If you wife is anything like me, the thought of a minivan will make her blood run cold... But for some it's an excellent way to fit plenty of people and haul stuff on occasion.
My hubby had a Voyager when we met and that thing lugged tons of kids, dogs, food and an occasional washer/dryer all over the place. I hated it. Bad, slow engine, no power anything etc.
but I know now that they make VERY nice mini vans with great "easy out" seats and air and cruise and power everything and such. A friend with new twins recently bought an Odyssey and they love it. It drives very nice and the V6 is very powerful.
Just an idea. Lucky for me I only have one kid left at home so the Impala is plenty big and our other vehicle is a Ranger.
OHHH , your going to love this one, Sitting in class on what seemed to be a normal day , me and my " TEACHER" were talking current events in front of the class , and i brought up that oldsmobile is soon to be dropped from the GM line up , and my teacher goes " isn't that ashame" , and i said " yep , but it could have been worse, it could have been chevrolet " , and he had the nerve to say " I don't figure that would be so bad since chevrolet is the crapiest of GM's line up " , WHAT !! , how do you figure ? , still no logical answer from him , but it gets better , we got on the subject of engines , and he happens to think that the legendary small block "350" , is one the worst engines ever made , OH .. NOW... I ... WAS ....TICKED !!!!!! , and I brought up how popular the 350 was and the reliability factor , and he could not give me a straight answer on what was so bad about it . [non-permissible content removed]..... Thanks----------mattmcdill
You wrote: Isn't it great to have such variety offered for consumers? You must be acutely aware of this.
Exactly.
I like to see the diversity of vehicles in general, and of the GM products particularly. Almost everybody can select something that fit his tastes (and checkbook) - even if locked in by his GM card points.
This is why I am bolting every time somebody suggests to drop a car he does not like personally. I do not mean a dangerous product, but a car with a different kind of body style.
"Only 80-year old are buying Buicks, why GM did not kill the division instead of Oldsmobile?". "GM have to kill the plastic cladded Pontiac, they are for boy-racers only". "Nixing the Malibu is not a bad idea since it is just about the most bland looking car on the road". Etc., etc.
Impala is a wonderful car, and I enjoy to see them on the roads. But how boring would it be, if every fourth car you see will be Impala. How much better to see also a lot of Malibu, GP and Taurus, with Intrigues and an odd MC now and then. Even Chrysler / Dodge / Plymouth looks nice (are they safe is another question).
Let us better not to impose our personal tastes on other peoples.
Forgot to answer: there is snow in Conneticut this winter. The first time in the five years I live here.
My son is sledging almost every day. Still, want to drive farther North some weekend, to NH or VT. Probably, in two weeks or so.
BTW, it turned to be, that the cross-country skiing is a major undertaking in USA. When living in Russia, we used to buy the ski gear cheap, and they were available everywhere. It was as easy affordable, as a beach volleyball. The bad ski, of a sort nicknamed "firewood" in Russia, cost about what the joke suggested. Decent ones about three times more. The same with cross-country ski boots, etc. As to the ski clothes, everybody had them any case.
The mountain skiing, though, was expensive. Both gear them self and because there were no mountains in the Central Russia, you had to pay for airplane tickets and bed.
Teo, thanks for the info. on the brakes, I'll let you know the out come within two weeks. I like the look of the Vibe better than I do the Aztek.
Car choices= My old Pontiac Grand Am needed replacing. I called my Impala salesman to see if they had any 2000 Impala's left. We can't swing two new car payments. He did not have any left.
We ended up leasing a program car Toyota Camry 4 cyl. to do in town and errands. Keep the Impala for the open road.
Since you asked... I bought my wife a new 1998 Camry in June 1998 with the 4 cylinder engine. Great car. Plenty of pep. NIce ride and handling. The 6 cylinder was actually overkill.
She's coming up on 50,000 miles with few real problems. -Hood had to be repainted early on because it chipped very easily. Factory paint on hood was not up to spec. Rest of car was perfect. -Brakes wear faster than they used to but they all do now. -Rear stuts wore out after warranty but dealer replaced them without charge anyway because we always take car to them for routine maintenance and he had the authority to do so. -Original quiet Michelin tires still have plenty of tread left on them.
Nothing else at all. Still tight and quiet.
The car has been excellent. The dealer has been excellent.
We researched everything at the time narrowing the choices to Accord and Toyota. No comparison on many levels. At that time. the 4 cylinder Hondas were sluggish. Her 90 Accord was quicker !
My wife loves the Camry and does a 60 mile round trip commute mostly on the PA Turnpike. She's also warmed to the Impala but only on road trips, not around town. She hates the visibility out the rear on the Impala - especially parallel parking or at the mall. On the highway, she's perfectly comfortable with it and enjoys the heated seats when we first start out in the morning.
Should be a pretty decent car. Not exactly my idea of 'uniqueness' as you see at least 50 of them everyday. I don't like the current design too much, maybe due to its blandness and the interior is mighty depressing compared to the Honda Accord and even the Impala.
I liked better the old 1992-96 Camry sedan as they had more 'Lexus' cues to them and were very smooth vehicles.
