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Chevrolet Impala: Meet the Owners
Please take a moment to introduce yourself and share some details about your Impala!
My name is KarenS and I am the host of the Edmunds.com Owner's Clubs. Please let me know what discussions you would like to see in your Club folder. I will create them ASAP. You may want to take a look through the other clubs to get ideas for discussions.
Also, if you are interested in a live club chat, I can arrange that for you. All Club chats are set up on
Tuesdays: 4:00-5:00 pm PT/7:00-8:00pm ET
-or-
Thursdays: 5:00-6:00pm PT/8:00-9:00pm ET, 6:00-7:00pm PT/9:00-10:00 ET, 7:00-8:00pm PT/10:00-11:00pm ET
(The latter may be rather late for East Coasters, but is available if you want.)
Let me know if you are interested in a chat and the day/time convenient for you.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
My name is KarenS and I am the host of the Edmunds.com Owner's Clubs. Please let me know what discussions you would like to see in your Club folder. I will create them ASAP. You may want to take a look through the other clubs to get ideas for discussions.
Also, if you are interested in a live club chat, I can arrange that for you. All Club chats are set up on
Tuesdays: 4:00-5:00 pm PT/7:00-8:00pm ET
-or-
Thursdays: 5:00-6:00pm PT/8:00-9:00pm ET, 6:00-7:00pm PT/9:00-10:00 ET, 7:00-8:00pm PT/10:00-11:00pm ET
(The latter may be rather late for East Coasters, but is available if you want.)
Let me know if you are interested in a chat and the day/time convenient for you.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
I've been posting and lurking here for more than a year. I leased my 2000 Impala in Jan, 2000. It's a base model option package II, Navy, blue interior with all the bells and whistles,3.8 lt engine, even the sunroof. Love that car.
An idea for a sub-topic might be a discussion on various repairs. Some owners have engine cradle weld problems and a few other things.
My car has run smoothly and perfectly for nearly 15,000 miles now.
Happy driving! And welcome to the club pals. !
I think this will be a much better format for addressing specific maintenance issues as they arise and, what the heck, it's only one more place we'll have to check while we're here...
dreaded cradle pops and have the shims on order.
One thing I have been reading on the forum is other owners have stated the popping stopped. I have found this to be temperature related. The colder it is the less the popping becomes. I have also found out that weight also is an influence.
Now that I have joined up I will be reporting more often.
Gene
2001 Impala LS in Navy blue on Sat. The CD player and radio controls/cruise
on the steering wheel were big pluses that helped me with my decision (I was
looking at a Grand Prix GT or a small SUV) So far I'm very pleased and hope
my build date of 8/00 means I avoided the engine cradle problems. Hey- I
found a Sheet in my trunk with different size prints and code #'s with a bar code
on the top and the title Marriage plant #1 anyone know what it's for and if I
should hold onto it?
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/
I agree the controls on the steering wheel are great. Now if they could only install a drink dispenser...
Never heard of the sheet you mention. But save everything!
I am a 40yr. old male from Honolulu, HI. I have a fully loaded '00 LS, galaxy silver metallic, grey leather seats, build date 01/00. Bought the one in the new car show at the local Convention Center on my 40th B-day. Got a 401K loan from my work and bought it cash! I really wanted a navy blue metallic LS w/o the sunroof, but wanted the car right away! Now I like the silver, I think it shows the car's details better, hence, use in most of the TV/print ads. Besides, it doesn't get as hot as the darker colors. Runs real good, and everything about it meets my likes and needs. May be developing slight symptoms of the engine cradle/steering shaft problems, but I know it can be fixed, now. I really wanted an SS, but it wasn't available, and now cancelled, though with the soon to be released 300+ HP Mercury Maurader, GM/Chevy may be forced to resurrect the SS to be competitive. I love the 3800II engine, but want the perks of the SS. If it is not available in a year or so, I may still order a new LS, equipt like mine w/o the sunroof(less to go wrong, leaking over time, etc.) with the police package for the extra durability, and tweak it with available aftermarket parts. That would make it almost an "SS". Other than that, it's a great car! The front end got crashed last August from an elderly male that passed out while reversing into the street with his car, but everything still worked! The car is fine now, except for the minor problems noted above, and someone scuffing my front bumper and slightly denting my right rear wheel well lip, which I will soon get fixed.
