Malibu Rated #1 in Initial Quality

[bone]

For some reason the Malibu does not appear to be selling well at all in Southern Quebec and dealers have plenty on their lots. New Accords and Camrys are a dime a dozen. Go to a Honda or Toyota dealership and find the showroom full of customers. Go to a GM dealership and no customers. What a shame.

[RSW]

Originally Posted by ksr

If you would base a car purchase on numbers this close (1.04, 1.10, 1.12, 1.13), then you're being ridiculous.

That's statistical irrrelevancy.

To me, differences between most car makes these days in terms of quality just aren't even worth worrying about. It's pretty tough to buy a car now that isn't reliable and well built. CR will never tell you that because they'd be out of business, but it's true.

Across a fleet of cars, this difference is as much as one could expect, especially from the worst to the best (1/10th) - I'm surprised Toyo and Honda are still this much better...it's not insignificant at all.

I love the reasoning that we are supposed to be happy that we are worst but not by much.

From my perspective initial quality surveys don't mean a ton (though I agree with many who have suggested it should figure into Malibu marketing). How does the car do over ten years? Here I think the Honda would kick butt. But personally I buy what I like and so I'd most likely buy the Malibu.

[RSW]

Originally Posted by ksr

People tend to lump all the Japanese together. In reality, the Japanese makes other than Toyota and Honda have had a lot of ups and downs in quality. I know there's been years where the other Japanese makes all scored below average.

Really in terms of Japanese quality, it's Honda and Toyota, and then everyone else.

Generally good points but with Toyota growing like a cancer and becoming a GM-like global megalith, it's previously fastidious quality control is slipping.

Meanwhile, Subaru's is growing and sometimes edging out Toyota for the #2 spot (while Honda remains #1).

[FierySolstice]

Originally Posted by goblue

It looks like GM has finally committed to competing in the mid size car arena - in a genuine way. After driving a new Malibu - compared to the G6 I was stuck with as a rental a week prior - I'm amazed they are on the same platform.

Great design, class leading ride/handling, and now - the first indications of excellent quality.

I loved my G6, but my Aura handles better I believe. However I miss the size of the G6, my Aura and I believe the Malibu are bigger. Once the G6 gets redone, I'll prolly trade my Aura in and go back to Pontiac.

[ericmvest]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

It seems like with every new GM vehicle the gap is closed more and more.

The G6 helped close the gap, the Aura closed it most of the way and now the Malibu has slammed the door shut.

Great observation! Could not agree with you more!

[osv_alero]

Originally Posted by RSW

Across a fleet of cars, this difference is as much as one could expect, especially from the worst to the best (1/10th) - I'm surprised Toyo and Honda are still this much better...it's not insignificant at all.

I love the reasoning that we are supposed to be happy that we are worst but not by much.

From my perspective initial quality surveys don't mean a ton (though I agree with many who have suggested it should figure into Malibu marketing). How does the car do over ten years? Here I think the Honda would kick butt. But personally I buy what I like and so I'd most likely buy the Malibu.

I do wonder if you took out the old "crap" from GM, the Uplander comes to mind, then would their score outpace toyotas?

For those that discount the story, maybe you should read the whole reason JD Power emphasises the 1st 90 days. The majority of issues with a car crop up in the 1st 90 days, NOT 3 years to 5 years. GM, Ford and Chrysler have changed alot of their parts, starter comes to mind, so that they are the same long lasting designs that toyota, honda and Mercedes use.

Example; My Mother-in-Law and Parents both have/had Rendvezous that lasted more than 70k miles with only 1 issue each, both minor and both covered by GM. That included the first 90 days of ownership. Both have been 100x more reliable than the toyotas, nissans or Volvos my family has owned. Take for instance my Brother's prius (which was sold due to issues). Amongst other things, the dash was pealing off. Heck, even our HHR and previous Cobalt have had less issues than my Brother's prius or my Parents scion xa.

