2005 and Earlier Chevrolet Impala

roderacer

Actually you read it correctly... I was taken by surprise by platour. I had no idea that there was an accronym for FOB. You answered my question.. sort of. I just thought it would be more confusing to keep the thread going as it really is just a curiosity of mine why it is called a "fob". I have never heard of that word before.

Thanks!
RR

duraflex

Looking forward to teo posting the make, model and serial number info on the new trunk amp.

Please tell us if the plugs appear to be identical to those on the 2000 Impalas.

roderacer

I hear ya. I was hoping to have the LS by the time I go to WI in early June for some races at Elkhart Lake. Not so sure, now. Either way, I'm gonna have to wait.

Glad the car finally arrived and that you are pleased with it! Happy motoring!

"Patience is a virtue..." *repeat 10 times then repeat 10 more times...

Thanks!
RR

roderacer

teo WOW! Congrats! reading your post made me salivate! I hope you will enjoy the new LS fo years to come. And please do let us know of any other "quirky" realizations you encounter...

Oh, and I am with kenbuzz... what is that "magic word" for the free Smartcare program??

Thanks!
RR

teo

Daveleck::: I really enjoyed your 2001 Impala photo gallery...beautiful car! I see that you went with the Radio/CD/Tape combo. This time around I opted to get just the Radio/CD system instead. My 2000 LS had the Radio/CD/Tape combo and the infamous trunk mounted amplifier. The sound quality in the 2000 LS was simply aweful with the amp hooked on (No BASS and Shrill highs). Once the bypass was done, the sound was much better, but no better in comparison to the terrific sound I am getting in my new '01 LS. So you are not crazy....the sound quality has definitely improved on recently built Impalas!

But I agree, the Bass is so powerful that the Bass setting can stay on the 'neutral' position!

Jeffrewy1: Yes, the steering wheel is leather wrapped but the seats are still 'Sport Cloth'. I have been pretty busy today but I'll make sure to get to that Amp part number later on..

teo

Actually there were no *magic* words to get the Smartcare coverage. Actually, when I went last month to GM's Auto Show in Motion event they gave each participant a set of vouchers...One for a $500 cash rebate on any new 2001 GM Vehicle or the SmartCare voucher for free maintenance (Oil, Oil Filters, Tire Rotations) for 3 years or 45,000 miles. I figured that the Smartcare had more value in terms of maintenance costs so I opted for it instead of the $500 rebate.

roderacer

Ah, well... maybe I can work out a deal for the SmartCare program... say, you wouldnt happen to have an "extra" voucher? Just kidding... maybe.

Thanks!
RR

tomaso7

Please let me pass on some information from my police department after several instances of small adults and small children being killed by air bags.
Children under the age of 12 should not be in the front seat of a car with or without air bags.
You may be able to disengage the air bag in your Impala but it would not be wise to sit a young child there in any case. Also, rear facing child seats should never be used in the front seat no matter what.

roderacer

I emailed Chevrolet's Customer Service last night re: the availablity of tracking for a new vehicle ordered through the factory. Here is the reply:

"Thank you for contacting Chevrolet. We do appreciate your interest in following the production
progress on your 2001 Impala. Unfortunately, only limited information is available on a vehicle
order status. Your dealer is in the best position to assist you but the only information available
will be the estimated date for the next scheduled step in the production of your vehicle.
Information is not available beyond the next scheduled step. Our Customer Assistance Center, phone
number 1-800-222-1020, and our office can also check this information for you if you will provide us
with your vehicle order number when calling.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Michael Highlands"

RR

tomaso7

I am pleased that your sound is much better. However, I would like to ask you a question and I hope this does not make me or you seem stupid. Is it possible that you did not set the tone button for that particular type of music on the RDS? i.e. talk for news radio, jazz for jazz etc etc. Could this be the reason the music sounds better. Co-incidentally the sound may have been correct when you picked up the car.

teo

The audio settings were set to factory default on Manual mode (Bass and Treble set in the center). Even then, the sound quality difference was noticeable. The more Bass you adjust for the more you think you are going to blow the speakers. On the 2000 LS radio, even if you had the bass adjustement all the way to the maximum setting, very little bass effect could be heard. Also in order to get decent sound from the Radio FM broadcasts I had to set the radio to high volume.

With the new car, you can enjoy excellent bass and midrange response even at very low volumes an effect completely missing from the 2000 LS stereo system.

daveleck

In my 2001 LS, the stereo gets left in manual (flat) mode. If you start using the preprogrammed bass/treble curves, it starts to get stupid. The bass response on Jazz and Country is ridiculous - you will definitely blow the speakers if you have it cranked while on those settings. Leaving the bass and treble centered provides very pleasing results.