It's great to here all the valuable input and information exchange by all these other awesome fellow Impala owners, or message board visitors! JACOB --------O~o VROOOM!!!!
Under each appropriate category there is a corresponding 3 digit (mixed letters and #'s
or all letters) code. It's kindof weird but maybe reasuring that somebody tags stuff-
Like finding the checked by inspector 13 in your fruit of the looms(or am I dating myself).
I'm in the Chicago area and can let folks know of the response in all weather!
I'm also over 40 and won't admit this is a midlife crisis car! (I think that was my Explorer
9 years ago). Hoping for lots of great info and fun stories on this site- Like the salesman
who called me back on Monday saying the owner said they'd come down to my price
-and I responded too late!- bought my car somewhere else!
I am in the province of Manitoba, Canada where it actually gets cold not like the slight chill that those guys get in Ontario or BC get. Actually the record low in my area recorded in weather records was around -54 F. and it can get to + 110 F. in the summer, almost a 164 degree spread. The last couple of mornings I have started my 2001 Galaxy Silver LS Im pal ah at around - 25 F. without a plugin with no problems. I did change out the factory oil which seemed relatively thin to Mobil 1 5w-30 synthetic . The engine seems to rattle 2 or 3 seconds and smooths right out with this oil.
One thing that I have noticed is that even with the engine temp near normal the tach reads around 2500 rpm for a few miles before it will finally drop down to 2000(at 65 mph). I can only assume that is because of the very cold tranny oil. As I have never driven this car in warm conditions yet(bought car in January) I don't know how the tranny will react then. I am thinking of changing out the tranny oil next fall and replacing as much as I can without flushing with synthetic as I assume it should give the same benefits to the tranny as syn does for the engine.
This would also give me a chance to replace filter along with any wearin filings that might be present.
Sure would like to hear from anyone that has replaced their tranny oil with syn oil and their impression of any performance diffs.
Here are some suggestions for discussions for Impala Owners:
Chevrolet Impala Owners: Care & Maintenance
Chevrolet Impala Owners: Problems & Solutions
Chevrolet Impala Owners: Dealer & Service Experiences
What do you think? Any other ideas?
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
Everyone knows me as the biggest fan of the current Impala; however, I have also been very vocal about some of the first year issues found in these vehicles and this has caused some frictions with other members in the forum. Anyway, as an Impala fan, I truly enjoy exchanging valuable information regarding problems and solutions with other members and I do some detective work in behalf of every Impala owner when GM doesn't provide straight answers to current issues.
This car has been one of the most enjoyable ownership experiences and aside from the two problems that I had on my 2000 LS, the other major powertrain components such as Engine, Transmission, Brakes and electrical have always worked like a Swiss watch and have never been cause for grief. But..I am certainly looking forward for my replacement new '01 Impala LS sometime within the next couple of weeks.
If anyone has a question regarding the Y2k Impala or documented problems such as the engine cradle, intermediate steering shaft, Air Conditioning, or any other question/concern, feel free to ask me at anytime.
My friend Night_owl has an excellent website and I have contributed with some sections in his web page.
I live in hot and sunny Miami, Florida. You can look me up on page #16 of the 2001 Impala sales brochure..check out my picture and quote.
Cheers! ;-)
predecessors? Thank you.
Hope this answers your question!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
you got a really great deal. Almost makes those payments worth it. Then I
went to dance class and half the class came out at the end to smell that
new car smell! Ain't life grand!
LRCobra
alias "Silver Bullet"
NOT ANY MORE> This one was fairly cute. Some loser office dude is sick of his job and decides to go for a joy ride in his Impala (with Onstar) He's having a great time. He drives through the mountains, the desert, all singing to the radio (a dream come true I must say) in his Silver LS... but then he finds himself lost on the frozen tundra (and I don't think it was Lambo Field either...) and he's iced over, even his beard... and he punches the Onstar to get directions back home..
