One of the bigger mysteries of the auto industry has been how the Chevrolet Impala has managed to survive. It's a little larger than a Chevy Malibu -- just a tad, really -- and it's been a favorite of rental car fleets, not individual buyers.
So imagine the surprise when Chevrolet announced that the next generation of the Impala will be built at the Hamtramck plant, right alongside Malibu and the Chevrolet Volt wonder car. It took Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press to ask the obvious question: Why?
Why build a car that isn't all that popular with individual customers in a segment that seems to have lost its appeal? Ford isn't having any more luck with the full-size Taurus than Chevy has had with the Impala.
"It's in a dying segment," said analyst Rebecca Lindland of IHS Automotive. "Midsize cars have gotten better and bigger, while large crossovers have squeezed the market for utilitarian large front-wheel-drive family cars from the upper end."
Makes you wonder about all the promises General Motors made to rewrite the rules, break the mold and altogether become a different kind of car company when it reformed after its bankruptcy reorganization. Here it is, once again, staying in an underperforming segment just so it can say it's there.
Once again, they're deciding to go the cheap and easy way out, and continue building the rental-queen Impala on a crappy FWD platform, when others in this segment have gone RWD or AWD.
Here was the PERFECT opportunity to breathe some life back into the Impala name. Bring back the Holden Commodore, slap on a Chevy badge on the grille and the Impala plate on the C-pillars. Throw a detuned V6 from the Camaro into the engine bay for the majority of the cars, while offering the Z06 V8 for a SS. You'll please the enthusiasts by offering a true SS (unlike the BS badge package they threw on a torque-steering FWD V8 a couple years ago), you'll win back the Police and Sheriff departments that are trained on RWD vehicles and don't want a top-heavy Tahoe, and you just may have some Impala sales that DON'T go straight to Hertz or Avis.
Why give the consumer a choice of a Malibu or Impala?
Seems obvious to me.
I think right now, the Malibu and Impala do overlap a bit. Now to be fair, Ford does it too, with the Fusion and the Taurus. However, I think Ford nailed the midsized car spec just about perfectly with the Fusion. It has around 100 cubic feet of interior space, and a 16 cubic foot trunk, which IMO makes it the poster child for what a midsized car should be. FWIW, I hold the '78-83 Malibu sedan to pretty much be the benchmark of midsized cars. It had 102 cubic feet of interior and a 17 cubic foot trunk, and could fit four people my size (6'3", 200 lb) just fine. The Taurus manages to be bigger and bulkier, but IMO, the only real advantage is a huge 21 cubic foot trunk. But inside, even though it has more shoulder room than the Fusion, it also has a bulky center console, narrow footwells, high beltline, etc, and all that makes it feel claustrophic to me.
Now, with the Malibu, it comes in a bit small as a midsized car, with something like a 95 cubic foot interior and 16 cubic foot trunk (I've seen it listed as 15.3 in some sources). I fit just fine up front, so it's a car I could drive very comfortably and actually enjoy, rather than "put up with", as I'd have to with many smaller cars. But, I can't fit comfortably in the back seat. My legs are too tall, so I can't fit my knees in those little cutouts they have built into the seatback. My guess is that it would be perfectly fine if you have more average-height passengers, so I realize that some of the things I look for, most people probably wouldn't even notice.
But now, the Impala. I find it to be plenty roomy up front, just like the Malibu. I had to drive our gov't Impala a couple months ago, and I didn't mind the front seat at all. But there is no way you could put any adult other than a double-amputee in the back seat. I don't know where they get off saying it has 37.6" of legroom in back. I think my '76 LeMans coupe, in all its glorious space innefficiency, only has 32-33" of legroom, yet I fit better in its back seat, and have the added bonus of my head not hitting the ceiling!
I think if they can get the next-gen Impala to be a bit bigger inside, say, about the size of a 2000-2005 LeSabre or Bonneville, then it would make sense. It probably won't be a huge seller, simply because that size of car seems to be going out of style. But at least there won't be the overlap.
FWIW, right now, if forced to choose between an Impala and Malibu, I'd take the Malibu in a heartbeat, even though I tend to go for bigger cars. I just find the Malibu makes a better 4-seater than the Impala does. Well that, and it's a more up-to-date, economical car. The Impala is good though, if you just want something fairly big and cheap. And, if you're tall, don't need to carry passengers in the back!
