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Comments
Its a brand new car with less than 200 miles on it so I am a little surprised that it is making a noise at all. I just want to make sure it isn't a piston problem or something.
I also notice that the steering is very tight at parking speed, and that the wheel doesn;t snap back to center after making a turn, it almost seems dead. Regular steering seems fine if a little stiff.
The interesting thing is that the brochure doesn't even mention what kind of steering the Impala uses-is it speed sensitive (if it is it ain;t wotking!), is it electric?
Thanks for any info.
Anyone heard of this problem?
Check posting #1205 on Impala Radio forum: there is a TSB on Impala radio relating to "start-up" problem with the DSP IC inside radio that may cause reception problem among other things. When you shut the car down, you basically restarted the radio again. That may fix the problem until next time.
jt
I have the 2LT with the smaller V6 (211HP)
The car connection indicates March 13th that the auto workers in Canada have accepted the offer to GM to build the next generation Camaro. GM will decide soon to build the Camaro (Zeta) and the next generation Impala/Monte Carlo starting in 2009 at their Oshawa facilities as 2010 models. GM indicates the next Impala will probably be AWD. Interesting....
Love the car already have 1000+ miles.
I guess Chevy doesn't tell people about TSB's unless they notice the problem.
I had an '03 Impala that I loved. This one, though, is one of the biggest car mistakes I ever made. I am seriously trying to figure out how to trade without losing too much. It is pretty bad when one can't pull out of a driveway without the car dying and message lights coming on.
My other complaint is that only one of the message lights that I have encountered have ever shown up on the car's computer data.
I guess the only thing good I can find is I have not had the clicking noises so many have complained about in these messages.
I guess the real question is did I get a uncommonly good '06, or have some of the others posting here gotten uncommonly bad '06s? I suppose time will tell.
Its unusual for a new car to have zero problems. This one little barely audible clicking sound that there is a fix for is not a problem for me.
Everything else is working great and the car feels like a tank, which is good driving over crappy NY roads!
Check out the Honda forum for the new Civic and you will see several issues of complaints including noises in the front end, loud engine noise, etc. The Civic was delayed in it's introduction for other problems found before release. The Accord is notorious for bad transmissions. At the Toyota forum there was a couple who had problems with their new Corolla's steering locking up that required a new steering column, etc.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
>GM is that when problems arise they take their time in fixing them
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
He recommended the Impala to me.
My mothers friend has a Nissan Altima and it has been recalled 9 times! Nothing but problems with it.
I will say that Honda and Toyota have fewer problems in some areas, but they are known for having some problems-sludge in Toyota engines for one. I do think they use higher quality parts for everyday items such as power windows, other controls, etc.
GM engines and transmissions are generally considered to be quite reliable.
The new Impala has switches and controls that do seem to be much better than older models. Time will tell. I do have to say that I'm impressed so far with the car.
All cars have their problems. And we all have stories of one or two people that would reccommend one car over another. I have friends that swear by Toyotas and would never go back to American cars ever. The proof of a cars success is its sales (year after year) not a couple people or a mechanic or two. The Impala fits in the middle. It will probably sell 275,000 this year (35% will be fleets) so it fits somewhere in the middle of the pack. I have been driving chevys for over 38 years but not afraid to point out weaknesses and changes that need to be made hopefully to make the car better the next model year and sympathize with those having problems with their 2006 Impalas. If everyone was competely happy with their car every year, it would never get better. If you have a problem with your Impala make sure your Chevy dealership hears about it. Its a good car but needs to keep updated to meet or match the competition. The Japanese/Koreans are not sitting on their hands. Good luck with your 2006 Impala Steve
I would not take the complaints here as being representative of total quality. Impala is a new model this year so there will be some initial glitches but I would not hesitate to buy one today if I was in the market.
I wish I still had the article but there was a research article a few years ago that showed people who buy Japanese cars are generally not honest when it comes to their problems. In surveys they are not documenting part failures as they happen. Some are convinced by the service writers that the warranty claim or problems that they are having with their Toyota, Honda, etc., are normal wear and tear issues, when they are not.
Remember that people usually come to the forums because they want to vent their anger. It isn't too often that you have people who have no negative issues to talk about. Again take a look at the other forums and you will find a lot of disappointed car owners.
Nissan brought out a rude, crude truck called an Xterra a few years ago. This gas guzzler wasn't anything special but their marketing showed it as a tough truck capable of Land Rover like abilities. This is what they went after is recognition as something that can go anywhere and they installed Rover like roof racks, etc. Now the marketing has paid off and people are starting to buy it. Some how it was actually voted SUV of the year for 2006.
Remember, people tend to believe what the see and hear and the perception of good and bad are everything to them even though they may have gotten misinformation about the product.
Marketing is everything, and GM has not been to good at it in recent history. That is why they dumped their previous marketing company. "It's not you father's Oldsmobile."
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:7oUJ3WgCyhsJ:battellemedia.com/archives/Inte- - - rnet%2520Monthly%2520Volume%25203%2520Number%25201.pdf+gm+%22ad+spending%22+toyo- - - ta+2006+ford+daimler&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=39
Do you have a source & numbers to back up that statement?
My math based on numbers published here suggests that GM in 2004 ( I have seen no 2005 final numbers ) spent approx. $3.8B – and Toyota spent $1.8B.
- Ray
Who really would like to see where this statement comes from . . .
If you can wait 15 months order a 2008 Impala SS. It will be the Impala's 50th anniversary and there will probably be a special edition SS.
