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3347 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 2:32 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Maxima, Mazda MAZDA3, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Lexus IS 250, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 208 of 335

#2067 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [breakfastclub] by djm2

Jan 29, 2011 (11:25 am)

Replying to: breakfastclub (Oct 12, 2010 8:19 pm)
Hi Breakfastclub:
 
           I own a new 2010 LTZ Malibu with a four cylinder engine. ----- If I had to purchase this vehicle again, I WOULD NOT make the purchase with the four (4) cylinder engine. ---- I would purchase the V6 engine. ---- I would also insist that the dealer change the tires from Goodyear to Michelin. (YES, this would be a "deal breaker!")
 
REASONS FOR MY DECISION:
 
1.) The Goodyear tires leak air.
2.) The Goodyear tires have issues, check the "net."
3.) The four (4) cylinder engine lacks power, and does not get the posted MPG The best mileage I have achieved is 27mpg. ---- (posted mileage is 30 to 33 mpg)
 
NOTE: ---- I also own a 2007 V6 XLE Toyota Camry. On a road trip I can easily get 30 mpg. ----- On some trips I have achieved 34 mpg. ------ (I sacrificed performance with the Malibu, by getting the four cylinder engine, and I am not getting the mileage!) ---- While I like the looks and the quality of the fit & finish of the vehicle, I NO LONGER ENJOY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE! ----- I made a BIG MISTAKE purchasing this vehicle, and if I could afford to trade this vehicle, I would do so in a heart beat! ----- Maybe if I had the V6, I would feel better, but a this point in time it is just wishful thinking. ----- I have owned a four cylinder 2003 Honda Accord in the past, and that vehicle could give me decent mileage and run rings around this Malibu in terms of performance. ------ The Malibu rides like the Honda Accord, but it does not perform like the Honda Accord. ----- If I could turn back the hands of time, I would purchase another XLE V6 Camry. ---- I do all my servicing at the selling dealer at 2,500 mile intervals. ---- My tire pressure is checked and reset at that time. ----- Within four weeks, the tire pressure is down from 30psi to 28psi. ----- My seliing dealer is outstanding. ------ GM is another issue. ---- I have sent the GM Rep an E-mail, off this site, and I am currently waiting for a response. ----- I hope they at least take the time to respond to my inquiry. ----- I will either bite the financial bullet, and put four (4) new original equipment Michelin tires on this vehicle at a cost of $888.00 dollars, ----- or I will trade the vehicle for a used XLE 2009 Camry. (Tires had a lot to do with getting MPG.) ---- Even with the Ford Fusion be very careful about the four cylinder engine. ----- Best regards. ----- Dwayne

#2068 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by temj12

Jan 29, 2011 (11:32 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jan 29, 2011 11:25 am)
I don't find a two point loss in one month to be excessive. Your pressure is determined by weather more than anything. With a temperature drop from the time you put 30psi to the time you have the car serviced, 28psi could easily be. Even without the temperature drop, two pounds is nothing. I have Michelins on an '09 and it happens with them too.

#2069 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [temj12] by djm2

Jan 29, 2011 (11:47 am)

Replying to: temj12 (Jan 29, 2011 11:32 am)
Hi temj12:
 
       I respect your opinion, but my XLE V6 Toyota Camry with Aluminum Alloy wheels and Michelin tires do not loose air! ---- There is a connection between the quality for these tires and the lack of MPG!
 
       Best regards! ---------- Dwayne

#2070 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by igozoomzoom

Jan 29, 2011 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: djm2 (Jan 29, 2011 11:47 am)
Your comments about the substantial differences between the Michelin's on your 2007 Camry and the Goodyears on your 2010 Malibu were very interesting. Enough so that I decided to do a little research and here's what I found-
 
The 2010 Malibu LTZ uses a P225/50TR18 Goodyear Eagle LS-2 (Grand Touring All-Season) tire. The only thing vaguely interesting about these tires are the price- only $98 each for replacements! For an 18" tire with a 50-series sidewall, that is DIRT CHEAP...rarely a good sign when it comes to tire quality.
 
The 2007 Camry uses a P215/60VR16 Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 (Grand Touring All-Season) tire. This tire wears the "Michelin Green X" Low-Rolling-Resistance certification (and costs $172 each for replacements). It was the standard tire on most 2006-2010 Hyundai Sonata, all 2005-2007 Honda Accord Hybrid, 2007-2011 Toyota Camry and 2007-2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid models! It is engineered to be the most efficient tire in its class and apparently it does just that.
 
