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I am planning to buy a 2006 Impala SS but have some conflicts about it. My conflicts have a lot to do with professional image. Here's my deal...
I am a car guy. I have a couple of show cars and grew up with Street Rods. Typically, I'm the guy that likes to buy whatever High Performance Sedan is being built by an American car company. For example, I've owned a couple of SHO's and a mid '90's Impala SS sedan.
I currently own an Impala LS Sedan. It has over 140,000 trouble free miles on it. I hate to give it up, but cosmetically, it's starting to look kinda tired.
When I saw the new 2006 Impala SS I decided to wait until it came out and see how I like it. Yesterday, an 2006 Impala LTZ was delivered to a local Chevy dealer and I drove it. Nice car! GM cleaned up the sheet metal and gave it 240 ponies...but, I'm, still holding out for the SS. They say it will be out in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to driving that small block 303 hp V8!
However, here is my dilema...
I am an Insurance Agent, specializing in Commercial Insurance. All of my colleagues drive "prestige" cars. They all say I should too. They say I need an "image car" to "convey the right message." Personally, I think that's crap. I can't think of a time when my car closed a deal for me. At any rate, I want to buy the car I want, not the car my colleagues think I should have.
So, whose right? Is it OK to drive a late model premium Chevy? Financially, I feel better about putting heavy mileage on a mid priced sedan, rather than on a pricey luxo barge every 3 years or so. Besides, with 303 hp, the new Impala is hardly a slouch! Besides, the guy sat K & N and Borla are already working on some bolt on go fast goodies to squeeze a tad more juice out of the stock engine.
I plan to buy a Black on Black SS. My assumption is that it will be classy enough to do the job and more fun to get from place to place than an Avalon, a Maxima, a Passat, an A4, a 320i,a C Class Mercedes or an X Type Jag. Besides, an Impala is WAY more comfortable to drive than a Lincoln LS.
I can't even consider a 300C. I don't care how much Mercedes content the sales guys say is in that car, it's still a Chrysler product. I'm just not that brave.
What do you guys think?
And keep it spotlessly clean outside...a good waxing helps, too; and the interior free of anything not in use at the moment...no baby bottles, no unused sales cases, no candy wrappers. Seriously, that matters more. And have the car detailed about every six months or do it yourself.
You'll be fine...
Personally, when I see a guy driving a 7 series Beemer and trying to sell me something I get the feeling I am paying too much to support him. As an example we ended up buying out home from a guy who drove a Jetta.
The last two real estate agent I've dealt with, both were driving Lexus'. One was and LS430 and the other a LX470. While, I certainly enjoyed riding in these cars, I kept thinking to myself that maybe the commission rates are out of line.
Don't worry about your peers, it's the clients you should think about. I believe most will appreciate you being level headed. My financial planner drives a 15 year old Oldsmobile and this is a guy that holds a PHD in finance/economics and previously owned a Old dealership and has millions of dollars in real estate.
I feel more comfortable with him dealing with my money when I believe he is responsible with his.
Bottom line, I don't think you will offend anyone driving and Impala SS while possibly impressing a few as well.
Thanks for all the great feedback on the new Impala SS. You have all confirmed my plan and now I feel better about proceeding with that plan.
As I mentioned in my previous post, in my business, I want to convey a sense of modern/contemporary thinking balanced against some solid, no nonsense business acumen. I would hope that after 20 years in business, a Master's Degree in Business, and a bunch of continuing education certificates, one would think these things would outweigh the car I pulled up in.
In short, I think the new SS will be perfect for me. Here in LA, everybody drives an "image car" so I don't see the value of putting one more luxo barge into traffic. Personally, I think the SS will be cool because it is different.
The best aspect of this new SS is the "punch" of that small block V8! That healthy 303hp V8 with a K&N Kit, and an exhaust system, should more than keep up with traffic.
Again, thanks to all!
Oh, and regarding the comment about how LA used to be the center of everything cool car wise, you're right. Things aren't what they used to be. The fact is, there was a time when a lot of cool stuff did happen here, especially right after WWII and straight through the 1960's. But let's not forget, a lot of the iron we all liked here in California came from Michigan.
