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2006 Chevrolet Impala

3634 messages,  Last post on Mar 10, 2013 at 12:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan

    

Messages Page 25 of 364

#235 of 3634 Re: Certainly agree with you about OHV... [csandste] by micweb

May 25, 2005 (11:22 am)

Replying to: csandste (May 25, 2005 9:15 am)
I had been hoping that the 2004 would have an improved interior. I was close to buying an Impala in 2003, but hated the cheesy velour seats (definitely Grandad's seats!). Supposedly the fabrics were improved in 2004, but I couldn't see the difference in 2004 or 2005. I thought the exterior styling was ok - idiosyncratic but ok.
 
Now if they get the interior right for 2006, the Impala will be on my short list of cars for next year. I love the exterior - just wish they had retained the classic Impala taillights, I thought that was a neat nod to the past in the current generation.
 
Unfortunately, the Five Hundred from Ford also looks pretty good, and the pricing seems a lot better than the Impala - Chevy's delays in freshening the Impala have opened the door to some competition in a segment - large passenger cars - that has been moribund for years.

#236 of 3634 micweb by vanman1

May 26, 2005 (5:51 am)

I don't see how the 500 pricing can be better? 500's are pretty pricey from what I have seen, especially considering their only engine is a 200hp V6. Mileage is also not great and the CVT technology is questionable long term.
 
The 500 could have been a much better car, I hope the Fusion is a better car.

#237 of 3634 pricing by 1487

May 26, 2005 (2:42 pm)

The '06 impala hasnt even been priced yet so I dont know how you can say the 500 is more reasonable. The 500's top price is around $29K but other than AWD and leather you arent getting a whole lot. The 500 only has 200hp and it doesnt offer an uplevel sound system while the impala has Bose and 303hp. In addition the Impala looks better inside and out.

#238 of 3634 2006 Impala pricing by charts2

May 26, 2005 (3:34 pm)

I would think the Impala trim lines (LS LT LTZ SS) prices will fall in line with Chryslers 2006 Chargers........Chrysler announced their prices last month.....The base Charger SE starts at $22995. that would be like the Impala LS.......the Hemi R/T comparable to the Impala SS (kinda of) starts at $29,995......the Charger Daytona R/T 350 hp starts at $32,495..........

#239 of 3634 The reason I found the Five Hundred pricing appealing... by micweb

May 26, 2005 (4:43 pm)

is that the SE edition comes with a nice interior, lists for 22-23, but sells in the San Francisco area for about 19.5. The transmissions are either CVT or 6 speed, both of which do well with the 3.0 DOHC engine. Speed control is included, as well as PW, PDL, PM.
 
The 2005 Impala is closer to 26 with the LS package, and the regular edition is not appealing to me - GM is still using the older, weaker 3.4 engine in the base model, not the upgraded 3.5 (from the Malibu) or the much upgraded, variable valve timing 3.5 promised for the 2006. Also, the base model Impala I drove in 2003 wallowed on the freeway; the LS model with its upgraded suspension was fine. So right now, the Five Hundred is a better buy, to me, than the base model 2005 Impala.
 
That will very likely shift when the base model Impala is discontinued for 2006 (they start as LS) and when all Impalas get a much upgraded suspension (the LS, LT, and LTZ all have the same suspension, though not the same tires and wheels). Also, the 2006 Impala will not only get the 3.5 from the Malibu, the 3.5 will be improved with variable valve timing.
 
To my mind, what was a clear nod to Chevy for the upgraded 2006 Impala (which I thought would be out by now) has been clouded by the Five Hundred. (I am not counting the Camry and Accord because both the Five Hundred and the Impala are a notch up in size; and the Avalon is too expensive.) In Chevy's favor, the Impala has had over five years to get the bugs out, and is now benefiting from a facelift, some suspension work, and great engine upgrades (yes, the 3.9 should blow the Five Hundred away). I'd like to see a five speed or 6 speed automatic, but reports are that the 4 speed in the Impala is very sturdy; and initial reports are that the 6 speed in the Five Hundred "hunts", and the CVT reliability is a big question mark. But, the Five Hundred is certainly appealing if I can get one with side air bags for under 20k; supposedly the body (designed by Volvo) is very strong, a big plus for crashes, while Chevy, as of 2005, only offers a driver side side curtain bag (nothing for the front or rear seat passengers).
 
