Most Popular Mid Sized Cars

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yeah, you're probably the only one who thinks the Malibu is ugly.

[SAngelo]

It seems like Chevy is fully advertising the Malibu. I was at a Yankees game last night in NY and for the second time I was there they had a 2008 Malibu on display right outside the stadium. The car is phenomenal but I will say it now and will say it again.

For '09 GM spend the money and give this car an optional Navigation system and a model with the 3.6 DI engine and maybe a 4 cylinder version with a manual tranny. Its all about perception GM !!!

Come on GM !!!!
Come on GM !!!!
Come on GM !!!!
Come on GM !!!!

[jbartley]

the G6 just needs a new interior. then it would clean up in sales.

[sdotjoe]

Originally Posted by 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.

Anything was an improvement over the previous Malibu, I mean, come on, they couldn't have made it any worse. Who did they use as their focus group Hertz, Enterprise??? What were the design requirements "We need a car that people can rent for cheap???" Just look at it I'm pretty sure a desinger is out of a job somewhere:

I am definately liking the new Malibu though. The only complaint I have about the Malibu is the tailights on the lower level models, they just look cheap to me:



as opposed to the LTZs:

[airglow]

Originally Posted by 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.

Please back up your outrageous statement that the Camry and Accord will last 300K miles. Please provide some data that proves the Camry and Accord last longer than the Impala, Malibu, Fusion, Taurus or G6. I'm waiting.

I'm guessing you have zero data, just a perception based on America's uninformed, unscientific love affair with all things foreign.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

Yeah, you're probably the only one who thinks the Malibu is ugly.

Originally Posted by airglow

Please back up your outrageous statement that the Camry and Accord will last 300K miles. Please provide some data that proves the Camry and Accord last longer than the Impala, Malibu, Fusion, Taurus or G6. I'm waiting.

I'm guessing you have zero data, just a perception based on America's uninformed, unscientific love affair with all things foreign.

[johnny smallblock]

Originally Posted by airglow

I'm guessing you have zero data, just a perception based on America's uninformed, unscientific love affair with all things foreign.

I'm also assuming that he has no data to back up that claim. But I'm assuming it has more to do with America's love affair with cars that have been made well for 3 or 4 generations, not "all things foreign".

You can walk into a Toyo dealership and buy a Camry and be fairly confident that it will last a good long time. You can walk into a Chevy dealership and buy a Malibu and hope that it is different then the last 3 mid-sizers Chevy has put out, each of which was ugly and poorly designed. I'd buy a Malibu over the Accord or Camry, but if someone doesn't read forum after forum about how great GM's stuff has been the last 2 years, it's not really fair to accuse them of blind loyalty or stupidity.

[CharlotteFirebird]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

I'm also assuming that he has no data to back up that claim. But I'm assuming it has more to do with America's love affair with cars that have been made well for 3 or 4 generations, not "all things foreign".

You can walk into a Toyo dealership and buy a Camry and be fairly confident that it will last a good long time. You can walk into a Chevy dealership and buy a Malibu and hope that it is different then the last 3 mid-sizers Chevy has put out, each of which was ugly and poorly designed. I'd buy a Malibu over the Accord or Camry, but if someone doesn't read forum after forum about how great GM's stuff has been the last 2 years, it's not really fair to accuse them of blind loyalty or stupidity.

I guess my Firebird at 13 years old and still running well, is just a mirage. My Firebird was supposed to be a marginal model, in a lower quality era. It runs well and still looks great. My V8 still gets 30 mpg on the highway.

I understand your point, but even if I bought foreign, I'd still always hope that the American companies presented something that I'd be interested in. I'd always at least be open to buying American. These people who don't consider buying American, no matter what, make me ill.

[espo19047]

Originally Posted by ptviperz

Am I the only one who thinks the Malibu is ugly?

The short answer would be yes.

[page2171]

I think the G6 would be just fine with the exterior updated just enough so that you don't have to take a magnifying glass to it to find the updates. Along with it should be a new interior...maybe bring the interior closer to the G6 concept

[Chaz_23]

Only GM would be incapable of doing two things at a time: updating the G6 and creating its replacement.

I've always liked the G6, except for a few exterior details (feminine front, lame shiny jeweled headlight). It drives pretty well in spite of 3.5/ 4 speed tranny. The coupe is quite handsome from behind and drives as if glued to the road. The leather inside is better than the one used in my GP.

