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06-09 Impala SS: Looking for any info on them

Bowtie85

Bowtie85

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Good evening gents.

I’m kind of interested in the impala Ss. Anybody have some real world experience with them?

Have read a handful of good and bad reviews on them.

Most likely looking to replace my 10’ impala that is most likely a total loss from earlier in the week.

I’ve heard they run a different block than your typical truck motor. Not sure the truth on that?!

Also have read that the “active fuel management” can be troublesome, but that seems to stem across other gm stuff.

Any help appreciated.

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Had one here at the dealership. It was on the used lot for close to a year. Fun car, but it's a torque-steering SOB. Like if you nail the throttle from a stop you better have your hands tight to the wheel. If not it's driving your ass into the ditch on the right shoulder NOW! I've driven a Grand Prix with the same setup and it's the same thing.

Block is unique to the FWD platform, but so is the intake too. The active fuel management isn't any different than the truck stuff, so no more no less prone to problems as the truck system. Fuel economy is decent for what it is with the system on it. Exhaust note is good too.

They are fun to drive as long as you pay attention on the launch. Once rolling I didn't notice the torque steer to be as bad as it is from a dead stop.
 
The ls4 has a gm metric bellhousing on the back, so no swapies with a truck, or a camaro, etc, etc.

As zoo said, torque steer is a bitch.
I drove a few of them, and my buddy had one for awhile.
I would buy one for the right price I suppose, but it seems they are over valued on most lots. They are still a few 4 door car... I'd buy an old cop car Caprice first, those prices are down around 8 now for 6.0 rwd, car. Or a Chevy SS.
 
For the wife? Or your daily driver?
As I mentioned I drove a couple of them before I finally just bought a V6. Was your 2010 a 3.5 or a 3.9?
I finally settled on the 3.9. I felt that it was enough for the car not necessarily fast but enough. if it's for your wife quit being a cheap Forker and pony up for a 2014 or newer Impala. far superior car, that's what I did my wife absolutely loves the car. The 3.6 v6 has 305 hp, and gets better mpg then the 240hp 3.9.
I still have the 3.9 Impala. If you were closer I would sell it cheap. But since you said you don't like two strokes.....eh!
 
Mine was a 3.5, 210 horse version I believe. Had a tune done on it, and that made the car much better overall.

Yeah we had a loner with that 3.6 when they first came out, it was a quick car.

Ideally I’m looking to replace the 10’ and buy her a smaller car. She can’t handle all the blind spots and crap mirrors these cars have.

Yeah that’s good to know about the motor, I had heard things are slightly different with them.

I run mostly freeway to work, so I can’t see a v8 in a car like that getting much worse mileage than the 3.5 did.
 
runamok151 said:
I saw a CL ad for a '70 Chevelle SS a few years ago. The guy put in the ad that it "only" had 36k miles. Problem was it spent it's whole life as a straight up drag car. 36k is a lot of 1/4 mile passes.
Click to expand...

Yeah that would be 1 or 2 passes for sure
 
Well, it’s been a couple days. Got my old 16” winters on, changed oil/antifreeze. Gave it a good once over basically.

It needs rear struts, ac has a leak and a possible oil pressure sending unit.

Did some hillabilly dent repair on the trunk as well. Nobody but me will prob ever notice it’s dented anyways :pimp:

This thing sure gets up and goes, I’ll say that about it.
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Nice!!

How is she in the snow? What tires are on it?

My limited experience with Impalas of that vintage was not fun in the snow. Then again they were stripped-down with no traction control or ABS.
 
GoGoGirl said:
Nice!!

How is she in the snow? What tires are on it?

My limited experience with Impalas of that vintage was not fun in the snow. Then again they were stripped-down with no traction control or ABS.
Click to expand...
My imp is good in the snow. But it's not a cop car either:deal:
 
While there is tons of aftermarket support for LS and LS-vortec engines, the FWD car LS shares almost none of that. My experience is that a big-motor FWD car is no worse in the snow than a small-motor one. More weight on the drive wheels is good for traction, but worse weight balance hurts the cornering stability. It's not like throttle control is difficult with modern engine controls. My built 3800s couldn't hook full throttle until the top of 1st gear in the summer, so winter just meant feathering the throttle more. The same rules apply as everything else: winter tires, easy on the throttle and traction control helps. You can also try 2nd gear starts. Most autos will start off the line in 2nd gear when "2" is selected, for the very reason of reducing wheel spin.
 
GoGoGirl said:
Nice!!

How is she in the snow? What tires are on it?

My limited experience with Impalas of that vintage was not fun in the snow. Then again they were stripped-down with no traction control or ABS.
Click to expand...

Good year Nordic’s in a 225/60 flavour if I recall right.

It seems to get around just fine in the snow, no different than my 2010 did when it comes to going and stopping.

And yes as @Blue85 said, just gotta be a bit easier on the go pedal and it works just fine.

The doggo quite enjoys the heated seats.

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Man if you were missing the SS badges on that thing you would have a pretty good sleeper on your hands. The 16's make it look like any other Impala of that vintage. Looks like a rental car with the small wheels.

FWD burnouts are fun when you lock the e-brake on and it starts scooting with the front tires at full boil. Shhh. Don't tell Avis rental cars as I regularly whipped up on rental Impalas like that. 3800's do good burnouts, blown or not.
 
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