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Chevrolet Impala Performance
The 07 Impala LTZ has a little less HP than the 06, anyone know if the 0-60 times have been affected? I am a little disappointed in this change for an extra 1 or 2 MPG.
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For '07, the 3.9L has dropped to 233hp, only losing 9hp from last model year (torque is only down 2lb-ft for '07). The power-to-weight ratio only changes by a little more than half a pound (14.68lb/hp vs. 15.25lb/hp). In my opinion, that alone shouldn't be enough to significantly change the acceleration time.
Unfortunately, car magazines tend to bypass the mainstream Impala trims (LT, LTZ) in favor of the SS when they do reviews and instrumented testing. It would be nice to see one of the major publications perform road tests of the top selling trims instead of the performance variants.
I like the LTZ best, it's a nice compromise on power and features. Torque is more important than hp but every one looks at hp.
Russ
I would rather just take the savings on a leftover '06 with the 3yr/36K warranty. If the car turns out to be problematic, you could always buy a GM sponsored extended warranty before the 3/36 ends and still come out ahead versus paying more to start with for the '07 model.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoqHPYIUtBM&NR
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Chevrolet+409
The old 409's were fast for their day (early '60s) but were also very heavy and had two four barrel carburetors that had to be kept carefully tuned. Today's Impala SS has electronic fuel injection that's much more efficient. The result is a faster car (0-60 less than 6 seconds) delivered from a small block V8 engine, although purists won't acknowledge a FWD car as a being muscle car.
Clark
'Ya, I guess I'm considered one of those good 'ole rear wheel muscle car purists that you are refering to.
Ohhhhhh Memmmmmmmories..!! Yes sir reeeeee bob... I can definately still remember sitting at those stop lights in my machine feeling that lumpy long duration / high lift solid lifter cam...Oh boy..!!
Thanks for taking me back....!!
Frank
As they say.. it could a million and one different things here.. It's very difficult sometimes to specifically know what the actual problem is mechanically just from a verbal explanation. If anything, I can try to give you some practical advice here... You say that "GM" doesn't know what the problem is ..well cuff, it's their job to FIND OUT and to FIX IT!!. Who do you call GM here... the Service Advisor , Service Manager, Dealership Owner, or the Regional/District Rep. over the Dealership ? How far up the chain have you gone ? Actually, You should have hit them in this order while firmly jumping up and down ... Let us know what you have done here. I don't want to seem like a smart @ss here, but if you don't have a great relationship with this particular Dealership ,why not just go to another..
Good luck and keep us posted..
Frank
If I have to maintain the 35-40 speed, according to the service advisor, the trans doesn't know which gear to be in so it causes a sensation of bouncing or vibration. Frank, Bryan or one of the guys suggested putting it into manual 3rd and it does help the situation although it is frustrating to have to do this since I've got 35 & 40 limits on a number of roads I have to travel.
Dealership says it runs as it should.
My ex brother-in-law owns a transmission shop and my nephew works for him. I have asked him to ask around and see if they've heard of anything like what you're experiencing. I'll let you know if they come up with anything.
Wanda,
It was me who suggested using 3rd gear. Now that you're saying it's bumping between 3rd and 4th, would you also describe that sensation as a "shudder"? By shudder, I mean the feeling the torque converter makes with its final engagement and you feel a cushioned little bump. With a shudder, it's that cushioned bump feeling over and over. It goes away if you accelerate or slow down and only exists when you're trying to maintain a steady speed. If so, there's an additive called "Dr. Tranny" that fixed my old car right up. This was after visiting several tranny shops and all said I needed a new torque converter and actually had one replaced under warranty. It was my nephew that suggested I try it. Their shop puts it in every transmission they repair. It costs about $10 and you just pour it into the transmission fluid filler tube.
As for the lifter noise, see if you can isolate the circumestances around it. Is the engine fully heated, warming up, cold? Have you been driving at highway speeds or stop and go? A/C on? The engine ticking has been noted by others with the 3.5L. That's your engine, right?
As for the wind noise, I would test drive a different Impala at the dealership and compare. There seems to be an occasional "bad" Impala out there. When I bought mine, the SS I test drove had bad wind noise but all the other Impalas we drove (at least 4) were fine.
Hope some of this helps.
