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What do you guys think about these cars to buy?

SF9777

SF9777

New member
Ok so i have not been on for a while since well no GP, but recently im gettin some signs that i might be able to buy a car soon but not sure yet. I wanted to GP but since i cant find any around here i've been looking at one car and i really like this one car and thats the 2012 and 2013 Chevy Impala. LS, LT or LTZ either one but i prefer the LT or LTZ because of the sun roof and fogs option. I don't like the rear views on it because they are so small but i can find a way around it. im going to buy it used from most likely CarMax, But i want your guys Opinion on this. What do you guys think about that impala and its performance, safety, reliability etc. I really like the car but i really want to know if it is really reliable as long as i take care of it very well. Also you think it will be a great DD? i also have looked at the Chargers and others too but i like the impala mainly because i can get one for less than 15k.

Another thing is why i ask is because i have been hearing a lot on not to get American cars and that they are not good in a long run and stuff and to get imports blah blah blah. I will stay away from Ford which i dont like anyway but the only american car i stick with Chevy. Dodge, maybe, but i like chevy and i like the impala too. A simple nice sedan thats pretty quick, not super fast, but not bad with that new engine and pretty good MPG with 21/31 MPG. So what do you guys think about that debate about American cars, you guys think people should just buy imports like BMW, Merc, Audi, etc. Or give American cars a try.

I really dont want a car thats going to be a money pit with parts, however i understand that past 100k there might be some stuff going wrong but not anytime before that. and i will take car of it really well and i mean well. Like changing out stock carp and putting in good stuff like Synthetic oil, better coolant and other fluids. Better Plugs n wires, HIDs, high flow filter like K&N cone or panel filter. pretty much maintain it really well. BUT i will be driving like a maniac with it like speeding but its not going to be a everyday or every min thing. But ya i just want your guys opinions on this and what you guys think about the Impala and American cars.

And any other suggestions on other cars that i can get used preferably at Carmax with less than 80k miles and less than 15k thats pretty quick or decent like the GTP stock or this Impala please let me know so i can research them and see how good they are and safe and great on MPG etc. Thanks again guys.
 


I have driven a bunch of them from no option LS to SS and they drive decent but the mirrors suck and so do the GIANT rear headrests so seeing behind you can be kind of hard. If you can get one with a direct injected 3.6, they are pretty comparable power numbers to the GXP/SS(actually only 3 less at 300 even)
 
I'm going back to imports on my next car. It's sad that American cars can't match up with the quality of the Japanese. They have been behind in that department for a few decades now.
 
New American cars are starting to actually out score imports as of late. New impala is third highest ranking of family sedans from consumer reports. Last I checked imports were starting to fall behind domestics in certain departments.
 
I would skip the Impala. I drove a '12 LTZ fully loaded except sunroof, and was far from impressed. I'm weary of the 3900, and the interior felt cramped for how big the car was. Visibility was worse than an 04+ GP (which is laughable at best). The car had 10k miles and the seats looked like my 15 year old GP.

It wasn't a great design in 2006, and still isn't a great design.
 


They didnt make the 3.9 in 2012 though, you mean 3.6?

The 12-13' impala are okay at best IMO, literally like nothing changed on the inside on them changed since 2008.
 
It must have been an '11 now that I think about it. It was early spring of '12 when I drove it. Any way, I know it had a 3900. Wasn't it in '12 they switched to the 3.6 and the 6 speed trans?
 
I think so and they are pretty quick, same v6, (not even detuned way to go GM) as the v6 cts and camaros.
 
Ya the 12-13 had the new 3.6 VVT 300hp engine, i like that one and the impala sure has nothing changed in the inside but im not looking for something all that fancy. However ya the side rear views i hate because they are so small and the back window now that i look at it are small. On our SUV the rear window is small and im so high up that i cant see cars behind me when parallel parking. But i think i might have this problem with the impala too, i think.

SO would the the 12-13 impala still be a car i should consider or just look for something else. and if something else, what then? looking for a auto four door sedan thats pretty quick but does not have to be super quick but like just a 15 sec car or better. since most cars out there are like 15 sec car or well mid 15.

Also ya i have seen the new 2014 Impala being rated as "The best family sedan" right now. So im guessing the 12-13 impala prices to go down, but you guys think its wont be a good DD or reliable engine? Also you guys think i should just stay away since i dont like the small rear views and back window too? And ya should i look into the 2012+ Chargers? The Se or which ever is the base trim?

EDIT: I forgot to mention ya the power is comparable to the SS/GXP at 300HP, however the torque is so low which makes this car slower than the SS/GXP by like a full sec.
 
