Most Popular Mid Sized Cars

[the_smurf2008]

Here is a link to an article that discusses the increase in midsized car sales. It appears Malibu has the greatest growth.

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...NsawNtaWRzaXpl

Most Popular Mid-Size Cars
June was one of the worst-ever months for automakers, but some mid-size and crossover vehicles proved popular.
By Jacqueline Mitchell, Forbes.com
Hybrids and small, fuel-efficient cars are in short supply, and the auto industry, in general, is having one of its worst years ever.
But auto buyers, driven by rapidly rising gas prices, found some appealing fuel-efficient mid-sized and crossover vehicles in the $18,000 to $30,000 range. Sales of some models in this segment surged in June 2008, compared with June 2007, and the increase provided a ray of hope to automakers otherwise struggling to stay afloat
The biggest winners were the Chevrolet Malibu sedan (25 mpg), sales up 73.4% in June 2008 compared with June 2007; Honda Accord sedan (24 mpg), sales up 54%; Chevrolet Equinox crossover (19 mpg), sales up 45.9; Subaru Forester crossover (22 mpg), sales up 41%; and Pontiac G6 sedan (25 mpg), sales up 34.2%.

[RamJet502]

The new Malibu is one of the best cars GM has put out in quite awhile, glad to see them doing well.

[jkennedy293]

Originally Posted by the_smurf2008

Here is a link to an article that discusses the increase in midsized car sales. It appears Malibu has the greatest growth.

It only has the greatest growth because the old Malibu sucked so bad, and had such crappy sales. Don't get me wrong, the new Malibu is definitely on par or better than the Camry and Accord.

[prototype66]

people knock the G6 for no good reason. Great car considering it came out in 06 and has respecable numbers, same as malibu under the skin even. It just needs a facelift( and not just new kidney grills!)

[EllwynX]

Someone at work was talking about new cars the other day (for himself I am pretty sure) and I overheard him say that he'd heard good things regarding the new Malibu. Since I was working with him, and he was only like 5 feet from me I took the time to let him know that we'd test drove one and it really was a nice car. And we'd only driven the base model. We only opted for the Equinox over the Malibu due to the rebates on the Equinox.

[HummerTech]

Originally Posted by prototype66

people knock the G6 for no good reason. Great car considering it came out in 06 and has respecable numbers, same as malibu under the skin even. It just needs a facelift( and not just new kidney grills!)

Actually it came out in '05, I bought an '06, wanted a Chevy but they botched the styling on that Malibu. They got the G6 styling right, but as usual with GM, they will let it die on the vine and wait and give it a new grille that barely looks different in '10 or something, when they should have had in on Epsilon II already.

[Vinsetta]

Originally Posted by HummerTech

Actually it came out in '05, I bought an '06, wanted a Chevy but they botched the styling on that Malibu. They got the G6 styling right, but as usual with GM, they will let it die on the vine and wait and give it a new grille that barely looks different in '10 or something, when they should have had in on Epsilon II already.

Yeah it's kind of a shame GM has done barely nothing to improve the G6 since it's debut back in 2005. I remember seeing it at the North American Int'l Auto Show in Detroit before it was released for production. I thought, "wow, Pontiac has a unique car to it's own and looks great." I really liked the coupe. But from day one the issues with the panoramic sunroof on the sedan to the manual transmission fiasco, to the weak offering of the GXP in terms of keeping the same 3.6 in it, I've been disappointed. But I talked my dad into a black with tan/chocolate two tone interior 06 GTP coupe with the 3900 V6. I have to say I did like the car. It had the high polished flanged wheels with Bridgestone Potenza summer only tires, dual chrome exhaust tips, and was generally fun to drive. It had a decent amount of torque steer though, with 245 hp (somewhere around that) going to the front wheels. The center stack did have a lot of plastic and the old Malibu radio in it but 2006, being the second year of production I didn't mind it. Now going into 09 with that same stack, yeah I've got issues with it. It's the only GM model left to use that radio so why not just put the bowtie corporate radio in there? It also had the adjustable pedals which I think is a great idea but sales were not there so that was discountinued and this car was loaded so it had the faux wood treatment as well. But he never had one problem with it other than the right sunvisor cover falling off.