When the time comes to replace the OEM Goodyears on your Malibu, here are three very good replacements you should take a look at-
 
Michelin Primacy MXM4 - P225/50VR18
Grand Touring All-Season
'Green X' LRR-rating
$209 each - 6-year/55,000-mile treadwear warranty
 
Michelin HydroEde - P225/50TR18
Passenger All-Season
'Green X' LRR-rating
$158 each - 6-year/90,000-mile treadwear warranty
 
Continental ProContact with EcoPlus Technology- P225/50TR18
Standard Touring All-Season
EcoPlus+ LRR-rating
$118 each - 6-year/80,000-mile treadwear warranty

#2071 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [igozoomzoom] by djm2

Jan 29, 2011 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: igozoomzoom (Jan 29, 2011 4:36 pm)
Hi igozoomzoom:
 
       Thank you for your very interesting and informative posting! ---- You have just proved my point, that General Motors has equipped the "top of the line Chevrolet Malibu LTZ" with the bottom of the line Goodyear Tires! ----- (This is an accident looking for a place to happen, and of course it will always be "driver's error!" ----- If one of these fails on the road, I will be sure to retain the tire, and have it examined by a tire expert! ----- If it turns out to be defective in materials and workmanship, I will seek legal advice! ---- This could turn out to be another Ford Explorer / Firestone issue!)
 
       I am very sure that if I put Michelin Tires on the Malibu, I will get at least 30 MPG, if not close to 33 MPG. ----- Now having said that, as a customer who is trying to buy from an American name plate, I feel that GM has treated me, and others who own this vehicle in a very "shabby manner!" ---- This vehicle is competing against the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry and the Hyundai Sonata, but GM does not put the same quality type of tires on their vehicle. ---- Personally, I feel General Motors owes me a set of high quality tires. ----- Now the question becomes, how do I get GM to pay for the tires?
 
       This is why consumers have abandoned the American Car companies in the past! ---- If the American car companies want loyal customers, ----- loyalty works both ways!
 
        Best regards. --------- Dwayne
 
        Best regards. ---------------- Dwayne

#2072 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by bdyment

Jan 30, 2011 (6:20 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jan 29, 2011 5:55 pm)
Do you check the air pressure after the Chev dealer sets them at 30psi?
Perhaps their gauge doesn't read the same as yours. Again as many others have mentioned 2psi in a month is nothing to worry about.
 
You could replace the four tires with top of the line Michelins and still have a slight lose in a month. The rims could be the problem, not the Goodyears. Then what do you do? Demand GM replace the rims for a 2psi lose. They will never do that and no other manufacturer would either. If you were losing five psi per month then you would have a case.
 
Comparing the tires on the Camry to the Malibu. The tire gauge that the Toyota dealer uses simply may be reading the same as yours and the Chev dealer's gauge slightly different.
 
Manufacturers use all types of tires on vehicles. However, they all must meet or exceed rigorous safety standards. Everyone has had problems with various brands--for instance the owners of late model Toyota Highlanders with 19 inch rims complain about poor traction in winter and the wet roads with the tire that Toyota installed from the factory.
 
I am afraid that you just don't have a case for tire or rim replacement with maybe a slight 2psi loss per month. The tire isn't going to self destruct due to a slight lose of air. Me thinks you are overly concerned.

#2073 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [bdyment] by djm2

Jan 30, 2011 (7:36 am)

Replying to: bdyment (Jan 30, 2011 6:20 am)
HI bdyment:
 
      Thank you for the response to my recent posting. I appreciate your ideas on this subject and I would like to respond to your posting.
 
1.) (QUOTE: "Do you check the air pressure after the Chevrolet Dealer sets the air at 30psi?") --------- Kindly be advised that I choose to have all my vehicles serviced, by the selling dealer every 2,500 miles, because I do not believe in extended oil and filter changes. ----- At that point in time, I have all fluids checked, and the tires set at the proper psi. ---- (At the appropriate mileage, the vehicle's tires are rotated.) ----- After four weeks the tire pressure is down to 28 psi, as indicated by the "on-board monitoring system." ----- (QUESTION: ---- Is a "hand held tire gauge" more accurate than the "on-board monitoring system?" ----- If that is true, then I seriously question the quality of the entire vehicle!) ------ If I am taking my vehicle to an authorized Chevrolet dealership for service, I would assume that they have the correct knowledge and equipment to do the task correctly. ---- In addition, the "monitoring system" always shows that I have 30psi when leaving the dealership. ---- (NOTE: I do check the oil in the engine once a week, in the morning prior to leaving for work, because there is no monitoring system for being one quart low!)
 
