Just a little word of advice.... if anyone drives the New Jersey Turnpike, just be careful and watch your speed driving on the pike approaching exit 12 thru to 13 North and South. That section of the pike is heavy with troopers looking for the speeder and agressive driver.
I used to drive from Kansas City to Denver every year for Thanksgiving. While crossing western Kansas, I would see many, many Kansas Highway Patrol cars with radar. I would drive right by them at 75mph, with no fear of being pulled over. The officers would even smile and wave.
One year, my car was stolen while I was in Denver and I had to return to KC in a rental. As I was driving through western Kansas on I-70, I passed the familiar KHP cars sitting in the median. I had the cruise of the rental car set at 74mph (in a 70mph zone). Much to my dismay, the KHP chased me down and pulled me over.
When the officer came to my window and looked at my Kansas driver's license, he was dumbstruck. He said "Uh... You're a Kansas resident?" I said "Yes. My car was stolen while visiting friends in Denver and this is a rental." He said "Sir, I'm very sorry for wasting your time. I thought you were from Colorado. You may want to keep it at 70mph for the remainder of your drive to KC, as my fellow officers will pull you over when they see the license plates on this car."
He let me go with an apology. I set the cruise to 70mph and finished the drive home.
Kansas has a problem with their neighbor to the west... On my trip to the Indy 500 I don't recall even seeing a Kansas State Trooper, but I did see a Colorado Highway Patrol car ( I think it was a Firebird)about 25 miles short of Kansas on the eastern plains of CO. We stayed at 80 in most states with a 75 mph limit and got no looks, 75 with 70 limit and the same. Each state has their own deal I guess, years ago I heard the stretch of I80 in Pennsylvania (turnpike?) was a speed trap, Is it still?
I guess I can't step away for a few days. It's tough to catch up on 200+ posts.
Frankf, sorry I didn't look up the radio thing faster. NightOwl thanks for being quick. Family stuff and business trips have kept my nose out of the Helm books.
I bought my '01 LS while everyone else in MI was "deeruntin" up north. November 15th, that is. 16,300 miles so far. Some think that's a lot, some wonder what I do with all the time I'm not driving. It's been a great car so far. A couple of little things are nagging. No big deal since I found a close and courteous service dept.
Proud to be part of the most common aged people on this forum...
I live in the Albany area also, Loudonville, (just like it says with my quote in the 2001 Impala Brochure, page 32 small world. here is my website incase you never have surfed over there.
Did you find anything on that TSB about the dash popping when the a/c was on? I just assumed it was the car settling in. It WAS a little loud to just be a normal noise though
I've been meaning to get back with you on that "stuck acceleration" problem that came up a month or so ago but it turns out the car in question wasn't an Impala but a Grand Prix--or I should say both cars were Grand Prix's.
The person that wrote in back in April wrote back regarding the problem. His 2 posts that you may be interested in are posts 774 and 952 (in Grand Prix forum). Since I was posting mostly in the Impala forum back in April, I just assumed it was the Impala that had the problem.
I know one of the cars had the 3.8L Supercharge and the second car had either the 3.8L or 3.8L Supercharge.
I don't know if the problem had to do with engine type or other problem that was strictly Grand Prix related. Looking25 wrote on one of the above posts on how they fixed the problem
Anyway, hope this may help if you're still interested!
garypen - I get the impression you are an import buyer. We looked at Camry and the Impala LS. No comparison. The LS was much bigger, more powerful, comfortable HUGE seats, and as smooth as a much larger luxury car. It was less than a Camry V6 too. I don't see any "corner cutting" with this car. I got WAY more for my money than a Camry or Accord.
And for anyone who gets into the resale value crap, I have to point out that the imports HAVE to have a better resale just to break even with the domestic cars. If you spend thousands more for the (smaller lesser import), that 2 or 3 thousand is worth quite a bit of money if invested even conservatively in 5, 7, or 10 years. Yeah, if you flip cars a lot, you will be hurt more with the domestic car, but flipping cars often is financially stupid anyway.
If the imports offered as much car for the money, I'd buy one too, but it seems you get a lot more with a lowly Chevy or Ford. And I have always had a good experience with the domestic cars.
I forgot to mention that the Impala is heavier, larger, and more powerful than a Camry V6, but it gets 3 mpg better on the highway than the Camry anyway!!!!
What is wrong with Toyota? If the reverse was true, People would be declaring the Camry the 8th wonder of the world.
