2008 Chevy Malibu: Comback Kid?

[91 s-10baja]

Some of my earliest automotive memories are of riding in Dad's '74 Malibu Classic. It was a jade-green coupe with a white vinyl roof, and my brother and I would fight each other for who would ride on the parcel shelf below the rear window. A lot has changed since the mid-'70s — my parents would surely be pulled over and shot on site today for allowing their toddlers to meander unrestrained in the back of a moving car — when General Motors was still the biggest carmaker on the planet and Chevy was its top brand. No one questioned my father's blind loyalty to the General back then.

Unlike my father, I have never owned a GM car, let alone a succession of them. By the time I started driving, the Japanese were building cars that were cheaper, more reliable, and far more efficient, while the Europeans were changing minds about performance, handling, and luxury (i.e., it wasn't about velour anymore). GM wasn't the only Detroit carmaker to lose ground to the imports, but the infamous bureaucracy that was the world's largest corporation meant that change always came too little and too late. And the truth is, most of the "new" product it eventually coughed up was sorely lacking in emotional appeal — Luminas, Achievas, Uplanders, and so many others were deeply unsatisfying machines. The company that once gave us such styling icons as the '57 Bel-Air and the '63 Corvette Stingray was now serving up the automotive equivalent of a yellow can with "cling peaches" printed in plain black letters. The mentality that pervaded GM's product development department in the late '70s through the '90s could be summed up as follows: "We've got dealers in every small town in America, so it doesn't matter if we make third- or fourth-rate products. The dogs will still eat the dog food."

http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature..._is_Back.shtml

[BusyBody]

A good review. This is my favourite quote:

Despite all the cues from a variety of past models, the look is entirely modern and cohesive, and it absolutely blows away the bland interiors of cars like the Accord and Camry. And while the tactile quality of the Malibu's materials certainly could be mildly improved, they don't feel as plasticky as, say, the Altima's.

[L88-ZR1-Z06]

i hope so!

[goblue]

Again, its quite amazing GM seems to have leapfrogged the Camry while equalling the Accord. Any way you look at it - its in the top 3. Thats quite an achievement for a company that pays its workers much more than its competitors and honors its substantial obligations to its retirees.

Just imagine what GM could do if its costs were equal to its competitors.

The import buyers excuses are officially gone. Going foreign for a midsize car is now simply a choice, no longer backed up by any kind of sound reasoning. As opposed to say, the minivan market.

[NoNameDenton]

All I want now is for it to move to get optional awd and a turbodiesel. I say diesel because the hybrid's milage is not worth the premium over the regular 4 cylinder for an extra 2 miles per gallon on the highway, whereas a diesel from say Europe would get 50-60+ on the highway

[tgagneguam]

Now, if only the positive press would translate into the area that it counts most: profitable retail sales. While sales are rising, and while production is slowly rising, the Malibu has got a long way to go before it catches the Altima, and certainly the Camry or Accord. I'm still hoping for a Giants-slay-the-Patriots come from behind victory for this new Malibu.

[FenwickHockey65]

2008 Malibu: Best selling car in America?
You never know. It could happen.

[Camaro241]

I definitely think the Malibu is a real contender. A refreshing change from the bland Camry's and Accords that dominate the segment.

[HoosierRon]

Look at those rims:

[t-rex]

God I'm old!!! I remember my brother and I fighting over who got to sit in that cubby-hole behind the back seat of our Dad's VW Beetle! Years later, as an adult, I sat in the back seat of a student's slick, cherry '61 Beetle, and got short of breath from claustrophobia just THINKING about a human squeezing into that tiny area! Sheesh, cars didn't even have rear seatbelts back then...

But as for the Malibu... I wouldn't call that pissant 114k or so January sales any sign of a comeback. The car's been on the market months and I've YET TO SEE ONE on the roads. It should be selling three times the current rate. It would help if GM understood the concept of SUPPLYING DEALERS with cars the customers want. There are about 157,000 Tahoes at my local Chevy dealer, and ONE Malibu. And my local Saturn dealer won't be getting any Astras (a whopping total of four allotted) for another two weeks! I guess I just might see a G8 sometime around the year 2013...

Comeback? My aunt Fannie...

There's NO EXCUSE for not getting product to the dealers. GM is in the business of supply and demand, not creating unique, bespoke products with an air of exclusivity.

[steinravnik]

I've seen a few around Wash, DC, but not nearly as many as the new Accord. Hopefully it will catch on with time.

[FenwickHockey65]

I'm actually starting to see more and more around here. The lucky ones that got their orders in on time I guess.

[Vette Ninja]

Originally Posted by BusyBody

A good review. This is my favourite quote:
Quote:
Despite all the cues from a variety of past models, the look is entirely modern and cohesive, and it absolutely blows away the bland interiors of cars like the Accord and Camry. And while the tactile quality of the Malibu's materials certainly could be mildly improved, they don't feel as plasticky as, say, the Altima's.

See what happens, GM when you quit imatating and actually blaze your own trail!! Success!!
Camry inspired Lumina=Fail, Accord inspired last gen Malibu=fail, but All GM Malibu tastes like victory!!

[stevecmh]

i saw a LTZ with the optional rims and in dark grey today.. at the mall.. just breath taking .. that damn thing looked great

[kmtowns]

I too have not seen but a few Malibus around Chicago, and I've only seen one new Accord. Thats only because someone a block away bought one so I guess it's still to early to tell if it's a hit or not.