Chevy Impala

[fan-of-fans]

When I was in high school, I took drivers ed in a brand new at the time, 2006 Chevy Impala LS. Dark gray with dark gray and wood grain interior.

It was a very basic model, just cloth 6 passenger bench seats, column shift, no dual zone ac or steering wheel radio controls, auto dim mirror, etc.

I really liked it because it reminded me of the old big sedans having that bench seat and column shifter. The auto magazines complained how dated it was and looked reminiscent of a mid 90s Chevy Lumina, but I actually liked it and always wanted one in a LTZ or SS trim. Never got one as they were too expensive.

But, it’s shock to me to realize if that one I drove that summer still exists, it’s 18 years old!

I do wish automakers would go back to having the big cars again like the Impala, Taurus, Avalon, etc.

Im surprised Dodge and Chrysler still sell the Charger and 300, for now.
And at least we still have Cadillac, Lexus and the Korean, etc large cars.

 

[suckolux]

Goodness, mine was a 72 Olds Cutlass.

 

[justjunque]

Hey Cole.
I sometimes miss big cars too. Except, I'm old enough that the cars you describe as big, I would consider mid-sized.
My driving school car was an early '80s Pontiac Phoenix coupe. The little notchback style. I loved driving it. But, my personal cars were always big. My favorite car, as a youngster, was the mid 1970s Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I eventually owned three of them, over the years. First was a '76. Some years later, a '75. And, my last one was a '77.
I always wanted a Cadillac, but never had one. And, I mean a full-size, V8, rear wheel drive.
The last largish vehicle we owned was a Ford Explorer. Granted, not a car. But, we loved it. The New England winters with the road salt and chemicals finally claimed it a few years ago.
Honestly, I don't know if I'd be comfortable driving a really big car any more. I've been away from them for so long. And, I swear they're making parking spaces and stuff smaller now.
We have a basically mid-size VW Passat, and that seems to just about fit in some parking spots these days!

 

[fan-of-fans]

Sometimes my Ford Taurus feels big to maneuver in the parking lots too, it’s sometimes kind of hard to judge when parking or taking corners.

I had a 2014 Dodge Charger rental when my old Malibu was in the body shop, and that Charger felt really wide on the sides due to the way the doors stuck out beyond the side windows. That Malibu was easy to maneuver though.

I have no plans to get a new car, but I wouldn’t mind having an older Ford Explorer or Chrysler Town and Country for moving cargo or stuff. Or to drive on the weekends. I also really like the Suburbans but they’re way too big for me.

 

[human]

I had a loaded 2011 Impala LT--leather, Bose sound system, alloy wheels, the works. I think it had everything an LTZ would have had, except a 3.9 liter engine (mine had a 3.5 liter) and chrome door handles. It was absolutely the most dependable car I've ever owned. I bought it from my parents in the fall of 2014 and kept it for a little over five years with no major repairs--zero. Nothing went wrong with it that I couldn't fix myself, except for a leaky power steering pump, which I never fixed. I just kept adding fluid every few months. The worst repair I did was to replace a blend door actuator on the ventilation system. The part was only about $12 from eBay, but it was a pain to put in. Trunk space on that car was unreal. I once bought a storm door at Home Depot and brought it home in the Impala with the trunk lid closed by folding down the rear seats and moving the front seats more forward. It wasn't comfortable, but fortunately, it was a short drive home. I really hated it when that car got rear-ended and totaled by a drunk driver just before noon on a Sunday morning, although I did end up with a nice replacement in a 2013 Buick LaCrosse for $2,200 out of pocket, after a quite generous insurance settlement.

The critics rightly compared that era Impala to the Chevy Lumina, as they were both built on GM's 'W' platform, which debuted for the 1988 model year with the front-wheel-drive Lumina, Buick Regal, Olds Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Gran Prix. It was originally considered a midsize platform with a 107-inch wheelbase, but the Impala used a lengthened version of the platform with a 110.5-inch wheelbase that it shared with the last iteration of the Pontiac Gran Prix.

 

[fan-of-fans]

My grandfather had a 2005 Buick LaCrosse bought new for a few years. I liked that car, but the gen you have Edgar, is a very nice car. A coworker at my old job had one of those when that gen first came out, and I always thought that was a beautiful car.

I should’ve looked more into the Buicks when I got my Taurus but I was in a bit of a hurry. Part of my wishes id gotten the transmission fixed on that old Malibu, and bought a house instead. Cars have gone up but houses are a much big bigger problem.

My Taurus so far has been mostly easy to fix so far - I had to replace a windshield washer pump which my dad helped with. Also had to replace the driver window motor but I had that done as I didn’t feel comfortable messing with all that stuff. The driver door mirror glass also discolored, apparently due to the liquid in the glass that makes it auto dim failing, but I ordered one from eBay and swapped it myself. I’ve put almost 50,000 miles on it already in a little over 5 years, ugh.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

My aunt has JUST given up driving.

She has/had a Buick Lucerne, 49,000 miles.  Nice car...it replaced a Town Car..loved that, too.

 

[human]

My mom just turned 88 and has a 2013 LaCrosse, same as mine, except it has a sunroof and only 13,000 miles on the odometer. It was the last new car Dad bought. Mom hasn't given up driving yet, but she does it very sparingly. It's supposed to come to me when she's ready to give it up. I'm not pushing her about it, but in the last year, whenever some minor piece of maintenance is needed, such as a leaking sunroof, I usually bring it up here and take care of it, leaving her my car to drive, which she doesn't. Oh well, it gives her car some much needed exercise, while saving a few miles on mine.

 

[suckolux]

Partner and I found this car recently, it's a feel good machine for me. He's a lot younger but enjoys the ride.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

NICE

Buick!!!!

 

[suckolux]

Thanks John

 

[human]

My parents had a 2001 LeSabre like that. It was a nice car, but the previous owners smoked, and Dad was never able to get the odor out of it, so they didn't hold onto it very long. Dad also had a few 1990s vintage LeSabres. The handling on those was a little too soft and sloppy for my tastes. The 2001 was a little firmer by comparison, more akin to my Olds LSS's

Does yours have the 3800 engine or the 4.6L Northstar V8? I've had several cars with the 3800 V6, and it's a super reliable engine that's actually not bad on gas.

 

[suckolux]

3800 series2, the only engine available in that model. It is the celebration edition,top level so it has touring suspension and final drive. Mileage is indeed decent!

 

[fan-of-fans]

My uncle used to have a 1995 LeSabre that was Hunter green with tan cloth. I always liked that color scheme. He seemed to keep it for quite a long time (for him anyway) and eventually they got a silver circa 2002 model LeSabre with gray leather. That one unfortunately didn’t last long as they ended up getting involved in a many-car pileup that totaled it, and I believe a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan replaced it, which was quite the change.

 

[wstonehockertv]

I tried to convince my mom to buy an Impala because she previously owned a Caprice. She'd rather be driving Subarus.