I have an Impala, a Pontiac Grand Am, an Acura CL, and a Honda Civic. Only the Acura and Grand Am are made in the US. The Civic and Impala are made in Canada.
Personally, I don't care for any Toyota. I think they are lacking in style to the point of ugly, and they are expensive.
For style and "bang" for the buck, American branded cars are quite a value. If build quality and resale value are of prime concern, then most import brands are a better value.
Well after reading some of the back posts now might not be a good time. First I don't set speed traps. I do own a Nissan Xterra as my primary car. I am not here to bash anyything but here for advice. I was just issued an Impala as my new squadcar and wondered if anyone could give me some insight on how the car is. My first impression after 1 night is the car is solid. Much better than the crown victoria. I love edmunds board and have always gotten nice responses with acurate details about the cars. So any help would be great.
I havent really read where I left off ,about 4000 post ago , anyway , I just picked up a 2002 Impala brochure , and For any of you that havent seen it yet , The 2002 LS Sport Is to DIE for , It has the same Diamond cut aluminum wheels as the monte carlo ss highsport , a stainless exaust tip , On the rear ,where the lights are , the red peice that wraps around the back is body color except for the round lights which really stand out , IT also has a graphite instrument panel , in place of the wood, and an embroidered Impala logo on the door panel , , and embroidered Impala floor mats , IT looks HOT ! . Its good to be back . thanks-------------mattmcdill
We had stayed over night not too far from crossing the border into Virginia the night before and were on the road probably less than one hour when we were stopped. The court that we (he) was supposed to report to is in Spotsylvania. Our lawyer will be attending instead. He actually said he got stopped the exact same way, but he was in a little MG when it happened to him - we were in the green Impala with 2 kids in the backseat. You have to wonder if the NY plates had anything to do with it - or maybe he was just jealous becuase he hadn't been issued an Impala police car. He could have knocked it down to 80 from 82 and let us pay the fine instead of the reckless driving appearance ticket. Oh well, we know better now.
Assembling cars is kinda like lego or building blocks..The Honda whatever and the Impala are assembled in Canada.. The assembly plant is a physical operation where it is taken out of the box and fastened together and some time later it looks like a car..
Maybe you could understand better with this scenario; Christmas eve and you are putting together the kids toys, other words you are assembling parts from the instruction sheet..Just like an assembly plant; but they do it every day, every hour so they become good and no longer have to read the instruction book...great job pays big time, and has a pension at the end..
Somehow this forum has gotten the idea that the skill level and engineering expertise is a Canadian function totally responsible for the the flawless car..Sorry folks, again you must acquaint yourself with the total car process..
Small world indeed. I'm actually in Scotia. I see from your website that you must have purchased your Impala at DeNooyer. I went there, but they wouldn't meet my price. Northstar met it and Salisbury beat it - which worked out nice since Salisbury is just around the corner. DeNooyer wanted to tack on that dealer marketing/advertising charge - said they couldn't budge. The salesguy even called me two days later to see if Northstar really went through with the deal I wanted. When I told him Salisbury beat it, he said he didn't know how they could...blah, blah, blah. It wasn't a great deal though - it was fair - for both me and the dealer.
I didn't even try DePaula. I bought my Cavalier from them in '89, when I was young and didn't have a clue what I was doing and then had some other bad experiences with them regarding service. I know ten years had passed and none of those people were probably there anymore, but I still refused. I am very happy with Salisbury and their service department - even if they can't find what's causing my hesitation problem. Thanks to the Town Hall, at least I know I'm not the only one with this problem.
Heh, what a time for you to join the fray. I think the Impala is a great car and I have been seeing them more and more as police vehicles. The military police were the first to pick them up here in Hawaii and I just saw a HPD Impala cruiser on the freeway a few weeks ago. I test drove a CV when I was looking for a new car. I was really dissapointed. the CV only came with disk/drum brakes vice 4 disks. Also, while the interior seemed to be just a little larger than the Impala, the car itself was HUGE. Of course, initially I was looking for a '96 Impala so the size wasn't really that much of a turn off.
The full width red lens always bothered me on the Impala so that's a welcome improvement to me. I like the existing rims and the wood trim (not to fond of graphite). Any news on the V8?
xterracop: Welcome to the Impala board. Any advice on avoiding tickets (other than the obvious answer "don't speed") will be appreciated. I'm sure you'll like your new Impala cruiser. Unfortunately I don't know the specs on the cruiser version so I can't make any direct comparisons.
9899: Aw, come on. Can't we Canadians take credit for all the good Impala stuff and put the blame for the bad on Detroit??