I had read all the posts on this board talking about how poor the sound quality was and thought I was insane. I stuck my friends in the car and asked their opinion on the stereo - which was unanimously positive.

I then assumed (Teo has now confirmed this) that there was a problem with the sound in the 2000 models which was fixed by the time my 2001 was built. I am hoping to find someone nearby with a 2000 so I can hear this awful sound everyone is talking about.

Dave

nosirrahg

I've been behind on reading the posts here, but wanted to chime in that "yes" I'd buy another Impala, but I'd make sure it was a late production 2001 if I were to do it again! I'm happy with my 03/00 version, but I've got the clicking cradle and the clunking steering (which oddly enough has seemed to go away) and the not-so-stellar premium stereo. Not major enough stuff for me to warrant replacing mine with a new model, but if I were to do it again, I'd follow the standard advice of not buying any car in the first model year. On the other hand, it was kind of cool to be a "pioneer" of sorts with a brand new model.

But if mine were totalled/stolen today, I wouldn't hesitate to replace it with another Impala.

sweetpolly

Well, I don't know what happened, however, before I took my car back to the dealer I decided to go to another gas station and see if I could add gas to my tank. Low and behold! my tank was almost empty and it cost me over $23.00 to fill it up (1.79.9 p/g). Had I known it was really empty I would have gone to a less expensive service station. Anyway, I do not need to take the car back to the dealer for what I thought was a problem with the fuel gauge not working. I called and cancelled my appt. However, after lunch today, as I was parking my car, I noticed a "feel of looseness" (including clunking noise) in the steering wheel. Could this possibly be the infamous steering shaft problem? Looks like another trip to the dealer is in order.

discgolfer: thanks for the info

teo: I'm almost at the point of going thru the buyback procedure. My logic in dragging this on is that I really like the medium regal blue color and it's not being produced on the impalas anymore. I know that's silly, but, oh well.......

hunter39

Well the saga continues. Kim at Hutton says that the part number she had for the 12 disc changer is for a replacement part only, meaning just the unit and nothing else, so don't use that part number in the future. That unit is already on it's way back to her. In it's place I'm going to get the 10 disc changer which is complete with all the connectors and cartridge. It was only 289.00 also and since I can't see even putting 10 cd's in that I would listen to I figure that is more than enough. Plus it's cheaper.

Regarding mats and mudflaps, I know that the 2001 is different in the back and the flaps don't fit right without cutting them, I have no idea if they have been fixed. These part numbers can be found at Hutton's site or by contacting Kim at Hutton 1-800-238-6450 she will get the info for you.

hunter39

You bet your sweet bippy I would. My only problem is I would also want the regal blue again and since they don't make it, I'd be stuck. At 12k miles I have none of the more worrisome problems that have cropped up but I don't hesitate to think I might get them so I keep my ears open.

I have a series 50 Flowmaster muffler on and it gives a nice throaty growl but I wouldn't mind if it were a bit more aggressive sounding, it could be the resonator on it is impeding the sound, it is afterall about 3' long. Still waiting on wheel liners and they haven't called me as yet to say they are in, week and a half now. I've got nothing but time though...

bh0001

Drove by my dealer on my way home from work tonight. Lo and behold - THERE'S MY BRAND NEW CAR! Navy Blue 2001 LS with gray sport cloth (no moonroof) - absolutely gorgeous! I'll pick it up on May 14 (this is going to kill me to wait!) because my current lease doesn't expire until May 27th. I can justify two weeks early, but not a whole month .

Interestingly, even though I didn't order the "premium" speakers (with amp), they installed it anyway (UPO radio). Looks like the Canadian ordering options have changed. With Teo's recent comments I'm no longer concerned. Thanks Teo!
Brad

nosirrahg

The other day I coasted into a gas station, and put in right at 16.4 gallons (which with a 17 gallon tank was cutting it pretty close). I've got a base model, so I've got the larger fuel guage than that on the LS, but wanted to pass along that when the tank was virtually empty, the guage read just below the red mark at the "E" (like no more than a millimeter or so below). It was roughly as far below the red mark as it is below the "F" line when it is completely full. Also, the computer said I had used 16 gallons, so had I trusted it and pushed my luck a little farther, I'd have been walking home.

I don't remember at what point the "low fuel" light came on, but just remember if the guage gets below the "E" to refuel ASAP.

night_owl1

hahaha... so you wanted to know why it is called a "fob." Funny how these threads take on a life of their own. Actually, I didn't know myself so I looked it up:

fob: a short chain or ribbon with a medallion or similar ornament, attached to a watch and worn hanging from a pocket.

