My Pre-Impala Story
My struggle to join the Darkside of the Force

The question is what to get.

The requirements were.
-911 fast sleeper
-luxo cruiser in the triple digits
-room for a Marshall and two guitars and a girlfriend
-Phat pimp daddy style

Well my stiff requirements had me looking at the new Volvo V70 AWD T-5R wagon.
Second in contention was the 96' Impala SS. After a couple of trips to various Volvo dealers I learned that the AWD T5R was moe-money than I wanted to finance on a three year purchase.

In a cloudy day dream I think back to the first time I saw an SS. Surfing in the Summer of 95' I walk up the sand post surf session. Dripping wet I step over the sea wall and head to our mini van. Newport beach is packed. The sound of subs and small children playing fills the air. Overheating cars circle that parking lot for hours looking for a spot to park. The cars roll thru in a single file line there at Newport and all us surfer just kick it and check out the babes and some times cars. Well rolls thru <probably brand new> BBB SS. Waxed, semi tinted, slammed to the ground and occupied by two hot chicks <and I'm not talkin' swaybars> in there late teens or real early twenties.

OH-Shhhhhe-ot!

Oh yha back to my story.....

Doing a little home work on the net I wanted to see how fast /cool of an SS I could
build for the 40+K that the Volvo costs. Fist I found SoCalSS's web site. <Oh-Yha!> Man there was more than I could consume on the net about the SS. I read the entire FAQ. Then I saw Mike Johnson's Turbo Impala SS and Several Super Charged SS'es. This sealed my fate. The Search for the cleanest "For Sale" 96' SS in Cali was on.

Three months goes by and I still cant find a suitable SS. A Clean 96' SS with an extended warranty and less then 30kmiles is real hard to find. Eventually I work a car loan <-paper work> but still no SS. The net wasn't panning out and I didn't want to join the NASSIO digest till I had my SS <what a mistake!> So I started looking in the LA and OC papers I found the my SS.

I found a DGGM 96'. Embroidered floor mats, Dynomax mufflers, and drop in K&N.
Two very very small dings and one painted scratch. 25K on the clock extended 100K warranty and looking great. Andy <the seller> didn't haggle at all. He said forcefully "My kids are going off to school the cars 23 thousand not a penny less." I had to think if this was the SS for me so I left my number and said call me if you have any other interest.

Andy called me two days later <on wed> and said he had 3 other parties coming to look at the SS on the upcoming Sat.

Saturday Morning I was knocking on Andy's door. I brought my dad, girlfriend and
best buddy with me to check it out.<second time> We were all impressed I told Andy I would take it.

Over the next week he ironed things out with his credit union where I signed over a $19K cashiers check minus my 4K cash down.

I pulled out of the Credit Union in my new to me 96' DGGM SS. VBG ear to ear. Hands shaking at the excitement. Not from getting my SS but the modding and uncertain future that lie ahead.

Part II The Pre-Daily Diary

Turbo Impala SS | Turbo 101 | Why Turbo? | Turbo Times | Technical |  Turbo Links | Impala Related  Links

Tad's E-mail: ProTools4@aol.com