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Comments
Tomaso- how long did it take you to 'Zaino' your Impala including washing her? How many coats did you use? I recall you explaining this a couple of hundred posts ago, so forgive me if I am being redundant - again
Boy, I am chatty today...
Thanks,
RR
One the the DIC prompts that I really haven't figured out is the 'Average Speed'...I always see 25 to 27 MPH...can anyone explain the purpose of this specific measure?
Has anyone (Duraflex, etc) initiated dealer contact to have the trunk mounted amp replaced with the new updated version?
Ugh!
I agree, the ISS is one of the most unpleasant problems in the 2000 Impala aside from the bad radio amp.
I wonder....
Who signed off on these items:
* The not completely welded Engine Cradle
* The useless Radio AMP
* The defective Intermediate Steering Shafts.
Still not bad for a first year GM product I might add.
I've found that the average speed is useful mainly on long trips - reset it when leaving for a long trip and when you get there, check the avg speed. For example, a door-to-door trip from Boston to NY City came out to be 66mph on average despite a couple traffic jams. Helps you calculate time needed for future trips.
Anyway, the car drives like new again. Incredible difference. I'm very happy with it.
The replacement part # was 26079240. I have no way of knowing what the one they took out was.
Thanks for posting the amp info. Maybe you could post your speaker #s when you get a chance - at least the ones in the rear that you only have to look up to see.
Once the defective ISS is replaced it is amazing how the steering goes back to be really nice and tight, as it should be. Give it another 11 to 13 months and see if it holds up. I am sure it probably will not give you any problems.
Other GM W-body car that has been plagued with the ISS problem is the Oldsmobile Intrigue. Vehicles built between 1998-99 are notorious for this problem...just go into the Intrigue forum and ask around.
I really haven't heard many complaints regarding ISS from Pontiac or Buick owners but I am sure they are there as well.
I'll try to take a peek of the rear speakers tonight.
I am doing early termination on the intrigue in the next couple of days. just can't put up with my dealer's shoddy service anymore.
Do you guys have any problems with creaking dashboards or rattles? This is one of the things that bothers me about the intrigue.
My DIC is on all the time and I like it. Just not very accurate yet on gas mileage.
However I am not sure that many people would like to pay for the service. OnStar was available with most of GM cars as a dealer-installed option for couple of years, but I do not know a single person who bought it. Even you did not.
Now it come "free" or rather bundled with most of mid-size GM cars. With the first-year base subscription included in the car price. The idea is owners of the car would not like to drive without OnStar after having experience. The acid test of the business model will be what percentage of owners will subscribe for the service once the trial period is over. Let us look and see.
2. Concerning privacy:
I agree with you, that if OnStar will became widespread, it would be very difficult to live without it. As it is difficult to live without credit card.
However, you probably forgot that people are using credit cards not only for their convenience, but also because there is some form of mild punishment for not using them.
It is still legal to pay cash in USA. However, everybody around is suspicious that either the notes are forged, or that are the drug money.
The first day after immigrating, I went to Staples to look what is available, and bought here some office supplies and a computer magazine. I had no card yet, even a debit one, and paid cash, by a $50 note. Add to this my very strong accent and foreign clothes, somewhat different cut and fabrics.
The sale assistant called manager, and the manager inspected the note with a special gizmo. Never saw the device before nor later.
Obviously, my wife and I are avoiding cash since the incident. However, the convenience of cards is a distant second reason. Just the opposite: with a whole life experience with cash, it was rather inconvenient to save all the receipts and to reconcile them. At least before we bought a computer and then learned about Quicken.
Moreover, the citizen and residents of US are forced to apply for credit cards and then to use them if they plan (or dream) to buy a home. Even those who would rather avoid debt and always pay the balance in full. As about 50% of American pay. How would they have a credit history otherwise, when it is time to apply for mortgage?
I do not want to dramatize: all of this is small potato. Though, in ideal it would be nice to be free even from such a friendly pressure.
GM came thru to make me a happy camper and they really did succeed it at it.
Everything went smoothly and the 2000 LS was returned back to its maker.
The Impala IMO, has much better build quality than the Intrigue. My beef with the Intrigue is that it always felt too flimsy when compared against the Impala (But the Intrigue was always more expensive). Remember that the Impala is built in Canada along with the Buick Regal at the Oshawa I and II plants which are considered to be the highest quality GM factories in North America.
