WOW! Are you SURE this is "only" a Chevy Impala? Feels much more expensive!

UPDATE MAY 2008
Still own the car; incredible service! 76,000 miles, NO major repairs; it just doesn't break. For a full-size car, gas mileage is fantastic; I get 27-28 MPG on the highway at 65++MPH with the A/C on. The car has been paid for and I have trouble justifying spending $15-30K on another car that would be much, much smaller just to get 3-6 MPG better mileage, even at $4 per gallon.

UPDATE MARCH, 2007
We still own this car, has 53,000 miles on it. I've replaced the original battery, had the front brake rotors turned, and done the usual fluids and filters. NO problems; still a great car, running strong.

MODEL DESCRIBED
2003 Impala LS 4-door sedan, 3.8L V-6 engine, 4-speed auto transmission

MAJOR OPTIONS
Leather, bucket seats (power with manual tilt), upgrade AM/FM/CD/Cass stereo with 200 watt amp, sunroof, 16" 60-series tires on aluminum wheels, heated seats, ABS brakes, traction control, gauge package, driver information screen, XM Satellite receiver, ONSTAR, dual air conditioning, auto-dimming inside mirror, side airbag (driver only), driving lights (fog lights)

OTHER OPTIONS
Tilt wheel, cruise control, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, keyless entry

PREFACE
This is our family car, was bought new in May 2003, and currently has 22,000 miles.

ENGINE
WOW! What an incredible example of a modern V-6 feeling like a 1960's big-block engine! The engine screams "This is NOT a rental car!" Some auto sites give the car with a 3.8 V-6 a 0-60 time of about 8 seconds. That makes it one of the faster full-sized four-door sedans on the market.

This engine gives this car a lot of personality. You WANT to drive it! And, the gas mileage is consistently in the 25-26 range, with long trips yielding nearly 30 MPG.

Most under-hood items are very easily accessed.

TRANSMISSION
Silky smooth, with no vibrations or harsh shifts. Absolutely flawless at all times.

INTERIOR
Incredibly comfortable seats, with fully adjustable headrests. The power seat options on both front bucket seats makes it much easier for shorter drivers to move the seat up and see over the dash and hood, while tall drivers can lower it for more head room. The grain and color of the leather seats are perfectly matched, something I have found lacking in cars costing much more.

All controls are easy to find and use. You may find the ignition key to be in an odd location--it is mounted back on the dashboard, much like cars of the past. It is much easier to find at night than many key slots blocked by the steering wheel's air bag.

The factory sunroof has a new feature I've not seen on previous GM cars. The sunshade has small slots in the sunshade, allowing air or heat to be vented out the sunroof if it is in the tilted position. If you live in a hot area, this is a great way to help keep the interior cooler. However, if the sun is in JUST the right place, you can get a little spot of direct sun hitting you in a way that can be annoying.

You will be SHOCKED by the roomy, comfortable back seat! The car has a lot more rear leg room than other four-door sedans, especially most of the imports. Very easy entry and exit in the front and back. The drop-down center armrest in the back also serves as an entry door to the trunk for long items. I've seen a lot of four-door cars that don't pay much attention to the comfort or quality of the back seat, or the leg room is a joke. This car was designed for real adults to sit comfortably on a long trip.

DASH AND CONTROLS

If you are considering one of these cars, please get one with the complete gauge package. It is very easy to read and gives the driver a complete "snapshot" of what's going on under the hood.

Switches, levers, knobs and other controls are precise, crisp and easy to use. I don't see why the button for the emergency flashers has to be so huge; seems like the space could have been better used for something you are more likely to turn on and off on a regular basis.

Steering wheel-mounted controls are a MUST if you drive in rush-hour or areas where people like to follow too close or merge into your lane with little notice. This feature really helps you keep your eyes on the road. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is very easy to grip and has a great feel.

One flaw I have found and noted in many reviews about GM cars. The fog light switch must be turned on EVERY time you turn on the headlights, or the automatic lights turn themselves on. If you want or need the extra light, it is a nuisance to have to remember to turn them on manually every time you use them.

A/C AND HEAT

The car has dual-control manual air conditioning, which means both front passengers have their own temperature control. It does not have the automatic A/C, and I think I like the manual system better. I have a 2000 Buick Park Avenue with the automatic system, and this manual system gives the users more control over the settings. The A/C is completely capable of cooling down the car after sitting in a hot 100+ degree parking lot. It is quieter than systems I've had in other cars, and I rarely have to use the highest fan setting.

The heater and front defroster seems to be top notch, but I don't get a chance to use them very often in San Antonio. The rear defroster clears a fogged window in a couple of minutes.

AUDIO SYSTEM

I've found many cars cut corners in this area. Not so with this system. Although the system doesn't have a big name attached to it such as Bose or Infinity, it is an incredible system. GREAT bass response, very crisp highs, and NO rattles or distortion when you hear your favorite song playing and want to crank it up. Very good tracking on the CD player; you have to hit a pretty big hole or dip to make it skip.

Now for my personal pet peeve about new GM cars. Most dealers order cars with the XM Satellite receiver. If you like XM, fine. I don't, but if I did, I would prefer ONE plug-and-play receiver that I could take from one car to another. If you own two cars that both have the XM receivers built into the audio system, you will pay for two subscriptions or get a family plan. Unless you want an XM receiver in one car, this option is a waste of money.

HANDLING

Great road feel at all times. The ride is stiffer than my Buick, but not rough. The trade-off for the slightly firmer ride is it takes curves very well.

The traction control keeps you from spinning the wheels on a wet street (very easy to do with the powerful engine) and the antilock brakes keep you from locking up the wheels in a hard stop.

The only complaint I have is that you can look down and find yourself doing 85-90 MPH and not realize it! Yeah, it is THAT smooth!

NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS

This is one very well built car! In more than two years of use, it hasn't developed one squeak, noise or vibration. The Goodyear Eagle GS tires give off some road noise, but it is totally tolerable. I've had problems with several Goodyear tires on other cars, so when they are due for replacement, I will probably go with Michelins.

The assembly quality is very high; I've not found one item that was not installed properly, or has worked loose or failed due to assembly problems.

MAINTENANCE

Except for regular oil changes, we've not had to do any repairs on this car. However, there is one issue with Chevrolet you need to be aware of if you are thinking of purchasing one. Chevy dealers seem to vary significantly in the quality of their service. Some are great, while others seem to think their job is to tell you nothing is wrong with your car.

While not an issue on this car since it has not needed any repairs, I've changed dealers for any service work on my 2003 Silverado. If thinking about buying a Chevrolet, ask other people that own them which dealer they use, and if they are satisfied. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF THE SERVICE FROM THEIR DEALERS!

OVERALL EVALUATION

This car is a great buy for the money! It is well put together, comfortable, dependable, and affordable to operate and insure. We compared this car to a Buick Regal GS, but chose the Impala for two reasons:

a) The Impala uses regular gas, while the supercharged 3.8 in the Buick takes premium. With gas pushing $3 per gallon, this was a smart move!

b) The Impala had MORE content than the Buick Regal, for LESS money!

Unless you just MUST buy a certain brand, this car is a MUST SEE if you are looking for a family car or a four-door sedan.