One thing that does concern me a bit though...if this new platform is going to serve both the Impala AND a Cadillac, I hope that doesn't end up cheapening Cadillac's image! It better end up being a damn nice Impala! In the past, GM never gave a full-sized FWD car to Chevy. The Impala is "technically" full-sized, but still on the midsized W-body. But in the past, the lowest level the FWD full-sized platform reached was the LeSabre/88/Bonneville. I always thought that gave them a bit of prestige, in NOT offering a Chevy derivative.
Cadillac has canceled its plans to build a plug-in hybrid or extended-range electric version of the SRX crossover, a new report suggests. According to Reuters, General Motors put the program on hold because it was not financially viable.
Rumors of an electrified Cadillac SRX first surfaced in December 2010, when Reuters reported that the Voltec drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt was being adapted to the Cadillac crossover. Installing the Voltec system in more vehicles was claimed to help GM amortize its development costs for the drivetrain. The company is already upgrading its Detroit-Hamtramck factory so that Volt production can reach 60,000 units annually by 2012.
One month later, GM CEO Dan Ackerson told reporters that the company was looking to employ a plug-in hybrid system for the Cadillac SRX. It would have been based on the drivetrain developed for the Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid — which never saw production — rather than the Voltec system. Instead, Ackerson asserted that Voltec technology would underpin a minivan or hatchback like the Chevrolet Volt MP5 concept.
According to Reuters, GM was testing development prototypes of a hybrid Cadillac SRX. However, the project was scrapped because the SRX platform is already two years old, so by the time a hybrid version was ready for production, the platform would be too dated. It was believed that a production electric-assist crossover based on the extant SRX would be costly and lose money when it went on sale.
Reuters claims that the next-generation SRX platform has improved features and is more cost-efficient, making it better suited to development of a new drivetrain. In other words, some kind of electric vehicle may debut on a future Cadillac SRX platform. It seems certain GM will spread its extended-range electric technology to other vehicles, but they may not debut for a few years’ time
The Malibu is too small for my tastes. I'd like something like the Impala but it's a bit stale designwise. It needs the design freshness of the Malibu.
I do agree with you on the Impala. My dealer says they are still popular with older folks, and now even the lower-line models have the stylish aluminum wheels that were part of the LTZ package in '06 and '07. I'm ready to be ribbed for this, but I do like how you can still get a column shift and split-bench seat in front on an Impala! Supposedly the rebates are quite good on Impalas now. The Malibu is actually on a longer wheelbase than an Impala, amazingly, and is on a five-inch longer wheelbase than the Mexico-built Fusion.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Saw a black '11 Optima zoom past in the hosp. parking lot today. I was on the 2nd floor, looking down. It's an impressive vehicle! And, of course, looks great in black.
I'm ready to be ribbed for this, but I do like how you can still get a column shift and split-bench seat in front on an Impala!
Actually, I don't mind the column shift and split bench seat in my 2000 Park Ave. There's no way in hades you could comfortably put a person in that middle section, but it does make for seats that are nice, big, and comfy. Perhaps not the best in side bolstering to keep you glued to the seat in spirited driving, but it's not like I take this thing autocrossing on a regular basis!
Oh, and your Malibu is actually on a slightly longer wheelbase than my '76 LeMans coupe! :P
Funny, but my wife specifically wanted a LaCrosse with the column shift when she bought her car, but she wanted the more upscale CXL model. Her car was a special order. They had to do a swap at her dealership with one in New Jersey near NYC.
I drove a brand new Impala LT with the nice wheels as a rental a few months ago. Competent at best, pretty blah in most ways - no way I'd blow the 24K or so that I am sure TMV claims on one. It was brand new, so mileage wasn't the best and the engine might not have been as willing as in a couple thousand miles. Still, 3.5 isn't too hot. My biggest beef is the rear headrests - they aren't retractable, kills rearward visibility, lame design.
The reason was that the center "console" is about 50% empty space under that plastic on most Buicks. The bench seat option was 80% as functional and made the front feel at least 30% larger.
Plus, you can toss stuff there by flipping it up. The armrest on it actually works as a good armrest when you want it to do so. win-win.
I wish more manufacturers offered a bench seat option these days.
I just looked at the Impala LT and with an option or 2 it's $27K. $27K for a car that is not great at anything. It's OK. Ok mpg, not so good 4 spd., dull blend-in styling, so-so materials, not particularly powerful or sporty.