Ron
I've tried to pay attention to the lifter noise and thought it was pretty much after it was fully heated. I've heard it on the Interstate after driving over 100 miles and I've heard it in mixed traffic when stopping at a red light. Then yesterday, I hadn't gone 2 miles and it had that sound. Wasn't fully heated then. Not using AC yet, although it is warming up here in TN (70+ today for first day of spring :shades: )
On the additive, since it is only 6 1/2 mos old, would it affect the warranty if I put an additive in it? This is the first brand new one I've bought in over 20 years. Usually buy used and do regular or minor maintenance myself, but with a new one, I wouldn't want to do anything where they could void the warranty. I even let the dealer do the oil changes because they only charge me $7 for the oil/filters since I bought from them.
Wanda
The manufacturer claims it's OK with the manufacturer's but I wouldn't take some guy's word on the internet.
If you do a web search for Dr. Tranny, you'll find plenty of places that sell it.
With the ticking, you're not hearing it while you're actually driving are you? You're talking about after driving on the interstate and then coming to a stop, right?
With the suspected rough engine, try a couple things. While stopped (and feeling the rough idle), shift into park or neutral and see if you notice a difference. Also, try turning on the AC. I've noticed with my engine (and most others), it runs smoother with a slight load on it. If I idle in neutral, mine has a bit of a rough idle. If it's in gear or in neutral with the AC engaged, it smooths out.
I was actually gonna ask the other SS owners about that so if you're reading, let's hear your take. Does the 5.3L run a little rough in neutral but smooth as silk while in gear?
Thanks all and get back with us, Wanda...
Ron
Not really rough but it does sound like a bag of marbles on start up (not unlike the sound made by a slack top timing chain on an XK Jaguar). I'm wondering if this is due to an undue delay in oil pressure build up.
Also, some time back I got a really noisy lifter tick after a start in cold weather. That seems to have gone now a few more thousand miles have been added.
Martin
If I'm not mistaken here, all the '06 & '07 Impala models, including the SS, share the same hydralic roller valve lifters.
Sometimes in cold weather, and/or when it's been sitting too long, you will hear a slight ticking sound on start up until all the lifters fill with oil.
Just maybe.....
Frank
I have tried shifting it to park and other gears and it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. I hear it more than feel it. It makes me wonder, though, if that is what is happening when I feel the shudder driving between 30 and 55 mph.
Wanda
I may just wait and hit the GM rep with this one as well instead of an extra trip to the shop. I'd like to take him on a trip down the hwys I drive and let him hear the wind, tires and rattles, and feel the power changes, etc. Wonder if he'd give up an hr of his time. They test it on city streets for the most part where you have lots of noise interference from other vehicles and the speed is lower so the problems are not as evident.
I'm going to guess that it's a "normal" ticking caused by lower oil pressure at lower RPMs. Since all 3.5Ls don't do it, I wouldn't actually call it normal, just maybe "normal" for your particular car.
Frank, you have the 3.5L, right? It has been the 3.5L that has had a few others mention the ticking, right?
I wouldn't think the ticking is related the shuddering you're feeling but I wouldn't want to say for sure without seeing the car.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Ron :confuse:
Yes, I do have the 3.5L, and you know, I don't have
any of the lifter ticking problem what so ever, at any time. To the best of my knowledge, while not wide spread, yes a few have mentioned it here...Wonder what this one is all about..???
Frank
Now this car was a sales demo that had just under a thousand miles on it when I took it off the lot last week, so I would think/hope that if the salesman driving it noticed anything funky, he would have had somebody check it out. I could easily put it off to "it's a new engine and it's just a little stiff" but on the outside chance it IS something more, I'd rather be safe than sorry. I also drove the same car for seven years so it may be that I'm just not used to the feel of it yet.
The car, is of course, totally under warranty so I'm not worried about cost. But I'd be interested in hearing from other folks --- new car getting broken in or actually something maybe not right? :confuse:
I'm thinking I'll run by the dealer Friday afternoon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear from some other folks who have new(er) Impalas. Thank you!
Karen
Before I go back to the dealership of my choice, I'd like to be armed with some useful information. My husband drove it and could also feel it (slightly). My daughter drove it and could feel it. But, they do not drive it on a daily basis like I do. I know something is not right. I would appreciate if anyone else could help out with this problem - knowing if there are any recalls. I'm driving the car hoping it doesn't break down at any minute. :sick: Thanks!