My Mom Vs. A Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300 and Chevrolet Impala

[wstonehockertv]

My mom previously owned two Chevrolet Caprices back in the day: 1979 and 1989. Her father (who died in 1998) owned a 1984 Caprice. They were all sedans because my mom didn't need the extra space provided in wagons and the coupes were not as practical. The fact that my mom owned her 1989 Caprice until 2001 implied that the 5.0L 305 small-block V8 engine rocks, as does a rear-wheel drive configuration (which is not ideal for living in colder climates like New Jersey). My mom found the 1991-1996 design of B-body cars ugly (but everyone knows that looks do not sell a car; it's what is inside that sells it); give GM credit, at least their powertrains are indestructible. It's why taxi drivers and police officers flocked to those vehicles and the Ford Crown Victoria, you can't beat the V8 engine and a body on-frame design.

The modern interpretation of a rear-wheel drive sedan (which is now out of production) is the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. If my mom was going to buy a Charger or 300, she'd settle for the 2011-2023 3.6L Pentastar V6 because she's 72 years old and wouldn't drive hard or do mods; 300HP from the V6 is enough for her; if she had to buy the 2006-2010 Charger/300, the 5.7L HEMI V8 would be okay because the 2.7L and 3.5L V6 engines from the Intrepid/Concorde/300M/LHS days were horrendous. However, my mom would rather be caught dead in a Subaru because she doesn't associate herself with the gangster culture that is the Charger and 300.

When my mom donated her 1989 Caprice in 2001, the Impala was already back in production as a front-wheel drive/V6 sedan. No idea why my mom didn't settle for an Impala back in the day, but the 3.8L V6 engine rocks too. I've seen police officers drive the Impala when I was growing up; the V6 engine means it's not for highway pursuits (but the advantage of being front-wheel drive means it's good for bad weather).

 

[human]

I had a 2011 Impala LT (last of the W-bodies) that was one of the best cars I ever owned. Its 3.5 liter V6 produced plenty of power, although not excessive, it would get 30mpg on the highway and about 22 around town, and in the five years I owned it, I never had to have a major repair. It did develop a leak in the power steering, which was common on those cars, but I never bothered to have it fixed. I just added more power steering fluid every three or four months. I was very sad when a drunk driver rear-ended me and totaled the car, just before noon on a Sunday morning. He was filled with spirits, but they weren't holy.

 

[wstonehockertv]

human

The 3.5L and 3.9L V6 engines from GM can last 200k miles if properly maintained. But nothing beats the 3.8L V6.

I am tired of Car Wizard on Youtube dissing those engines and the 3.6L V6 because he is the most sorry excuse of an auto mechanic I've ever seen.

At least Scotty Kilmer can be funny at times, but his clickbait style turns me off.

Saabkyle04 at least doesn't act like that.

 

[human]

3800 V6

wstonehockertv wrote: The 3.5L and 3.9L V6 engines from GM can last 200k miles if properly maintained. But nothing beats the 3.8L V6.

I reply: Agreed. I've owned several Oldsmobiles and a Pontiac with that engine. They're darn near bulletproof (figuratively speaking, of course). The one Achilles heel for the Series II engine (1996 and newer) was the orange DexCool (aka DexKill) antifreeze would turn acidic over time and rot out the gaskets, allowing oil and coolant to mix. That happened with a '98 Buick LeSabre my dad had. The best defense is either to change the coolant regularly or flush the cooling system thoroughly and replace it with the old fashioned green coolant. Although GM never issued a recall on that, one of the minor design changes for the Series III engine was improved gaskets that could be retrofitted on a Series II engine. I had a college friend whose father bought a brand new 1990 Olds Ninety-Eight Regency with a series I 3800, and kept it for well over a decade, putting some 330,000 miles on it. The engine was still going strong when he put it out to pasture because the body had become dangerously rusted out. It's no fluke that J.D. Power named it one of the ten best engines of the twentieth century.

 

[wstonehockertv]

When the Impala got a redesign for 2014, I wonder why it didn't become a cop car. I feel Chevrolet crapped their pants by keeping the 9th Gen W-Body Impala around through 2016 and selling it alongside the Australian-built Caprice.

 

[human]

I'm sure that by 2014, the plan to discontinue sedans across all GM lines was already firmly in place, so they were already pushing law enforcement agencies toward larger--and more profitable--SUVs.

 

[wstonehockertv]

Funny enough, my parents did consider buying the 9th Gen Impala back in the day, but they opted not to do it.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I remember my grandfather had a late 80s Mercury Grand Marquis and as well as an early 90s Caprice both new back in the day. Well, I have memories of the Caprice but I saw pictures of the Grand Marquis.

