Chevy Impala Ss V8 2006 on 2040-cars
Winter Garden, Florida, United States
Return of the Real Impala
If General Motors has a distinctive engineering tradition it's a weird commitment to V8 front-drivers. Since the introduction of the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, GM has always had at least one V8-powered front-driver in its product line. Usually two. Despite all that history, this V8-powered, 303-horsepower 2006 Impala SS is the layout's first migration to Chevrolet. Dismissing this Chevy Impala SS as a pretender because it isn't rear-drive like the Impalas of yesteryear is a lazy cop-out. It's a cop-out because those old Impalas weren't that great and how this car compares to the crusty ghosts of ancient namesakes is unimportant. What is important is how it stacks up against the best. It stacks up well, both on the road
and on paper. Although a fully loaded Impala SS can break the $31,000 mark, our
Laser Blue test car, which had leather, heated front seats; a power passenger
seat; polished wheels (which are a steal at $295); a Bose Premium eight-speaker
sound system; and XM Satellite Radio but no sunroof, stickered for just under
$30,000. (A navigation system is not available.) In the age of the $29,000 V6
Camry, we think that makes the SS a good value. Evolutionary Fitness To handle the extra twist the Impala
has been reinforced. The unibody chassis design carries over but there are
thicker frame sections surrounding the engine bay, and the engine and its
four-speed automatic transaxle ride in a new extruded aluminum engine cradle.
The suspension still uses struts front and rear, rack and pinion steering and
four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS, but the gorgeous 18-inch wheels
inside P235/50R18 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires are new. Although the 2006 edition rides on the
same 110.5-inch wheelbase of the 2005 car, it's a little less than half an inch
longer and 106.4 pounds heavier. That's more or less the weight of two
additional cylinders plus the bigger wheels and tires minus one supercharger. Uniquely GM The operation of GM's Displacement on
Demand (DoD) system, which knocks out half the engine's cylinders to conserve
fuel when the car is cruising under light load, is nearly impossible to detect.
Despite the cylinder shut-off system, however, this is no economy car. During
driving heavily weighted to freeway cruising, it returned just 18.6 mpg. In
heavier stop-and-go traffic mileage slipped down to 14.7 mpg. So it's thirsty, but it's also quick.
With its traction control active you can throw a brick at the accelerator and
the Impala SS will rip to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and bound through the
quarter-mile in 14.4 seconds at 97.5 mph. Although that's quicker than a Camry
or Accord, it's about two-tenths slower than the last Charger R/T we tested. With its traction control on or off,
the Impala tracks arrow straight with no intrusive torque steer. This really
impressed us. Despite the V8's ability to light up the front tires with ease,
the profound torque steer in the mechanically similar Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
simply isn't much of a problem in the Impala SS. According to GM's Impala product
manager Mark Clawson that's due to four things. "First, we use equal
stiffness driveshafts that effectively compensate for their different
lengths," he explains. "Second we have 'tripod' universal joints that
ensure that constant and consistent torque is applied to each half shaft.
Third, we've balanced the weight over each front wheel to be even. And fourth,
our transverse engine attaches with 'torque axis' engine mounts so it's allowed
to pitch forward and backward but it isn't allowed to yaw [twist] so that it
would push and pull on the half shafts." Cadillac Ride, Cadillac Handling Like the Caddy, the Impala SS feels
solid and substantial. It's a composed cruiser that's agile despite having most
of its mechanical load bourn by the front wheels. The Impala is and feels like
a big, heavy car, but dive into a corner and it pulls through with dignity and
thrust. We like the four-spoke steering wheel
and the way the steering has heft, but more road feel is on our wish list. At
62.6 mph, the Impala is actually a bit faster than the Charger R/T through the
slalom (front-drive is often an advantage in that test), but all that weight
over the front wheels takes its toll on braking. The Impala SS's so-so
138.3-foot stopping distance from 60 mph is more than 17 feet longer than the
Charger R/T's performance. Off the test track, the Impala can't
match the Charger's chassis balance or responsiveness to steering input and the
car's natural tendency to understeer at the limit can't be overcome with
throttle. But it rides better, is slightly quieter and is completely confident
in everyday use. Revolutionary Elements Still,
the interior isn't perfect. The SS's "Nuance leather" seats are
comfortable, but there isn't enough lateral support and the console-mounted
shifter flops limply between indistinct gates. A manual-shifting system like
the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP's TAPshift
would be great, but we'd settle for any decent shifter. But the controversial interior element
is how little room there is for a car this size. The Impala stretches 9.3
inches longer than an Accord sedan on a 2.6-inch-longer wheelbase but offers
0.3 inch less front legroom and only 0.8 inch more rear legroom. In its favor
the Impala has more hip- and shoulder room than the Accord and its 18.6 cubic
feet of trunk volume eclipses the Honda's meager 14 cubic feet, but this is a
big car and a big car ought to have more stretching room. Against the Ropes, Camrys, Accords and
Chargers The two cars are about the same size
and offer about the same accommodations, but the Impala's interior is
better-looking and easier to use than the Mopars. On the other hand, the
rear-drive Charger offers a better-balanced driving experience, even more power
and even more attitude. Where the Impala is as understated and as confident as
a Caddy, the Charger is just plain rowdy. Tear open the space-time continuum and
travel back to the '60s and you'll find the story wasn't much different back
then. Both were fast, but the Charger was always edgier while the Impala SS
balanced comfort and utility in a more restrained design. The more things
change A?AˆA” and everything has changed A?AˆA” the more they seem to stay the same.
Even when the Dodge Charger is a Mercedes and the Chevrolet Impala reminds us
of a Cadillac. |
Chevrolet Impala for Sale
4 door sedan, 6 cylinder, blue, 150,500 miles(US $2,500.00)
1966 chevrolet impala two-door hardtop
1960 chevrolet impala convertible
2004 chevrolet impala - runs/drives good! clean carfax! no reserve!
