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I am sorry that you are having the hesitation problem. I put up with this for 8 months and had the car to the dealer 5 times for this problem. I finally had enough and started the buy back from GM about 2-3 weeks ago.
Both GM and the BBB have been really great and have been really efficient. GM agreed to repurchase the vehicle and they are returning what I paid for the car, plus the sales tax, setup fees, finance fees and the license fee. I sure cannot argue with this.
I have not received any money yet but hopefully it will arrive in a few days. I sure hope so because, instead of buying a new Impala, (I gave up on this) I have signed a contract for a 2001 California Buick Regal. If for some reason GM fails to live up to their agreement, the Buick dealer has agreed to cancel the contract and return all of my money. They did this in writing. I usually do not do things like this but decided to take everyone at their word. If everything fails I will have two cars. The Buick will set at the dealers lot until GM returns the money, only then will I take delivery.
Ron
Anyway, I will get some sample files to you in the next couple of weeks. Keep hounding me. The current ones are a little disjointed because I was just learning how to use the thing. They don't have values that are well related in each file, and some are really short while others are really long. I'll try to group the values better and make some reasonably short trends that'll be easy to email and read.
Meanwhile you can download the software from the website for free (10MB so you'll need a few minutes), and this will allow you to view the data I send easily without need to import it into a spreadsheet and graph manually.
I'm looking forward to having some enthusiasts out there to discuss these types of details with.
-Kevin
We in Bonneville Forum are embarking on the owners' club set-up. I've looked at yours here and have a few questions for whomever is acting as spokesman. Would that be you Frank?
Ken
My '01 Impala LS is nearly perfect but the short buzzing type rattle in the passenger side "B" pillar (the one between the doors) is not getting better. I decided to take it in for a look-see (7000 miles on it so far). Service department is not looking good yet but we'll see if they can fix it.
First time I took it in they took it for a drive but couldn't hear the noise. I found the radio on when I left, though it had been turned off when I checked it in. The dorks couldn't hear the noise because they (probably) had the radio cranked. Sheesh.
Today I brought it in at 7:30am to get it worked on, and they rented me a Chevy Metro. I stopped in at 5pm and they were just getting to the diagnostic test drive - ?? They said they'd likely pull the interior panel and figure it out tomorrow. I guess they were suckin' on lollipops or something all day while the darn thing sat there waiting.
Oh well, the Metro is nice (not).
Anyone else have the B pillar buzz? I don't think I have any of the other noises, but they did find a missing fastener on the driver side of the rear bumper near the rear wheel well, and fixed that.
More as the saga unfolds...
I own a 1995 Sable, and have been buying Fords for 12 years now. Rented an Impala in Disney last year. Had not driven a GM car for 15 years. I was so impressed with the car's ride, handling, comfort, and most of all it's quietness', that I was thinking of buying one. I went to read some of the reviews, and one said that one of the unacceptable problems with the car was the 'noise level' when driving!!! Then I read where there was a comparison of 10 Family' cars, and the Impala finished last in the group, with folks complaining about handling, cheap interior, etc. I know each of us has our own hot-points' and likes, etc., but I don't get it! My questions are: Am I looney, or did I just get a fluke of a rental car that was very quiet? I know I may get hammered for this, but my pet-peeve is the Honda, which finished second behind the Passat. I drive a Honda every five years to see what the fuss is all about, and always come away feeling like I drove a sewing machine (no offense intended, since they obviously last a long time). Finally, the good reviews that the Impala gets (other than the ones mentioned)seem to mirror the Taurus/Sable reviews, making the decision tough to make (unless I listen to the 'Top-Ten' reviews). Anyone have an idea how these cars compare re: noise, performance, reliability? I know the Sable is cheaper by a couple of thou, but are there any other things to watch out for?
Thanks for the help.
Frank
I have more of a question for you. Where did you find info on top 10 family cars? Was it on Edmonds or some other site. I'd like to read that. I'm familiar with some web pages that review cars but not all.
bdime - what country are you from now. That looks like an Australian flag but not quite.