RE speeding: I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1988. I don't speed in town, but I drive fast on highways. I credit my good fortune to driving accoring to the conditions and trying to be smart about where/when I speed. The Ontario Provincial Police on Hwy 401 are notorious for putting a cop with a laser speed gun on overpasses, then he radios to the cruisers about 1km up the road. My strategy is to stay hidden behind trucks etc in the middle lane while I go fast, slow down to peek into the left lane and check for the gun on the overpass, then if all is clear I go like stink until the next overpass. Makes for a fun game! I've told many people that the only complaint I have about my Impala LS is that it's REALLY easy to speed in!
LOL. Well you are on track with hiding behind semi's for a couple of reasons. 1 if I can't see ya I can't clock ya. 2 is with regular radar the signal sent out will always bounce off the biggest signal,i.e. a semi. Even if you are passing the semi usually I can't get ya. They are making radars now that pick up the faster signal now but still the interference is difficult. However if they are using a lasar radar then you are out of luck. I love my lasar radar as I can pick and choose which car to clock. The surface area of the beam is only 5 feet at 1000 yards compared to 100 feet with regular radar. Anywho enough about radar.
My impala squad is pretty much stock. It has the 3.8 in it with a few extras not avail to ya. I have lighter rims with performance tires. I also have a cutoff for the daytime running lights and auto headlights. Other then that not much difference. Maybe the suspension but I am not sure.
No v8 yet , It still has the 3.4 and 3.8 v6 with the same power ratings , One more thing I forgot to mention about the LS sport , The front facia is dropped down a little more in the front , like a body molding kit , it looks good ! , I cant wait to see one ! thanks------------mattmcdill
Welcome back! Those High "Sport"? Rims have never impressed me, They look like they belong on a Mini Van, On the KBB Website they used to show a High Sport Monte in Black that had 17" or bigger High Sport Rims, Looked neat, but the 16" ones are a let down, even the 5 spoke LS Rims that I like look out of place on the Monte with the Apperance Package, but better than the other ones, they need to Chrome plate the 5 Spoke's. Don
Actually , There is a new wheel option , besides the high sport wheels , they call them Multi-spoke chrome wheels , Its a total of 12 spokes , but they are grouped in pairs of 2 , they look prety good . thanks------------mattmcdill
Mcdill - you ruined my day. We got a 2001 and love it. We got the burgundy color (dark red) so that the back plastic blends with the tail lights. Otherwise that back plastic looks bad. Now I find out they changed it to what I've said all along. Maybe I'll get that piece from the dealer and change it out.
The colored peice on the rear , is only avalible on the LS Sport , and it only comes in black , silver, sandrift , and white . No red , ...sorry . thanks-----------mattmcdill
How do you get the cover off the air filter? I see the two clips on the top, can't see any clips on the bottom, and there doesn't seem to be enough "play" to open it without taking off the hose, which doesn't seem to make sense. What am I missing?
It's a 3.8L, 2000 model. No, I haven't bought any shop manuals yet.
Where have you been? I asked teo or somebody what happened to you and they said you were busy. Don't know if you remember me but i was the guy with the intrigue. Now i am a pretty happy impala owner. Isn't it just my luck that i buy an impala and a new model comes out two months later. Any changes to the suspension? Dual exhausts? How about post some pictures. Although i am sure edmunds would frown upon it.
Hey ! I remember you , Sorry no pictures , but take my word ! it looks good . It shows it with a single stainless steel exaust tip , which looks good , It says nothing about power train or suspension refinements , more form than function ! thanks-----------mattmcdill
I go through Sarnia>402>401>403>QEW..They do hang around the overpasses and entrance ramps..402 is under heavy construction so speeding is limited,however the others are wide open thru to the Skyway bridge..
I got nailed about 1500 ft before the toll booths on the Canadian side at the Bluewater bridge..He was laying in the ditch in the center grass strip and the out of country plate was a special prize..
one ticket in fifteen yrs in your country isn't bad..I have passed unmarked cars and they have been nice enough to hand signal to slow down..No complaints, for if one gets sloppy, then you pay..That's fair
Others::: I guess McDill got ahead of me today as I also happen to have picked up a copy of the new 2002 Impala brochure.
In a nutshell and to minimize confusion here are the changes included in the 2002 model year edition of the Impala:
New Colors:
Forest Green metallic (Replaces Jade Green) Bright Red (Replaces Torch Red)
All other colors are carryovers from 2001.
