Dealers: Malibu Success?

[Schadenfreude]

This might be slightly off topic..but why does Las Vegas have TONS of Malibu Taxi Cabs?

[Joe in T.O.]

I was in one of those taxi cabs and I would say it is because they have more rear leg room than the Crown Victorias.

[Joe in T.O.]

Originally Posted by GM-Joe

That looks real good; the convertible is good idea, especially since it could steal the G6's top. As for the wagon ...?

Now that looks great.

[jmstro04]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

I agree with you, but am willing to let GM/Pontiac off the hook on this for one very big "IF..." but I'll get to that in a second.

When the current G6 first went on sale in 2005, Saturn was still attempting to sell the poorly received L-Series (2000-2005). This car did so badly that Saturn actually killed it after only 6 years, including 1 refresh--without even having a replacement! Simply, "That's it. We give up."

The 5th gen Malibu (2004–2007) began life one year prior and was meant as the smaller sedan and wagon variant of the G6. The G6 opted for the much longer wheelbase, even in coupe form. This Malibu was never what anyone would describe as pretty, and along with other uncompetitive trim, was forced into service as only a cheaper alternative to Camry and Accord.

Fast forward to 2007 and Saturn has basically decided the Aura will now sell to the exact market that the G6 sedan does, and use its chassis, long wheelbase and all, to do so. Essentially the new, improved, revised G6 (apart from coupe and 'vert) is the Aura--but without the strong dealer network and advertising. One year later, the Malibu goes to the same long wheelbase chassis and does everything the Aura does, just slightly better.

In other words, the G6 did so well, two other GM brands ditched their previous efforts at midsizers to ape the G6 instead. The 6th gen Malibu came out after 4 years of the 5th gen. The Aura was a new start for a midsize Saturn and will soon be replaced by the Insignia/Vectra/Aura. Meanwhile the G6 is left to languish.

Seeing as Pontiac is GM's second best selling brand with cars (after Chevy and GMC trucks), and the G6 is their best seller, this seems almost unforgivable to let it stagnate for this long with a dash that still looks like this in 2008:



It doesn't even have the corporate radio! And oh, the sea of plastic! That center console looks like a plastic shoe box!

So back to what I originally said, what possible reason could exist to forgive such neglect?

If all that money Pontiac must make as GM's second best selling brand gets funneled into a truly competitive Alpha-based, RWD G6 replacement--and soon! Rental fleet or not, Pontiac's revenue must go somewhere, and I hope it's not to fund internal competition like the Malibu and Aura.

That said, GM, put a new center console, the corporate stack, and cover some of the plastics within arm's reach, and the G6 may last you a couple more years until Alpha can debut. Do that, and all is forgiven when Alpha arrives.

Yeah, sad that it still has the corporate radio in 04/05... most cars got a replacement of it (equinox/torrent) in 07 or just had a redesign or were a new model in 06 (hhr, solstice).

I don't think people like that radio because it integrates your DIC, so a lot of people who would have ever wanted to change it to have ipod or anything have to sacrifice the DIC.

[asmahp]

hai, this car is wonderful and very comfortable for journey.thanks for giving this.
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safora
Suffering from an addiction. This website has a lot of great resources and treatment centers.

[redstuff]

Originally Posted by 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.

What? Why or how? I know they now charge for the all important recall letter...which is horse poop, but I guess with us going there in droves they want to suck us dry wherever they can. Ford doesn't charge for them...could always buy a Fusion.

On topic, sort of, I think, the dealer across from where I work has 2 new 'Bus. One LTZ, black, the nice wheels...smokin' car. $36bills. Hasn't even left the lot for a test drive I don't think. Been there almost 3 months. The other one is a 4 banger they just got in. They imported a Saturn Aura a few months back too, and no takers so far (they get a LOT of their cars from the US...but we're not supposed to. We should buy from them). They've sold about 10-12 imported Vettes since getting the Malibu. Hmmm....

I want the black LTZ, but I think it's too steep a price. So I'd say it's not doing well in small town Manitoba.

[PMC the 1st]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

I went with my girlfriend to check out the Malibu.
She liked all three, but is going to settle on the Altima Coupe. I thought the Malibu was the best deal out there, but she wanted something "sporty" and she thought the Malibu looked too much like a "family car".

This is one of the greatest problems our soceity faces today: women becoming masculine (buying trucks, sports/sporty cars; wearing ANSI-approved workboots, etc), and men becoming feminine (assuming the victim role, blaming, and in general doing as his more masculine wife pleases such as buying small dogs that yap rather than large dogs that bark, displaying feminine-like public displays of affection, etc...