Malibu's Rivals Meet Their Match

[nota]

Originally Posted by plane

Exactly.
That's right at the top of everyone's list.
Right at the top.

Seems to be right down the bottom of Chevy's to-do list.

So what is their reason for the omission - did they just forget?

I haven't seen a 'fully loaded' car without this basic feature since the early 1960s.

[teaffns]

I owned a 2006 Malibu 3.5L LT very briefly....like six months. I even bought the car brandnew from the showroom floor.

Anyways, at 12,000 miles....the a/c quit working. The dealer said it was low on freeon and there was an electrical short making the a/c non-operational. Warranty issue

20,000 miles....I brought the car in to have tires rotated. They said the whole front end was wore out and was needing replaced. They even said that a tie-rod end was bad and the car was unsafe to drive. All struts, tie-rod ends, and the steering gear were all replaced. Could have been extremely expensive if not still under warranty.

There was also little rubber pad behind the ignition. This pad keeps the keys from banging against the dash while driving. Well, the pad kept falling off. Just plain crappy! There was also flutter noise in the dash while driving it down any road.

My biggest real complaint though...the doors would not stay open. A small gust of wind would shut the door. If the car was parked on just the slightest incline...the door would shut. I hated reaching into the car and the door slaming shut on my legs.

After that last major repair and when the car was still in the shop....I decided to trade for something better. A front end should have lasted much longer than 20,000 miles...especially since the car was driven easily and only on paved roads as well.

The only good thing about the Malibu....it was good on gas mileage though. I talked to several other owners and others have had the same problems....so it's not just me.

[plane]

Originally Posted by nota

Seems to be right down the bottom of Chevy's to-do list.

So what is their reason for the omission - did they just forget?

I haven't seen a 'fully loaded' car without this basic feature since the early 1960s.

Have you driven a Malibu?
Have you ridden in a Malibu?
Is pulling items out of your glove box your primary activity while driving a car?
I'm trying to get a feel how much of a deal-breaker this is for you.
Not that there are map lights two and half feet away, the glovebox is at least 8 inches deep after all.

http://www.chevrolet.com/comparator/...lTrimID=23069&

I'm starting to see many new Malibus in this area.
Not a bad looking car at all.

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by teaffns

I owned a 2006 Malibu 3.5L LT very briefly....like six months. I even bought the car brandnew from the showroom floor.

Anyways, at 12,000 miles....the a/c quit working. The dealer said it was low on freeon and there was an electrical short making the a/c non-operational. Warranty issue

20,000 miles....I brought the car in to have tires rotated. They said the whole front end was wore out and was needing replaced. They even said that a tie-rod end was bad and the car was unsafe to drive. All struts, tie-rod ends, and the steering gear were all replaced. Could have been extremely expensive if not still under warranty.

There was also little rubber pad behind the ignition. This pad keeps the keys from banging against the dash while driving. Well, the pad kept falling off. Just plain crappy! There was also flutter noise in the dash while driving it down any road.

My biggest real complaint though...the doors would not stay open. A small gust of wind would shut the door. If the car was parked on just the slightest incline...the door would shut. I hated reaching into the car and the door slaming shut on my legs.

After that last major repair and when the car was still in the shop....I decided to trade for something better. A front end should have lasted much longer than 20,000 miles...especially since the car was driven easily and only on paved roads as well.

The only good thing about the Malibu....it was good on gas mileage though. I talked to several other owners and others have had the same problems....so it's not just me.

Super that you got out of that Piece of Crap and bought a real car. Thanks for sharing that with us, because we all know that there has been absolutely no changes whatsoever between the 2006 Malibu and the 2008 model.

You are a model for us all in how you drive and behave, and we thank you for saving us from making the huge mistake of buying a 2008 Malibu.

Originally Posted by plane

Have you driven a Malibu?

Uh....he isn't sure.

Originally Posted by plane

Have you ridden in a Malibu?

He saw one parked at a store once.

Originally Posted by plane

Is pulling items out of your glove box your primary activity while driving a car?

Originally Posted by plane

I'm trying to get a feel how much of a deal-breaker this is for you.
Not that there are map lights two and half feet away, the glovebox is at least 8 inches deep after all.

http://www.chevrolet.com/comparator/...lTrimID=23069&

It's huge in the daytime, mainly.

Originally Posted by plane

I'm starting to see many new Malibus in this area.
Not a bad looking car at all.

In the last couple of weeks, they've become a lot more visible around here too. And that given that they're much more expensive in The People's Democratic Republic of Ice Floes than they are in the US.

[plane]

marinerbc,

Well said!

Originally Posted by marinerbc

In the last couple of weeks, they've become a lot more visible around here too. And that given that they're much more expensive in The People's Democratic Republic of Ice Floes than they are in the US.

That needs to change yesterday.
Pricing needs to be fair. Period.
And then everyone wins.
Because of the declining U.S. dollar, GM vehicles should become more affordable for Canadians, not remain the same or become less affordable.

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by plane

marinerbc,

Well said!



That needs to change yesterday.
Pricing needs to be fair. Period.
And then everyone wins.
Because of the declining U.S. dollar, GM vehicles should become more affordable for Canadians, not remain the same or become less affordable.

I am hoping that happens before I run out of imaginative names for the Commonwealth of Lower Polarstan. But I am NOT holding my breath, or a thesaurus.

[marinerbc]

Good point, GMCSonoma.

I liked the '77s because they were leaner and meaner.

1976 Caprice:



1977 Caprice:



18 inches shorter, 800 lbs. lighter, and better looking in my opinion.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Okay...
I'm pretty sure the lack of nav. is a much more pressing issue...

When a decent Garmin costs $200 bucks on sale and all the in dash units still hover near 2 grand, that argument is sinking fast. Ironically, time is helping GM is this regard. When the Garmin was $700+ then you had a point. Also, most families only need it for one car, but not always the same car. So, you're looking at 4K vs $200 bucks. Heck, cellphones have nav for $7 a month that actually speak the street names now. iphone is getting it in the next model.

So, there was a window when in dash nav wasn't a luxury feature - its quickly becoming one again. And as good as this car is - its still basic family transportation. Not a luxury.

In other words, why would someone pay over 10% of the total cost of the car to avoid pulling a box out of the glovebox occasionally.