http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=104768

 

FWD Impala is a hit. If it is not broke, then don't fix it. I the current formula is working.

Maybe the RWD Zeta Chevy can come in both coupe and Sedan form and be called Chevelle.

 

Anyone know what percentage of impala sales go to police and rental agencys? I really dislike the current impala.

 

1 person says yes, 5 others say no. Nobody really knows, hell I don't even think GM knows what it wants to do.

 

It's their bread and butter family car, switching to RWD would be a bad move.

But they need to make AWD optional like the Ford 500 and the Chrysler 300. The 303hp 5.3L SS version would be 10 times more appealing with AWD than FWD. Fwd just about kills the SS model for me.

 

You will be happy to know that Lambda will definately be AWD capable.

 

GM has said in the past that the CURRENT platform is theoretically AWD and RWD capable. That doesnt mean theyve got the stones to actually do it.

 

The current forumula works very well for Alamo, Enterprise and for used car buyers.

The downside to this news is that GM isn't even trying to break the cycle low desirability and low resale values. They've learned nothing DCX's success with the LX-platform cars.

 

The W-body has to relocate the gas tank to use the versetrek AWD rear end. But it can be done. The W-body is NOT RWD capable. You man be thinking of the Prostreet Monte that Mr. Moss created but it is basically a 95 monte body on F-body floor pan and rear end. the fenders even had to be custom made for it to work.

 

I had no idea as to the technicalities, I just distinctly remember a GM engineer mentioning that converting the W body to have power at the rear wheels was part of the platform design, and something very doable if GM wanted to.

However, GM's bueracracy is strangling itself to death on this, and a whole slew of other issues.

 

Nope, the W isn't RWD capable.

There was a Monte Carlo, and Buick Regatta that Jon Moss has converted to RWD about 15 years ago that made the showcar circuit, and began the rumor that the chassis was RWD capable. But anyone with a blowtorch, a spot welder, and a donated Camaro (what I recall him using) can convert one to RWD.


There should be no surprise here whatsoever that GM will continue to make midsize & large FWD cars. The DeVille is Cadillac's best selling car & the Impala is in GM's top 2 selling models.

GM plans Zeta to run about 400,000 cars per year worldwide. Assuming that half is going to sold here in the US (Holden makes nearly 180,000 cars per year and exports about a third, while Opel is expected to get a version of Zeta as well), 200,000 is a very, very small number.

 

Why do people think RWD=Sales hit? Does anyone really think people are buying up LX cars cause they are RWD? If that was the case, there would be a Z28 in my driveway (coverd in snow, might I add) then a Malibu Maxx.
Keeping the FWD chassis here is smart. FWD will be around forever, but I just hope that this one will have AWD in mind.
And I thought Chi was dead?

 

This is one situation where GM could / should win by staying the course.

I don't understand why so many people think it's "One or the other" as far as RWD vs FWD goes.

Instead of rushign to change EVERY model to RWD, I think it's very smart to offer a nice mix of RWD, and FWD vehicles, and hopefully add some AWD to boot.

... something for everyone.

 

You better start making calls to Honda and Toyota and alert them of their terrible mistake of keeping there #1 cars FWD. better yet, short their stock, make some money of there mistake.

I love RWD as much as the next guy, but from a bussiness stand point you can't take your best selling product and changes the drive wheels. Next Impala ('10?) should be FWD w/ AWD option. That doesn't mean Chvrolet can't still have a RWD Sedan. I think the Malibu would probably be a better car to switch to RWD than the Impala.

 

IMO, I dont think Chevy should have a RWD sedan. They are bread and butter cars, and thats what most of them should be, outside of a few key cars such as Corvette, Camaro, and another halo vehicle.