I guess if you want an "appliance" it may be OK; it may be somewhat smooth. But frankly I'd almost rather walk than have to drive a vanilla, appliance. I'd rather pay the bills on an Audi, then an Impala.
Life is too short to drive a dull, mediocre car or truck. There are so many nice, used vehicles out there, that I'd rather spend my $27K on then a new Impala. I'd rather wear a used Armani suit, then a new Sears suit, thank you.
I'm getting $3,940 off the sticker price of a $24,360.00 Malibu now, and the incentives are higher on an Impala I've heard (though not verified). That $27K Impala at say, $22K-odd might suddenly become a little more attractive to some folks--hard to beat for a car of that size.
I admit that I didn't even consider one this time.
Back to the bench seat/column shifter discussion--I think even if you never put a person in that center position up-front, you do get an 'aura' of more spaciousness, and in today's cars that can be a good thing. I'm sure that when this Impala and Lucerne go away, that'll probably be the end of bench seats as we know it.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
I think that Chevrolet, anyway, is a high-value division. Other than the Corvette, asking why the vehicles they are offering don't compete with those that cost more, is like wondering why a steak at Applebee's isn't as good as Hyde Park Grille or Ruth Chris' .
I'm going into 'Classic Car' board territory now, but I had a friend who loved '55 and '56 Packards and was yet another Packard guy who blamed Studebaker for 100% of all Packard's problems...like still fighting the Civil War ! He'd sit and compare features of his Patrician with my Lark Daytona. The only thing that shut him up, and that he could seem to relate to, is when I'd say, "You're comparing a Sedan deVille to a Chevy II".
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
That $27K Impala at say, $22K-odd might suddenly become a little more attractive to some folks--hard to beat for a car of that size.
I just looked up Impalas at www.fitzmall.com, which is a big local dealer group that has internet pricing that seems pretty competitive. Their used cars can be hit or miss, though. Anyway, they have five Impala LT's in stock. MSRP ranges from $27,080 to $29,845. Their internet pricing, which includes rebates, ranges from $22,085 to $24,351.
The $24K one has the "luxury edition" package, which gives you heated leather seats, power passenger seat, improved sound system, etc. And it also has a sunroof.
So, for the right buyer, the Impala is a lot of car for the money.
That $27K Impala at say, $22K-odd might suddenly become a little more attractive to some folks--hard to beat for a car of that size.
Absolutely for those who just want/need something cheap to drive. I'd bet a used one is even a better buy. Probably find a 1-2 year old Impala with low miles in the mid to low teens. For someone on a fixed or tight budget, where else can you find a low mileage family sedan for that kind of money.
So, for the right buyer, the Impala is a lot of car for the money.
It's what I like about my Grand Marquis - a lot of car for the money. Back in the day, just about every manufacturer had a car like that - I could buy a Chevrolet Caprice/Impala, Ford LTD/Galaxie, or the many variations of a Plymouth Fury.
The way things are nowadays, outside of the Impala, I have to step up to a senior luxury marque to get the size and kind of car I want.
I saw my first Volt this morning during my commute. It was on I-90, easily keeping up with traffic (at 75-80 MPH). As I passed it, I noticed a bumper sticker that said "NOT another Prius!" I had to laugh!
As for the Gimpala, I ran across this a few minutes ago: Click me!
My answer: If they're not bringing back RWD, then rename it "Classic" and sell it exclusively to fleets.
To me, there is nothing worse than a half-a**ed opinion spoken with absolute certainty.
The one follow-up poster mentioned that the bathtub Caprice wasn't as good as a Crown Victoria. To that I would say, "Ask a cop or taxi driver which he'd have rather driven". I've read many times over the past fifteen or so years how with the 350, taxi operators and cops had better luck with the Chevys. But you know, once the "story" gets out there....
Plus, Chevy didn't have the PR issues of Caprices turning into infernos when hit from the back.
Sheesh, Chevy gets accused of holding onto old designs for too long....Ford built the CV for over ten years after Chevy retired the Caprice! And how long has Ford been building the same Ranger now?
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Once all the cheap, easy-to-fix police cars like the Crown Vic and Impala get used up, and they're forced to go with more expensive designs like the Taurus, Charger, and whatever Chev ends up putting into police duty, I imagine those increased costs will be passed onto the driving public in the form of higher speeding tickets and such.
