Dealers: Malibu Success?

[nsap]

Dealers: Malibu Success?
Dealership employees on GMI are reporting very good numbers on the new Malibu.
www.gminsidenews.com

The new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has been on the streets for a few months now. GM has not put any incentives on it (aside from a $1000 conquest rebate), but yet dealership employees are reporting in GMI's Employee section that the new Malibu continues to do very well for them sales-wise. We would like to hear more! Dealership employees: head over to GMI's Employee section and discuss the success (or lack thereof?) you have had with the new Malibu!

[ksr]

How has the Malibu been doing in terms of build quality? Has there been any recalls? Or any persistent issues that have caused buyers to bring them in for service?

[PA Dweller]

I been checking out the Malibu forums (Researching a replacement for my parents Accord) and the only issue that I have seen so far is that the seals on the doors scratches the part of the car where the door closes into. Supposed to be a recall from what I heard. One guy had a rattle in his rear deck which was fixed, one other guy had a screw fall out on his steering column. Seems to have been fixed also.

Other than these minor issues people are complaining about the electric steering because it behaves differently from hydraulic steering, but this is normal. Some of the members are coming up on the 10k mile mark and everyone that owns that car (Even with the minor issues) have nothing but good things to say about the car. Check it out: http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/index.php

[HoosierRon]

Just imagine how many Malibus Chevrolet could be selling...

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by ksr

How has the Malibu been doing in terms of build quality? Has there been any recalls? Or any persistent issues that have caused buyers to bring them in for service?

I'd be interested to know this as well.

I went with my girlfriend to check out the Malibu this weekend. She's looking for a new car. We test drove the G6 Coupe, Nissan Altima Coupe, and Malibu.

She liked all three, but is going to settle on the Altima Coupe - much to my chagrin. I thought the Malibu was the best deal out there (and the sticker reflected it), but she wanted something "sporty and fun looking" and she thought the Malibu looked too much like a "family car".

So be it, though I am disappointed.

That said, I loved the interior, looked great. The car was really quiet and peppy. And the ride was really nice - lots of bumps and potholes on the high way barely seemed to register.

And that was just the 2.4L with the 4spd autobox. Can't wait to see what the 6spd does to the package when it arrives.

[pgill00]

I also work customer service for our shop and I have yet to hear a complaint about the car. I think the oldest one we have had back in is 12,000 miles and still delighted with the car. She does tons of travelling and says that all of her customers are extremely impressed and one accused her of making too much money off of them. She drives a 1LT.

Fully loaded means different things to different folks.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Just imagine how many Malibus Chevrolet could be selling...

Nice Ron!

I would love to see a Malibu coupe, but dont know if that will happen anytime soon. I can't imagine GM building the G6 coupe and the Malibu coupe both.

Though it sure looks nice. A convertible seems to REALLY work well for the car too.

[MCGARRETT]

I have to say, thats a really good pic of a Malibu.

[Kennyboy]

I'm starting to see more of the new Malibu here in SoCal. Definitely a looker in a sea of Camrys and Accords.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Just imagine how many Malibus Chevrolet could be selling...

They all look good, but I think the wagons rear looks a little boxy. I would really like to see a Maxx variant.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

I'd be interested to know this as well.

I went with my girlfriend to check out the Malibu this weekend. She's looking for a new car. We test drove the G6 Coupe, Nissan Altima Coupe, and Malibu.

She liked all three, but is going to settle on the Altima Coupe - much to my chagrin. I thought the Malibu was the best deal out there (and the sticker reflected it), but she wanted something "sporty and fun looking" and she thought the Malibu looked too much like a "family car".

So be it, though I am disappointed.

That said, I loved the interior, looked great. The car was really quiet and peppy. And the ride was really nice - lots of bumps and potholes on the high way barely seemed to register.

And that was just the 2.4L with the 4spd autobox. Can't wait to see what the 6spd does to the package when it arrives.

I have to admit, the Altima coupe is a nice-looking car.

On the other hand, I thought that the Accord coupe looked great in pictures, but in person I find it rather disappointing.

[dindak]

I am tempted by the Malibu LTZ but the high Canadian sticker and lack of any real incentives or price adjustment is hurting the chances of me buying. Chevy won't let me by one in Buffalo for $5000 less either so I will wait.

[Gary Valente]

A comment on the new 'Bu. . .
I was at a party a couple of weeks ago when I overheard a conversation by a couple of older gentlemen. (Probably retired & they appeared to be well heeled) The one fellow stated that he saw a very attractive car while driving downtown. He said that he thought it might be an Acura or BMW. When he pulled up along side he was shocked to see that it was a Malibu. "That's one good looking car" he said. Nice work, General! Keep it up!

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by ksr

I have to admit, the Altima coupe is a nice-looking car.

On the other hand, I thought that the Accord coupe looked great in pictures, but in person I find it rather disappointing.

I think it looks good too. Kind of like a mini-G35 coupe.

But on the other hand, the G6 has a similar look to it. My girlfriend thought the base coupe looked plain, but she liked the GXP's look (apparently you can now get the standard GT with the GXP's front end, but you have to pay more for it, etc).

Yes, I like the way the Accord Coupe looks too - kind of BMW esqe at some parts, especially the rear quarter window between the B and C pillars. But it's MUCH bigger in person than the pics let on. It seems huge to me for some reason.

Either way, she's going to end up with a Japanese car -- as much as I was hoping she'd get something American. She mentioned she liked the Mustang, but wasn't too keen on driving RWD and was worried about insurance costs. Plus with a new 09 coupe coming soon, she didn't want to get the "old car" just as the "new car" is coming around the corner. So be it.

However, I was shocked that my girlfriend was astute enough to mention that while the Malibu just got a major update, the G6 has languished for some time. She has a point - as many GMIers have noticed as well.

It's a pitty GM isn't taking action to revamp, update, improve the G6 in the market. It deserves such attention from GM.

[syr74]

Originally Posted by nsap

Dealers: Malibu Success?
The new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has been on the streets for a few months now. GM has not put any incentives on it (aside from a $1000 conquest rebate), but yet dealership employees are reporting in GMI's Employee section that the new Malibu continues to do very well for them sales-wise.

IIRC the Malibu has a 1k owner loyalty rebate affixed as well which, when combined with the conquest rebate, means everybody can get a 1k rebate off a new Malibu unless they walked into the dealership. In light of that it might be a bit more accurate to just say the Malibu wears a 1k rebate.