Most W-body sedans built in Canada boast better build quality than the counter parts made stateside at the Fairfax plant (Intrigue/Grand Prix) and it really shows.
The Impala doesn't have any creaking dashboards or weird cabin noises. In fact the fit/finish and component adjustment is very, very good. My 2000 LS had absolutely no cockpit noises by the time I returned it 3 weeks ago with 15K miles.
The Impala is a very sturdy car co-developed for the commercial market (Police/Taxi cab) so I believe that GM put more quality and strength in this vehicle.
The 3800 purrs and the engine is smooth and extremely economical, the tranny is typical GM silk shifting precision.
There are many things I like about the Intrigue such as the 3500 DOHC V6 engine, the PCS stability control and some aspects of the styling (Except the Saturn inspired front end) but based on the responses back at the Intrigue forum, the car still has many quirks, coupled with poor resale value, poor dealer service (Olds is going away so why should they care?)So-so quality and reliability, orphan division and mechanics as the DOHC engine is also beign discontinued. The car appears fun to drive when everything works, however.
Maybe you should check out the '01 Impala LS and see if you like it. My dealer has been given me excellent service so I don't have any complaints in that area.
What other replacement cars do you have in mind?
OnStar is not really a new concept, I believe GM has been offering it since the mid 1990's on Cadillacs.
As far as the use of credit cards vs cash...absolutely agree. The US is the worldwide mecca of credit cards and purchases on credit and also one of the countries with the highest ratio of personal debt. Even if you are a billionaire, but don't carry credit cards in your wallet or have no credit history, financially you are basically a nobody. No one will give you a Coke can on credit. The US moved away from beign a cash driven nation in the late 1920's to the credit card establishment it is today. Credit enpowers people to buy goods and services that may be otherwise would not be readily affordable on a cash only basis. Credit is in part responsible for the economic growth of our nation but also has created many problems namely high ratios of personal debt vs income.
You must use credit cars not only for convenience but also to up keep your credit history and credit score records. These are essential to buy a new home, a car, to obtain employment and other forms of consumer credit such as loans, credit cards, student loans, etc. The more credit you use and the better you can demonstrate you can successfully manage your credit and finances, the more purchasing power is granted to you.
Other countries are not so dependent in the use of credit as we are but again it all depends on economics and what works better for each nation and individual.
I have seen several 2001 Impala LS cars with the antenna in the down position. I wonder if the means they are not using it??
Any of you folks here used Uniroyal AWP tires?? MY tire guy recommended them as a bit cheaper($180.00 per set of 4) alternative to Michelin tires. He says they are waaay better than the Goodyear GA on the car now and admits that they are not nearly as nice as the Michelin. But since we may trade the car next year why put an expensive tire on the car?
I seem to remember Uniroyal tires blowing apart like Firestones in the 1970's. Tiger Paw tires as I recall. My memory mayb faulty!
Tony
As for Onstar. When I buy my next Impala (late 2002-2003) I hope they've dropped that as standard. I don't even own a cell phone. I have no desire to own one. When I'm in the car that's MY little (or big in this case) SPACE! I don't want anyone calling me! I don't want to talk to anyone. And I might just be getting old, but I truly believe people are becoming worse drivers because of the extra distractions. I understand why phones are helpful to people in certain businesses or for an emergency... but a 16 year old in a honda civic with the stereo roaring and a phone to his/her ear is just TROUBLE! and I steer clear..
I also hope, for the record, that Chev replaces the back seat pouch in 2002... I have two and I use them both all the time. If they don't, I'll order it special.. so there!
I can just see it.. "Ms Stein, would you like a cd changer? Onstar? Upgraded tires? Side air bags?..."no?".... Just the back seat pocket..
I wonder what a couple of rainy Springs and snowy Winters will do to that...
I'd be happier if the spoiler was riveted on, but I suppose that the delete option on the spoiler had something to do with the way that it is secured.
RR
Thanks!
RR
For me, I use the interior handle, pull hard, and try to get my hand out before it gets chopped off. Sometimes it works, sometimes I chicken-out and don't pull hard enough, leaving the lid open a bit.
RR
If you have the key in the 'acc' position, you can shift the car out of park without stepping on the brake. I noticed it by accident while waiting for someone at a local restaurant. Not a problem I guess, but I was just a little surprised. Anyone else notice this? My car is a 2000.
Kenbuzz, I close the trunk by pushing on the impala emblem in the middle of the plastic tail light assembly. I like to keep my hands off the paint.
