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2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu

1510 messages,  Last post on Mar 16, 2013 at 12:47 PM

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Messages Page 149 of 152

#1475 of 1510 Re: 2009 Chevy Malibu [djm2] by dispencer2

Jul 19, 2011 (7:32 pm)

Replying to: djm2 (Jun 02, 2011 2:56 am)
Why did you buy a Malibu in the first place if your Toyota was satisfactory? Most Toyota owners I know are totally dedicated to the brand and the last thing they would buy would be a Chevy. I bought my 2011 LT1 as a cheap temporary (for 4 years) car until I can get a program Cadillac XTS which won't be even out till the spring of 2012.
 
So far I much prefer driving my Cobalt coupe. It shifts more predictably, handles better and frankly feels like a heavier car which it isn't. It also has gotten over 40mpg on the road. Bottom line it is just more fun to drive. I'll keep it forever. I cannot understand why all the car magazines pan the Cobalt. I rented a Cruze and I wouldn't have one. Wierd shifting, roaring engine, lack of passing power, and an overcomplicated console. You need an electronics degree to figure out how the radio works and God help you if you try and mess with it while driving. At least the Malibu has simple controls. This is why I didn't wait until the new model came out.
 
Nothing really wrong with my Malibu except rock hard backs of the back seats and no rear armrest. Feels and drives like a typical rental car. I guess I should have ordered a base Lacrosse or a base Avalon -even a used Avalon - as my 'road" car but it is too late now.

#1476 of 1510 Re: 2009 Chevy Malibu [dispencer2] by djm2

Jul 19, 2011 (9:21 pm)

Replying to: dispencer2 (Jul 19, 2011 7:32 pm)
Hi dispenser2:
 
      I still own the 2007 XLE Toyota Camry. ----------- I purchased the LTZ Malibu because I thought it was a "cool vehicle!" ---- I liked the looks of the car. ----- I recently read that the 2012 Chevrolet Impala is going to have a 3.6 V6 with a six speed automatic transmission. ----- (This could be very interesting!) ---- I am presently looking for a replacement for my 2007 XLE Camry. ----- It now has 65,000 miles! When it gets near 100,000 miles I will trade it. ----- It will take me about one year to do the necessary research and test drive the vehicles on my short list. ----- Now that my Chevrolet Dealer has fixed the "surging problem" on the Malibu, the vehicle is very enjoyable to drive. ---- I purchased the Malibu as a second vehicle, since I am in sales, and I need two dependable vehicles. ----- My vehicles are my office. ---- I am not loyal to any manufacturer! ------ I will probably look at the following vehicles; ---- Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Malibu, and Honda Accord . --- My Toyota has been 100% trouble free! ---- I have two GREAT servicing dealers!
 
          Best regards. ---------- Dwayne

#1477 of 1510 Re: 2009 Chevy Malibu [djm2] by dispencer2

Jul 25, 2011 (7:18 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jul 19, 2011 9:21 pm)
I'd look seriously at the Avalon if you are contemplating a high end model in Chevrolet. I owned a 2006 Impala and it was an ok car but the bottom of the seats were too short. My thighs were killing me the last two hours of an 8 hour trip to Denver in 2007. I sold the car shortly thereafter.
 
The Avalon feels like my 2003 Deville -substantial, rides nicely and has an interior that rivals Lexus. It also gets good gas mileage. If the new Cadillac XTS turns out to be not what I want I'm getting an Avalon for sure.
 
Actually what I should do is buy a 1966 Impala. The new cars are too low, windows are too narrow, back seat headroom is bad on many models and although they are safe and get good gas mileage it would be nice to get into a 1950 Pontiac or my '56 Ford Victoria with a big front seat, plenty of headroom, and a door that is designed so that you can put your elbow on the windowsill. The Malibu is ok but I look at cars like the Hyundai Sonota and wonder how old you have to be to sit in the back seat and not hit your head on the ceiling.