Bump.

Hey so im kinda just stuck on that 2012 Impala (LT most likely) and well cause i cant find any other good car out there. My parents are only going to want to by from CarMax because we brought our SUV from their and they are a lot better on peoples credit then dealers. what i mean by that is that they take any credit and other dealers here dont and even when they say they do they really dont.

So from that i looked up everything my local CarMax and other Carmax close to here has and cant find any Pontiac GTP/SS Impala (00-05), or anything else like that. Only some gay G6 GTs, however ive found quite a few cars that ive heard online are really good cars for under 15k and pretty quick/sporty too. What i have found are these 03-04 Infiniti G35 Sedan for like 14-15k with like 65k miles on it. And these Acura TL 3.2 04 for like the same price with 70k miles. Nothing on BMW or AUdi or Lexus. the Mazdas look retarded and well ya. YOu guys think the G35 or Acura TL are good cars or even better and reliable than the Impala ive been looking at? And also the Chargers ive heard are not that reliable nor or the 300c, also i cant find any Subaru Impreza WRX for that cheap either or even any Legacy 2.5GT even.

So you guys think those two cars ive found are great and should consider them over the Impala and are more reliable, good to work on the engine, etc. Also if is that 2012 Impala ok if i get it like reliability wise or should i just stay clear away from it? ALso i looked that the Malibu the 08+ which i like the LTZ But, when i heard that its a PITA to change the light bulb because you have to take out the whole bumper. I just said no, ill stick with the impala. But i want your guys opinions, is the Impala ok or stay away?
 


13-15k for a car thats 10 years old, yeah about that.

You'd be crazy or just stupid to pay that amount, and besides pretty soon some major repairs will be needed on both those cars.
 
Ya thats what i was thinking, thats why i was looking at the new cars such as the 2012 Impala or 08+ Malibu. However the 2013 Malibu is pretty nice but pricey too for the new 2.0 Turbo engine LT/LTZ.

I was looking at newer cars and could only come across the impala, what do you think? Its not bad to get a 2012 for less than 15k and some of them have anywhere from 11-34k miles on em. BUT just one thing they all used to be fleet/rental cars. I know the GP we had was one too and it had problems on em. But this is coming from Carmax which lots of people said they take care of their cars and make sure to sell em in really great condition. So you think its ok or no, most of the impalas are going to be fleet since no one is going to trade their brand new impala anytime soon.
 
Have you tried searching private sellers? 10-15k and you can't find any wrxs or 08+ Malibus? Don't sound right.
 
i did and a found a few but there far and also they got high miles on em like over 100k. Not only that my parents dont got the money to pa right up front and want to go through payments with the dealer/bank instead and plus they want to buy from carmax only.

Im pretty much stuck on the 2012 Impala so do you guys think i should stick with that car or just stay away and keep on looking for something else? Or is this impala really good enough to get?
 


Hey this thread is kinda of a waste so i just need a answer on this and your guys opinion.

2012 Chevy Impala LS/LT/LTZ which ever one i get 15k or less with 40k or less miles. Should i get or NO? Good car with good MPG, Performance and great reliability with the new 3.6 VVT 300hp low torque engine and new 6 Spd Auto Trans. Or should i stay away from it and look at something else like the Volkswagen Passat ive seen with new 3.6 V6 or something. Cause i seen lots of Chargers R/T and 300C Hemi at car max but ive heard they are not reliable so i stay away from them. But the 2012-2013 Impala, good car or NO. going to be a DD to college and stuff and sometimes maybe every blue moon take it up north to San Fran from SoCal.

I dont mind that the interior is not all that good compared to its competitors for a 2012, as long its good clean and not cheap crap the will go bad. Also most of all the Impalas at Car Max have been RENTAL OR FLEET. Is that ok since its coming from car max or just F the Rental cars. What do you guys think?
 
Last year I had an Impala LTZ as a rental car. I'm partial to GM, and liked the Impala so maybe this will be biased. Actually wanted to get an SS before I found my STS (which I just sold). The car isn't terribly exciting. It is comfortable, had plenty of room, and honestly I was a little surprised by the pep from the 3.6. Overall, the car rode well, drove nice, got good mpg's and wasn't too bad. I wouldn't shy away from a Rental/Fleet car. Generally, if it is from one of the large rental shops they are maintained pretty well. I say if the price fits your budget, and you like the car, and it runs and drives nice, go for it. But I also think that Carmax charges a little bit of a premium and that you could get the same car cheaper from a private party. And if you work with your bank or credit union you should be able to still finance the car, you would just need the seller to come to your bank with the title or bank they are financing through to pay everything off.
 
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