[gopedxr7]

the G6 was on the top of the list of cars i would replace my monte carlo with then they stoped offering the 6 speed manual.

Alan

[THE_SMURF]

Originally Posted by jkennedy293

It only has the greatest growth because the old Malibu sucked so bad, and had such crappy sales. Don't get me wrong, the new Malibu is definitely on par or better than the Camry and Accord.

I prefer to believe that the sales are up because the new Malibu is so good. LOL

[jasaero]

Originally Posted by Vinsetta

Yeah it's kind of a shame GM has done barely nothing to improve the G6 since it's debut back in 2005. I remember seeing it at the North American Int'l Auto Show in Detroit before it was released for production. I thought, "wow, Pontiac has a unique car to it's own and looks great." I really liked the coupe. But from day one the issues with the panoramic sunroof on the sedan to the manual transmission fiasco, to the weak offering of the GXP in terms of keeping the same 3.6 in it, I've been disappointed. But I talked my dad into a black with tan/chocolate two tone interior 06 GTP coupe with the 3900 V6. I have to say I did like the car. It had the high polished flanged wheels with Bridgestone Potenza summer only tires, dual chrome exhaust tips, and was generally fun to drive. It had a decent amount of torque steer though, with 245 hp (somewhere around that) going to the front wheels. The center stack did have a lot of plastic and the old Malibu radio in it but 2006, being the second year of production I didn't mind it. Now going into 09 with that same stack, yeah I've got issues with it. It's the only GM model left to use that radio so why not just put the bowtie corporate radio in there? It also had the adjustable pedals which I think is a great idea but sales were not there so that was discountinued and this car was loaded so it had the faux wood treatment as well. But he never had one problem with it other than the right sunvisor cover falling off.

Thinking the lack of updates on the G6 are all the result of the RWD alpha car in the works. Still think they are planning big things for Pontiac, but they have the most spendy not so well shared with others plan of all the brands other than Cadillac so are going to take some time as they can't spend on Pontiac at this point like they have on Cadillac. Think they will eventually get three sizes of RWD cars though. Kappa will probably goto V2 and include Sedan form for tiny sedans.

Kappa was thrown together extremely fast and is currently mostly for low volume RWD roadster only config, but a V2 Alpha based derivative of it could save a bunch of weight, be designed for higher volume, and more flexibility and cover the Solstice, a small sedan, small coupe, and more mid sized sedan and coupe to replace G6. It is my hope anyhow that Alpha can replace kappa grow all the way upto replacing BLS with a RWD car. Seems Zeta is about that flexible, but starts from Camaro and goes up. Alpha could top out at a small to mid size sedan that weighs about what camaro will.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by prototype66

people knock the G6 for no good reason. Great car considering it came out in 06 and has respecable numbers, same as malibu under the skin even. It just needs a facelift( and not just new kidney grills!)

The G6 is a piece of trash. Drove one right when it came out - it represented a little improvement on the old GM. Thrashy, tired warmed over 3100 in the form of the 3500, numb steering, interior a small notch over an Avenger - which isn't saying much, same old 4 speeds. Overall, a lackluster all marketing no substance representation of old GM cut to the bone by beancounters that believe people will buy the hype and overlook the substance.

The Malibu is Epsilon done right. Two completely different cars. One where the details were considered, refined. The other where the details were hidden and excuses made for. Not to mention one handles like a sloppy, coarse excuse for a car and the other rivals a TL in the ride / handling balance.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by jkennedy293

It only has the greatest growth because the old Malibu sucked so bad, and had such crappy sales. Don't get me wrong, the new Malibu is definitely on par or better than the Camry and Accord.

^ x2

[ptviperz]

Am I the only one who thinks the Malibu is ugly? I see them now and then and just shake my head. Mind you, the new Accord is weird looking and the Camry is ugly as usual but you know they'll both last 300K miles.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by prototype66

people knock the G6 for no good reason. Great car considering it came out in 06 and has respecable numbers, same as malibu under the skin even. It just needs a facelift( and not just new kidney grills!)

The G6 has less rear seat head room and lower crash test scores than the previous Malibu and the new one.

[Jesda]

The new Malibu is elegant. Weird to say about a modern bowtie car.