GTP Cool Wall: 7th Gen Chevy Impala SS. Voting Closed

[Lucas]

If you drove one in the Detroit area you would be a drug dealer for sure, probably get shot at too.

Luckily I don't. Only in Detroit would I be a drug dealer for sure. And a 16-year old one at that.

 

[Shant J.]

Cool. I hate sedans and I hate automatics. I'd rather get a Roadmaster Estate Wagon with the same engine.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Uncool. 4 door muscle cars owned by gangsta wannabe's aren't cool, and if you rolled up to pick me up in one i'd ask if we were going to do a drive by.

 

[Jim Prower]

I used to think this car was cool...but I can't in good mind say that anymore. It's an old cop car with more bling and Leather. It's not as fast, doesn't handle as well, and doesn't look as good as a Camaro Z28 of the same era. It's Hip-hop, not Muscle. It's Lux-ree, not sporting. It's the '94-96 Equivalent of a Chrysler 300C, and thus, serves as one for those who can't afford a Chrysler. Sure, many might not be REAL SSs, but the mere association with Donks, Bubbles, and Squares has really given this car a fowl taste in my book.

If this was the 9C1, and unmodified, I've give it two thumbs up. Instead, It's a ghettowagon, much like other "lux-ree" cars of it's size.

Seriously uncool.

((ALSO NOTE: this is speaking from the perspective of someone from a town better known for Big Yellow Tractors than gangs and thugs. Yes, we have our own little Bling movement in the South Side.))

((Also, if Joey's house weighs less than this thing, I'd hate to be in there when a Tornado hits. ;P))

 

[Radracing]

Big and ugly with a cool motor don't cut it for me, sorry. And yes Ive ridden in one and it felt like a boat or maybe even an aircraft carrier.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

There are only a handful of American cars that I would actually want to buy and/or own for a daily basis. This is not one of them. Big, ugly, not very powerful motor (and you need the 330lb-ft of twist just to move the bloody thing). Uncool.

 

[JCE]

Subzero only because it was the last of the proper GM musclecar. Big saloon body, a V8 and RWD. Nothing else even gets in the equasion. And here's the kicker, I don't like it personally but understand its point.

Then they stuck a pretty pitiful performing engine in the car, a 5.7L that puts out 260hp? It's little wonder the thing hit 60 in over 7 seconds. My Blazer could hit 60 almost that quick, which is sad.

Haha, I love this part. Again I must come to the defense of the American V8 from the 1980's to late 1990's. One word Joey, TORQUE. It was never about horsepower but TORQUE. TORQUE wins at the lights not horsepower. TORQUE is what makes the wheels burn rubber. And at 4,221lbs I'd expect a vehicle with these numbers to get to 7s with an automatic. Throw a 6spd and it drops to the low 6s. I doubt your Blazer would of touched 60mph in anything less than 7.5s.

As for the power, my issue with it is that in Europe engineers could get higher power (naturally aspirated) out of smaller, more efficient 6 cylinder blocks (for example BMW were getting over 300bhp out of the 3.2 6 cylinder in the M3 in the mid 90s), Huge capacity & low power just dosnt appeal to me...

Show me dollar for dollar / pound for pound / frank for frank / etc any European 6cyl with as much torque and horsepower as this car and then we can start discussing "European engineers". YOU CAN'T. The American V8 from the mid-70's to the present day is about lazy low-revving torque. Not high end horsepower. kthx

I think 7 seconds is fast enough for the mid-90s...

True, but imagine how awsome it would of been with the T-56.

 

[Worst_Driver]

The closest we're going to get again to having a car like this will be secondhand Caprices from the Police next year, and I'm crossing my fingers that GM gets the message loud and clear that they need to do this car again, in small numbers, to keep the flame alive.

I don't understand why GM will produce the caprices exclusively for the police departments. Just make a civilian version of it that will remplace the actual impala.I mean the actual impala is useless, because the malibu is better in every way, they are in the same catergory right ? So this would be the new impala that is different from the malibu, it would be better than the last one and with a bit of luxury it could compete with the Chrysler 300 and the taurus.

 

[homeforsummer]

And I didn't read your location before I responded.. I should of figured since anything remotely related to the USA is automatically stupid, excessive and for rednecks.

Of course. Because nobody in the UK on this forum likes big V8s, muscle cars, sedans or pickups. Oh no wait, they do.

Looks like any of us can make ridiculous sweeping generalisations, right?

EDIT: I'm just not going to respond anymore.. I'm getting in these stupid nit picky moods when reading these threads.

Perhaps that's for the best.