I imagine those increased costs will be passed onto the driving public in the form of higher speeding tickets and such.
Well the Taurus/Impala/Charger(v6) certainly cost less to operate (FE) vs a CV. The question is will the increased fuel efficiency offset higher maintenance costs.
So far, my wife has put almost 4k miles on her Taurus and she's averaging 24mpg in 40/60 city/hwy driving. Granted, her car doesn't see police type duty by any means, but I bet a CV would be lucky to see 18 mpg with her type of driving.
I wish they'd sell that car at Chevy dealer's now. I don't go for those 'in the hood' scoops on the front fenders, but I guess the car is bland without them.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
$22,075 for a full-sized car is a lot of bang for the buck (you missed the cheapest one)... but is GM losing money on deals like that?
The same dealer has the Prius starting at $24,110, or $100 above MSRP.
Oddly enough the Impala will soldier on. It's even getting the DI version of the 3.6l V6. I wonder how much that'll effect the $22,075 rock bottom street price, though.
GM should've just rebadged the G8 GT as an Impala SS. They could probably sell it for $32,075, i.e. $10 grand more than the give-away Impala.
That is only the beginning, probably double that figure...It was a big slushfund for the union guys and the pointey-headed libs..Sorry I got carried away!!!!!!!
Forget the Impala, and the mighty 3.5 gutless engine..The old W-body is a joke..
The whole Chevy line is dated, except the Cruze and Volt...and they are not cheapos..
Don't get me wrong, having owned and driven 34 GM cars since licensed, I had some great ones and they were an excellent customer over the years..Yep I had parts on the Chevelle, and the Vega...and the Corvair...
My 2006 Pontiac GPGT is an example of the W-body, however pricing, 4300 miles, and equipment won me over..This is my last FWD car......................
So true. I saw first hand the destruction and devestation from one of those monsters when I drove through Saltville, Virginia last month. 14 people killed from it... Sad, sad, sad. My heart sank after seeing that.
Oddly enough the Impala will soldier on. It's even getting the DI version of the 3.6l V6. I wonder how much that'll effect the $22,075 rock bottom street price, though.
They might actually realize some economy of scale with going to that 3.6 V-6, and the 6-speed automatic for 2012. I think the Impala is the only vehicle left that uses the 3.5 V-6. The 3.9 is shared with the Impala and Buick Lucerne, but 2011 is the last year for the Lucerne as well, I'm sure. I heard that the last Cadillac DTS has rolled off the assembly line and went in some museum somewhere, so 2011 probably marks the end of GM's 4-speed FWD automatic transmission, as well.
So I'm sure losing the 4-speed automatic, as well as the 3.5 and 3.9 and simplifying the engine/transmission choices might give them some savings, to offset the fact that the 3.6 and 6-speed are more expensive to produce.
I shouldn't say this, but the 3.6 and 6-speed are probably more expensive to repair as well, so they'll see some profit potential there. :surprise:
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA--June 1, 2011: Hyundai Motor America today announced all-time record May sales of 59,214 units, up 21 percent compared with the same record-breaking period last year. This marks the fifth consecutive month that Hyundai has set an all-time monthly sales record. For the year, total sales are up 29 percent, with retail volume rising 40 percent. Sales to fleet accounts represent 11 percent of the total sales year-to-date and just seven percent for the month of May. Thirty-four percent of Hyundai vehicles sold in May achieved 40 MPG fuel economy ratings.
I believe GM Fleet sales are around 17% but not exactly sure of the exact YTD number.
BTW, Hyundai/Kia outsold Honda in May. Here is Q1 comp with Honda.
In the first quarter, Hyundai vehicle sales abroad rose nearly 12 percent to 752,466 vehicles; while domestic sales held steady at 166,664 vehicles. Hyundai’s performance caused its stock to climb 7.3 percent to its highest closing price since it began trading in 1975. Hyundai’s affiliated company, Kia, also is predicted to post a double-digit profit increase. By contrast, Japan’s Honda’s profit for its fourth quarter ended March 31 plunged by 39 percent to $545 million; revenue fell 3 percent. Its performance caused its stock price to down 7 percent since the March 11 earthquake. As a result of the two divergent performances, Hyundai outsold Honda, 919,000 vehicles to 860,000. A year earlier, Honda outsold Hyundai 874,000 to 842,000 vehicles.