I used to call it the car alarm remote but I guess I picked up the term here.

alanwagen

Very important footnote here.
Do NOT run out of gas! It will wear out your fuel pump and it will be big $$.
The fuel acts like a lubricant for you fuel pump.
After a few dry spells it will fail as your fuel pump is in the gas tank.

mediumfry

I don't think you can 'officially' disable the passenger side airbags. There certainly isn't a switch. On trucks, one doesn't have a choice but to put kids in front sometimes. Thus the switch. I've heard of folks INSISTING they disable the airbags. Some service depts will, some won't, but it's a permanent thing unless you want to pay again to have them hooked up. No easy way. I agree there is no case where the kids really belong up front.

As for mileage, I have tracked my miles/gallons used both on the trip computer and on paper at the pump. With 9200 miles on my '01 LS, purchased in Nov 2000 and mostly driven in cold Michigan weather so far, I have seen:

Average over life of car on trip computer: 27.8mpg

Average over life of car based on pumped gallons and odometer miles: 25.5mpg

Highest mileage on a single tank: 29.8mpg (tank used in about 5 hours)

Lowest mileage on a single tank: 20.9mpg (tank used over two weeks)

I doubt I'll ever see 34mpg, though I hope to move into the 30's on the road sometime. Mostly on the road I travel 70mph or thereabouts. I believe if I slowed to 60 or 65 I'd get better mileage but would probably get shot for going too slow.

lrcobra

I guess I have you beat on mileage, we now have 34,800 or so on the LS. It doesn't set for very long around our house. I have to steal it from my wife just so I can drive it or wash it once in a while. I haven't switched to the synthetic yet and am not sure if I will. If this car keeps on treating me the way it has and she keeps driving it the way she does we will have to purchase another one in about two years. We usually average about 15-16,000 a year on our vehicles. My truck (89 K-1500) now has 256,000 on it and it just does the basic back and forth to work and hauling some stone for the driveway now and then.
Happy motoring
LRCobra

roderacer

Dude, you kick all forms of [non-permissible content removed]!

Thanks for the clue. It makes more sense now. And yes, these threads can morph into something unexpected.

Keep up the good work on the site.

RR

whippetcat

I do a lot of highway driving to work and my son suggested a bra for my car--does anybody have any recommendations on where I can get a bra that is made specifically for the Impala LS?

regulator75

I am so thrilled to be picking up my Impala 01 LS Today (build date 02/01) Navy Blue with Grey Leather and all the options, including those toasty seat warmers. (gets pretty cold in Calgary during the winter-Brrrr) It is my very first brand new car and my friends and family are very happy for me and my wife. All though my old man is pretty jealous, he met my mom while driving his 1970 Impala all those years ago. Now he's driving a 97 Lumina (fully loaded) but I know after I let him drive the new Impala he will fall in love with it, just like I have.

This Impala community has been nothing but great, all the different views and stories about there cars have taught me a lot... And I also hope to become a regular contributor to this board, where I will be sharing my stories and thoughts about my new baby!

bh0001

Congratulations regulator75! I'm insanely jealous (see post #2873).

I'm gong back to the dealer today to have a look at my new car (I'll probably be there almost every day until May 14th). My sales guy gave me one of the keys so I can sit in it and show my dad this weekend. All the interior wrapping and stickers etc are still in place and I noticed a few interesting things yesterday. I'll take a pad and pen today and jot down some numbers to see if they make sense to anyone here.

Reg75, enjoy your new car and keep us posted on how things go!
Brad

tpken

I saw the twin to your car yesterday on my way home from PA. There are 3 Chevy dealers on a 5 mile section of the main road there where I work and I always check the lots - well as I was driving by this one dealer I noticed a Regal Blue LS sitting in the front row so I just had to stop in and check it out. Turns out it is a left-over brand new Impala - gray leather, no SR, I forget what else for options - listed $25K. I asked the sales guy who came out to greet me and he indicated it had been around for at least the 5 months he had been working there - and they were ready to deal to get it off the lot - no idea what their bottom line is though.

I had never seen this color before and found it to be absolutely spectacular as it sparkled in the bright sunshine - that metallic paint was gorgeous! I immediately thought of you and agree with your love for the color. It sure is nice to own a rare color combo (I've never seen another green Bonnie like mine anywhere yet).

Best wishes.

Ken

impalaboy2001

I ordered my 01 Impala LS Bra from my Local chevy dearlership for $106.

cookie01

With an Impala in your garage there's probably almost NO reason to have a child sit in the front seat. You could squish 4 kids (in a pinch) EASY in the back seat and if you need to carry more children than that... get a van.

