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While I was there getting the car repaired, I noticed they had a Black 2006 Chevy Impala SS with the 5.3L V8. The salesman asked if I wanted to take it for a drive - I told him I would love to. I think the salesman was itching to take it out also. As they put a plate on it and my family packed in, the salesman asked where we were going on sight seeing. We told him and he drove us out about 20 minutes away to find our next stop. We then switched and I got to drive it the 20 minute trip back. WHAT A SWEET RIDE!! As you accelerate you can hear the mellow rumble of exhaust. The engine is as sooth as silk. There is no perceptible difference in the number of cylinders being used as part of the "Displacement on Demand" system as it switches from 8 to 6 to 4 cylinders. As we just idled along the back roads, we could not tell it was running in 4 cylinder mode. The window sticker listed I think 24 - 28 mpg for mileage.
Reality set in when we finished the trip. The dealer gave us a quote for our 2001 Impala LS with 54000 on the clock. They offered us 7000 for our Impala and took that off of the window sticker of the 2006 Impala SS. They said we would be one of the first people to own one on the Eastern seaboard. Although it had lots of options, 8 speaker BOSE sound system, sunroof, leather seats, heated seats, XM radio and of course the 5.3 L V8, I could not go for the deal. Maybe another one will come my way.
The emissions warranty took care of the catalytic problem and I was on my way free of charge after just 1 1/2 - 2 hours at the dealer!
Vanmann, for months you have posted about this 2006 Impala. You have never owned an Impala, but indicated you were looking at purchasing an LTZ or SS.......OOPS!! sorry!......but if gas prices go any higher I will now be looking at a 4 banger or Pontiac G6 your post #502. I guess if you are on a tight budget, I do understand.
Reminds me though, of someone who is an expert on a certain baseball team. Knows all the statistics, knows all the players, the wins/losses but never played, or been to a game. Never owned an Impala. Are you planning on buying a 2006 Impala? A couple hundred $$ a year difference in gas on a $30,000 car.....not an issue. The Impala has a lot more going for it (even you have stated that) then any 4 banger or Pontiac G6.
I guess you also refer to pricing always in US funds, Canadian funds are for older people. It makes it look like we are getting a better deal.
I am curious, are you in or out on purchasing a 2006 Impala?
My comment about the 4 banger G6 was a bit of a joke. You know.. if gas prices keeping up I may have to cut back. Haha.
I'm sorry you have taken a dislike to me for what ever reason. :confuse: I think we are both interested in the 2006 Impala and rather than critiquing my use of gallons and dollars, maybe we can discuss the car.
My first impression is that it was well put together, rode fairly smoothly and was very quiet.
Performance was O.K, brakes seemed a little grabby, the A/C and radio controls seemed unnecessarily fussy to operate. The cloth interior felt nice, but the beige color was very light shade and looked like it would show dirt fairly well over time. The glove box latch is in the middle of the glove box door door and hard to reach. One thing that bugged me was the steering wheel felt cheap - just a big circle of plastic. Would go for the leather-wrapped version myself.
When I returned it back to Avis, I pulled up right next to an '05. Seeing them side-by-side, the '06 has a much more "natural" flow to it's design than the '05. The '05 just plain looked "old" by comparison.
Anyway, I drive a Ford Five Hunderd as a company car (I'm not a huge Ford fan - I just drive it cause it's free ), and I'd say I prefer the Ford. Performance seems about the same, but the controls, layout and interior materials look and feel beter, the driving position is better and seats are more comfortable. Sound system is better in the Ford, and the overall platform feels more solid and rigid than the Chevy - I was told it's based on the Volvo, so I guess that would explain why.
My .02.
The automakers use psychologists for their car exterior designs and I assume for their interior designs as well. I sat in an 06 Impala and it looked great and felt like things would work for me.
I like the 06 style--it does have a visual flow.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You are right though, the new Impala flows much better than the 05. I'm not surprised you would find one at an Avis though, this is a high volume car. You will see them as cabs and police cars also. It's also a good thing as people can try them out. I see Camry rentals also at Enterprise and Thrifty rent a car.
Thanks.
When you click on the LTZ model on the GM site, it states 31 highway miles. On the specs section, it’s 27. I’m sick of these damn typos or are they just mind games.
Another thing I’ve noticed go awry today was when I visited the Toyota site. It appears as though the specs for ’06 Camry and Avalon’s engines have been watered down a bit. If you have time, visit their site. Incidentally, they’ve jacked up the price for the Camry LE (and no changes for 2006), #@$%. It’s either that one or Impala LS for me. If I wait too long, GM may raise the price of the base Impala as it’ll likely do well. By then the newly-designed ’07 Camry will be out. hmm .