LOL..If you can wait until 2011 it will be Chevrolets 100 anniversary and probably special editions offered on all models...
Just something to think about.
Mike
As for Consumer Reports and the others, I have often found them to be inaccurate in the simple details about vehicles i.e. powertrain options, trim levels, etc. I have also owned cars that, according to them, should have been nothing but trouble. Most notable, my '87 Dodge Shadow ES Turbo. It was covered with solid dark circles but I had only one minor problem, an O2 sensor, in over 6OK miles. They are hard on manufacturers and have long memories. Unfortunately, just as they assume poor quality standards will continue with American makes, they make the same assumption that high quality will follow the Japanese brands. While it is easy to judge things based on past performance, it's not always accurate.
Consumer Reports further listed the Impala's reliability as "very good". That's the same as the Honda Accord 6-cylinder and better than the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima and Altima. Don't be brainwashed. American cars, for the most part, are no better or no worse that many of the foreign brands!
Oh, by the way, I'm one of those who feel that my '06 Impala is just as good as the majority of the foreign cars out there. Honda and Toyota build great cars! Their styling and all the hype just doesn't appeal to me. I still believe in "Buying American" whenever I can.
The 2006 Impala is an improvement over the previous model, and so it should be, but the competition is getting better too. This Korean Sonata has surprised many that have placed it above the Impala. Check out the interior of the Sonata. Again, it doesn't matter if a few posters on here prefer American cars over Japanese/Korean etc. Thats a personal choice. Some people will only wear a certain brand of jeans, or swear by a certain coffee brand and never try another. GM isn't concerned about a few postive posts on car forums, their focus is on the yearly sales year after year, and right now and going back many more years Honda/Toyota are still leading the pack. When the Impala becomes the #1 car in sales in its class, then it will deserve bragging rights. But right now the Camry/Accord deserve what the American public who buy their cars in higher numbers has given them. Bragging rights.
Unfortunately GM, Ford and DC are immitating them now. GM just moved their Electronic Purchasing Dept to China to take advantage of cheap Chinese parts as expense of their domestic suppliers. They are open for importing cheap car parts into the country. But at the same time, they are against lifting the 25% tariff on Import trucks. When it works for them, it is the patriotic song that they sing, but they turn around singing different tune if they see some financial benefits. Most of our ECOs would sell their mothers to make quick bucks let alone being loyal to the country or the community they are living in.
Personally, we are rooting for our home teams (GM and Ford). But the home teams must also fullfilling its obligations to its employees, communities, ... Our Auto industry will prosper as long as it has many high paying jobs in this country (UAW or not). It will not help any of us if GM spent billions in China or India to create a Middle Class there at the same time wanting to pay Walmart wages to its US employees. Thanks goodness for the ocean (and its $1000.00 cost of shipping vehicle), otherwise GM and Ford probably have moved all of their factories oversea by now.
jt
The quickness of it, acceleration and handling.
The brakes are great, although lots of brake dust on the front wheels.
The seats very comfortable (10 hours in the seat on one trip, felt as good at hour 10 as it did at hour 1).
A nicer look than the Impala (my opinion only).
It is just a fun car to drive.
GXP dislikes:
Fuel economy, although good for a V8, not anywhere near the sticker. Expect 20-22 in highway driving in the 70-80 mph range.
No spare tire. Because of the bigger brakes, no donut will fit. You get an air compressor and a can of fix-a-flat.
Monsoon sound system is not the greatest. Not bad, but I’ve heard better.
Try one, you just might like it. I cant see how you could wrong with either an SS or a GXP
Mike
I just got a recall notice in my OnStar monthly report. Campaign # 2005122. No details, just the number. I can't find anything on the web yet but that's expected since I'm sure it's too early in the cycle to have been passed around. What is a disappointment is that although I'm getting OnStar reports that include my VIN, when I try to research the issue on My GM Link, my VIN isn't in the system. It notes that my VIN is valid but may not be in the system if I purchased in the last 60 days. Granted, I've only had my car for 77 days, but the inconsistency isn't encouraging. I'm just acknowledging the issue in hopes that some of the GM folks reading will pass it up. Sometimes the smallest details make the largest impressions on people.
That said, does anyone have any info on recall # 2005122. I will be contacting a dealer but maybe one of our "team" will be quicker than me. I own an SS with everything but the convenience group (auto-dimming & heated mirrors).
As an FYI example, the invoice on a Impala LTZ is almost exactly $3000 Canadian under list. Probably won't get invoice, but $2000 under list is possible I'm sure.
Anyone who has taken even one introductory statistics class can tell you CU's sampling methodology is ridiculous. I'll cite a few examples:
The Wind noise problem CU had on their Impala was probably a bad seal on the one and only sample they had. Sample sizes of "one" are not even close to statistically significant.
CU samples their readers, a biased group, and only gets data from readers who voluntarily return their survey, making the group even more biased. A proper survey would sample the general new car buying population randomly, and follow up to get people who didn't return their surveys to complete and return them. For example, retired people with time on their hands are far more likely to return mail surveys than working couples with kids who don't have the time to spend filling out a survey.
CU does not even explain what the percentage ranges of their silly circles are anymore. Those circles are worthless if we don't know the range of problems they represent. A graph with the average problems per 100 cars and error bars would be much nicer. For example, an "average" car in CU's stupid circle system may not be significantly different from a "below average" car if they are near the bottom and top of their unknown respective ranges. It would also be nice to know sample sizes, since very low response rates also make the data less reliable.
That's just a start to the problems with CU's survey methodology. JD Powers does a much better job using proper statistical methods in their surveys.