I'll definitely drive both, and probably buy one of them in late 2006 as a 2007 model....but that's a moving target depending on pricing and incentives. While the midprice for vehicles in America is mid-20's, I still get nosebleeds from anything north of 17k.

#241 of 3634 I am ready! by elliotd2

Jun 07, 2005 (1:59 pm)

Just ordered my 2006 SS today from my local dealer. Currently have a 2004 SS which I bought when they first came out in August 2003. The 04 has been a delight and I only ordered a new one because I have to have the latest toys. Without saying too much, my wife works for GM and I have taken a lot of kidding that I should wait as the first cars are usually problems (and there is truth to that as the last Corvettes showed). I counter with the 04 was basically pretty new (altho not nearly as much as the 06) and mine has been trouble free except for the usual warped rotor problem a few months back (found that was common on cars that sit outside as opposed to garage kept- why who knows). Anyway they begin production the 13th of this month and start shipping the 28th to the dealers. I was very disappointed tho with the color offerings this time around (as I was last time). They have a new beautiful Blue (Superior Blue) this year but not on the SS. Settled for Black again with the new Ebony Interior.

#242 of 3634 production by 1487

Jun 07, 2005 (6:41 pm)

I was wondering when the Impalas were going to show up. Do you know when pricing will be announced?

#243 of 3634 Re: production [1487] by jpstax1

Jun 08, 2005 (10:40 am)

Replying to: 1487 (Jun 07, 2005 6:41 pm)
I talked with a Chevy salesman last week and he said their initial Impala SS orders will be arriving in mid-late September. He also said that in order to get a feel for the new 5.3 engine, he test drove a Grand Prix GXP. He said the torque-steer was a challenge. He heard that Buick decided not to offer the engine in the La Crosse for that very reason. Their older generation buyers wouldn't be able to handle it. Anyway, he said Chevy buyers won't be disappointed with this great new engine. I will be looking forward to test driving both the Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS sometime this fall.

#244 of 3634 SS / GXP Re: production [jpstax1] by rayainsw

Jun 08, 2005 (11:20 am)

Replying to: jpstax1 (Jun 08, 2005 10:40 am)
Impala SS:
 
I have posted some of this here before – or perhaps on the GXP forum – anyway, sorry for any duplication . .
 
Well – number 1, the engine is the same, but the drivetrain is ALMOST the same. For me, the SS lacks one critically important drivetrain feature. TAP Shift. This manumatic function is seen by some as a ‘gimmick’. I have this feature on my current vehicle and have had it on my past 2 as well. I find that (given I cannot and would not want to drive a car with a traditional manual trans. in 90+% of my driving) the additional control offered by this feature significantly enhances my driving enjoyment. YMMV.
 
Number 2: The Bilstein dampers are a significant (and expensive) upgrade to the ride / handling balancing act. Having driven 3 GXPs now, I am (almost) as impressed with the ride / handling improvement as with the acceleration and feel of the V8 over the S/C V6.
 
Number 3: The brakes on the GXP are significantly upgraded (larger & cross drilled) vs the SS.
 
Number 4: No HUD available of the Impala.
 
The interior of the Impala does not appeal to me as much as the Grand Prix – but that is clearly an aesthetic issue - and if you prefer the styling (inside and out, also considering things different GXP wheels, etc.) on the Impala, your “taste” is at least as valid as mine . .
 
And in absolute acceleration, the SS ought to perform exactly the same as a GXP.
 
- Ray
Driving out-of-state in search of “the deal” on “my GXP” . . .

Messages Page 25 of 364

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