#1478 of 1510 Re: 2009 Chevy Malibu [dispencer2] by djm2

Jul 25, 2011 (10:02 am)

Replying to: dispencer2 (Jul 25, 2011 7:18 am)
Hi Dispencer2:
 
       If I was to purchase my dream car, it would be one of the following; ---- 1957 two door HT Chevrolet Impala, ----- 1955 Ford two door HT Fairlane, or a 1956 Olds two door 98. --------- These were GREAT vehicles.
 
       I look for the following when making a vehicle purchase:
 
1.) I want a "quality product" for my hard earned money.
 
2.) I want a manufacturer who is willing to stand behind their product as long as I have the vehicle serviced properly by the dealer.
 
3.) I want a manufacturer who is willing to stand behind their product under the terms and conditions of the factory extended warranty, if I have the vehicle serviced properly by the dealer.
 
4.) While I make it a point to change my engine oil and filter at the dealer every 2500 miles, I do not like vehicle manufacturers, who advocate extended oil and filter changes, and then blame the vehicle owner when their engines develop sludge.
 
5.) There is an American name plate that has major problems with spark plugs blowing out of the aluminum heads, because of a manufacturing defect in the threads of the aluminum heads. ------ (The fix for this is to install threaded steel sleeves to accept spark plugs.) ---- This manufacturer gets out of extended warranty obligations by stating that the extended warranty does not cover spark plugs. ----- This is simply a rip off of the customer!) ---- I would not consider purchasing a vehicle from this manufacturer, ---- (and I happen to like some of their vehicles!)
 
6.) I want comfortable seats.
 
7.) I want a professional dealership experience.
 
8.) I want quality original equipment tires on the vehicle. (My Malibu had poor quality tires from the factory and I had to purchase Michelin tires to correct the problem.) ----- Did GM care NO!
 
9.) I do not want to deal with a high pressure purchasing experience.
 
10.) I want access to the customer service people when a problem arises.
 
11.) I want respect both from the manufacturer and the dealer. ------ ( I would love to purchase a high end Hyundai vehicle, but the dealers in my part of the country leave a lot to be desired.) ------ Prior to purchasing the Malibu, I stopped at a Acura dealer to look at some of their vehicles. ---- While asking questions about one of their more costly vehicles, the sales manager stated; ----- "isn't that a little expensive for your pockets!" ----- (When I shop for a vehicle I shop in jeans.) ------ Even if I wanted an Acura, I would not purchase a vehicle from this dealer. ----- (Note the person making this statement was the "Sales Manager!")
 
        Dealers and Manufacturers a digging their own grave everyday by the way they are handling customers. ----- Their lack of concern and sensitivity is costing them sales everyday. ----- Sometimes I wonder if they truly care!
 
        Best regards. --------- Dwayne

#1479 of 1510 Re: 2009 Chevy Malibu [djm2] by djm2

Jul 26, 2011 (4:49 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jul 25, 2011 10:02 am)
Hi All:
 
     I am starting to seriously look for a replacement vehicle for my 2007 Toyota Camry V6 XLE. ------- (This process will take me about a year because I take the time to investigate both the vehicle, the manufacturer and the dealer.)
 
     I have been reading about both the new Chevrolet Impala, and the new Chevrolet Malibu. (The Malibu is going to be built on the Buick Lacrosse platform with the Buick four cylinder engine, and the Chevrolet Impala is going to get a 3.6 V6 and a six speed automatic transmission.)
 
     After reading about the new Impala, I started to do a search on the 3.6 V6 engine because I though that I had read about some issues associated with this engine. ----- It seems that there is a problem with the Timing Chain stretching at low mileage. In some cases, this has occurred at 10,000 miles. With this information in mind, I contacted GM and spoke to a customer representative about the timing chain issue. I was told that "IF" I had a specific VIN NUMBER of a vehicle they could tell me "IF" the engine had the new and improved timing chain and which engine plant produced the engine. This tells me two things. ----1.) The problem is real. ---- and ---- 2.) GM is still producing the V6 engine with the old timing chains at some of it's engine facilities. --------- QUESTIONS: ----- What is wrong with this picture? ------ Should I purchase a new Impala and experience this failure, and then have my engine repaired at the dealer at a very low mileage and still be happy with my new vehicle?
 
