Reader Find: Chevy Impala SS taxi at MIA
Click image for gallery of phonecam pics
Reader Ken Gesel did a double-take as he was waiting to pick up a friend at Miami International Airport. Amidst the merry-go-round of Crown Vics snagging fares coming out of Arrivals, there was something different. You can almost hear your favorite Sesame Street personality breaking into "One of these things is not like the others" as your eyes take in the 18-inch alloys, SS badges, and twin exhaust outlets. Yep, it really is an Impala SS taxicab, and Ken snapped off a few phonecam shots for us. Had we been walking out of the terminal, bags in hand, we'd have picked it over one of the garden-variety converted police Vics with black steelies. Next, we would have told the driver that that it was imperative he put that 5.3L V8 to work and get across the MacArthur Causeway as quickly as possible. After all, the sooner you get checked in to your hotel, the sooner you can get yourself to an outdoor table at Larios for some Churrasco and people-watching.
Thanks, Ken!
[Photos: Ken Gesel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MemphisNET 10:10AM (12/23/2007)
Among all the Intrepids, Vics and normal Impala's, we have a 1996 Impala SS and 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T roaming around our city as cabs. The drivers are friends, and they decided that they're gonna have some fun while doing this job. Why NOT have some kicks while at work.
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Alex Nunez 10:13AM (12/23/2007)
I love that... plus, the Charger makes for a great cab anyway...huge interior, huge trunk.
Benfolio 9:06AM (12/26/2007)
Ah, but the Vic's is huger, and the tranny won't crap out every other oil change.
MadeinDetroit 10:11AM (12/23/2007)
I've always liked this version of the Impala SS, and as a cab, well thats just very fun.
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Billy 10:52AM (12/23/2007)
Auto enthusiasts are everywhere!
He made a good choice, the new impalas (as much as they're not my style) are pretty nice, I had one as a rental in chicago and the trunk was very big (for todays cars, still doesnt compare to my friends 1990's lincoln town car) and the interior was very roomy.
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Jeff 11:19AM (12/23/2007)
The car itself is somewhat boring, but those awful wheels just cheapen the whole package that much more. How GM considers those sporty, I just don't understand. Then again, they put chrome wheels on the new ZR-1.
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Pokey 12:36PM (12/23/2007)
I'm sure you will be able to get the new ZR-1 without chrome wheels. Chrome wheels are an option on nearly every car, so why single out Chevy for this?
Jeff 4:44PM (12/23/2007)
Hello, Pokey? Anyone there? It's their top end high performance model. Everything on the car should be performance oriented. Chrome wheels are generally heavier than their polished or painted counterparts, and do not belong on a car like that.
Tim 11:23AM (12/23/2007)
I suspect that a Chevy dealer could not unload their Chevy SS and sold it as fleet vehicles instead. Still cool though as it is still more fuel efficient than a Crown Vic,
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Benfolio 9:13AM (12/26/2007)
The post below is averaging 19-20 for a SS, my Vic gets 22-23 mixed driving with quicker P71 3.27 gears. Cabs get grandpa-slow 2.73 gears. Those cars are getting 26 or more on the highway. So even if the cab driver is NOT driving a taxi specific vic (yes they make a LWB version just for them) they're still getting better mileage. And with a bigger trunk.
Esprit bird 11:48AM (12/23/2007)
A buddy if mine really enjoys his Impala SS, averages 19-20 mpg city driving like a normal person and gets suprisingly high highway. Its a blast to drive and its a heck of a lot more comfortable and better looking than his last Impala SS with those terrible tail lights.
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kevin 12:14PM (12/23/2007)
ALL THE NEW FULL SIZE CARS LOOK LIKE 2002 HONDA ACCORDS SO WHO BUILDS THE BEST ONE,CHEVY
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MemphisNET 12:59PM (12/23/2007)
None of them look like Accords...
oh wait.
NONE OF THEM LOOK LIKE ACCORDS...
Seriously though, I don't see it. And one of the reasons I love the Charger is because it looks nothing like an import. (I'm not hating, so cool down fanboys - I just prefer different styling)
DanMan 1:41PM (12/23/2007)
It's cool but I still wish it had honest to god Impala taillights. (Round ones) What did the painter think when he was shooting that color scheme onto that car? (Why don't I just paint up a MB AMG to be a cab?)
Honestly though folks when I lived in Detroit there were lots of ex-cop cars as cabs that still had "Police Interceptor" badges on the ass. I'm sure they were really fast too.
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dpb! 1:47PM (12/23/2007)
Actually the PI's have been shown not to be any faster than a standard CrownVic, just more heavy duty to last longer. Kind of a shame!
King of Pasadena 2:04PM (12/23/2007)
Can't wait for Michael Schumacher to get his hands on this one...
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MemphisNET 2:09PM (12/23/2007)
*laughs*
Richard 2:28PM (12/23/2007)
Yeah. The most practical part of this is that, if you get some passengers in the back seat, and load the trunk up with a couple of golf bags and some luggage, you can do FWD burn-outs and, maybe even suffer terminal understeer into the end of a bridge.
Brilliant!
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DW 2:38PM (12/23/2007)
Don't forget the 4spd auto
cowboy bob 2:53PM (12/23/2007)
Front wheel drive sucks. Even the cabbie should be ashamed.
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