Seating options:
The big news for 2002 is that you can now purchase an Impala LS with front 60/40 bench seats. However they only come wrapped in leather and they are not available in cloth for the LS. This is great if you like the 'extras' offered in the LS model and also need the 6 passenger capacity.
The rest of the seating options are carryover from 2001.
Engine/Transmission/Suspension:
NO CHANGES. Same engines/suspensions/tranny options as they were available in 2001.
Trim models:
Base and LS models are carryovers from 2001. Mid production year 2002 (Around Dec '01 - Jan '02) the new LS Sport "Appearance Package" will be available for sale. The LS Sport will not be available for the first production run of 2002 models (July - Nov '01).
This model just adds a few cosmetic enhancements but nothing different or special under the hood. Same engine/tranny/sport suspension and Goodyear Eagle GA tires available in the 'Standard' LS.
As described by McDill, these are the cosmetic improvements included in the LS Sport model:
*16" Diamond cut aluminum wheels (Very nice looking but I still prefer the ones in the 'plain' LS)
* Graphite trim interior trim replaces the fake wood trim appliques in the dash and doors.
* Standard leather seating
* Embroidered 'Impala' Logo on interior door panel inserts.
*Stainless Steel exhaust Tip.
* Body color matched rear tailight plastic panel. It looks kind of 'Ricey' to me in the picture but I will reserve judgment until I see one in person.
* Extended front bumper fascia with "Impala" front license plate cover (I like it).
* Embroidered floor mats with "Impala" name and Logo (Got to get those!)
* LS Sport only available in silver, sandrift, Black and White. (Sorry no red or green shades)
That's it.
Equipment changes:
* Air filtration system and dual zone temperature HVAC controls are now standard on Impala Base.
* AM/FM Stereo Cassette also standard on Impala base.
Wheels/Tires:
Carryover from 2001 with the exception of the new 16" Diamond cut wheels on the LS Sport package.
Stereo systems:
Carryover from 2001 including the 103 AMP.
Ok Folks, for those of you that just recently bought new '01 Impala LS you are not missing anything in the '02 LS models. The cars are identical in and out. The LS Sport package is nice but the additional premium for just cosmetics ain't worth it in my book IMHO. A Supercharged engine, DOHC or V8 powerplant is a different story, however.
If you bought a base '01 Impala, you just missed the dual zone A/C controls ...
Too bad my pic is no longer on page 16 either ;(..
New GM issued accessories for your Impala as listed in the 2002 sales brochure:
* Multi spoke chrome wheels. They do look nice and much more desirable than the 16" Custom Aluminum wheels on the Impala Base 3.8 model. (McDill described them on an earlier post).
* Hitch mounted ski carrier. Nice add on if you happen to live in snow country and like to hit the ski trails..
* Trunk organizer. About time these plastic trays are also offered for cars with big trunks. You could only get these on minivans..
* Office organizer: get a load of this....you can actually turn the front passenger seat into a mobile office!. It has file hanger compartment, retractable writting pad, laptop holding platform, file binder compartment and pencil, pens, eraser, rulers, etc compartments. I guess that if you are in sales or spend time working in your car this is a very neat add on. I could also see the Impala Police cruiser 'men in blue' making use of this thing as well.
Thanks for descibing everything ..... you did a much better job than I did ! I cant wait to see a new LS sport . Our car is doing fine, it has right at 30 K miles on it , the thing weve had it in for since I left was the front brake rotors needing to be turned, other than that , Its doing great , and I see impalas every where I go . thanks-------------mattmcdill
In your neverending and somewhat mystifying desire to argue any point I make, you have actually agreed with the one I was making - That it doesn't matter where a car is built, and that the nameplate has nothing to do with with country of origin or of assembly.
I don't think you will ever see a V8. GM is very carful about that. You have to spend big money to get it. Basically Caddy. I'm amazed that they put the 4.0 V8 in the Aurora. Think about it. Buick and Pontic have to supercharge the 3.8. No V8 for them.
The Aurora 4.0 V8 would be unbelievable in the Impala or Monte. Won't happen though. Should. The supercharger may.
not arguing;; just clarifing. Don't spin anything into agreement.
It certainly matters where the car parts are built and by whom. We are talking suppliers and ownership of those suppliers directs where the money tree ends..
teo/b4z:::::What is an LS Sport????An Impala with speed-rated tires, spoiler and a gusto 3.8 to mount the charge!!!
