Ok ok, I know this car isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I won't go on and on about it. But lets just say that it's a nicer package than I expected. The ride is smooth, with a nice degree of control and stability. It's not as tight as a CTS, but is a very pleasant package. The one thing that most of you will probably be interested in is the DOD and the 5.3l V8. Let me tell you, it's sweet! I haven't really gotten on it yet (only has 70 miles on it), but compared to my LS1 Z, it feels about 80-90% the same during normal driving, probably closer to 90%. Very nice to have that in a 4 door family car. The DOD is COMPLETELY transparent! If you don't have the DOD mode selected on the DIC, you'd have no idea if you were running on 4 or 8. I had thought it would only kick in on the highway, but it does it in town too if you're at a steady speed and not going up and hills or putting any real load on the engine. The switch from 4 to 8 to 4 is inperceptable, and after experiencing it first hand, I would absolutely welcome it in a Camaro. Not sure what it would do to an aftermarket exhaust note running down the highway though. The stock SS exhaust is quiet enough that you can't tell any difference. One last note, I'm suprised to admit that I wouldn't mind having a manual mode for the DOD in which you could select FULL TIME 4 cyl operation. You could use it when if you had lots of stop and go traffic, or were parked on an interstate, or were just in a fuel saving kind of mood. Oddly enough, it idles on 8, all the time. Whenever your speed drops below 20mph or so, regardless of engine load, it reverts back to 8.

I'm not sure how the brakes and suspension stack up to the GP GXP, but I can only assume that the Impala will be a bit softer. I'm not sure of the sway bar diameter, or the rotor diameter (or any added benefit of the drilled rotors), or tire size differences between the cars, but I imagine the GP is a bit more edgy in those departments.

If anyone is looking for a fun car that holds a family, I am very happy w/ the SS. If anyone has any specific questions, post them and I'll answer them as best I can. Oh, mine stickered for 30k even, RedTag was 27,007, minus 2 grand from Mr GM Card= $25,007.

 

Glad to hear you like the SS!

I was driving through the Chevy lot last night, trying ot get a look at a TrailBLazer SS they were supposed to have, but I couldn't find...

Anyway, I saw quite a few Impala SS's... I think they look great, and I think the wheels look great on them too, even though some have complained abou them. I think the wheels really stand out.

Thanks for the DOD review... sounds like it works to perfection so far!

 

Congrats CLEAN!

Oh BTW, what color?

 

They look very nice in person, and for the price you can't complain. I honestly wish GM excluded cars like the Impala (or at least the SS Model!!!) from the Red Tag...they don't need it to sell!

When you consider how guion said the AVERAGE selling price of a Charger is $29,300, its amazing you could get a nice Impy SS for $27k without GM points. I could buy your car for basically the same $$, as I have $1,900 on my card. I checked out a silver MC SS on the local Chevy lot here yesterday, and plan to stop by for a test drive in the next few days. Side by side, the Impala is so much nicer inside though...

Seeing as how I just bit the bullet and bought a helluva home theater setup, while I'll drive the MC, I won't be buying the MC I wanna see how the chassis compares to the GXP, and I also want to see what the car feels like, seeing as how my most likely next purchase (aside from a 5th gen) will be a used MC SS when we decide to replace either the Grand Am or the Grand Prix...I imagine the Grand Am would go first.

I can see us buying an '06 Impy or MC SS in, oh, about '09 Then again, that's when I'll be plunking my GM points down on my new Camaro...ouch

 

Yea!! I noticed that too. The group of people that made those wheels possible should be pat on the back. IMO, They got the rim diameter and width spot on.. My favorite is, the tires look sharp and squared up, mounted on them.. Really nice!

 

I'd be interested to hear your review on that Jason. Out of all the W-cars, the Impala SS has the best interior, nicer than the MC or GP, IMO.

I wish that you could get an Impala SS with the GXP's chassis bits, some more exciting wheels and a spoiler delete.