'# Fleet sales for GM’s four brands were 70,139 for the month, a 16-percent decrease for the month. Sales to commercial customers increased 19 percent – the 14th consecutive month of commercial fleet sales gains. Fleet accounted for 32 percent of GM total sales during the month – lower than the 37 percent fleet mix in May 2010.'
My 2006 Pontiac GPGT is an example of the W-body, however pricing, 4300 miles, and equipment won me over..This is my last FWD car......................
pricing is what got my Dad into a used 2003 Regal LS. Bought in September 2003, with around 19,500 on it, it was $12,840 out the door, and that was with an aftermarket warranty he wanted to get!
New, that was probably around a $26,000 car, although I'd imagine out the door with incentives, probably more like $22K or so.
The W-body in general doesn't do a lot for me, but, for the right price, I could be seduced. I wouldn't mind a Regal GS with the supercharged 3.8. It's kinda fun in my heavy 2000 Park Ave, so I imagine in a lighter W-body, it should be even more so.
My biggest issue with the W- is the lack of legroom. I never could get comfortable unless it had a power seat, although as time went by, power seats did become more and more common. However, I've found the back seat to be cramped in all of 'em. Still, I don't carry a car load of passengers around all that often anymore, and sometimes, having a cramped back seat can be a blessing, because then the whole gang doesn't want to pile in your car!
Comments
One of the bigger mysteries of the auto industry has been how the Chevrolet Impala has managed to survive. It's a little larger than a Chevy Malibu -- just a tad, really -- and it's been a favorite of rental car fleets, not individual buyers.
So imagine the surprise when Chevrolet announced that the next generation of the Impala will be built at the Hamtramck plant, right alongside Malibu and the Chevrolet Volt wonder car. It took Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press to ask the obvious question: Why?
Why build a car that isn't all that popular with individual customers in a segment that seems to have lost its appeal? Ford isn't having any more luck with the full-size Taurus than Chevy has had with the Impala.
"It's in a dying segment," said analyst Rebecca Lindland of IHS Automotive.
"Midsize cars have gotten better and bigger, while large crossovers have
squeezed the market for utilitarian large front-wheel-drive family cars from the upper end."
Makes you wonder about all the promises General Motors made to rewrite the rules, break the mold and altogether become a different kind of car company when it reformed after its bankruptcy reorganization. Here it is, once again, staying in an underperforming segment just so it can say it's there.
Go Kia!
Regards,
OW
Seems obvious to me.
Until now.
Once again, they're deciding to go the cheap and easy way out, and continue building the rental-queen Impala on a crappy FWD platform, when others in this segment have gone RWD or AWD.
Here was the PERFECT opportunity to breathe some life back into the Impala name. Bring back the Holden Commodore, slap on a Chevy badge on the grille and the Impala plate on the C-pillars. Throw a detuned V6 from the Camaro into the engine bay for the majority of the cars, while offering the Z06 V8 for a SS. You'll please the enthusiasts by offering a true SS (unlike the BS badge package they threw on a torque-steering FWD V8 a couple years ago), you'll win back the Police and Sheriff departments that are trained on RWD vehicles and don't want a top-heavy Tahoe, and you just may have some Impala sales that DON'T go straight to Hertz or Avis.
Seriously, what are they thinking?
Seems obvious to me.
I think right now, the Malibu and Impala do overlap a bit. Now to be fair, Ford does it too, with the Fusion and the Taurus. However, I think Ford nailed the midsized car spec just about perfectly with the Fusion. It has around 100 cubic feet of interior space, and a 16 cubic foot trunk, which IMO makes it the poster child for what a midsized car should be. FWIW, I hold the '78-83 Malibu sedan to pretty much be the benchmark of midsized cars. It had 102 cubic feet of interior and a 17 cubic foot trunk, and could fit four people my size (6'3", 200 lb) just fine. The Taurus manages to be bigger and bulkier, but IMO, the only real advantage is a huge 21 cubic foot trunk. But inside, even though it has more shoulder room than the Fusion, it also has a bulky center console, narrow footwells, high beltline, etc, and all that makes it feel claustrophic to me.