"Back in the day," we did have a couple of advantages here in LA:
1. Good weather. We could build cars and street race year round while our friends in The Mid West, and on The Eastern Seaboard had to sit things out for the winter. We also didn't have the rust issue here. Our junk yards were full of more usable stuff than other parts of the country.
2. We had places to race, ie: our dry lakes. We could drive anything as fast as we wanted to and there was room to do it. And at the dry lakes, nobody got ticked or arrested for going fast!
3. We had "post war" companies like: Rockwell, North American, Douglas, Hughes Aircraft, TRW, Garrett, and many, many others al over Southern California where returning servicemen could get good jobs and spend some of their money on their crazy car hobby and still buy homes!
With all that engineering talent compacted here, some of that creative energy was bound to end up in their personal cars during their off hours. Thus, guys like: Iskindarian Cams, Edlebrock, Moon, Cragar, and many other "go fast hardware" guys had a natural market here in California.
Beyond that we had Hollywood and guys like George Barris, Dean Jefferies and "Big Daddy" Ed Roth lived out here. They all had an unfair advantage as they had studio money behind them to build wild stuff and when they completed their projects, everything they made ended up in movies and television.
Because of that, I think TV and movies gave the impression that California had some kind of leadership role in what everybody thought cool cars ought to be. But that's the magic of Hollywood...it's all an illusion.
I'll admit, at one time, we did have more than our fare share of notoriety regarding cars, but we never had a "monopoly" on cool cars. Having traveled some, I know there are some beautiful cars tucked away in the Hershey and Carlisle, Pa areas. There are some great cars in Ohio and even more hidden down South in Georgia and Arkansas. The Pacific NW has some great stuff and Arizona has it's share of great iron. That's why Barret Jackson is headquartered there!
Today, just as you say, LA doesn't have the corner on cool cars it once did. Thankfully, due to easy acess to ground transportation and shipping channels, the hobby is now wide spread and people all over the country (and the world) are able to get the parts they want. With the advent of the CNC machine, anybody can machine just about anything they want, so custom stuff is no longer a regional thing.
As a Californian, I'm glad to see so much equity in the hobby! I'm glad to see so many people in so many areas have such easy access to parts and creative technology!
However, as an American, as a Californian, and as a Muscle Car Guy from way back, I have NO use for these new "tuners." With these guys, it's no longer about homegrown innovation, trial and error and self reliance in one's own garage.
Now it's about the "bling!" It's about excess. It's about who can to spend the most money to "hire someone else" to bolt on on cosmetic do-dads and audio gadgets. In my opinion, the new generation of car guy are a bunch of wimps! They don't have a clue how to do anything themselves or how anything works! All they know is if it's shinely and looks expensive, it's automatically cool. Yet, when the hood goes up, all their eyes glaze over.
Even the new technicians aren't all that gifted! For them, everything comes out of' a box. If it isn't "bolt on - plug 'n play" they're lost! There's no trial and error left in anything. No vision, no passion.
Let's bring back "pretty cars." Let's bring back cars that are seriously fast and have real style. Let's show these young bucks that driving a performance car takes skill and not just wreckless bravado. Let's teach these "kids" that learning to use a gear box and a clutch takes finese, and "finding your line" is an art form.
These goof balls in their "drifter competitions" are a sad lot. Then again, I guess when one has no real driving skills, then spinning in circles and chasing one's tail is all that's left for them to do!
I noticed the GP GXP requires premium which will likely push me down to a LTZ if I went with an Impala.
Take your yearly mileage, divide by gas mileage expected, multipy by the price premium for premium. For most people, it is no more than $150 a year, and for by far the majority it is much less than that.
Why do people who spend more than $30,000 on a vehicle then go ballistic when the engine is designed to perform better on premium fuel? It just seems to me to be a case of being pennywise and pound foolish...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Let me tell you a story that might help you solve your problem.
Some years ago I was a salesman for a national medical supply company; and worked with reps of the 2 major national manufacturers of hospital furniture.
One felt that he had to project a successful image; High line new car every year, sharp dresser, big spender and entertainer.
The other drove an inexpensive car till the wheels fell off, bought his clothes a discount outlets and wouldn't spend a nickel on entertainment if he could avoid it.
His objective was to present an "I need the order" approach.
