn’t praise modern cars very often. However, the 2017 Chevy SS earned his ultra-rare seal of approval while with Motortrend, saying, “This thing is far more fun than any 600-horsepower German sedan.” I couldn’t agree more.

I had the occasion to drive a ‘17 Chevy SS when they were new, and I came away from the experience wondering why they weren’t everywhere.

OK, the rumble of a pushrod V8 engine is truly not for everyone. But the blend of comfort, steering feel, and genuine handling capability complement that raw V8 in a way that few newer cars have managed. Both in looks and in comfort, the SS is a modern luxury sedan. And in both power and handling, it’s a European GT car. Never mind that it was technically Australian.

It’s one of the only cars in which you can roast the rear tires a la your favorite NASCAR driver’s victory celebration, and still roll up to school to get the kids without having to hide your face.

In short, the 2017 Chevy SS sits at the intersection of obnoxious and opulent.

Why did Chevy discontinue the SS?

Chevy produced the SS from 2014 to 2017 and used its NASCAR program to help sell cars along the way. Unfortunately, the Holden VF Commodore that the SS was based on went out of production after 2017. Rather than undertake the expense to bring production stateside, Chevy scuttled the SS after the 2017 model year.

Is the Chevy SS a good used car?

Using old engine technology makes the 2017 Chevy SS unusually reliable for a powerful V8 muscle car. And while the SS wasn’t a slow seller, moving an average of over 3,000 cars a year for each year of production, there aren’t many used models available today. This scarcity, plus the niche nature of the Chevy SS, means an inflated used market.

On quality alone, a used 2017 Chevrolet SS is an excellent used car whether you want a luxury car or a sports car. However, pricing sits at around $40,000, and there are several used cars that are a better value as a result. But if this one-of-a-kind experience is what you’re chasing, there’s no doubting the excellence you’ll get for that $40k.