2000 Chevrolet Impala

I could go on and on about the cheap interior, laughable build quality and the love it or leave it styling. But I won't. I could say that the Chevy Impala is about as refined as a second-hand cheese grater. But I won't. This car is as American as apple pie, baseball and Budweiser. You see, you don't buy an American car for build quality, refinement and style. You buy one because of how it makes you feel...and because you’re father, grandfather and all three of your uncles swore by either Ford, GM or Chrysler.

But jokes aside, the Impala really is a decent car. Unlike most American cars, the Impala actually handles well. Curves don't give you that "whoa, we're going to tip over!" feeling. The steering is tight and responsive and the brakes feel sure-footed. Engine choices are the harsh, but reliable 3.4L V6, the 3.8L V6 or a supercharged version of the 3.8 V6 in the SS. The 3.8 is the better choice, but if you must have an Impala, go with an LTZ or SS trimmed car. Even though they won't leave plumes of tire smoke in their wake, they do manage to make an otherwise boring car quite entertaining.

Ok, well, there you have it. The Impala is a big American car with a big trunk and a small price tag. Aside from the fact that it's as refined as a tractor, it's really quite a bargain. . YEAR TO YEAR CHANGES FOR THE CHEVROLET IMPALA: 2001: OnStar became standard in the LS sedan and optional in the base model. 2002: The base model got dual-zone climate controls and a cassette player as standard equipment. 2003: The driver-side airbag and OnStar were moved back to the option list for the LS. But XM satellite radio with a 100-channel digital receiver was also added to the option list. 2004: The supercharged Impala SS, was introduced. It had 240-hp, sport suspension tuning, and 17 inch wheels. 2005: The SS had chrome-finished 17s as a new option along with minor trim changes outside and different front headrests. LS cars were now available with a front bench seat for 6-passenger capacity. . COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE CHEVROLET IMPALA: Ignition Lock Cylinder - This will prevent the vehicle from starting (2004) - $300 Instrument Cluster - The gauges and lights will either stop working, or work intermittently (2004) - $350 Wiring harness failure at the A/C Accumulator Mounting Ring - The wiring can short out affecting engine performance, A/C and ABS (2002-2003) - $65 Catalytic Converter - Look for the smell of rotten eggs, lost performance and poor fuel economy (2002-2003) - $450 Transmission Pressure Control Solenoid (2000-2003) - $400 Ignition Lock Cylinder and Housing Assembly (2002-2003) - $430 Wiper Motor Crank Arm (2001-2003) - $65 Body Control Module (2000-2003) - $245 Power Window Motors (2001-2003) - $230 each Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Programming and the Wiring System (TSB # 01-06-04-018A) (2000) - $120 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System (2000) - $65 Connections at the Transmission Pass-Thru Connector (TSB # 02-07-30-022B) (2000) - $75 Wheel Speed Sensor (WSS) Wiring (2000) - $195 Wheel Speed Sensor (2000) - $400