Repair-It

After stepping out from behind the wheel, the driver can't help being impressed by the SS's power and its ability to generate astonishing numbers - 0 to 60 in 5.6 seconds, for one. The SS seems to have been created to produce impressive numbers on paper with little regard to driver enjoyment.

Part of the reason the Impala SS feels so uncomfortable with the V-8's power is that it doesn't benefit from all the chassis tweaks bestowed on the Grand Prix GXP. Opt for the Chevy, and you don't get the Pontiac's wider front wheels and sticky Bridgestone tires, Bilstein shocks, and larger brakes. Although the SS's chassis gets its own special anti-roll bars, bushings, and shock and spring rates, the suspension simply monkeys around too much.

Everybody said this car is what was so wrong with GM in the past.

Inexpensive materials, two hands on the wheel handling, huge torque and good horsepower for the weight of the car.

It reminds me of a time when cars and American life was cheap, fun and fast.

I've owned Audis, BMW's, a Mitsu EVO, SVT Mustangs, but this car is more real fun than all of them combined.

It's almost free. Used. . . I paid less for a perfect conditioned 2008 than I did on the down payment of the Audi. With magnaflows, a tune, new intake and headers, it draws heads ever time you pull into a parking space.

It's trunk has the utility of any new SUV and if I was in the body disposal business, I could throw 4 fat guys in the trunk without lowering the pass through seats. I would imagine they sold a lot of these in New Jersey.

When I rumble up to a stop, someone usually walks up and says "wow, that car is sick" and that's living on the westside of L.A. where NOBODY drives anything made in North America, except SUVs.

The best part is it's stealth to the ticket happy California police. Twice I've passed cops on the 10 going about 90 and both times they passed me back lights flashing to chase down a BWM or Audi with flat paint and black wheels.

I've been waved at by so many cops I believe they think it must be some kind of undercover police vehicle, or maybe because it's black.

This machine takes me back to my past where cars didn't have to be computerized Danish modern, leather contoured works of computer controlled art. It's just a car, with a few knobs, buttons, a steering wheel and the ability to smoke the tires like John Force.

Granted it smokes the fronts, but I like that as I can see the results come through the air conditioning vents.

Living in the new Normal where everyone is so P.C. and the 25 year old Trophy generation I employ think their being punished by only being able to afford a 328 3 series instead of an M5, this car makes me smile every time I remote start it.

And don't kid yourself. Every time the 25 year olds drive it, they say, wow this thing is really fun