My Impala rental was the same. It felt "rubbery" everywhere - the steering response, brake feel, seat padding, interior trim. Its like they managed to isolate the driver from the road, but in a cheap bubble-wrap sort of way. I guess to some people that vague rubbery feeling is a good thing. I couldn't stand it day to day.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma