Funny, because between Impala, Taurus, Accord, and Camry, you probably account for, what? 40% of total passenger car sales int he U.S.?

This was perhaps you most ludicrous statement to date... and that is saying a lot !!!


Yes, yes... and how many other people have come out with "answers" to the mighty PT Cruiser already?

Ford? Nope.
Toyota? Nope.
Honda? Nope....


Um......... hmmmm........ guess it's not that big of a deal, eh?

 

The top 10 selling cars are all FWD and Impala and Grand Prix sales are up HUGE in the past few years. The truck money didn't go to re-skins, it went to new platforms like the RWD Zeta, Kappa, and AWD/FWD Epsilon.

The 300 is a great product but it will still get out sold by the Grand Prix. The mainstream public isn't ready for RWD yet. By the time Zeta cars come out the public will be more open to RWD and the DCX RWD cars will look dated next to the new RWD GMs

 

These types of back and forth posts are... wel.....

Personal opinion, the Impala is a bland, boring sedan.... BUT - That car was not designed or marketted for someone like myself; So, I guess I just have to turn my head away.

One thing I have noticed lately is just how late GM is with everything. I mean, while the import companies are coming out with these new-age, sleak cars, GM seems to be building these cars that look more or less like what the import guys were building in the mid-late 90's.

I like GM and all and would prefer GM over most when buying a car, but lets face it, their cars (IMHO) are less than exciting.

They've done away with the T/A and Z28 and the GTO is just like the Thunderbird, way too expensive.

We're left for the most part with cars that your average Maxima or V6 Altima could blow the doors off of.

 

On the contrary, family sedans are the bread & butter of every major automaker. It's those other more riskier cars that are far from secure, or being a sure thing.

 

Most imports look boring to me (Accord, Camry, Maxima, Passat) all the same cookie cutter crap

As far as GM cars go:

FWD GMs = :blah:
RWD GMs =

 

I guess I can see your point. Most of the imports do have some of the same flavor, but I guess its the overall new look that appeals to me.

The only thing GM has made (car-wise) in the past few years that looked REALLY nice was the Corvette and the T/A WS6. I saw an '02 WS6 today on lunch and just about drooled. Freakin things are NICE!

 

Wow, another GM product redzed doesnt like, what a surprise!

I wont come up with counterpoints, other board members already took care of that, but to those complaining about the Impala's styling, you must not research the automotive world too much. Impala's a bland looking 4 door car. Yep, so is Camry, (best selling car in America, hmmmmmm) Accord, Taurus, Passat, Altima (except for those clear taillights, there isnt much there), etc. etc.

The next Impala looks like its getting a better interior, more power, and a mild styling change. If GM keeps the pricing around the same as the current one (which I believe they will), the next gen "Wimpala" is gonna sell just as great if not better than the current one. A perfect car to keep around to rake in the sales as they roll out the Zeta RWD sedans and coupes.

I do everyday and to me the 300 says "cruiser" while the Grand Prix says "sports sedan". Even with the Hemi, I still dont consider the 300 a real corner carver and a car you can throw around turns. However its a bruiser for sure and it carries alot of presence (sorry had to steal your line there guion )on the street. The Grand Prix GTP with the TapShift is actually a pretty fun car to drive. You can really fling that car around corners and the TapShift thing is actually pretty cool even though I wrote it off as tacky till I actually used it. And the power in the car is actually very good. RWD would be better but its still a fun car to drive. Its more of a "driver oriented" sedan than the 300 is IMO and I like that. I'm guessing you dont and write it off as just old. Well the F-body platform that our 4th gens ride on is old too. But I cant recall you ever slamming the Camaro for being "old".

 

From the looks of the pics. it looks like the front end styling isn't done yet. Notice the sharp drop off of the camo in the head light area revealing a hole. The hood line drops much lower between the headlights kind of like the current Camrys front end. From the rear I see alot of Altima/Maxima from the slant of the rear glass to the trunk lid. From the side the same rear quarter panel glass treatment can be seen that was started on the B-Body ImpalaSS, but much more aggresive slants.

I am hoping Chevy will produce a car worthy to be in the sports sedan market with the new Impala SS. From what I see in those pics. the styling seems to be a bit tame, but we'll have to what and see the finished product before drawing anymore conclusions.

