Ask the Car People.SM


General Motors Fans

1277 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2013 at 6:02 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

What is this discussion about? Automotive News

Messages Page 117 of 129

#1154 of 1277 Re: performance capability and fuel economy [andre1969] by keystonecarfan

Oct 02, 2012 (6:45 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 02, 2012 6:22 am)
Don't know about the base engine, but the most popular engine is expected to be a fifth-generation version of the smallblock V-8. There are also rumors of a turbocharged 3.0 V-6 to compete with the Ford EcoBoost engines.

#1155 of 1277 Re: performance capability and fuel economy [keystonecarfan] by dieselone

Oct 02, 2012 (6:50 am)

Replying to: keystonecarfan (Oct 02, 2012 6:45 am)
Don't know about the base engine, but the most popular engine is expected to be a fifth-generation version of the smallblock V-8. There are also rumors of a turbocharged 3.0 V-6 to compete with the Ford EcoBoost engines.
 
Ford is now selling about 50% of f150's with v6s, if GM does use a turbo 6 like Ford's ecoboost, they likely could have a 50/50 mix too with the 3.6 as a base engine. But it likely will come down to pricing and performance.

#1156 of 1277 Impala holds down the fort by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Oct 02, 2012 (7:42 am)

The last of the breed.
 
"The current Chevy Impala will be the last passenger car in production in North America to feature three-across-the-front seating.
 
Chrysler Group LLC's last cars with front bench seats were the 2004 base-model Chrysler Concorde and Dodge Intrepid sedans. Last year, Ford Motor Co. discontinued the last of its bench seat cars: the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car.
 
While bench seats might bring back fond memories for many, few Impala buyers chose the option last year, GM said. One in 10 requested a bench seat — for an additional $195, the automaker said.
 
Chevrolet will continue to offer bench seats on pickups and SUVs."
 
Automakers kick bench seats to curb (Detroit News)

#1157 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [steve_] by andre1969

Oct 02, 2012 (8:17 am)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Oct 02, 2012 7:42 am)
Personally I think the bench seat lost its usefulness in the late 70's, around the time of downsizing, which is also the time that split bench seats became more common.
 
Downsizing almost always ensured a larger transmission hump and a more intrusive dashboard, which would compromise the center seating position. Throw in a split bench seat, and that spot became almost uninhabitable.
 
I think the newest car I had that had a fairly comfortable seating position was a 1979 Chrysler Newport. While it was downsized from the 1978 mastodons, Chrysler didn't have much money by then so what they really did was take their old 1979 midsize and make it a touch LARGER, so it still had a fairly small transmission hump. And the dashboard slopes away as it drops, rather than stick out like some of them do. Plus, it was a cheap model with the standard, non-split bench. It had a big armrest that came down in the center, but wasn't split.
 
My '76 LeMans isn't *too* bad in the center spot, although the part that houses the radio and ashtray does drop down a bit. And the right side of the instrument housing juts out a bit as it drops down. Here's an example.
 
My 2000 Park Ave has a split bench seat, but I wouldn't want to put a person in the center spot.

#1158 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [steve_] by uplanderguy

Oct 02, 2012 (8:58 am)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Oct 02, 2012 7:42 am)
While bench seats might bring back fond memories for many, few Impala buyers chose the option last year, GM said. One in 10 requested a bench seat — for an additional $195, the automaker said.
 
I'm surprised at that percentage. When I browse new Impalas at my dealer lot (not often), I'd guess I'd see one bench for every three Impalas in inventory.
 
My friend with an '08 Impala has the bench seat and was actually thinking about getting a '12 with the 6-speed and 3.6 and bench seat, but he hates how only the seats are beige and the rest of the interior is black. When he bought his '08, he found one that had been in inventory before Chevy changed the bench seat from standard to an option!
 
I'm aware of a dealer via a friend, in the midwest who said they had ordered many of their '13 Impalas for inventory with bench for the very reason that they are going away.
 
Personally, I'd probably seek out the bench if I were buying one. I think there's a perception of added room, you can slide across the seat if you need to, and it clears up space on the floor (no console). I think GM might be downplaying the numbers a bit to make it seem like 'eh, no big deal'. Plus...I've never felt a console cover that felt as good as a cloth center armrest.

#1159 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [uplanderguy] by dieselone

Oct 02, 2012 (9:25 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Oct 02, 2012 8:58 am)
I'm surprised at that percentage. When I browse new Impalas at my dealer lot (not often), I'd guess I'd see one bench for every three Impalas in inventory.
 
Considering most Impalas are sold to fleets, that may skew the results a bit.
 
Same with pickups. I know Ford and GM still offer split benches, but a friend of mine who's been a salesman at the same chevy dealer for over 20 years told me to stay away from them as they are a hard sell and few customers want them. His point being I'd take a hit at trade in time.
 
I prefer bucket seats, but it would be nice to be able to seat six in a pickup, so I've been considering the bench. The few times I've looked at trucks with crew cabs, you'll find maybe 1 out of 10 with a bench.

#1160 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [dieselone] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Oct 02, 2012 (9:38 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Oct 02, 2012 9:25 am)
Henry Ford "sought to discourage sex through car design.
 
The auto king allegedly limited his Model T's seat length to 38 inches so as to inhibit lovemaking in Tin Lizzies," it said. "If that was Ford's intent, he failed, for a thirty-eight-inch seat was ample for determined coupes, the more so when the seat was removed from the car." (Inside Line)
 
Maybe that was just a Midwest thing.

#1161 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [steve_] by andre1969

Oct 02, 2012 (10:26 am)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Oct 02, 2012 9:38 am)
And, one thing Henry Ford forgot about...those old Model-T's had excellent headroom. Even before the advent of tilt steering.

#1162 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [andre1969] by lemko

Oct 02, 2012 (10:40 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 02, 2012 8:17 am)
The only car I had with a true, (not split) bench seat was my 1968 Buick Special Deluxe. It's weird to think of adjusting the seat and having the whole thing come forward or go back today. Sad thing is, guys on a first date can no longer make a hard right and have their female companion slide toward them!

#1163 of 1277 Re: Impala holds down the fort [andre1969] by lemko

Oct 02, 2012 (10:42 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 02, 2012 10:26 am)
Charlie Nash obviously had other ideas about what folks should be doing in his cars! Heh-heh!

Messages Page 117 of 129

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