 

White/Tan w/ the polished 18's to go w/ the bits of chrome trim on the car.

I was happy to see the RedTag deal too. In fact, I came in about $800 below GMS (my card cannot be combined w/ GMS, unlike the older cards)

The wheels really do balance it out. For a car it's size, they really look nice. And I too WISH you could get a spoiler delete on the SS, but you can't. But as far as spoilers go, I guess I can live with it.

 

Make sure you post some pics!!

(PS: Cool color combo ... most of the White cars you see end up with grey or dark grey interiors. )

 

Well they must be selling well because I'm seeing new Impy's EVERYWHERE.

Visually they stack up quite well vs. an Accord or Camry.

 

Charlie,

I guess we'll find out on Sunday My contact at the local Chevy dealer said he'll be there. I grabbed a MC and an Impy brochure while I was there during lunch today. I'm sorry, but I can completely see myself on a warm summer evening, with the sunroof open and the windows down, full throttle down Memorial Drive in Chicopee MA in a Lazer Blue MC SS, having just dusted the latest thing in Acura Integra performance They have a silver one there, and I really, REALLY like the car. I've seen a Lazer Blue Impy SS, and can picture the color on an MC SS (its in the brochure) in person...I likey

Full impression to come. FWIW, I kinda like the fact the Pontiac retains the GXP bits...it gives some differentiation. Without question, the Impy is nicest inside. The GXP is the best performer. The MC, IMO, looks the best/sportiest and the oldest at the same time. Each one is nice, but each has a significant drawback in my mind. The GXP suffers from the general '04+ GP style that is sporty and acceptable, but still off. The Impy has a first rate inside and a great powertrain, but doesn't handle like a GXP and is a little too bland for me on the outside, although my fiance likes it a lot. Finally, the MC SS is plenty sporty looking IMO, but is a bit long in tooth with an interior that is nicely styled but lacks the quality materials of the Impy (it STILL has plastic interior door handles...I HATE THAT )

Therefore, unfortunately for GM, none of them make me want to part with about $26 large...that's what it will cost me to get an Impy or MC SS the way I want (loaded at $31,500) under Red Tag with my GM points, or a GXP at dealer cost minus my points. All are great cars, but all fall short of making me want to part with my hard earned $$$. If I was 10 years older, with the income that comes along with that, I do have to say I'd take either the GXP or the Impy home tomorrow for a nicer family car. For me right now though? I'd say 3 year old '06 MC SS in 3 years, with a 5th gen in the garage for weekends I love 2 doors, like the look of the MC SS despite the dated style, and won't need a 4 door for a long, long time...

 

Whew!

I was starting to think I was the only one who liked the Impala's new interior.

 

This will probably be our new 4-door sedan to replace 99 Intrigue next summer, when the Silverado is paid off. Wife REALLY likes the 5.3 torque after years of driving that 3.5 cammer Intrigue. I wish they sold SS in the dark gray metallic, though. Saw one at the gas station the other day (LTZ) and thought it looked great (imagine that color with the polished SS wheels would really look sharp). Only thing I'm not wild about is that funky dotty-looking interior trim. I think the fake brushed aluminum looks good, but it isn't available in the SS (but the fake wood is?!).

 

Hmmm , I thought that dot matrix like aluminum trim looked really upscale . Its almost identical to the Aluminum trim in the Audi A4 .

Car sounds sweet Clean , I saw a white/neautral SS the other day . It looked very upscale in that color combo . The new Impy's look really good imo , in and out .

 

Hey Jason, that is something I am really into, other than cars. I'd like to hear about you HT setup. I've got a pretty nice setup, but I'd like to go all out and have a dedicated room with a projector and large screen, but I don't have a proper room in our current house.


Sorry about being off topic. I have yet to drive a new Impala SS, I've driven the '06 Impala 9C1 with the 3.9L and found it really impressive in the handling dept. I really need to go out and test drive a SS for comparisons.

 

Is the 9C1 chassis tuning the same as the SS?