1962 chevrolet impala ss 327/300hp 3 dueces numbers matching
1962 chevy impala convertible frame off resto ps pdb ac v8 auto air ride
Auto Services in Florida
Xtreme Auto Upholstery ★★★★★
Volvo Of Tampa ★★★★★
Value Tire Loxahatchee ★★★★★
Upholstery Solutions ★★★★★
Transmission Physician ★★★★★
Town & Country Golf Cars ★★★★★
Auto blog
GM adds 1,200 jobs at Detroit-Hamtramck plant
Thu, Oct 22 2015General Motors is making a big move at its Hamtramck, MI, factory, announcing it will add a second shift and hire over 1,200 workers within the next several months. It's expected that by early 2016, the factory will employ over 2,800 workers to build the Chevrolet Volt, Impala, Malibu, Cadillac ELR, and by early next year, the new CT6. According to GM Hamtramck spokesperson Courtney Zemke, 40 of the 1,200 positions are for salaried employees, while the remainder will be hourly positions. As for where these employees will go, positions are being made available across the factory, so GM isn't focusing on any particular area for its new hires. It's a similar story behind the hiring surge itself. GM said in its press release that the "second shift is necessary to meet forecasted market demand," a position Zemke reiterated. It's a matter of demand across the plant's portfolio, rather than any one particular product seriously outstripping supply. Naturally, the United Auto Workers is happy with the move. "The workforce at Detroit-Hamtramck is second to none," UAW Local 22 Shop Chairman Don LaForest said in the attached release. "We appreciate the opportunity to expand our UAW-GM family." Hiring is going on now, with the second shift slated to get underway in early 2016. GM's Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly to Add Second Shift and More Than 1,200 Jobs Plant will nearly double its workforce by early 2016 2015-10-22 DETROIT – General Motors is nearly doubling its workforce at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly by adding a second shift and more than 1,200 hourly and salaried jobs. The addition of a second shift will increase the plant's workforce to approximately 2,800 people when hiring is completed. The second shift is necessary to meet forecasted market demand for the five cars produced at Detroit-Hamtramck. "This is the result of the award-winning vehicles Detroit-Hamtramck produces and the confidence GM has in our team to build world-class quality for our customers," said Plant Manager Gary West. Second shift hiring is underway, and the shift is scheduled to begin operations in early 2016. "The workforce at Detroit-Hamtramck is second to none," said UAW Local 22 Shop Chairman Don LaForest. "We appreciate the opportunity to expand our UAW-GM family." The 4.1 million-square-foot Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly opened in 1985. GM has invested $1 billion in the plant over the last six years, making it one of the company's most-agile manufacturing facilities in North America.
Common Dodge Ram 1500 vs. Chevrolet Silverado breakdowns
Wed, May 4 2016These two trucks are famous for their ability to get the job done. Still, even the toughest vehicle can have mechanical problems at some time. What if we match the Dodge Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado head to head? Let's find out more about common repairs for each model. Also, learn some tricks to pay for car repairs. Clunky Steering Both Dodge and the Chevy owners sometimes notice bumping and clunking when steering. This might be more noticeable when driving over bumps. The cause is usually different in each truck though. In the Dodge Ram, clunky steering is more likely due to a defective lower ball joint. Replacement costs around $300 - $400, parts and labor. Clunky Chevy Silverado steering is probably a steering rack failure. This problem appears more often in trucks with over 90,000 miles. Silverado steering rack repair will run you up to $1,000 or more. Starting Woes For the Chevy Silverado with over 130,000 miles, you might notice trouble starting. This problem may appear occasionally at first, but it typically gets worse. Excluding a weak battery, the culprit is usually the starter. Replacement will cost you around $330 - $500. Of the total cost, $90 is for labor only. Now the Dodge Ram might make a ticking sound when starting, especially on models with over 94,500 miles. The noise often disappears after the engine warms up. These symptoms may indicate a broken exhaust manifold. Repair costs range from $800 - $900. Burning Oil & Gas Gauge On The Blink Sometimes, the Dodge Ram burns oil much faster than normal. In models with over 125,000 miles, this often points towards a leaky intake manifold gasket. A knocking sound may also appear with acceleration along with possible engine misfire. The cost to repair is around $200 - $300. The Chevy Silverado has its own surprises, especially when you've filled the gas tank but the gauge still reads low. Or the needle fluctuates widely from low to full while driving. In trucks with over 120,000 miles, it's likely due to a faulty fuel sensor. You might need a full fuel pump replacement, which can cost you up to $820, parts and labor. Water Inside And Poor Heat The Ram 1500 rear window has been known to leak. You might notice the back seat and floor wet after a rainstorm. This is more common in trucks with over 65,000 miles. Resealing the Ram 1500 rear window costs around $150 - $250.
GM recalling 250,000 SUVs over door electronics
Mon, 20 Aug 2012After a door-fire investigation that dates back to February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has officially announced a recall today that affects around 250,000 General Motors SUVs for a faulty driver's door module. The recall applies to the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X from the 2006 and 2007 model years, as well as the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL for vehicles sold and/or registered in the Snow Belt.
Road salt use in these midwestern and northern states can lead to corrosion of the driver's door module on these GMT360 and GMT370 vehicles, which allows water to come in contact with the circuit board. If shorted out, the vehicle's power door locks and power windows will not work, and could possibly lead to overheating and, in some circumstances, a fire. No official word on how many total vehicles caught on fire, but back in June, 28 fires had been reported to the government agency. A fix for the problem is still being worked out, but all affected vehicle owners will be notified by GM.
Scroll down for the official NHTSA statement.