Sure it's not Budweiser's "WAAAASUUUP!!!" but at least it wasn't boring...
Suffering from clicks & clunks but still love this car. My dealer was hesitant to apply TSB #00-08-61-003 (shim fix for clicks) and will be installing a new 2001 cradle next week. He doesn't want to address the clunks until after the new cradle goes in (GM tells him to see if the new cradle helps with this) but promises to install a new Intermediate Drive Shaft if the problem persists. He also was unaware of the Wheelwell TSB (00-08-111-004) but will apply this next week too.
Despite these clicks/clunks I still love this car. I'm a long time GM owner & know that this car's a winner.
Attended the annual Atlantic City Classic Car Show/Auction last week and came very close to purchasing a '69 Impala SS427 - - until it was vetoed by higher authority (wifey). . . . Regards, LH
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=223638&a=10790790&f=0
is okay by me though I can't promise to always log in.
1- floor mats
2- nose bra
3- new stereo
4- where do you get the 'SS' emblems
5- ground effects, spoilers.
Just traded in my Chevy pickup with 11 years and 217k miles of use. It still runs fine. It was a v6 with 4 speed auto trans, so I expect a lot from the Impala.
A question, does the dual climate actual provide 2 distinct zones, my wife is never happy with what I want, and vice-versa.
I am a huge auto enthusiast and hope to correspond with many of you about likes/dislikes/troubles/fixes.
I have a small rattle in the passenger side rear door area that should be very fixable. Trying to decide if I should let the yahoos at the dealer tear it up. Probably not-I'll likely do it myself even though it's under warranty.
I think the radio sounds a little thin at lower volumes but don't think it deserves the criticism it's been getting on this site. It should be better though.
I can't express how much I love this car. I just gotta make sure I don't run into someone because I'm so busy smiling and enjoying the ride when I'm driving.
Tuesdays:
4:00-5:00 pm PT/7:00-8:00pm ET
-or-
Thursdays:
5:00-6:00pm PT/8:00-9:00pm ET
6:00-7:00pm PT/9:00-10:00 ET
7:00-8:00pm PT/10:00-11:00pm ET
(The latter may be rather late for East Coasters, but is available if you want.)
Let me know the day/time convenient for everyone.
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
4000 miles no probelms all OK
last 9 number of VIN no 719232206
build date 12/00, silver
Have been reading forum since 12/00
Great info. Thanks to all
I'm currently driving a leased 1998 Lumina LS. It's been a great car and I hope I have as good luck with the Impala.
Decided to purchase rather than lease this time (1.9% 48 months) since I drive so much (35-40,000 kilometers per year). I also decided to take the plunge on extended warranty coverage since I plan to keep the car for five or more years and the plan coverage is good for keeping a car in the driveway if/when something goes wrong.
I asked them to not touch the paint when they get it delivered - I don't want ANY swirl marks! They're going to let ME do the "dealer" cleaning so nobody will have a chance to leave brush marks in my nice new paint (I guess it helps when your brother-in-law is the parts manager at the dealership!). I plan to do the whole Zaino Bros' process as soon as I get the car home so I should have a really nice finish.
Thanks to everyone in the Impala forum for your posts - it really helped to cofirm that I am making the right decision.
Brad
I've had my navy blue (but with blue interior) for 15,000 miles and over a year. Not a thing wrong with it. I just love it. It is, however, on a lease. Partially because I don't fully trust ANY car in it's first production year. I know others have had troubles, but as I drove it 2 hours round trip to my mom's house we discussed what I might do when the lease is up... I'll have saved up a chunk of cash and have thought about buying a new 2003 Impala at that time... or heck, I might just buy this one if it's running like it is now. My hubby says "This is the perfect car for you, why change?" and he's probably right... for once.