I’ve been quite partial to the 2006-16 Chevy Impala. We had them summer of 2006 for driver’s ed when they were a brand new model. I remember they were criticized for being dated at the time, but there was something about the sleek but conservative styling that appealed to me.

The ones we had were just the base models (cloth bench seats, column shift, plain radio that just showed clock or radio channel, and no radio controls on the wheel or separate temp controls for each side).

I really would’ve liked a loaded up LTZ or SS model when I got my first car a few years later, but used ones were still too expensive then. I ended up with an early 2000s Malibu that I liked quite a lot. It was also great on gas. It was reliable up to a point, when it got up to about 140k miles, the transmission started having issues. I probably should’ve fixed it, but a lot of things had went bad on it at that time (CD player failed, keyless entry antenna failed, both rear power windows were stuck), so I was just ready for a newer car.

I looked again for an Impala, really the newer 2014+ model but they were hard to find.

I ended up with a 2016 Ford Taurus, and I really like it. It just rolled over to 70k miles which I can’t fathom how happened. lol I got it certified with 13k on it.

It’s been a pretty reliable car, I’ve had to replace the drivers window motor and the wiper wash pump, everything else has been trouble free.

I think I’m more of a big sedan guy, and it’s kind of sad how there isn’t a lot of those anymore, other than the luxury brands and Korean/Japanese. Here in America it seems like everyone went to either crossovers or small/large SUV or pickup trucks instead.

I don’t have any plans to trade in the car, but I would like to get a second vehicle that’s cheap, for cargo space and to not put so many miles on it.

I’d like to get a mid to late 2000s Chrysler Town and Country or Toyota Sienna, as plush models can be had cheaply now. What worries me is all the repair and possible reliability issues of an older car. I also wouldn’t mind having a GM truck of a similar era, but they are too expensive and hard to find, probably hold their value more for the crowd that likes to customize their trucks.

When my Malibu got in a fender bender from a lady speeding out of a parking lot, I had a 2014 Dodge Charger rental. It was a base model, but pretty nice. It seemed to really like the gas though. That car seemed bigger than my Taurus does, possibly an illusion due to the bulky sides the Charger has.

 

[human]

My 2011 Impala LT was about as loaded as one at that middle trim level could be--leather, Bose sound system, zoned climate controls, seat warmers, power seats on both sides. About the only thing it didn't have was a sunroof. When it got totaled, I priced Impalas of similar vintage, and even ones with well over 100,000 miles were priced in the five figures. The best deal I found, and ended up buying, was a 2013 Buick LaCrosse eAssist hybrid, which was based on the same Epsilon Extended platform as the final generation Impala. As it turned out, it ended up costing me $2,200 out of pocket, after the insurance settlement, but I actually bought the car two days after the accident. I wasn't yet sure what I'd get in the way of a settlement, but the car was such a good deal that I didn't want to risk it getting gone before I had the check in hand. It was a little bit of a gamble, but it paid off. I made the claim under my own collision coverage, then let them go after the drunk's insurance through subrogation. Although I didn't realize it at the time, this was a really good strategy. It allowed my insurance company to give me quite a generous settlement, knowing the drunk's insurance didn't have a leg to stand on, being as their insured was essentially 'legless' at the time of the accident, with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, and it wasn't even yet noon. The only minor hitch was they withheld my $500 deductible until they got their money from other insurance company. Even so, the whole thing was wrapped up within three weeks of the accident.

 

[justjunque]

It takes me a very long time to accept change; if I ever do.
I'm only just now starting to warm up to the front wheel drive Impalas.
There have been many Chevrolets in my life, including the first car that I remember my dad owning. That was a 1965 Impala. After that, he got a 1971 Impala. From there, he went to Caprices. First one was a fairly bare bones 1979. It had hardly any options, vinyl interior, etc. That car had some sort of gremlins that could never seem to be worked out, and he didn't keep it long. He traded that one for the last car he ever owned; a beautiful, pretty loaded 1982 Caprice. He loved that car, and so did I. And I was the one who kept it clean and shined up for him from day one. It broke my heart when Dad could no longer drive, and my older brother claimed the car for himself and ran it into the ground in a matter of a few years. I'm just glad I wasn't around to see it go to the junkyard.
I've owned several Chevies over the years. But, keeping with the Impala/Caprice topic, I've owned two Impalas. Both, by pure coincidence, were black four-door sedans. The first was a 1967, and the second was a 1973.
I could never really accept front wheel drive. And, the only front drive car we've ever owned is our current 2001 VW Passat. And, we only got that car because my in-laws gave it to us when they were getting a new vehicle. So, I never had any interest in getting a front drive Impala. They just didn't seem like "real" Impalas to me.
But, having owned this VW for several years now, I've softened my stance on it somewhat. I still prefer the feel of rear wheel drive, but I can at least deal with the alternative now. As long as it's been around, it still feels like something "newfangled" to me. There's still a part of me that feels like; "That will never catch on."
So, now that I would probably be willing to give a front drive Impala a shot, I've missed the boat. In this part of the country, with our winter road chemicals, all of the earlier versions are pretty much gone. And, in my current financial situation, I can't afford the newer ones.
At my last job, I drove one a few times, and it wasn't bad. I think it was a 2005. But, that one too, succumbed to the undercarriage rot. I think, due to rust, the engine may have dropped out of it one day, or something similarly catastrophic.
If money were no object, I'd love to have an Impala or Caprice from the 1980s, similar to Dad's last car. But, I'm afraid that would require a big lottery win or something at this point. And, that ain't likely to happen. And, if I was able to get one, it would have to be a seasonal vehicle. I wouldn't expose it to the winter crap.
If I can find some, I'll attach a picture or two of my last Impala; the 1973.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Nice Impala, I do like the looks of that era of GM. I assumed that one had the bar style headrests?