The only way Detroit can compete is to offer less options and give you a bare car or a not so bare car or, a loaded car..Three trim levels, however with the Impala you have the whimp 3.4 or the mighty corporate V-6 3.8 LS; now we have the Sport which I assume is near the SS/police package..Just guessing for the Chevy people are probably trying to copy some Asian company.. maybe they can find a 150hp/4 cyl engine for the base model, cut the trunk off and call it a Chevy Civic..
Now in order to really compete with the Buckeye cars; they have to start using skinny tires..maybe 12 or 13 inch would fit the bill..
Would y'all tell me if this is happening in your city as well. Our metro area has a rise in 95-96 Impala SS sedans being owned by the gangs. This car and Suburbans are the "cars of choice" for the bangers. I travel the interstate to work from one rural locale to another (30 miles each way) and I see at least 2 Impala SS in the morning...at 6:00 am! The cars are either black, maroon or green. Some have funny-looking rims. These kids don't know what they've got. They run them FAST! I don't suspect that they are stock 350s by the way they accelerate on the 'state. Maybe I'm a little envious of them having a car that I wanted, but never got.
It's the Passat, but not for a little while, need more $$...After all the cars I have test driven in the last few weeks, I still marvel at how well my Impala holds up to them all. I still stop and look at this car in parking lots and admire...
It's not a stock 350, it's probably the LT1 Corvette engine which if it's been fiddled with a bit can turn somewhere in the area of 300hp or more. I'd hate to think the bangers would ruin the reputation of the last great muscle car of the century, wish they'd stick to lowered Civics..
Hey Matt! Welcome back, did you find a girlfriend to occupy your time? It's what got me when I was your age, didn't pay attention to anything...
You may want to check out this review written back when the Impala first came out. If it doesn't work, go to www.caranddriver.com and do a search for Impala.
I had the opportunity to speak to an OPP Officer on their thoughts of the car back at our Car Show (Toronto) and they said they were quite impressed with the car and thought that for a family car it would be particularly good. The only problem that he found personally was that he was a bit tall (over 6') so the cage took up some of the space behind the driver's seat thereby taking some of his legroom in that he couldn't push the seat far enough back. Otherwise, no complaints.
Ok to switch gears (and to toss in another controversial topic) I tried out Zaino today. Based on the earlier discussion on this subject, I sent in my order for Z1 (Polish Loc), Z2 (Show Car Polish), Z5 (scratch reducer), Z6 (Ultra Clean) and Z7Show Car Wash). I also got the special applicator pads (might as well go all out).
You know, Z2 looks suspiciously like a product I used 15 years ago. It's even the same color and smell. I've gotta look around and see if I can find the old bottle.
I'll post a How To article on this stuff later, so I'll just give you my initial impressions.
1) The printed instructions are really, really bad. "Now remember waterspots, bird droppings and bug guts if left on the paint finish for any length of time. Will etch into the paint finish." I appreciate enclosing a direction sheet, but at least proofread it. I found the same kinds of errors on their website also. This doesn't instill a sense of confidence.
2) I tried to apply Z1 on the car but it just wasn't going on cleanly. I went to the website and a tip was to spray the applicator with Z6 first. Now that would have been a good thing to include in the instruction sheet...
3) You are supposed to wait an hour for it to dry. Does anyone actually have to wait that long? I could remove in 5 minutes if I wanted to.
4) The instructions say he has used it in direct sunlight. Has anyone had any success doing this? I got home from a long drive and parked it in the garage. I washed the car, used bug cleaner, washed it again, clayed the surface, and washed it again. The surface of the car was cool, except the hood. The engine was still a bit warm and so the hood was a little warm. Applying Z1 and Z2 to the warm hood was a disaster. The product was drying as fast as I wiped it on so I wasn't getting good coverage. I had to pop the hood open and dropped it only long enough to apply the material.
5) I used a 100% cotton polish cloth I got from Griotts Garage to remove the product and I don't see why you would need a bath towel as Zaino recommends. I would think having that large of a towel would make it more difficult to remove. Towel dragging on the floor, getting caught on trim...
6) I only had time to apply one coat of Z2. I do like that it comes off really easily and doesn't leave dust like wax does. It doesn't leave swirl marks but it didn't fill in the small scratches as I had hoped. I guess I'll have to try the Z5.
7) Why in the world are you supposed to wait 24 hours before applying another coat of Z2 or Z5? If this were the case, if I started on Friday, I could only apply three coats all weekend. Not to mention I would have to wash my car each time to remove any dust before reapplication to prevent scratching.