For a second 'urban' car the Camry should be a great choice. I even suggested one to my wife sometime ago, but she said 'forget it!' She hates most Toyotas (She is not too fond on Japanese cars either)but probably she'll end up driving one in the form of the '02 Pontiac Vibe ;-)
Let's see now - had the car (86 bought new) in for 60K mile servicing and was not informed of timing belt replacement so it broke on me 2 months later and took the water pump along.
I knew better the next time and had it changed at 120K miles. One month later it was back for repeat - the 'idler pulley' had broken - and again the belt had to be replaced along with water pump. These were $300+ charges each time. And of course there was "no possible way we at the dealership could have foreseen such a thing".
The horn had to be replaced, along with numerous other electrical type problems - can't remember them all now but it was EXTREMELY frustrating at the time. I had thought that it would surely turn out to be a very reliable long lasting vehicle. Turned out I dumped it at 140K rather than do bearings and clutch.
It did give great gas mileage and rode well - but ended up costing far more than I ever would have dreamed. My experience soured me on Toyota and particuarly Toyota dealers who I found to be liars and crooks.
Perhaps this is an unusual story - lots of Toyota owners seem to be happy. My impression of the new ones is they are very overpriced and way too bland looking.
I've had several camrys for personal/business and have had alot of luck. The first was a 92 V6 we still own, and also have a 97 V6. The only real problem area would be the front strut mounts on the 97-98 models. They can rattle and will cost about $300 to replace if not discovered during the warranty. The only repairs I've ever done to mine was power window motor on the 92. The 97 currently has a tad over 100K miles and it's had front pads, turned rotors, spark plugs, oil changes.
We are considering a new Impalla to replace the 92 Camry which is pushing 180K miles so far without incident. Would like something a tad larger and have narrowed to Impalla or Avalon. Wife is sold on Avalon, but I want the Impalla cause it's $5,000 cheaper:) Been lurcking here watching for problems/issues and so far I'm impressed. I don't have too many complaints on the Impalla (don't equal $5000 anyway), but the side window is very small, and the top of the door cuts into my vision. The rentals I've had were base/bench seats and I had trouble getting comfortable. Anyone notice this, able to fix it with the buckets? We would be buying an LS so we'll have buckets.
i can honastly say that these are the most comfortable car seats ive ever sat in...took a short road trip back in dec. from philly area all the way down to key west, then over to new orleans and then back home all in 5 days. i had no problem sitting in that car all day long...my old car (86 ss monte) as far as comfort was concerned is another story...
Does anyone know if you can use a floor jack on the Impala and where you might position it without damaging anything. On my pickup truck and Subaru wagon, I put the floor jack under the front cross member, lift the front and put jack stands at both side jack points. I then put the floor jack under the rear differential to lift the back up. I then can rotate the tires. I have an impact wrench which makes the job easier. This usually goes quite quickly and allows me to inspect the brakes at the same time. I am not sure where I can safely put a floor jack on the Impala. The owners manual doesn't show all possible jack points. Does anyone have a shop manual that says anything about this. Sure wouldn't want to damage this wonderful car!
I know I have seen people comment about the area in front of the rear wheel on the 2000 Impala/Monte Carlo and how it seems to collect debris.Good news!You can get the rear wheelhouse liners that can be found on the '01's for free!!Chevrolethas issued a Service Bulletin,not a recall,for this problem.I have a friend that is a service advisor for the dealer where I purchased my Y2K Monte Carlo SS and this is what he had to say:The Service Bulletin Number is 08-08-111-004.It said that some customers may complain about debris collecting in front of the rear wheels.It gives the part numbers to order the rear wheelhouse liners and info on how to install them.My friend went ahead and ordered them for me and said it would be covered under warranty.Hope this helps out anyone who wants them! http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/y2kmontecarloclub
That qualifies as a "Short" road trip? I wonder what a looooooong one would be! Sounds like a great time though (my kind of vacation) - I'd love to hit the road about now and stop in Key West..from here in Maine that would be about 2200 miles I think.
How's things in Lansdale? I'll be heading down that way in Feb on business again.
yeah that was a relativly short road trip...a couple years ago after graduating from high school me and a friend of mine took a 15 day, 22 state, 12,000 mile road trip in his 86 caddilac sedan deville. ill never forget breaking down in the middle of kansas on the 4th of july (thermostat)
oh lansdale is just fine...a nice and 'balmy' 44 degrees today....much better then the mid 20s that have persisted for the past few weeks...
Thanks for thoughts on the second car; my wife likes the Camry primarily based on its reputation for reliability - hadn't thought about leasing a used one, though; that could probably turn out to be pretty economical froma monthly payment standpoint. I need to upgrade her from the Prizm soon. I'd love to buy her a used Impala and become a 2-Impala household, but it wouldn't fit on her side of the garage!
A guy at work here is selling an '86 GMC pickup that has only 80,000 miles on it; I'm going to look at it on Monday. He's not asking too terribly much for it, and at least it's new enough that it wouldn't lower property values to park it out on the street. That plus a program car Camry might be my answer.
mcdill - What subject does your "teacher" teach? I'm hoping it isn't auto shop!