Show me dollar for dollar / pound for pound / frank for frank / etc any European 6cyl with as much torque and horsepower as this car and then we can start discussing "European engineers". YOU CAN'T. The American V8 from the mid-70's to the present day is about lazy low-revving torque. Not high end horsepower. kthx

👍 True. Whilst I'm sure you can find something in Europe matching it power-wise from a signifcantly smaller engine, they'd probably lack the torque. Or they'd be quite a bit more expensive like-for-like. Ironically, it'd be larger capacity turbodiesels nowadays that would blow it away on power and torque, but then they're not the nicest sounding things out there...

I used to be of the opinion that specific output was the be-all and end-all of car performance, but you know, sometimes it's nice driving around in something with an auto 'box and a big, lazy engine. I still wouldn't trade that for my higher-revving, smaller, higher bhp/litre cars just yet, but I can certainly understand people who would.

That said, I still inexplicably hate large-engined Mercedes. I'd take any big, brawny American car over big, brawny Merc.

With regard to the SS, I'm still abstaining though. It's neither cool nor uncool to me. Every cool point is cancelled out by something uncool.

(Oh, and JCE... Francs don't exist any more )

 

[Joey D]

I don't understand why GM will produce the caprices exclusively for the police departments. Just make a civilian version of it that will remplace the actual impala.I mean the actual impala is useless, because the malibu is better in every way, they are in the same catergory right ? So this would be the new impala that is different from the malibu, it would be better than the last one and with a bit of luxury it could compete with the Chrysler 300 and the taurus.

Well the G8 wasn't exactly a hit so I think GM might be hesitant to try that route again. I don't think the average car buyer in the states really wants a big car with a V8 in it either. Yes there are probably a big group of enthusiast that want it, but you have to remember cars like the Impala cater to the same people that look at a Camry and go "Ya I wouldn't mind having that in my driveway". Plus I think those who want something big will still go with an SUV or crossover.

Then there is also a stigma with the name, Caprices are now associated with ghetto fabulous donks, poor people, and drug dealers. Back in the day they were associated with manciple cars, taxi cabs, and old people if my memory serves me right.

 

[Tornado]

I don't understand why GM will produce the caprices exclusively for the police departments.

Because they don't want to actually be able to sell any of them. And in that respect, they are doing a fantastic job so far in how they've announced it.

 

[mPWRD]

It may be as primitive as Og the caveman, but it sure had a personality of its own. Makes me wonder why the cops chose the stupid Crown Vic.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think it was because GM yanked the Caprice out from underneath them.

 

[AERO_HDT]

The so-called "new" Caprice has been available in Australia for a number of years now and it's great to see it heading state-side for some proper use. I too can't understand why the bean-counters chose to use Vics as PD cars.

In terms of the SS, we don't get them here, so we don't have the stigma of so-called "gangstas" and "bling" that everyone else seems to be judging this car for. I have seen some awesomely modified examples of the Impala SS (Coddington) that blew me away.

As for the remark that the engineers couldn't get more that 260bhp out of it, well that's complete rubbish because the engineers could get 500bhp out of it if they wanted, they just didn't want the car stepping on the Camaro or Corvette's toes, as GM made this mistake in 1987 with the GNX. Engineers don't develop engines for maximum horsepower, not every car has to be a Bugatti Veyron and to look at things this way is ignorant.

This car gets a "cool" from me. It's just a pity that so many people misunderstand it.

 

[Joey D]

I too can't understand why the bean-counters chose to use Vics as PD cars.

They are cheap, indestructible and run damn near forever...all things the Pontiac G8 wasn't, which is essential the Caprice. This is why municipalities still continue to use Crown Vics and also why they dominate the taxi scene in most major US cities.

As for the remark that the engineers couldn't get more that 260bhp out of it, well that's complete rubbish because the engineers could get 500bhp out of it if they wanted...

That right there makes it uncool, any car that could have been more and wasn't isn't cool.

 

[Tornado]

That right there makes it uncool, any car that could have been more and wasn't isn't cool.

That's like every car ever.

The so-called "new" Caprice has been available in Australia for a number of years now and it's great to see it heading state-side for some proper use. I too can't understand why the bean-counters chose to use Vics as PD cars.

Because simply having an alternative does not mean that they will go to it if it doesn't do the job as well. Police departments started flocking towards V6 Chargers when Dodge made a police version, which was better on paper in every way. Then they started breaking down. The Vic is trusted, dependable, cheap and able to be resold once they are done with it. There is little to prove that the Caprice will be any of these things.

