73-87chevytrucks.com

General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: bladerunner on July 14, 2012, 07:54:26 pm

Title: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bladerunner on July 14, 2012, 07:54:26 pm
Anyone know much about the 94-96 Impalas?  Guy down the street has one (a 94) for sale and I am interested as I have been looking for passenger car since I sold my Honda Prelude last month.  I went down and looked at it today and took it for a test drive.  Thing is a boat, though it has decent power.  Engine compartment is clean; has a K&N filter on it plus the PCM has been flashed to overcome governor. Car has 109K.

The bad is mostly cosmetic. The front bumper is faded and oxidized, which I hear is common on these cars. There is also a decent chunk of paint missing in the hood (see picture below) that would need to be fixed to stop it from rusting.  Car also feels like it might have a bad shock/strut(s). Not sure, but after taking a turn, the rear end wobbles a bit. Very subtle, but there. Interior is in ok shape. Wear is what you would expect on an 18 year old car.

Guy is asking $5000, but he is very open to negotiating, so I think I could easily get him down. Here are some pictures:

(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab289/bladerunner1337/IMG_20120714_145323.jpg)

(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab289/bladerunner1337/IMG_20120714_145311.jpg)

(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab289/bladerunner1337/IMG_20120714_155625.jpg)

Here is the paint chip I mentioned:
(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab289/bladerunner1337/IMG_20120714_155617.jpg)

So if I spring for the car, I would at least get the paint chip fixed and possibly paint the front bumper, though the rear needs paint as well.  I will have to ask around to see how much that will set me back potentially.  I have heard the 4L60E transmissions on these things are problematic, anyone know anything about that?  Other than that, just curious what everyone thinks. Thanks for any advice.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: zieg85 on July 14, 2012, 08:05:50 pm
My brother has a 95 SS.  Has every available speed add except the supercharger.  He has only 13K original miles and it is very fast for a boat...
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: slammed79 on July 14, 2012, 10:53:24 pm
I got to drive one recently that was a 75k car, lotsa fun. A bit of work could yield a good price at resale too. I'd go for it.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bladerunner on July 14, 2012, 11:47:42 pm
Just found out that the guy selling it bought it last September for $4000 with only 108K on the clock. All he has had done to it since then is new brake pads. So that changes what I might offer him.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: Irish_Alley on July 15, 2012, 01:53:12 am
the 4l60e isnt a bad transmission have one in my 94 4x2 it went up so i pulled one from a junkyard and shes still going strong with 300k+. imo 4k is too much for this, but thats is about blue book for it. but 4k for a 18yrd car idk i dont see it lol doesn't look to bad for its age
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bladerunner on July 15, 2012, 07:18:10 am
Well knowing what he paid, $4000 is the max I would pay, especially since he did not put any money into it. But I typically see these go for $6k or more in this shape. Mint 94-96 Impala SS cars go for quite a bit more.

I had read that the 4L60E developed significant slipping in most of these cars around 100K, particularly in the 3/4 clutch pack.  Nothing a swap couldn't fix though.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: 1978 454 Big 10 on July 15, 2012, 10:33:03 am
$3500-4000 sounds like would be a good deal. They are neat cars!

I would prefer the Dark Cherry 96' because it also has the console shifter, but that would not stop me from buying a 94-95 model.

Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bladerunner on July 15, 2012, 11:58:15 am
This car has the floor shifter. PO swapped it in. He also put in an analog gauge cluster from a Z28. The stock cluster is digital.
(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab289/bladerunner1337/5O05E25M63Ed3Kb3M8c6t9e392ee2ba721f89.jpg)
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bake74 on July 15, 2012, 06:04:38 pm
My brother has a 95 SS.  Has every available speed add except the supercharger.  He has only 13K original miles and it is very fast for a boat...

     I also drove a 95 that was souped up, it was quick and tight, your original post has me worried about what you said of the rear end.  The one I drove handled like a dream for a big car and the engine was the only thing that was messed with.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bladerunner on July 17, 2012, 12:42:32 pm
Just bought the car for $4300. The guy would only let it go for $4k if he took out the sound system. I did confirm with the PO that he did indeed install a Kenwood amp, subs and new speakers, so I figured that was worth $300.  Just going to do a little paint to this car and then use it as a baby hauler. Also found out the car has 373 gears and an Auburn Posi, which is a good improvement over the stock 308s.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: slammed79 on July 18, 2012, 09:55:58 am
Good score! Enjoy it, knowing I'm jealous!
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: 1978 454 Big 10 on July 19, 2012, 02:42:12 am
Just bought the car for $4300. The guy would only let it go for $4k if he took out the sound system. I did confirm with the PO that he did indeed install a Kenwood amp, subs and new speakers, so I figured that was worth $300.  Just going to do a little paint to this car and then use it as a baby hauler. Also found out the car has 373 gears and an Auburn Posi, which is a good improvement over the stock 308s.

Congrats, always wanted one of those! (I had a 90' SS454, and a 97' 30th SS.)
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bobcooter on July 20, 2012, 03:23:03 pm
Those things came with the LS Corvette engine.
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: 1978 454 Big 10 on July 20, 2012, 10:54:54 pm
Those things came with the LS Corvette engine.

260hp LT1 engine from the factory. http://www.motortrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/112_0303_1994_1996_chevrolet_impala_ss/ (http://www.motortrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/112_0303_1994_1996_chevrolet_impala_ss/)
Title: Re: Thoughts on 94 Impala SS
Post by: bladerunner on July 21, 2012, 11:23:45 am
Corvette-based, but thats it.  Still hauls. With some of the mods on it, I wouldn't mind knowing what she does now. Couple shops in town have dynos  ;D