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Sedans Chevrolet Malibu 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu
1285 messages, Last post on Nov 04, 2009 at 6:58 AM
You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: bwia (Apr 29, 2008 4:29 am) The only real complaint I have about the factory leather is that it seems a bit hard, even compared to the leather on my wife's 07 Trailblazer. My Avalanche was the same. I bet your aftermarket leather feels a lot better. That may significantly improve the wearability of the factory interior though. Too bad, because I was thinking that I'll go with some Katzkin leather as a future replacement when the factory stuff wears out enough. But that may never happen. 
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According to Edmunds Auto Observer....sales of the new Malibu continued to surge, gaining three percentage points in the mid-size car segment, to 17.5 percent in April from 14.5 percent a year ago, according to Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “And dealers are ordering it at four times the current build rate,” he said, “so there’s a lot of upside.”
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Replying to: bwia (May 02, 2008 12:42 pm)
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Replying to: roho1 (May 02, 2008 12:50 pm) |
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I understand that the availability of the 6 speed transmission will be extended to trim levels below the LTZ in the 2009 model year. In particular, I am interested in a 6 speed mated to a 4 cylinder engine in a 1LT with no other options. My dealer has confirmed that the six speed will be an upgrade on a '09 1LT but he has no price info yet. Any educated guesses on the upgrade price just to replace the standard 4 speed with a 6 speed? I guess it would have to be less than the price jump from a 1LT to a 2LT in '09 because the 6 speed will be standard on the 2LT. Of course, that starts one thinking about whether the price difference between the 1LT and the 2LT might be greater in '09 than '08. My alternative is to buy an '08 1LT and forget about the six speed. I anticipate that the 6 speed would provide a little better acceleration from a dead stop and about 2 MPG better highway fuel economy. Worth the wait and the (unknown) extra expense?
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Replying to: mnt70 (May 09, 2008 11:47 am) We have an '08 2LT 4-cyl with the 4-speed and are very happy with it, though after a few thousand miles, I could *see* where an extra 2 cogs could help--mainly in keeping the revs down a bit, as the 2.4L works splendidly with the 4-speed that keeps it in its rev band, but also makes for it to rev out higher and more than probably helps economy. Things like really holding onto 3rd gear until about 50. It never feels lacking, but the extra 2 cogs will probably help this out a bit. This car is my mother's, after my experience with an '07 rental, and now with the '08 I'm very much thinking of adding another one to the fleet for myself and a 2.4L as well. I'd go with a 4-speed one right now if the colors/package/options were right, but really am tempted to hold off for the 6-speed more so. I'm planning on driving one of the late '08 LTZ's now on dealer lots with the 2.4L/6-speed to see the change. That's what I'd recommend for you too. Find someone who has a new '08 LTZ with the 2.4L/6-speed (which is a package this year and will be standard for '09 in that trim), and drive it to compare. That will be the instant answer whether you care to have one NOW or wait. It's what I'm doing.
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Replying to: beach15 (May 09, 2008 5:30 pm) Thanks again. |
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I own two Malibu 2005 Base Sedans and couldn't have been happier with them: powerful, spacious, low-maintenance and consistently get close to 37 MPG on long trips. With one of my cars getting off the manufacturer's warranty in May, I test drove Malibu 2008 a while ago and decided to stay with my current car. I would be, however, very interested in knowing what the people who have owned both the Malibus of the new (2008) and the previous generation (2004+) think of them, in comparison. Personally, I am truly, really and completely not interested in the opinions on the looks' (sorry!) -- this is a matter of personal preferences, nor am I interested in the opinions of those who haven't owned or leased at least one car of either generation. See, if you had a 2004+ one and switched to the 2008, in a while you may feel that you did right or wrong by switching -- and I would like to know what you think: do you have any regrets about going to the new model? I did see the comments about the new car being more liked than the 2004 Maxx but I didn't see any detailed comparison. In particular, one thing that is pretty important for me is the interior space of the car: it seemed to me that the new Bu's trunk is noticeably smaller than the old one's one -- is this true, you think? Thanks!
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Replying to: malexbu (May 10, 2008 7:39 pm) In overall feel, the last gen is more upright and is a touch easier to get in & out of and with taller windows, you can see more out. It's just very square and upright, which helps in that. Otherwise, the seating and legroom is essentially identical with just a touch more I would say with the wheelbase stretch (now on the previous Maxx model wheelbase). The new car feels a touch more closed in...but it's all in the looks and those are STUNNING. In that regard, the looks are shockingly different. Doesn't even seem like the two can share as much as they do, and the '08 is just a stunner. Perfect proportions, great details and lines, stunning interior shapes and sculpting, etc. Is it a Lexus or MB in terms of overall final materials and finishes? No. But it's stronger than the last gen and just oozes style and solidity throughout. On the road is dramatically different too. Both my rental and the '08 we bought are Ecotec 4-cyl cars, so similar in weight, and with the electric steering. While the '07 had that--as reviews have said--easy but oddly loose then tight steering, the '08 just feels firm and sharp at all times. Much better feel. Then with suspension, the previous car was fine, but the new one feels much more tied down still and without any of the also sometimes odd float. It absorbs things very well but is still a firm, supple feel, with tight handling. One of the biggest differences is the noise level. Though I never thought it was horrible, my '07 had pretty significant road roar and impact noise. The '08 really, truly with all the new sound deadening, special glass, etc. is like a rolling whisper. That was my first shock driving one of the new ones. Even more so, specifically with the 4-cyl, the engine roar is next to nil in a new '08 compared to a last gen. The decrease in noise levels alone makes it feel SO much more refined and high quality. So, all in all, while the new styling has impinged a bit on overall ingress/egress and visibility out, that's all that's negative in comparison. As Car & Driver said in a review, the guts were always there, but the '08 finally has the right styling and all the right driving dynamics to match. Great, great car. I'm a fan of the rental special '07 still, and it's a great car (I LOVED getting 37+ mpg effortlessly in my 2.2L car, and it was extremely comfortable), but the '08 now takes those good traits and adds emotion in the styling and dynamics to the mix. Now it's really a "want" car with those merits. |
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Replying to: beach15 (May 10, 2008 8:12 pm) The '07 replaced a '96 Olds LSS that needed too much $$$ to keep it going (110,000 virtually trouble-free miles up to that point) and the '08 replaced an '04 Olds Alero Final 500 with 39K miles, that quite frankly, was stunning in the Dark Cherry Metallic with the embossed cashmere leather, but I never enjoyed driving it (too "buzzy", if that makes sense). While I truly appreciate both cars, the '08 is like a different car in so many respects. The interior combo (cashmere/cocoa) is stunning--I like the suede inserts in the seats, and the light/dark contast elsewhere in the dash, door panels, etc. is very pleasing to my eye. It's so quiet compared to the '07 LS, but especially to the '04 Alero. The '07 interior is more stark, and not as "pretty", but the car does exactly what it was purchased to do. 35 mpg highway without even trying. Thought I had a "thunk' in the rear end, but I cleaned out the trunk and found a bottle that was rattling in a cardboard box! Other than one oil change, the car at 4,700 miles presently has been super. Back to the '08--I paid $300 over dealer invoice, got the $1,000 GM loyalty rebate, bought an extended warranty for an additional three years $400 off "retail". I would buy this car again--and may just buy an '09 or a '10 LTZ with the 4cyl and 6 speed transmission when my '03 Olds Aurora (yes, I have four cars  ) is out of warranty. That's how impressed I am with the '08.
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