[Shotimes] 06 IMPALA....Replacement for SHO?

[av8r567@optonline.net]

The Pontiac Grand Prix GXP has some COOL and some NOT COOL items.

The nose heavy V-8/ATX produces alot of understeer due to the 64/36 weight distribution ---- NOT COOL.

To combat the understeer they experimented with tire/wheel sizing and came up with wider wheels/tires for the front - 255/45-18 (on 18x8 wheels) for the FRONT and 225/50-18 (on 18x7 wheels) for the REAR ---- COOL.  (Impala SS will not get this "wider front track")

The Pontiac GXP requires special wider front fenders to cover the wide front tires ---- COOL but NOT COOL.  We all know too well what happens, after a few years, to body parts availability for a low-production high-perf car....

The 5.3L V-8 produces 303hp and 323tq ---- COOL.

That much power in a FWD car with wide front tires produces massive torque steer ---- NOT COOL.

To combat the torque steer they decided that the tire construction (not wide tires or unequal length halfshafts) was the culprit and they got minimal torque steer when they used Bridgestone Potenza RE050As.  Sooooooo, after I wear those tires out and install Michelin's, the torque steer will be unbearable?!?!? ---- NOT COOL.  What if Bridgestone stops making the RE050As?

The 5.3L V-8 is ALL aluminum ---- COOL

To fit in a FWD car they created a special block, shorter crankshaft, and the starer mounted to the trans - more limited production parts ---- NOT COOL.

303hp and 323tq requires a HD ATX.  We all know what a hi-po engine does to a FWD ATX ---- NOT COOL.

The GXP suspension will have Bilstein struts ---- COOL
on the FRONT only ---- NOT COOL.  (Impalla SS gets 'regular' struts all around)

The GXP gets PBR brake system - 12.7" cross-drilled front rotors and 12.0" cross-drilled rear rotors ---- COOL  (Impala SS gets 'regular' brakes)

Both the GXP and Impala SS have an aluminum subframe --- COOL.


If we've learned anything from SHO ownership - stay away from these 2 cars!!!!!

Right now I'm considering the Chrysler 300C, Dodge Magnum, and the Cadillac CTS.  I was seriously considering the CTS-V but with gas at $3/gal........  The Dodge Charger styling doesn't appeal to me and NOTHING from Ford or GM (except the CTS) was ever on my list.





----- Original Message -----
From: bjshov8 <bjshov8@comcast.net>
Date: Monday, October 10, 2005 0:51 am
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] 06 IMPALA....Replacement for SHO?

> The previous Impala was the King of ugly.  I haven't seen enough 
> of the new
> one to tell but the back end that they show in the TV commercials 
> doesn'tlook so bad.  I really like the gen1 & gen3 SHO's although 
> a lot of people
> think of them as ugly which means it's all somewhat relative.  The 
> Pontiacversion of the Impala is probably equipped better and I 
> don't mind Pontiac
> styling.  If it's got the right stuff under the hood I can 
> overlook some
> compromises with styling.
> 
> 
> >    A tad repetitive, eh?
> 
> > > It's ugly.  And it's a Chevy.
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