Brad
be too long to paste here, so go to www.edmunds.com / Road Tests / Comparison Tests /
2000 Family car comparison test). I fail to see how Impala could've finished the
last(!), especially considering all the other reviews Impala has been getting. Edmunds, btw, also
has another not-so-positive Impala review under Road Tests / New Vehicles / Chevrolet /
2000 Impala) Below are some other reviews I've found on the web on 2000/2001 Impalas -
interesting reading even after buying one. You can see for yourself what the general trend is.
New Car Test Drive
review
Auto.com has 5
reviews
Cars.com also has 5 reviews
The Car Place
Carseverything.com
LRCobra
I did notice some bothersome windshield reflections, however. You should be a happy camper with this vehicle.
Does the 2001 California Regal has the Supercharged 3800 V6?
Among all GM cars that I had the opportunity to drive in the test track, the worst radio performance was the black 2001 Impala LS. The same crappy amplifier. Even the Buick Century had a Kick *ss radio. Really GM cheated Impala owners big time with the radios. Even the Olds Alero had an awesome sound system which seems to be a more updated version of the Impala RDS head unit radio.
The 2001 Chevy Malibu has the same exact radio as the Impala RDS system. However, the Malibu unit doesn't have the useless trunk mounted amplifier, therefore the sound quality is very good (Same quality as the amp bypass)but still not quite as good as the radios I sampled on the Century, Alero and Regal siblings.
I drove so many cars and trucks I can't even remember! I drove a 2001 Corvette Convertible and that was quite a drive...that car is a beast but handles like a champ! The Camaro Z28 is pure brute force. The Camaro lacks road manners, fishtails easily, handling is OK, but overall the Camaro is a very raw compromise when compared to the Mustang GT that I drove and I much prefered (I still, however, dislike Fords).
The Buick Park Avenue drives and handles like a dream. Loved that car! The Cadillac STS handled better than the BMW 525 I drove earlier in the day.
The Lexus IS300 was sweet! But I am sure any 3800 V6 equipped car can easily take on it from standstill. The IS300 is small, expensive and needs more power (Only 215HP @ $32K MSRP)but the car really has a charm to it, the stereo and controls are fantastic and the handling is almost BMW. RWD and nearly perfect weight distributions really helps this little sedan take the twistes with confidence.
Ken: I drove a Boneville SSEi and what a ride! smooth, smooth but the only problem I noticed with the Bonne is that it doesn't handle as crisp compared to the Regal GS as I suspect the extra weight of the Bonneville works against it...still very nice and powerful car.
As far as trucks, I drove the Minivan SUV crossover, the Buick Rendezvous (Very beautifully styled interior and instruments) but my favorites in the SUV arena were the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer and the GMC Envoy...that I-6 engine is so smooth and powerful you have to drive it to believe it. The handling is superb for a SUV and a pushed it around the 'Cones' and corners and the thing really took on those corners like any sedan.
The worst handler in my opinion was the Jeep Grand Cherokee...pure hype. That truck really handles poorly. All GM trucks outhandled the Dodge/Ford siblings in my opinion.
Also drove the 2002 Chevy Avalanche pick up with the 6.6L V8 engine...that truck is awesome!.
The Impala LS generated much interested and the lines to test driving it were longer compared to other GM sedans (Which the even accomodators had to beg for people to drive). I took one of my Impala pins and people on the line asked me questions about it. I believe I must have sold 2 or 3 Impalas to potential buyers that day :-)
It was a fun experience and I hope GM does the Auto Show in Motion sometime in the near future again!
Matt: Welcome back and glad you had an enjoyable trip aboard your Impala.
That Envoy sounds very interesting - perhaps a replacement for our Suburban eventually? hmmm.
That SSEi is something I've got to drive to - now that I feel at home in my SE model I'd sure like to see what the extra payment dollars buy in a Bonneville. I've seen some 2000's on E-Bay in the mid $20K range.
