2006 Impala interior review: Wow!

[giagastormer]

While in Florida, I took a trip over to the local Chevrolet dealership hoping to sit, or even possibly drive, a 2006 Impala. They only had one on the showroom floor. It was a burgendy LT with the 17" wheels. The equipment level was impressive for the price, only $26.5k. There was leather, 6-disc CD changer, 3.9 V6, power seats, etc. Not bad at all for under $27k. The only option it didn't have was a sunroof, or so the salesman said. I'm pretty sure it didn't have the BOSE stereo either.

First thing you notice, the seats are very comfortable. Fit & finish is on par with Camry and Accord. The upper dash is a soft, oddly grained plastic. Reminds me of the dashboard material you would find in a LeSabre or Park Avenue. The lower portion of the dash is hard, but very nicely grained. I wasn't expecting it to be so hard, but it was put together very nicely. I really like the wood grain dash, it looks very classy and upscale.

I was not impressed at all with the rear seat legroom. Maybe the seat was all the way back, but there wasn't sufficient knee room at all.

My dad was very impressed with the car. He thinks it looks much classier inside than a LaCrosse. I disagree. We didn't get to drive the car, as it was the only one they had, and it was on the showroom floor.

One thing I absolutely hate, and completely fail to understand why GM did this, is the fact that there is no indication near the shift lever for what gear you're in. I understand you can look at the gauge cluster to find out. It looks plain, and boring without there being anything next to the shifter. Makes the interior look half assed. Not impressed at all with that feature.

Overall, IMO, I think it's ALOT of car for the money. My grand parents are looking to trade in their 2003 LeSabre and buy something new. I told them about the new Impala, and they said they don't think they would be impressed because it's a Chevrolet. They think it won't be as refined as a Buick. That's a valid point, but I think I convinced them to take a look at the Impala.

[TaHoE]

Did you tell your parents that the Impala has Triple Seal Doors and laminate glass as well as QuietSteel? This is all stuff that is part of Buick's "Quiet-Tuning" Package which is part of every single Buick. I haven't test drove one, but from what I hear it's a very 'Soft' car, even in SS form, so I would definitely suggest that your Grandparents test drive one, they would save a large sum of money on getting the Impala over a Lucerne, but whichever they choose, both are decent cars.

[giagastormer]

My grand parents pay cash whenever they buy a new car, I think I have them convinced that the Impala would be worth looking at. A Lucerne is just a little bit out of their price range. My grandma absolutely loves the LaCrosse, my grandpa thinks it's ok. They haven't driven one yet.

[MelvinJ]

I wasn't impressed with rear seat room either. The Malibu has an inch more leg room in the back, and almost identical head room.

The shifter thing didn't bother me - my Intrigue has markings on both the console and the dash, but I virtually never look at either.

I really like the new interior. It's a very clean and gimmick-free design.

[ChevroletRevived]

Yeah...my grandma has a 2000 Lincoln TC. She is considering trading it in for something soon. I think she wants a bigger, more floaty car then the Impala, you know what I mean, giagastormer. =) They think the Buicks and Lincolns are always more refined then the Chevies. She likes the current TC but she says it isn't different enough from hers and that the front end looks like a Crown Victoria, which it does. She likes the Lucurne and the DTS..but she can't afford the DTS, so I convinced her to get a Lucurne! =) Very nice review of the Impala's interior...I think with the Burl Wood trim and black leather that car would look sooo classy!

[ChevroletRevived]

And P.S...you're grandparents are lucky that they get to pay cash...we never can!

[pagemaster]

One thing I absolutely hate, and completely fail to understand why GM did this, is the fact that there is no indication near the shift lever for what gear you're in. I understand you can look at the gauge cluster to find out. It looks plain, and boring without there being anything next to the shifter. Makes the interior look half assed. Not impressed at all with that feature

I noticed that to on the SS version. It looks a little strange. I guess cost cutting was important. on the other, I don't think the Camry was any better if I remember.

[86fleet]

Originally Posted by giagastormer

One thing I absolutely hate, and completely fail to understand why GM did this, is the fact that there is no indication near the shift lever for what gear you're in. I understand you can look at the gauge cluster to find out. It looks plain, and boring without there being anything next to the shifter. Makes the interior look half assed. Not impressed at all with that feature.

I thought that was wierd too. I guess it helps people who forget what gear they're in (like me ) but putting some letters on the floor shifter wouldn't cost much, and would actually improve the styling of the interior. They should have put in both.

[giagastormer]

I would go with the bench seat anyway, so it wouldn't matter to me!

[redimpss5]

Sonny, I remember when the impala was rear drive and fast!

[RocketImpala]

Originally Posted by redimpss5

Sonny, I remember when the impala was rear drive and fast!

The impala is a LOT faster now than it ever was before. At any time in history.

[2005 Equinox LS]

The new Impala V8 will take care of any old Impala made as far as acceleration. Even the 3.9 liter V6 is faster than most old Impalas. And the new Impala is more user friendly than the old ones ever were.

[impalapete]

Originally Posted by RocketImpala

The impala is a LOT faster now than it ever was before. At any time in history.

True. The 2006 Impala SS smokes any previous Impala SS, even the 62-63 409/425 cars. Even a 63 Z-11 427 car might have trouble keeping up. Of course, the Z-11 was made for one purpose, the drag strip, and only a few dozen examples were ever made. The 2006 car is pure family sedan, which makes its performance that much more impressive given the lofty heights that people ascribe the old cars to.

[charts.2]

Originally Posted by impalapete

True. The 2006 Impala SS smokes any previous Impala SS, even the 62-63 409/425 cars. Even a 63 Z-11 427 car might have trouble keeping up. Of course, the Z-11 was made for one purpose, the drag strip, and only a few dozen examples were ever made. The 2006 car is pure family sedan, which makes its performance that much more impressive given the lofty heights that people ascribe the old cars to.

There were only 57, 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z-11s produced. Brand new they could do 0-60 welll under 5 seconds and the quarter mile in the low 12's....They were street legal, but were for drag racing purposes. A 1963 409/425 Impala/Belair with 4.56 gears could match the 2006 Impala, 0-60, and run mid 13.s in the quarter mile.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by giagastormer

One thing I absolutely hate, and completely fail to understand why GM did this, is the fact that there is no indication near the shift lever for what gear you're in. I understand you can look at the gauge cluster to find out. It looks plain, and boring without there being anything next to the shifter. Makes the interior look half assed. Not impressed at all with that feature.

Yeah?? THey did that??? How annoying.
In either case though, does it really matter? I mean, technically, you really don't even need the gauge cluster to know what gear you're in.

In nearly all the cars I drive, I just do it by feel. You know where P is... when you're backing out of the garage/carport/driveway, just slip it down a notch to R.... then when you've pull out, just slam the shifter down to D. It's gonna stop at D no matter what anyways, so you don't ahve to worry about L or 3/2/1, etc. And go about your merry way. No need to depress the little lever on the shifter either (like most people do). ANd if you need to go to N from D... just push the shifter up a notch (no need to depress the lever on teh shifter).... and when you're parked.... just push it to P and you're done.

not having the demarkations on the shifter is a niusance for sure. But it really is not all that necessary if you know your car well.