At least its getting a V8 this go around

We will have to wait a bit longer for a Caprice to get V8 and RWD

It will be interesting to see how the Monte Carlo turns out since its the only W-Body coupe left.

 

1. The Taurus is just about dead, if you haven't already heard.

2. The Camry and Accord aren't all that boring anymore. Interestingly, the the Japanese dare to offer upscale Camry/Accord platform-mates, the Lexus ES330 and Acura TL, but GM wouldn't dare to offer a W-body with a Cadillac badge.



Yeah, and only GM has formally announced a direct PT-competitor. If the idea of a cheap, nostalgic people carrier wasn't a good idea, they wouldn't be doing it.......six years late......or would they?

Instead getting on the cheap "retro" bandwagon, GM's "retro" product is the $48K SSR - a vehicle that actually makes the defunct Plymouth Prowler look powerful and well designed.

 

Everybody has been doing that for years. In the late 80s all the Acura Legend was an up scale Accord with a V6. Same with Toyota and Lexus, Taurus and Sable. The upscale W-Body was the Olds Intrique it had a upscale engine and interior from other W-Bodies. To bad GM killed it. Cadillac has the CTS they don't need a W-Body.

 

Taurus is just about dead all right...to be replaced by the equally ho-hum Five Hundred, "if you haven't already heard." You're really grasping at anything but none of it seems very logical to me.

 

So what? It's here today, being produced now, and sells a ton... and, like Z28Wilson said, it gets a new name... Five Hundred... This is the biggest segment of the passenger car market and always will be... to argue this is ludicrous.

OK, Accord and Camry arent boring, but Impala is. GIMME A BREAK! Impala SS... gonna eat the taillights of WHICH of these cars?!?

As far as a Cadillac W-Body.... well, I think it's clear that Cadillac is moving upscale... they are doing a wonderful job. Why would they want or need a W-Body? That's what Pontiac, Chevy and Buick are for!



Youmake fun of GM for being 6-years late to the 'party', even though noone else has bothered to ask for an invitation to the party, yet berate GM for being the first to create a segment like the SSR. Not real straight thinking.

 

Camry not boring...... I know you are bias against GM but come on, the Camry is the definition of boring car. It is funny how you praise the Imports for badge egeneering, but if GM offered a Chevy version of a car on the CTS platform you would bash the CTS for being on the same platfom as the cheaper Chevy. At least GM has RWD cars, something Honda doesn't.

The SSR is going to offer a 400HP V8 next year. Find me another vehicle that has the style, retractable hardtop, and 400HP for under $50K. Even the 300HP SSR is selling like hot cakes.

Everyone here knows you hate GM no matter what they do so go find a Ford or ricer site to troll around on .

 

I somewhat agree with Redzed about wasting time on redesigning the wimpala. The Impala/Caprice should be competition for the 300...and its far from it!! I've never owned anything other than GM products for as long as I can remember. That might change after I test drive a 300c. Or I might just put 200K on my 96 ImpalaSS.(which by the way was me driving my SS last week on American Muscle Car on Speed Channel )

 

Man...why does every one pick my car for comparisions....stuff like "Ohh Chrysler makes the 300, and all Gm has is the Grand Prix"

I happen to like my car...it can out run 80% of the cars on the road, people stop and compliment it all the time and ask for more info on what it is (I have been asked 3 times if it was a new GTO). The interior is plenty nice for me..I don't need Audi, but expect better that say a Trailblazer which feels like a dump truck inside. Matter of fact the GP is about as performance oriented as a FWD car can get.

To be honest, I really would never buy a 300C...it is huge, bling blingish and from what I hear doesn't handle well. Also I know this is picky...but again the steering wheel looks big and dump truckish. Plus it is still a Chrysler..until I see how these things are after 100,000 miles I would not touch one. Something is weird when GM can develop DoD for years, and DCX can come out of nowhere and no one wonders.


As for RWD vs. FWD, for every person who wants a RWD car, I can find you three who have it programmed in their head FWD is better. I believe RWD has a place....but don't expect it to take over in segements like the Impalas.