Ken
I am confused - I have noticed before that you say your 2000 Impala was built in 11/00 - do you mean 11/99. I have a 2001 and it was built 09/00. OR do you have a 2001. Thanks
ENJOY!
These are some of the little details that really hurt GM's build quality reputation in the market place.
BTW - still on the prowl for any medium bronzemist Impalas - drove through the local dealer's lot yesterday - still none in sight. They did have a gorgeous Navy Blue with neutral leather though - fully loaded - got my pulse racing a bit!
Enjoy the day, Impalaphiles
Ken
I'm not trashing the 3800 engine, but none of us would want to see frankb7 misled through an unintentional oversight. He deserves ALL the facts to aid in his deliberation of a purchase as large as a new car....
Aside from possible PCM firmware code related problems in the engine management system, no one really knows the causes behind these mysterious engine problems. However, I haven't read about these complaints on 2001 model year car and late production 2000 year Impalas.
Fuel starvation? Fuel quality? Defective sensors? Defective mechanical engine parts? No one seems to have a clear answer to this dilemma.
If the 3800 V6 was a defective engine, not only the Impala but all other corporate siblings that use this engine would be reporting these same symptoms. In my opinion the problem lies somewhere in the fuel feedback system, the fuel injection assembly, sensors or the electronic engine management system. I would be suspect of any of these parts before the actual engine.
Any comments from our seasoned Impala owners with some mechanical expertise background?
What do you guys think?
The '10 Best' I referred to is on Edmunds.com, I think under reviews, and Family Sedans.
From the USA - Easton, PA.
Thanks for responding to the post
flag) but as I said in and earlier post I wa just playing with the flags. I also
let folks know I'm in the Chicago area- even a person in High School can figure out
where that is;) just harrassing you.
drives and evaluations. While I looked at the Grand Prix I checked for the test
drive report and that one was 3-4 years old, not every car gets tested every year
as well as The individual biases are not factored in. It's like most things in life
everyone has an opinion and it's usually worth what you paid for it.
Teo
I purchased the Regal without the supercharged 3.8 engine. I see no reason for needing the increased power.
The California Regal LS is different than the regular Regal only because it comes equipped with several upgrades as follows.
16-inch chrome wheels and touring tires
Gran touring suspension
Duel automatic comfort/temp. Climate control
Leather seats with drivers side seat-mounted airbag.
Upgrade radio with AM/FM cassette and CD player
Monsoon 8 speaker 220-watt system
Drivers side exterior and interiors automatic dimming mirrors
Illuminated visor mirrors
Rear reading and courtesy lights
Front and rear carpet savers
Trunk convenience net
Ron
If you look back through it paying attention to the dates on the posts, you'll have an idea of whether they keep up with that conversation on a regular basis.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
I didnt get the 'wing' on my Impala. A short drive around town completely covers the back end, with dust, around where the trunk closes. You can write your name in the dust and dirt. This is on a sunshiny day. I think installation of the wing will stop that. The Chevy dealer said they would install a factory wing painted to match for 300.00
nick
While in the service dept at my dealer (had my car in for the B pillar buzz) I asked the parts folks if there were different part numbers for '00 and '01 Impala splash guards. Their reply: "Is that the 2-door or the 4-door". I walked away. I've seen Monte Carlos but I hadn't seen a 2-door Impala. I know where not to get parts.
Yesterday they had my car all day to work on the buzz. In the afternoon I went to pick it up and they were just taking their diagnostic test drive. I noted the communication problems there and all the dissatisfied customers and more customers I recognized from the week before (obviously "repeat" customers) and chickened out. I picked up my car this morning with nothing done but nothing harmed. Whew.
Previous posts confirming my problem with likely solutions are very promising. tomaso7 and teo, thanks so much for posting your experiences!!!!
On other subjects, my 3.8 has been flawless, performance has been great, the radio is pretty decent but not great (I might try the amp bypass for curiosity's sake) and overall I'd buy 25 Impalas before a tortoise.
