Impala SS (96-96)

[Black_Noise]

Whos got one?

I know a few like em, several despise them, I kinda like em.

I used to dream about having one before the MM came out, but I was young and broke and they were new.
After the MM came out it was definatly a must have before an SS, but Im a car guy and I love almost all things with a motor, and I have respect and can understand what they SS guys like about em.

I have seen a few on my local craigslist lately for decent prices. Im not a place to buy one right now, trying to get all bills payed off now, but maybe in the now to distant future.

I still would be interested in one, maybe a DD in the future.

Anyone here own an MM and an SS?

Anyone owned on, and then went to an MM?

Anyone gone from an MM to an SS?

If you just flat out hate them, you need not waste a post saying so.

[ImpalaSlayer]

i despise there looks but respect them. and they sound better then any mm ever will.

[rayjay]

I drove them for a few years in the 90s ;)

[sd8683]

I like em....

[Black_Noise]

I drove them for a few years in the 90s ;)

whats your opinons on that VS. the MM?

[Zack]

Awesome exterior, Taxi interior.

That killed it for me.

[n00bkiller944]

I also would really like one, but know nothing about them...

[rayjay]

whats your opinons on that VS. the MM?

Zack said it best. I enjoyed driving them, but IIRC they spent alot of time in the shop and didn't hold up to severe service as well as a CV. Quite quick though compared to the CV Interceptors of the day. I never drove a civilian version so I have no comparison for those to a Marauder.

[Local Boy]

I would want one, so I could use the MM for "special duy" only...

ALOHA

[freakstatus]

For me it was always the Grand National....until the Marauder came along.

[Iowa Rick]

We considered one in 96. It was a really sharp black one at the local chevy dealer. The thing that killed it for us was the fan noise (engine cooling). The exhaust was too quiet and the fan just roared something terrible. The final deciding factor was the dealer had the addition markup sticker with stuff like paint protector, stain proofing and the like crap for several thousand more.

We had the police package ones at work and they had problems as I recall with some ignition related component that was behind the water pump. The mechanics really complained about servicing it for some reason.

I drove one of our fleet ones and while getting on it, the throttle plate jammed wide open. Fortunately the brakes were pretty decent. Rick

[Fourth Horseman]

I wanted one, but timing and finances just never worked out.

[AConvertedChevy]

ill take a SS or even a 9C1 or LTZ anyday
there nice cars, especially if they got the LT1:banana2:

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I still want one to compliment my MM.

[tjg442]

ill take a SS or even a 9C1 or LTZ anyday
there nice cars, especially if they got the LT1:banana2: they were the hot thing back then, drove one new in 96, then in 01, went looking for a used one, that's when I found Buick had the same platform, with a way nicer interior, still have the Roadmaster 96, with 175000, wife's car, she gets 21 mpg with that boat too !! yah, LT1 !

[Spectragod]

Had 2 SS's, one warmed over never in service 9C1/LT1, definatly an awesome highway car.

[SID210SA]

I like them....but I would like them alot better if it wasn't for some of their narrow minded owners....

[Taemian]

Driven them, felt more like a barge than the MM (or CVPI) ever could. They were great as an office, but not much more than that. I've seen lots of aftermarket mods for them that make 'em run amazing numbers, but once you actually sit inside it, you usually feel completely separate from the car. It never endears itself to you, though the looks can grow on you. I destroyed quite a few 9C1s in my time for stunts when I switched careers later, and had access to lots of free parts, but it still wasn't enough to motivate me to get on that platform.

[RF Overlord]

they had problems as I recall with some ignition related component that was behind the water pump. The mechanics really complained about servicing it for some reason.That's the OptiSpark. It was GM's grand vision for electronic ignition that they totally botched. Uses an optical sensor for triggering, but a conventional cap and rotor for distribution. It sits under the water pump and in earlier models is not sealed or vented properly. When it goes bad, you have to dismantle a LOT to access it, including the water pump and the crank pulley.

