Revamped 2008 Chev Malibu

Venetian · 12-22-2007, 01:46 PM

Car is getting great reviews. A totally new design aimed at Accord/Camry. Thinking of getting one for my wife. Would be nice to buy domestic. Any comments good or bad?

tcar · 12-22-2007, 01:55 PM

I would NOT buy a first year GM car. Bugs, bugs...

Good reviews, tho. Sounds like it might be a v. nice car.

dd74 · 12-22-2007, 01:57 PM

It's a good looking car - better than the Camry IMO. And because they're fairly common, I suggest you and your wife go to a rental car company and rent one for a day to see how it fits. There's no reason Chevrolet shouldn't build as good a car with the Malibu as Toyota does with the Camry.

BeyGon · 12-22-2007, 02:41 PM

If they came as the Malibu Maxx SS my wife would be driving one.

carnutzzz · 12-22-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

I would NOT buy a first year GM car. Bugs, bugs...

Good reviews, tho. Sounds like it might be a v. nice car.

I don't think it's really "all new". It's built on the Epsilon platform and is component sharing with quite a few cars already running around in Europe.

Heck- you'll get a warranty, give it a shot if you'd like. Personally I'd check out the Pontiac G8 first...

Chocaholic · 12-22-2007, 03:24 PM

Yes...getting great press. It's good to see. I hope it lives up to the hype.

Oh Haha · 12-22-2007, 06:51 PM

I was taken by th elooks of the Malibu , too. It is the same platform as the Saturn Aura. I like the Aura's styling better, though.

I have been seeing them around the GM plants we service and really was interested in buying one.

I stopped to look one over a few weeks ago. Beautiful red paint, charcoal interior, nice wheels.

WTH???? Runs in the paint???!!!!!

Yup, 2 runs on the driver's side. I'm sorry but that is just unacceptable nowadays, even on an entry or midsize car. if the dealer had been open I would have said something. Totally turned off now. Too bad for GM, I guess. We are back to looking at used European vehicles.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Butt ugly and poor quality. It lives up to it's name.

Chocaholic · 12-23-2007, 03:13 AM

I think both of you guys are running back to Europe prematurely. Not sure what's behind Flintstone's bashing since he doesn't indicate if he's ever even seen one. You think the European's and Japanese don't have flaws?

Give it a chance, man. If GM is willing to invest in uplifting the product, why not cut them some slack and give it some honest consideration. Heck...the dealership was closed. For all you know they fixed a damaged panel at the dealership and screwed it up.

Normy · 12-23-2007, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Give it a chance, man. If GM is willing to invest in uplifting the product, why not cut them some slack and give it some honest consideration. Heck...the dealership was closed. For all you know they fixed a damaged panel at the dealership and screwed it up.

The general motors corporation is only interested in building a profit. They don't give a damn about the quality of their cars- they only improve them if they feel that they will lose sales if they don't. That's the essential difference between European/Japanese car companies and US makes.

Chocaholic · 03:40 AM

Normy....I believe the same has been said about Porsche in recent years. On this bulletin board. It's called "business". By the way...look at Mercedes quality ratings in recent years. What you describe applies to every car company. They have stock-holders and MUST focus on profit if they're to survive. Do you really think the Japanese and Europeans that are building good cars do it because of pride or desire only??? NO. It's a competitive market, and their survival depends on it. Just like GM.

All I'm saying is that the snobbery here is unsettling. I don't know anything about the Malibu other than what I've seen in the media. But, why not give an American company a shot...at least a look...before dissing the product? I own two Japanese cars and a European motorcycle. I'm just as guilty, but I'm going to look at the new Malibu with an open mind. If it's that good, I may have one in my garage. If not, eff em.

Oh Haha · 05:25 AM

GM is one of our largest customers so I would gladly buy from them. In fact, I drive two of their vehicles right now. Our entire company fleet is GM.

As I said, I was excited about the new Malibu, having seen it before others on the GM lots and talking to the executives that were driving them, testing wise.

The crappy build quality of my HHR is PART of the reason that, when I saw the paint flaws I just was turned off. My HHR has had to have a new wheel hub, shifter assembly, brakes replaced, and there are more rattles and squeaks than my 26 year old 911. I have 48,000 miles and I don't drive it hard.

Living in the Detroit area beings a different mindset to some folks. We have been a GM family for many, many years. My grandfathers were both employed by the company.

EDIT: If the dealership fixed the panel, they did a great job matching the paint as you could not tell. Seriously, that;s why I figured it came out of the factoy that way.

BTW--We are also looking at Ford Freestyles and the Mazda(part Ford) wagon thingy.

David · David's Garage

The last Malibu had poor side impact protection. I'd check the new one's crash performance.

Danny_Ocean · 12-23-2007, 06:21 AM

Eh...looks like a Camry to me...

lm6y · 12-23-2007, 07:07 AM

Still have the same 60 degree V6 with the 4t60E ? Maybe they will get the lower intake manifold gasket problem fixed this year.

Who am I kidding, it's GM. It will have the crappy gasket problem, and it will have Dex-Cool with stop-leak in it too. The only time they fix something is if it costs them money in the long run.

Sorry, the last GM to impress me in the last 15 years was the GTO.

Before we get into an e-pissing match about it's performance, I'm talking about the fit and finish, the ride quality, and the way it felt. When you closed the door, it made that satisfying clunk like a new 64 Buick. Everything about the car felt solid, unlike everything else in the GM lineup that feels like a Cavalier. no matter how much it costs.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

GM is still paying for the sins of the 1970s and 1980s. I don't think they realize how hard it is to regain market share once it's given away, and back in the 70s and 80s they not only gave it away, they THREW it away.

The Japanese carmakers own the U.S. now. And GM ain't getting that back anytime soon. Go into any parking lot and count the percentage of Japanese versus American cars. Bet it's about 60% or more. The only thing the U.S. manufacturers have been good at doing the last few years is building big, dumb SUVs and pick-em-up trucks, while continuing to ignore the passenger car market.

the · 12-23-2007, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

GM is still paying for the sins of the 1970s and 1980s.

Plenty of sinning going on through the 90's, and beyond, too.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Yep...it tries real hard to look like an Accord. You can put Rosie O'Donnel in Jessica Simpsons clothes...and I still would not date her. Don't believe the hype that it anything like a Camry or Accord...or even has the fit and finish that the prepped models they give the press to drive. If you are looking for a cheap knock-off...you might as well save some money and buy a Kia and save some money. The huge gold bowtie on the front and back looks downright cheap and tacky (understated elegance...not)...might as well buy some big gold chains to wear when you drive it.
It does seem improved over the previous model...but that really sets the bar low.

Chocaholic · 12-23-2007, 09:09 AM

Flint...have you seen or driven it? You seem to have a pretty strong opinion...just wondering if it's based on anything viable.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Venetian - My son is a branch manager for Enterprise Car Rentals (about to move out of Rental into Fleet) and he says they aregetting a lot of positive comments about their new Malibu's. Of course they tend to buy lowest common denominator models, not the nicer model you would probably buy with....? Leather? GPS? Nicer allow wheels, whatever.

Coincidentally, my neighbor JUST came home with a new one last weekend. It is black with the factory alloy wheels in chrome. I gotta admit, I haven't been much into a domestic car in a log time but if I were still in the market for a four door family type car I'd give this one serious consideration. It's truly a nice looking car. I'll be interested in hearing/seeing what you end up buying.