Looks like they took care of you. My chevy dealer
bought my '84 Z28 back from me after being in the shop 17 times in 11 months. I bought 5 cars from them after that. I have gotten no such offer from oldsmobile.
I will definitely look at the impala. I do love that sweet 3.5L though. It will be hard to go back to pushrods again.
You will have a new car, therefore you may not need to have the Zaino clay bar. But if your car was shipped by railway, there is a product that rids the rail dust from the car. An old car would have to use the clay bar.
You will use Z-1, Z-2 and the high gloss Z-6.
You will also buy the largest white cotton towels by Cannon you can. Trim the ends because it has nylon stitching. Cut the stitching off the ends and you can use the thin strips for the wheels. Cut the towel in two. You will have frayed ends but that's life.
FIRST OF ALL wash the car and make sure you get all the water spots off. The polish and wax is not abrasive and it will not even take the water marks off. Use the cotton towels to dry.
Use Z-1 and after a short time you will see the haze form. DO NOT RUB OFF. Use Z-2 over Z-1 and let dry. With Z-2 put about 2 or 3 thin strips on the applicator cloth you should have bought and smear the Z-2 over the width of the applicator. Rub the Z-2 back and forth on top surfaces and up and down on side surfaces. This will increase light reflection and give it a more wet look. If the temp is over 70 degrees it should dry in less than one hour. Any lower temp adds at least one hour for every 5 to 10 degree decrease. Test the dryness by wiping a finger, if it smears, it is not dry. If it becomes like a fine dust then it is dry. Wipe off using cotton towels. NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME USE Z-6. Use it sparingly and almost 2 seconds after applying it, turn the cotton towel over and wipe it dry. You will see how fast the towel moves under pressure. Continue to do this until car is done... make sure you keep turning the cloth over so the Z-6 is wiped with a dry side. Wait 24 hours before applying Z-2 again. NOW EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO use Z-2 again, apply Z-6 BEFORE. HOWEVER, if you want to see the car shine even more, if that is possible, use Z-6 again after using Z-2. At any rate, Z-6 the car before applying Z-2 again.
The first time I used Zaino the temperature dropped and it took me 12 hours before I could wipe Z-2 away.
The next time took me only 20 minutes to wash the car, Z-2 took 20 minutes [you don't have to use Z-1 for another 6 months or more] and applying Z-6 took 10 minutes. I also bought the California Duster and that takes me only 2 minutes to do the whole car.
If you bought the tire cleaner, for tires and plastic molding - do not get this on the paint!!!! You will have to use Z-6 to get it off and that's tough. Perhaps Zaino knows a better way.
HOWEVER, if you get Z-2 on the molding, the tire cleaner will get that off - then as I just said, don't get the tire cleaner on the waxed paint.
NEVER USE THE TOWEL YOU USED for the wheels on the CAR PAINT. Brake filings could be embedded in the cotton cloth. I used the strips I cut off the ends of the towels [where the nylon trim was] to clean the wheels. Use a different cloth for the tires also. It gets very black.
Also, whenever I wash the car, I use Z-6 to give it that wet look.
Good luck and let me know how you do.
Tomaso7
Reasoning? If something is going to get scratched by touching it, I'd rather have it be the plastic spoiler instead of the metal trunk lid. The spoiler is much cheaper to replace than a re-paint and rust job on the trunk lid.
Are we all splitting hairs here? Yup, I think so. I polish my car like crazy so it's not likely to rust because I touched the trunk lid. Furthermore I think one could press the middle of the spoiler down to the metal every day without hurting it either...
If we trade off the Impala next year I don't want to spend more money on tires than needed.
Seems like most things surround money,not wanting to spend more than necessary or the lack of money usually. I never seem to have too much money !! LOL
I did not know that GM owns OnStar, the explains a few things. ((-;
Did you tried GS? The gas is expensive, but we believe the engine and comfort is worth the extra $200 of gas per year. Or $300 with insurance and taxes.
By the way, if you like Buick, while your wife prefer Impala, the problem is easy to solve.
Do any of us bus? or train it to work? Gas here really isn't much more expensive than last year. And I hear that AAA released a report that the $3 a gallon scare was hooey. So gas will probably stay under $2 for most of us. (Poor Sweetpolly, LA-area has the most expensive gas right now "they" said...)
