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3289 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 11:06 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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 211 of 330

#2093 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [bdyment] by djm2

Feb 02, 2011 (6:04 am)

Replying to: bdyment (Feb 01, 2011 1:34 pm)
Hi bdyment:
 
       Thank you for your response to my postings. ---- Please be assured that all the responses are greatly appreciated.
 
      I drove this vehicle to the service station and inflated the tires to 32psi last week. ---- I then parked the vehicle in the driveway. ---- I have been driving my 2007 V6 Camry in the snow, because the Malibu is not as good as the Camry in the snow. ------ The weight of the V6 engine makes a BIG difference!
 
      In terms of performance, a four cylinder Honda, Camry, Nissan, Hyundai, or Kia could run rings around this Malibu, and still get the mileage. Having owned a 2003 four cylinder Accord, there is a "BIG DIFFERENCE" in performance when coming out of a toll booth on the highway with the Accord vs the Malibu, and the Honda gives you the mileage. ----- The down side to the Honda is the seating. It is VERY HARD and VERY TIGHT! The Honda has a 5 speed trans, while the Malibu has a 6 speed trans. With that fact in mind, the Malibu should at least equal the Honda in mileage & performance, but such is not the case! ---- When I took the test drive, I drove the vehicle on secondary roads, (not on the highway!) ---- It seemed to have an adequate "pick-up" and reserve power! ---- Once I started to drive it on the highway, I started to notice that at 60 mph it really lacks quality passing power. This is where the Honda Accord excels. ---- The engine is just too small for this size vehicle. The engine is working "very hard" when on the highway. At 60 mph, my Camry floats along the road. If I take my foot off the accelerator, the vehicle coast along the road. The Malibu is the direct opposite. (THIS COULD BE THE RESULT OF THE POOR QUALITY TIRES ON THE MALIBU!) The Camry has Michelin tires, and the Malibu has "bottom of the line Goodyear tires." ---- The Malibu is a good copy of the Honda Accord, but GM did not finish the job. The engine needs to be refined, and they need to spend some money on quality tires.
 
       Best regards. ------------ Dwayne

#2094 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by bdyment

Feb 02, 2011 (8:46 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Feb 02, 2011 6:04 am)
Isn't hindsight a marvelous thing. If you had been permitted to drive the 4 cylinder Malibu on a longer test drive, you would have probably purchased a V6 Malibu and been a lot happier. I"ll bet the gas mileage would have equaled or exceeded your present Malibu.
 
Yes the Camry and Honda 4 cylinder engines are really smooth, especially the Honda.

#2095 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [bdyment] by djm2

Feb 02, 2011 (8:59 am)

Replying to: bdyment (Feb 02, 2011 8:46 am)
Hi bdyment:
 
      You are absolutely correct with regards to your comments. ----- BUT, GM advertises the 2010 - 4 cylinder Malibu as achieving between 30 to 33 mpg on the highway! ----- This is false advertising! ----- Search the "net," and you will find owners like myself that only get 27mpg. --- Once in awhile, you will find a person that gets 30mpg. (I would suspect that the owner runs the tires "Very Hard," or they have removed the Goodyear tires from the vehicle.) ----- I want the advertised mileage! ----- This is the vehicle that I purchased, and this is what I want! ---- Hindsight has nothing to do with the issue! ----- I did not print the mileage ratings on the MSRP sticker in the showroom, GM put those figures on that sticker! ----- Best regards. --------- Dwayne

#2096 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by tallman1

Feb 02, 2011 (10:53 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Feb 02, 2011 8:59 am)
Actually, the EPA tests the mileage. That isn't GM's number. There is no false advertising in this case.
 
There are so many variations from one driver to the next that it is impossible to nail the mileage exactly. Weather, location, wind speed, tires, car speed, etc. are also big factors.

#2097 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [tallman1] by djm2

Feb 02, 2011 (12:30 pm)

Replying to: tallman1 (Feb 02, 2011 10:53 am)
Hi Tallman1
 
      You are correct! ------------ Tires are very important with regards to mileage! ----------Dwayne

#2098 of 3289 choosing Cooper ? by chcat

Feb 03, 2011 (2:41 pm)

Can someone list pros and cons for choosing "cooper" ? Seems as it's been listed in 10's best models for winter driving and gas efficiency is impressive...

