Alright well, i never really got a good look at the new impy SS and i was at B&N looking at mags and i ran across i think c&d and they showed pics of a 64 impy SS, A B-body SS, and now the current 2006 Impy SS. Is it just me or does this thing look like crap? Even the C&D guys called it a montepala since it has practically the same front facia.

I hope this isnt the current trend for chevy to make all their cars look like the cobalt. I hope this doesnt carry over to camaro plans. We all know about chevys plans for brand identity but i dont think a homogenous bland of front facias makes people think of a automaker.

Hate to say it but the current gen of Impy SS although V6 and S/C i think looks about 10x better then the new gen. The 2006 impy SS is a cross between a cobalt and a malibu. With terrible rims. Both cars that do not diserve the SS tag btw and both cars i find UAF.

 

Naturally, I'm prejudiced.......

........but.........

Don't judge any car or truck by looking at pictures......invariably they don't do the vehicle justice.

I think the press photos were horrible of the Impala. (I didn't recognize it at first!)

The car looks much better in person...esp. the SS......and the LS4 engine is gonna surprise some people.....both in terms of power/performance and fuel economy (Displacement on Demand)

 

Chevy quit making Impalas in 1996. Yeah, the new ones may be faster, they may out handle, they may sell better and all that...but the soul of that car is gone. A 94-96 Impala SS has that "I'm a big, bad American car with a V8 and rwd now get outta my way!" look about it. The new ones look like they are trying to be a wimpy japanese car copycat.

 

Make all cars look like the Cobalt???!
I think there's something wrong with your prescription glasses... or you may need a pair.

The new Impala looks OK. It's most certainly going to completely disappear when parked next to a 300 or a Magnum (let alone a Charger) but shockingly, there's alot of people who like their cars that way.

The Impy SS will barely account for 10% of all sales, and the Monte SS barely better, so it's not like it's made to appeal to the fire and brimstone performance guys.

As for the SS tags, when you look at what the "SS" tags have been on since the begining (sorry to break it to ya, but most SSs wern't tire melting Chevelles), the new 2006 Impala and Monte Carlo SSs are probally the quickest to wear the name. In fact, I'd say it's even money that the new V8 Monte Carlo SS will at least match the famed Chevelle SS454, let alone the old SS396s.

Chevrolet is making the best with what it has till the new cars work through the system. The Impala isn't for me, and neither is the Monte Carlo, but for what they are, they're pretty good cars.

 

I understand your perspective. But growing up in a Chevrolet dealership, I can tell you that most Impalas were not Impala SSs.........they were coupes and 4-door hardtops and 4-door sedans. (and yes, even 2 door sedans early on!) Further, if you look at the engine application on Impala SS over the years (from 1961 thru 1969) you'd find that most were sold with the 283 and 327 engines.....and yes, even some with the 250 in-line 6.

I loved the 1994-1996 Impala.....we took one of the ugliest Chevrolets ever built and made it into a brutal (for the time) handsome American Road Car. I remember many middle-of-the-night trips over the Interstates of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York in several Impala SSs.....

But don't sell the new 2006 SS short.......do yourself a favor and drive one when they hit the dealerships........and then make a judgement. I've driven them and I've gotta tell you (yes, I'm prejudiced....but we DO own most other nameplates out there....we buy them...) this car will surprise a lot of people.

 

FWIW, it looks better in person than in pictures.

And after driving a GXP, I think the LS4 Impala will be a nice drive....better than the B-body Impala SS.

 

 

[QUOTE=Red Planet]I understand your perspective. But growing up in a Chevrolet dealership, I can tell you that most Impalas were not Impala SSs.........they were coupes and 4-door hardtops and 4-door sedans. (and yes, even 2 door sedans early on!)

QUOTE]

From 1958-1964, the only two door sedan to have the Impala name was in 1961. I'm not sure about the later years.

By the way Scott, remember the newest Impala episode of American Muscle Car on Speed Channel, where you have a black 94-96 sitting behind you...I did all the driving scenes in that show in my black 96. Two of the 64 Impalas in that show are mine also. It was fun!

 

I'm not fond of the exterior styling at all. However the interior and the drive train are quite nice from what I've read. However, the Impala is not a car I want or desire. I dont have the need yet for a 4 door sedan with FWD. That'll come later down the road, and hopefully by then GM will offer a 4 car door with RWD that I can afford.

 

Listen to Red Planet, wait to see one in person. They look better than the pics.

Everyone here is RWD biased, so a FWD is never going to totally win us over no matter how good it is. If I was looking for a Family Sedan for under $30K THe Impala SS would probably be at the top right now. (over $30K and I'll take a CTS or Chrager SRT-8), maybe even the new 3 series.)

 

From what I've seen so far, I like the rear and the profile better than the current Impala.

The front, I'm up in the air on.... the lower grille give sit a bit of a "puckered up" look, but I do want to see one in person. That said, I don't think it is bad in the front....

That's ironic, because I LOVE the new front end on the Monte Carlo, and it looks like it uses the same headlights (and for the record I HATE that idea.... using the same stying parts on 2 different cars that are obviously the same part and easily picked out as such... the whole "Corporate steering wheel tacked onto the 2006 Corvette" falls under the same catagory )

 

I've seen it in person too, and it certainly looks better live than in pictures. Not gorgeous or anything, but certainly modern and acceptable to the mainstream I would think.

 

I agree 100%. This new Impala has lost its identity that makes an Impala an Impala.One instance specifically were the 3 tail lights on each side of the rear like on past Impalas.Now they are single generics which like or similar to the ones on quite a few compacts and sedans in recent past and present.The front end isn't nothing to hollar at either,looks like the '95 Lumina/Monte Carlos'.The car doesn't look too large/long either.It looks somewhat compact,and way too rounded.I know that they can't stay looking like past cars but damn.....I'm sure that it's a great car and that it may be a better performer but,to me,who cares when the exterior isn't that exciting,different or is just plain generic.

 

I've seen it live (several SS models, plus some base models and an LTZ or two). I think it is quite pretty in person, though the front end does resemble a current Accord.

The interior is nice looking, roomy, and the trunk is HUGE. With the 17s (on the LTZ) and the 18s (on the SS), the car looks great to me. I would like to see the SS with 18s with some slightly thinner spokes (more like those on the '94-'96 Impy SS).

My $0.02.

 

I will agree that the Impy SS looks great in person. and if its like the GXP, I will agree that this car will deffinatly be a great car. Its very clean, and much more appealing in person.