I like how all the B-body guys are bashing it and making fun of it being FWD when stock for stock the new Impala would blow the ****ing doors off their old overweight Impala pigs. Wouldn't even be a contest - it would be a bitchslapping.

 

Well, it is the next generation and it kind of should out perform the previous versions.

But it's still sad. It's not how well it does against the out dated stuff, it's how well it does against its contemporaries. And (oddly) packing 300hp on what looks like a fairly sloppy FWD platform... I'd look elsewhere for a performance oriented sedan.

 

Those B-body guys sound like a bunch of snobs....don't they? Lots of trivial complaints...like not liking the floor shifter. Guess once you go column shift, you never want to go back. Another guy complains about it being too small....hmmm.

And I agree, stock for stock....I'm guessing the '05 Impala SS will completely outperform a B-bod Impala SS.

 

Good God! Is that thing going to fall over on it's side?!

Seeing those pictures makes me think the '06 Impala SS is going to be the next car to fall from grace if I drive one (last was that Bonneville).

Look at how that car leans! What's the suspension made of? Cool Whip?

 

It doesn't take much to add a set of REAL swaybars to a car like that. So why didn't Chevy take care of it already? A little more money for slightly bigger size but c'mon, this is an SS, not a base model.

 

It's an impala. What do you expect? Camaro-like performance? Jesus christ this thing will be in 30% of the soccer mom's driveways to get groceries (yes I'm still talking about the SS/LS4). If you want GM LS4 with alittle more performance buy the sportier GXP... I don't understand any of this really?

And the old B-Bodys IMO were UUGGGGGLLYYYYY. I would take this 2006 design hands down over the old one, FWD and all.

 

Maybe not, but it IS the SS model....

 

I was thinking the exact same thing. There's one thing I've learned...in general, '94-'96 Impy SS owners truly do believe they have the best thing since sliced bread. Don't get me wrong, I like them myself. But the interiors are a laughing stock compared to anything GM puts out today, the car's space utilization is **** poor, it isn't even that quick, and the fact of the matter is that there are a ton of FWD cars out there that will completely annihilate their beloved RWD fetish-mobiles...see that car on the auto-x track? That's one of them.

The huge aftermarket for W Body parts will have those cars handling like champs in no time Sorry for the rant about Impy SS owners, but if people like that who own cars like those are ranting on a car like the '06, there heads are shoved way too far up their own a**.

Stepping off of soapbox now...

 

Holy lift kit batman, is that Gm's new crossover vehicle. So this car came from the same guys that made the colbalt SS?

I thought I read in car and driver or motor trend that the GXP GP had 67% of the weight over the front end. You just cant tune that out. The thing needs a 40mm bar upfront just to have a chance.

The V-8 power is fun and I am sure it will do well at the strip but it could be too much for FWD. The detroit paper said the car was way too darty under power and pulled in both directions under power. And they got 16mpg in the week or two with the car.

 

I dont think that these SS's, the Monte and Impy, were put together by GMPD, unlike Cobalt SS and TB SS. I think that the Monte and Impy got left over technology from Pontiac.

 

Sure, it is an Impala. And no, I wouldn't expect it to handle like a f body. What I would expect however, is if they're going to put the SS badge on there, it should mean something other than just slapping a V8 in it (fwd and all on top of that), maybe some different wheels, and calling it done. That's just not going to cut it these days.

As for the styling, it looks about as exciting as a glass of water to me. At least the LT1 version had some soul.

 

So...soul is a civilian-ized cop car version of a white-bread daily driver?

Just want to clear it up.

 

A lot of that comes from frustration over the fact that GM was too f*cking stupid to continue improving the breed, and instead decided to go compete with every other FWD wuss-sedan on the planet. It's that whole abandonment thing. You'd think that F-body owners might understand that.

I'll be interested in knowing if anyone gives a rat's *** about the new Impala SS 10 years from now.

Sorry for ranting, but anyone who thinks that GM is great for shoving a V8 into an FWD jellybean also has their head pretty far up their a**.

 

You ok there? If you disagree and don't like the LT1 version, why not just say that? Out of Midol or something?

And by the way - I never said the car was James Brown. I said it had some soul.

 

I've nothing against the LT1 B-Body. I almost bought a "Tri-9" 9C1 before I came across my Z. Just had some pent-up frustration to work out.

I'll try to say it differently (not being mean, just trying to get my point across).

Yes, the FWD SS probably isn't going to be worshipped in 10-20 years. But, I'll be willing to bet that when everyone bought their classic SSes, they weren't thinking "I'm going to keep this bone-stock, because in 30 years it'll be a collector's item." I'll bet the enthusiast's were going to strap every aftermarket part they could on it, just like today's enthusiasts. They're not going to think about collectability and wether or not it'll be worth something. They want bang-for-the-buck, and in the case of the Impy/Monte, practicality as well.

My view on the SS is that, yes, they were great vehicles stock, but were even better cars once you started strapping parts to it. Moral of the story is that I'm going to wait and see what the aftermarket can do with the '06 Impala SS before I call it a disgrace or not.