 

[AERO_HDT]

Our local police force have used GM cars for decades, they've always had great resale value and don't break down anymore than any other car.

Could it be that Ford have secured government backing for their product? Simply put, cheap "fleet special" rates offered by manufacturers can often tip the balance one way or another when looking at mass purchases...

I think "reputation" and "resale" values aren't the only equations that factor in with these decisions.

But this is turning into a Caprice vs Crown war and that's uncool, LOL

 

[niky]

I think 7 seconds is fast enough for the mid-90s...

It's fast enough for anything weighing the better part of two tons...

And for anyone pooh-poohing 260 horses... your typical non-turbocharged 300 hp 3 liter motor is making 280-300 hp for just a thousand revs or so... this one will be making near 260 horsepower over a much wider rev range... average horsepower over a sweep counts more in useable performance than peak horsepower.

Simply put, this is one of my all-time-favorite Chevrolet products. Its Sub-Zero mainly because they weren't trying too hard to make it be. Its essentially a police car with a luxed-up interior and exterior, and by golly, it works. Its a blue collar luxury car, as the Impala has always been, and by the time the last ones rolled off the line in 1996, it was already prepared to become an instant classic. We've had two in my family, my favorite being the green '96 my uncle had.

I think for "Chevrolet people," it was a home run. For everyone else, it seems pretty iffy. You either liked it, or you didn't. The closest we're going to get again to having a car like this will be secondhand Caprices from the Police next year, and I'm crossing my fingers that GM gets the message loud and clear that they need to do this car again, in small numbers, to keep the flame alive.

I'm actually thinking I should have voted subzero... but I digress... it's still a slushbox...

 

[CarBastard]

¿A 4-Speed auto gearbox? ¿2 tons heavy? ¿No aesthetic value at all? ¿260HP FROM A 5.7L ENGINE?

By my books, seriously uncool 👎.

EDIT:

Big, ugly 90s American, with a huge engine making very little power.
Lacks any form of badge credibility and when seen over here would only be driven by someone you really wouldnt want a conversation with. Fails every single one of my criteria for cool cars so:
Seriously uncool

All fine except for "badge credibility" 👍.

seriously uncool. two ton sedans with slushboxes are automatically seriously uncool. ( pun intended)

👍

Uncool. 4 door muscle cars owned by gangsta wannabe's aren't cool, and if you rolled up to pick me up in one i'd ask if we were going to do a drive by.

👍

Big and ugly with a cool motor don't cut it for me, sorry. And yes Ive ridden in one and it felt like a boat or maybe even an aircraft carrier.

👍

I just summarized it for some of us that don't like it .

 

[SVX]

Uncool.For a heavy think like that,it needs more power!But I like the look of it.

 

[buickgnx88]

Uncool.For a heavy think like that,it needs more power!But I like the look of it.

Did someone say MORE POWER?

Tim Allen dropped an LT5 into his!

6.3L V8
446 hp
448 ft-lbs torque

 

[SVX]

Better!

 

[Tornado]

Our local police force have used GM cars for decades, they've always had great resale value and don't break down anymore than any other car.

I realize that (our village police station held onto their Caprices well into 2002), but 1996 Caprice and 2006 Caprice aren't the same thing. And there is something to be said for the usefulness of the vehicle when it cannot be used as an undercover car (granted, few people think anything other than "undercover squad car" when they see a Interceptor without markings, and if you're savvy enough you can even pick out a Grand Marquis being used for undercover work, but that's still better than what the Caprice offers).

But this is turning into a Caprice vs Crown war and that's uncool, LOL

Nonsense. Sub-zero.

 

[JCE]

👍 True. Whilst I'm sure you can find something in Europe matching it power-wise from a signifcantly smaller engine, they'd probably lack the torque. Or they'd be quite a bit more expensive like-for-like. Ironically, it'd be larger capacity turbodiesels nowadays that would blow it away on power and torque, but then they're not the nicest sounding things out there...

But the thing is I know that Europe has a similar horsepower output and maybe with forced induction a similar torque number--the price per torque/bhp is more of what I was referring to.

I used to be of the opinion that specific output was the be-all and end-all of car performance, but you know, sometimes it's nice driving around in something with an auto 'box and a big, lazy engine. I still wouldn't trade that for my higher-revving, smaller, higher bhp/litre cars just yet, but I can certainly understand people who would.

When I drove my Camaro everyday (5.0L V8 w/autobox) I loved that I could just barely touch the accelerator and get moving without any effort at all. It is a satisfying feeling, but I do understand the opposite end of that spectrum having owned a 5th gen Prelude.