Both worked straight commission and were successful if they had 10 or 12 sales a year. Who was the most successful? Year after year the winner flipped back and forth and was decided by 1 or 2 sales.
It's the product and sales skills, not the car.
3.4.Is the 3.9 a chevy or buick,please don't say it's an opal.Are they 60 deg.or 90
deg. quad valves,etc.I try and keep up with gm's engines,but I don't know anything
about the 3.9.
The LZ9 is the 3.9L.
This explains them pretty good. When they say 2005 Impala they should say 2006 Impala.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_High_Value_engine
It's just another thing to consider. If your fuel economy goes down with the V8 and the price of each gallon goes up as well, it's a double whammy (not to even mention insurance and initial cost).
My thinking is, 240 hp is plenty more than I need and will still make me smile. Maybe I can save some money with an LTZ and use the savings to buy a plasma TV, thats all I'm really trying to say.
Both the 3LT and the LTZ are available with a front bench seat if you need more space for people or things in front.
I agree, the 240HP engine is plenty, it will save on insurance, and you avoid the harder ride of the suspension and wheel&tire package on the SS.
John, I see that you are also paying attention to GM - nice to see you here. The Ford Five Hundred / Mercury Montego do offer a very large trunk and AWD, but the Impala has three engine choices, a front bench option, a 60/40 rear seat which folds to give a flat load floor (most other cares flop the seat back onto the bottom cushion, leaving a sloped load area), and an excellent price.
A 2006 Impala 3LT with the front cloth bench and every option has an invoice price of just $24,200! The MSRP is $27,000, but there is no need to pay more than invoice.
For really detailed information on the different models and options, I suggest going to the GM fleet website:
http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/domestic/brandsel.jsp?regionID=1&year=2006
I've got 35,000 miles on my Five Hundred already, and other than being slightly underpowered, I am very happy with it. When the 3.5L comes out, I may trade...
But I still watch (and will test drive) the new Impalas. Especially the SS.
At the rate you are going, you will have well over 100,000 miles on the Five Hundred by the time Ford adds the 3.5 engine option (apparently Spring of 2007 as a 2008 model).
Did you notice that the Impala does have separate right and left climate controls?
With the new prices and features, someone wanting a new larger sedan would be silly not to seriously consider the 2006 Impala.
I want fully automatic climate control, like my Five Hundred has (and my 98 Grand Prix GTP had). And no, GM, I won't be moved to a Buick Lucerne to get it...
It's COOL! I liked it!! It's fun, it gets up and goes, and it looks pretty cool too. The one I drove (actually the one I hope to take delivery of this weekend) was Black on Tan. Classy, Has neat SS embroidery on the front headrests. I was surprised to see so much fake wood trim inside, but it looks... OK. I though the SS was gonna have that brushed aluminum/faux nickle trim. Weird.
Best of all, it has a nasty exhaust growl! Sounds tough. It's quiet as a tomb inside, but outside, it sounds like it has a couple 3 Stage Flowmasters in it!
Oh, and the new Bose audio system doesn't sound too bad either.
Now, it's not a perfect car by any means. But for it's price and when one compares it to it's direct competition, (Camry, Accord, Ford Five Hundred and others) it stands up pretty well unders scrutiny.
As far as professional image, it's got it! The black on tan has become such a traditional color choice on so many mid to high end sedans, that it fools the eye into thinking the car was semi expensive. It's a little cozier inside the rear seat area than I'd like, but, it'll work.
The thing I like best about it is when compared to the Pontiac GXP (which I like very much too) it doesn't have that silly "boy racer" look that some of the Pontiac's have. It's simple, clean and does it's job right!
I won't however, be street racing any 300C's any time soon. It's not quite up to that task. However, the K & N guys say they are working on an intake system for it and the Borla guys (their CEO goes to the same dentist I go to) say they are waiting for a test car to practice on.
I could make mine available to them....say... next week!
Um - I resemble that remark . .
- Ray
GXP driver - and card carrying AARP member . .
I also doubt the driving dynamics of the Buick and they Chevy will be similar...
This trying to move people up the division line-up at GM has cost GM many sales. They need to remember, the days when their own divisions were the primary competition are long gone. Then again, many GM buyers only look at GM cars...but GM needs to reach out and compete with other companies, not just with itself (or, some would say, not at all with itself)
Why else would a car that costs as much as the Impala SS does NOT come with automatic climate control, even as an option? It's just plain silly.