I remember my uncle buying an FWD Impala around 2000 or so. I just always preferred the 2006-16 model for some reason. He traded that one later for a Charger when they first came out a few years after.

Regardless, the way my health is going, I expect my Taurus to be my last car. Ironically I never believed that when I bought it. Either way I will not be having a second vehicle as I’ll never be able to afford a home to allow me to fit parking for two vehicles, so what I have now will likely be it.

 

[justjunque]

Hey Cole.
Thanks. It was a pretty car. And drove like new. The a/c compressor was bad, and I never got around to getting it fixed. Actually, it was the pulley assembly. The compressor itself was probably fine. And, a friend at work gave me a whole, working compressor for it, but I just tossed it in with the deal when I sold the car.
I believe it did have the headrests you're thinking of.
I'm sorry to hear about your health issues. The older I get, and the more health problems I experience, the more I realize that good health is one of the most important things. That's half the battle right there.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I would be better if I could get my mental health under control. I’m having a lot of family issues the last few years and it’s affecting my mental health, which affects my eating, and hoarding, which is a vicious cycle.

The holidays are a hard time for me anymore, and I’d rather not celebrate them ever again. Just not the same. I envy those that get to go places and have friends, when I shouldn’t do that.

I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have work to keep me busy.

 

[justjunque]

I'm sorry.
It's surprising how much that sounds like my issues though.
That's great that you find some normalcy in your job.
My last job, I actually hated for many years, but my anxiety prevented me from doing anything about it. It was easier to suffer through it than to start something new. But, I lost that job, going on five years ago. Ironically, due in part to health problems caused by the job.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Sorry to hear that. I get stressed at work certainly, but I enjoy it at times. When I first started, I was so afraid of the management that I didn’t know if it would work out. I wanted to go back to my old job, but it didn’t pay what I wanted and I didn’t feel it offered room to grow, so ultimately I stayed. It was a good thing, since my old job ended up moving to an other town that wouldn’t have been worth the drive to stay working there.

After about 5 years here, the management changed, and it became less stressful. I think the company was actually running more smoothly before, but the way it was carried out and behaving was an issue.

Anyway, I’ve gotten way off topic again haven’t I? lol

 

[wstonehockertv]

I think the 2006-2016 Impala with a black exterior and black leather interior looks sick. Even my mom would look badass driving that thing. After all, she is a 72 year old woman, so 300HP from the V6 engine is enough for her.

Hell, my mom would look badass driving a Buick, as long as it has the 3800 V6. My godmothers were known for leasing luxury cars, and Buick was among one of them. Buick unfortunately is dead. All their vehicles are crossovers with turbocharged engines...unless if it's a hybrid, I will not be touching those things.

 

[vacerator]

We owned two W platform Impalas. A new 2003 3800 LS and a used 2007 LT 3.5.
The 03 was better and nicer. It only had a few repairs before 115,000 miles. A catalytic converter clogged because the Bush administration increased the ethanol in gasoline at about 80,000 miles. The serpentine belt tensioner at 106,000, then the coolant pump and finally the AC/heater blower. The AC worked at least a dozen years. By 2016 rust was beginning to be profound. We decided it didn't owe us anything and donated it. Our son loved it and it never failed to get him to college. The 07 was mainly my daily driver. Had 36,000 miles when we bought it in 09. Also had buckets and console shift. Needed a muffler at 102,000 miles. At 106,000 it was leaking oil badly from the filter adapter housing. Anticipating more costly repairs onward, we sold it as is.

