2014 Impala.....what do you guys think?

[Beertestr]

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

Until someone can invent the 500hp engine that gets 50mpg, the car manufacturers will have to limit the production cars so their average fuel economy across all models sold satisfies CAFE regulations. In a way that's good, it forces them to keep improving performance/efficiency but it's bad for the collector/enthusiast who wants performance at a reasonable price.
The pinnacle of performance cars is here now, and no one seems to realize it or appreciate it.

Testify.

And the market is only going to buy the high mpg cars with compromised utility if gas prices keep going up. The little Cruze and smaller Sonic are selling very very well. This new Impala will bump up lagging Impala sales purely by it being new. It's lagging sales (still stronger than Charger and 300 combined is due to the current body being 7 years old, you can expect 10-12% sales decline year over year without a refresh. The last version ran 2000-now with one body change in 2005, and a motor upgrade in 2011 IIRC.

Efficiency is key, I'm still amazed that my 6.2L Pickup is getting better mileage than my 4.8L pickup that weighed 500# less. Got a solid 20.4 mpg from Motown to NSHS, and 18.5 on the way back with a crotch rocket sitting diagonally in the bed and 3 passengers. Add displacement and 125HP, but also add 2 speeds, improve the aero, brake drag and phase the cams. BAM, better power, torque, picked up 2900# towing capacity too.

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

Sounds very logical, but why don't you start a poll on this board on how many people could AFFORD to buy a new $40K badass Impala SS? I think you'd be surprised and/or disappointed. Most of the people raving about this car GM should build wouldn't/couldn't buy it. I'm not being a dick, it's just reality. Read Beertesticles comments, he's pretty accurate. The new 4 door 'SS' will be bad to the bone but limited and pricey.

GM sells a ridiculous array of performance cars now with many sick versions of the Camaro and Vette and with the SS coming the only thing left missing is a badass SUV.

LOL @ 'Sticles..
IIRC a 96 SS MSRP'd for $26000 (at least that's what I remember when I was a broke college boy trying to get my Dad to buy one) or so. Adjusted for inflation, that's just over $38,000 in 2012 dollars. (source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics). Pretty close to Kahones $40k bogey eh? Remember what a G8 GT cost? Average price for a V8 G8 was $32k, a relative bargin, cheaper than a 96SS with the inflation adjustment ($26k in 96 = $35.6k in 08).

Originally Posted by Jims9c1

I hear a lot of talk about comparing the new front wheel drive versions to the old rear wheel drive versions and the one that stands out the most to a guy that is 6-4 is room and comfort. This is what sold me on my 1st 9C1, I had room, comfort, handling and power all in one.

As for resale of a 1995 Tahoe or a 1995 Impala, I would say in my area the Tahoe resell blows, they can be bought all day for under $4k and it would have to be damn nice to fetch that.

Funny, I got $5500 for my 99 Tahoe.. and $4-5.5k for a 18 year old vehicle ain't too bad. FWIW, I got $4500 for my 94 Z71 Silverado a few months ago. I had $4k into it and got 18,000 miles and 2 years out of it.

Originally Posted by Jims9c1

Sad facts are the most people will settle for whatever is tossed in front of them or the hype of a commercial.

Or, a FWD Impala is the car they are looking for. Big room (tale of the tape shows more legroom and head room front and rear than your B-body), good power and mileage. My parents have an 06 with the 3.9L. 242 HP.. not too shabby, and 28 mpg on their trips through PA to MI. I have several friends with families that bought a 01, and now have an 08 or 09. Repeat customers.. that's a good thing.

Pull the specs for the b-car vs the FWD Impala. The 2000+ Impala's have more interior room and cargo room than the b-body. I'm 6'2" (a little taller if I don't cut my toenails) and 250#, I fit fine in a Malibu. My bro is 6'4"/270 and is comfortable in his wife's Saturn Aura (same architecture as Malibu). The "I don't fit in these new cars" claim is BS to me. I have even been able to get comfortable in a Sonic. Lots of interior space for a little car.

Originally Posted by Jims9c1

The new V-6's yes indeed can spout out some power, no doubt about that. Not real clear on the longevity of the new motors when being drove a bit hard.

You can run the piss out of them. The test schedules they were run on were were harder than the schedules that were run on the LT1's. Higher speed limits, updated customer driving habit info, higher mile durability requirements.

Originally Posted by Jims9c1

I hate the nightmare of them inverted motors with FWD, the V6 can be a royal chore to do anything on the backside of that motor.

Shoot, any motor that's upside down (inverted) might be a nightmare, the car is usually inverted too!..

[howelryan14]

the car looks great!

[Lance]

292hp. 27mph HWY. RWD. 4 door full size sedan. $25600 base price:

[88LT1Wagon]

My friend averages 23 or 24 in his 2012 Charger R/T AWD, not too shabby for a hemi, and he's not nice to it.

[Sir No ConeSS]

Originally Posted by Lance

27mph HWY.

Shoooot.... there's your problem, right there.

[Navy Lifer]

Impala ECO

[Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Navy Lifer

Impala ECO

[Needles.Kain]

It looks like Clark Kent disguised those cars.

[Crime Scene 96]

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

^^^ This ^^^
Until someone can invent the 500hp engine that gets 50mpg, the car manufacturers will have to limit the production cars so their average fuel economy across all models sold satisfies CAFE regulations. In a way that's good, it forces them to keep improving performance/efficiency but it's bad for the collector/enthusiast who wants performance at a reasonable price.
The pinnacle of performance cars is here now, and no one seems to realize it or appreciate it.


Sounds very logical, but why don't you start a poll on this board on how many people could AFFORD to buy a new $40K badass Impala SS? I think you'd be surprised and/or disappointed. Most of the people raving about this car GM should build wouldn't/couldn't buy it. I'm not being a dick, it's just reality. Read Beertesticles comments, he's pretty accurate. The new 4 door 'SS' will be bad to the bone but limited and pricey.

GM sells a ridiculous array of performance cars now with many sick versions of the Camaro and Vette and with the SS coming the only thing left missing is a badass SUV. And, since the current SUV's sell very well anyway...the General isn't in any hurry to put way-too-fast, roll-over susceptible vehicles in the publics hands.

I guess you are right. These are todays standards, and while ive taken the time to read everyone's post especially beertestr's, its hard to ignore continuous income from sales of todays standards, vs an enthuiasist demands for retro production. I wouldve been a little more satisfied if all their packages came with a v6 leading up to there performance models. But to throw in a 4 cylinder into a car with the reputation it has had for over 4 decades, most of which surrounding the production of the tri 9's. Its a hard pill to swallow. If i ever had an opportunity to by a brand new car off the lot, with the way GM has butchered 'some' of their big name household models, and axing off certain brands like Pontiac, I wouldnt by a GM car, Id go Mopar namely something within Dodge.


But again i stress, I see your points of views, so nothing personally taken on my end...

[TWX]

Originally Posted by Lance

292hp. 27mph HWY. RWD. 4 door full size sedan. $25600 base price:

I had the three LX four-doors on my list when I bought the Impala. In fact, I hadn't expected to even find an Impala in the shape I needed one to be in, it was only on the list as a Hail-Mary.

My guess is that my wife's next car will be a low miles Magnum or 300.