Why Did Chevy Destroy The Impala Brand?

[blahzay]

I used to have a 96 Impala and my co-worker just bought a 96 (black) from her dads friend for $4000. This thing is SUPER clean and runs great. i think since he was a good family friend he basically gave it to them but it got me to thinking. Why did Chevy destroy the Impala brand? After the 96, these other Impalas are a joke. I think they should have made they Impalas just as exclusive with design and build as they do with the Camaro. Impala is just another malibu now. :-/

[FenwickHockey65]

Yeah, because rehashing a Caprice 9C1 was such an exclusive design.

And the current 2014 model is easily the best looking Impala in decades.

Oh, and Camaro is derived from the same platform as the VE Commodore. It's not as exclusive as you think. In fact early chassis IVERs used modified Commodore bodies. If you want to talk exclusive engineering, look at Corvette. And even then you have some trickle down programs to other vehicles (MRC, Gen V V8s, etc).

[oklapike]

There actually were plans to put the Impala back on the Zeta platform starting with the 2010 model year. It was supposedly retro inspired and a downright stunning car, unfortunately with global financial crisis in 2008 (as well as GM's bankruptcy in 2009), those plans got scrapped.

[blahzay]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Yeah, because rehashing a Caprice 9C1 was such an exclusive design.

Come on now, you know what I mean. The 94-96 Impala still looked GREAT especially the 96 with the shifter in the middle. Yeah they looked like the caprice but overall was a different beast.

[FenwickHockey65]

They were cool cars simply because they were RWD with a V8. That's about the only redeeming virtue of that generation Impala.

Even though subsequent models of Impala moved to FWD, they're still pretty good cars. The 8th gen was ridiculously popular and the 9th gen is the bargain of the century with a 300 HP V6 in a roomy full size sedan for around $20k with incentives.

The current model shares its P1XX platform with just one other car: Cadillac XTS. Pretty damn good start IMO.

[Q'smuscle]

Yea those are nice I was going to buy one but instead chose the 2000 impala modern at the time but Retro rear circle lights always wish they would've made them with a v8 . I think the impala would sell more than the SS sedan if it had the v8 because who would pick the SS sedan over a v8 rear wheel. Drive impala.

[Q'smuscle]

That impala is one of the best v8 cars ever made . That's why people call it a classic and a collecters car. People actually still collect those

[FenwickHockey65]

If GM made the Impala RWD with a V8 then there wouldn't be an SS sedan.

And what a lot of you fail to realize is that RWD V8 sedans are a ridiculously small niche market. That's the reason why the 2014 SS sedan is pretty much a built-to-order car.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Q'smuscle

That impala is one of the best v8 cars ever made . That's why people call it a classic and a collecters car. People actually still collect those

I could name off a whole list of V8 powered cars that are worlds better than the '94-'96 Impala SS. It's regarded as a collector's car because it was actually an exciting car in an otherwise boring time in the automotive industry. And it's like the CTS-V Sportwagon. The reason it was built was because GM pretty much said, "Why not?" As we all know GM doesn't do that that often.

[Q'smuscle]

OK, the charger sold alot everybody wanted and had one and 300 sold alot. I actually liked and still like the 2006 Monte Carlo SS with the v8 even though its fed that thing sound so good I thought it was a old school. But it was because I only thought of it as a fwd , so I didn't think about the v8 until I somebody was revving it up . Should've made it a rwd because didn't get the justice it deserved and they are nice looking unlike those year impalas with the v8. But to each their own

[FenwickHockey65]

Chargers and 300s are available with V6 powertrains and I guarantee you that makes up the vast majority of their sales. Not the V8s.

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

If GM made the Impala RWD with a V8 then there wouldn't be an SS sedan.

And what a lot of you fail to realize is that RWD V8 sedans are a ridiculously small niche market. That's the reason why the 2014 SS sedan is pretty much a built-to-order car.

True I agree with you so your saying the SS sedan is just away for GM to make extra money because we all know they're going to make money off the impala but GM don't want to lose money say their going to play it safe with not offering a v8 rwd impala. So make a SS sedan that can be a limited production so no loss just gain money wise

[Q'smuscle]

True but they did offer a rwd v8 version . I really wonder how many of those current versions of the impala with the v8 they sold

[FenwickHockey65]

Essentially. The primary purpose to give Holden more export programs. The Australian market just isn't enough anymore for the Commodore program.

If you look at it, the SS sedan basically IS an Impala SS. V8, RWD, full size sedan with a price point that will probably come in right where an Impala LTZ V6 will leave off.