We have once or twice had our daughter sit in the front with us, but in the middle position of the front seat where there is no air bag, but is a seat belt. (our older dauther, son-in-law and baby in a carseat in the back left no more room).

My daughter is so convinced of the danger from airbags that she once told her aunt, who drives a two-seat convertible (older model) "I can't sit up here if you have an air bag, that thing will TAKE MY HEAD OFF!" she's six. I don't know if I'll last until she's 7....heheheheh

tomcat630

According to Automotive News, the 2001 Chevy Lumina goes out of production today 4/27.

Since the Impala is selling well, the factory has added overtime, the only GM car plant that seems to be doing so.

kenbuzz

That's really disappointing to hear, because I know that there's a 12CD "Kit" (I saw it on MNR's site) which comes with everything. Unfortunately, it also comes with a wiring harness (which we don't need), which drives the kit cost beyond a reasonable price for just the changer, cassette, and mounting hardware.

I didn't know that there was a compatible 10CD changer that plugged into the same interface as the 12CD model. That's good news, since (at least for me), having 10 or 12 CDs available doesn't make that big a difference.

As always, good luck!

kenbuzz

I'd be interested in knowing whether the bra you ordered is embossed with the Impala text logo or not. I seem to recall someone ordering a bra from another source (www.carbras.com I think) that was embossed, and I think the price was about $20 different.

When you get it and get it on the car, any chance you could snap a photo and post it?

impalaboy2001

Yea the bra I got for the Delearship Parts department was a 2 piece bra. The top piece had the Embossed Impala Text Logo on it. The Bra will fir both regular and LS models. I believe the part number for the 2 piece bra is #12486738.
Check your local Chevrolet delearship to see if they have it in stock.

roderacer

I just got off the horn with a Chevy rep. Really friendly guy. Anyway, I was calling to check to see if I could get an expected build date...

Well, he told me that my Impala LS is ALREADY BUILT! I just ordered on 4/17!! It is in the 'testing' phase which he says will take 2 weeks or so. I should expect a call from the dealer in 2-4 weeks!!

For a second, I thought he may have been looking at the wrong order, but he verified that it was indeed my new ride.

SWEET!!!!

He just made my week!

RR

hvan3

Has anyone noticed that on the Impala, there is not one single word "Chevrolet" on the vehicle? It doesn't say, "Chevrolet Impala". In the rear, there is a tiny blue bow tie on the Impala logo. That's it!

I know on the Tahoes, Suburbans, Cavaliers, Malibus, and etc, they ALL have "Chevrolet" imprinted in the rear vehicle.

Interesting that Chevy left out "Chevrolet Impala" to identify this vehicle as "Chevrolet".

Hmmm?

tomaso7

Concerning the radio and the quality of sound I have mentioned in previous posts, there is a button which dictates the TYPE of music you listen to. The RDS radio has the word 'type' on one of the controls but that is a mis-nomer - this button allows you to adjust the balance, bass and treble. I AM TALKING about the 'auto tone' button which allows you to adjust the 'TYPE' of music you listen to. For example, rock, news, jazz, country, classical.... If this selection is on rock and you are listening to jazz there is a difference of quality. Perhaps some of you do not know this exists and that's why the quality wasn't good. I know that if you select 'news' and the put on a rock station the quality of sound sucks. Each station that you tune to can have the 'TYPE' of music pre selected. This works in either AM or FM

NOW, this is different from the FM search of the type of music you want.

Check it out and you will see what a difference the quality is when you select the correct music and the 'TYPE.'
I sincerely hope this helps.

shamino

Congrats on your Impala being built! But what do you mean the car is in 'testing' phase??? Do the factory workers drive each Impala around a test track before they put it onto the delivery truck/train??
Hmm..maybe I just have the wrong impression..2 weeks wait to get the car tested??? I thought these babies rolled off the assembly line and immediately put ont to flatbed trucks/trains for delivery!

I'm thinking about going to Oshawa for a plant visit..which plant makes the Impala?? #1? or #2?
Who knows..maybe I'll be the 1,000,000 visitor at the plant, and they will give me a brand spanking new Impala!
Or even better yet, they let me take the Prototype v-8 Impala SS home!!!!
Have a great weekend everyone!

roderacer

To be honest, I do not know what they are testing. I imagine that the cars go through a quality control type of procedure before they are finally rolled off the line and onto a truck... at least I hope so.

If my Hanes get inspected, I hope my vehicle would too!