I'll see how this stuff holds up this week. Right now, while I am happy with the result, I am not totally convinced it was worth $70. Maybe once I get a few more coats on I'll change my mind.
I leave the forum for a week and come back to over 400 messages to read! I've been on vacation and have not been to the town hall since last Friday. (By the way, I'm a 53 year old grandma who loves "rolling" in her 2K LS.) New grandson is taking up a lot of my computer time. However, I appreciate all the informative posts on this forum.
Welcome back McDill, I was just wondering what happened to you, then I saw your posts about the 02 model.
Comments
One year, my car was stolen while I was in Denver and I had to return to KC in a rental. As I was driving through western Kansas on I-70, I passed the familiar KHP cars sitting in the median. I had the cruise of the rental car set at 74mph (in a 70mph zone). Much to my dismay, the KHP chased me down and pulled me over.
When the officer came to my window and looked at my Kansas driver's license, he was dumbstruck. He said "Uh... You're a Kansas resident?" I said "Yes. My car was stolen while visiting friends in Denver and this is a rental." He said "Sir, I'm very sorry for wasting your time. I thought you were from Colorado. You may want to keep it at 70mph for the remainder of your drive to KC, as my fellow officers will pull you over when they see the license plates on this car."
He let me go with an apology. I set the cruise to 70mph and finished the drive home.
Dave
Frankf, sorry I didn't look up the radio thing faster. NightOwl thanks for being quick. Family stuff and business trips have kept my nose out of the Helm books.
I bought my '01 LS while everyone else in MI was "deeruntin" up north. November 15th, that is. 16,300 miles so far. Some think that's a lot, some wonder what I do with all the time I'm not driving. It's been a great car so far. A couple of little things are nagging. No big deal since I found a close and courteous service dept.
Proud to be part of the most common aged people on this forum...
http://www.luckyjdr.homestead.com/impala.html
The person that wrote in back in April wrote back regarding the problem. His 2 posts that you may be interested in are posts 774 and 952 (in Grand Prix forum). Since I was posting mostly in the Impala forum back in April, I just assumed it was the Impala that had the problem.
I know one of the cars had the 3.8L Supercharge and the second car had either the 3.8L or 3.8L Supercharge.
I don't know if the problem had to do with engine type or other problem that was strictly Grand Prix related. Looking25 wrote on one of the above posts on how they fixed the problem
Anyway, hope this may help if you're still interested!
And for anyone who gets into the resale value crap, I have to point out that the imports HAVE to have a better resale just to break even with the domestic cars. If you spend thousands more for the (smaller lesser import), that 2 or 3 thousand is worth quite a bit of money if invested even conservatively in 5, 7, or 10 years. Yeah, if you flip cars a lot, you will be hurt more with the domestic car, but flipping cars often is financially stupid anyway.
If the imports offered as much car for the money, I'd buy one too, but it seems you get a lot more with a lowly Chevy or Ford. And I have always had a good experience with the domestic cars.
What is wrong with Toyota? If the reverse was true, People would be declaring the Camry the 8th wonder of the world.
Personally, I don't care for any Toyota. I think they are lacking in style to the point of ugly, and they are expensive.
For style and "bang" for the buck, American branded cars are quite a value. If build quality and resale value are of prime concern, then most import brands are a better value.
Paul
Maybe you could understand better with this scenario; Christmas eve and you are putting together the kids toys, other words you are assembling parts from the instruction sheet..Just like an assembly plant; but they do it every day, every hour so they become good and no longer have to read the instruction book...great job pays big time, and has a pension at the end..
Somehow this forum has gotten the idea that the skill level and engineering expertise is a Canadian function totally responsible for the the flawless car..Sorry folks, again you must acquaint yourself with the total car process..
Have fun with this one!!!
I didn't even try DePaula. I bought my Cavalier from them in '89, when I was young and didn't have a clue what I was doing and then had some other bad experiences with them regarding service. I know ten years had passed and none of those people were probably there anymore, but I still refused. I am very happy with Salisbury and their service department - even if they can't find what's causing my hesitation problem. Thanks to the Town Hall, at least I know I'm not the only one with this problem.
9899: Aw, come on. Can't we Canadians take credit for all the good Impala stuff and put the blame for the bad on Detroit??
