Bought an Impala...wish it was a '96 SS...

2010 Impala LT. This belonged to my wife's grandmother, who can no longer drive. http://victoriatx.craigslist.org/cto/3141026399.html We’re buying it from her Uncle Ted, who has been storing it.

It’s got low miles, the 211hp 3.5 V6, and it’s a Chevy, but it’s pretty freaking boring. I look at it and I think, gee, I'm almost 40....

It’s for Misty to commute in. Her daily round-trip is now over 45-miles, and the '01 Grand Prix keeps having issues…it has 160K miles on it now, and currently it’s down with a blown power steering line. Her Dad called her yesterday, they’d talked with Uncle Ted, and made us an offer too good to pass up.

SO first on the list is trying to make it a little less boring. Fix the scratch in the front bumper right off. Factory painted LTZ spoilers are $120-130 on Ebay, then will be looking for some 17-inch LTZ wheels to replace the 16-inch LT’s, and possibly an SS grill to make it look a little less like a rental car.

Window tint is high on the list once the car is home. Also, and this is so cheap, LT’s do not have a fold-down center arm rest in the middle of the rear seat…no cupholders back there either. I thought ALL cars had those now. LTZ models have the arm rest/console in the back. Time to hit the salvage yards! They’ve made these since ’06, so hopefully I’ll be able to find some nicer trim and such in the newer sections of the yards.

I was enjoying not having a car payment…but we need a reliable family car. Such fun. I miss my Roady.

-Mike

 

Well I'm a Uncle Ted..... I have not seen any $ yet!


Congrats on honey's new drive. Though I do have to say.... With all the great rides you have had and do have, one of these (IMO) Impalas by name only, I just can't get a mental picture of it, in your drive way, parked with your cool rides, it's just not you, it just does not belong.....


....but then again, I did buy my honey a mini van, then a SUV:confused:

 

Yep I tend to agree, does not fit me. I like old cars, not new plastic-crap stuff. That said, it's for her, and if it makes her happy and I can still play with my old cars....then life's good.

 

Trade it for a '96 SS!

 

Really?...would you..except the trade?..

Honeys's rides are one thing... Keep mama happy, and the house stays happy.....and you can mess around with alot of toys, so long as.....read above

 

My sister recently bought almost the twin to this only hers is loaded. Single lady, needed reliability, decent fuel economy, reasonable looking, and not too showy but still in her view a real nice car. She loves it. She drives city bus for a living so is on the go all the time and when she is not working she is running around doing stuff with and for her friends so this has worked out quite nicely for her. Not the kind of car I'd want but what the heck, as Tedy says, keep her happy and the rest of you are allowed to be happy too. And with that commute she has, you don't want to have to worry about her and a broken car on the highway. Having to do that drive every day is already a chore so adding to it by not having a decent car to drive just makes it that much more of a burden.

As you say, put on some nice wheels, spiff it up in your usual fashion, and your friends and neighbors will all know that Misty got a new car without thinking you've gone over to the dark side.

 

I feel the same way. Bought an off rental '10 Cobalt for my wife when her '92 Skylark was nickel and diming us constantly. At least Misty isn't getting the compact class. It is nice looking though, but I am sure it will look great after you work your magic on it.

 

It's ok with me.




Or maybe you could do this to it...






or this...





but don't do this, unless you REALLY like it...

 

Well Fannie, I have to say, you ruined my breakfast. As I was sitting here reading the posts and eating my wheaties up popped your post. OMG - good thing I'm sitting on the back deck is all I can say.

 

There is a guy in College Station selling some SS wheels for the FWD Impala. We have not even picked up the car yet and I'm looking for wheels for it.

Thanks for the comments. I'm not excited about having a car payment again, but this will hopefully make my wife happy, and she does needs a reliable commuter car. Such fun.

-Mike

 

SS wheels:


I think these look better on the car:

 

Yep I like those bottom ones too. And the spoiler....on the list for sure.

Other than the wheels and spoiler the bottom car looks like ours. Good to know with some small upgrades I can make it look less like an old rental car.

 

If this were me and I was thinking it looked like a rental I'd put apersonalized licence plate frame that says "It Hurtz"

Nice wheels and the spoiler sure do make that car look better.

 

It Hurtz! Ha! I love it!!

 

My '96 SS just sits rotting in the driveway. I have driven it about 4k miles in the last 10 years. Pretty pathetic.