Impart thy wisdom - 2011 Impala LS for parents

My dad's down in the falls helping me on the house again and he's in the market for a replacement for his 97 Grand AM.

The local GM dealer has six 2011 Impala LSes on the lot. They all have around 45,000km on the odo and the asking price is ~$16,500.

They're obviously fleet cars of some description - most likely rentals. I've actually had a 2010 Impala rental for a 2500km round trip to a customer site about 1.5yrs ago. I found no issues with that car on what I'd call a pretty decent test drive.

So, other than the GMness and blandness of a senior-spec car. Is there anything seriously scary about an 2011 Impala LS?

Thanks in advance.

Now, the current model Impala might be great, but based on the '02 Impala LS I'm driving now, I wouldn't buy another car from GM until there is 10 years of consistently higher-than-average quality in their products, which I have yet to see. Proceed at your own risk.

45,000km equals 27,900 miles.
That is a lot of fleet (rental) service in the first year.

darkbuddha wrote: Now, the current model Impala might be great, but based on the '02 Impala LS I'm driving now, I wouldn't buy another car from GM until there is 10 years of consistently higher-than-average quality in their products, which I have yet to see. Proceed at your own risk.

Keep in mind he's replacing a 97 Grand AM which he bought with 60,000km on it. It still looks and drives ok, but it's on it's 2nd set of rocker panels.

jrw1621 said: That is a lot of fleet (rental) service in the first year.

I agree, but he's a sub 15,000 km/yr driver

My point is that in the first year the car was ridden hard which could affect long term reliability.
Your point seems to be that though starting as high-mile, he will keep it as a low-mile car.

On a side note, it is safe to say that the car has not seen accident damage. My reasoning for this is that the rental companies typically do not fix wrecked cars rather they sell them off damaged. They then typically arrive onto dealership lots, repaired, but showing very low mileage for their age. This is where you find cars like one year old with 5k miles on them.

I had a 2011 Rental with 5k miles on it. Very nice car to drive around. Smooth, quiet, great powerband, tons of space. Really my only gripes were the mileage (I averaged 23mpg during the 2 weeks I had it), poor rearward visibility, and that it had absolutely horrible understeer. We're talking horrible plow at the recommended speed on an offramp - wasn't expecting a sports car. I think it would be easily cured with tires/alignment.

I'm thinking, even with 45,000km average on the odo, they've knocked off more than $10,000 on the 2011 LS MSRP.

What's the worst that could happen?

These Impala's run forever. I was looking at a used one that was 3 years old and was driven hard by the rental agency and then salesguy owner #2.

Go for it.

IIRC, CarFax should be able to tell you if it was private owner, rental or fleet

My '02 Impala LS has had a bunch of issues, including 4 chassis computers, 3 of which were replaced out of warranty (for over $2000 out of pocket). They are notorious for fragging the transmission, and mine has the telltale hard shifting that predicts its days are numbered. It has eaten all of its bushings in 120k miles under normal driving conditions, not that you can expect bushings to survive the kind of heat and rain we get here in Florida. The front subframe loosened up causing creaks, bangs, and clunks, and a frag'd endlink. Also a common problem apparently.

Like I said, maybe the new ones are better... I would hope so since we bailed 'em out. But like I said, I want to see 10 years of solid above-average quality before I'd buy anything GM related.

I just bought a 2006 Impaler for a daily drivel. It has no aspirations as a sporting stud, nor is it exceptionally technologically advanced... I get 28mpg in mixed highway/city driving (mostly through Wendys parking lot picking up my 3 Baconators a day ;) ) It is an excellent vehicle if you don't care about the car you are driving and want a cheap to own driver.

I STRONGLY suggest one as a parent/sister/in law/soon to be ex-wife hauler.

I have a former rental - it is a 98 Ford Explorer. I got it with 39K kms on the clock. I still have it 11 years later with 209K kms. Former rentals don't scare me.

I work for a rental car agency on weekends. We see a ton of impalas. If the cars in question were rentals why bother buying one from a dealer if they bought it at an auction or rental car sales lot and are marking it up? Why not just go to rental car agency's own sales lot?

I'd recommend an impala based on what I have seen, they typically are rented by corporate customers and believe me the oil is changed regularly.

plance1 wrote: I work for a rental car agency on weekends. We see a ton of impalas. If the cars in question were rentals why bother buying one from a dealer if they bought it at an auction or rental car sales lot and are marking it up? Why not just go to rental car agency's own sales lot?

I just googled and didn't see anything nearby for a car rental sales lot. I know there's one in T. bay where he's from, but T. bay car prices are bananas. That's why he's looking while he's down here.

Seems every GM dealership in the region has at least 2 2011 Impalas with 40ish kms on the clock...

There's also a glut of 2010 Nisan Versas in the area in the $14,000 range. Half are manuals. Practical and (I assume) reliable, but doesn't exactly dazzle the old man like those impalas do.

$14k for a used Versa? That... what? Aren't these $11k new?

My parents have a '08 or so Impala and it has been a very reliable car after having an alignment done and replacing the tires, I don't think they've had to do much to keep it moving and theirs has about 100k on it now.

darkbuddha wrote: My '02 Impala LS has had a bunch of issues, including 4 chassis computers, 3 of which were replaced out of warranty (for over $2000 out of pocket). They are notorious for fragging the transmission, and mine has the telltale hard shifting that predicts its days are numbered. It has eaten all of its bushings in 120k miles under normal driving conditions, not that you can expect bushings to survive the kind of heat and rain we get here in Florida. The front subframe loosened up causing creaks, bangs, and clunks, and a frag'd endlink. Also a common problem apparently. Like I said, maybe the new ones are better... I would hope so since we bailed 'em out. But like I said, I want to see 10 years of solid above-average quality before I'd buy anything GM related.

You sure you aren't discribing a new BMW? Add blown climate control computers, exploding plastic radiators and 400. batteries to your list and you've hit the nail on the head.

Most I know with Impalas have been very happy with them. Lots of space, good economy and reliability.

pres589 wrote: $14k for a used Versa? That... what? Aren't these $11k new? My parents have a '08 or so Impala and it has been a very reliable car after having an alignment done and replacing the tires, I don't think they've had to do much to keep it moving and theirs has about 100k on it now.

Welcome to Canada . . .

BTW I checked a brand new Versa can be had for about $15K in Canada (with an autobox), so the used ones for $14K better be pretty special.

pres589 wrote: $14k for a used Versa? That... what? Aren't these $11k new? My parents have a '08 or so Impala and it has been a very reliable car after having an alignment done and replacing the tires, I don't think they've had to do much to keep it moving and theirs has about 100k on it now.

proof

Sorry - they are 2011s

You don't mention it, but a good "substitute" for those Impalas is the Malibu. A newer/better design, and a nicer driver.

pres589 wrote: $14k for a used Versa? That... what? Aren't these $11k new?

When I was looking for used Sentra's last May right after the Japanese earthquake a local dealer was totally out of Sentra's and was showing me a new $19,500 (before taxes) Nissan Versa.

I laughed......

integraguy wrote: You don't mention it, but a good "substitute" for those Impalas is the Malibu. A newer/better design, and a nicer driver.

A much nicer car in my opinion. If your dad is tall tell him to get ready to duck! The windsheild rake on the Malibu is very steep and the first time I rented one I smashed my head into the A-pillar 3 times before I realized how low you must go. (I must be a slow learner.)