Thanks!
RR

bh0001

Any idea when you might go to Oshawa for the tour? It would be really cool if a few of us from the list could link up at the plant.
Brad

discgolfer

I agree with you. I have played with these settings and it makes a big difference, but I assumed everyone else knew about this too. I have not commented on all the radio talk here, as I find the sound quality to be just fine. Maybe not the "Best", but I have no complaints. I really don't understand all the complaints here on the radio. Maybe the 100+ concerts in my younger days have messed up my hearing...

hunter39

Kenbuzz you brought up an excellent point my friend, saying you were surprised to hear they had a 10 disc changer... I recall asking Kim if it was compatible with the same plug for the 12 disc (should it matter? Someone? Anyone?)and she replied that it was, now, does she no for sure? Cripes I don't even know now and I'm worried!

Turnpike Ken, Thanks for the kind words, I'm real surprised to hear they have a 2k sitting on their lot for that long, and 25k is wayyyy out of line, on a better note though, maybe Sweetpolly can have GM buy back her old regal Blue and get that one sent to L.A.? What about it Polly?

sweetpolly

Yes, I'll take it, even without the sun roof! I think that is one of the best colors GM used on that car and was very disappointed that they discontinued it. I love the color purple and I wrote GM when I first saw the car on the internet (prior to them building them for the public in general) and asked them if they were going to offer the car in the color shown on the internet (it was a lavender, lilac purplish looking color). Anyway, I suppose the medium regal blue was as close to purple as they were going to get.

Did you know they used that same color on the 2K monte carlos? A neighbor across the street from my mother has a 2K monte carlos painted the same color! It's really cool when we're both parked on the block at the same time. He parks on the opposite side of the street. Have any of you seen monte carlos in the medium regal blue color?

nick01

and all's well on the new Impala. Just had the chevy dealer install the wing on my base Impala. Looks great and a perfect color match for the med bronzemist. The bronzemist looks better to me every day. Changes color as you walk around it. Not a dark chocolate like ken said.
Love the radio. cant find anything wrong with the sound. I know there is something wrong with this car. As soon as I find out what it is I will let everyone know I also like the custom 'blade' wheels better than the LS 5 spoke. You see the old 5 spoke on every other car they make these days.......nick

pat

one of your fellow Impala owners on winning the "Bronze" in Edmunds.com's Editor for a Day contest at the NY Editor Show.

Read Rob Eaton's review of the preproduction Marauder here.

Way to go Rob!

Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards

crosley4

This past week we have noticed a clunking/pop noise in our 2k LS during sloooow turning manuvers such as backing out of the garage at home or in parking lots. This is not the cradle noises of the past.

At 35,780 miles I am thinking that we need to get the car into the dealer soon.

Can you say " steering shaft trouble?"

fathertyricius

I agree with your posting regarding the radio settings. The "Auto Tone" control is a preset equalizer and in my opinion should always be set to Manual. This would then permit the driver/passenger to set the BASS TREBLE FADE & BALANCE Controls to their taste. Mine are set for BASS two nothches positive beyond half, Treble is set three notches positive beyond half, Fade is set a notch negative to half and Balance is set to Center. I find these settings truly ideal. I listen to all types of music, Classical, Rock, Religious. The system performs beautifully with these settings.

00impala

What do you think of my Minor Modification of the Base Model Bolt on Wheel covers? I darkened the inner sections of the spokes making them in a sense "7 Spoke" Bolt on Wheelcovers! I am always doodling around with Impala Pictures, Maybe this could be a low cost change for the 2002? GM could use the existing Wheel covers and just shade a few areas creating a whole new "FRESH" look? Here is the Pic... Don

dogsrule

I really appreciate all the information the regulars have been sharing over the months and will contribute as I have something to give.

I am anticipating purchasing a 2002 Impala LS (white/tan and loaded)as soon as they're done practicing with the first few off the line. But I have a few questions for all of you along the way, you're all I trust.

OK. How are the heated leather seats controlled? By a switch? Thermostat?

And... I remember a deal years back where your dealer could arrange for pickup of your vehicle at the factory. I live in Northeast Ohio. Wouldn't it be nice to tour the factory, pickup your car and save $610? BMW has a package deal, why doesnt GM?

Thanks everyone!

00impala

The Heated Seats are controlled by a switch on the side of each seat,High or Low with Off being in the center position. As for the Factory P/U, Unsure, But I work for an Airline and could easily make a trip to the Factory for one of those Tours, Could someone repeat that Factory Tour info? Was there a Phone #? Thanks Don

bh0001

Start May 31, run every Thursday at 11:30am and 6:30pm. No tours July 5 or July 12. Call (905)644-5777 to make reservations.
Don, let me know if you might come up. As I keep saying, it would be great if a few of us could meet at the plant and have a group tour.
Brad