#2099 of 3289 Re: choosing Cooper ? [chcat] by tallman1

Feb 03, 2011 (6:54 pm)

Replying to: chcat (Feb 03, 2011 2:41 pm)
Are you talking about Cooper tires or Mini Cooper, the car?

#2100 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [plekto] by dispencer2

Feb 04, 2011 (4:34 pm)

Replying to: plekto (Jan 30, 2011 11:36 pm)
I have always kept the original equipment tires on the car until I need to change them and then can pick something else. My Cobalt with a 4 and a 4 speed transmission and the original Continental tires has gotten as much as 41 on the road -Prius territory. What is screwing up gas mileage is not tires but the lousy Ethanol they are adding to the gas. My Deville dropped from 30 on the road to 27. Most of the car magazines say that the 4 in the Malibu is just fine. I'm buying a new one in a couple of months and will definately get a 4.
 
The local dealer is chargine $15,800 for a 2009 base model with 36,000 miles. A new one on Cars.com is less than $18,000. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to skip the 'Certified" ex-rental car. It saves having to buy a GM Protection Plan 3 year warranty plus new tires. Buying a certified Cadillac is smart. Buying a certified Chevrolet is stupid.

#2101 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [dispencer2] by djm2

Feb 05, 2011 (9:24 am)

Replying to: dispencer2 (Feb 04, 2011 4:34 pm)
Hi dispencer2:
 
      I see from your posting that you are considering purchasing a NEW 2011 Chevrolet Malibu in the near future. ----- As you know from my previous postings, I own a 2010 4 cylinder Chevrolet Malibu LTZ. ----- The vehicle is fun to drive, and the fit & finish are outstanding, but the engine performance leaves a lot to be desired! --------- The miles per gallon on the highway are not up to the advertised postings. --- (I only get 27mpg, and I have tried different brands of fuel and different octanes.) ---- The stock tires are "bottom of the line Goodyear tires" of questionable quality, and they do not hold air over time!
 
SUGGESTIONS:
 
      Take a look at the 2011 - XLE 2.5 ---- 4 cylinder Camry. ----- It comes with a 8 way power driver's seat, and a 4 way power passenger seat, dual zone climate controls driver / passenger, the engine is a 2.5 with DOHC / VVT and rated at 169 HP backed by 6 speed automatic transmission. ---- The vehicle is rated at 22 / 32 MPG. -----
 
      I also own a 2007 XLE V6 Toyota Camry, and I get 30MPG easily on the highway. ------ On a long trip, my Camry has reached as high as 34MPG. ---- (The Camry can be had with Michelin Tires!) ----- I am sure that a four cylinder Camry can get the posted highway mileage! -----(Hell, I could have purchased a 2010 V6 Camry, and gotten better highway mileage than the four cylinder Malibu!) -------- (Just a suggestion!) ---- NOTE: ------ This is the last American 4 cylinder vehicle for me! ---- (I might purchase a V6 American vehicle.) ----- Poor engine performance, and lack of "state of the art MPG engineering," cheap original equipment tires, and what is more important "a lack of concern from the manufacturer" has turned me completely off! ----
 
     I think the better buy is the four cylinder Camry over the four cylinder Malibu. ------ (I WISH I HAD PURCHASED THE CAMRY four or six cylinder!) ----- Heck, I wish I had purchased a Hyundai of a Kia! ------- Best regards. ----- Dwayne

#2102 of 3289 Re: Malibu or Fusion - making myself nuts [djm2] by plekto

Feb 05, 2011 (9:57 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Feb 05, 2011 9:24 am)
The way to solve the 4 vs 6 issue is to just buy a 4 cylinder Accord. The clutch is electro-mechanical without any actual linkage, so it is literally as precise and easy as a video game.
 
It accelerates in traffic exactly as quick as the 6 with automatic since there's no time spent waiting for it to wind up and get moving. Shifting is excellent and the car feels light on its feet.
 
Now, if you really want something better, consider a used or CPO 2007 CTS with manual and the 2.8L engine. Quick shifting and more than enough power, decently nice interior (I know everyone panned it vs the competition, but it is nicer than a typical economy sedan) , and you won't even have to spend $15K. If getting around town is all you want to do, the 2.8 is great as you can consistently get 29-30mpg highway with cruise control on. MPG is identical to everyone else's 6 cylinder/auto combination if you drive it conservatively. (official was 17/27 - real world is about 24-25mpg for typical commuting)

Messages Page 211 of 330

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