Vid Review: Impala SS

[91 s-10baja]

http://www.wkyc.com/video/player_tes...x?aid=57912&bw=

[jvsoske]

The best line of the review "GM has made vast improvements in their cars as of late". Very positive. It was interesting that they mentioned that it was FWD, as I don't usually hear that in TV reviews, though they go on to say how much more refined it is than previous models. Great review overall!

[SAngelo]

Yeah I was shocked they didn't tear the car apart. However I read in consumer reports most older GM models (not the new ones) have a wide turning circle. He mentions it can be tighter. Why cant they correct that ? The SS also needs a 6 speed auto and Navigation, the 6 speed is more dire. Why cant GM do that for 2009 ? The new Impala has been put on hold, so make changes to the current one. Come on GM !!!!

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by SAngelo

Yeah I was shocked they didn't tear the car apart. However I read in consumer reports most older GM models (not the new ones) have a wide turning circle. He mentions it can be tighter. Why cant they correct that ? The SS also needs a 6 speed auto and Navigation, the 6 speed is more dire. Why cant GM do that for 2009 ? The new Impala has been put on hold, so make changes to the current one. Come on GM !!!!

I can only imagine the turning radius was hindered by the width of the tires.

[stevecmh]

it looks good white.

i like how the SS symbol matches with the color of the car

[King Riffle]

I'll take mine in blue.

[EcL1pZ]

Originally Posted by stevecmh

it looks good white.

i like how the SS symbol matches with the color of the car

On my SS, I put the black vinyl stickers on my SS badges (black) to match my cars color. So the SS looks like just a chrome outline =)

[Buick City]

Originally Posted by SAngelo

The SS also needs a 6 speed auto and Navigation...

I second that! I think not only the SS needs the 6 speed, but it should be standard across the line. If it had the 6 speed, and maybe the navigation, I might then consider one but until then I yawn.

[briandors]

GM doesn't have a FWD tranny with 6 speeds capable of handling this much torque. And if either:
1. RWD continues selling strong, or
2. Gas prices keep rising and along with CAFE, strangle V8 offerings

then GM may never have the reason to build one.

[Olds88]

Originally Posted by SAngelo

Yeah I was shocked they didn't tear the car apart. However I read in consumer reports most older GM models (not the new ones) have a wide turning circle. He mentions it can be tighter. Why cant they correct that ? The SS also needs a 6 speed auto and Navigation, the 6 speed is more dire. Why cant GM do that for 2009 ? The new Impala has been put on hold, so make changes to the current one. Come on GM !!!!

Have you ever driven the car? More gears it does not need unless it can go RWD. Its already insanely fast and the most powerful FWD car ever built. It doesn't need Nav either. The Impala is cheap and reliable transportation. The SS is cheap and reliable fast transportation. You start adding gears and nav and you just added $2500 to the price tag. That's not acceptable. Making a nav Optional would be good however.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

I can only imagine the turning radius was hindered by the width of the tires.

No, it's the platform. The W-bodies all have a really wide turning radius for their size

2007 Honda Odyssey: 201 inches long, 77 inches wide, 118.1 inch wheelbase, 235 / 65 R16 wheels, 36.7 foot turning radius

2001 Impala: 200 inches long, 73 inches wide, 110.5 inch wheelbase, 225/60 R16 wheels, 38 foot turning radius

The Chevy is 1 inch shorter, 7.6 inch shorter wheelbase, 4 inches narrower, 1 cm - aka about 0.39 inches - narrower wheels and 1.4 inch shorter wheels and it still needs an extra foot and a half to turn.

When I traded in the Chevy on the Honda, I was astonished at how much easier the Honda was to park.

[ponchoman49]

Too bad GM is letting this car languish with no changes for 2009. I would liked to have seen an improvement in the seats which are too flat, hard and unsupportive. I have heard numerous new Impala owners say they liked there 2000-2005 cars seats a lot better and I echo that sentiment. I would also have liked to have seen a shift indicator on the floor shifter and a nice strip of silver or a logo on the passenger side of the dash which is a large hard piece of plain plastic. Also dropping the bodyside moldings from the std equipment list was a dumb move and XM radio should be optional and not std equipment.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by Olds88

Have you ever driven the car? More gears it does not need unless it can go RWD. Its already insanely fast and the most powerful FWD car ever built. It doesn't need Nav either. The Impala is cheap and reliable transportation. The SS is cheap and reliable fast transportation. You start adding gears and nav and you just added $2500 to the price tag. That's not acceptable. Making a nav Optional would be good however.

It's not the most powerful FWD car ever built. If you're speaking power to weight ratio, things like the Cobalt SS turbo or the Dodge Caliber trump it.

If you're speaking raw power, the early 1970s Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs offered 400+ cubic inch V8s with front wheel drive.

But more importantly, extra gears only help performance and economy. So a six speed auto Impala SS would be faster and more fuel efficient - where is the downside? Under the current configuration, the Impala SS with 235/50R18 tires plus 2.93 final drive and 0.71 fourth gear, the Impala SS runs at about 1540 RPMs at 60 mph. Some of the time, it can drop into 4-cylinder mode. But with a six speed auto, it could run at 60 mph at 1300 RPMs - maybe less.

[bone]

I was standing outside a Barnes and Noble the other day when an SS accelerated from a red light. What a wonderful sound. So refreshing.

[espo19047]

Originally Posted by ponchoman49

Too bad GM is letting this car languish with no changes for 2009. I would liked to have seen an improvement in the seats which are too flat, hard and unsupportive. I have heard numerous new Impala owners say they liked there 2000-2005 cars seats a lot better and I echo that sentiment. I would also have liked to have seen a shift indicator on the floor shifter and a nice strip of silver or a logo on the passenger side of the dash which is a large hard piece of plain plastic. Also dropping the bodyside moldings from the std equipment list was a dumb move and XM radio should be optional and not std equipment.

I have a 2007 LTZ and I think the seats are fine. I love the turn by turn nav. All cars should have OnStar in my opinion. It is simple to use and is always up to date. I have no problem getting it into gear even if I have to look at the speedo instead of the shifter..I have XM but if times get tough I do not need to subscribe to it.
GM is making strides. Just listen to how petty the complaints are getting on a car that is on an old platform. I can't wait to see the next generation Impala!