2004 Chevrolet Impala LS from North America - Comments

Want to keep Americans working, then look at the percentage of north American parts being used in the vehicle. The Toyota Truck struggled to get the 51% American parts content that NASCAR required them to have. The other three (Chevy, Dodge, and Ford) average between 75% and 90% north American parts content. So which truck is doing more for our economy? Which vehicle's profits stay in the USA and Canada? In May, ABC World News Tonight, reported that every vehicle GM made in North America, provided more than 9 additional jobs accross this country. Think about that. If GM sells 200,000 less cars, there will be 1.8 million american workers looking for employment. If Honda or Toyota sells 200,000 less cars will it have the same effect?

Right now, Hyundai is running a commercial showing their modern assembly plant located somewhere in Alabama. Talks about how they are providing jobs, but the vehicle they assemble at this plant has 97% non-american parts in it. Besides the people working directly at this plant how many jobs does this vehicle really create for this country?

Again, look at the parts content and think about where the profit goes. What you buy and where the money goes does have an impact on our economy.

(QUOTE FROM COMMENT 14) "As for manufacturing, you can no longer be sure that your purchase may or may not support working Americans on brand origin alone. American carmakers have used Canadian and Mexican labor to build their vehicles while the Japanese have increased their utilization of American labor to build and, in some cases, even design their vehicles. And, especially with Mitsubishi, UAW workers have been used to build Japanese cars."

You are right, but only to a point. Nowhere in your article do you state where the FINAL PROFITS end up. GM and Ford's final profits end up in Detroit and Dearborn, MI. These profits help to sustain the Michigan economy, and the economy of many other cities around the country, Kansas City, KS, Moraine, OH, Lordstown, OH, Tonawonda, NY, Arlington, TX, NUMMI, CA, Janesville, WI, Doraville, GA, Orion, MI, Pontiac, MI, and a myriad of other cities across the nation and North America. Toyota has Toyota has NUMMI, CA, Ontario, and Kentucky's plant. Honda has Ohio. That's it. GM employs almost 10 fold the number of workers that Honda and Toyota employ in the continental US; Ford too. Also, Toyota has been employing people in Canada and Japan also. So, they are "on-par" with GM in that respect; producing vehicles in Canada or other countries in North America. So, think final profits, and the amount of actual employees that GM and Ford both employ in the US.

GM, Ford and Chrysler ALL build great cars. As for Japanese cars, my family has had Toyotas, Mazdas (made before Ford took it over), Nissans and Hondas. None of the Japanese cars were as reliable as any of the "Big Three" cars were. The best of the Japanese cars was the Toyota (a Celica) and the worst was the Mazda (an RX-7). Not ONE of the American made cars EVER had a major problem, including a Dodge that went 240,000, a Buick that went 277,000 and a Ford that went 325,000. I come from a family of mechanics and car enthusiasts, and after brief forays into owning Japanese and German cars we have all reached the conclusion that no vehicles built anywhere in the world can match the overall value and quality of American made vehicles.

Gee, don't you just love these guys who buy an American car, abuse the heck out of it, then come on and post a review that says something like "After only 250,000 miles the cigarette lighter quit working so I'm dumping this American garbage and buying JAPANESE!!!"

I take excellent care of all my cars. They are serviced regularly, I use only synthetic oil, the paint is waxed twice a year and the interiors are kept immaculate. Not one of my American cars has ever had one single mechanical problem other than one warped brake rotor. In January of 2006 I sold my American made truck for $1000 less than I bought it for new in October of 2000. I'd say that speaks volumes for resale value. (and yes, it was low mileage and mint).

Every day hundreds of hard-working Americans lose their jobs to foreign countries, but NO, I don't drive American cars out of patriotism. I drive them because they are the best built, best value cars made anywhere on the planet.

My family has put over 200,000 on a number of American made cars with only routine maintenance. In a moment of insanity some years back we did buy one Japanese car. It lost 50% of its purchase price in two years, and never made it to 100,000 miles. Serves me right. I should never have listened to the ravings of car magazine writers who no doubt receive huge fees and free booze for hyping anything not made in the USA.

Any time I see people bashing GM cars and referring to them as "garbage" or "unreliable", I think of my late father and the cars he owned. We were extremely poor, and the most my dad ever paid for a car was $200 for a 1955 Pontiac with 100,000 miles on it in 1965. My family STILL has that '55 Pontiac. After 52 YEARS it has had one engine overhaul (rod bearings, rings and seals) and two paint jobs. The old 4-speed hydramatic transmission has never been touched. It still runs flawlessly and is now relegated to short trips or car shows. It's probably worth about 50 times what my dad paid for it (so much for "poor resale value!!"). It has close to 300,000 miles on it and is totally original inside and out. The family also owns a 1977 Buick LeSabre that has well over 240,000 miles on it. Dependable? I'd say yes, definitely. We now have much more money than we did growing up poor in Appalachia, but we still drive GM cars (and one Ford truck). We've never had a problem with any new GM car we have bought...EVER. I like spending my money where it helps people in THIS country, so I WON'T be buying an import, even if they were cheaper or better (and they are neither). I really appreciate those of you who buy and defend American cars and American jobs. My late father was a real patriot. I know he'd be appreciative of you too.

I have to agree with most GM reviews. Myself and my family have had many GM cars through out the years, including... to name a few, 1996 Sunfire, 2000 Buick Regal LS, 2004 Chevrolet Impala, 2004 Buick Century and 2003 and 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and most recent my brothers 2008 Chevrolet Aveo.... sweet looking and riding car! All these cars have been great though the years... SO IT'S AMERICAN CARS FOR ME AND MY EXTENDED FAMILY!!! GO GM!!!

Totally agree with the above posts. I bought a new GM car a couple years ago ('05 Impala) specifically to support GM after getting rid of the old one with 168,000 miles on it. Both are excellent. Many people think that if something is built in the US it means supporting the US, but in the case of imports all the profit still goes overseas to company headquarters. It's not where it's built, it's where the company is located. Fortunately there are still a lot of people who will continue to invest in US-based companies.

The Impala is a garden variety north American car at best.

I own a 2004 with 34,000mi over 3 1/2 years. Sun roof sticks, brake rotor problems, ABS/Traction Control problems, horn quit, wheel bearing issues.

First time I had it in for warped rotors, the dealer said I should have had my calipers serviced. Calipers serviced??? I asked a couple of mechanics about this and just got a puzzled look and "What are you talking about". I was told by a GM garage mechanic that they had brake problems, but I leased one anyway.

I have a 2001 Camry with triple the miles and a lot less issues. Too many GM problems for my liking.

North American (big three) have no one to blame but themselves for losing market share. It will be my last new GM.