GTP Cool Wall: 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala

[Wiegert]

2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala nominated by @Obelisk

Body Style: 4-door sedan
Engines: NA 3.4L V6, NA 3.8L V6, Supercharged 3.8L V6
Power: 180 hp, 200 hp, 240 hp
Torque: 205 ft-lbs, 225 ft-lbs, 280 ft-lbs
Weight: 1572 kg (all - varies with options)
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-engine, front wheel drive
Additional Information: This generation of Impala had a column shifter and a two section front bench seat, or an optional floor shifter with normal seats. It posted a quite average .75 Gs on a skidpad. Several areas in New York still use entire squads of the Impala's cruiser trim, and the cruiser spec has been featured as the police unit in CSI, Person of Interest, and some other police dramas I can't recall.​

Spoiler: More photos

 

[ThrasherDBS]

Such an interesting car.

Meh.

 

[GTP_Ingram]

If you squint a bit, the back end looks like an R34 Skyline.

 

[Obelisk]

I am an owner of a 2005 Impala, so I may be biased, but here we go.

The Impala really isn't much. As some people say, "transport". But it's a hell of a comfortable ride and makes a nice noise. It isn't quick or all that powerful, but it does its job.

@GTP_Ingram you can buy bumpers at CARiD that makes it look like a GT-R.

I give it a 'cool'.

 

[TripleA5]

Used to have a red one as the family car, it was a pretty decent car. My parents always talk about how great it was (compared to our Sierra ) It was comfortable with lots of space. I also like the styling of it, especially in SS trim.

 

[FT-1]

Mostly boring, but....

If you squint a bit, the back end looks like an R34 Skyline.

That's a redeeming factor. Plus, the SS model looks quite smart which brings it to a 'meh'.

 

[Kamata GTR]

Best looking Impala, 2nd being the recent one because of it's egh rear.

Eh.

 

[AudiMan2011]

Average taxi cab.

Meh.

 

[nick98]

It's alright.

Meh.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Crafted during GM's "eh, good enough" days.

Nondescript transport, which puts it at Uncool for me, but not Seriously so, as it's not really trying.

 

[LM7325]

About as meh as a car gets. The 3800 engine always impressed with it's smooth power delivery, and decent low down grunt, making any gear but overdrive almost moot. The 3400 is perfectly ok, just look after those lower intake manifold gaskets.

Too bad this gen missed out on the 5.3 though.

 

[homeforsummer]

It's definitely a car, yes.

 

[Obelisk]

About as meh as a car gets. The 3800 engine always impressed with it's smooth power delivery, and decent low down grunt, making any gear but overdrive almost moot. The 3400 is perfectly ok, just look after those lower intake manifold gaskets.

Too bad this gen missed out on the 5.3 though.

Oh, I have the 3400...Are the gaskets bad on that part of the manifold, or do they just get chewed up fast?

 

[Wiegert]

If you squint a bit, the back end looks like an R34 Skyline.

Part of me wondered if the NYPD actually used these "Nissan" saloons as squad cars after seeing The Bourne Ultimatum. Unstable camera work during a certain chase scene made it almost impossible for someone then-unfamiliar with US models to correctly ID the badging. Only figured out what it was thanks to my cousin's Maisto diecast model.

Hardly worth a second glance, but these were half-decent looking cars other than the ungainly side profile. Probably would have considered voting cool if they weren't so easily mistaken for other foreign white goods.

 

[FerrariF1GT]

Transport, although I admit the letters don't look as stylish as it is in violet boldface.

 

[LM7325]

Oh, I have the 3400...Are the gaskets bad on that part of the manifold, or do they just get chewed up fast?

The stock gasket was prone to failure, chances are your car may have already had them replaced.

 

[Obelisk]

The stock gasket was prone to failure, chances are your car may have already had them replaced.

Yeah, I got mine with 149k miles on it. Likely new gaskets in place already.

 

[Tornado]

Because of the 3.4, it wasn't even fantastic at being something you would only buy if you managed a fleet.

 

[Doog]

When I was little, my family rented a new one of these in Idaho and my dad spilt root beer all over his cellphone in it. Nowadays, these don't have quite the white trash vibes of the equivalent Pontiac, so that's good for at least a meh.

 

[The87Dodge]

Probably one of the most bland and uninteresting cars that GM has ever pumped out. Not even the "sporty" SS is anywhere near exciting, full of plastic cladding and only produces 240 horsepower. Most of the people that drive these today are old ladies.

Uncool.

 

[Obelisk]

Probably one of the most bland and uninteresting cars that GM has ever pumped out. Not even the "sporty" SS is anywhere near exciting, full of plastic cladding and only produces 240 horsepower. Most of the people that drive these today are old ladies.

Uncool.

Only 240...Can I point out that you called 255 HP (Chrysler 300M Special) a lot?
Edit: Not trying to discredit you or anything, but...you know.

 

[Cowboy]

As cool as a Pontiac Bonneville.

Meh.

 

[Casey]

I like the SS models and the rest of them are not that bad imo.

Meh.

 

[Neddo]

Slushbox and thristy weak engines take this down to uncool

 

[Doog]

Slushbox and thristy weak engines take this down to uncool

Who the hell would want a manual in a big FWD sedan?

 

[Neddo]

Who the hell would want a manual in a big FWD sedan?

Also another reason is FWD. But manual would put it higher

 

[Wolfe]

Who the hell would want a manual in a big FWD sedan?

I would. Why wouldn't I?

I'm aware the market is small (in this country), but it's not clear whether you're referring to economic viability or a plain absolute.

 

[Sage Ages]

Appliance.

 

[Tornado]

Only 240...Can I point out that you called 255 HP (Chrysler 300M Special) a lot?
Edit: Not trying to discredit you or anything, but...you know.

A supercharged 3800 would wipe the floor with the 300M (until the transmission blew up, at least) and could hang right in there with any Northstar car GM sold.



But. Pontiac put a decent amount of effort into making that engine part of a package, be it in the Bonneville SSEI or the Grand Prix GTP. And the Buicks that used the same powertrain... Well, that was a Buick, so who cared if it rode like a waterbed. Chevrolet, in comparison, took their airport rental car/second rate police car, put the 3800SC in it without changing much else about it, and then called it a successor to the (overrated but still beloved) mid 90s Impala. For the time, the 300M was a reasonably good car in that sort of dying segment. By the time the Impala SS came out, it wasn't even near the best car GM made on that specific platform of GM cars.

 

[Adamgp]

Love the W-bodies, especially with the L67, I miss mine a lot.

Cool.