I go to a really small private school , and he is my all around teacher , I would say he is about 55 , he has been in the navy , worked for the railroads , been on the police force ( Mobile, Al ) , and now is part time on the police precinct ,a preacher , and a school teacher,as well as seminary teacher , he drives a 2000 buick regal LS with the 3800, I liked him alot untill he made those statements , he has now proved (especially with the statement about 350's ) , that he knows jack $hit about automobiles , and I will not take any advise or lessons from him in the world of automobiles , NOW Math on the other hand.............. . thanks-----------mattmcdill
I got a promotion!!! I guess the cat slipped out of the bag that I was considering a new job with another company (nothing specific) and it scared them a bit.
Matt, The comments of the teacher do not surprise me, given his age. I am from the same era. We must remember that in the 1960s and 1970s there was competition not only amongst the big three but within the big three. A Chev SS 396/454 did compete with the likes of the Olds 4-4-2 and the Pontiac GTO. And they were very different cars with their own engine lines before GM went generic. I knew Pontiac people who would not think about buying a Chevrolet.
Interesting tid-bit along these lines in the corvetteforum this week. Why did GM stop painting Chevrolet engines in the Chevrolet Orange colour? For example, my Corvette 350 is blue. Answer according to some was the lawsuit about 1976 when some Buick or Olds buyer found a Chev Orange 350 in his new car. Claimed he wanted an Olds or Buick 350 and not a Chevrolet engine. Very soon all GM engines became blue.....Interesting bit of trivia.
Gentlemen; I am thinking of buying a new 2001 Impala with the 3.4 engine. I have driven one as a rental car,and was impressed with the comfort,and the fuel mileage. I got a little over 30 mpg on a run from Ft.Laurderdale to Key West on regular fuel. I would like to know if their are any problems that anyone is having? I have been burned badly by Chevrolet in the past.But I understand that things also change sometimes. Hope to hear from you all soon. geo25
I am a Corvette fan as well as an Impala owner. Have owned my 1979 for over a decade. Here are a few quotes from, "Corvette Restoration Guide/1968-82." The author is Richard Prince.
"All 1973-1977 engine blocks are cast iron. In 1973-1976 the blocks are painted Chevrolet Engine Orange. In 1977 they are painted blue....All 1978-1981 and most 1982 engines are painted GM 'Corporate Blue'. Beginning in August 1982, color was changed to black."
Getting back my earlier post, the key word here is "Corporate." GM finally in the late 1970s phased out engines distinct to the various Divisions. Sameness set in....
I do not have very much mileage on my 2001 3.4L but I can recommend it for comfort, ride and smoothness. It is a large vehicle compared to my Saturn SL2 but at idle it is difficult to know if the engine is running; it is so free of vibration. There is a bit of intake roar on acceleration but that does is not irritating. It tracks true on the highway and although I do not have a tach, I believe it is revving at 1,800rpm at 60mph with the overdrive transmission. That certainly helps with the gas mileage.
The interior is spacious and although some have criticized exposed screws in the trim, I do not notice these. I have found the interior trim to be of a very good quality and all seems to fit together very nicely. Magazine writers do tend to get hung up in trivia at times. The trunk is enormous, especially with the fold-down rear seats. That is available with the bucket seat and floor-shift console option which I have posted on. See my Photopoint album below.
I do not push cars but the 3.4L has excellent low-end torque (it is a push-rod engine) compared to autos with DOHC where the torque band peaks at much higher rpm. I believe that this will contribute to long-term reliability if you are enclined to keep your auto for a number of years. The styling has been criticized as old-fashioned compared to Chrysler products, for example. The Impala seems to be a love-or-hate-it car but the styling sits just fine with me. The smily front and those round tail-lights are a little off the beaten track but certainly appeal to many. I DO wish there were three lamps in the back to get back to Impala roots: two tail plus one back-up!! To be maudlin, the styling is timeless, as many Impalas have been.
The large four-disk brakes are beyond criticism; very strong and predictable. Police forces are testing the Impala but I do not know how they have found the brakes in severe duty. I do not have ABS but have never had that safety feature in my autos and thus do not miss it. Many others have very positive comments on ABS and traction-assist so you may wish to consider it. It is optional on the 3.4L but standard on the LS.
The paint on my Galaxy Silver car is free of flaws but I do wish GM would have put the clearcoat on the inner surfaces such as inside the trunk and the hood. Why do they cut corners like that? (Rhetorical question.) There is some road noise in the cabin but nothing compared to the Saturn; my basis for comparison. Apparently, a change of tires will make a difference but that is not in the books for me. Overall body fit and finish is very good but not up to Honda standards and that does not phase me. Both cars are produced in North America and one plant has better robots than another. Besides, we are talking about mm differences. On safety, Impala is at the head of the class in terms of crash safety: there is nothing like bulk and good engineering on crumple zones. And that is important in my view.
