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Sedans Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Malibu MPG-Real World Numbers
292 messages, Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 8:24 AM
You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Oct 20, 2009 3:45 am) My other gripe (also posted previously) is the way the transmission hunts and takes so long to down-shift. I almost got hit two days ago because I started to make a lane change, but the transmission wouldn't downshift quickly enough. I had to dodge back into my own lane and wait a bit longer. Even then, I slapped the shifter into "M" and made a manual down-shift before beginning the lane change. Even manually, it takes way too long to complete the down-shift. Our old VW Beetle with the 90 hp turbo-diesel was better at "point and squirt" driving than the Malibu. But I'm getting a bit off-subject here. Suffice it to say that, while there is much to recommend the car, on the whole, the fuel mileage and transmission have me looking forward to my next trade.
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Replying to: phil53 (Oct 20, 2009 8:27 am) Basically, I get about 4 to 5 mpg less than the EPA rating... So I have been rather disappointed in the fuel mileage... My other gripe ... is the way the transmission hunts and takes so long to down-shift. I almost got hit two days ago because I started to make a lane change, but the transmission wouldn't downshift quickly enough. When such things happen, do you care about the quality of internal materials or how your car looks? (I don't think so  ) This is one of the reasons that brought GM down, in my opinion. Instead of polishing to perfection at least one practical model, they went for what they thought was "pretty" with the new Malibu. Most 2004-2008 Malibu's owners have been happy with their car, no matter what others say about its looks. Many Impala owners have been happy with theirs -- but in both cases, up to a point. Doesn't appear that Impala is a reliable and comfortable vehicle (I'd be scared to buy one), and the 2004-2008 Malibus might have been made a bit better without dramatic changes, preserving their excellent MPG, and making the already not-so-bad reliability even better. "The car of the year", Malibu 2008, comes, impresses with the quality of materials and ride... And then what happens? Precisely: Suffice it to say that, while there is much to recommend the car, on the whole, the fuel mileage and transmission have me looking forward to my next trade. Silly GM! (I am not saying this happily -- it's just that I am grieving the lack of my own desire to buy a new GM car...)
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Replying to: malexbu (Oct 20, 2009 1:20 pm) Yes I'm old and tire technology has made some really good changes since the days of bias belts and fiberglass, but what tire they promote on a race track has nothing to do with everyday driving.
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Replying to: malexbu (Oct 20, 2009 1:20 pm)
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Oct 21, 2009 4:18 am) Michilen Weatherwise which was very similar to a Euro tread. They improved the ride tremendously and the wet/dry traction as well This is very interesting; I am honestly at a loss about the tires' impact on the whole experience. Yes, I realize that a tire should not be worn out -- as a matter of fact, I rotate tires on my three Malibus myself and carefully inspect them every time I do this (done just once on my latest, 2006 Maxx). At this time, I have three kind of tires on these cars: 1. (2005 Base Sedan) Sumitomo HTR T4 Ultra Premium Touring 2. (2005 Base Sedan) The oiginal Goodyear Eagle 3. (2006 Maxx) Front: Cooper; Rear: Continental Switching between the cars often, I wouldn't be able to tell which tires are better or worse -- from any perspective. I know which tires are where, but only by my brain, not by my back or ear. Car #1 has been driven in pretty bad conditions, rains and snow, and I have nothing but praise to say for it. But I would be interested in trying something else, when time comes. Do you have a recommendation, what to try -- all season tire? Michellin Weatherwise? Something else?
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Replying to: phil53 (Oct 21, 2009 9:33 am) appearance gets people into the showroom. Impala: looks great. Sit in it, when you have a chance (I bet you will not like it for a moment after any Malibu). Read the owners' forums here at Edmunds (I bet you will not regret not having Impala to care for). So, the new Impala was, in a sense, a GM killer. Not a killer model, a killer. The car that had to be almost like a tank, bulletproof -- the new hope for GM some five years ago, is such that even I, a GM die-hard by today's metrics, won't buy it. But I much enjoy its looks when I see one. I would never have considered the old model because it did not offer the style and features I wanted. What specific must-have features did it miss, in your opinion? Say, an MP3 port. GM could have added it to the old model at next-to-zero cost. This is something I meant when I was saying, "make the current model flawless." When you say "would never have considered the old model", you know, of course, better, but realistically, you don't know -- it would depend on the presentation given to the car at the time you were looking to buy a new one. You probably won't have time and/or desire to read owners' reviews for that generation of Malibu here and at Carpoint / autos.msn.com, but I did read them again this summer before buying my third Malibu -- and: Wow!... And this is the car GM decided to drop?... When on the road, pay attention to how the 2004-2008 Malibus look: not to their boxy shape (the appreciation comes with time), but at the condition of these cars. Watching many such cars in driveways, on local roads and highways, I can't help but notice in what great shape most of them are. Some of that is, perhaps, due to the cars' internal properties, but plenty, I want to think, is due to the care they receive from their owners. They all look like loved ones... Hey, I didn't like the shape of 2005 Malibu until I got my first one. Now you should see me dotting over them By the way, I was complimented twice on the looks of the Malibu yesterday. I do enjoy seeing the new Malibu, and I liked its ride when I briefly tried. But I equally enjoy seeing the old (2004-2008) Malibu. These two seem to be cars for different buyers: the older is more utilitarian, the new one for those who want "the other look". Should the 2004+ model be available and legendary reliable, it would sell all right, I think, even today. They should have worked on making it that reliable!... They should have been replacing the flawed steering columns free of charge for 100K miles, no questions asked. Etc. It would be cheaper than what they ended up with. (They -- GM.) I'd readily compliment you on the looks of your Malibu, though. Truly hoping you'll be enjoying it, and if in a couple of years I'll see owners giving it the review similar to what my generation has now, I'll buy one, I swear
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Replying to: malexbu (Oct 21, 2009 4:11 pm) I have heard some good things about Sumitomo and Continental and the Eagles on some vehicles, but to me the Eagles seem to have a stiff sidewall and without the proper suspension the ride could be harsh. Also passing that harshness to the suspension could beat it to death. I will store your info in my mind, but not sure what changes might have been done to '08 and up regarding suspension. Since GM likes to use old parts, even from other models, it is likely they made no change.
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Replying to: malexbu (Oct 21, 2009 4:50 pm)
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Replying to: malexbu (Oct 21, 2009 4:50 pm) As for features, I'll admit that I never took a close look at the feature set on the old Malibu. But I do like the mp3 port. That is not a deal killer, however. What I do require are heated leather seats with an adjustable lumbar support. The leather is just a preference. And, I'll admit I'm spoiled, but those heated seats are awfully nice on a cold midwestern morning. (BTW - I'll stipulate that the '07 Malibu was available with those - although I don't think it offered a power passenger seat.) The adjustable lumbar, though, is a necessity, as I have a bad lower back. If I do not have proper support, even the 2.5 hours from here to DesMoines can be painful. The other feature I don't recall seeing on the old model is dual zone climate control. Again, I've become spoiled, but it does allow my wife to control the temperature on her side - especially on trips where the sun comes beaming in on one side and not the other - so that we are both comfortable. The old model also came with only a 4 speed automatic. I know I've ragged on the 6AT in the current model, but most cars in its class have had a 5AT for a while. And, given their history, there is no excuse for GM failing to produce a transmission that is equal to or better than their competitors. All that said, I'm not trying to denigrate your car. You obviously like it very much and it evidently fits your wants and needs. And it probably fits my needs - just not my wants.
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Oct 22, 2009 5:14 am) |
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