For the cost of the 552 look at the Thompson R55. One of the nicest built semi autos made.
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/rimfireRifles.php For about $650 you can get a magnum research, they are suhweeet.
No experience whatsoever with the 552 but I really like the 597, very good guns for the money, accurate too. I have a 60 and the only issue I have with it is the stock is made for children. I do have that funny feeling in my gut that the 552 is a lot better built than the 60, I said built, I did not say anything about accuracy or reliability.
The 60, with the 10/22 being second, is probably the best low cost 22 semi auto ever built. Cheap, reliable, accurate. They have made over 11,000,000 of them, mine has never failed me. Remington 552 also has a good following with a lot of happy customers, according to the searches I just did at RFC.