Jeez, even my old '94 T-bird had distributor-less ignition... :rolleyes:

[gohogs]

I was looking for a used SS before I bought the MM. When I found out what they wanted for a 6 year old SS with 100k miles, the MM was a no-brainer.

No regrets....then or now!

[TAKEDOWN]

I do loved them, but that was until I became a MARAUDER owner, now they're just okay!

[SC Cheesehead]

03mmmonroe had one, you might want to PM him for some insight if he doesn't post up to this thread.

[Joe Walsh]

We considered one in 96. It was a really sharp black one at the local chevy dealer. The thing that killed it for us was the fan noise (engine cooling). The exhaust was too quiet and the fan just roared something terrible. Rick

I really liked them. (as was noted;...great looking exterior...bland taxi interior.)
That 350 SBC ran pretty good!
I almost bought an Impala SS in '96.
A black one...of course!

But, I really needed AWD, a roof rack and good towing capacity, so I ended up buying a '96 S10 Blazer with the 4.3 Vortec V6.
A black one...of course!

BTW: My Blazer also had THE LOUDEST fan I've ever heard on a vehicle!!

They are easy to mod....
You can drop a ZZ502 BBC crate engine ($8,099 from Summit Racing) in and get 502 HP/567 FTLB!!!
That's about what I dropped in my 5.0....:(

[justbob]

I used to love them but now they look seriously dated with those tiny rims. I've seen a few with 18's/19's and lowered a touch with a rake like our's, and WOW what a difference. I almost bought a beat one last year, it was red with headers, exhaust, and a few other goodies but had a seriously bad miss (owner admitted it had no compression in one cyl.), ratty int., and a busted rr quarter glass. Still, it was only $2,700.00. Price was right, but i had no money to throw back into it.

[03mmmonroe]

Hello I drove both for 4 years. I had a 96SS and the MM. I sold the ss in 2007 and miss it some days. I was not driving the SS and MM much 3k less a year. Was offered 15k for the SS with 160k miles. I took it and some time I wish I did not. Both cars are fun. The ss had more in the seat feel from stops. But the MM had better road feel and was better on the road course. Hope this helps. I am still selling parts from my ss that I am finding.

[scruff]

i have 96 one here with the police package it came without posi trac white with blue interior the car is parked out back now with all the other junk, swaping out the plug wires and cap is a real pita behind water pump but when that car was tuned up it would haul ass for a boat the Lt1 motor was under rated at 265hp by GM , that thing was putting out way more then that. Does,nt handle as well as the panthers

[Black_Noise]

wow... so nobody owns both currently?

Ive seen 2 locally for 6k-7.5k

If i had afew morw bills payed off, i would go kick the tires

[rayjay]

i have 96 one here with the police package it came without posi trac white with blue interior the car is parked out back now with all the other junk, swaping out the plug wires and cap is a real pita behind water pump but when that car was tuned up it would haul ass for a boat the Lt1 motor was under rated at 265hp by GM , that thing was putting out way more then that. Does,nt handle as well as the panthers

No posi in Ontario? Guess that got parked everytime it snowed.

[CKMustangCobra]

They are OK.

I have driven one. I like how they look for the most part. Plenty of power down low.

From experience and friends experience... I just couldn't bring myself to own an LT1. Nothing but nightmares with the reverse cooling and optispark (optisuck) ignition.

I have owned 9 Fords... no reason to break the chain. I bought a 4 sedan with the engine I love.

http://www.vipimports.com/images/carsforsale/96_Impala/001.jpg

OR

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/mercury_marauder.jpg

No brainer.

[Vortex]

I liked em myself. Think it would be nice to own one and an MM. Also, if you want to see something that will make you cry/puke, just check out the local offerings on Craigs List for 95/96 Impalas. For the most part, those cars have been trashed with goofy wheels/tires, stupid grilles, crappy stereos and shiteous paint jobs.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

That one CK posted is hella sexy tho. With those wheels and clear corners, it really gives it a more updated look. Definitely would want one to keep my MM company in the future.

[lincolnpimp]

I have a hugh amount of respect for these cars....