PS. I thought the Impala would have electronic brake distribution (EBD), like on the Ford 500 and Camry; apparently not.
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/19/A01-283759.htm
214hp and 21/31 sounds pretty accurate.
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."
Thats strange because Pontiacs official numbers on the 5300 Grand Prix GXP are 5.9 seconds. Same car as Impala. Edmunds best run on the 5300 GP GXP was a SLOW 6.7 seconds. Go figure. There had to be something wrong there.
GXP is nice but I think the Impala is an easier car to live with day to day. I find the new GPs to be a little cramped in side.
Impala SS final drive ratio is shown as 2.93 : 1, same as the GXP.
- Ray
GXP driver . . .
This is a standard and very basic safety device nowadays. Why does the car have OnStar and no side torso airbags? Because the OnStar pays a monthly fee and the airbags do not?
If this company is serious about pulling themselves out of the financial hole in which they presently find themselves, they need to get serious about really taking care of their customers.
If the new 2006 Hyundai Sonata can provide side torso and side curtain airbags (not to mention active head restraints), why not GM??
This problem has been resolved for other manufacturers by "occupant classification/location" systems which can tell where a passenger is sitting, if they weigh enough, etc., and hopefully GM will catch up.
In the mean time, side curtain airbags are the most critical, although the Insurance Institute tests improved significantly when side torso airbags were added to the previously available side curtain airbags in the current generation Malibu.
Yes, and this is a mistake by Toyota as well but it in no way excuses GM for this omission in the new 2006 Impala. Should only those willing to pay more be entitled to optimally safe cars? If Hyundai does not think so, neither should other manufacturers.
Incidentally, the brand new model Camry is coming out next spring and I would be very surprised if it did not have side torso air bags on all models.
This is little consolation if our car is T-boned on the passenger side while my wife or adult son is sitting there.
This problem has been resolved for other manufacturers by "occupant classification/location" systems which can tell where a passenger is sitting, if they weigh enough, etc., and hopefully GM will catch up.
GM is in precisely the mess it is because it was content to be a class follower and not a class leader. One would think they should have learned a lesson from this but apparently not.
In the mean time, side curtain airbags are the most critical, although the Insurance Institute tests improved significantly when side torso airbags were added to the previously available side curtain airbags in the current generation Malibu.
My point exactly. The car is substantially safer with side torso airbags.
Furthermore, how much do they spend putting the revenue-generating OnStar in each car as opposed to side torso airbags? Will OnStar mitigate the injury effects of a T-bone collision as effectively as side torso airbags or simply call for the authorities to come clean up the increased injuries as a result of their absence?
The 2006 Impala has this system. There is an illuminated signal that shows up on the dash panel in front of the passenger seat. If someone weighs less then 40 pounds, who is sitting in the front passenger seat, an X shows on the panel that the person is too light/small to be sitting in the front. When the weight on the seat is over 40 pounds an illuminated positive check mark shows up. An excellent feature.
That said, Impala has had much better crash tests than Hyundai Sonata, Maybe the new Sonata will be better.
My mother in law has the FIRST generation Impala ever made, the 1958. Only a 2 spd automatic with the most powerfull 348 CID V8. I think it only gets 10 to 12mpg highway, LOL! You are only in 2nd or top gear at 65mph. Handling is/was horrible on those
The suspension set up on the 1958 Impala was the same for all full size chevs right through to and including 1964. The handling is terrible. I think you turn the huge steering wheel about 8 revolutions to make a turn around a corner. Hard metal dashboards and no seatblets!! Those were the days. Probably many other posters on this forum had parents or grandparents who owned these generation of cars back then. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY!
Anyone bought / leased one yet? I think "bigjay" was going to pick one up soon.
The Bose system is great...although I am not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, it does sound good to me. I listen to a range of music, mostly rock and light jazz. When I test drove the SS I had a new Michael McDonald "Motown" CD in the deck. McDonald is famous for his keyboards (lots of treble and mid range) and backs his musics up with a lot of heavy bass. IT all sounded great to me!
The Bose system is great...although I am not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, it does sound good to me. I listen to a range of music, mostly rock and light jazz. When I test drove the SS I had a new Michael McDonald "Motown" CD in the deck. McDonald is famous for his keyboards (lots of treble and mid range) and backs his music up with a lot of heavy bass. It all sounded great to me!
I will actually be buying two cars at the same time: An SS Impala and a new 'Burb. Actually a new '05 Burb...I'm taking advantage of the "firesale pricing" GM is offreing right now. Immediately after delivery (same day if possible) I'm getting a couple of DVD screens in the 'Burb. That means my wife will be driving the SS for a couple of days and I won't get to at all. Immediately upon delivery of the 'Burb, (within a couple of hours) I'm leaving town for the Labor Day weekend.