I actually have my Impala on a lease. So there are two reasons for me to take the light rail train to work, less gas and less mileage. There are also two other VERY good reasons to take the train... I get to read instead of sitting in traffic and I don't have to pay $9 to park each day (the train tickets cost me $3 round trip).
Anyone else loving their car, but leaving it closer to home to take a train or bus to work? The train station is 5 miles as the crow flies from my house. Work would be 15. There's a bus right by my house, but it runs to infrequently... wouldn't work.
Anyone?
Regardless, I feel better knowing that a good tug won't turn my spoiler into a nice oar!
Thanks!
RR
I bought the Z-1, Z-2, Z-6, and Z-10 as well as the Leather in a Bottle stuff.
I hope like hell it doesn't take a 12 hour wait for the z-2 to dry. I planned on driving it after I do this! LOL. I will check the weather before I start though.
My mother thinks I am nuts for spending so much time on the process. Anything over an hour to her is ridiculous. Funny, she always asks ME to wash and wax her car!
I'll let you know how it turns out, buddy.
Thanks again, and SORRY about the RAPTORS game! I am a Sixxer fan (Iverson fan really). HA!
RR
I also use the inner handle to close the trunk. I find it a bit easier to close the trunk on the new '01 than it was in the '00. The trunk lid feels lighter but I think the revised lifts help some in reducing the closing effort.
My '01 also comes with the entrapment emergency trunk release hatch located in the inner latch assembly. The handle is incandescent (Or lights up in the dark) if a child gets locked up in the trunk. I know this was an option in the 2000 Impala but I wonder if other recent 2001 owners also have it installed as well.
I drive to work everyday. My office is just 10 minutes away from home so I never get any traffic whatsoever. In Miami public transportation is a joke. Bus routes operate in certain sections of the city and stops sometimes still require to have someone drive you up to one of them!. We do have an elevated metro line (Forget subways a la Washington D.C.) which is a very good system in itself, but only runs 20 miles and the single line goes South-North on the east side of the city. The heavely populated west side of the city and its neighbooring suburbs are not served at all by the Metro and there are no plans to build any additional lines running west due to the geographical and development constrains we have in this city. If you dig a hole in the ground you get water flowing right away.
The idea of public transaportation in Miami is as foreign as Polar Igloos....if you live in Miami you must have a car, if you come to visit Miami, you must rent your own car...we are a car crazed and dependant metropolis.
We have terrible traffic problems as well but that's besides the point.
If we lived in a city like Washington, D.C. we would always leave our cars home just for ocassional/weekend use. Their metro is one of the best in the nation and the only one that comes closest to the magnificent subways found in major European cities.
While I am a car lover, having travelled overseas my main conclusion in terms of public transportation the USA is very, very behind in comparison to its European counterparts and allies. Europeans are also car aficionados but their goverments have been more proactive in creating, developing and maintaining world class mass transportation systems...why haven't we?
One problem -- I don't know how to turn off my lights!
If it's daytime, my DRLs are on, and if it's dark, they shut off and my headlights automatically come on. The only way I can think to ensure that I don't blind the poor gate guard is to shine a light into my DRL sensor, fooling the car into thinking it's daytime, causing the DRL to come on. Does anyone know if there's a way to turn the blasted things off?
On a different topic, I saw a 2K1 Impala on base yesterday belonging to a retired Navy Captain, and from a distance it looked like our cars were twins. Upon closer inspection, I noted a number of significant differences (I've got leather, the power roof, etc.). One thing that alarmed me, though, was that his OnStar Antenna appeared to have been snapped off. There was about 2-3" left in the holder, the top 2/3rds had been removed!
I'm wondering if our Captain had taken his Impala to a car wash and had the antenna snapped off by one of the brushes. Has anyone else taken their car to an automated car wash and had problems with the antenna? Is there an easy way to remove the antenna before going to a wash, or do I *really* have to break out the tool box and unscrew the darned thing?
My dealer is the type that snatches parts from other cars if something turns up missing. Maybe they forgot they had stuck the original antenna in the passenger side visor.
Thanks,
RR
OK, the OnStar antenna can be removed by unscrewing the antenna part from the base. Not the part that swivels but about an inch up the stalk it will unscrew. I know this because of thet extra one I have.
DRLs : I don't know of a way to turn them comppletely off. But if there is enough daylight so that the headlights would not come on, you can pull the headlight switch to turn on the parking lights and the DRLs will go off. The rear lights and side markers will come on but those aren't as intense as you know.
Hope this helps.
RR