Thoughts on 94 Impala SS

[bladerunner]

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:







Here is the paint chip I mentioned:


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.

[zieg85]

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...

[slammed79]

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.

[bladerunner]

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.

[Irish_Alley]

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

[bladerunner]

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.

[1978 454 Big 10]

$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.

[bladerunner]

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.

[bake74]

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.

[bladerunner]

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.

[slammed79]

Good score! Enjoy it, knowing I'm jealous!

[1978 454 Big 10]

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.)

[bobcooter]

Those things came with the LS Corvette engine.

[1978 454 Big 10]

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/

[bladerunner]

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