In the spirit of earning my "LX platform *****" wings .............

Do torque managed, de-tuned, V8 FWD sedans have a chance against the real thing?

I mean, does anyone here feel they would take a W-car FWD 5.3 Grand Prix over....oh say a Hemi Charger?

 

If I have to hear 'Hemeee' one more time, I think my answer is yes

Depending on my personal choice of design/style, I would choose the Chrysler powertrain anyday.

 

Yes, they have a chance. I haven't seen the new exterior duds yet, but the interior of the new Impala looks quite a bit nicer, IMO, than the LX cars. Why don't we just wait and see instead of condemning a car that isn't even out yet? If you are inclined toward rwd and the most possible horsepower, then the "bshemi" 300C might be your ride. Obviously, that is a lot of people on this board. But for hundreds of thousands of people who want a nice car (inside and out) with V8 power and good fuel economy, the Impala and GP will probably be pretty good candidates. Especially the Impala, IMO.

 

Why do you say, especially Impala, Joe?

 

No good reason, really. But I've seen the 5.3 versions of the GP around, and they have a few tweaks here and there, but I haven't seen anything majorly different about the interior (although that could be simply because they are using existing cars with the new hardware and I just haven't seen the proper interior yet). The point is that the Impala will be redesigned soon, as we know, and from what I've seen of the interior, it looks really really good. The GPs got their redesign last year, so the V8 will be a mid-cycle enhancement. I don't know if or how much the interior/exterior styling will change. But the Impala will be basically a new car inside and out, along with the new engine option.

Plus, I'm more of a Chevy guy anyway.

 

Looking forward to seeing it.

 

I hope the new Impala's interior is what you say it is. GM seems to be getting their interior act together painfully slow, but I have no reason not to think the Impala will have a great interior, if for no other reason that the current one has been bashed so much it's not even a sport anymore.

That said, though the 5.3 is going to be a step in the right direction, because the transmission can't take any more torque, it's probally realistic to expect the 5.3 Impala to be no quicker than a blown GTP Pontiac. In short, a V8 Impala SS is all but certain to get smoked by the 300C.

If GM sells the V8 SS for the price of a base SS (+/- $27,000) then Impala SS is going to be a great deal because it will be in the same price range as the 250 V6 Hemi Touring. But Impala also MUST have a stop in your tracks good look. After seeing the new Malibu, and the evolutionary Cavalier styling of the Colbalt, that's far, far from a certainty.

As you said we'll have to wait & see, but (and I hope I'm wrong on this) I think the next Impala is going to be a mixed bag of tradeoffs between looks, price, and performance.

 

The 5.3L MC/GP/Impala will be a hit if GM can keep the price down. $27,000 is a reasonable MSRP, any thing over $29K-30K and they will be a joke.

The Bonnie GXP looks like a real joke with its $35,995 MSRP next to the much nicer RWD 340HP Hemi 300C and GMs own 3.6L Cadillac CTS that is just as fast, has a 5 speed auto with a 6 speed manual option for '05, is of better build quality, is on a better platform and is most importantly RWD.

FWD knocks at least $3000+ of what the car is worth in my book vs. if the same car came with RWD.

V8 Impala/Monte/Grand Prix would be real sweet with an AWD option.

 

Aren't all cars a tradeoff of looks, price, and performance?

As for the styling, it obviously won't have the cab-back, short front overhang look that the CTS and 300 enjoy because of the FWD layout (this is my biggest beef with the current GP; oh how I wish the front-barrell automatic shown in the Buick Bengal had been pushed harder). But it will still be pretty good. In fact, I think the current Impala is pretty nice looking on the outside. Of course, styling is subjective, but I don't think the LX cars are huge knockouts. I mean, they have very distinctive FACES, but the rest of the car is VERY slab-sided, and they have a horribly squashed-looking greenhouse. The overall shape is still basic three box sedan (or two-box wagon, with the rear greenhouse even more squashed). IMO, the best thing they have going for them styling wise is the lack of front overhang b/c of the rear drive layout.

I think the car will probably be good looking. As daring as the Magnum or 300? Perhaps not; I can't tell under the camo (btw, the camo paint schemes are getting crazier and crazier - they almost look like those magic image deals that turn into something else if you stare hard enough! ). You mentioned the Malibu and Cobalt. The Malibu is a bit staid looking (as are the Camry and Accord, though), but the Cobalt has been very well received. At least in coupe form. The sedan is more obviously Ion/Delta based, but the coupe is quite distinctive, both from the Cavalier and from the competition. Besides, the Cavalier coupe has been regarded as a nice looking car too, inspired by the old Opel Calibra IIRC (the new front end is a bit odd, but the overall shape is the same since '95). I think the Cobalt is going to go over quite well, and the dash is way nicer than any Corolla or Civic (the Civic dash is horribly cheap, imo, but that is no crime on a cheap car).

As far as the V8 performance is concerned, you said basically what I think. Let us not forget that the 300C can be optioned up to $40k and does pseudo-CTS fighting. Out of the Impala's league. I think the V8 will likely come in near the 3.5L Magnum/300C, and not really go against the Hemi. For that, people will get much better performance (remember, the 3.8 N/A is about on par with the 3.5, regardless of hp on paper), better sound and smoothness, and they get to feel cool 'cause they have a V8. Will it keep up with the Hemi? Not likely, but it will likely be quite a bit cheaper (and really, some people have no business driving 340 hp cars ). Let us also not forget that GM has some new transmissions coming in the near future, and perhaps the torque issue will kind of go away...

 

Will this happen before introducton or are you saying this is a possibility down the road?

So does this all mean that the 05' Impala will have a new exterior and interior? I have been confused with some conflicting reports.

 

Can't say. I honestly don't know offhand what the rollout plan is for the new 6 speed fwd transmissions. I also don't know offhand when the updated Impala is coming (), but it is due for a full redesign (current car has been out since, what, '99?).

 

Also lets not forget that while the 5.3 will be about as fast as the L67 3.8 it will not require the premium fuel. Now I know that is looking more appealing because of the price of gas now. Also weight shouldn't be much different because of the aluminum V8 vs Iron Block and heads V6.

 

Don't be too quick to condemn FWD to the ash heap of history. There are still loads of customers wanting it for bad weather in four season climates.

 

IF the next Impala has inspiring sheetmetal (sorry, but I'll believe it when I see it), a GREAT interior and has it's V8 torque issues addressed with a new transaxle......then, I believe it will be a contender.

BTW, even if a FWD 5.3 Impala is no performance match for the Hemi LX cars...it will still serve an important purpose. Impala is (yes, believe it!!), Chevy's flagship passenger car. It is Chevy's premium car. Americans are receptive to having V8's in their "premium" cars.

 

That sounds about right to me.

There's more wrong with recent Chevy designs that the "chrome moustache" and increasingly large gold bow tie.