 

[cheesewonton]

We had an Olds Cutlass we bought new. Body on frame. Horrible car in every possible way. Squeaked from the day it was new. Terrible panel fit with uneven crooked gaps everywhere. There were sanding marks in the C-pillar where the body panel seam was leaded and sloppily sanded over in one pass and not smoothed out before painting. There were multiple recalls for the transmission and rear end. The GM coil spring rear suspension, even with the F-41 police suspension package ordered ( yes, that was possible ) lacked lateral location ( no Panhard rod or Watts Link ) and with too soft bushings the rear of the car always wiggled side to side going up or down driveways at an angle as you turned in off the street or left a parking lot to enter traffic. I am shaking side to side in my seat as I type this just the way that miserable Olds used to shake side to side on its marshmallow bushings. Junk in every possible way.

Also, body on frame is never as stiff and vibration resistant as a well designed unibody. GM and Ford stuck with body on frame for sound isolation but sacrificed body rigidity, crashworthyness and handling in the process. A ladder frame can only be stiff in one plane where a well designed unibody is stiff in all three planes. Most ladder frames flex like crazy. Fortunately strict crashworthyness standards forced GM and Ford to finally abandon these dinosaurs and build proper unibodies with front and rear crumple zones and a rigid passenger cell with the fuel tank inside the rigid passenger cell, just like Mercedes and BMW had been building since the 1960s.

A Chrysler 300 is light years ahead of those old body on frame disasters. It is built on a modified Mercedes E Class chassis along with the Dodge Challenger and Charger. They are all on a common platform. The major difference between the Chrysler 300 chassis and that of an E Class are the suspension arms, aluminum for Mercedes, steel for Chrysler and Dodge. Not unexpectedly it handles and brakes vastly better than any Crown Pigtoria or traditional Chevy Impaler ever dreamed of handling. And it does a much better job of protecting its occupants in a crash.

 

[fromadifferentplanet1996]

We had an Olds Cutlass we bought new. Body on frame. Horrible car in every possible way. Squeaked from the day it was new. Terrible panel fit with uneven crooked gaps everywhere. There were sanding marks in the C-pillar where the body panel seam was leaded and sloppily sanded over in one pass and not smoothed out before painting. There were multiple recalls for the transmission and rear end. The GM coil spring rear suspension, even with the F-41 police suspension package ordered ( yes, that was possible ) lacked lateral location ( no Panhard rod or Watts Link ) and with too soft bushings the rear of the car always wiggled side to side going up or down driveways at an angle as you turned in off the street or left a parking lot to enter traffic. I am shaking side to side in my seat as I type this just the way that miserable Olds used to shake side to side on its marshmallow bushings. Junk in every possible way.

Also, body on frame is never as stiff and vibration resistant as a well designed unibody. GM and Ford stuck with body on frame for sound isolation but sacrificed body rigidity, crashworthyness and handling in the process. A ladder frame can only be stiff in one plane where a well designed unibody is stiff in all three planes. Most ladder frames flex like crazy. Fortunately strict crashworthyness standards forced GM and Ford to finally abandon these dinosaurs and build proper unibodies with front and rear crumple zones and a rigid passenger cell with the fuel tank inside the rigid passenger cell, just like Mercedes and BMW had been building since the 1960s.

A Chrysler 300 is light years ahead of those old body on frame disasters. It is built on a modified Mercedes E Class chassis along with the Dodge Challenger and Charger. They are all on a common platform. The major difference between the Chrysler 300 chassis and that of an E Class are the suspension arms, aluminum for Mercedes, steel for Chrysler and Dodge. Not unexpectedly it handles and brakes vastly better than any Crown Pigtoria or traditional Chevy Impaler ever dreamed of handling. And it does a much better job of protecting its occupants in a crash.

I tried to convince my mom to buy a Charger or 300, but she refuses to be caught dead in one because they look like thug cars from a rap video, and she's a 70-something year old woman. Especially if they have those amps and subs in the trunk blaring rap music with the bass turned up.

 

[cheesewonton]

I tried to convince my mom to buy a Charger or 300, but she refuses to be caught dead in one because they look like thug cars from a rap video, and she's a 70-something year old woman. Especially if they have those amps and subs in the trunk blaring rap music with the bass turned up.

The best looking car in our neighborhood is a black Chrysler 300 with black cast aluminum wheels. To me it looks better than the big and equally black Mercedes 500E parked across the street from it. The only reason I don't have one is that it can't be ordered with a manual trans. Can't even buy a BMW in the US with a manual trans any more. To me a tail happy 3-Series with a screaming straight six and a manual trans coming out of a turn in a drift are the very definition of BMW. Now? Slush boxes only. Zzzzzzzz. What's the world coming to?