2.) (QUOTE: "You could replace the four (4) tires with top of the line Michelins and still have a slight loss in a month. ---- The rims could be the problem, not the Goodyears. Then what do you do? ---- Demand GM replace the rims for 2psi?) ------ There is a very good possibility that the problem could involve both the tires and / or the rims. ----- If the rims are porous, then there is a manufacturing defect in the material of the Aluminum / Alloy rim. ---- If the rim is machined improperly, where the tire seals against the rim, then there is a manufacturing defect in the process associated with rim construction. ----- IT DOES NOT MATTER to me as the customer, because I paid for a vehicle, and I expect a level of quality that equals other vehicles in the same price range both foreign and domestic. ----- (THERE IS AN "EXPECTATION OF QUALITY" ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PURCHASE!) ---- I expect "quality" for my money, because I give my customers quality for their money! ---- GM is free to make any decision that they want in relation to this issue, and I am free to share my opinion based on the facts that I have collected and my daily experience with this vehicle. ---- I would like to meet with a GM / Chevrolet Representative to seriously discuss this issue. ----- GM needs every customer at this point in time! ---- I would love to write a "posting" on this forum saying that GM has solved the problem with my LTZ Malibu! ---- That is my goal!
 
       Thank you again for your time and concern with regards to this issue. It is always good to hear everyone's opinion. This is what makes this forum GREAT! By sharing ideas we can focus in on the problem, and come up with solutions.
 
       Best regards. ---------- Dwayne

#2074 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts by plekto

Jan 30, 2011 (8:02 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jan 30, 2011 7:36 am)
Note - OEM tires are always either vastly inflated in price as part of the tire/rim package or are simply whatever they could put on and save money while doing it. Brand doesn't make much difference. Brakes and struts are similar - most OEM stuff is mediocre at best.
 
1 - Concerning the tire pressure, the fact is that with any tubeless tire, they will always settle into the PSI that is appropriate based upon the weight of the vehicle and geometry of the rim. Excess air will simply bleed out until the internal pressure and the tire's material come into equilibrium. Given that many vehicles are heavier than ever before, it's likely to cause more of this effect. If anything, blame the low profile tires that they put on extremely heavy front ends.
 
2 - You should go by what the manufacturer recommends and never on what it says on the tire. Case in point - I had an old 4Runner. Front was supposed to be 26 and the rear 34. The tires always said 35PSI but would handle like junk and wear wrong unless I set them to what it said on the sticker on the door. What it says on the tire is the maximum recommended pressure and it's just fine to run them a few PSI lower if the vehicle's suspension and/or rims require it. Also, for instance, if you're on snow or other poor surfaces. Lowering your PSI on your snow tires by 5 -10 PSI temporarily can make a world of difference. Virtually no tire that I know of will pop its bead unless you're running at least 15PSI or lower.
 
3 - He's seriously wasting the dealer's time over 2PSI? Give the poor overworked people a break and just deal with it. Unless the tires are wearing bald on the edges, it's fine.
 
4 - Yes, engines burn and/or leak some oil. They always have.

#2075 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by bdyment

Jan 30, 2011 (8:07 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jan 30, 2011 7:36 am)
Dwayne For your peace of mind why don't you just check the tires after the dealer has inflated them to 30psi. Yes there could be a variance between the on board display and the hand held gauge. For instance the average mpg reported by various makes of autos often does not agree with a manual check of fuel mileage.
 
 Another suggestion is to slightly over inflate the four tires to 32 or 33psi for a few weeks. This will often seat a tire against the rim and stop a small lose of air. The suggestions that people have given you is exactly what a dealer will do to check a faulty tire or rim.

#2076 of 3347 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by tallman1

Jan 30, 2011 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: djm2 (Jan 30, 2011 7:36 am)
I don't know how far you drive to get to the dealer but if the tires are warm, filling them with air won't be all that accurate. They should be filled when they are cold.
 
Oil changes at 2500? Wow. I guess that I won't suggest that you do a Google search on the 3000 mile oil change myth.

Messages Page 208 of 335

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