‘SPORT’ is emblazoned on each rear flank of today’s Nice Price or No Dice Impala, despite the model’s traditionally non-sporting nature. Should we be good sports and overlook the debatable decals in light of the asking price?
Audi, unlike rival BMW, has never been primarily known for its two-doors, the Quattro Coupe notwithstanding. That said, Audi has made some spectacular coupes, such as the 2015 S5 manual we looked at yesterday. Offering a powerful supercharged 3.0 V6, AWD, and a slick six-speed, that coupe certainly had the goods to account for its $16,000 asking price. It also looked the part with a super clean presentation. Both factors went a long way in earning the laudable 78 percent Nice Price win the S5 took home.
Speaking of home, there’s probably no better feeling than the security of having one. Some people are not so lucky to have a roof over their heads and a door they can lock. There’s a similar sense of comfort and security in having a dependable automobile that can take you from point A to Point B safely and reliably.
Today’s 2003 Chevy Impala might be that kind of safe and reliable car, unencumbered by any other aspirations or delusions of grandeur. The ‘SPORT’ decals that have been fitted to each side are a humorously discordant addition to that basic car persona, and those pretty much elevate this eighth-generation Impala to peak kitsch status.
As noted, this is a base model Impala, evidenced by the utilitarian cloth split bench seat up front and the entry-level 3.4 V6 under the hood. That pushrod stalwart gives the car 180 horsepower to work with and 205 lb-ft of torque. The upscale LS model could be had with buckets, a center console, and a 3.8-liter six, offering 20 more horses. The lone transmission choice in either car was a four-speed automatic. Here, that gets a column shift. Other convenience features on the car include power windows and locks, cruise control, and A/C.
This generation of Impala replaced the mid-sized Lumina in Chevy’s lineup, and, hence, it’s smaller than the bulbous Caprice/Impala SS that came prior. Being Lumina-based means it’s also FWD, a first for the Impala nameplate. This model’s styling adopts the ‘Hofmeister Kink’ D-pillar and leaping Bovidae of the previous SS, but while that lends a semblance of familiarity, the element is pulled off rather awkwardly. Other than that, there’s nothing particularly offensive or brilliant about the Impala’s appearance.
This one, in silver with steel wheels and plastic wheel covers, gets a little more visual excitement from the black strips and ‘SPORT’ decals along the sides. Beneath those is a body that looks mostly straight, although it is marred by a scrape on the right-side rear wheel arch. That’s minor and doesn’t appear to have broken the paint.
In the cabin, things are pretty tidy, and both the front and rear seats look pretty inviting. An extra console has been added on the hump in the footwell, lending an extra bit of utility. Other notable features include an AM/FM/cassette stereo and the previously mentioned A/C, which is dual-zoned for some unexpected luxury.
The trunk is spacious and apparently has already been fitted with a granny’s fold-up shopping basket, which somehow feels the perfect accompaniment for a car of this sort. According to the ad, this Impala rocks a mere 87,150 miles on the clock, performs exemplary, and comes with a clean title and a two-owner history.
Sure, taken as a whole, this Chevy is dull as dishwater, but don’t such sane and staid cars have a place in this crazy world? More importantly, could this seemingly solid Chevy make its dullness palatable by way of its $4,750 asking price?
What do you say? Is this Impala worth that kind of cash, considering all the factors? Or is that too much for a car that offers the basics but not much more?
You decide!
Las Vegas, Nevada, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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