GM was doing good...

Setec Astronomy said:
As you noted Cadillac has had a monopoly at GM on the transverse V8/FWD until recently with the Bonneville GXP, forthcoming Grand Prix GXP(?), and now these Chevy's.
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*cough*1995-2003 Aurora *cough*
 
TW85 HHI said:
What is with GM designers? With the exception of Cadillacs, their sedans are cheap looking with equally cheap looking/feeling interiors. Why is it other manufacturers can implement simple elegance in design and use quality materials but GM can't?
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I have to say, I tend to find this to be a figment of the media in most cases. I've checked out the interiors of numerous cars and I really don't see how one companies plastic is better than another companies. More upscale cars have softer plastics that squish and cheaper cars have plastics that are harder. But this is true of all brands, except some German brands that have that fuzzy plastic which again I think is just personal preference, not one that is superior to another. I find that fuzz kind of gross. GM tends to have GM-style interiors that are intuitive for folks that drive GM cars. Toyota has Toyota style interiors that are intuitive for Toyota drivers. I fail to see how one is better than the other, they are just different. In general the quality of materials is not that different in my opinion.



One thing that really makes me think the auto media tends to push a perception is their reaction to Infiniti interiors. When I see magazines rave and rave about Infiniti interiors, and then I go sit in the cars, I just can't possibly see how they were describing what I'm sitting in.



They also tend to use words like "plasticy" to bash certain cars, but in reality, what are the good interiors made out of? Any car costing under $100k is going to have a lot of plastic inside. It's not just a GM thing...



Maybe I just don't get it, though... since I actually love to get in to this:

2657aurora_interior.jpg
 
On the original topic, I think the new Monte looks much better than the old one. The Impala is not exactly my cup of tea. However, keep in mind what this is. It competes with cars like the Camry and Accord. Not in my opinion exactly tough styling competition.



I think the V8 is great. Lots of people want FWD cars. I don't think the 300C is the answer to every question. Now you can get your plain old front wheel drive family car, but with a 300hp V8. I think that's pretty exceptional.



For the transverse haters, an engine fits better this way. And it also doesn't apply torque to the frame in a way that affects the drive wheels. Both ways make sense depending on what the goal is.
 
If it were a choice between this upcoming Impala, any of the current cadillacs (except the ls6 version), any other gm sedan, and either the 300C or the charger sedan, I would overwhelmingly choose the DC models. Their designs are much more interesting, they are utilizing their v8's better to match their potential, and they offer more power.



If I had to decide for basic transportation, then it would be a choice between this Impala, and the accord, with a favorable nod to the more attractive accord.



This Impala would have been welcomed ten years ago when the fwd v8's were still held in favor. However, since BMW, Mercedes and Infinity have shown excellent quality and not too bad retail and resale value, in addition to the proven performance of other rwd platforms, I would be very hard pressed to pick a new v8 fwd over the current competition of rwd sedans. It would boil down to price and value at the end......in this category the Impala may have a chance.
 
Aurora40,



The Aurora had one of the nicest interiors GM ever designed. In fact, for overall style, it is/was one of the nicest GMs ever made.



Judgement of material quality is not just visual, it is also feel. How do the buttons feel, hollow and cheap or solid and steady? Transmission shifter? A/C vents and associated knobs? What about the dash and door panels, combination of soft plastics with hard plastics or just hard plastics? How well do pieces fit together? Do pieces creak when you put pressure on them?



Regarding Infiniti interiors, I agree they are overrated. Nice, but nothing like magazines make them seem. I think they put a little too much emphasis on the sporty look. But like with Meguiar's, this is just my opinon. ;)
 
I think those cars are ugly as heck but GMs new Corvette is very exciting and the turnaround at Cadillac has been impressive.



I'm still not so big on many American cars but things are a lot better and exciting these days with the Big Three (although the Ford 500 is up there with the Aztek for ugly car of the millenium). The new Chrysler Firepower! in this month's Car & Driver looks excellent also. :)
 
Judgement of material quality is not just visual, it is also feel. How do the buttons feel, hollow and cheap or solid and steady? Transmission shifter? A/C vents and associated knobs? What about the dash and door panels, combination of soft plastics with hard plastics or just hard plastics? How well do pieces fit together? Do pieces creak when you put pressure on them?
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Very well stated Greg. I agree completely.



Regarding Infiniti interiors, I agree they are overrated. Nice, but nothing like magazines make them seem.
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Also agree but several of the magazines have been very critical on them as well. I love the new Infiniti exteriors but the interior needs an extreme makeover. Cheap plastic in prominent places is not right on a $40K+ car.



Aurora, nice interior! I forgot how beautiful the Auroras were inside.
 
lbls1 said:
This Impala would have been welcomed ten years ago when the fwd v8's were still held in favor. However, since BMW, Mercedes and Infinity have shown excellent quality and not too bad retail and resale value, in addition to the proven performance of other rwd platforms, I would be very hard pressed to pick a new v8 fwd over the current competition of rwd sedans. It would boil down to price and value at the end......in this category the Impala may have a chance.
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I really don't think BMW and MB are who GM is trying to compete with with the Impala SS. It's a family car. Accords, Camrys, Tauruses, Altimas, are all front drivers. So if you are in the market for a family-hauling, weather-handling, FWD sedan, isn't it nice that you can get one with a 17 cubic foot trunk and 300hp V8? People buying those cars probably don't cross-shop 3-series'.



While I don't think handling/performance is as simple as RWD > FWD, I would certainly grant you the Impala isn't a handling powerhouse. But it's a family car. I don't think it makes as much sense to add in extra-cost super handling on a family-mobile. There aren't too many times you encounter a parking lot full of cones on the way to taking the family to Grandma's for Thanksgiving dinner. But horsepower is always welcome, even in family-mobiles. The ability to pass a truck with authority on the interstate or to get up to speed on very short merge ramps is something useful even when hauling the family to Grandma's for dinner. ;)
 
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