Buyers looking for long-distance smoothness and civility will find it in Capricesedans and wagons. That's always been their attraction, and that's what they still deliver. Lazy V8 engines, slick-shifting transmissions, light steering and a soft (though well-controlled) ride are major elements in the full-size sedan mystique, and they're executed well in the Caprice. These are the last of GM's old-style body-on-frame cars. Body-on-frame construction means that the chassis and bodywork are assembled separately, meeting only in the final assembly process. Most cars today are unitbody, which means the chassis and body are assembled as one unit. Although unitbody construction saves a lot of weight, body-on-frame is rugged and can take more of a pounding, which is why it's favored by New York taxi drivers and also in truck manufacturing. The Caprice's separate chassis does a good job of isolating passengers from road noise, and squeaks and rattles are conspicuous by their absence. And we know from decades of experience that long-term durability goes with this territory. Caprice's standard engine is a 4.3-liter V8 rated at 200 bp. It operates in an unstressed manner that few V6s can match, delivering seamless performance and reasonable fuel economy, although progress away from stoplights is leisurely. Once again, the Impala SS presents a different picture. Thanks to its 260-hp engine (also standard in the wagon and available in the base sedan) the SS has plenty of scoot, and its uprated suspension--essentially the same one used in police cars--gives it agility and responsiveness one would not expect in a two-ton sedan. The standard car's feather-light steering wouldn't be appropriate in the SS, so a faster-ratio, higher-effort steering rack is supplied. Four-wheel disc brakes (with ABS) are standard on the SS, replacing the Caprice's disc/drum setup. Caprice buyers who want to bridge the gap between the standard car's soft ride and the responsiveness of the SS can order a Sport suspension package of larger tires, limited-slip rear axle, the trailer package's firmer springs and heavy-duty cooling system, an engine oil cooler and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Most of these elements are also present in the Law Enforcement Package, which also includes the SS's 4-wheel disc brakes. Surprisingly, the relatively anemic 200-hp engine is standard for police use. |
