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I'm on the search for my second car, still saving up to $10,000. I found a 2007 Chevrolet Impala SS for $8,000. I have been driving a Dodge Neon for over 1.5 years with no tickets and no accidents. Would the Impala SS be a good second car? and is it a reliable car?.
The Impala SS with the LS5 engines are overall fairly reliable, the transmission is typically the weak link.
However, they're TERRIBLE cars. Cheap interior, terrible chassis, lots of torque steer, crappy ergonomics, and typical GM cheapness from the era. They do good burnouts though. So I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
There was an SS option 2006-2009 distinguished by the 5.3 liter V8.
It would make an ok second car.
If you want an Impala I would consider a 2012-2013 LT or LTZ. The V6 has virtually the same horsepower as the V8 in the 2007 SS (302hp V6 vs. 303hp V8). You'll be getting a car that is several model years newer, and gets 30mpg for about the same price as the 2007 SS.
Had an 08 SS from new and ran it to 197k miles. Just died on my son a month ago at his college. If it was close to me I may have thrown another engine it. Sold it for 1400 bucks to a mechanic that had an extra LS4 block.
Usual issues... new trans at 110k GM paid for it...average brakes and suspension but pure fun with a small block! Any questions ask me!
Wasn't prepared to buy a car so ended up leasing a Fusion SE...first Ford in my life...deal was to good to pass up and my son has a new car.
We have quite a few of these in our fleet, IMHO not that great of cars. Decent engines/transmissions but they have a couple of problems that occur on all of them at some point. 1. A/C door actuators go bad causing a very annoying ticking noise in the dash, cheap and easy to replace. 2. ABS wheel speed sensor wiring fails on front lower control arms causing intermittent ABS lights and unwanted traction control activation usually during sharp /slow turns, again cheap and easy to fix.
I personally wouldn't recommend one. I'm not a huge Ford fan but the Fusion of that era is a much better choice. We have at least twice as many Fusions as Impalas but we have Impalas in our shop more often than the Fusions.
Had an 08 SS from new and ran it to 197k miles. Just died on my son a month ago at his college. If it was close to me I may have thrown another engine it. Sold it for 1400 bucks to a mechanic that had an extra LS4 block.
Usual issues... new trans at 110k GM paid for it...average brakes and suspension but pure fun with a small block! Any questions ask me!
Wasn't prepared to buy a car so ended up leasing a Fusion SE...first Ford in my life...deal was to good to pass up and my son has a new car.
Anthony
Oh I did not know that, I was considering an Impala SS for a second car to have for a couple years. I also was considering of waiting longer until I saved up for a Corvette c6 ls2 coupe.
I don't think the 2006-09 Impala's were "SS" Models.
IIRC SS ended in 1996 and was revived in 2014, w/ the new(current) body style.
IIRC during the 2014 new body intro, Chev offered the old body as Impala Limited and the new body as Impala.
I had a 96, I believe it's the last rwd impala they made, it had the corvette lt1 motor in it, stock it went low 15s , it was my everyday car and I enjoyed it.
Wife had a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP with the 5.3L was a good car, sold it with 130k miles and she got a 14 Cadillac ATS. Overall the GXP was ok, the trans was replaced and the interior was super cheap, and the seats where awful and hated that it was FWD.
If interested in have an 07 GP GXP that I bought a little bit ago from my mom.
67 yr old woman who bought new and babied it from day 1.
Has every option available including suede/leither, navigation, roof, etc. Brand new tires and carbon fiber brakes.
just turned 70k.
Very, very clean.
Was going to keep for winter but ordered a new silverado.
would take $7k for it.
Derek
If interested in have an 07 GP GXP that I bought a little bit ago from my mom.
67 yr old woman who bought new and babied it from day 1.
Has every option available including suede/leither, navigation, roof, etc. Brand new tires and carbon fiber brakes.
just turned 70k.
Very, very clean.
Was going to keep for winter but ordered a new silverado.
would take $7k for it.
Derek
Never seen carbon fiber brakes. Seen carbon ceramic. You must mean ceramic brakes?
I'm on the search for my second car, still saving up to $10,000. I found a 2007 Chevrolet Impala SS for $8,000. I have been driving a Dodge Neon for over 1.5 years with no tickets and no accidents. Would the Impala SS be a good second car? and is it a reliable car?.
Got these frequently as rentals for a while, the LS powered front wheel drive car wasn't that bad to drive.
Agreed that later models with the newer 3.6 were way better than the corporate 3.8.
You can't go wrong for $7-10k especially if it's already had a new trans at some point...
12-03-2016, 10:48 PM
Is a 2006-2009 Chevrolet Impala SS a good car
