For how apparently terrible the late W-Body Impalas were

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
08/25/2014 at 15:52 • Filed to: None

I sure do see a ton of them on the roads. Not rentals either.

Are they honestly that bad, or are they just not something an enthusiast would find as enjoyable?

DISCUSSION (40)

CalzoneGolem > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 15:55

I made a similar argument about Cavaliers. I don't see how they can be considered such bad cars when so many of them live on forever.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 15:56

an enthusiast would want to murder themselves.

but it's a solid comfortable car with decent gas mileage.

My father in law drives one and loves it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > CalzoneGolem
08/25/2014 at 15:56

That's what I'm wondering, seems like a solid car.

CalzoneGolem > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 15:57

Jalops can be a picky bunch. Comfy? Reliable? Safe? Cheap? None of that matters only 0-60 and skid pad numbers.

Textured Soy Protein > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 15:58

They're probably ex-rentals at this point.

Ha.

I had one as a rental once. Maybe like 2010? At the time I remember thinking it had an incredibly small back seat for its large overall size, a plush ride, half-decent power, and absolutely no handling.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > CalzoneGolem
08/25/2014 at 15:59

0-60 might not even be terrible on the later ones with the 300HP 3.6L V6.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:00

They have some of the most depressing interiors this side of solitary confinement.

Everything else about the car is similarly boring, but it's a (relatively) big, extremely cheap American car, which is/was enough to make it very popular. Reliability and comfort are also supposed to be above average.

BigBlock440 > CalzoneGolem
08/25/2014 at 16:00

Unless those numbers come from an American car, than it's all about "refinement".

Crest > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:01

I have a confession to make. I love those impala's. In terms of comfort and ride quality, it's second to none in its class.

CalzoneGolem > BigBlock440
08/25/2014 at 16:02

Cheeseburgers per hour?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/25/2014 at 16:02

Looks better in black. Marginally better.

So kinda like a Camry but not as bad?

CalzoneGolem > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:02

I didn't mean to imply that they were bad. Just that a lot of Jalops are performance obsessed.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:04

Yes. I would take a 2008 Impala over a 2008 Camry. Equally as boring, but the Chevy is comfier, bigger, and some of the engines were decent. I know I've been in one at some point, but I can't think when or why.

It's as far behind the new Impala as the old Escalade is behind the new one, though.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:05

also, they have a lovely rumble with an exhaust system on them.

they were available with the 5.3L LS4

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/25/2014 at 16:06

That last statement doesn't surprise me.

T5Killer > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/25/2014 at 16:07

Maybe its just me growing up in very spartan '70s and '80s car interiors that doesn't look that horrid. Its not pretty but not horried like the '90s W cars with massive panel gap.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/25/2014 at 16:07

Ah yes, that engine that loves to eat those transmissions.

Sn210 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:09

I rode in a rental one before, it was pretty plast-tastic. But the SS trim still intrigues me...

Kinja'd!!!

It's no track demon but it's bigger, more comfy, and just as quick to 60 as my TL

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > T5Killer
08/25/2014 at 16:09

No, but for the time, it was pretty bad. Consider that this was the competing Ford Taurus from the same year, and even that isn't wonderful:

dogisbadob > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:10

They are rather cheap secondhand, so price definitely influences it. I think you can even get Bilstein HD's for them, too, which helps, and plenty of aftermarket support :)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Sn210
08/25/2014 at 16:10

Well, it was conceived around '06, right in GM's plastic-fantastic interior time.

The SS trim is pretty cool except that engine likes to eat transmissions apparently.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:13

lol transmissions are silly when you have sideways v8

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:15

My mother and I rented a black one that looked Exactly like the one above. Its comfortable, but it rolled, the interior was oddly cramped, there was no gear indicator besides the gear lever, the radio is shared with an Aveo, and the seats were not supportive. It looked kind of mean though.

mcseanerson > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:16

They're not bad, just thoroughly uninspiring. If you get one make sure most of the depreciation has already hit. These things plummet in value.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
08/25/2014 at 16:17

The no indicator thing is kinda weird.