RE speeding: I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1988. I don't speed in town, but I drive fast on highways. I credit my good fortune to driving accoring to the conditions and trying to be smart about where/when I speed. The Ontario Provincial Police on Hwy 401 are notorious for putting a cop with a laser speed gun on overpasses, then he radios to the cruisers about 1km up the road. My strategy is to stay hidden behind trucks etc in the middle lane while I go fast, slow down to peek into the left lane and check for the gun on the overpass, then if all is clear I go like stink until the next overpass. Makes for a fun game! I've told many people that the only complaint I have about my Impala LS is that it's REALLY easy to speed in!
My impala squad is pretty much stock. It has the 3.8 in it with a few extras not avail to ya. I have lighter rims with performance tires. I also have a cutoff for the daytime running lights and auto headlights. Other then that not much difference. Maybe the suspension but I am not sure.
It's a 3.8L, 2000 model. No, I haven't bought any shop manuals yet.
Thanks.
Don't know if you remember me but i was the guy with the intrigue. Now i am a pretty happy impala owner.
Isn't it just my luck that i buy an impala and a new model comes out two months later.
Any changes to the suspension? Dual exhausts?
How about post some pictures. Although i am sure edmunds would frown upon it.
I got nailed about 1500 ft before the toll booths on the Canadian side at the Bluewater bridge..He was laying in the ditch in the center grass strip and the out of country plate was a special prize..
one ticket in fifteen yrs in your country isn't bad..I have passed unmarked cars and they have been nice enough to hand signal to slow down..No complaints, for if one gets sloppy, then you pay..That's fair
Others::: I guess McDill got ahead of me today as I also happen to have picked up a copy of the new 2002 Impala brochure.
In a nutshell and to minimize confusion here are the changes included in the 2002 model year edition of the Impala:
New Colors:
Forest Green metallic (Replaces Jade Green)
Bright Red (Replaces Torch Red)
All other colors are carryovers from 2001.
Seating options:
The big news for 2002 is that you can now purchase an Impala LS with front 60/40 bench seats. However they only come wrapped in leather and they are not available in cloth for the LS. This is great if you like the 'extras' offered in the LS model and also need the 6 passenger capacity.
The rest of the seating options are carryover from 2001.
Engine/Transmission/Suspension:
NO CHANGES. Same engines/suspensions/tranny options as they were available in 2001.
Trim models:
Base and LS models are carryovers from 2001. Mid production year 2002 (Around Dec '01 - Jan '02) the new LS Sport "Appearance Package" will be available for sale. The LS Sport will not be available for the first production run of 2002 models (July - Nov '01).
This model just adds a few cosmetic enhancements but nothing different or special under the hood. Same engine/tranny/sport suspension and Goodyear Eagle GA tires available in the 'Standard' LS.
As described by McDill, these are the cosmetic improvements included in the LS Sport model:
*16" Diamond cut aluminum wheels (Very nice looking but I still prefer the ones in the 'plain' LS)
* Graphite trim interior trim replaces the fake wood trim appliques in the dash and doors.
* Standard leather seating
* Embroidered 'Impala' Logo on interior door panel inserts.
*Stainless Steel exhaust Tip.
* Body color matched rear tailight plastic panel. It looks kind of 'Ricey' to me in the picture but I will reserve judgment until I see one in person.
* Extended front bumper fascia with "Impala" front license plate cover (I like it).
* Embroidered floor mats with "Impala" name and Logo (Got to get those!)
* LS Sport only available in silver, sandrift, Black and White. (Sorry no red or green shades)
That's it.
Equipment changes:
* Air filtration system and dual zone temperature HVAC controls are now standard on Impala Base.
* AM/FM Stereo Cassette also standard on Impala base.
Wheels/Tires:
Carryover from 2001 with the exception of the new 16" Diamond cut wheels on the LS Sport package.
Stereo systems:
Carryover from 2001 including the 103 AMP.
Ok Folks, for those of you that just recently bought new '01 Impala LS you are not missing anything in the '02 LS models. The cars are identical in and out. The LS Sport package is nice but the additional premium for just cosmetics ain't worth it in my book IMHO. A Supercharged engine, DOHC or V8 powerplant is a different story, however.
If you bought a base '01 Impala, you just missed the dual zone A/C controls
Too bad my pic is no longer on page 16 either ;(..
* Multi spoke chrome wheels. They do look nice and much more desirable than the 16" Custom Aluminum wheels on the Impala Base 3.8 model. (McDill described them on an earlier post).
* Hitch mounted ski carrier. Nice add on if you happen to live in snow country and like to hit the ski trails..
* Trunk organizer. About time these plastic trays are also offered for cars with big trunks. You could only get these on minivans..