Now, with the Malibu, it comes in a bit small as a midsized car, with something like a 95 cubic foot interior and 16 cubic foot trunk (I've seen it listed as 15.3 in some sources). I fit just fine up front, so it's a car I could drive very comfortably and actually enjoy, rather than "put up with", as I'd have to with many smaller cars. But, I can't fit comfortably in the back seat. My legs are too tall, so I can't fit my knees in those little cutouts they have built into the seatback. My guess is that it would be perfectly fine if you have more average-height passengers, so I realize that some of the things I look for, most people probably wouldn't even notice.
But now, the Impala. I find it to be plenty roomy up front, just like the Malibu. I had to drive our gov't Impala a couple months ago, and I didn't mind the front seat at all. But there is no way you could put any adult other than a double-amputee in the back seat. I don't know where they get off saying it has 37.6" of legroom in back. I think my '76 LeMans coupe, in all its glorious space innefficiency, only has 32-33" of legroom, yet I fit better in its back seat, and have the added bonus of my head not hitting the ceiling!
I think if they can get the next-gen Impala to be a bit bigger inside, say, about the size of a 2000-2005 LeSabre or Bonneville, then it would make sense. It probably won't be a huge seller, simply because that size of car seems to be going out of style. But at least there won't be the overlap.
FWIW, right now, if forced to choose between an Impala and Malibu, I'd take the Malibu in a heartbeat, even though I tend to go for bigger cars. I just find the Malibu makes a better 4-seater than the Impala does. Well that, and it's a more up-to-date, economical car. The Impala is good though, if you just want something fairly big and cheap. And, if you're tall, don't need to carry passengers in the back!
One thing that does concern me a bit though...if this new platform is going to serve both the Impala AND a Cadillac, I hope that doesn't end up cheapening Cadillac's image! It better end up being a damn nice Impala! In the past, GM never gave a full-sized FWD car to Chevy. The Impala is "technically" full-sized, but still on the midsized W-body. But in the past, the lowest level the FWD full-sized platform reached was the LeSabre/88/Bonneville. I always thought that gave them a bit of prestige, in NOT offering a Chevy derivative.
Rumors of an electrified Cadillac SRX first surfaced in December 2010, when Reuters reported that the Voltec drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt was being adapted to the Cadillac crossover. Installing the Voltec system in more vehicles was claimed to help GM amortize its development costs for the drivetrain. The company is already upgrading its Detroit-Hamtramck factory so that Volt production can reach 60,000 units annually by 2012.
One month later, GM CEO Dan Ackerson told reporters that the company was looking to employ a plug-in hybrid system for the Cadillac SRX. It would have been based on the drivetrain developed for the Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid — which never saw production — rather than the Voltec system. Instead, Ackerson asserted that Voltec technology would underpin a minivan or hatchback like the Chevrolet Volt MP5 concept.
According to Reuters, GM was testing development prototypes of a hybrid Cadillac SRX. However, the project was scrapped because the SRX platform is already two years old, so by the time a hybrid version was ready for production, the platform would be too dated. It was believed that a production electric-assist crossover based on the extant SRX would be costly and lose money when it went on sale.
Reuters claims that the next-generation SRX platform has improved features and is more cost-efficient, making it better suited to development of a new drivetrain. In other words, some kind of electric vehicle may debut on a future Cadillac SRX platform. It seems certain GM will spread its extended-range electric technology to other vehicles, but they may not debut for a few years’ time
Take your time, GM, take your sweet time!
Regards,
OW
Actually, I don't mind the column shift and split bench seat in my 2000 Park Ave. There's no way in hades you could comfortably put a person in that middle section, but it does make for seats that are nice, big, and comfy. Perhaps not the best in side bolstering to keep you glued to the seat in spirited driving, but it's not like I take this thing autocrossing on a regular basis!
Oh, and your Malibu is actually on a slightly longer wheelbase than my '76 LeMans coupe! :P
Don't egg him on, now! :P Although I'll confess, I like the looks of that new Optima as well.
Plus, you can toss stuff there by flipping it up. The armrest on it actually works as a good armrest when you want it to do so. win-win.
I wish more manufacturers offered a bench seat option these days.
LOL, I hear you! Though I do hear it looks better than it drives. But since I haven't driven one, I can't say . . .
I guess if you want an "appliance" it may be OK; it may be somewhat smooth. But frankly I'd almost rather walk than have to drive a vanilla, appliance. I'd rather pay the bills on an Audi, then an Impala.
