Ask the Car People.SM


2006 Chevrolet Impala

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

You are in the Chevrolet Impala Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan

    

Messages Page 43 of 364

#420 of 3634 2006 impala by charts2

Jul 26, 2005 (8:34 am)

Popular Mechanics says the demographics of Impala owners.......Under 30 9.5%.......30-49 31.5%........age 50 plus.. 59% of sales - thats me!
 
     The Impala satisfies the needs of many across the spectrum but mostly owners over 40 who need a large roomy family sedan that can seat 5 or 6 comfortably. It will continue to do well if they keep it fresh......6 years was too long with the original style 2000-2005 models. The freshening of the 2006 Impala was way overdue.
 
     I personally like some of the retros PT, Bug, 300, Mustang etc.......cudos to those manufactures that have given us something more then the melting pot blandness of whats been on the roads for the past 20 years. These manufacturers took a business chance and it has been successful....If you don't take a chance you don't get a chance! The PT & Bug have sold well and will soon be refreshened. The 300 they can't make them fast enough...The Mustang is a huge hit and the Shelby Cobra GT 500 next year. These Halo cars also bring consumers to the showroom to see these cars and see the other models that the manufactures offer........A WIN WIN situation...The SSR from Chevy is a lame duck too heavy, to expensive, not practical when you can buy a Corvette for a few $ more.
 
   There is a huge segment out there that want the Impala to go RWD in its next format, or revive a Caprice type vehicle. Hopefully Chevy will check the pulse of the consumers and if it is warranted...... DO IT!!

#421 of 3634 Somehow I don't think... by hammen2

Jul 26, 2005 (9:35 am)

...that the Mustang is bringing others into Ford's showrooms to look at Five Hundreds or Focuses (Foci?), at least based on Ford's results.
 
Back to the Impala... yes, there is currently a battle inside GM going about the next-gen. Rumors are of a new "Chi" platform for FWD vehicles (high-end replacement for the W-bodies; low-end will be the forthcoming Epsilon2 FWD/AWD vehicles (G6, Malibu, maybe a LaCrosse replacement). There is some discussion of a new RWD platform (cheaper Sigma or Americanized Zeta), rumored to revive the Caprice name...
 
--Robert

#422 of 3634 2006 Impala/hammen2 by charts2

Jul 26, 2005 (9:55 am)

You seem to have a lot of info on this possible future RWD......I am guessing that the Caprice will be larger then the 2006 Impala, is that the consensus?.....
 
      Your right about the Mustang......it will do OK on its own.

#423 of 3634 Re: 2006 impala [charts2] by llumpire

Jul 26, 2005 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: charts2 (Jul 26, 2005 8:34 am)
I'm in the process of buying 1 or more cars and I research as much as I have time for. The Impala is a car that always catches my eye every time it passes me by. Then I get the flashback of "Oh yeah, it's a FWD. NEVER MIND". As Radar O'Reilly would say, "Wait for it". On the horizon, you hear that GM is bringing in RWD models from its Holden car company in Australia. If you go to holden.com you might get a peak at some future GM models. They seem OK or better for someone who is starving to get back to grandpa's GM loyalty and say good-bye for awhile to European dominance (I have an Audi A4, nice car). The design of the holden's may need to be "AMERICANIZED" taste for sexy, fast and cool. I think we lost our cool trying to make aerodynamic a priority, which is what made all cars to start to look alike.
 
     Personally, I too like a couple of the retros. I've had my dad's Impala and my grandfathers Caprice. Nice roomy rides for those cross country trips. Too much money is being spent by the manufacturer's on the interiors forcing the overall price of cars into outer space. Give me a sound, large, powerful and well-built car. How about those flat bench seats. Cheap to make and plenty of room to stretch out on for all the right reasons.
 
     If the Impala ever goes RWD, and I hear it will soon, then there'll be one less to choose from. Otherwise, I'll wait for the Cadillac DTS to go and I'll be there instead unless someone comes out with an acceptable equivalent. Hopefully, it's before GM and United go bankrupt.

#424 of 3634 stuff by vanman1

Jul 26, 2005 (5:27 pm)

6 speed auto could be in the 07 from what I have read. I think the 6 speed in the Fusion comes from the joint venture between GM and Ford. Chevy should see an application from this venture soon.
 
I don't care for RWD though for a 300 hp SS is would be better I suppose. Still, living in the northern climates, I prefer FWD in general.
 
I'm 36 and well aware of Chevy's heritage and I still prefer the classics to redone retro vehicles. Mustang was well done but in general, BLA. I don't mind classic styling cues, but retro vehicles like the PT don't really do much for me.

#425 of 3634 er by johnclineii

Jul 26, 2005 (5:30 pm)

The 6 speed transmission in the Fusion/Milan/Zephyr is from Aisin, a supplier to Toyota. The GM/Ford 6 speed is due in about a year or so..

#426 of 3634 Re: 2006 impala [llumpire] by ehaase

Jul 27, 2005 (2:09 am)

Replying to: llumpire (Jul 26, 2005 3:41 pm)
The Impala isn't going RWD soon, if ever. The rumors are that GM is developing a new platform called "Chi" to replace its larger FWD cars, and "Chi" will be FWD/AWD. There are no rumors of any additional RWD Chevrolets, except for possibly a new Camaro, but probably that won't even appear for at least 2 to 4 years.

#427 of 3634 Re: 2006 impala [ehaase] by hammen2

Jul 27, 2005 (3:33 am)

Replying to: ehaase (Jul 27, 2005 2:09 am)
You aren't talking to the same folks that I am
 
Yes, there are rumors of a new large RWD sedan for Chevy, but we are not talking until 2010-2011 at the earliest. Whether or not this is named Impala or (more likely) Caprice, is yet to be determined... at today's GM, nothing is set in stone until you see the show car (look what happened to Zeta)...
 
--Robert

#428 of 3634 that's why they call them rumors by johnclineii

Jul 27, 2005 (4:15 am)

You can probably find some rumors that the next Impala will be made in England out of cream cheese. Rumors, schmoomers.
 
Reliable information is much harder to come by...

#429 of 3634 johnclineii by vanman1

Jul 27, 2005 (5:35 am)

Thanks for that info. I was wondering why Ford would get first crack at those transmissions.
 
Personally, I don't care that much but a 5 or 6 speed is what some people want these days and they do have their advantages.

Messages Page 43 of 364

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement