Nice affordable car
Transmission died.
Nothing really went wrong with the car, until one day the transmission didn't like switching gears or going faster than 55. I traded it in for a newer car, before getting it inspected...
Big car, but has some speed and style to it. Mine had the Bose stereo system and an engine block heater; nice add ons.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd March, 2010
Great ride and comfort
The car's engine blew around 65,000 miles for no apparent reason, and the warranty had run out. Replaced the engine with the same engine from a 2001 Impala that had around 80,000 miles on it. It blew within 1200 miles of having it in. Replaced it with a 50,000 mile engine from a 2001 Impala and it blew 25,000 miles later.
Replaced it with another 50,000 mile engine, and all gaskets & parts were replaced, but it blew after 25,000 miles. Was about to sell the car when that engine blew after 20,000 miles. Replaced and got rid of it.
Everything else on the car worked great. No one knows why the engine kept blowing, except to say that it had a faulty plastic gasket on it that would allow anti-freeze to enter into the engine. The 3800 series engine was suppose to be one of the reliable engines. What happened to the 2001 engines?
Car rode really well. I would still have it, but I'm tired of having to pay that much for engines that should have lasted a couple hundred miles.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 13th March, 2009
I love it!!
Problems with head had to be fixed.
Oil intake had to be replaced.
The knuckles in the steering linkage were not lubricated with the correct grease, so they crack and pop; until you take to dealership repairs, which my local did my repair for free, since this is a problem for the Chevrolet Impala for 2001.
I have replaced the driver side power window motor.
Other than that, it drives like a dream! Gets great mileage and has no real problems, other than it has a tendency to back into Castle Wall!
Rides like a dream, and has plenty of room.
Rides like a dream with great gas mileage, and it will fly!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 31st May, 2008
Has its imperfections, but is a great cruiser
A few weeks after it was purchased, I didn't have good traction in the back (older tires) and the brakes were making a lot of grinding noises. The brakes were replaced, as were the tires. Total: $675.
In December, in a heavy snow/ice storm, my right windshield wiper must have stripped something, because it stopped having full rotation and seemed really loose. After a couple weeks of heavy snow it just stopped working, but I haven't gotten it fixed because it hasn't presented a problem because its on the right hand side. Its probably the transmission arm, and should cost me 150 or so to replace.
Overall, I am very happy with this car.
It is somewhat powerful, drives like a boat but can handle windy back roads like a sports car.
It is great in snow, mostly because of its high weight and power coupled with the traction control.
It has a great sound system, I have 4 speaker system (2 5&1/2 3 ways in front, and 2 200 watt 6x9s in back.) Coupled with an aftermarket Kenwood radio, they are perfect, with great low levels for the rap songs, and great high levels for the other stuff.
It is a very strong car, meaning I have gotten into a couple smashups in it that would have totaled any other car, basically because of the aluminum frame. One was a 45 degree hit on a curb with the left front wheel, going about 30 mph. Frame protected the whole thing, but the wheel, tie rod, control arm, knuckle, basically the whole suspension was done. Without the aluminum frame it would have crumbled.
It is a great highway driver, easily getting up to speed to merge onto a fast freeway, and cruising comfortably between 90 mph and 110 mph. Top speed from my experiments is at least 120 mph.
Only qualms I have about it are the automatic transmission basically sucks, in the winter and on way back roads (e.g. hills, tight turns) I have the transmission in either 1/2/ or 3 because the tranny does not know how to downshift when it needs to. So I do it.
Also, the lights will not turn off when the car is on, just a pet peeve of mine that I can't sit somewhere with my car on and lights off at night.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 13th April, 2008