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2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu

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#51 of 1301 Re: malibu [1487] by npgmbr Dec 26, 2006 (12:08 pm)
Replying to: 1487 (Dec 25, 2006 7:56 am) I have to agree with you there. GMs problem is that its loosing customers but it still outsells Toyota and Honda (for now). I always thought that the Cobalt didn't sell well because I don't see many of them on the road here in Metro DC. But on a Christmas road trip to Cannonsburg, PA I could not belive how many Cobalts I saw on the 4hour trip up and at Cannonsburg. I was truly surprised at how many I saw and wondered if they sold that well in other parts of the country. Then I realized that I wouldn't see many Cobalts in Metro DC or LA, Miami or NYC. The people in these parts of the country buy Caddy's, Beamers, Infinitis, Acuras, and so on.
#52 of 1301 Re: malibu [shado4] by 1487 Dec 26, 2006 (12:16 pm)
Replying to: shado4 (Dec 25, 2006 2:52 pm) Without getting into the specifics of Chevy's sales I suspect their sales are down due to a decrease in SUV sales and the fact that they have cut fleet sales across the board. The question is, will they be able to outsell Toyota this year? As far as I know the answer is yes. GM is not losing ground this year, it's share has been up or down slightly depending on which quarter you examine. Overall GM is doing no worse than last year in terms of market share and they are doing it with far less discounts. With the Malibu and 2007 Silverado Chevy is likely to have an increase in sales next year.   The 2008 Malibu SHOULD make the old car look old. That is the point. Nissan decided to make the new Altima so evolutionary that most people wont even notice it's all new. If you want people to rush out an buy your new model you have to make it worth trading in their old models. I can see that happening with the Malibu, but not the Altima.   The Fusion, Sonata, Galant and 6 lack dual zone auto climate control. Only the Accord, Passat and Camry have it but you cant get it on the Camry SE for some stupid reason. Want dual zone on a 6 or Sonata even though they are imports? Nope, cant have it.   GM is finally phasing out 4 speeds in mainstream cars. The G6/Aura already have 6 speeds and the Malibu will as well. The Vue will also have one. 4 speeds are older technology but the differences in mileage between a 4 speed and 5 speed are minimal. Compare the mileage of the Aura/G6/Malibu with the 3.5L engine to the Accord or Sonata or Fusion (6 speed) and you will see virtually no difference. As for pushrods, you need to look into that a little more. GM's newest pushrods have VVT while the Fusion, 6 and Sebring do not. Pushrod tech is no older than OHC technology, it's just mechanically simpler. OHV engines are trusted to run trucks, SUVs, sports cars and the 300C so I dont see why they cant be used. As far as I know the Japanese never made pushrod engines in america which is why they dont have them to this day, it's not like they made them and then "upgraded" to OHC layouts because they deemed OHV inferior.   Bluetooth is available on the Altima as part of an expensive package. Navigation isnt required, but another package with tons of unrelated features. Bottom line, on an Altima V6 you have to spend $30k to get bluetoooth which means 90% of Altimas will not have it. Does the Accord have bluetooth? Passat?
#53 of 1301 Re: malibu [savetheland] by 1487 Dec 26, 2006 (12:19 pm)
Replying to: savetheland (Dec 25, 2006 10:40 pm) a 4 speed will be offered in the Malibu. The electric steering will most likely be offered on the 4 cylinder and hybrid models but not the V6 models. The G6 has dropped electric steering on V6 models and the Aura doesnt even offer it.   You can call the Malibu's likely powertrains outdated but all that matters is performance. The g6 has a four cylinder combined with a 4 speed with I suppose you would call outdated but it still gets 23/33 which is better than many cars, including the Fusion with a 5 speed. Replies to this message: savetheland (Dec 26, 2006 5:04 pm) 1487 (Dec 27, 2006 10:23 am) readerreader (Dec 27, 2006 4:34 pm) and 1 more...
#54 of 1301 Interesting Article by shado4 Dec 26, 2006 (1:47 pm)
Will the new Malibu change GM's fortunes? It will help, but GM still has a long way to go.   Detroit News article   Quote: "The biggest challenge GM faces is that more and more people, especially the young, are excluding us from their consideration list," the study said.   Hence my desire to see GM become more proactive when it comes to embracing newer technologies like Bluetooth. I am hoping that Chevy makes the 2008 Malibu a showcase for forward thinking that will draw more people into the showrooms.
#55 of 1301 Re: malibu [1487] by savetheland Dec 26, 2006 (5:04 pm)
Replying to: 1487 (Dec 26, 2006 12:19 pm) "You can call the Malibu's likely powertrains outdated but all that matters is performance."   It more perceptions than facts. GMs new OHV engines with VVT are pretty well engineered - fuel effective and smooth. I drove some time ago rental Pontiac GP with OHV and could not figure out what engine was under the hood. But I did not try to race it though. You probably will notice trying to rev it up. But for Pontiac being sport sedan company it is essencial to have latest technologies under the hood. For Chevy may be it is not so important.   Electric steering can be done right, but GM needs to put more engineering effort to improve it. Replies to this message: 1487 (Dec 27, 2006 10:23 am) readerreader (Dec 27, 2006 4:34 pm) 1487 (Dec 28, 2006 7:12 am)
#56 of 1301 Re: malibu [savetheland] by 1487 Dec 27, 2006 (10:23 am)
Replying to: savetheland (Dec 26, 2006 5:04 pm) GM has done electric steering right on the Cobalt SS s/c coupe. That car's steering has been lauded but I suspect that some of the changes that were made negate the fuel economy advantages of electric steering. I dont think the feature is going anywhere so I look for them to refine it in the future.   MT has a clear pic of the Malibu in the February issue. They said the engines are 2.4L and 3.6L so I guess no OHV engine will be offered. They like the styling a lot and said this car is worthy of being called Malibu.   as for Pontiac, the have a direct injection turbo four that crushes the audi 2L turbo. I would call that technology. The G6 has a DOHC V6 and 6 speed auto, sounds pretty up to date to me. Replies to this message: readerreader (Dec 27, 2006 4:34 pm) 1487 (Dec 28, 2006 7:12 am)
#57 of 1301 Re: malibu [1487] by readerreader Dec 27, 2006 (4:34 pm)
Replying to: 1487 (Dec 27, 2006 10:23 am) You mean a picture different to that which was shown to us a few days ago?   Replies to this message: 1487 (Dec 28, 2006 7:12 am)
#58 of 1301 Re: malibu [readerreader] by 1487 Dec 28, 2006 (7:12 am)
Replying to: readerreader (Dec 27, 2006 4:34 pm) Yes, a couple weeks ago a photo was leaked showing a dark grey Malibu and MT has a clear version of that same pic. The car looks very good indeed and they noted that. apparently the picture that leaked out was the standard photo given to the magazines.
#59 of 1301 There you go... by readerreader Dec 28, 2006 (8:27 pm)
Replies to this message: rockylee (Dec 28, 2006 8:43 pm) jaxs1 (Dec 28, 2006 8:51 pm) readerreader (Dec 28, 2006 8:56 pm) jaxs1 (Dec 28, 2006 9:05 pm)
#60 of 1301 Re: There you go... [readerreader] by rockylee Dec 28, 2006 (8:43 pm)
Replying to: readerreader (Dec 28, 2006 8:27 pm) The Aura is the "Cam" beater while the Malibu is the "Cord" beater.   Rocky

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