Chevy Impala 2004 Redesign - READ ONLY

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

You are in the Future Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is kirstie_h

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Future Vehicles Host for Directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan

Outline

Messages Page 13 of 24: 1; ...; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; ...; 24; Prev; Next; Last

#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
#127 of 233 by atbear Feb 28, 2003 (11:33 pm)
"Apparently if the argument for OHV is so strong then why is GM itself being contradictory." I'm not saying DOHC's are a good design! I'm saying the Hondas and Mitsubishis and such with em don't make any torque! I mean, look at the early 90's ZR-1 Corvette: one of the Fastest Corvettes ever produced, and it was a GM DOHC V8 engine, top notch. DOHC definately is awesome, just not always, and in comparison to everything... "seems to be occuring with quite high frequency." It is a very rare problem. "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." The S/C 3800 is completely different up top, and doesn't use the same top end.
#128 of 233 by jpstax Mar 01, 2003 (9:39 am)
I posted this same message in the Buick Regal forum (I own a '98 GS and wife owns a '00 GSE): I see where the '04 Pontiac GTP engine is now rated at 260 HP instead of 240, with 280 ft-lbs of torque. Has anyone heard if the '04 Regal GS will be getting this same improved version of the S/C 3800? I wonder though why the engine torque stayed at 280 ft-lbs, instead of increasing to say, 300 ft-lbs? They must have improved the exhaust flow and/or are using a smaller pulley to get 20 more HP. Does anyone have an answer to my question?
#129 of 233 jpstax by atbear Mar 01, 2003 (11:15 am)
It's a new engine (well, sort of!). It's the Series III 3800, instead of the Series II 3800 in the new GTPs. There is a new higher efficiency supercharger, throttle by wire, and a few other features. The HP goes up as you see and the torque probably does to cause they're related (it's probably underrated), but the tranny is rated at 280 ft/lbs of torque, so instead of designing a new tranny, they just "didn't" raise the torque numbers. The new engine should rock!
#130 of 233 atbear by regfootball Mar 01, 2003 (10:55 pm)
"It is a very rare problem." please review drivinisfun's post #11498 on the chevrolet impala topic in sedans.....even the owners admit it is an issue.