1996 Chevrolet Impala SS review from North America
"This car is very reliable for an American made car and will always be a collectors classic"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear window needed fixing.
Replaced starter.
Tires wear fast.
Just regular preventive maintenance.
General comments?
This car is very fast and has great handling for a big sedan.
After market support is great. Parts are in abundance.
This car can be a gentle cruiser and will turn into a wild beast if desired.
Parking is a issue though being a very wide and long car.
This car is all about performance and looks all in one.
It is very easy to spin the rear wheels due to its monster 330 foot pounds of torque and 260 horsepower.
It is a very heavy car, but handles very well for its size thanks to a very lively 5.7 Liter V-8.
This is a thirsty car holding 23 gallons of gasoline, but it gets pretty good mileage. I average around 20 miles per gallon.
The interior isn't anything to boast about being just plain and straight forward.
This car turns heads while driving or just parked, especially on the freeway because it is a police type car.
The interior is very spacious and roomy enough to fit 5 adults.
The trunk is cavernous, but has no side protection, just bare metal under the very thin trunk carpet.
They made only 3 colors available. Black, Cherry red metallic, and Metallic green.
The body integrity is very excellent due to its zinc coating and paint job. I haven't seen any rust.
Rear visibility is alright. The trunk is long and high so excellent judgement needs to be used while reversing.
The stock speakers are very poor and made of cardboard.
Making repairs and changing oil for this car is very easy due to its spacious engine bay and access to the oil filter is very easy.
Changing the spark plug wires is a chore that takes all day because certain engine components are tight around the connections.
There is only one way to know the true exhilarating feeling of driving this excellent car and only the Impala SS owners know it.
This car has a high resale value so buying one will command high prices due to its classic nature and model availability.
I have put a ATR exhaust, 160 degree thermostat, LT4 km, Bryan Herter PCM for less, MSD ignition coil and I get around 300 Horsepower from 260.
This car is simply superb and I'm so happy that I got the chance to own one and I am very proud of it.
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| I will never buy a GM vehicle as long as I live |
| This car is an affordable luxury for anyone who loves to drive. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.7 Liter V8 350 cubic inch Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 61000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 73000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Sentra |
| Date of Entry | 6th March, 2006 |