I know it hurts alot of people to think their beloved toyota is no longer king, but the truth is toyota is NOT what they used to be. Heck lexus is no longer able to even get the #1 spot in initial quality and now they share long term dependability with a much better car line, Buick.

There is NO reason to avoid American cars for quality. At this point buying foreign is all about the thought you might impress your neighbor. Unfortunetly you are putting him or her out of work instead of impressing them.

[prototype66]

Awsome car and its still on eppi 1!
Imporst may come to a crashing hault when all of the eppi II and Eflex cars land here in 2010!

[goatgary]

Terrific for Malibu....but how did Saturn make the "Worst" list?

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Rear armrest, for starters?

How often do you sit in the back seat? Are we that lazy we simply can't bear to carry the weight of our frakin' arms anymore? Jeez, they'll just hang there all day, no effort required on our part at all ya know. Give me a break. This species is doomed, doomed!

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by Minnesota Nice

Very good to hear.

Only time will tell if it will hold in in long-term quality.

My Civic also had fantastic initial quality, and after 10,000s, things started to fall apart and fall apart fast. It has been a downhill battle ever since.

Hondas break? No. Freakin. Way. Hey, maybe you could use the Navi (ack...the utter pretentiousness of Hondas creation of that 'word' sickens me) to find a Chevy dealer?

That does suck though, the coupes are pretty cool looking, once you get past the Enterprise flight-simulator dash design. Hey, what do I know. I drive an Ion.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by FierySolstice

I loved my G6, but my Aura handles better I believe. However I miss the size of the G6, my Aura and I believe the Malibu are bigger. Once the G6 gets redone, I'll prolly trade my Aura in and go back to Pontiac.

Nope, all Epsilon cars are currently on the same 112.3 in. wheelbase and within fractions of inches of each other in length, width and height.

[Buickman]

further proof we have the products. we ever get the marketing thing together, the stock soars past 50 quick.

wouldn't hurt to straighten out the accounting as well.

[tgagneguam]

Absolutely fantastic news for Chevy's Malibu (and Pontiac's Solstice and Grnad Prix, by the way). Say what you want, try to explain away the success, but there they are, at the top.

It's news like this that explains why I set the bar so high for GM; I know they're capable of it, when they stop bitching about all the reasons why they can't do well, that is.

Originally Posted by Bravada

...
That's INITIAL quality, i.e. whether the car didn't fall apart on its way from the dealers. I am not sure what methodology does JD Power use, but I guess results might have been inflated in Malibu's favor by Malibu owners being rather pleasantly surprised about good quality. Toyota gets it the hard way because with their "stellar reputation" every rattle is a huge disappointment - and rightly so, if you want a reputation, you have to fight for it.

This, of course, is poor logic. Face it, Detroit has gotten better at designing, engineering, and manufacturing some of its cars, so their quality can now in some cases beat Asian brands. Not a big leap to make.

Originally Posted by Buickman

further proof we have the products. we ever get the marketing thing together, the stock soars past 50 quick.

wouldn't hurt to straighten out the accounting as well.

Yup.

No bitching and whining, Detroit. Just do what you do with the Malibu, and news of sales decreases, decreases in stock price, quarterly loss after quarterly loss, poor conquest sales and a whole bunch of other bad news will "magically" disappear.

[GMC-70]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

Nope, all Epsilon cars are currently on the same 112.3 in. wheelbase and within fractions of inches of each other in length, width and height.

That may be true, but visually the G6 looks to be tighter then the others. To me it just appears smaller and therefore more nimble then the Aura and Bu.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by goatgary

Terrific for Malibu....but how did Saturn make the "Worst" list?

They've been declining in recent surveys that I've seen. Perhaps the influx of Opels???

While I've read good driving reviews of Opel in the past, I've also read a fair number of reviews that were not impressed with the quality. Granted, these weren't recent stories; it was quite a while ago. But it has left a lingering impression in my mind about Opel.