25th Aug 2017, 19:34
I think everyone here just got lemon Impalas. I have an 03 3.4 with 180k miles and it runs really good. Had to do nothing to it besides the rotors (known issue) and fuel gauge (known issue); the guy before me got the tranny changed, so I won't have an issue with that for a long time.
26th Aug 2017, 18:57
Am going back in time, but we owned 5x 63-64 Impala SS. And a wagon too. They were great reliable cars. And super simple to maintain. Didn't need to buy that many; sold and bought others. A lot of late have been given horrendous trim, speakers everywhere and hydraulics, but they were great prior to that styling exercise in my opinion.
28th Aug 2017, 17:12
Probably telling is that my 3rd gens sold around a million a year, to under 200,000 for current years. Plus every one of mine appreciated. Solid built. Extremely simple to maintain. And it's not just Impalas. It's emission, computers, throwing codes etc that plague modern vehicles.
30th Aug 2017, 21:56
The computers and modern additions to cars make them actually more reliable. Regardless of brand, today's cars will outlast anything made in the past. To be fair, technology improves over time and so too do cars.
31st Aug 2017, 15:41
Not necessarily true, the more computer controlled sensors, the more problems are prone. A car from 35-40 years ago doesn't have half the computer technology. Therefore less to break down. I know, computer controls and sensors help for better efficiency and diagnostic service, but once those things start to fail, the car is pretty much done and is not worth the time and aggravation. How long does the average home computer last?
31st Aug 2017, 16:30
But yet again, one major repair on a modern car can literally make the car disposable. Many cars under 10 years old. Cheaper to do junk with depreciated value. The complexity can be very expensive to even find first of all, even with a scanner. Parts high. Overheat a newer aluminum block, sensors, fuel injectors etc. Lastly, access in many cars is far more limited. Front wheel drive models, we hate working on for that very reason. In turn, 60s and early 70s are a dream to work on. At times you sweat getting modern ones through inspection. Better access, simplicity, and even drivetrain swaps are easy with older popular models. Keep them garaged and better gauge metal than cars you can lean on and dent. Even paint was better before environmental pressures lessened paint quality. In some models the paint looks bad in under 5 years. The clear coats start going. I pulled the chrome bumper out on a new Silverado by simply backing out of my driveway. Have had to replace doors due to weak door hinges on newer ones. Granted these are trucks, but you think tougher. Lot of plastics with rattles and even used in window regulators. I still consider newer disposable. They may run fine, but with age and component decline on even hardware areas, it's not great. I have had fuel lines underneath rot and fail.
For us anyway. So you buy another new. And repeat the process. Our old cars can be heirlooms to pass down. Repairs are quick and easy on down time, back on road and easier on the wallet. Neglected old cars or poorly designed, I get your point. But a nice V8 with 12V disc brakes etc with power options is a nice keeper. My new ones for what they cost, are for a temporary ownership at best.
31st Aug 2017, 21:15
I tend to agree with you. But, older cars from 60s, 70s, and even 80s now, are a bit impractical as an everyday driver for most people who lack technical knowledge to maintain them. They are really only good as a second car to play about with. And good old nostalgia.
In my humble opinion however, the 90s was the most reliable period for cars, and is still just about feasible to run everyday. But even now most cars from that era are getting rarer. As for more modern cars made after the year 2000 - no one is denying they have come a long way and generally improved in security, safety and driving dynamics, but the problem seems to be (as others have already alluded to) the general cost of when something electronic goes wrong on a car in the last 15 years or so; it really is worthless as it will likely cost more than the car to repair.
31st Aug 2017, 21:53
You are wasting your time. There is a small but very vocal group of "commenters" on this site who refuse to believe that cars are better, longer-lasting and more reliable now than they were 30/40/50 (take your pick) years ago, and they will trot out the same old opinions and anecdotal evidence as "proof" that their statements are fact and not just their personal beliefs.
31st Aug 2017, 22:12
The electronic components in a modern car are of much higher durability than that of your PC or smartphone. That is hardly an accurate comparison.
1st Sep 2017, 12:54
Another no win situation. In the end you have your "personal beliefs", we have ours. What "proof" and experiences do you have? Would love to know, seeing how you never seem to share them.
1st Sep 2017, 14:27
Here's one example. After college I daily drove a 1968 Olds Cutlass every single day in summer and snowy winters. It was early 70s and I was in outside sales, driving 2 states. It was practical and extremely reliable. If I had a minor issue, it didn't require running to dealers. With very few tools ever needed. And this is far from isolated, as we had other 60s sedans of various types. No one in our family missed work. And drove distances. The idea it's fragile was never an issue. I get if you were born later and didn't see this first hand. Our parking lot at work was filled with similar people. That's what we drove. And people are driving their keepers even now. It's a shame as few new cars or commuters are worth keeping long term. Call it bland styling or too expensive to keep dumping money into. I also think with more two parent families it was a easy resource. Dads still do, but many cannot work on today's cars or have time. They drop off. We use to pay full size cars off in 3 years then. Common. Yet many kept longer as they were solid and held up. I am referring to 60s and early 70s cars. Mid 80s I reduced my take anywhere cars due to value not reliability. I am afraid to keep modern cars long. It is false economy; the more options, the more to go wrong.
6th Dec 2009, 19:08
My 2002 Impala had a $2,000 A/C failure in the heat of July. I got rid of it that day rather than fix it or endure the heat as it had been nickel and dimeing me ever since it was out of warranty. Silly me, I bought a 2007 Cobalt a few years later and thought it would be better, which it wasn't. No more GM cars! Even when they're bought new and gently driven and carefully maintained, they give you problems.