* Office organizer: get a load of this....you can actually turn the front passenger seat into a mobile office!. It has file hanger compartment, retractable writting pad, laptop holding platform, file binder compartment and pencil, pens, eraser, rulers, etc compartments. I guess that if you are in sales or spend time working in your car this is a very neat add on. I could also see the Impala Police cruiser 'men in blue' making use of this thing as well.
Oh boy its very late...going to bed.
Thanks.
The Aurora 4.0 V8 would be unbelievable in the Impala or Monte. Won't happen though. Should. The supercharger may.
It certainly matters where the car parts are built and by whom. We are talking suppliers and ownership of those suppliers directs where the money tree ends..
Garnes: CAFE regulations keep affordable and nimbler V8 sedans out of the realm of the market.
The only way Detroit can compete is to offer less options and give you a bare car or a not so bare car or, a loaded car..Three trim levels, however with the Impala you have the whimp 3.4 or the mighty corporate V-6 3.8 LS; now we have the Sport which I assume is near the SS/police package..Just guessing for the Chevy people are probably trying to copy some Asian company.. maybe they can find a 150hp/4 cyl engine for the base model, cut the trunk off and call it a Chevy Civic..
Now in order to really compete with the Buckeye cars; they have to start using skinny tires..maybe 12 or 13 inch would fit the bill..
Do you have too much time on your hands in semi-retirement?
Hey Matt! Welcome back, did you find a girlfriend to occupy your time? It's what got me when I was your age, didn't pay attention to anything...
I had the opportunity to speak to an OPP Officer on their thoughts of the car back at our Car Show (Toronto) and they said they were quite impressed with the car and thought that for a family car it would be particularly good. The only problem that he found personally was that he was a bit tall (over 6') so the cage took up some of the space behind the driver's seat thereby taking some of his legroom in that he couldn't push the seat far enough back. Otherwise, no complaints.
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/roadtests/1999/July/199907_roadtest_chevrolet_impalapolicepackage.xml
http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/00impala.htm
You know, Z2 looks suspiciously like a product I used 15 years ago. It's even the same color and smell. I've gotta look around and see if I can find the old bottle.
I'll post a How To article on this stuff later, so I'll just give you my initial impressions.
1) The printed instructions are really, really bad. "Now remember waterspots, bird droppings and bug guts if left on the paint finish for any length of time. Will etch into the paint finish." I appreciate enclosing a direction sheet, but at least proofread it. I found the same kinds of errors on their website also. This doesn't instill a sense of confidence.
2) I tried to apply Z1 on the car but it just wasn't going on cleanly. I went to the website and a tip was to spray the applicator with Z6 first. Now that would have been a good thing to include in the instruction sheet...
3) You are supposed to wait an hour for it to dry. Does anyone actually have to wait that long? I could remove in 5 minutes if I wanted to.
4) The instructions say he has used it in direct sunlight. Has anyone had any success doing this? I got home from a long drive and parked it in the garage. I washed the car, used bug cleaner, washed it again, clayed the surface, and washed it again. The surface of the car was cool, except the hood. The engine was still a bit warm and so the hood was a little warm. Applying Z1 and Z2 to the warm hood was a disaster. The product was drying as fast as I wiped it on so I wasn't getting good coverage. I had to pop the hood open and dropped it only long enough to apply the material.
5) I used a 100% cotton polish cloth I got from Griotts Garage to remove the product and I don't see why you would need a bath towel as Zaino recommends. I would think having that large of a towel would make it more difficult to remove. Towel dragging on the floor, getting caught on trim...
6) I only had time to apply one coat of Z2. I do like that it comes off really easily and doesn't leave dust like wax does. It doesn't leave swirl marks but it didn't fill in the small scratches as I had hoped. I guess I'll have to try the Z5.
7) Why in the world are you supposed to wait 24 hours before applying another coat of Z2 or Z5? If this were the case, if I started on Friday, I could only apply three coats all weekend. Not to mention I would have to wash my car each time to remove any dust before reapplication to prevent scratching.
I'll see how this stuff holds up this week. Right now, while I am happy with the result, I am not totally convinced it was worth $70. Maybe once I get a few more coats on I'll change my mind.
Welcome back McDill, I was just wondering what happened to you, then I saw your posts about the 02 model.
Hi Cookie, good to see you're still around.
Now back to more excitement--how to remove your Impala radio or the current amp offering!!!
However it's gratifying to know the Impala is becoming the #1 AARPers choice.. It does outclass the LeSabre for less bucks and handles much better..
Another work week, so let's have a safe motoring week!!!