Life is too short to drive a dull, mediocre car or truck. There are so many nice, used vehicles out there, that I'd rather spend my $27K on then a new Impala. I'd rather wear a used Armani suit, then a new Sears suit, thank you.
Regards,
OW
I admit that I didn't even consider one this time.
Back to the bench seat/column shifter discussion--I think even if you never put a person in that center position up-front, you do get an 'aura' of more spaciousness, and in today's cars that can be a good thing. I'm sure that when this Impala and Lucerne go away, that'll probably be the end of bench seats as we know it.
Guess who has one?
Leaf and Prius Stomp the Volt on Greenest Cars List
SSSLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW as usual GM. Keep the Impala going, though!
Regards,
OW
I'm going into 'Classic Car' board territory now, but I had a friend who loved '55 and '56 Packards and was yet another Packard guy who blamed Studebaker for 100% of all Packard's problems...like still fighting the Civil War
I just looked up Impalas at www.fitzmall.com, which is a big local dealer group that has internet pricing that seems pretty competitive. Their used cars can be hit or miss, though. Anyway, they have five Impala LT's in stock. MSRP ranges from $27,080 to $29,845. Their internet pricing, which includes rebates, ranges from $22,085 to $24,351.
The $24K one has the "luxury edition" package, which gives you heated leather seats, power passenger seat, improved sound system, etc. And it also has a sunroof.
So, for the right buyer, the Impala is a lot of car for the money.
Absolutely for those who just want/need something cheap to drive. I'd bet a used one is even a better buy. Probably find a 1-2 year old Impala with low miles in the mid to low teens. For someone on a fixed or tight budget, where else can you find a low mileage family sedan for that kind of money.
It's what I like about my Grand Marquis - a lot of car for the money. Back in the day, just about every manufacturer had a car like that - I could buy a Chevrolet Caprice/Impala, Ford LTD/Galaxie, or the many variations of a Plymouth Fury.
The way things are nowadays, outside of the Impala, I have to step up to a senior luxury marque to get the size and kind of car I want.
As for the Gimpala, I ran across this a few minutes ago: Click me!
My answer: If they're not bringing back RWD, then rename it "Classic" and sell it exclusively to fleets.
The one follow-up poster mentioned that the bathtub Caprice wasn't as good as a Crown Victoria. To that I would say, "Ask a cop or taxi driver which he'd have rather driven". I've read many times over the past fifteen or so years how with the 350, taxi operators and cops had better luck with the Chevys. But you know, once the "story" gets out there....
Plus, Chevy didn't have the PR issues of Caprices turning into infernos when hit from the back.
Sheesh, Chevy gets accused of holding onto old designs for too long....Ford built the CV for over ten years after Chevy retired the Caprice! And how long has Ford been building the same Ranger now?
Well the Taurus/Impala/Charger(v6) certainly cost less to operate (FE) vs a CV. The question is will the increased fuel efficiency offset higher maintenance costs.
So far, my wife has put almost 4k miles on her Taurus and she's averaging 24mpg in 40/60 city/hwy driving. Granted, her car doesn't see police type duty by any means, but I bet a CV would be lucky to see 18 mpg with her type of driving.
DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors' U.S. sales fell 1.2 percent in May as it offered fewer deals to customers.
The largest U.S. car company says it sold just over 221,000 vehicles last month, led by smaller, more fuel-efficient models.
GM blamed the drop mainly on a decision to cut sales to rental car companies by 16 percent compared with a year earlier.
While sales to individual buyers rose 9 percent, the company did cut back on rebates and other incentives.
Sales were led by the new Chevrolet Cruze compact and Chevrolet Equinox crossover vehicle.
GM is the first major car company to report U.S. sales on Wednesday. Industry analysts expect overall U.S. sales to fall 4 percent from last May.
Betcha Hyundai/Kia blow away the GM % gain by multiples!
Regards,
OW
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/VehicleTestBook2011_Web_mil_341027_7.pdf
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2011/05/174-pages-of-police-car-tests-l- apd-tests-dodge-charger-chevy-impala-caprice-ford-taurus-and-more.html
link title
Regards,
OW
The same dealer has the Prius starting at $24,110, or $100 above MSRP.
Oddly enough the Impala will soldier on. It's even getting the DI version of the 3.6l V6. I wonder how much that'll effect the $22,075 rock bottom street price, though.