Chevy should look at adding it to Impala LTZ/SS models though, it wouldn't be a big deal for them to do it.
p.s. I don't think GM did it to push people to Lucernes.
And it is quite the deal breaker for me, even though my 2000 Impala LS didn't have it. I didn't realize just how much I had missed it until I got my 05 Five Hundred....
Once it's cool and you are on the highway though, it is nice.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Saw a couple of Impalas on the highways during our vacation that ended yesterday. They certainly don't stick out much but they are noticeably different and nicer to look at than the old ones.
;-)
To translate for Americans.. that's over $3 / gallon now. Yes we have a bit more tax on our gas but I may have to down grade to a 4 banger G6 if this keeps going.
I drove 31,000 business miles last year and am running at a rate which will total 35,000 plus miles this year. The distance and cost are one thing, but the time (4 to 5 hours most days), the bad traffic, and the worse drivers are making me wonder how/what to change. I own the company, so only need to look in a mirror to blame the boss.
The Impala with the 3.9 or 5.3 (since both get the essentially the same mileage), and other cars sure are more sensible than oversized trucks. Had I know about the way the rear seat folds to leave a flat load floor and the availability of the front bench, I probably would have bought a 2006 Impala instead of a 2005 Malibu Maxx, especially since the price would have been about the same (my Maxx is totally loaded, and I would have bought a 3lT Impala with cloth seats).
Sigh.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
What it would cost a Canadian to buy gas in the USA at $2.40 a US gallon.
$2.40 US funds (+22% currency exchange rate + US gallon 20% smaller)
$3.51 Canadian funds to buy an equivalent to our Canadian Gallon, in the USA
or $3.51 (divided by 4.55 litres per gallon)
or 77 cents a litre if we bought our gas in the USA. (equivalent to Canadian)
we currently pay as stated $1.00 a litre in Canada
In Canada we pay a hefty tax on our fuel.........The triple A (CAA in Canada) indicates we in Canada pay between 40-50% Federal/Provincial/Municipal taxes on every litre, gallon of fuel....
The 2006 Impala for a full sized sedan gets very good gas mileage from all 3 engines.
3500 engine 0-60 8.4 seconds
3900 " 0-60 7.8 seconds (comparable to my 01LS 3800 car)
5300 " 0-60 5.7 seconds
these are Chevrolets numbers. I am sure when Motor trend or Carandriver test these, the numbers might vary a couple tenths one way or the other.
1 US gallon = ~3.78 liters
3.78 x $1 = $3.78
$3.78 x .81 (fx rate) = $3.06 US a gallon
Imperial gallons are pretty irrelevant unless you are in Europe.
3500 has pretty decent mileage and performance. 8.4 is very respectable for a base motor. Surprised the 3900 is not a little faster though.
1 US gallon = 3.78 litres, right, but in Canada we never used US measurements, we still use Imperial. If we are buying gas in US funds thats the price ..convert it to CANADIAN funds thats how we pay to a US gallon..... If we lived in the USA thats how it is. We never used US gallons to calculate our mileage in Canada...Canada still uses 4.55 litres per gallon. Do a web search, and we still do even though we went metric.......Canada officially (still uses) Imperial measurement not just Europe. We never used USA weights/measures Canada 4.55 litres equals 1 gallon CANADIAN.
In Canada Imperial gallons, pounds, ounces, inches, feet, etc. are still used .... One example of many. All Canadian Car brochures etc. The Canadian 2004 Impala brochure states the fuel tank capacity is 64 lites or 14.0 GALLONS .....thats Imperial gallons. The Canadian way 64.0 divided by 4.55 litres per gallon....= 14.0 GALLONS as stated in the brochure. The same brochure in the USA states the car holds 17.0 GALLONS US..
Any calculations done in Canada when using litres/gallons are in Imperial measurement....
When we went metric a few years back we were suppose to completely go metric but we haven't..at a deli we can still buy a pound of cheese, or at Home Depot 4x8 plywood etc. ...We still buy many products using these measurements. but thats our way. US gallon 128 ounces.......Canadian gallon 153.6 ounces still in affect.