Took my Milan into the shop today for a new bumper and fender and everything (Damn deer).
Renting a 2012 Impala for the week and my overall impression so far:
PROS
300HP V6 has loads of power
CONS
Uncomfortable seat
Confusion controls. You apparently cannot turn off A/C if you have it set to coldest?
Stupid triangular wing mirrors
No markings on gear shift, you have to look at the dash (which sucks if the wheel is turned and obscuring your view). Huge blank oval surrounding the gear shift
Steering is too stiff
Ride quality down
Trademark GM plastic interior.
Same horrible plastic on the exterior doors
Still haven't found the trunk release switch Found it. Absolutely tiny.
Try to select AUX and it displays "NO CD". Well duh, I didn't want to play a CD.
Floor-mounted parking brake right where I want to rest my foot
Huge trunk sacrifices all rear leg room, yet only 3 cubic feet more than the Fusion
Thank God I still miss my Milan and will be glad to get it back. Why do people pay so much for Impalas? It's simply... not a good car. Drop the Impala's engine in a Fusion, holy hell you'd have a good car.
[quote author=ahanix1989 link=topic=199384.msg4124510#msg4124510 date=1317683565]
Drop the Impala's engine in a Fusion, holy hell you'd have a good car.
[/quote]
I drove an impala from NJ to Detroit and NJ to TN last summer..wasn't the greatest car I've driven but it was very comfortable and got the job done. It was an 08 or 09 so it didn't have the huge 3.6 in it but I can imagine w/ that power it would have been a great car. Much better than my milan...
[quote author=Kirktcashalini link=topic=199384.msg4124522#msg4124522 date=1317684645]
I was being sarcastic... as 75% of old hot rod fords, have SBC's :lol:
[/quote]
which is sad...and I don't understand. Distributor against the firewall...hello back pain and scratched/dented fenders!
I feel like they scrimp on the Impala. The new(er) Malibu's are nice and well appointed...but GM gives a big F-U to Impalas.
Projector headlamps? Not available
LED Taillamps? Not available
MP3CD? I don't think the single-disc supports it
Heated mirrors? Pay extra.
Lights on vanity mirrors? Not available. Not even on passenger side
Storage pouch on back of seats? Passenger-side only.
My Milan came with this stuff standard. Hell, a $11,000 VW comes with heated mirrors and lit vanities. Why the hell doesn't the Impala for $26,000?
And the 302HP isn't there until 6,200rpm... with a 6,500 redline
Like Eric, I had a loaded LTZ as a rental that I took on a long road trip all around NC. Great highway car, but no way I'd buy one over a Malibu.
[/quote]
I find it amusing that Chevy offered a small-block v8 in this front-wheel-drive-only car, called it an SS, and it made about the same horsepower than the 3.6L 6cyl in it now. All this, without changing the body style.
I suppose 3.6L 2012's would be considered 'sleepers' then...if there is such a thing for such an ugly car.
It actually seemed to get slower the more I drove it. Off the line the traction control wouldn't do a damn thing and it struggled to keep grip. The stock tires have all the traction of a shopping cart.
So glad to have my Milan back. Even if individual bumps feel the same, it's smoother at 80 than 40 and I keep catching myself speeding.
The Impala is ugly and ancient and it's not getting redesigned until 2014. They did kill the 4 speed auto option and threw in the new 6 speed auto to allow for better mpg. I lost hope for the car when they discontinued the SS, even though it was fwd v8, the SS wheels made the car look 10X better
I like the Impala SS (and it's gorgeous cousin the Monte SS too) . I think they are both nicely designed cars. Just something about them that grabs me I suppose. Maybe its the understated design of the exterior.
I also like those 18's. The spokes go right to the edge of the wheel.
Eh opinions and all... I respect their performance but between the wheels, weird tailpipe shape, and triangular mirrors, it just screams rental car to me
Had a Impala for the two months my car was out for the tranny replacement. Not a bad car, but not worth the cash IMO. I think the now defunct G8 would have been a great impala RWD V8 back to the roots of big freaking american sedan
[quote author=jdebo link=topic=199384.msg4157392#msg4157392 date=1323203036]
[quote author=seawolf link=topic=199384.msg4156865#msg4156865 date=1323108799]
Well, then you will like the new Caprice.
[/quote]
The Caprice is only available for police use only. although 13 of them were leaked to a dealership in one state (forgot where)
[/quote]I think it was texas... lol
Chevy has already expressed interesting in keeping the Holden platform in use in the States. It needs a home somewhere...and police vehicles will provide them with a lot of road-tested miles before launching the car as a Chevy for the public. I think it is a smart move on the General's part.
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