[Krull]

I'm thinking about buying a 2014 Impala, but I'm having a tough time determining how well this car will do in snow. I live in Michigan and sometimes winters can be rough. I cannot find the minimum ground clearance on any website. Does anyone know the ground clearance? And how do you guys think it will do in snow?

 

[donmateo]

My 7th gen did well in the snow, the 8th gens seem to, the XTS and LaCrosse seem to. I'd say it will probably be fine.

 

[Dave_N]

My 06 Impala does really well in the snow with winter tires.

 

[RyanZ71]

Would probably be more useful to hear from those who have the 2012/2013 models with the more powerful V-6. Hopefully the traction control system will help things out. But of course the best you can do is to get good snow tires for the winter time (not all season, but good soft snow tires)

 

[KERR]

my 12 sucks in the snow. if you like the car get it then buy a beater

grownd clearance on the 12 is the same as the wife denali if your talking bottom of bumper. so a few inches of snow you will be pushing it.

 

[jtrosky]

I haven't had my 2012 Impala in the winter yet, but I spin tire easily just when it's raining, so I've been a little worried that it may not be very good in the snow... I'm guessing that it's due to the gearing - 1st gear just spins the wheels too fast...

I had a 1995 Gran Prix and it had a "2nd Gear Start" switch, which was great in the winter - would help avoid the wheel spin. I wish I had that on my 2012 Impala!

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[rippir]

I haven't had my 2012 Impala in the winter yet, but I spin tire easily just when it's raining, so I've been a little worried that it may not be very good in the snow... I'm guessing that it's due to the gearing - 1st gear just spins the wheels too fast...

I had a 1995 Gran Prix and it had a "2nd Gear Start" switch, which was great in the winter - would help avoid the wheel spin. I wish I had that on my 2012 Impala!

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I've noticed the same on my 12 too. Wasn't sure if it is tires, more power, trans, or a combination.... I'm def considering new tires before the snow starts flying.

My 06 seemed like it handled rain much better :banghead:


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[donmateo]

If you still have the RSAs then that's a huge part of it. lol

 

[jtrosky]

So the Goodyear tires that come on the 2012 are really that bad? I always thought Goodyear made decent tires - I guess not! I bought mine with 19k and I currently have 25k, so I think the tires still have a decent amount of tread on them. I would hate to replace them when they don't actually need replaced.

Are they just junk tires though? Just curious... I don't know much about tires, to be honest!

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[donmateo]

It's a pretty common consensus around here from 8th gen owners that the tires are just bad overall. I've heard the most complaints in poor weather conditions, but advanced wear, noise and reduced traction on the whole seem to be the biggest complaints.

 

[RyanZ71]

Just because a tire says "all season" does not mean it will be good in the snow. You need snow tires for snow.

 

[D-Nice]

2014 owner here.

I don't know the minimum ground clearance, nor have we gotten any snow since I bought the car, but the front scrapes the ground unless I pull out of my complex's driveway at an angle. But that may be an issue of the length between the front of the car and the front tires. I don't know that measurement either, but the car is certainly a long one at 17'.

I'm not sure if that helps you. I'll try to remember to take a measurement and get back to you.

 

[donmateo]

^My 03 and 12 do the same, it's a FWD issue. It's not the bumper scraping, though. It's the air dam hanging down, the plastic piece.

 

[vyper144]

I lowered my car and scrape the air dam just pulling into my girlfriends driveway... Just don't pull the air dam off though, it helps block rocks and debris from hitting your oil pan and trans pan.

 

[macemontgomery]

I've just bought my 2014 Impala and haven't measured underneath, but Consumer Reports last year gave the ground clearance as 6 inches. That's more than most sedans these days, I think.

 

[impy2ltz2014]

So the Goodyear tires that come on the 2012 are really that bad? I always thought Goodyear made decent tires - I guess not! I bought mine with 19k and I currently have 25k, so I think the tires still have a decent amount of tread on them. I would hate to replace them when they don't actually need replaced.

Are they just junk tires though? Just curious... I don't know much about tires, to be honest!

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My RSA's on my old 2002 j-body were great.

Maybe it was the car?

 

[shoman90]

I'm thinking about buying a 2014 Impala, but I'm having a tough time determining how well this car will do in snow. I live in Michigan and sometimes winters can be rough. I cannot find the minimum ground clearance on any website. Does anyone know the ground clearance? And how do you guys think it will do in snow?

You'll be safe in Saginaw with an Impala k3: We get many times the snowfall you do. We hit 320" once in the mid 90s. We got 3-4" in 2-3 hours yesterday. Pretty much heavy slush. I didn't want to go out, but had to for a quick trip to town. I was a tad surprised at how well the car did shod with it's OEM Potenza 20" tires.

The clearance on this car is not much different than any other full size sedan out there. I was scraping some snow off the bottom going down some of the 'trail.' No problem.

We just picked this car up a week ago amd are coming from 2010 Lacrosee which had the RSA tire on it. The Potenzas are better from my short ride yesterday.

However; there is no all season tire or amount of clearance that makes up for a good snow tire! There is no comparison. I had a set of mounted/balanced wheel/winter tires for the Lacrosse. The Lacrosse came with 19s. The Blizzaks are 17s. This package will fit on the new Impala too...even with the 20s. I'll put them on next fall.

IMO....some things to remember about winter driving where snow/ice is heavy: Traction is not likely what will get you killed. Steering and stopping is. Therefore clearance should not the driving factor. Steering and stopping is. Once you experience the vast difference in steering,stopping, and traction with snow tires, You'll feel compromised without them. It's possible you don't need them in Saginaw, but there are lots of crazy driver's down there who don't know how to drive in snowy conditions because they have little experience. (we are down there a fair amount...including this coming week end) Having the extra measure of protection for those times may well be worth the cost.

 

[Cleatus]

So the Goodyear tires that come on the 2012 are really that bad? I always thought Goodyear made decent tires - I guess not! I bought mine with 19k and I currently have 25k, so I think the tires still have a decent amount of tread on them. I would hate to replace them when they don't actually need replaced.

Are they just junk tires though? Just curious... I don't know much about tires, to be honest!

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clearance--no issues
stock tires? AIDS has better traction than those shit stock garbage tires have...downright dangerous. (yes i have driven on a lot of tires...)

 

[KCJC2011]

With my stock tires when I bought my 07 SS were crap, like no traction in front and you could feel the wind moving the back end. Bought $800 worth of tires and I felt like I was in a 4x4. It was night and day.