       This problem has existed for some time. ------ QUESTION: ---- Has GM forgot how to manufacturer and design timing chains? ------ They are producing a NEW Impala and they are shooting themselves in the leg with this engine! ----- Does this make good business sense?
 
       Best regards. ---------- Dwayne

#1480 of 1510 Re: 2009 Chevy Malibu [djm2] by dispencer2

Jul 27, 2011 (10:15 am)

Replying to: djm2 (Jul 26, 2011 4:49 am)
You will note that the LaCrosse weighs about 800 pounds more than the Malibu. One of my problems with the Malibu is that it feels light and not substantial. I sold an 03 Deville and most of my road cars in the past were Buick LeSabres. I had rented a Malibu on some extended trips and liked it but I should have bought a base LaCrosse or even last year's Buick as a program car. I would lose as fortune if I traded it with 1,000 miles so I'll hang onto it until I can get a program Cadillac XTS which I'm sure will feel like a heavy car even though it is the size of the LaCrosse. I wish that I could read some reviews of the XTS. They should start building it this winter.

#1481 of 1510 Tires, and Intake by whooley

Aug 18, 2011 (11:41 am)

So I’m stumped on how this happened.
I have a 2009 Malibu and just had to replace my tires (and 2 bent rims, Dam steel hubs) and found that my Malibu LT has the rims and tires for a Malibu Hybrid. Now I’m not complaining much because they come with the chrome caps instead of the brushed caps and I like the look of a wider tire. I’m stumped because I have done some searching and all the 2009 Malibu models have the P225/50R17 93S tires except the Hybrid that has the P225/55R17 93S. Now I have ran my VIN # multiple times through different websites and all of them show that I have the LT model not the Hybrid and looking under the hood it is obvious it is not a Hybrid but yet even on my door sticker it states that the car is to have the P225/55R17 93S tires. I guess I can understand typos and straight up mistakes but this just surprised me and threw my tire guy for a loop when he looked up what should be on there and what the sticker said.
 
Also FYI, I found replacement hubcaps on Amazon for $70 for a full set, where as the dealer wants $120 per cap.
 
Does anyone have any insight on putting on a cold air intake or any other motor upgrades on the 4 cylinder to get more power out of it?

#1482 of 1510 Re: Tires, and Intake [whooley] by pao

Aug 19, 2011 (5:49 am)

Replying to: whooley (Aug 18, 2011 11:41 am)
there are no engine mods that Im aware of to get more power out of the std 4 banger in the malibu.....cold air intake does nothing unless you complete the entire breathing system of the engine to include headers, hi-flow cat, exhaust etc in my experience....simply adding a CAI gives you "growl" more than anything else.....more power means the V-6 in this line....
 
This engine isnt meant for tuning IMHO....
 
As far as tire and rim mixup....would attribute it to just that..perhaps when that car was assembled they were short the standard set so simply put on the "hybrid" set....the size difference specified is inconsequential for this car...nothing more than a guess however on how or why it occurred

#1483 of 1510 When is Bait and Switch fraud? by bwia

Aug 28, 2011 (9:29 am)

I received an invitation from a local Chevy dealer guaranteeing a trade-in allowance of $15,255 on my 2008 Malibu LS. When I got there I was told that this promotion was run by Black Book and that the amount quoted in the invitation was merely designed to get me into the showroom.
 
After making us wait, (and wait, and wait) and haggling with the salesman and sales manager for over three hours, we left in disgust. In short, they would not honor the trade-in price nor would they sell the new car at less than MSRP.
 
What do you think, should I report this dealer to the Massachusetts Department of Consumer Protection? or at least to GM? I thought the blatant practice of bait and switch was illegal but this Chevy dealer did not seem to care.

#1484 of 1510 Re: When is Bait and Switch fraud? [bwia] by ab348

Aug 28, 2011 (10:50 am)

Replying to: bwia (Aug 28, 2011 9:29 am)
That's the kind of situation that should be reported. With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been interesting to walk in and not mention the invitation or trade-in promise, find a car on the lot that interested you, get their pricing, and then present the offer you received. It would have been even better if you had someone with you from the Office of Consumer Protection or some similar agency.

Messages Page 149 of 152

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