In short, I probably won't get much "windshield time" with the Impala until I get back. I'll keep everybody in the loop about the car during the week after Labor day.
On www.thecarconnection.com there is an article about the new Impala SS and they claim it is hitting zero to 60 times in 5.7 seconds!?!?! Consider the following quote:
"For V-8 fans (and who isn't?) best news is the delightful new Impala SS, which returns legendary small-block Chevy power to the once-legendary Impala nameplate for the first time since last decade's huge, blimp-like rear-drive Impalas. This all-aluminum 5.3-liter sweetheart pumps out a healthy 303 hp and 323 lb-ft, launches the 3712-lb SS to 60 mph in 5.7 sec. and -- partly thanks to GM's Displacement on Demand (DOD) cylinder deactivation technology - delivers a very decent 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway EPA economy."
Ummm... I dunno about that. I am a big fan of this new car. I've driven it and like it so much, I plan to buy one next week.
But... 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds? The car scoots along pretty well, but it just didn't feel "that" fast! Felt more like upper 6 seconds.
Sub six second 0 to 60 times are the natural habitat of some seriously fast cars ie: MB E500, BMW 545, even the Hemi powered Chrysler 300C. The SS certainly gets up and goes, but it just didn't "feel" like those other cars.
I wonder where they got those numbers?
Look forward to your comments on the SS.
The Burb will be expensive to run with $2.50-$3 gas but I guess if you can get a good deal it offsets the cost of running it. I hope the next generation has DOD like the Impala. It will help mileage.
The only published magazine acceleration report that I have seen for the GXP (functionally identical driveline, in this context) that included a 0 – 60 number was the Motor Trend – June 2005 issue: 6.0 sec. And the Quarter in 14.3 at 98.1 mph.
The other GXP magazine test I have see is the Pontiac Enthusiast, where they reported a Quarter time of 14.2 – but no 0 to Any MPH times.
Given the challenge of a good launch in such a powerful FWD vehicle, I expect that 6.0 or better is obtainable only with someone talented and experienced in such an esoteric \ specialized skill. I am personally much more interested in the acceleration rate(s) once moving. 10 – 50 mph, 50 – 70 mph (or more) to pass, etc. And (in over 3,000 miles) this drivetrain certainly provides me with the ability to entertain, as well as deal with traffic situations. My previous vehicle was reasonably well documented as a high 6-second 0 – 60, and my GXP does feel (well calibrated “butt dyno”) quicker . .
One thing to consider is that the trans. and final drive gearing is such that Second gear is good for approx. 98 mph. Third and Fourth need a few revs to provide (um) impressive acceleration.
I do expect that we will see a few instrumented SS tests within a couple of months.
- Ray
Happy with the feel . .
Lease price is $412/mo for 36mo/12kmiles/zerodown... Anyone have a lease price to compare?
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/10/wo/Home.Vehicles.Camry-NRLpeDErgxTit1e2- ueOoPM/15.15?v103035e%2ehtml
I'm paying sticker for a loaded SS. The sticker here in "LA - LA Land" (Thousand Oaks, Ca.) is $31k and change. I'm trading in my '01 Impala LS with 137k miles on it and the dealer is giving me $4,200.00 for it. In addition, I'm dumping about three grand in cash into the drive offs on a 3 year lease.
My monthlies, including 20k miles a year are in the high $200.00 range, including tax.
I must confess, I am an Insurance Agent with a major national carrier. I own my own agency, and yes, there are some rate perks that come with the job. I also have a clean DMV record, I am a non smoker, I get a multi car discount, and I obviously have my home, rental property and life insurance all with the same company. In addition, my wife is a school teacher and therefore qualifies for an extra "Affinity Group" discount.
In short, my monthly payment, including insurance is only in the mid $300's! That's why I did it! My colleagues are all driving "luxo rides" to convey image. My SS is black on tan. It looks cool, it's a conservative 4 door sedan and based on all the feedback I got from all of you in earlier posts, it looks professional enough to use for work.
In the meantime, I'm saving hundreds of dollars a month vs the near $1,000.00 a month payments (plus insurance) my buddies are making!
In fact, the money I'm NOT spending on a "luxo ride" continues to go toward business development and marketing of my agency! I should also mention....
my agency is larger than most too...
Sub six second 0 to 60 times are the natural habitat of some seriously fast cars”
CD test result numbers for the GXP:
5.7 --- 0-60
14.3/98mph --- 1/4 mile
143 top speed
.82 g lateral
174 ---70-0 braking
- Ray
Not ready for 143, but 14.3 and 5.7 sounds like what my “butt dyno” reads . . .
~alpha