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Sedans Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Impala 2006
3460 messages, Last post on Sep 05, 2009 at 6:21 AM
You are in the Chevrolet Impala Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
| In America when someone says the name Impala what comes to mind to most over 30 is the Chevrolet Impala, and asking to describe an Impala, what comes to mind to most are the six lights at the back, that seperates it from all other cars. 1958-1969 Impala signified Americana. I was there in the 60's when my dad had Impala's and the neighbors had them.I was the proud owner of a 63 Impala SS..we always drove the cars in the driveway frontwards so everyone could see they were not driving the lesser Belair or Biscayne model that had only 4 round lights...we were proud owners of the top of the line chevys... Millions of proud Americans bought these cars with the great body lines, chrome and stainless trim, and of course those 6 tailights at the back. Chevy ran great commercials and ads back then making owners proud to own an Impala, EVERYONE knew an Impala just by looking at the back of the car, you could tell one blocks away....When the 2000 Impala came out there were all kinds of complaints that only 2 round lights per side were on the back. Well most got over it but you could still tell this was a full size Chevy...it had the markings....This 2006 Impala is a different story. GM calls it a mild refresh. I have read of the many improvements and they are impressive but!!!....Nobody today in America would know this is an Impala unless they walked up to the trunk and read the word Impala. Some might say its time to move on (to more Holden) but I say then call the car something else....They could have worked two or three round light sequence somehow into the corners where they have the lights now...and kept the Impala heritage in tact....when I am driving an Impala I want people to know its an Impala, (without saying what is that car? Lets get close and see what its called) a car with a great history, and heritage. Millions of owners, 48 years of history, and mostly because of 6 little round tailights. | |
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Who really cares what the old Impala's looked like. After all it is 2005 and the last generation impala had little to do with the old RWD models. Many cars in today's industry sahre design cues so it is stupid to suggest that only GM borrows from its competitors when styling a new car. The Impala looks better than any Camry or Accord and personally I dont think it resembles other cars in this class. The interior is much better and the powertrains are plenty powerful so I dont see how this car wont be succesful. For those who think the new avalon will outclass the impala need to remember the Avalon will be more expensive and will compete with the new Buick Lucerne. I dont think its unrealistic to expect the new Avlon to top out at $35K or more. I wuld expect the Impala to go up to $31K or so fully loaded. |
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I am not trying to turn the clock back here but, You say "who really cares what the old Impalas looked like" I DO!! and millions of others. The older Impalas are probably the most sought after full size collector cars today in America. 6 lights on the back means Impala, or even the 94-96 ss and the 00-05 have the styling cues that say Impala..Go to a couple of the hundreds of collector shows across the country every year or a Super Chevy show (if you are a TRUE CHEVY GUY) ...I don't want to be driving down the street in a 2006 Impala and people yelling to me what kind of car is that? Is that a Honda or Toyota? I will have to say get behind me and read name on the trunk! This guy 1487 says all cars are to look like the competitors.."OH THATS BORING"....if it had those 3 round tailights in the corners (current 2006 model) people would know with those lights and that gold bowtie on the trunk I'm driving an IMPALA! If I am going to spend $31 on an IMPALA I want EVERYONE to know its an IMPALA! not a cookie cutter HONDA OR TOYOTA like 1487 suggests they should all look like!!
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Replying to: charts2 (Jan 09, 2005 11:08 am) ~alpha
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| To each his own! | |
| Don't care for the old Impala so what Chevy has done here looks good for the most part. More modern and sell able to the masses which is what Chevy is all about. | |
| I like the new Impala too! Lots of Improvements over the 00-05..just thought one or two more styling cues would bring along a few more of the generation that the Impala most appeals to 35+...just like the 5300 V8 small block that is celebrating its 50th anniversary that is going into the SS.. Now that is Heritage!and that itself will sell to the nostalgia chevy fans!! a Chevy V8 that has roots right back to 1955....Still haven't figured out where they are going to drill the holes for the front license plate...that will really mess up the front end! | |
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One thing: when Chevy does come out with the next iteration of RWD Impala, there will be alot of pent-up demand for it. Imagine the excitement if that model also sports a well-integrated expression of the 3 per side tail lamp scheme! Maybe this transitional period of FWD is suited to having a 2 per side (more Bel Air/ Biscayne) look (yet also evoking Corvette: marque's halo model); and the 2006 triangular/wedge taillights are allowing a nod to even earlier Chevy (1955,'56, '57 pre-Impala) rear-lamp styling. To me this shows that Chevy is current, quick on its feet and able to have fun with styling cues as well as move with the market and trends, not just slavishly beholden to MUST HAVE 3(round) taillights per side dogma. The car is so much more than that! |
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Replying to: bh628 (Jan 06, 2005 10:24 am) When I went to the auto show, I had you in mind. I thought you wanted me to check out the new Passat. After reading your post again today, I realized you wanted me to compare the Jetta. Well, I didn't sit in the Jetta because I asked for the Passat. The lady said the Passat is not out till next year. Thus, I didnt' bother comparing the Passat (but now, I realized you wanted me to check out the Jetta). Anyway, it's odd to compare the Jetta to the Impala. Not remotely in the same class.
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Well guys. I had a chance to see the 2006 Impala SS at the LA Auto Show. Although the vehicle was sitting on the spinning platform, I was not able to walk on the turn table and see the Impala up front and personal. After what I have seen, I am very disappointed. If that's what GM has for a "fully loaded SS", I would hate to see what a strip down version will look like. The interior reminds me of Dodge Stratus that I used to rent while in Boston. The only two GM vehicles that I like is the new STS and Pontiac Soltice. Since I have written off the Impala 2006 on my shopping list, I decided perhaps I'll wait till 2006 and get 2005 Impala LS...this time with moonroof. Of course, this is only if Chevy decides to 'blowoff' their inventory with HUGE rebate. I think the 2005 Impala LS is a BIGGER bargain than what we'll see on the 2006. Besides, the 2006 is probably full of "bugs" to iron out. As a current owner a 2000 Impala LS, I know what it's like to have bugs in the first production year. So for next year, if I can get a 2005 Impala LS for $18K, I'll jump all over it. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/marketbuy2002/album?.dir=/42a4 Here are the photos. I also have a video clip of the Impala SS. Enjoy! (in this case, don't gag. hehe). |
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