So far (very few miles), it has met or exceeded my expectations. No complaints. I researched the 3.4L and its history in such vehicles such as the Venture van and the base engine in the Camaro for some time. It seems to have a very good reliability rating (as does the 3.8L also). The Malibu (one of my other possible choices) with the 3.1L does not do as well with the likes of Consumer Reports. I do not know why that 3.1L unit is having problems. But that is another story. Apparently, there have been some problems with the Al engine cradle welds/cushions in the Impala but that may have been an ealry 2000 production glitch. And some rotor warp but what manufacturer has not seen that one. Other owners with higher mileage may wish to advise you but all-in-all, I would recommend the Impala 3.4L.
Further to my #629 post. I was blown away today at the local shopping centre. A group of five young males approached my car as I loaded the groceries in the trunk. I expected the worst in these times. No, the verdict was, "Cool car, Man. One of those new Chevrolet big ones. My Father told me about these cars. He had one when he was like, young. He talks about his 1966 two-door all the time. You know, with the 327 and the "love" seats in the back, speaker in the back seats with the reverb on the radio.... They are OK, all right. Love the color!." Now, my 1979 Corvette elicits those type of comments from the much younger generation but an Impala? It was "kinda cool" for me also. I unpacked the lean cuisine at home in good spirits.
Yes, I lifted my Impala two weeks ago to put on the splashguards. I was trying to avoid taking off the wheels to do the minor drilling required. And I did so. We used a hydraulic floor jack to lift the entire side of the car. About 18" inside the car is what appears to be a frame rail. Now, it is not a frame member in the traditional sense as true frames are long gone but it is a unibody reinforcement point going from front to back. There is a grill of some sort to avoid (cat con? exhaust) but it is a point of strength. I did not have any problem with lifting at that point. I will try to get a pic for you.
Does anyone know where to get these weather reflectors that go on the windows to keep out rain? I'm looking for the ones that go in the window track, not those ones that go on the outside with double-sided tape.
I check the WeatherTech site, but they don't have them for the 2000 Impala yet.
I tried the button thing with my Silverado radio again today and one of the combinations worked. I got a flash on the dial that said "LD or LO". It changed the sound for the better so I left it there. After turning the switch on and off I noticed that it stayed on there so it must be a permanent thing. I can alternate it on and off with the same combination of buttons. Thanks for the tip. By the way my server is still having some upgrade problems so I can't send e-mail right now. I can receive but can't send. LRCobra
Here is where I did it with a three-ton jack. The frame rail is just under the driver's door and about 18" to two-feet in. Others may have better advice but it worked for me. Raised up the entire side of the car.
Alright!!! , I'm glad it worked , it makes me want to go try on my truck again , It was probably LD , which would stand for Loud . thanks------------mattmcdill
nosirrahg, On the Camry, Toyota offers a lease to own program. I had never heard of it before until going to the dealer. It sounded good so we went for it. If we don't like the Camry or don't want to keep it we can give back and lease something else or if we like and plan on keeping it we can put all the miles we want on it. Good Luck!
Let me disagree with you concerning the reliability of the 3.1l Malibu engine in general, and the reference to Consumer Report particularly.
I checked the 2001 CR handbook, it contains the reliability tables for cars produced up to and including 1999. No data on engines, only on the car make and model.
The Malibu engines were reported as very reliable (very few problems). Though, for years 97-99 the data also include the base Malibu with 2.4l 4-cylinder.
All trims of Buick Century have the same 3.1l engine as Malibu. The car also was reported as very reliable in CR concerning engines.
The last car with the same engine is Pontiac Grand Prix - only the SE trim without the optional 3.8l engine. The data for GP (all engines together) are a bit less flattering. The car had few problems in the department, but not very few.
The Grand Prix data are consolidated on all trims and options, and concern not only the 3.1l, but also the 3.8l GM pushrod, generally considered to be bulletproof. Likely, some Pontiac owners tend to push the envelope too far.
Thanks for the info and picture on the jacking point -- looks like that will work. Don't know why I didn't think of doing one side at a time instead of the front/rear methods I have used on my other vehicles. Will try it in a few weeks. I am at 4700+ miles right now. Want to rotate tires at 5,000 miles. Have owned the LS since June 2000. It is mainly our out-of-town trip vehicle. Slow to put miles on it. Thanks ------- Mike Bock
Hi. I've had my 2001 Impala for 3 months and 3600 miles. I agree with everyone here that the Impala is a great car. I want to thank the posters here for leading me towards the Impala. Everyone had such enthusiasm for the car that I had to look at it. We ordered ours as it isn't one found on dealer lots. It's a base with the 3.8, standard seats and the 1SC package. Really wanted an LS but more important was having our 3 kids ride comfortably in the back seat and with the armrest the center position is basically useless for anything but short trips. I didn't see that mentioned here so I guess it's not an issue with others. The car has been perfect so far and a pleasure to drive. My only complaints about the Impala are minor: the sun visor is too short and doesn't cover the windshield corner, no elbow cushion on the door and the base front seats could be more comfortable. Two features I really like are the steering wheel radio controls and the electrochromic mirror. I'm in northern NJ and don't see many Impalas even though I drive 85 miles round-trip to work. I do see some Impala police cars and my town has at least one. People in other forums who knock the 3800 are either crazy or biased. Reviewers also. I can't find anything unrefined about the 3800. I've also not seen any quality problems with the fit and finish. No rattles, squeaks, etc. Looks great, runs great. Even Onstar is an interesting toy. I'm thinking about getting a 2nd one - an LS this time. I don't think this car would bore me with one of each. The one weak link in the Impala seems to be the engine cradle. Hope GM really addresses that problem.
