Chevy Impala 2004 Redesign - READ ONLY

233 messages, Last post on Sep 10, 2003 at 7:13 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan

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#117 of 233 by regfootball Feb 28, 2003 (7:47 am)
"He said the very few problems he's ever seen have happened because people paid no attention to coolant level" That's complete and utter bullcrap. Why are the manifolds popping off in the first place. Checking your coolant level every other day is not gonna prevent the damn thing from breaking. "Is flooring an automatic car and driving in a straight line the complete measure of car's performance? What about the twisties!" Well in that instance, the Impala fails even more miserably. "Isn't it kind of obsolete since the only "redesign" is sticking the 97-03 GTP motor in the 04 Impala?" The topic is not obsolete, the car is. Exactly the point....why is it even worthy of news that it takes them 4 years to put a supercharger in the car when it was available before the car was even released? HOW CLUELESS CAN GM BE? ITS EMBARASSING FOR THEM TO MAKE A PRESS RELEASE ON IT. Besides, in the article, Ford says their cost to build those engines is the same, because of the other efficiencies they realize from commiting to the OHC design across the board instead of having a buttload of engines all with different designs. vcjumper....I think what it is is that the world arm of GM is producing sophisticated powertrains but GM as a company is still reluctant to go global with their engine development programs. The North American arm stubbornly refuses and would prefer to develop a large number of their own engines, who knows why. It can only cost GM millions of extra dollars to have world GM and North American GM going their own separate ways like they do. I am very interested in the new world GM v6's DOHC, but now I already see they won't offer the 3.2 in the Malibu, instead a pushrod motor. That kills that one for me. LOL if GM is so against OHC why do the trailblazer and new pickups have OHC.....why were they forced into putting them in all the small cars? Face it...GM was caught with their pants down. The public does care. GM had better get some OHC motors in their midsize offerings soon. Go to the Intrigue boards and you will see there are more who prefered the shortstar than those who were like formersuver who appears to never take his vehicle out of town on the interstate or out of the city streets and urban environment. In the article Ford claims they build the engines for the same cost because of all the efficiencies related to having common and modern designs.
#118 of 233 by 02lssport Feb 28, 2003 (8:56 am)
OHV and OHC engines both have their pros and cons and both have their rightful place right now. Perhaps at some point the OHV design will be obsolete but we have not reached that point yet. All I care about is durability, reliability, power, and efficiency. I don't care if the original design of the engine is over 20 years old and why should I or anyone else. There have been many advancements in the OHV design and there will be more to come. GM's OHV beats many of its competitors in those categories above. The 3800 has better gas milage and power then a good number of its competitors and the v8 OHV puts out more power then just about ever other engine so what the hell are you taklking about. That is all that matters in the end. To say the Impala is obsolete is pure nonsence. As far as power, performance, comfort, looks, cornering it is in the middle of the pack. There are a few cars in its class that are slightly better and there are a few cars that are below it. Most people would agree with that.
#119 of 233 great timing! by alpha01 Feb 28, 2003 (9:18 am)
From today's USA Today test drive (James Healy) on the 2004 Grand Prix (which got a very favorable review, and its darn good looking, if you must go mid-size GM, here is my choice.) "All GP models use GM's hoary 3.8-liter V-6, lineal descendant of the shake-and-shudder six-banger that made its debut in early '60s Buicks. GM's refined it beyond reason over the years, and now it's quite a good power factory. " ~alpha
#120 of 233 alpha01 by vcjumper Feb 28, 2003 (9:54 am)
I sat in the 04 GP at the auto show. The disappointment for me was rear headroom. Was pretty cramped back there for a large midsize (well for a small midsize too!) and I need to stick adult passengers in the rear quarters pretty often.
#121 of 233 by atbear Feb 28, 2003 (3:03 pm)
"Why are the manifolds popping off in the first place." No ones manifold has ever popped off! Why did you just make that up?? "What about the twisties!" Well in that instance, the Impala fails even more miserably." Well Impala's about in the middle of the pack. It has good road feel, but far too much body roll. It's not really supposed to be a twisty taker though... "if GM is so against OHC why do the trailblazer and new pickups have OHC" That's the craziest thing I've ever heard! HAHA... good one. try V8's and I4's I5's and I6's... This topic is pretty much dead......
#122 of 233 by regfootball Feb 28, 2003 (6:18 pm)
Trailblazer uses an inline 6 that is DOHC. The engine has been getting raves. The upcoming Colorado which replaces the s-10 due soon will have 4 and 5 cylinder variants of this DOHC as the only available motors. That was to which I was referring to. GM is designing a whole range of motors around DOHC architecture and modular (basically copying Fords ten year old idea) in size and cylinders for their Trailblazer and Colorado lines. Not for full size, but for the midsize trucks. Apparently if the argument for OHV is so strong then why is GM itself being contradictory. Previous poster is right, both have a place. Its just such a huge market flaw for GM to put all its eggs in one basket reagrding powertrains for sedans. It excludes OHC powerplants from availablity in the segments it would benefit from them the most. The Impala is one of them. As far as the manifold thing there is enough postings on edmunds here and I know from personal experience that it is indeed a problem for recent model years of cars with 3800 engines and plastic manifolds......seems to be occuring with quite high frequency.
#123 of 233 by regfootball Feb 28, 2003 (6:30 pm)
http://www.carshowtomt.com/forum/questions/ scroll down to question 47. my father inlaws car is a 98 model that has/had the same issues. When my FIL called the mechanic, the mechanic knew exactly what the problem was before he even brought the car in, the mechanic had quite a few people call him with the same problem...... it wouldn't take me long to find other places where this is being discussed. bulletproof? no, not exactly.
#124 of 233 To regfootball by jpstax Feb 28, 2003 (8:48 pm)
OK, so the 3800 Series II isn't perfect, but what engine is? After all, the car manufacturers want to sell everyone a new car every 5-6 years anyway. I assume that question #47 pertains to the non-supercharged version of this motor. Do you think the S/C version is MORE likely to develop this problem sooner because of the high pressures it generates during blower activation? Seems it might.
#125 of 233 My 2 cents by pgorges1 Feb 28, 2003 (9:27 pm)
I own a 2000 Regal GSE with a Supercharged 3800. There are plenty of things to hate about GM, but this engine is not one of them. It is quiet, smooth, and the gas mileage is excellent considering the performance. I just wish they would up the Hp to close to 300Hp. I also own a Dodge Dakota with Chrysler's fairly new OVC V8. It is okay, but doesn't come close to the 3800. I know I'm comparing a 4WD truck to a sedan, but that is all I have for a daily comparison. regfootball, please don't mention the Honda Accord. That is the most overrated, boring car ever produced. I would almost drive a minivan over it. The Maxima is a nice car and deserves its high ranking.
#126 of 233 by regfootball Feb 28, 2003 (10:28 pm)
oddly enough i checked out the accord today. everyone is indeed raving over it. mechanically and dynamically i could understand but the interior of the car is not as nice in person as it is in pictures. I think the Mazda 6 is nicer and that ain't saying much. I did test drive a six speed maxima again.....love that engine but maybe its worth it to wait till 2004. ok....sorry to have interrupted the topic...bye bye