That said, I still inexplicably hate large-engined Mercedes. I'd take any big, brawny American car over big, brawny Merc.

That's a tough one, I can think of more big musclely Mercs than American saloon cars that I'd prefer. But maybe I'm biased.

(Oh, and JCE... Francs don't exist any more )

Bleh, I was being a smartass.

 

[niky]

Again, specific output not as important as average hp. That's why modern turbos rock... they usually have the low-end power of a motor that's got twice as much hp... case in point: Nissan GT-R... "just" 480 hp, but torque worthy of a 500-600 hp turbo car.

Sub-zero.

Caprice vs. Crown FTW.

 

[Dragonistic]

And I didn't read your location before I responded.. I should of figured since anything remotely related to the USA is automatically stupid, excessive and for rednecks.

I find myself quite offended by this (as well as HFS at least), I actually quite like the simple American sedans, the Crown Victoria being my personal favourite as it is my favourite styled. As for this car, marks would be lost for being a donk favourite but I'm not going to take this into account because it's not the cars fault after all. A cool from me, simple to the point, it doesn't need 500bhp and a supercharger, it looks pretty good and it's not exactly slow for it's time.

Which leads me on to a slight point, I think many of us are taking the whole modified versions thing to far you could make most cars pretty rapid through tuning and modification, and you can ruin a cars image, or indeed make a very nice vehicle through visual modification. The fact is that if you see a heavily modified car, it's not really that car anymore in it's pure form, and I think our votes should be based on what you think of the car in it's purist form more then on what other people have done to them. If you drive a bone stock Impala SS, I doubt anyone is going to call you a stupid fool for driving around in a donk car, because you haven't 'donked' it into the pool of pointless yet. The modified versions should be taken into account, but not to a high extent as the stock version which we're voting on, the car itself, will not be associated heavily with the modified versions, unless it to is modified.

 

[JCE]

I find myself quite offended by this (as well as HFS at least), I actually quite like the simple American sedans, the Crown Victoria being my personal favourite as it is my favourite styled. As for this car, marks would be lost for being a donk favourite but I'm not going to take this into account because it's not the cars fault after all. A cool from me, simple to the point, it doesn't need 500bhp and a supercharger, it looks pretty good and it's not exactly slow for it's time.

Which leads me on to a slight point, I think many of us are taking the whole modified versions thing to far you could make most cars pretty rapid through tuning and modification, and you can ruin a cars image, or indeed make a very nice vehicle through visual modification. The fact is that if you see a heavily modified car, it's not really that car anymore in it's pure form, and I think our votes should be based on what you think of the car in it's purist form more then on what other people have done to them. If you drive a bone stock Impala SS, I doubt anyone is going to call you a stupid fool for driving around in a donk car, because you haven't 'donked' it into the pool of pointless yet. The modified versions should be taken into account, but not to a high extent as the stock version which we're voting on, the car itself, will not be associated heavily with the modified versions, unless it to is modified.

Great post, I'd give you +rep if it would let me.

 

[Rykon Zero]

Cool. Barely. It's a pretty uncool car, it's not specifically good looking, it's not specifically fast, and it's not really good at cornering, from my perspective. However, that suspension is going to be very nice on a daily basis, it has a nice power band, it's got a huge V8 engine, and if anything, the engine can be tuned to make better use of the 5.7 liters it has, and I'll be damned if I wouldn't have a blast in it. Certainly there's a lot of cars I'd choose over it, but those are my absolute favorites, not much I would have over an Evo VI, or a last gen STI, sans the silly nostril nose.

 

[Prosthetic]

I find myself quite offended by this (as well as HFS at least), I actually quite like the simple American sedans, the Crown Victoria being my personal favourite as it is my favourite styled.

I was highly against responding... But obviously my point was misinterpreted. Although I have seen some of that attitude I mostly put it aside in my head and think them as just ignorant. What I was responding to was this..

In Europe Chevy is a very uncool brand, even the good cars they do make (such as the current generation Corvette) I wouldnt consider cool.

I made a sarcastic statement generalizing his point, related it to other posts by other people made in other threads saying about the same thing about a different thing but still relative to the topic. No I didn't think anyone would really see the sarcasm.. (it is text so its pretty hard to tell,) but I also didn't think people would take offense to it. Like I said, maybe I'm just being a bit to nit picky in these threads but whatever.

With everything else you said in your post Dragonistic, I can agree with you just about word for word.

 

[sennarose88]

Cool. Its maybe only a big crap compared to Merc E-Class , but they do it in American way = straight speed, drag...