Just a qualifier. Perhaps not important. I put a 2x4 cushion between the jack head and the frame to avoid scratching and dents in that frame member. No need to break the paint and undercoating (if applicable) if that can be avoided.
A few comments. I do have the 3.4 but the 3.8 has been pretty solid over the years. It is "unrefined" in the sense that it is not DOHC with 24 valves, etc. Phooey! It has bottom end torque and a non-intereference engine. In other words, you do not have to worry about a cam belt going loose and the valves hitting the pistons. My only criticism is that the rear-view mirror is too small....Well, I stretched for that one. I like the car.
I have tried this one before but no one responded. So, here we go again! The Impala has galvanized panels but none has stated where they are. Are the leading edges of the hood and the trailing edges of the trunk protected? That is where rust normally strikes. Should I hit those areas with a spray of WD-40? Would not do any harm, I would think.....
If you don't know about my website, check it out http://www.luckyjdr.homestead.com/impala.html ALSO VISIT THE SITE FOR MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND SEND A PICTURE OF YOUR CAR AND I WILL PUT IT UP FOR VIEWING. thanx, joe
Congrats, ed179, on your new Impala. It is an interesting set-up you have there. I have not yet bought, but plan to later this year - hopefully an LS. What color is yours?
You mentioned not seeing many Impalas around northern NJ. I am just now starting to see a few in the Boston area as well. On my daily commute on I-95 I see 4 on a regular basis - interestingly there are a pair of LS models - one silver, one carmine and a pair of base models - also silver and carmine! Occasionally another is spotted - but not often. You would think that in a major NE metropolitan area there would be more in evidence.
Are there more frequent sightings of Impalas in other parts of the country? Impala still seems pretty scarce around here.
You see mostly Base 3.4L rental or fleet Impalas. LS models are still a bit scarce, but I like that trend as it keeps the car more 'unique' in comparison to other mainstream sedans.
$100,000 dollar cars? Everybody is got'em! (Like the 'Miami' Wil Smith song lyrics would suggest).
I see at least 10 Brand new Mercedes Benz, 20 BMW's and one exotic car everyday, whether is a Ferrari, Lamborghini Diablo (A convertible was right next to me on US1), Bentley, Rolls Royce, even DeLoreans (Back to the Future, remember?).
If you are a car lover, in Miami you'll see cars like no other place.
I also highly recommend the Impala, its a great car!. Since you are a "South Floridian" and frequently travel between Palm Beach (Chad paradise)and Key West, I can highly recommend a good dealership "Dadeland Chevrolet" located right on US1 (Northbound) right next to the Dadeland North Metro station and Dadeland Mall in East Kendall. Altough I did not buy my Impala LS from them (It was an Internet sale)they have been providing a very good level of service and since the dealership open for business about a year ago, they are really trying to establish a solid customer base. They have "Under 29 minute" Oil changes and generally are very accurate and efficient on warranty claims and repairs.
Stay away from 'Maroone Chevrolet' located in 'Calle Ocho' (Eighth Street)and LeJeune Road (NW 25th Avenue) as they must be one of the oldest but worst operated Chevy dealers in the Metro Miami area (I work right around the corner from them in the Coral Gables business district).
I was up at the dealership today ( got me a 2001 police impala brochure ) , and I saw a 2001 LS in sand drift , and it pales in comparison with a driftwood LS , also it had the license plate area filled in with that grey molding , I don't think that looks too hot on an LS . " Party in the city when the heat is on, all night on the beach till the break of dawn ... goin to Miami .. welcome to Miami ---- Will Smith AKA - Fresh Prince . thanks----------mattmcdill
Agree! The new Sandrift is no where near as nice as the Light Driftwood Metallic...oh well you can still buy the Silver, Carmine, Red, Navt Blue...
I have mixed feelings about that rubber molding in the rear bumper license plate housing...what is it for? Really? Cost cutting to avoid the extra paint?
They should have out that black rubber trim on top of the bumper where it should be to help avoid scrathes when loading unloading bulky and heavy objects in the trunk.
Griot's Garage sells a replacement saddle for floor jacks that straddles the pinch weld so you don't damage the car when you lift it. They also sell urethane jack stand pads that fit over the top of the jackstand to protect the paint. The pads are in the online catalogue, but the saddle is not.
Today I've had my Impala 1 full year. And beings it's a holiday I only worked from 6 a.m.-noon and when I got home and did a few chores I noticed it was sunny and a balmy 48 degrees outside so I grabed the bucket and the suds and went to work on my anniversary present.
In the winter it's very hard to keep a navy blue car clean. But that baby looks brand new today. Washed it all over, did the wheels, did the interior and took out all the junk. Looks great. I love this car today as much as I did one year ago today. Probably more!
Happy driving friends.