GM should've just rebadged the G8 GT as an Impala SS. They could probably sell it for $32,075, i.e. $10 grand more than the give-away Impala.
Forget the Impala, and the mighty 3.5 gutless engine..The old W-body is a joke..
The whole Chevy line is dated, except the Cruze and Volt...and they are not cheapos..
Don't get me wrong, having owned and driven 34 GM cars since licensed, I had some great ones and they were an excellent customer over the years..Yep I had parts on the Chevelle, and the Vega...and the Corvair...
My 2006 Pontiac GPGT is an example of the W-body, however pricing, 4300 miles, and equipment won me over..This is my last FWD car......................
They might actually realize some economy of scale with going to that 3.6 V-6, and the 6-speed automatic for 2012. I think the Impala is the only vehicle left that uses the 3.5 V-6. The 3.9 is shared with the Impala and Buick Lucerne, but 2011 is the last year for the Lucerne as well, I'm sure. I heard that the last Cadillac DTS has rolled off the assembly line and went in some museum somewhere, so 2011 probably marks the end of GM's 4-speed FWD automatic transmission, as well.
So I'm sure losing the 4-speed automatic, as well as the 3.5 and 3.9 and simplifying the engine/transmission choices might give them some savings, to offset the fact that the 3.6 and 6-speed are more expensive to produce.
I shouldn't say this, but the 3.6 and 6-speed are probably more expensive to repair as well, so they'll see some profit potential there. :surprise:
It could also be more efficient in that they can source parts from more than one factory if more powertrains are shared.
That way a strike at one plant (or a natural disaster) doesn't cripple production.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA--June 1, 2011: Hyundai Motor America today announced all-time record May sales of 59,214 units, up 21 percent compared with the same record-breaking period last year. This marks the fifth consecutive month that Hyundai has set an all-time monthly sales record. For the year, total sales are up 29 percent, with retail volume rising 40 percent. Sales to fleet accounts represent 11 percent of the total sales year-to-date and just seven percent for the month of May. Thirty-four percent of Hyundai vehicles sold in May achieved 40 MPG fuel economy ratings.
I believe GM Fleet sales are around 17% but not exactly sure of the exact YTD number.
BTW, Hyundai/Kia outsold Honda in May. Here is Q1 comp with Honda.
In the first quarter, Hyundai vehicle sales abroad rose nearly 12 percent to 752,466 vehicles; while domestic sales held steady at 166,664 vehicles. Hyundai’s performance caused its stock to climb 7.3 percent to its highest closing price since it began trading in 1975. Hyundai’s affiliated company, Kia, also is predicted to post a double-digit profit increase. By contrast, Japan’s Honda’s profit for its fourth quarter ended March 31 plunged by 39 percent to $545 million; revenue fell 3 percent. Its performance caused its stock price to down 7 percent since the March 11 earthquake. As a result of the two divergent performances, Hyundai outsold Honda, 919,000 vehicles to 860,000. A year earlier, Honda outsold Hyundai 874,000 to 842,000 vehicles.
Regards,
OW
One does wonder if they are growing too fast, and might end up with the old GM/new Toyota "disease".
Whatdya mean Old GM Disease? Nothing much changed afaic, except a few new cars and CUV's so far.
Regards,
OW
pricing is what got my Dad into a used 2003 Regal LS. Bought in September 2003, with around 19,500 on it, it was $12,840 out the door, and that was with an aftermarket warranty he wanted to get!
New, that was probably around a $26,000 car, although I'd imagine out the door with incentives, probably more like $22K or so.
The W-body in general doesn't do a lot for me, but, for the right price, I could be seduced. I wouldn't mind a Regal GS with the supercharged 3.8. It's kinda fun in my heavy 2000 Park Ave, so I imagine in a lighter W-body, it should be even more so.
My biggest issue with the W- is the lack of legroom. I never could get comfortable unless it had a power seat, although as time went by, power seats did become more and more common. However, I've found the back seat to be cramped in all of 'em. Still, I don't carry a car load of passengers around all that often anymore, and sometimes, having a cramped back seat can be a blessing, because then the whole gang doesn't want to pile in your car!
GM 221,192
Toyota 108,387
Toyota Camry has dropped to No. 12 in overall vehicles.
What I mean by Old GM/Current Toyota disease, is quality issues/arrogance/recalls appearing for a good number of folks.
I would not have guessed this. I thought the Fusion outsold it.