Article Comments: Detroit Auto Show-2008 Malibu

13 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2007 at 8:00 PM

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Article comments for Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu - What is not in doubt is the improvement in the powertrain. Chevrolet ditched the 224-horsepower pushrod 3.5-liter V6 in favor of a 252-hp double-overhead-cam 3.6-liter V6. (more)

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#1 of 13 Article Comments: by KarenS HOST Jan 03, 2007 (7:08 am)
Check out what our editors think of the new 'Bu. Do you agree? Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Replies to this message: robbieg (Jan 03, 2007 7:53 am) orbit9090 (Jan 05, 2007 5:08 am) jpryba (Jan 05, 2007 5:47 pm) malibujeff (Jun 10, 2007 4:50 pm)
#2 of 13 Re: Article Comments: [KarenS] by robbieg Jan 03, 2007 (7:53 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Jan 03, 2007 7:08 am) Looks to be a siginificant improvement over the old one but that does not mean that it is a winner for GM. The last line in the article is correct. The new Malibu is only a success if it is the equal of the new Accord (or at the very least is close to the new Accord). It is always relative when it comes to the automotive business. Why does Chevy insist on keeping the name Malibu?
#3 of 13 photos of the 2008 Malibu in black by scottcrumpler Jan 04, 2007 (11:42 pm)
I love the photos of the red Malibu GM released, but I wanted to see what it would look like in black, so I had a little fun with Photoshop. Click on the thumbnail to see larger versions. Cheers, Scott
#4 of 13 Re: 2008 Chevy MaliBoat by orbit9090 Jan 05, 2007 (5:08 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Jan 03, 2007 7:08 am) Informative article. Some mid-size car shoppers may buy-in to the 2008 Malibu's "lower & longer-is-better" gimmick, but not me. As the Malibu's sister car, new Saturn Aura's roofline is so low, I can't even get in the thing without straining my back and neck...Unacceptable! (I'm only 6'2") Good luck trying to parallel park the new 2008 "Maliboat". Instead, taller & wider body, with shorter-length is a better overall package, such as the Ford Fusion. Regardless, as the article states, the 2008 Accord is around the corner. It will undoubtedly set the new mid-size-car bar. Replies to this message: jpryba (Jan 05, 2007 5:47 pm)
#5 of 13 Great looks hold promise by wanderlust Jan 05, 2007 (10:00 am)
The previous poster sounds too quick to dump on the Malibu for having a low roofline. Not all cars are for everyone. I understand her complaint of headroom for ingress/egress, but this is one of many tradeoffs automakers must face (in this case - styling) on every new design. Dubbing it a "Maliboat" for a lengthened wheelbase is plain sophmoric. If you strain your neck and back getting into any family car, seek a chiropractor - most humans are flexible.... I think from the pictures, it appears GM may finally be "getting it". More than likely, Bob Lutz is responsible for the vast visual improvement of their more recent products (Avalanche redo, Solstice/Sky). The Malibu is further evidence that putting a real car guy in charge of your products is a wise choice when you're a car company. I don't know who was responsible for the original Aztec, Avalanche, Transport, or Lumina... but if I were in charge - they'd be sweeping floors now.
#6 of 13 Re: 2008 Chevy MaliBoat [orbit9090] by jpryba Jan 05, 2007 (5:47 pm)
Replying to: orbit9090 (Jan 05, 2007 5:08 am) Maliboat, eh? Yes, I would say the car is a tad too long. What was wrong with the size of the current Malibu? I think they could have just done a more thorough freshening and kept the Malibu at the "just right" size it already was. Then again, maybe it was impossible to do anything to the model without stretching it to the version of the Epsilon platform the G6 and Aura are on (horray for badge engineering that isn't too terribly obvious!).
#7 of 13 the 'bu '08 review by kurtamaxxxguy Feb 01, 2007 (12:25 pm)
Article was fine and offered a lot of info. Thanks! Personally, the "Bu's getting too big (why does every car mfr. on the planet have to upsize each revision of a given model?). As for the discontinuation of the "thing" (the Maxx), I suspect it's not due to car (which most reviews posted as being the most useful Malibu) but Chevy marketing who couldn't figure out how to promote it (the "trunklet" on its hatch probably didn't help). Replies to this message: csandste (Feb 01, 2007 9:00 pm) meandmymaxx (Feb 27, 2007 6:11 pm) malibujeff (Jun 13, 2007 6:41 pm)
#8 of 13 Re: the 'bu '08 review [kurtamaxxxguy] by csandste Feb 01, 2007 (9:00 pm)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Feb 01, 2007 12:25 pm) I've been approached by Malibu owners asking me where I got my Maxx. They were totally unaware of it. Total lack of marketing by GM and the dealer network. Replies to this message: meandmymaxx (Feb 27, 2007 6:11 pm) malibujeff (Jun 13, 2007 6:41 pm)
#9 of 13 Re: the 'bu '08 review [csandste] by meandmymaxx Feb 27, 2007 (6:11 pm)
Replying to: csandste (Feb 01, 2007 9:00 pm) The biggest problem with the bu and the Maxx wasn't so much looks as poor build quality. GM always compares it's car styling and features to the Japanese, But GM quality sucks compared to the Japanese, and I think that is one of the big reasons people spend the extra on the Japanese. All the gadgets in the world are worthless if they don't work.
#10 of 13 Re: Article Comments: [KarenS] by malibujeff Jun 10, 2007 (4:50 pm)
Replying to: KarenS (Jan 03, 2007 7:08 am) So why didn't GM just call the "upgraded Malibu" the "Impala JR"? That is what the '08 looks like. Some of us actually liked (I know this runs counter to popular opinion) the looks of the '04-'07 Malibu's. They are some quasi blend of American and Volvo/Saab styling that is different. Wife bought a new '06 LT, Sunroof and the other usual options, only because she didn't want to spring for the Toyota Avalon (which is really the same size car, but ten grand more). Other than the usual GM rattles and minor defects like heater control motor, she loves the car for the money spent. We liked it so much that I bought myself a GM Certified '05 MAXX LS (for a lot less money). As for abandoning the pushrod 3.5L, that's a big mistake. The 3.5 makes plenty of HP, and and honest 30 mpg on the highway that will run reliably for 150,000 miles before major maintenance, and they want to replace it with 20 some more HP in a OHC belt driven engine that needs timing belts replaced at ~ 60 - 70K miles for some $1,000? Don't think so! We turned down the Ford Fusion and it's Mercury cousin for the same reason. Chevy's have always been about rock solid reliabilty that buyers have always expected, and they need to keep that in mind.