That radio was in everything from Saabs to Aveos. My mom's Vue has that radio.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mcseanerson
08/25/2014 at 16:18

I wasn't looking at them, but there was a line of three of them at a stop light and it got me thinking.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:23

Yup, pretty much. Also, my mother noted that the pedal was far too tall. This means she couldn't put her leg down or she wouldn't be able to touch the pedals. All the time her leg tried to keep the foot about 5 inches off the ground. I bet she could've adjusted the pedals.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
08/25/2014 at 16:25

That's how my mom's Vue is!

When I put my foot on the ground it barely touches the pedal. And it's not like I have small feet, I have a size 13 shoe.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:29

Isn't that Exhausting?!

As Du Volant > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:29

Not rentals either.

Former rentals.

But yes, they're popular because they're big, comfy, and cheap. On the used market they cost about 65% the price of a comparable import sedan. This also makes them attractive to lower-credit buyers as the subprime banks often will cap a person on what they can borrow... i.e. "We'll give you a loan but you need a car for $10,000 or less that's 2008 or newer and under 70k miles." The Impala fits that mold perfectly.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
08/25/2014 at 16:30

Eh, I've found a way to make it work comfortably.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 16:38

thanks good

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 17:02

We had the previous generation and my Mom got that generation as a rental. She more or less said it was a hunk of shit compared to our old one.

JawKnee > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 17:07

don't forget the 2006-09 SS with the ls4 v-8

NaturallyAspirated > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 17:09

My dad drives one. It belonged to his mom, and his mom gave it to him when she surrendered her driver's license a few years ago. It's a 2008 with the 3.5L v6 and a 4-speed slushbox.

To my dad, it's a mild upgrade from his '98 Nissan Sentra. He's getting a little older himself so he finds the seats more comfortable on long trips in the Impala.

I've driven it once or twice. It's really, really bad in kind of a unique way.

Picture this: I'm cruising down the highway at 65, I need to pass, so I hit the gas and signal. The electronic signal from the accelerator pedal travels to the ECU. The ECU notices that I've pressed the accelerator pedal further, and scratches its head with a puzzled expression on its face. "I know there was *something* I was supposed to do when the accelerator pedal gets pressed..." it mutters to itself. It pulls out a legal pad covered with handwritten notes and begins flipping through the pages. About a third of the way through the pad, it finds what it's looking for. "Oh, yeah! I was supposed to open the throttle plate and kick down the transmission!" the ECU exclaims, resolving to remember this for next time.

Several seconds after I've floored the accelerator pedal, the car downshifts and surges forward with a reasonable modicum of power. I shake my head slightly, wonder why on earth it took so long to start accelerating.

Pedro > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 19:12

When going car shopping last year with my mom they had a 2012 VW Jetta SE on the lot for 15k, and then a 2012 Impala LTZ for 20k. They both had 30k miles, but the Impala was nice. Really nice. For someone looking for value and decent quality you can't beat it. Sure maybe a Passat has a nicer interior or something, but to someone who doesn't know, the Impala has got everything you want (including an American name!)

Sure the driving part sucked, but when you're cruising then you're in the right car.

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 19:12

They're not that bad. They were one of the few GM cars of the late 2000s that weren't total crapboxes. My best friend drives a 2008 Impala LTZ and I like it a lot. It is pretty quick, gets decent gas mileage, is super comfortable, and has been fairly reliable for how much he drives it (about 5,000 miles a month).

ranwhenparked > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 19:48

They were cheap, reliable, comfortable, and cheap. That's all a fairly large segment of the population is looking for.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/25/2014 at 20:54

these aren't bad. anything that makes 300hp in stock form from 6 cylinders isn't bad. I like them a lot, and would love to see one on good rubber, bigger brakes, and a good suspension setup

Matt Urban > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/26/2014 at 17:36

Reminds me of the Chevy Lumina. Way out in age and too ugly for a mother to love but there are tons of them out there. Mostly with their windows down since the A/C done broke.