P.s., yes, I do get loads of guff from my neighbors. One guys goes "I guess the only thing that might keep you from washing that thing is a good heavy snowfall" If he only knew....
Comments
My hubby had a Voyager when we met and that thing lugged tons of kids, dogs, food and an occasional washer/dryer all over the place. I hated it. Bad, slow engine, no power anything etc.
but I know now that they make VERY nice mini vans with great "easy out" seats and air and cruise and power everything and such. A friend with new twins recently bought an Odyssey and they love it. It drives very nice and the V6 is very powerful.
Just an idea. Lucky for me I only have one kid left at home so the Impala is plenty big and our other vehicle is a Ranger.
;>
Exactly.
I like to see the diversity of vehicles in general, and of the GM products particularly. Almost everybody can select something that fit his tastes (and checkbook) - even if locked in by his GM card points.
This is why I am bolting every time somebody suggests to drop a car he does not like personally. I do not mean a dangerous product, but a car with a different kind of body style.
"Only 80-year old are buying Buicks, why GM did not kill the division instead of Oldsmobile?". "GM have to kill the plastic cladded Pontiac, they are for boy-racers only". "Nixing the Malibu is not a bad idea since it is just about the most bland looking car on the road". Etc., etc.
Impala is a wonderful car, and I enjoy to see them on the roads. But how boring would it be, if every fourth car you see will be Impala. How much better to see also a lot of Malibu, GP and Taurus, with Intrigues and an odd MC now and then. Even Chrysler / Dodge / Plymouth looks nice (are they safe is another question).
Let us better not to impose our personal tastes on other peoples.
My son is sledging almost every day. Still, want to drive farther North some weekend, to NH or VT. Probably, in two weeks or so.
BTW, it turned to be, that the cross-country skiing is a major undertaking in USA. When living in Russia, we used to buy the ski gear cheap, and they were available everywhere. It was as easy affordable, as a beach volleyball. The bad ski, of a sort nicknamed "firewood" in Russia, cost about what the joke suggested. Decent ones about three times more. The same with cross-country ski boots, etc. As to the ski clothes, everybody had them any case.
The mountain skiing, though, was expensive. Both gear them self and because there were no mountains in the Central Russia, you had to pay for airplane tickets and bed.
Car choices= My old Pontiac Grand Am needed replacing. I called my Impala salesman to see if they had any 2000 Impala's left. We can't swing two new car payments. He did not have any left.
We ended up leasing a program car Toyota Camry 4 cyl. to do in town and errands. Keep the Impala for the open road.
Any Camry experiences out there?
with the 4 cylinder engine. Great car. Plenty of pep. NIce ride and handling.
The 6 cylinder was actually overkill.
She's coming up on 50,000 miles with few real problems.
-Hood had to be repainted early on because it chipped very easily.
Factory paint on hood was not up to spec. Rest of car was perfect.
-Brakes wear faster than they used to but they all do now.
-Rear stuts wore out after warranty but dealer replaced them
without charge anyway because we always take car to them
for routine maintenance and he had the authority to do so.
-Original quiet Michelin tires still have plenty of tread left on them.
Nothing else at all. Still tight and quiet.
The car has been excellent. The dealer has been excellent.
We researched everything at the time narrowing the choices to Accord and Toyota.
No comparison on many levels. At that time. the 4 cylinder Hondas were sluggish.
Her 90 Accord was quicker !
My wife loves the Camry and does a 60 mile round trip commute mostly on
the PA Turnpike. She's also warmed to the Impala but only on road trips,
not around town. She hates the visibility out the rear on the Impala - especially
parallel parking or at the mall. On the highway, she's perfectly comfortable with
it and enjoys the heated seats when we first start out in the morning.
I liked better the old 1992-96 Camry sedan as they had more 'Lexus' cues to them and were very smooth vehicles.
For a second 'urban' car the Camry should be a great choice. I even suggested one to my wife sometime ago, but she said 'forget it!' She hates most Toyotas (She is not too fond on Japanese cars either)but probably she'll end up driving one in the form of the '02 Pontiac Vibe ;-)
I knew better the next time and had it changed at 120K miles. One month later it was back for repeat - the 'idler pulley' had broken - and again the belt had to be replaced along with water pump. These were $300+ charges each time. And of course there was "no possible way we at the dealership could have foreseen such a thing".
The horn had to be replaced, along with numerous other electrical type problems - can't remember them all now but it was EXTREMELY frustrating at the time. I had thought that it would surely turn out to be a very reliable long lasting vehicle. Turned out I dumped it at 140K rather than do bearings and clutch.
It did give great gas mileage and rode well - but ended up costing far more than I ever would have dreamed. My experience soured me on Toyota and particuarly Toyota dealers who I found to be liars and crooks.
Perhaps this is an unusual story - lots of Toyota owners seem to be happy. My impression of the new ones is they are very overpriced and way too bland looking.