They can't just use the corporate radio, because the G6's radio does double duty as DIC. They should use the Aura's interior for the G6. I don't think anyone would mind. It's not like anyone is buying Auras. It's a shame that GM has decided to make Pontiac the rental division.

I prefer the Aura's exterior over the Malibus. And the interior is almost identical.

Originally Posted by jasaero

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.

[ScottS]

The G6 has a lot of things going for it, and I speak as one of the newest owners of one (2008 V6 with nearly every option). That said, I'm definitely discovering a few short comings. Typical, GM gets so close, but can't close the deal.

Pros:
+ One person complained about the 3500 engine. For a mid-size, it moves the car nicely and I'm getting over 30-32mpg on the highway on a motor that's not even broken in. The balance of power and efficiency allows me to somewhat overlook the 4 speed transmission.
+ Torque steer is vastly improved over the Grand Am which I had as a rental car a few years back. That Grand Am scared me away from fwd for years.
+ I've got a navy exterior with the neutral leather interior and it does look pretty good for a mid-size daily driver.
+ Best interior room by far compared to other cars I drove. The back seat room will actually allow for 4 people over 6' to ride in comfort. One of the very few cars where I could sit behind the driver's seat after I had adjusted it for me at over 6'3". I still don't get why so many 4 door cars have no practical space in the rear for adults. For whatever reason, the G6 had more room in the back than did the Malibu.
+ Price is right. Between my GM Card and the 0%/72mo offer, I couldn't say no.
+ Nice dash layout, 17" wheels, comfortable, supportive seats, folding rear seats, 87 octane and remote start are all positives.

The bad news is there are still several cons to work out.

Cons:
- The dash developed a rattle before the car got to 500 miles and there's a noise in the rear suspension too.
- The seat had a small tear in it when delivered. To make matters worse, the dealer ordered a new seat cover and f'd it up during the install. Even worse, they gave the car back to my wife Friday afternoon and the seat belt bolt pulled out Friday night.
- It has the "sport" suspension option which is neither sporty nor comfy. It's an ugly blend as far as I'm concerned. It is fairly flat, but it doesn't ride very well in my opinion
- I didn't notice this on my test drive, but now I notice it every day it it drives me nuts... who decided to square off the steering wheel? It's the most uncomfortable wheel I've ever grabbed hold of.
- The trunk opening is somewhat narrow. I was hoping to cram my bike in, but the opening is the biggest hurdle.
- The 4 speed in 2008 is a throwback, but as I said in the pros, it's well sorted out and provides a nice power/efficiency combo.
- Minor quibble, but a compass and homelink rear-view mirror and a coin holder in the center console would be nice. And what's with a 2008 CD player that can't read mp3's?
-Lastly, the center stack is very functional, but definitely dated looking. That's just me getting picky. As long as I'm picky though, it's my first car with the fuel door on the right and I hate that.

[jaywestfall]

Originally Posted by jasaero

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.

The G6 on Alpha can not get here soon enough. Then this will be the mid size car that CAN.

[ptviperz]

Originally Posted by sdotjoe

The only complaint I have about the Malibu is the tailights on the lower level models, they just look cheap to me:[/IMG]

The front of the car (other than the hideous gaping grill) isn't bad, it's the ass end that falls off of a cliff I don't like. The profile of the car is actually pretty good.

[jzchev28]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

I'm also assuming that he has no data to back up that claim. But I'm assuming it has more to do with America's love affair with cars that have been made well for 3 or 4 generations, not "all things foreign".

You can walk into a Toyo dealership and buy a Camry and be fairly confident that it will last a good long time. You can walk into a Chevy dealership and buy a Malibu and hope that it is different then the last 3 mid-sizers Chevy has put out, each of which was ugly and poorly designed. I'd buy a Malibu over the Accord or Camry, but if someone doesn't read forum after forum about how great GM's stuff has been the last 2 years, it's not really fair to accuse them of blind loyalty or stupidity.

ok well i guess my 99 mali with 276k, burns no oil, dosent knock, and runs and shifts fine will suddenly explode before hitting the 300k mark. thanks for the warning. good thing i still have some time left on my 94 S-10 because it only has 217k, my 2000 silverado is practicaly new with only 169K.