I sure enjoy this forum.
1) On the return trip from Pensacola, FL to Little Rock, AR, I filled up the Impala in Bovina, MS. By the time we made it to Pine Bluff, AR, the trip computer was reporting 33.8 mpg! I stopped and filled up at this point, and it had used 5.804 gallons to travel 190.8 miles, so I actually got 32.9 mpg (at an average speed of 55.4 mph). Weather was in the 50's, so we didn't run the AC, just the vent. Pretty good for a full size car with the 3.8 liter engine, loaded with 2 adults, 2 kids, and a weeks worth of luggage and such (the trunk was 90% full). This is the best mileage average I've attained so far in it's 17,800 miles.
2) I came close to actually getting to meet Matt McDill on the way down to Florida. I stopped by the station in Mobile, AL where he works on Sunday, but unfortunately Matt was nowhere to be found. But I can attest to the fact that this is a very well maintained, clean station; probably one of the nicest I've seen in ages.
Okay, I'll go back and read about the kidney stone saga, but wanted to share this info before it got too stale.
Been driving large cars for 30 years, and I rented an Impala last year on vacation. One of the things I was impressed with was the guts the car had. It definitely 'got out of its own way', and I remember telling my wife I was interested in what size the engine was. To be honest, I do not know, but I am guessing is was the base 3.4. I know the car was not an LS, and can't believe the rental companies would upgrade the engine in the base. I currently have a 95 Sable 3.8, and am happy with its performance. Have driven a 3.0 Ford two years ago and can tell the difference. The Impala I rented was probably faster than my current Sable, so I think the 3.4, in terms of guts, is fine. I too am looking for a family car, that I can use to commute (40 miles each way) to work. Other than the Impala, I do not know of another car that I am comfortable in, or that I fit in.
Frank
Then he pointed out the Impala (3.4 lt, base model) which cost about exactly the same as the Malibu I just tested (and didn't like, just fyi..). I got in and drove the exact same route, pulling the same starts and stops, and hitting that big twist at 45 again. The 3.4 pulled through it like it was melted butter, no squeeles, no hesitation, nothing. Beauty. I didn't buy that car that day (the dealer was terrible!!) but it convinced me that I needed that size engine and that really smooth transmission for my next car. I ended up with the 3.8 lt. But I bet I would have been just as happy with the 3.4. Coming from that lousy Dodge, it was heaven.
To Pat: Yes, I have heard from 1SourceAutoWarranty re overheating/thermostat and in my opinion there position is reasonable. If the thermostat (or waterpump for that matter) fails and the engine overheats, the warranty will cover components such as blown head gaskets and refurbishing of warped cylinder heads. That is important on the 3.4L as the heads are alumuinum and can be damaged very quickly. They do not cover engine failure such as blown pistons. I can understand that as it would take some time driving an overheated car to get to that point. And that is owner abuse. Again in my opinion. So I was reassured by their response.
My LS has approximately 2K miles on it. It is already broken in. On a full gas tank, I'm only able to get 300 miles (highway and city driving) by the time the warning light comes on. Thus, at 15 gallons divided by 300 miles, I average only 20 mpg? My LS does not come with the fancy fuel calculations meter.
Has anyone tested how many miles they get from absolute full gas tank to the absolute empty tank? This is assuming 50% city driving and 50% highway driving.
thanks
It certainly doesn't make since to use aluminum on one and iron on another. Although I think the price difference with the base and LS is around $3-4000.
Sounds like yours is running a little low. Might indicate a tuning problem of some sort, as I never got 20 on a tank. This can be a function of how you drive too, though. I take it pretty easy on mine most of the time.
Break-in is a relative term too. I know they suggest not flooring it for the first 500 miles. However I don't consider a car truly "broken in" until 100,000 miles. Not many people think like I do though...
To the folks who are getting "stellar" mileage: how much has the mileage improved now that you have 15-20K miles compared to when you had less than 5K?