Ken
We are considering a new Impalla to replace the 92 Camry which is pushing 180K miles so far without incident. Would like something a tad larger and have narrowed to Impalla or Avalon. Wife is sold on Avalon, but I want the Impalla cause it's $5,000 cheaper:) Been lurcking here watching for problems/issues and so far I'm impressed. I don't have too many complaints on the Impalla (don't equal $5000 anyway), but the side window is very small, and the top of the door cuts into my vision. The rentals I've had were base/bench seats and I had trouble getting comfortable. Anyone notice this, able to fix it with the buckets? We would be buying an LS so we'll have buckets.
quite a few years now.
For year 2000:
#01 - 423,961 Camry
#10 - 174,358 Impala
http://www.autosite.com/editoria/asmr/svolfc.asp
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/y2kmontecarloclub
Any case, your problem with visibility is a very personal thing. No other way to know exactly, but test drive an Impala LS.
How's things in Lansdale? I'll be heading down that way in Feb on business again.
Ken
Teo, it's a white one so we can just call it plain vanilla!
oh lansdale is just fine...a nice and 'balmy' 44 degrees today....much better then the mid 20s that have persisted for the past few weeks...
A guy at work here is selling an '86 GMC pickup that has only 80,000 miles on it; I'm going to look at it on Monday. He's not asking too terribly much for it, and at least it's new enough that it wouldn't lower property values to park it out on the street. That plus a program car Camry might be my answer.
mcdill - What subject does your "teacher" teach? I'm hoping it isn't auto shop!
I got a promotion!!! I guess the cat slipped out of the bag that I was considering a new job with another company (nothing specific) and it scared them a bit.
It's nice to be wanted...heheheheheheheeh
The comments of the teacher do not surprise me, given his age. I am from the same era. We must remember that in the 1960s and 1970s there was competition not only amongst the big three but within the big three. A Chev SS 396/454 did compete with the likes of the Olds 4-4-2 and the Pontiac GTO. And they were very different cars with their own engine lines before GM went generic. I knew Pontiac people who would not think about buying a Chevrolet.
Interesting tid-bit along these lines in the corvetteforum this week. Why did GM stop painting Chevrolet engines in the Chevrolet Orange colour? For example, my Corvette 350 is blue. Answer according to some was the lawsuit about 1976 when some Buick or Olds buyer found a Chev Orange 350 in his new car. Claimed he wanted an Olds or Buick 350 and not a Chevrolet engine. Very soon all GM engines became blue.....Interesting bit of trivia.
I am thinking of buying a new 2001 Impala with the 3.4 engine. I have driven one as a rental car,and was impressed with the comfort,and the fuel mileage. I got a little over 30 mpg on
a run from Ft.Laurderdale to Key West on regular fuel.
I would like to know if their are any problems that anyone is having? I have been burned
badly by Chevrolet in the past.But I understand that things also change sometimes.
Hope to hear from you all soon.
geo25
"All 1973-1977 engine blocks are cast iron. In 1973-1976 the blocks are painted Chevrolet Engine Orange. In 1977 they are painted blue....All 1978-1981 and most 1982 engines are painted GM 'Corporate Blue'. Beginning in August 1982, color was changed to black."
Getting back my earlier post, the key word here is "Corporate." GM finally in the late 1970s phased out engines distinct to the various Divisions. Sameness set in....
The interior is spacious and although some have criticized exposed screws in the trim, I do not notice these. I have found the interior trim to be of a very good quality and all seems to fit together very nicely. Magazine writers do tend to get hung up in trivia at times. The trunk is enormous, especially with the fold-down rear seats. That is available with the bucket seat and floor-shift console option which I have posted on. See my Photopoint album below.
I do not push cars but the 3.4L has excellent low-end torque (it is a push-rod engine) compared to autos with DOHC where the torque band peaks at much higher rpm. I believe that this will contribute to long-term reliability if you are enclined to keep your auto for a number of years. The styling has been criticized as old-fashioned compared to Chrysler products, for example. The Impala seems to be a love-or-hate-it car but the styling sits just fine with me. The smily front and those round tail-lights are a little off the beaten track but certainly appeal to many. I DO wish there were three lamps in the back to get back to Impala roots: two tail plus one back-up!! To be maudlin, the styling is timeless, as many Impalas have been.
The large four-disk brakes are beyond criticism; very strong and predictable. Police forces are testing the Impala but I do not know how they have found the brakes in severe duty. I do not have ABS but have never had that safety feature in my autos and thus do not miss it. Many others have very positive comments on ABS and traction-assist so you may wish to consider it. It is optional on the 3.4L but standard on the LS.
The paint on my Galaxy Silver car is free of flaws but I do wish GM would have put the clearcoat on the inner surfaces such as inside the trunk and the hood. Why do they cut corners like that? (Rhetorical question.) There is some road noise in the cabin but nothing compared to the Saturn; my basis for comparison. Apparently, a change of tires will make a difference but that is not in the books for me. Overall body fit and finish is very good but not up to Honda standards and that does not phase me. Both cars are produced in North America and one plant has better robots than another. Besides, we are talking about mm differences. On safety, Impala is at the head of the class in terms of crash safety: there is nothing like bulk and good engineering on crumple zones. And that is important in my view.
