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Chevrolet Malibu vs. Toyota Camry vs. Honda Accord

804 messages,  Last post on Mar 07, 2011 at 4:52 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 81

#20 of 804 Re: 2001 Malibu [bateejeff] by malexbu

Mar 04, 2007 (8:37 pm)

Replying to: bateejeff (Mar 04, 2007 1:16 pm)
,--- You (bateejeff) [ Mar 04, 2007 (12:16 pm) ]
|
| I tried to defend GM by saying that the 2001 Malibu didn't do well
| because it was the early model year and so GM didn't have the chance
| to debug everything. I argued that the 2006 Malibu had been
| re-designed and so all the bugs in the early models had been worked
| out.
 
It sounds as if you think that 2001 is an earlier model of 2006,
whereas its a totally different car. Why even compare them?
 
If you want to make the case that Malibu 2001 sucked, providing such a
detailed account of your experience, I wouldn't argue with you -- not
because I know it sucked but because I don't know if it did not.
 
But what does it matter for a different car -- Malibu 2004+?
 
Your story about the test drive is entertaining and it is
understandable that you skipped Malibu 2006 -- but can one honestly
base a car's reliability record on that kind of experience?
 
I'd say, based on my own experience with Malibu 2005 and having read
multiple other owners' accounts, that you made a mistake not buying
Malibu 06 -- but, hey, you've got a chance to tell your friends a
funny story and let the world know about a few Chevy dealers who had
displeased you.
 
| The incompetence of GM is rather obvious.
  
| In addition, it seems that GM shows no respect for its
| customers. For example, ever since I bought the vehicle, GM kept
| sending me correspondence addressed to "Mr. ... Low". I have no idea
| how GM could invent a family name like "Low" for me.
 
Yeah, that's highly truly very important to know! Why did you even go to
test drive Malibu 06 after all that incompetence and disrespect?
 
| She bought a 07 Toyota Avalon, and so far she loves it.
 
Er... I bought two 2005 Malibu's (in the year 2005) and so far I love
them!.. But surely 07 Avalon's record of reliability is much
stronger, who'd argue with that?...
 
BTW, batteries do go dead in cars that stand on a lot.
 
My second Malibu, which I test drove fine in December 2005, didn't
even start when I was getting it, registered, a few days later. The
battery "didn't have juice". A shocker? You bet!... You should have
seen the salesman and his manager's faces...
 
OK, they replaced the battery on the spot, without me asking, in some
ten minutes, putting in a better battery than the OEM one. The car
has been serving me well since then. 15,000 miles on the odometer.
 
I love the Chevy dealers I've dealt with and I love two my little
Bu's.
 
Good luck with your Rendezvous, BTW!

#21 of 804 Re: Part 2 of 2001 Malibu [bateejeff] by captain2

Mar 05, 2007 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: bateejeff (Mar 04, 2007 1:22 pm)
understanding your companies interest in GM/Ford products, do you also not realize that your wife's Avalon is more of an 'American' car than either your Malibu or Buick?

#23 of 804 Re: 05 Malibu [shadow5599] by elroy5

Mar 06, 2007 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: shadow5599 (Jun 23, 2006 8:36 am)
The new design is so much better and competes very nicely with the Camry, Accord or any other car in it's class.
 
This statement is very familiar. It's the same thing they said about the 97-02 Malibu. In 97 it was named "Car of the year" and was "recomened" by Consumer Reports. I have experience with the 01 Malibu, and it is a very crude car. "Quality and Refinement" are not words I would use to describe the Malibu. Some people are not concerned with quality and refinement, and just want a basic A to B car. I am totally ok with that. Everyone has their own wants and needs. I do appreciate Quality and Refinement, and I am willing to pay extra for it.
 
The Malibu competes well with cars in it's own price range. It does not compete well at all, with the Accord IMO.

#24 of 804 I've had both by lovetocamp

Mar 06, 2007 (8:18 pm)

I have had Chevy's and Toyota's and all I can say if you like the Malibu I am happy for you but I really think this is a GM employee trying to keep his job. I had a 10 year old Toyota that was still worth $5,000. I've had 3 year old Chevy's that weren't worth that much.

#25 of 804 Re: I've had both [lovetocamp] by malexbu

Mar 06, 2007 (9:24 pm)

Replying to: lovetocamp (Mar 06, 2007 8:18 pm)
,--- elroy5 [ Mar 06, 2007 (7:16 pm) ]
|
| This statement is very familiar. It's the same thing they said about
| the 97-02 Malibu. In 97 it was named "Car of the year" and was
| "recomened" by Consumer Reports. I have experience with the 01
| Malibu, and it is a very crude car.
 
I guess we should be concerned with the new (2004+) Malibu now that we
are in the year 2007
 
| "Quality and Refinement" are not words I would use to describe the Malibu.
 
You speak from the personal experience with a Malibu 2004+?
 
| Some people are not concerned with quality and refinement, and just
| want a basic A to B car. I am totally ok with that. Everyone has
| their own wants and needs. I do appreciate Quality and Refinement,
| and I am willing to pay extra for it.
 
And if Q&R were coming on the cheap, you'd mind?
 
Seriously, do you have anything to say about Malibu 2004+ based not on
your reading but on the owning or at least driving?
 
| The Malibu competes well with cars in it's own price range.
 
What else could Chevy wish?
 
| It does not compete well at all, with the Accord IMO.
 
