"DCCARGEEK" (dccargeek)
08/27/2013 at 11:47 • Filed to: None
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"DCCARGEEK" (dccargeek)
08/27/2013 at 11:47 • Filed to: None | 1
| 7 |
The new Impala looks great on the road and while I haven’t driven one I’ll bet it'll be competitive within it's class (medium well-luxury full-sized sedan). Thousands of Americans seeking an American sedan, who aren’t interested in Cadillac and Buick, but want something from General Motors that is not a Malibu or Cruze, will be happy to Find New Roads in this American icon of a luxury sedan.
The horrible gif in the header was my attempt to envision a new Impala in the hands of today’s automotive customizers (more on that later).
Before you unleash a flurry of venomous text in all caps regarding the gif let me say this:
The ways in which people modify their vehicle is a personal preference and regardless of how tasteless you might find it, I appreciate the effort even if stylishly misguided.
Stance, donk, jacked, wrapped, go-fast, etc. – it’s all automotive, it’s all car-love, so don’t hate.
Back to the Impala…
I can’t shake the feeling that the new Impala, while a good looking car, isn’t the same Impala I remember growing up. I can’t picture it cultivating the same automotive styles I remember.
When I think Impala three memories come to mind:
The Lowrider: Growing up on the East Coast I wasn’t too familiar with California’s car culture, but I owned more than a few Lowrider magazines and watched lots of MTV. Because of this as a young kid I was thoroughly convinced that every mid-60’s Impala in America had been slammed and was only available with gold wire wheels and white walled tires. I was young and stupid, but this was what came to mind when I thought Impala in the early 90’s.
The Badass Caprice: In 1995 my perception of the Impala was flipped on its head. The new Impala SS was the car I dreamed of owning when I was 15 (along with the Countach, of course).
Every-single-SS on the road had some form of exhaust work done to them and they sounded and looked BADASS. I still remember sketching images of the frolicking Impala logo in middle school.
The government / rental car: By the time I graduated high school the Impala had become a big ol’ Cavalier. It was no longer exceptional. It had no V8. It was badass retired. The only thing the car did for me was make me want a previous generation Impala SS even more.
So, you're the new Impala...
Today the Impala is in another transition, and while it may be a great car for the general consumer, it isn't the Impala I remember, the one that stole my heart.
Hotrods, drag strip cruiser, lowrider – whatever your style of Impala the latest iteration from The General seems far from having any of those descriptors applied to it. Instead the only viable enthusiast option I see left for the Impala is bright paint and big wheels. As my gif indicates Donk is the only enthusiast-future for Impala.
Do you think the new Impala missed the mark? Is it writing a new chapter for General Motors or just repeating one that we've read already? As cars becoming less and less customizable?
steven mueller
> DCCARGEEK
08/27/2013 at 13:16 |
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Definitely an improvement. Going the right direction for sure but I will never be the classic of the 60-something and it won't be the madness of the SS. It's a shame. I used to love the impala. Still do at least in it's older iterations.
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DCCARGEEK
> steven mueller
08/27/2013 at 13:23 |
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I hope to one day have an old SS. And by old I mean 1995 :)
Mosqvich
> DCCARGEEK
09/01/2013 at 11:52 |
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I saw one at the local car get together. It was a really nice car. I was struck by the quality, but I was equally struck that it was no Impala SS. Of course that'll be reserved for the SS. However, the main thing is that it's no longer a stretched Cavalier! Will it be messed with down the road of life? I doubt it. The electronics will make it too difficult to mess around with.
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DCCARGEEK
> Mosqvich
09/02/2013 at 08:07 |
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A great looking car, but it doesn't really evoke the same urge to customize as it's predecessor.
GhostZ
> DCCARGEEK
09/03/2013 at 10:29 |
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That's because all modified Impala's are still 5 years old, or look as if they are.
Give it time. Once the novelty wears off, people will look toward modifying it as a way to satisfy that craving for more.
William Byrd
> DCCARGEEK
09/03/2013 at 10:30 |
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Sadly, I agree. I'm not sure it lends itself to any other automotive customization market. Sporting pretenses are gone at this point, and while it's a handsome car, it's not sporty and likely won't be.
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GhostZ
> DCCARGEEK
09/03/2013 at 10:30 |
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FYI, the "government" Impala came with a V8 SS version. I imagine the torque steer was crazy and the suspension bad, but it did have good power.