So far (very few miles), it has met or exceeded my expectations. No complaints. I researched the 3.4L and its history in such vehicles such as the Venture van and the base engine in the Camaro for some time. It seems to have a very good reliability rating (as does the 3.8L also). The Malibu (one of my other possible choices) with the 3.1L does not do as well with the likes of Consumer Reports. I do not know why that 3.1L unit is having problems. But that is another story. Apparently, there have been some problems with the Al engine cradle welds/cushions in the Impala but that may have been an ealry 2000 production glitch. And some rotor warp but what manufacturer has not seen that one. Other owners with higher mileage may wish to advise you but all-in-all, I would recommend the Impala 3.4L.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=223638&a=10790790
I check the WeatherTech site, but they don't have them for the 2000 Impala yet.
LRCobra
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=223638&a=1656230&p=37958059&Sequence=0&res=high
cookie01, Congrats on the promotion!
I checked the 2001 CR handbook, it contains the reliability tables for cars produced up to and including 1999. No data on engines, only on the car make and model.
The Malibu engines were reported as very reliable (very few problems). Though, for years 97-99 the data also include the base Malibu with 2.4l 4-cylinder.
All trims of Buick Century have the same 3.1l engine as Malibu. The car also was reported as very reliable in CR concerning engines.
The last car with the same engine is Pontiac Grand Prix - only the SE trim without the optional 3.8l engine. The data for GP (all engines together) are a bit less flattering. The car had few problems in the department, but not very few.
The Grand Prix data are consolidated on all trims and options, and concern not only the 3.1l, but also the 3.8l GM pushrod, generally considered to be bulletproof. Likely, some Pontiac owners tend to push the envelope too far.
Thanks ------- Mike Bock
We ordered ours as it isn't one found on dealer lots. It's a base with the 3.8, standard seats and the 1SC package. Really wanted an LS but more important was having our 3 kids ride comfortably in the back seat and with the armrest the center position is basically useless for anything but short trips. I didn't see that mentioned here so I guess it's not an issue with others.
The car has been perfect so far and a pleasure to drive.
My only complaints about the Impala are minor:
the sun visor is too short and doesn't cover the windshield corner, no elbow cushion on the door and the base front seats could be more comfortable.
Two features I really like are the steering
wheel radio controls and the electrochromic mirror.
I'm in northern NJ and don't see many Impalas even though I drive 85 miles round-trip to work. I do see some Impala police cars and my town has at least one.
People in other forums who knock the 3800 are either crazy or biased. Reviewers also. I can't find anything unrefined about the 3800. I've also not seen any quality problems with the fit and finish. No rattles, squeaks, etc.
Looks great, runs great. Even Onstar is an interesting toy.
I'm thinking about getting a 2nd one - an LS this time. I don't think this car would bore me with one of each.
The one weak link in the Impala seems to be the engine cradle. Hope GM really addresses that problem.
http://www.luckyjdr.homestead.com/impala.html
ALSO VISIT THE SITE FOR MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND SEND A PICTURE OF YOUR CAR AND I WILL PUT IT UP FOR VIEWING. thanx, joe
You mentioned not seeing many Impalas around northern NJ. I am just now starting to see a few in the Boston area as well. On my daily commute on I-95 I see 4 on a regular basis - interestingly there are a pair of LS models - one silver, one carmine and a pair of base models - also silver and carmine! Occasionally another is spotted - but not often. You would think that in a major NE metropolitan area there would be more in evidence.
Are there more frequent sightings of Impalas in other parts of the country? Impala still seems pretty scarce around here.
$100,000 dollar cars? Everybody is got'em! (Like the 'Miami' Wil Smith song lyrics would suggest).
I see at least 10 Brand new Mercedes Benz, 20 BMW's and one exotic car everyday, whether is a Ferrari, Lamborghini Diablo (A convertible was right next to me on US1), Bentley, Rolls Royce, even DeLoreans (Back to the Future, remember?).
If you are a car lover, in Miami you'll see cars like no other place.
Stay away from 'Maroone Chevrolet' located in 'Calle Ocho' (Eighth Street)and LeJeune Road (NW 25th Avenue) as they must be one of the oldest but worst operated Chevy dealers in the Metro Miami area (I work right around the corner from them in the Coral Gables business district).
Good luck and enjoy shopping!
I have mixed feelings about that rubber molding in the rear bumper license plate housing...what is it for? Really? Cost cutting to avoid the extra paint?
They should have out that black rubber trim on top of the bumper where it should be to help avoid scrathes when loading unloading bulky and heavy objects in the trunk.
http://www.griotsgarage.com
The NAISSO site is selling window visors that fit in the channel vice using tape. They don't have a photo of it online.
http://www.impalasuperstore.com/catalog/page17.htm
More links to sites that carry accessories can be found here
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/
In the winter it's very hard to keep a navy blue car clean. But that baby looks brand new today. Washed it all over, did the wheels, did the interior and took out all the junk. Looks great.
I love this car today as much as I did one year ago today. Probably more!
Happy driving friends.
P.s., yes, I do get loads of guff from my neighbors. One guys goes "I guess the only thing that might keep you from washing that thing is a good heavy snowfall"
If he only knew....