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The SS and maybe even the '04 model as a whole will be a risky proposition if GM continues their pricing philosophy.
For example, the SS is likely going to sticker in the $32K range. Maybe even approaching $35K. This is ES300,Volvo and Z-territory just to name a few.
Argue if you will that we are talking different buyers but it certainly will limit the available market. Marketing-wise that pricing moves the Impala into a different economic buyer. This class of buyer has higher expectations and many many choices. Existing Impala owners, demographically speaking, will only be able to dream of owning an SS.
The 2003 LS w/sport package is over $29K and they sit on the dealers lots unsold. Just look at the supercharged Bonneville as an existing example. They fetch $35K and are nearly impossible to sell. Great car but not $35K worth.
GM should behave like it was do or die and employed the Infiniti/Lexus pricing model. My belief is that it would catapult GM's market share.
Screw discounting vehicles. Price the SS at $28,900, the LS at $24,900 and the base model at $19,900. The only options are choice of color (slight exaggeration).
Great cars do not succeed on merit alone. The SS will not be what the re-incarnated Z was to Nissan. Lines will not be forming a year in advance. Besides GM has yet to prove they can build great cars for the everyday buyer. C'mon $35-$40K for GTO that looks like an Accord coupe. Where is the heritage?
Are you listening Mr. Lutz.
They are incredibly well recorded though and sound amazing on a good system.
Keb' Mo' is still one of my favorites after about 5 years. I haven't grown tired yet although his last album wasn't that great.
Sting's latest DVD "All this time" is a super recording. I think it is also available on CD.
In my Intrigue and to a lesser extent in my Impala the guitars on "Too much time on my Hands" had this huge chunky sound that really kicked.
That same song on my Mirage M-3's ($2500 in '92)at home didn't do anything spectacular.
This leads me to believe that GM is boosting the upper bass.
The old trick used to be to boost everything in the 80Hz range to give more kick to the kick drum.
I have had people tell me that both the head unit and the speakers are to blame.
A new head unit with provide a clearer sound(assuming better amps) and better radio performance.
I would imagine better speakers would provide more detail and a more "accurate" sound. With no emphasis on any group of frequencies which I believe is what GM is going for to impress the teenagers and people who just don't know any better.
probably more of a marketing genius than an acoustic one.
Who else do you know who can convince people that they need a $500 clock radio?
Or a $2000 home theater with little tiny speakers.
I can buy the same thing only better for $500 anywhere.
http://media.gm.com/news/releases/021201_sales.html
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5572&sid=173&n=156
Did anyone catch that?
LOL
I thought it was just me.
Go figure!
Went looking again yesterday and an identically optioned Impala like me '01 apparently doesn't exist anymore.
Found some LS's kind of like mine, but they had sunroofs and no side airbag.
MSRP was $27,345. Almost 2K more than my '01.
I would add the airbag for $350 the XM satellite radio another $300 or so and delete the spoiler $175 savings.
That would leave me with everything my '01 had plus the XM radio but not the Onstar which costs $600!!!
Chevy has clearly made a mistake with pricing.
The current wheels are on ebay all the time for about $400. There are also plenty of wheel companies selling the wheels online. Go to Yahoo ans search on OEM wheels. After that just try them all 'til you find what you want.
The public doesn't feel the car is worth what they are asking for it.
Not good for resale.
I don't read about any Honda Accords going for 5K less than MSRP.
I understand that the 2004 Malibu will offer a seperate model next year called the "CLASSIC" it will be the new fleet car from Chevrolet and allow the Impala to become a little higher class and not be available as a fleet car. That should help hold up resale values of the Impala down the road.
If you shop around you can find decent prices on Impalas. Last week Chevy Dealer in Buffalo NY brand new base Impalas 12 available all colors. $15,999. Thats a good price... "
I know, man... I got a good deal! I was just rationalizing GM's reasoning.
And I don't like the verticalness of the posts.
What do you guys think?
Still, ain't it sad when a V-6 equipped Impala is only marginally slower than a V-8 Vic? The Vic is a very heavy car. I test drove one the last three times I have bought a car. Each time I WANTED to like a Vic, due to the size, the body on frame, the V-8 engine, the huge interior (which turns out not to be so huge at all, especially in the back seat), the reputation for durability. Each time after my test drive, as I got out of the 1998 Watts linked Vic, the Mercury Marauder, the Crown Vic Sport, I shook my head sadly at the sloppy steering, the jittery ride and the horrid brakes and muttered to myself, "What WAS I thinking." I marveled at just how uncomfortable that interior is. I was amazed that cops can drive those things well at all.
This time around, with 110,000 miles on the 2000 Impala LS that has served me so well, I would buy another in a heartbeat, but for several nagging, little things: the missing coin holder, the no-lights on the shifter, the missing light in the glove box, the higher price tag...all of which make me wonder: what changes have been made in the parts of the vehicle I can't readily see, say the engine, transmission and drive train?
I am most seriously looking at a Mazda6, of all things. I am impressed by the zoom-zoom, I admit it. But, Sirius satellite radio is not yet an option and the dash looks very difficult to take apart without damage. Mazda claims it is. So, I shall wait to see the Impala SS and the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix due in just a few short months. I may even wait to see the Mazda6 hatch and wagon, which also has the advantage of not putting myself into buying the first year of production in reality. Or I just may be tempted by the new Maxima coming out in a few months. Had a 92SE and loved it.
If, as I suspect, I end up with a Mazda6 or another import, Mr. Lutz might want to realise that there are those of us who are NOT happy with the 'unnoticeable' little changes he is making. The BIG stuff like interiors improved overall? Hard to believe when little stuff gets "Lutzed."
Actions speak louder than words.
Anybody know what the police-spec LT-1 Caprices from '94-96 would do 0-60 in? I have a Mopar police squad book that covers 1979 through 1989, that lists the Michigan State Police annual test results, as well as some CHP test results for various police cars available during those times. Believe it or not, the fastest police car they have listed is the 1979 Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare...0-60 in 8.7 seconds and 0-100 in something like 22.9. It was compared to a '79 Malibu that did 0-60 in 8.9, but didn't have as much upper end, taking something like 28 seconds to hit 100.
I think police cars are usually set up more for high-end performance, but at the expense of 0-60. That might explain why the '00 Impala took 9.2 seconds from 0-60, whereas the civvy version I've seen quoted anywhere from 7.3 to 8.2 seconds with the 3.8.
It's all about the extra weight the cops carry around.
Whenever Car & Driver or Motortrend or whoever tests cars, does anybody know how much weight the test equipment puts on? Would it be enough to equate to the weight of a second cop?
I do remember reading too that, in general, adding a second cop on the tests cuts the top speed by about 5 mph.
A nice improvement IMO is that the Imp and LS lettering is now painted the body color...if they would only paint out the little mammal and grille chrome...
My 2000 has those items painted white, like the body of the car. But the Impala IS chrome, and I, for one, like it that way!
I have the Navy blue and it is impossible to keep clean and shows every little scratch.
Do you have the grey interior or the neutral?