Does Accord compete well with BMW? Wanna say that Accord and BMW are
in different price ranges? Malibu should beat the cars 1.5 (or 2?)
times more expensive, but the same should not apply to Accord?
 
,-- lovetocamp [ Mar 06, 2007 (7:18 pm) ]
|
| I had a 10 year old Toyota that was still worth $5,000. I've had 3
| year old Chevy's that weren't worth that much.
 
Chevy and Toyota's depreciation are clearly different and if this is
the determining factor in buying, well, one should go to Toyota
without hesitation. But this is not everybody's significant factor --
not for me, in particular.
 
What about the "price to quality" ratios in the new cars? How does,
say, base Malibu 2006 sedan stack up against a base Camry or Accord?
This is a serios question -- I don't know the answer. I *feel* as if
I know it -- but I don't know for a fact.
 
Obviously, Camry and Accord are excellent cars -- one needs to spend
just a little time in each to feel that. But so Malibu feels to many.
 
Obviously, Camry and Accord have excellent reliability reputions
(disputed at times, at least for the new Camry, AFAIU). But so Malibu
apparently does (and read Edmunds.com for that, not the joke of
"Consumer Report", please).
 
If you placed a new base Camry and Accord in front of me and said,
"Pick one -- it's yours for the same money" (let's say, "free"), I
wouldn't know which one to pick. I'd need to do some research to make
the decision. (I'd probably end up with the Accord, but I am not
quite certain.)
 
If you did the same placing a base Malibu and one of Camry or Accord
in front of me -- "Take either -- same price", I would not hesitate a
moment -- I'd pick the Camry or Accord on the spot. Not because I have
reservations about Malibu (I don't). Not because I *know* that
Camcord is a better car (I don't). Just because for the same price a
Camcord would be a better deal than Malibu (and, as opposed to a
similar imaginary experiment with Malibu agains Cadillac, I wouldn't
need to worry about the anti-Malibu repairs).
 
But this is *for the same price*. In real life, a base Malibu is
vastly less expensive than a Camcord, with no established inferiority
I am aware of. So, why should I pay more to buy the latter? To
possibly get some of my money back in 10 years?.. Sorry, there are
better investment ideas than that -- kid yourself if you wish but I'll
park my $7K+ elsewhere and in 10 years we'll see if you are able to
sell your Camry for $7K+ more than I will my Malibu.
 
Am I wrong with the numbers? Counterarguments, anybody?

#26 of 804 A loaded Honda Accord is $24k these days by thegraduate

Mar 07, 2007 (11:28 am)

How much is a loaded Malibu? I don't know how much these cars are going for. Someone care to tell me? I'd assume a loaded Malibu SS would compete best with the Accord (it comes closest to horsepower with the Accord (Honda has 244), still doesn't have a 5-speed auto though.

#27 of 804 Re: I've had both [malexbu] by dtownfb

Mar 07, 2007 (1:29 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Mar 06, 2007 9:24 pm)
LIke Elroy5, I also owned a 2001 Malibu. Traded it in Dec. 2004. The only reason we selcted this car over the 2001 Accord is to save $25 per month. One of the dumbest mistakes I made. Neith my wife or I were happy with that car. And too many problems in 2.5 years and 32k miles. I still haven't found out why the car completely cut off while driving 70 mph on route 78 in NJ.
 
Even the current model Malibu is below the quality of the Accord and Camry. Haven't driven one (and don't want to) but sat in one at a recent car show. The Camry and Accord are a bit nicer. The fact they can sell them for a couple of thousand more for similar trim level tells me others agree. Remember Americans vote with their pocketbooks.
 
The 2008 Malibu looks promising but it will take a couple model years before oyu see sales rise. It's takes time for people to forget a bad experience. Not sure what you are reading in the Malibu forum but I see a lot of issues that are carried over form other GM models (alternator, electrical issues) and previous generation Malibus. Maybe the joke, CR, is right.

#28 of 804 Re: I've had both [malexbu] by bateejeff

Mar 07, 2007 (3:14 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Mar 06, 2007 9:24 pm)
To malexbu,
I respectfully disagree with your assessment of potential saving by buying a malibu vs. a Camry. Based on my experience with 2001 Malibu ($4000 in repairs and tow truck in just 5 years!), I doubt that you can park the $7K of the so-called "saving" for long as an investment. I bet you will have to pay a hefty early withdrawal penalty to get money out of your CD in order to pay for the reparing and towing of your Malibu. Based on my 2001 Malibu, I would estimate that within 10 years you might have spend more than $7K in repairs plus tow truck bills. And then, when you sell or trade in your Malibu, you will literally get nothing as compared to a few grands you might get if you sell or trade in a 10-year old Camry. It is simple math which doesn't need a Ph.D. to figure out.

#29 of 804 Re: I've had both [malexbu] by elroy5

Mar 07, 2007 (3:14 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Mar 06, 2007 9:24 pm)
kid yourself if you wish but I'll
park my $7K+ elsewhere and in 10 years we'll see if you are able to
sell your Camry for $7K+ more than I will my Malibu.
 
Where do you get these numbers from? The base Malibu is $17,100, and the base Camry is $18,500. Are you comparing the base Malibu to a "top of the line" Camry? Talk about different classes. Sure, you can pay $7k more for a Camcord if you want every option available. The Malibu is no competition for these models.
 
I sold my 12 year old Accord (140k miles) for $5,000. You would be lucky to get that for a Malibu half that old, with half the miles. Can't exactly compare the 12 year old Accord to a 12 year old Malibu because there is no such thing as a 12 year old Malibu.

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