FYI - because of all the slush we get up here in Toronto with snow and ice and then a thaw I installed thick plastic over every square inch of carpet I could reach. I attached it with a medium sized stapler. I also cut it to fit. Took about 3 hours. However, when I take it off in the late spring, my carpet will like great with no salt patches which harden the rug like cement. Because it is form fitted, I will clean the plastic and re-install next winter. No matter what you use you can't get rid of the salt effects. You might be able to erase the white but the carpet will still be hard in that area. The Zaino polish products go on in the spring when the temperature rises. I bought the car on December 29th and so the Zaino wax couldn't be put on then.
Brad
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Drivers' Opinion Panel
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
I haven't been on the forum since sometime last year. I forgot how intertaining and informative it is with all you nice folks.
My 2000 Impala LS was purchased new January 3rd of 2000,,is dk carmine red with all options and 26,000 It must have been built after 10/00 because I have not had one single thing go wrong with the car outside of a warped front brake rotor.
I found the car to have a quiet cabin when it was new but lately I am experiencing excessive road noise coming from the rear. It seems the Goodyear tires are really starting to howl. The noise is really getting on my nerves and I was wondering if anybody on the forum is experencing the same thing. The car becomes quiet at interstate speeds (65-75),,I guess I outrun the noise.
I must admit,,,I have been very negligent and have not ever rotated the tires so it may be my fault. I hate to get new tires at 26,000....all the tires seem to be wearing perfectly. I'm going to rotate tomorrow and then get new tires at about 45-50K but hate to put up with the racket until then.
Somebody told me to line the trunk and back seat with marine grade lead foil and the car will be as quiet as a Lexus. At $10.00 a sq. ft...I'll think about it.
My car really performs great. When I go to pass, that 3.8 really gets busy. On ice & snow the traction control and ABS features are nothing short of a marvel! About a month ago I was driving about 40 mph on a rain slick curve,,all of a sudden the car wiggled and the trac light came on. I was getting ready to take a ride on the shoulder or in the ditch but the car corrected itself and on we went at a slightly slower pace :>)....It doesn't get any better than that!!
Any comments on my noise problem will be greatly appreciated....Gotta go....my wife just showed me her "honey-do" list....
Keep that trac control "ON" everybody...Rich
P.S. Now that GM is dumping the Olds line, I think there is a good chance that the 02-03 Impalas will be offering an SS with the 240 HP Shortstar motor from the doomed Intrique. The deep-throated sound of that motor under throttle really makes an old hot-rodder smile.
GM finally got it right.........This forum helped me decide on the Impala.....Thanks
Bought for it for $750 under invoice.
Does anyone know where I can purchased used
LS wheels, I thought someone on here was selling
a set?????
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
I have read many reviews and forums, but I have yet to speak with other Impala drivers about what the car is really like, any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
And great call on the color, mine is Navy as well and it's just beautiful. Takes a lot of washing, but it's worth it!
Where would I find that Impala chat you mentioned?
thanks.
found on that Sedans board- some listing the few complaints/problems but most just
happy owners like me!
Anyway, I've had the car for 13 months at this point, turned over 19,000 miles this week. May have a warped front rotor, and have the proverbial "clicking" from the front end (which has apparently been resolved in later models). Had the intermediate steering shaft "clunking" for awhile, but it seems to have gone away.
Despite these minor problems (none of which have proven serious enough to convince me to quit driving the car long enough to get it checked out), I would replace it with another Impala in a heartbeat should something happen to this one (although I'd be certain to get one built as recently as possible).
I got a loaded base model because I wanted to be able to seat six, but also wanted the 3.8 liter engine. Since I tend to drive my cars for 10+ years before I give them up, and since I had a $3K+ GM Card rebate to spend at the time, I went a little crazy and optioned this one out exactly like I wanted it. As I said in the brochure, I got exactly the car I wanted, and a year later, I still don't think I'd have done anything differently (other than MAYBE getting one in the medium regal blue that was discontinued when the '01 line came out).
My vehicle is better than yours because....
Brag about your ride on Tuesday, May 8, 5-6pm PT/8-9pm ET in the new News & Views Weekly Chat
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
Put about 100 miles on it today travelling around showing it off. Drives like a dream compared to my previous Saturn and Altima. I'm happy!
Brad
I drove mine quite a bit yesterday, put on another 90 miles trying to break it in and it drives like a DREAM.